The first half of the 2011/2012 rain year ended Saturday, Dec. 31. Idyllwild Fire Department (IFPD) reported 9.85 inches fell in town between July 1, 2011 and Dec. 31. The Forest Service’s Keenwild Ranger Station recorded 8.43 inches during the same period. The long-term average rainfall from July through December is 9.22 inches. Thus IFPD…

September is National Preparedness Month, and the Mountain Disaster Preparedness group wants Hill residents to prepare for a significantly wet fall and winter. The National Weather Service has forecast that a major El Niño will arrive this fall and continue to affect local weather through spring 2016. On Thursday, the NWS Climate Prediction Center wrote…

Local water districts oppose it, too The possibility of the state Legislature imposing a tax on local water bills is looming. Throughout the state, local water districts and media are objecting to a tax on water — a critical human need. During meetings last week, the boards of the Fern Valley and Pine Cove water…