An unseasonably cold January and February froze customer pipes in Fern Valley driving the water district’s water consumption and sales up dramatically. Consumption increased more than one million gallons over last year’s January and February billing period, which in turn drove water sales up nearly 80 percent — from $21,994 to $39,133. Since the leaks…

The deceased female found along Highway 74 has been identified as Bianca Bogarin, 25, of Moreno Valley, according to the county Sheriff’s Department. A cause of death is still undetermined. When the body was found on Sunday, April 10, decomposition had already occurred sufficiently to obscure her race. The department’s media bureau said, “Our department…

The final bald eagle count of the 2017-18 season was Saturday, March 10. Despite inclement weather, the five observers at Lake Hemet spotted two adult nesting bald eagles. The other four counting sites recorded six adults, three juveniles and two chicks in the nest at Big Bear Lake. These chicks are nearly a month old…

Following a serious fire within a national forest, the U.S. Forest Service quickly assembled a Burned Area Emergency Response team to assess the fire’s damage and the potential threat to the public and resources. (See the story below for more information about the BAER program.) The Mountain Fire BAER team was assembled and dispatched to…

On Sunday, May 5, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a report of four hikers in need of rescue. The hikers, from San Diego, Costa Mesa and Los Angeles, became lost near the Tamarack Campground near the Deer Springs and Pacific Crest trails. They used a cell phone that was running low on battery…