In June 1976, Idyllwild Elementary School awarded Hillbilly certificates to students who had attended the school from kindergarten through seventh grade. Recipients that year were (back row, from left) Shelly Rondeau, Cynthia Peters, Jeni McCaghren and Teri Leih; (from row, from left) Lino Gonzalez, Steve Grewe, Brian Benson and David Arnaiz. Bruce Adams, school board representative from this area, is shown in the back row at far right. File photo
In June 1976, Idyllwild Elementary School awarded Hillbilly certificates to students who had attended the school from kindergarten through seventh grade. Recipients that year were (back row, from left) Shelly Rondeau, Cynthia Peters, Jeni McCaghren and Teri Leih; (from row, from left) Lino Gonzalez, Steve Grewe, Brian Benson and David Arnaiz. Bruce Adams, school board representative from this area, is shown in the back row at far right. File photo

65 years ago - 1951

The Lions Club was making plans to construct a children’s playground adjacent to Town Hall.

60 years ago - 1956

It was Civil Defense Week on the Hill. Local stores were displaying emergency supplies and residents were asked to learn about being prepared for an emergency.

55 years ago - 1961

Rodney Welch revealed plans for a major development on the Banning-Idyllwild Highway. He owned about 1,000 acres in the Stone Creek area. The “town” was to be known as Alandale Pines (now called Stone Creek).

50 years ago - 1966

State game manager Bonnar Blong reported the local deer population was making a slow gain after the severe 1960-61 drought, which claimed about 75 percent of the animals.

45 years ago - 1971

David Hunt Sr.  assumed management of the Rustic Theatre. Admission prices were $1.50 for adults, $1 for students and 75 cents for children.

40 years ago - 1976

Demolition of Idyll-wild’s landmark Carriage Inn began.

35 years ago - 1981

Hillcrest Market in Strawberry Creek Square was advertising avocados for 25 cents each, bananas for 29 cents a pound and frozen meat pies at four for $1.

30 years ago - 1986

Founded by part-time Pine Cove resident Judi Sheppard Missett, Jazzercise classes were started in Idyllwild.

25 years ago - 1991

About 100 Garner Valley residents attended a meeting with developer Jeff Dennis at the proposed construction site of a 156-room lodge and a 200-space recreational vehicle park at the southern end of Garner Valley.

20 years ago - 1996

It was announced that the Idyllwild Arts Academy was offering a filmmaking major through a new department called the Department of Moving Pictures.

15 years ago - 2001

A new grass-roots organization was created on the Hill — the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council.

                  

10 years ago - 2006

At a packed Chamber meeting, community members voiced heated opinions about whether the Chamber should continue managing Town Hall recreation. The Idyllwild Community Recreation Council was vying for the opportunity.

5 years ago - 2011

The ICRC Playground was placed on hold  due to lack of a Conditional Use Permit. Special permits requiring a certain distance from the highway and the use of the playground caused some difficulty for ICRC staff.

1 year ago - 2015

A spring snowstorm surprised residents of the Hill as 3 inches of snow covered the mountain near town, and more for those residents living at higher elevations. Pine Cove recieved 5 inches of snow, bringing on historic averages of rainfall and snow to the Hill for the first time in decades.

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