Riverside County’s property assessments have finally recovered from the recent recession. For fiscal year 2016-17, the county’s assessment roll exceeds its previous record, which was achieved in 2008. The total county property assessment is $255.1 billion, which is 5 percent more than last year’s total of $242.7 billion. “This is the fourth-consecutive year of…

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission adopted a $1.6 million budget for 2012-13, which begins July 1. The overall budget is about $92,000 less than the current budget. However, actual expenditures for 2011-12 will be about $100,000 less than the approved budget, according to IFPD. Interim Fire Chief Mike Sherman said there are no reserves…

The State Assembly passed two bills last week to address concerns about spiking oil and gas prices and overall fuel supply in California. Senate President pro Tempore Michael McGuire (D -North Coast) has now agreed to convene the Senate beginning Oct. 7. Gov. Gavin Newsom had issued a proclamation Aug. 31 calling for the Special…

  Above, more than 100 quilts were on display at the Idyllwild Autumn Quilt Show held at the Buckhorn Camp on Saturday and Sunday. Mountain Quilters of Idyllwild held the annual event. Photo by John Pacheco  

An unseasonably cold January and February froze customer pipes in Fern Valley driving the water district’s water consumption and sales up dramatically. Consumption increased more than one million gallons over last year’s January and February billing period, which in turn drove water sales up nearly 80 percent — from $21,994 to $39,133. Since the leaks…