Tree falls in Royal Pines Estates

The closures of Highway 74 from Mountain Center to Hemet and Highway 243 north to Banning have created burdens for Idyllwild residents. Local high school students and school personnel have shuttles to and from Hemet available, but these leave at 5 a.m. Local businesses have multiple problems. First, much fewer visitors and tourists are coming…

LaMont offered Idyllwild Fire Chief position As reported in last week’s Town Crier, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission unanimously decided to offer the position of fire chief to current Assistant and Acting Chief Mark LaMont. Commission President Jerry Buchanan announced the decision after the conclusion of a nearly three-hour-long closed session. It is still…

Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) expressed its gratitude to a couple locals and some businesses at its Tuesday, Nov. 26 board of commissioners meeting. The district presented plaques to Gisela Stearns, Idyllwild Bake Shop and Brew, who recently closed its doors, Sheila Zacker, Firehouse Subs, La Casita Restaurant, Tommy’s Kitchen and Mountain Center Cafe. The…

Last week, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced that Idyllwild School was one of 56 California public schools that achieved sustained progress in academic improvement among low-income students. As a result, it has been chosen for the 2012-13 Title I Academic Achievement Award. This is the second consecutive year Idyllwild has been named…

A native Idyllwild firefighter died Sunday night along with two others in a helicopter that collided with another helicopter in Cabazon while responding to a wildfire. Cal Fire Assistant Chief Josh Bischof was riding with Capt. Tim Rodriguez and a contract helicopter pilot when their helicopter collided with another helicopter carrying two people. The other…