You may have noticed an unnamed black and gold helicopter flying for 30 to 45 minutes over Idyllwild last Friday afternoon. The helicopter is leased by WaveRider Helicopters of Oceanside from November Alpha LLC. Kurt Dawson, owner/pilot of WaveRider, said his company was contracted by a surveyor to survey the power grid in our area. “The surveyor was probably hired by SCE,” he said, and Dawson and an employee were given a map to survey problems in the grid such things as trees in the power lines.

Idyllwild’s Dr. Richard Goldberg (front center) was recognized at the third-annual Public Health Community Champion Awards last week. Goldberg represented the 3rd Supervisorial District. The other awardees were (front row, from left) Robert Roy, Gabriel Maldonado, Aurora Wilson and Melanie Nieman. Also shown in the back row (from left) are Susan Harrington, director of the Department of Public Health; 5th District Supervisor Marion Ashley; 1st District Supervisor Kevin Jeffries; Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county Public Health officer; 4th District Supervisor John Benoit; and 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington.