The Riverside County budget doesn’t play fair. The fiscal year 2016-17 budget, which the Riverside County Board of Supervisors adopted this fall, was very tight and there was agreement for minimal increases next year while awaiting revenues to grow. However, rather than slowly balancing revenues and expenditures, the budget is rapidly turning red, bright red,…

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has approved some major changes to its Ordinance 927.2, “Regulating Short Term Rentals” (STRs). Some of those changes include caps or limits on the number of STRs in Idyllwild (and Pine Cove) and the Wine Country. Also, there will be a minimum distance required between future new STRs. The…

The Idyllwild Fire Department was the beneficiary of two separate grants from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. One gift gave the department eight sets of turnout gear and the other, 14 self-contained breathing apparatuses. The estimated value of the philanthropy was $49,300.

Nick Todd, Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce president since October 2010, submitted his resignation both as president and director to the board. His resignation was effective Feb. 1. Todd cited personal and family reasons, but noted he would remain involved in an advisory capacity. Under Todd’s presidency, and under previous President Mimi Lamp, the Chamber executed…