The only part of 243 open in Mountain Center is from Hwy. 74 north to Keenwild U.S. Forest Service station. Between Idyllwild and Mountain Center is under hard closure – even to residents, business owners and employees. Residents, business owners and employees in Mountain Center and Apple Canyon, with proof of employment or residency, can…

The San Bernardino National Forest has been busy with prescribed burns on the mountain since December. The agency is taking advantage of the good weather conditions “safe for prescribed fire to burn slash piles made from vegetation thinned from the National Forest,” according to the press release.  Smoke and flames may be visible on and…

California’s drought conditions show no sign of abating. The water year that ended Sept. 30 was the second driest on record. All of California’s 58 counties are under a drought emergency proclamation. January, February and March 2022 were the driest on record dating back over 100 years. Just 6 inches of precipitation were recorded in…