Idyllwild Fire Protection District Chief Patrick Reitz announced that Saturday’s planned Open House has been canceled. The forecast of rain, nearly all day, is the reason for the cancellation. But there will be another opportunity to interact with the Chief and staff later this month. “We are planning on setting up a similar display downtown…

The current statewide drought is having broad ramifications. Besides significantly increasing the threat of wildfires, some communities have even endured water shortages. The consequence is increased attention to water sources, particularly groundwater, which is vital to the Hill. Groundwater provides 100 percent of Pine Cove Water District’s water. Idyllwild Water District has rights to Strawberry…

The squabbles between the Riverside County supervisors and the elected sheriff continued during the board’s Feb. 6 meeting. Although County Executive Officer George Johnson reported that Sheriff Stan Sniff had eliminated the projected $30 million deficit in his department’s budget for the current fiscal year, he noted that the staff attrition necessary to accomplish this…

The Riverside County Department of Transportation and Land Management has proposed establishing a speed limit on Double View Drive. A 25-mph limit, which could be enforced with the use of radar, would be in effect from McMahon Road to the end of Double View, about 1.6 miles. This limit would be new. Although the county…