“Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in,” are lyrics to the Fifth Dimension’s popular 1969 song and are still poignant today in Idyllwild. The Idyllwild Water District (IWD) operates a 42-kilowatt solar power generation plant at its Foster Lake facility. Although the solar facility was dedicated in May 2006, the solar panels have been collecting…

STR fire risk Dear Editor: Here’s a new one. My short-term rental (STR) neighbor had a guest staying the other day who was running an electrical cable out a bedroom window and plugged into their electric vehicle (EV). (See photo far right.) A quick internet search found several articles relating to EV recalls for potential…

Only closed session topics,to be repeated this week The Idyllwild Water District directors held a special meeting Wednesday evening, Nov. 8. The two agenda items were both to be discussed in closed session. First, the directors were to evaluate Interim General Manager Jack Hoagland’s performance. Then they were going to consider a person for the…

Matthew Castillo, 31, of Idyllwild, pleaded guilty to inflicting corporeal injuries and a prior conviction within the past seven years. The plea was made Monday, June 26, following the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office’s submission of an amended complaint. Judge Mark Mandio denied probation and sentenced Castillo to two years in state prison. This is…