Death Row Appeal: Legal Battles Continue Over Esperanza Fire Convictions In March 2009, Raymond Lee Oyler was found guilty of arson, igniting the Esperanza Fire in October 2006. The jury also found him guilty of the murder of five U.S. Forest Service firefighters. Three died at the fire site and two, including Mark Loutzenhiser of…
Since 1992 Idyllwild’s HELP Center has lived by a motto: “neighbors helping neighbors.” Executive Director Colleen Meyer and Client Services Director Deva Taffel gave the Town Crier an update on the Center’s programs. Meyer and Taffel are quick to credit and express gratitude to the many local organizations that support them in their mission. As…
The February 19 meeting of the board of directors of Idyllwild Water District began with the swearing in of newly-appointed director Wendy Harsha. As Board President Charles Schelly pointed out, this was the first time since April 2023 that the board has had five members. The board learned from General Manager Bill Rojas that the…
Fern Valley Water District Board Member Mike LaFata resigned at the end of the Board’s Feb. 20 meeting. He felt that his colleagues did not share his sense of detailed “fiduciary duty.” During his 14 months as a director, LaFata mostly concentrated his attention on reviewing the District’s monthly expenditures, especially the credit card charges….
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is seeking to become the next Governor of California. At a launch party for his Republican nomination, Monday, Feb. 17, Bianco said, “I am running for Governor of our beautiful state which I absolutely love because our head is heading down the wrong track and has been for years.” Gov….
Dear Spiritual Workout:I know that you like to use tapping in SW and I have been experimenting with it for a few weeks. I think I’m getting a handle on it, I am beginning to sense some changes, good ones, but my question is will I have to tap every day for the rest of…
Within every passage of time, there is a certain space reserved for reflection as well as restitution. This is especially true in small communities — here on the Hill, we find more than our share of small groupings with large and ever-expanding possibilities and pursuits. Some of the truth of this matter was on display this past…
The latest atmospheric river has finally offered some precipitation to the Hill communities. The fall and early winter drought is being slightly relieved. Last week, through Friday at noon the National Weather Service reported 4.1 inches of rain fell in Idyllwild from Wednesday through Friday. The Keenwild Ranger Station recorded 4.06 inches of rain during…
There is now a second petition on Change.org intending to make Highway 74 safer from Palm Desert to 371. The first petition sought action from Caltrans to repair the many potholes in the asphalt. The new one seeks to limit the use of 74 by heavy trucks, enforce the prohibition with a weigh station. The…
California’s Insurance Commissioner Richardo Lara has declined to immediately approve State Farm General’s request for an emergency rate increase. Instead, in a letter to SFG officials, including Dan Krause, President and Chief Executive Officer of SFG, Lara requested that they, along with representatives from Consumer Watchdog, an intervenor to the SFG request, meet with him…
