Grinding Station clarifies tree-size policy It is still winter — the middle of February. Few minds have begun to think or worry about the Gold spotted oakborer. But Riverside County Fire Division Chief Gregg Bratcher, the Hill forester, knows the GSOB is still present on the Hill and a danger. If you have an oak…

Lisa Draper’s fourth grade students transport an “injured person” to the triage area during a Mountain Disaster Preparedness exercise held on Wednesday morning. The students from left to right are: Kate Taylor, Olivia Hernandez, David Cohen, Maggie McKimson, Emma Johnston, Destiny Mikroulis, Pierce Pramuka and Sidney Tschuor.

But still short of average rainfall A week of rain and snow fell throughout the Hill from Sunday, Jan. 13, through Thursday night, Jan. 17. During this period, the U.S. Forest Service’s Keenwild Ranger Station recorded more than 3 inches of rain. Although it seemed to rain continuously during that week, fortunately, this was not…

The Riverside County Planning Commission approved the conditional use permit for the Idyllwild Community Center site. The commission vote was unanimous, although it did add one additional condition to the CUP. After several months of delay and unexpected postponements, the San Jacinto Mountain Community Center board, led by President Janice Lyle, has obtained the approval…