Idyllwild Fire Chief Bill Bratton and Engineer George Martinak in January 1964 with new types of hydrants being installed in the district. The one on the right was capable of 2,000 gallons per minute. File photo
Idyllwild Fire Chief Bill Bratton and Engineer George Martinak in January 1964 with new types of hydrants being installed in the district. The one on the right was capable of 2,000 gallons per minute. File photo

65 years ago - 1951

The paper shortage created by the Korean War caused  the Town Crier to announce it was limiting the number of copies for newsstand sales.

60 years ago - 1956

At a hearing on state highways, John Gilman and Dick Elliott of the Chamber of Commerce Roads Committee presented a Chamber request that the Banning-Idyllwild-Mountain Center highway be taken into the state system.

55 years ago - 1961

The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival was advertising tickets for 75 cents for adults, 25 cents for children. With each adult ticket purchased, the buyer also received $5 worth of Orange Premium Stamps.

50 years ago - 1966

The girls of the Tahquettes Club were planning a Maid Service Day for anyone needing housekeeping. They charged $1 an hour.

45 years ago - 1971

The Town Crier reported that the total value of building permits for the Idyllwild-Pine Cove area in the previous year amounted to $1,363,472. There were 44 single-family dwellings and four commercial sites under construction.

40 years ago - 1976

Entries were being accepted for the Miss Idyllwild Contest. The winner would reign over the Bear Flag Festival planned for June.

35 years ago - 1981

Idyllwild’s First Church of Christ Scientist held a service to celebrate and give thanks for the release of 52 American hostages held in Iran for 444 days.

30 years ago - 1986

The Riverside County Planning Commission approved plans for a Buddhist meditation center northeast of Apple Canyon Road in Garner Valley.

25 years ago - 1991

The U.S. Forest Service awarded a $2,000 grant to the San Jacinto Ranger District to build and install bird houses to attract bluebirds. A decade-long decrease in the bluebird population had been noted and it was hoped new nesting sites would reverse the trend.

20 years ago - 1996

Town Hall began taking fingerprints and making background checks on adults involved in its children’s recreation programs.

15  years ago - 2001

Bill Sanborn, area trustee for the Hemet Unified School District, asked HUSD for help in clearing snow from Idyllwild School after big storms. He told the HUSD board that the previous week’s storm left more than 1-1/2 feet of snow that the principal and teachers had to shovel.

10 years ago - 2006

To help break a months-long impasse between the Chamber of Commerce and the Idyllwild Community Recreation Council, County Service Area 36 advisor Bill Brown suggested the CSA 36 board recommend which organization would be best qualified to manage Hill recreation.

5 years ago - 2011

Amid rumors of a going-out-of-business sale on merchandise at Pine Cove Market and Gas, owner Ahmed Aly confirmed that he planned to close the business by week’s end or as soon as he sold his inventory.

1 year ago - 2015

Out of step with local water and fire districts, County Service Area 38 (Pine Cove) was considering lowering and, possibly, eliminating its parcel fee.