“His [Bill Brown, County Service Area operations manager for Riverside County’s Economic Development Agency (EDA)] accusations were not very strong,” said Dawn Sonnier, Idyllwild Community Recreation Council (ICRC) president. Sonnier had been through a turbulent month and stressful week as the County Service Area (CSA) 36 Advisory Committee held a special meeting Wednesday, to hear…

Although not $1 of the controversial Fire Prevention fee has been collected, Gov. Jerry Brown has plans for spending $50 million from that fee this fiscal year and $84 million in fiscal 2012-13. This year, $50 million of funds will supplement the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) regular budget. Collections are…

Despite the relatively normal fall rainfall, the National Weather Service’s latest long-range forecast is pessimistic regarding a wet winter and the end of the five-year drought, which is expected to enter its sixth year next spring.  On Dec. 8, NWS issued its winter forecast that said, “Given the current conditions and the model forecasts, the…