Idyllwild Fire commissioners chose Jerry Buchanan (left) to be president for the next 12 months. Buchanan was board secretary. He succeeds Jeannine Charles-Stigall, who was president since November 2011 and for 10 months during 2010. Larry Donahoo is the new vice president, succeeding former Commissioner Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly, and new Commissioner Rhonda Andrewson is…

The U.S. Forest Service reported that the Little Fire, which started Saturday afternoon, Aug. 24, was fully contained Thursday evening, Aug. 29. The fire’s size was 97 acres and its cause is still under investigation. Firefighters continued to improve the fireline and extinguish burning logs and materials within the fire perimeter. The fire burned chaparral…

On Tuesday, July 26, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors will consider a new ordinance for regulating short-term rentals (STR) in the county’s unincorporated areas. Draft Ordinance 927.1 (unless amended) will replace the current Ordinance 927, “Regulating Short Term Rentals,” adopted in January 2016. This draft ordinance is very similar to the draft presented to…

The annual bald eagle count began Saturday. Throughout San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains, the U.S. Forest Service reported 9 eagles (5 adults and 4 juveniles) were observed at regional lakes. At Lake Hemet, three people came to help the count, but no eagles were observed Saturday morning. “Probably due [the absence] to the steady…

The U.S. Forest Service will be working at Humber Park in January. No specific date has been set, according to Public Affairs Specialist Gustavo “Gus” Bahena, “but we will have contractors falling, debarking, and moving several hazard trees there. The reasons are for public safety and to mitigate the spread of the Goldspotted Oak Borer…