During the latest Idyllwild Water District meeting, General Manager Tom Lynch discussed efforts to revive about 10 existing horizontal wells above Foster Lake. The lake remains dry. Lynch showed the directors photos of the empty reservoir, and the water district is still in a Water Emergency Stage 2. “The wells at the lake remain critical…

During its May meeting, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District was the first local entity to pass its FY 2020/21 budget. In addition, Commissioner Larry Donahoo resigned effective close of the meeting and the chair of the sustainability committee provided an update. Abatement inspections were discussed as well as the addition of a Cal OES (Office…

It’s early August and fall is approaching. “Judi,” a fictitious Idyllwild School mom, is scrambling to buy school supplies, and new shoes and clothes for her kids so they’ll be ready for the new school year fast approaching. At the same time, she worries about getting them to school on time every day and ensuring…

Martha Pearson and her staff opened the Mountain Center Cafe early at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday as a source of meals for local people, fire-stranded visitors and firefighters from all over. Although the Mountain Fire began Monday afternoon in Mountain Center, no structures or businesses in that community were physically damaged. According to Pearson, the fire…

Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) Vice President Dan Messina led the Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 25, as President Henry Sawicki was absent. Commissioner Christina Reitz also was absent.Fire Chief Mark LaMont lamented the ambulance situation where lower hospital staffing levels have created ambulance backup situations at hospitals throughout the nation.He described to…