Soroptimist International of Idyllwild is seeking women who are head of household, and are attending a college or trade school. Scholarship winners will receive a cash scholarship valued between $750 to $1,000 to assist them in achieving their continued education goal. Applicants must live anywhere between Poppet Flats and Pinyon Pines, including Anza, to be…

The shutdown of the federal government reaches all the way to Idyllwild. The U.S. Forest Service San Jacinto Ranger District office shut down Tuesday afternoon. Fire suppression and law enforcement services are exempt from the federal shutdown. Trails and some campgrounds remain open. Photo by J.P. Crumrine

You may have noticed an unnamed black and gold helicopter flying for 30 to 45 minutes over Idyllwild last Friday afternoon. The helicopter is leased by WaveRider Helicopters of Oceanside from November Alpha LLC. Kurt Dawson, owner/pilot of WaveRider, said his company was contracted by a surveyor to survey the power grid in our area. “The surveyor was probably hired by SCE,” he said, and Dawson and an employee were given a map to survey problems in the grid such things as trees in the power lines.