Past Tense – December 19, 2013
File photo
65 years ago – 1948
The Banning Water Company reported that 10 inches of surface water was added to its supply after the earthquake. Officials weren’t certain whether it was due to the quake or the storm.
60 years ago – 1953
Efren Reveles, U.S. Forest Service foreman in Idyllwild, was stunned that he had won first prize in a writing contest Houghton Mifflin sponsored. The award was a four-month trip around the world on the Queen Mary.
55 years ago – 1958
Dale Bischof was voted lineman of the year and most valuable player at Hemet High School.
50 years ago – 1963
A fire believed started from a fireplace completely destroyed the home of Lora Steere, pioneer mountain resident. The house was located on Idyllwild Road near Strawberry Creek. Steere was out on a short walk when the blaze was detected.
45 years ago – 1968
Pine Cove’s new fire station was completed.
40 years ago – 1973
Town Crier reported several crimes, including a stolen car, two professional hunting bow and arrow sets taken, four tires flattened, a window at a realty broken and a piece of asphalt used to tear a screen and break a window.
35 years ago – 1978
Two Palm Desert men were found safe after being stranded in the wilderness area above Idyllwild for four nights that included a sudden storm that dropped 2 feet of snow.
30 years ago – 1983
Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce Chair Dick Mars announced that vandals had taken more than 100 lights from the community Christmas tree for the second time in as many weeks.
25 years ago – 1988
Idyllwild Rotary Club threw a 30th-anniversary party.
20 years ago – 1993
Idyllwild Lions Club voted unanimously to withdraw its request to pursue the feasibility of refurbishing the ball field at Dutch Flat.
15 years ago – 1998
Local Tonya Miller published a cookbook designed to teach children which foods help build a strong, healthy body.
10 years ago – 2003
About 40 motorists congested Highway 243 near Jameson Drive due to spinning out on black ice.
5 years ago – 2008
Riverside County was considering an ordinance requiring all resident dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered, unless the owner obtained an unaltered dog or cat license.
1 year ago – 2012
The Mountain Area Safety Taskforce devoted its primary focus during its quarterly meeting to the threat to local forests of the Goldspotted oak borer.
