The heat and dry weather have accelerated the damage to local oaks from the invasive Goldspotted oak borer. According to Greg Bratcher, Cal Fire’s unit forester for the San Jacinto Mountains, another 18 trees have been identified as GSOB victims. Of these, 11 will be cut down and six were recommended for spraying. This…

Editor’s note: Four directors for the Pine Cove Water District are on the August mail-in ballot. The terms for three — Board President Robert Hewitt, Joel Palmer and Lou Padula — expire in December. They and challenger Jeffery Kleefisch are on the ballot for four-year terms. The fourth director, Vicki Jakubac, replaced Tim Lange, who…

At the June 20 special meeting of the County Service Area 38 Advisory Committee meeting, Idyllwild Fire Commissioner Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly addressed the committee and the community lamenting the lack of agreement, comity and teamwork between Pine Cove and the Idyllwild Fire Department. He suggested investigating ways in which Pine Cove residents might have…