The first half of the 2013 rain year ended Saturday. Idyllwild Fire Department reported 7.81 inches fell in town between July 1, 2012, and Dec. 31. The Forest Service’s Keenwild Ranger Station recorded 6.76 inches during the same period compared to 8.43 inches from July 2011 through December 2011. The long-term average rainfall from July…

The fire’s footprint remains about the same 13,140 acres, but containment continues to improve. At a meeting of community residents, which more than hundred attended, nearly filling the Idyllwild School gymnasium, Incident Management Team Commander Jerry McGowan reported that containment had improved to 82 percent by Monday evening. The next concern is rain and thunderstorms…

The Idyllwild Water District Board of Directors held an unusual morning meeting Monday, Nov. 19. The agenda for the special meeting identified two potential litigation matters. One stated, “… the District is deciding whether to initiate litigation.” The second item stated that the district was concerned that it had significant exposure to litigation …” on…