65 years ago – 1956
The newly organized Pine Cove County Water District planned to ask voters to approve a $110,000 bond issue to purchase facilities and make improvements.

60 years ago – 1961
Town Crier interviewed Victoria Brooke, daughter of Charles and Genoveva Thomas, the first white settlers in the mountains. Mrs. Brooke recalled that her father acquired his Garner Valley ranch property for 200 head of cattle.
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A microwave reflector was being installed on South Ridge to expand telephone facilities between Hemet and Idyllwild. The project was part of a nationwide “passive repeater” system to provide long-distance transmission without the use of lines or power.

50 years ago – 1971
Jeane Joy received birthday greetings from President Nixon. It was a mystery to her how he knew her birth date.
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Ed Emmel was appointed to the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners. He replaced Milo Hefferlin who did not seek another term on the board.

45 years ago – 1976
Word was received that Martin Aguire had celebrated his 90th birthday at his San Jacinto residence. A former Idyllwilder, Mr. Aguire held the distinction of being the first subscriber to the Town Crier.

40 years ago – 1981
A hearing was set for consideration of a public use permit application for Mile High Recovery Inc., a halfway house for teenage alcoholics and drug addicts, on Country Club Drive.

35 years ago – 1986
Nearly 2,000 people attended the three-day 20th-annual Harvest Festival sponsored by the Idyllwild Rotary Club at Town Hall during Thanksgiving weekend.

30 years ago – 1991
A tropical storm that brought with it wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour left nearly half the Hill without power for many hours on Sunday and Monday.

25 years ago – 1996
An Aguanga woman was convicted of second-degree murder of her three toddlers who had died when a methamphetamine lab in her home exploded almost a year earlier.

20 years ago – 2001
Idyllwild Fire Chief Tim Gustafson was reminding residents to dial 911 for emergencies and not to call the fire station directly.

15 years ago – 2006
A new line of fence posts marked the start of construction of the Idyllwild Dog Park at Idyllwild Pines Camp. The Idyllwild Community Recreation Council project was expected to be completed by Christmas for the enjoyment of Hill dogs and their people.

10 years ago – 2011
Doug Austin, familiar to Idyllwild audiences for his performance as Charles Dickens, brought an insight into Dickens’ opinions and views on important social issues at the Idyllwild Community Recreation Council’s Speaker Series event.

5 years ago – 2016
Idyllwild Arts Academy Theatre Department presented an original musical based on Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

1 year ago – 2020
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department held its grand opening of the Lake Hemet Mountain Substation Monday morning. This substation was to be staffed 24/7. When it was fully staffed, there would be eight deputies, one community service officer and two sergeants.