

Idyllwild School gets exemplary honor for third time
By
Idyllwild School students gather in front of the “California Distinguished School” sign to celebrate their hard work and achievements Friday morning. The California Distinguished School program honors some of California’s most exemplary and inspiring public schools. Schools selected for the Distinguished School Award demonstrate significant gains in narrowing the achievement gap. This is the third time Idyllwild has received this honor.

Editor’s note: Thom Wallace is the newest member of County Service Area 38 (Pine Cove). Third District Supervisor Jeff Stone recommended his appointment, which the full board approved at its July 12 meeting. Wallace is a former high school teacher and was chairman of the history department for 18 years. This interview occurred on Friday,…
On Monday night, May 26, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department received a call about lost hikers. Cabazon Station deputies responded to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The wife of hiker Jason Popwski, who resides in the city of Joshua Tree, reported him and his two friends, Larry Duffield, also of Joshua Tree, and Brian McBrayer…
Arrested twice, charges dropped once, nearly 10 years after the crime, 27-year-old Christin Smith’s defense in a triple-homicide case is much more aggressive than that of his co-defendant and friend Robert Pape, 28. Both men were re-arrested in June and charged with committing a 2006 triple homicide in Pinyon. The victims were Jon Hayward, Vicki…
In Idyllwild, some roles aren’t assigned—they just appear, and everyone agrees they were always there. Such was the case with Sofía Landis, the chocolate princess of Idyllwild. Sofía didn’t grow up going to school in the morning and coming home in the afternoon. She was raised behind a chocolate counter. El Buen Cacao, tucked into the…...
Local voters stuffed the ballot box at Town hall today, according to Stacy Grant, Idyllwild resident. And it’s true. Diana Johnson, poll inspector, said, “Things were going well all day until about 6 [p.m.]” That was when the ballot box was nearly full. Several voters were concerned about trying to put their ballots in the…
The one home that burned on McCall Park Road was owned by Mary McDonnell. This photo was taken Saturday morning. Photo by Steven King