

PHOTO: MDP’s ‘boots on the ground’ exercise
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Mountain Disaster Preparedness conducted a four-hour “boots on the ground” exercise on Saturday. Here at the Town Hall Disaster Assistance Station, acting group commander Ian Schoenleber (standing center, back to camera) discusses the scenario with fellow team members. Photo by Cheryl Basye

Fire is reshaping the American West. Communities in Wildfire Urban Interface zones, like ours, live in constant tension with a devastating force that can, in a single day, incinerate the homes and earthly possessions of neighborhoods and even towns. The stories of the big fires that have captured the attention of the world, names like…
Late Saturday, the Incident Management Team announced “The evacuation order is lifted for Garner Valley, south of Morris Ranch Rd. Proof of residency required. Road access is available from Highway 74 at Highway 371. All other evacuation orders remain in effect. Use caution returning home.” The Riverside County Environmental Health Department also wants to remind…
Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Sunday to Saturday, Nov. 13 to 19. Idyllwild • Nov. 13 — Narcotics, address undefined. Handled by deputy. • Nov. 13 — Silent alarm, address withheld. Handled by deputy. • Nov. 14 — 911 call from business, 54000 Block of Pine…
Since the beginning of February, Dwight McKinney, 53, of Mountain Center has been arrested four times. Each arrest was based on drug-related charges, both misdemeanors and felonies. On Tuesday, April 4, he pleaded guilty to three separate charges. Two were misdemeanors and the sentence was equal to the time he has already served in jail….
A 40-year tradition has come to an end. San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) is discontinuing the winter bald eagle count after reports the species’ population has stabilized. “After 40 years of conducting monthly bald eagle counts during the winter at three sites, in recent years with the aid of the public, officials with SBNF are…