The first half of the 2011/2012 rain year ended Saturday, Dec. 31. Idyllwild Fire Department (IFPD) reported 9.85 inches fell in town between July 1, 2011 and Dec. 31. The Forest Service’s Keenwild Ranger Station recorded 8.43 inches during the same period. The long-term average rainfall from July through December is 9.22 inches. Thus IFPD…

The Little Fire, near the top of Thomas Mountain in Garner Valley, has burned 97 acres. The fire started just after 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, and was 70 percent contained as of Tuesday. The higher humidity and cooler temperatures have helped firefighters Monday, but there was little rain in the area, according to Lee…

After nearly a year of small group meetings, and several months of Community Dialogue meetings, Idyllwild community members are forming three groups to promote community cohesiveness, community safety, tolerance and better understanding of existing divisions within the greater population. The Community Dialogue meetings came about in response to a number of hate crimes that began…