Editor: Aren’t firefighters paid to serve and protect? I appreciate their work in keeping fires from our town. However, I don’t appreciate what seems to be a racket, pressuring people into an ambulance ride when it isn’t called for. A couple of months ago, I called in a carbon-monoxide leak. I took my dog outside…
Five more weeks until the one-year anniversary of our announcement of the Town Crier Membership model, and existing Members already have begun renewing their Memberships. Of course, they do not lose anything by renewing early because renewals are always tacked on to the end of a Membership’s existing expiration date. Please plan on renewing your…
For the past year (and every year since 2002), the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council has been working hard to help members of our community with their fire abatement, and provide education for new residents and weekenders. We also sponsor an all-volunteer group, the Woodies, who provide firewood for those who can’t afford it and…
Editor’s note: July 2018 marks the fifth anniversary of the Mountain Fire that caused Idyllwild and Fern Valley residents to evacuate. This is the personal account of one evacuee, Fern Valley resident and then-Town Crier Staff Reporter Marshall Smith. One can never feel safe when wildfire threatens. That is one of the lessons I learned…
‘Not an emergency’ General Manager Jack Hoagland of the Idyllwild Water District issued a press release to the Town Crier on Monday, July 9, indicating that this week it is mailing its customers an “Official Notice” advising that “the District has exceeded the maximum contaminate limit (MCL) for both total trihalomethanes (TTHM) of 80 parts per…
No water tax and more funds for rainy day On June 27, three days before fiscal year 2018-19 began, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the budget bill — his last budget. He expressed a lot of pride on how California’s financial condition has improved in the past seven years. In particular, the state now has a…
Last month, Riverside County agricultural officials warned residents to protect their animals from virulent Newcastle disease. Last week, they announced that a confirmed case of virulent Newcastle disease was found in northwest Riverside County on June 30. The disease affects birds, and can cause serious illness or death in an entire chicken flock in a…
Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Sunday to Saturday, July 1 to 7. Idyllwild • July 1 — Alarm call, 3:09 a.m., Hemstreet. Handled by deputy. • July 1 — Follow-up, 6:17 p.m., address withheld. Handled by deputy. • July 2 — Vehicle burglary, 9:05 a.m., Idyllbrook…
At 4:55 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, California Highway Patrol, Idyllwild Fire and Southern California Edison responded to a solo-vehicle collision into a power pole on South Circle Drive, 130 feet south of Darryl Road. The vehicle, a black 2018 Nissan Versa rental car, was driven by Patrick Souba, 59, of Forest Grove, Oregon. While driving…
On Monday, July 9, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Randall D. White heard two witnesses in the case against Pam Allen, 66, of Idyllwild. California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Bell testified for the prosecution, and the defense witness was Herbert Summers, Ph.D., a forensic engineer. After the testimony and arguments from both the prosecution and…
