At a special meeting, May 3, the Idyllwild Water District set June 19 for a public hearing to discuss stand-by assessment fees for the water and sewer districts. IWD’s proposed $30 fee per acre for each acre of unimproved land or each unimproved parcel has remained unchanged for more than 20 years. A list of…

For the fiscal year 2013-14 (beginning July 1), Idyllwild Water District directors unanimously approved a $1.8 million budget, nearly $300,000 more than the fiscal year 2012-13 budget. While water revenue and property taxes will slightly exceed operating costs, the district will need about $440,000 from reserves to carry out the capital improvement program. At the…

Effective Wednesday, Aug. 1, Shawn C. Newman will serve as the Cal Fire Riverside Unit and Riverside County Fire Department fire chief. Newman began his career with Cal Fire in 1989, as a seasonal firefighter in the San Bernardino Unit and In 1994, promoted to Firefighter II in the Riverside Unit, working in West Riverside….

Forest Service fire crews are planning to burn approximately 400 to 600 acres near Lake Hemet during the week of April 15. The Bonita Vista Burn is dependent upon weather and conditions and would occur throughout the week. Smoke and flames will be visible to residents and motorists along Highway 74 in Garner Valley as…