Past Tense: January 21, 2021

70 years ago – 1951
Twenty-four men, representing areas from Thomas Mountain to Pine Cove, were taking training as members of the Emergency Auxiliary of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

65 years ago – 1956
“The Cattle King,” starring George Montgomery and Marcia Hendrickson, was being filmed at the Garner Ranch. Part of the action included a big cattle stampede.

60 years ago – 1961
Lloyd Wood was named to replace Ted Fogle as engineer for the local fire protection district.
55 years ago – 1966
The Rustic Theatre was showing a double feature starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in “Living It Up” and “Pardners.”

50 years ago – 1971
The Idyllwild Property Owners Association sought to have the county open a sledding area in the County Park and outlaw sledding on county roads.

45 years ago – 1976
The Fern Valley State Water District was notified by the State Board of Health that it must add a filtration system for creek water it used.

40 years ago – 1981
All property owners whose homes or businesses were within the bounds of the Idyllwild County Water District’s sewer district were told they would have to link their properties to the existing sewer system if they had not already done so.

35 years ago – 1986
A military service with honors was held at Riverside National Cemetery for Army Staff Sgt. John Millett, son of Idyllwild residents retired Army Col. Lewis and Winona Millet.

30 years ago – 1991
More than 200 residents showed their support for American military efforts in the Persian Gulf by gathering for a “Support Our Troops” rally in the center of town. In contrast, after the rally, a group of peace advocates assembled to hold its nightly peace vigil calling for an end to military intervention in the Middle East.

 25 years ago - 1996    
More than 200 people attended a meeting of Concerned Citizens for a Safer Idyllwild, an anti-crime group. The group discussed graffiti, loitering at the liquor store and truancy by local kids. 

20 years ago – 2001
The possibility of a new shopping center (now the Village Centre shopping plaza) in Idyllwild was the main topic of discussion at the Hill Municipal Advisory Council meeting.
15 years ago – 2006
It was standing-room only at the January meeting of the Mountain Emergency Medical Systems Committee meeting that was designated as the first in a series to create a coordinated Hill disaster response plan.

10 years ago – 2011
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors officially rejected proposals to close three fire stations and replace career staff with volunteers at three other stations, including Station 63 in Poppet Flats.

5 years ago – 2016
Local business mogul Shane Stewart bought up property from the southwest corner of Cedar Street and North Circle Drive to install a 79-space parking lot without removing any buildings.

1 year ago – 2020
Between the two officers, there were three impounds, nine citations and countless verbal warnings in Humber Park and on Forest Drive due to snow-play visitors, according to CHP Public Information Officer Matt Napier.