The newspaper received multiple inquiries about fireplace safety. So, we reached out to Idyllwild Fire Protection District Chief Mark LaMont for information.  During wintertime on the mountain, residents and visitors utilize fireplaces, wood and pellet stoves as additional heat sources. LaMont reminds everyone that “fireplaces can provide warmth and comfort, but if you are not…

California Highway Patrol (CHP) San Gorgonio Pass Capt. Mike Alvarez took a new job at the CHP headquarters in Sacramento. While he’s still holding his captain position, he is now a commander at the Office of Special Representatives, which is the liaison between the CHP and the U.S. Congress. Capt. Aaron Knarr has stepped in…

In recent months, Idyllwild residents have reached out expressing frustration and concern about drivers speeding and tailgating more than usual on our local roads and highways.  Long-time resident Eric Townsend wrote in an email, “On busy weekends with crowded streets and pedestrians in the street, I see people speeding on North Circle Drive as if…

At the Jan. 18, Riverside County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, Kim Saruwatari, director of the county Public Health Department, and Bruce Barton, director of the county Emergency Management Department, presented the board with a status report on how the recent COVID surge, driven by the Omicron variant, is affecting the county and its health care…