75 years ago – 1948

At long last, a suitable place was found for a mountain branch of the county library — a small building on the Fern Valley Lodge property. Volunteer librarians were being sought.

70 years ago – 1953

Sierra Club members of the rock-climbing division again tackled Tahquitz Rock. Several new routes had been opened up, the most challenging being Traitor Horn.

65 years ago – 1958

A surprise party honored Nan Bohlen, last of a family of pioneers in Anza. She had sold the homestead and was preparing to leave the Hill.

60 years ago – 1963

The Idyllwild Elementary Band party, tired but triumphant, arrived home from Europe after traveling nonstop for almost 40 hours.

55 years ago – 1968

The Vietnam War affected the local school cafeteria. Dr. Robert Ferris, superintendent of schools, reported that because more supplies were going to Vietnam, surplus food used for the school lunch program had declined drastically.

50 years ago – 1973

Nationwide meat shortages were affecting restaurants and markets on the Hill. Taylor’s still had plenty of hamburgers to sell, but steaks were limited.

45 years ago – 1978

More than 115 students and staff members were expected for the opening of the seventh-annual Wildwood Senior High Music Camp at Idyllwild Pines.

40 years ago – 1983

The Hemet Unified School District Board of Trustees hired a professional research and planning firm to complete initial reports and assessments on all sites proposed for the Garner Valley secondary school.

35 years ago – 1988

Investigation was continuing into the arson fire that burned for more than three days and consumed 1,073 acres south of Banning.

30 years ago – 1993

The Hemet Unified School District Board of Trustees reviewed a feasibility study on mandatory drug testing for high school students engaging in extracurricular activities.

25 years ago – 1998

WNKI, the Hill’s emergency broadcast radio station, celebrated its 10th anniversary and received a new transmitting device from KATY-FM that would allow a wider area of broadcast.

20 years ago – 2003

Robert Lindquist, Lake Hemet Municipal Water District general manager, said that future development of Garner Valley would depend on the results of a new groundwater study of the Garner Valley basin.

15 years ago – 2008

The Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce led a discussion of the Riverside County noise ordinance in an attempt to solve the controversy between restaurant owners, musicians and patrons who wanted to hear live music performed in town and people who objected to the noise.

10 years ago – 2013

EarthWitness Foundation was hosting a fundraiser for victims of the Mountain Fire. The event was to include a comedian, musicians, a silent auction and hors d‘oeuvres.

5 years ago – 2018

Jeremy Greene, 23, of Oceanside, was arrested for the stabbing of Darryl Schollt. Greene was charged with three felony counts, including assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm.

1 year ago – 2022

In the July operations report, a 19% loss of water raised the eyebrows of Idyllwild Water District directors. General Manager Leo Havener said he did not know why so much, 275,000 gallons, was lost. He supposed it could be a leak that no one told IWD about.