On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order intended to mitigate utility rate increases and possibly find ways to reduce these rates. In his order, Newsome directed four different agencies, all of whom have some role in overseeing state utilities, to investigate possible efforts to help utility customers save money in the…

About 100 people came out to Town Hall Thursday night to hear Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz, Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins and U.S. Forest Service Fire Chief Dan Felix talk about preparing for fire season and then answer questions from the audience. Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council sponsored the informative meeting that lasted…

For 22 years George Companiott has commuted from the Hill to teach in Hemet. Now, the longtime Idyllwild resident won’t face that challenge. He commutes six miles to classroom 20 at Idyllwild Middle School where he teaches social studies to sixth through eighth grades and language arts to eighth graders. And he is already literally…