Past Tense: Feb. 6, 2014 - Idyllwild Town Crier

Ronald Wilson, pumping gas at the Fern Valley Garage (one of four jobs he held at the time), was the subject of a Town Crier feature entitled “Industrious and Cheerful: Idyllwild Youth Fills Vacation With 4 Jobs” published on July 8, 1960. He was home for the summer from Colorado University, where he majored in philosophy and had just been accepted into the pre-med program.File photo — Ronald Wilson, pumping gas at the Fern Valley Garage (one of four jobs he held at the time), was the subject of a Town Crier feature entitled “Industrious and Cheerful: Idyllwild Youth Fills Vacation With 4 Jobs” published on July 8, 1960. He was home for the summer from Colorado University, where he majored in philosophy and had just been accepted into the pre-med program. File photo

65 years ago – 1949
The “Year of the Big Snow” continued; the chapel at Idyllwild Pines collapsed under the load and icicles hung from roofs in solid sheets.

60 years ago – 1954
Several huge crates arrived at the County Park. They contained the prefab makings of a 30-foot observation tower.

55 years ago – 1959
It was announced that the U.S. Geological Survey intended to list Garner Valley on its next set of maps. Garner Valley had been designated as Hemet Valley.

50 years ago – 1964
Quite a delegation of Hill folk trekked down to Palm Springs to hear Ted Kennedy and John Tunney speak at the Democratic Club luncheon.

45 years ago – 1969
At the 126-foot mark, Lake Hemet was at its highest level since the winter of 1945-46.

40 years ago – 1974
Responding to “growing concern” among the people of his district over the high cost of propane gas, Idyllwild’s Congressman Jerry L. Pettis called on the Federal Energy Office to report on the increased fuel prices and to start an investigation, if necessary.

35 years ago – 1979
ISOMATA distributed the course catalogs for its 30th summer session.

30 years ago – 1984
For the second time in less than a month, Santa Ana winds cut power to Hill residents and uprooted trees. A 130-foot pine tree fell and smashed into Richard and Hazel Bada’s home on South Circle Drive.

25 years ago – 1989
Public opposition to proposed tightening of a dog leash ordinance caused county officials to consider compromises and schedule another public hearing on the matter.

20 years ago – 1994
The feasibility of purchasing a highly audible, airborne alert system capable of waking up sleeping Hill folk in case of an emergency was being discussed by members of the Emergency Alert System Committee.

15 years ago – 1999
The California Highway Patrol began patroling the mountain full-time. Two residential post officers, Ron Esparza and Daryl Crandall, were introduced to the community at an open house held at the new Idyllwild CHP Community Service Center on Ridgeview Drive.

10 years ago – 2004
Eighth-grader Carey Powers of Idyllwild School won the 27th-annual District Spelling Bee in Hemet after placing second in Idyllwild School’s bee for the previous two years. It was the first time Idyllwild School placed first in the District Spelling Bee.

5 years ago – 2009
After a month of struggling and negotiating, Idyllwild Pharmacy and the Inland Empire Health Plan reached an agreement. IEHP members would not have to have prescriptions filled at pharmacies off the Hill any longer.

1 year ago – 2013
Through January, the 2012-13 flu season had been worse than normal, particularly for people over age 65, but it had not reached epidemic levels.