In a longish pre-holiday meeting last week, the directors of the Idyllwild Water District addressed several major issues. During the regular portion of the meeting, they adopted a water shortage contingency plan (see accompanying story), took a position on the district’s role serving the Idyllwild Community Center, tabled the issue of rebates for water filters and intensified the search for a new general manager …

On Aug. 31, Stephen Patrick Medlock, 56, who was arrested and charged with starting the 2013 Silver Fire that burned more than 20,000 acres in Poppet Flats, Twin Pines and throughout Banning, and reportedly caused physical injuries to more than a dozen individuals, including firefighters, was court ordered to a Mental Health Court (MHC) hearing…

Editor’s note: This story ran in the Aug. 26, 2021 Idyllwild Town Crier. Since it is such an important issue and many new residents have moved to town, I thought it would be important to the community to revisit the issue. As of Aug. 5, Idyllwild Water District has spent 55% on the two studies…

The preliminary hearings for Robert Pape, 28, and Cristin Smith, 27, have been rescheduled for Oct. 24. At that hearing, the presiding judge will hear a motion from Smith’s attorney to dismiss the charges against him and, if unsuccessful, a motion to reveal the name of a confidential informant working with the Riverside County District…