Monitoring of underground leakage of petroleum products is continuing near and around the Chevron Station in Idyllwild. The County’s Department of Environmental Health is awaiting funding approval from the State to begin a pilot test of a soil vapor extraction process, which has been successfully used at two other Hill sites. During the first quarter…

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission is considering instituting a patient satisfaction assessment in the future. Commissioner Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly suggested the idea to his colleagues and agreed to further research the concept. “It’s an outcome assessment,” Schelly explained. “After our care of a patient is through, what was the quality of that care?”…

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission accepted its 2012-13 audit and decided to seek a new auditing firm at the board’s April 8 meeting. Before discussing the district’s financial condition, which continues to deteriorate, Fire Chief Patrick Reitz said, “I want to publicly admonish RAMS [Rogers, Anderson, Malody and Scott, LLP, the district’s auditors since…

Since the National Weather Service has not revised its prediction of a 95 percent chance of an El Niño developing and continuing through next spring, Hill residents should prepare for the likelihood of a very wet winter. The recent rains are nearly double the historic levels through October. All of the recent indicators rival the…