Editor: Numerous hydrants were red tagged by fire crews during the fire. One red tag on Saunders Meadow was even labeled “Broken stem puts out 5gpm.” Red tags are bad regardless of the reasons tagged. These are old Mueller hydrants. Most every hydrant found on these service lines are painted orange. By definition, that means…
By Jack Neworth Santa Monica At the end of last week’s column, I was describing myself (circa more decades ago than I care to admit) staring in horror at my wonderful U.S. Forest Service garbage truck fully engulfed in fire. Instead of being a hero in detecting a possibly catastrophic forest fire, it turned out…
Early renewals climbing The Charter Membership list, which comprises readers who become Members during our first year of the Membership Model, is open until and including Friday, Aug. 31. We would love to add another 21 new Members to the charter list by then. Meanwhile, existing Charter Members are continuing to renew their Memberships into…
Drivers (above) await the lifting of the evacuation order in Garner Valley Wednesday afternoon. Below, Hurkey Creek after a rainstorm moved into the area Wednesday afternoon. Photos by Jenny Kirchner UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: The evacuation order was just lifted for Mountain Center residents in the #cranstonfire burn area and Highway 74 has reopened. From earlier:…
Riverside County has issued a warning of possible scattered heavy rain in the Cranston Fire area. Residents and travelers should be careful and cautious this afternoon and through Friday, Aug. 17. At 3:40 p.m., the National Weather Service reported the heaviest rainfall had occurred near Highway 74 in the Garner Valley area, or about 5…
Getting your “news” from social media differs greatly from getting it from established news media. News media, if they at all value their reputations, must verify the information they’re getting. Rumor doesn’t make it. A person saying, “What I heard is …” isn’t close. A reliable source is someone who not only claims to know,…
Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Sunday to Saturday, Aug. 5 to 11. Idyllwild • Aug. 5 — Alarm call, 9:04 a.m., Hemstreet Pl. Handled by deputy. • Aug. 5 — Public disturbance, 11:14 a.m., 54000 block of Pine Crest Ave. Handled by deputy. • Aug. 5…
Lower increase than past years In July, Covered California announced a modest rate change for 2019, and said many enrollees will be able to mitigate the impact if they shop and switch to the lowest-cost plan in the same metal tier. The exchange also described how the recent federal decision to eliminate the penalty for…
A Palm Springs man died on a hiking trail in the Mt. San Jacinto State Park Wilderness Friday, Aug. 10. Sean Planck, 50, died at 6:48 p.m., according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, on Wellman Divide Trail just north of the Pacific Crest Trail. A sheriff’s helicopter flew the body out of the area,…
Stephen Patrick Medlock, 53, a transient, charged with arson for starting and igniting the 2013 Silver Fire, had his Aug. 9, felony settlement conference moved to Sept. 10. While negotiations with the prosecutor continue, Medlock has not received an offer. Since Medlock’s March 21, preliminary hearing, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office has amended the…
