The promised historic El Niño rainstorms may not have appeared in Southern California, but the recent spring rains are trying to overcome the image of a totally weak or missing El Niño. During April and May, the U.S. Forest Service’s Keenwild Station has had nearly 3.5 inches of rain and Pine Cove has recorded about…

After three years of personnel and legal battles, the Idyllwild Fire Department finally terminated the employment of former Capt. James Reyes. A settlement was reached in June and July, and became official in late September. At the Sept. 26, Idyllwild Fire Protection District’s commission meeting, Chief Patrick Reitz announced the settlement with Reyes. Based on…

San Diego resident Wesley Baugh and wife have a second home in the 54000 block of Lower Pine Crest Avenue in Idyllwild. The weekend before the Fourth of July, a neighbor noticed a hole in the home’s lower level door. When the Baugh’s came up to investigate, they discovered the theft of valuable tools and…

Last week, California fire agencies and several private environmental groups announced their intent to cooperate on educating the general public about the value of prescribed burns. Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service, along with the U.S. National Park Service and Sierra Forest Legacy, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the Wilderness Society, the Nature Conservancy, the…