Tuesday, June 20, California’s full parole board granted parole to Thongxay Nilakout, who was convicted of the murder of German tourist Gisela Pflegger during a robbery at Indian Vista Point in 1994, in which he also shot her husband Klaus three times. Gov. Gavin Newsom recommended the board reconsider the December 2022 decision of a…
The first of 2023’s Thursday night free Idyllwild Summer Concerts is set for July 6 at the Butterfield Amphitheater. It will feature series veteran Frank DiSalvo and his classic country band the Sundowners. The Sundowners feature “the good old boys: Willie, Waylon, Cash, Buck, Merle, George Jones … no new country!” Like all the headliners,…
Birte Pflegger provided the Crier with an update on the parole process for convicted murderer Thongxay Nilakout, the man who killed her mother and nearly killed her father during a botched robbery at Indian Vista Point near Lake Fulmor in 1994. In December 2022, a state hearing panel recommended Nilakout for parole. The full board…
Last week the Crier took a tour of Idyllwild Water District’s (IWD) wastewater treatment plant, in service since 1970. IWD recently approved a five-year program of rate increases to pay for a replacement for the facility, at a projected cost of over $7 million. Funding also is being sought from the state to lift some…
David Hunt is celebrating 50 years of service to Idyllwild’s biking community at his Bike Route shop on Pine Crest Avenue. The Crier visited him there recently to hear his part of the saga and that of his family. TC: How did all this start? DH: It started in eighth grade at Idyllwild Elementary School….
Last Saturday, Robyn Winks (LMFT) and Chris Perrault lead a meeting at Town Hall to launch their new project, Idyllwild Love. Fifteen other community members gathered in a circle to help the sponsors brainstorm. Present were members of Idyllwild Community Center, Idyllwild Fire Protection District, the Idyllwild Help Center, Friends of the Idyllwild Library, Friends…
At Idyllwild Fire Protection District’s (IFPD) semimonthly commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, May 23, President Dan Messina reported that the new repeater site is up and running. Chief Mark LaMont added that licensing is complete and temporary equipment installed. Riverside County Sheriff and Fern Valley Water may be using the repeater. Other potential users include Hemet Police…
The Idyllwild Water District (IWD) held a pair of “Town Hall” meetings at its boardroom to discuss proposed water and sewer rates on May 30 and 31. The board has voted to approve a five-year plan for rate hikes that could lead to a cumulative 85% increase on sewer bills and a cumulative 27% hike…
The Friends of the Idyllwild Library is hosting a talk with nationally recognized author and recent Idyllwild transplant Mallory O’Meara at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 13 at the library. O’Meara came to California to work in the film industry, becoming a producer of horror films, before she found her voice as an author. Her first…
Wednesday, May 24, Riverside County 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez held his third recent listening session at Town Hall as he and the community become acquainted with each other. It was the second one dedicated to Idyllwild’s short-term rental (STR) situation and the amendment of Ordinance 927.1. As before, Planning Director John Hildebrand and…
