Both the California Highway Patrol and Cal Trans emphasize that the highways to Idyllwild have suffered significant damage in the past week. The large snowfall Wednesday and Thursday exacerbated the situation and created more dangerous opportunities. Therefore access to Idyllwild and Pine Cove will be strictly controlled. CHP will establish a checkpoint on Hwy. 74…

At 11:55 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26, a vehicle rolled over on Highway 74, according to California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Darren Meyer. Eliza Kong, 65 years old of Idyllwild, was driving on Highway 74 1 mile west of McCall Park Road in a 2016 black Mercedes-Benz sedan when she was negotiating a right-hand…

Still in the middle of fire season, local fire officials were able to hold their quarterly Mountain Area Safety Taskforce meeting last week; however, they moved through the agenda quickly. No reports or issues regarding local fires were presented. But Cal Fire Battalion Chief Greg Bratcher emphasized concern about the gold spotted oak borer infestation…