Last week, the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources announced that CR&R, the local waste management contractor, was one of five county businesses and organizations recognized for rewriting their environmental footprint and implementing sustainable practices. The Sustainability Award recognizes businesses that exemplify reduction, reuse, recycle and rethink. These practices include composting, energy recovery, renewable energy,…

During the Mountain Disaster Preparedness group’s monthly meeting, President Mike Feyder began to express feelings of discomfort and some trouble breathing. The Idyllwild Fire Department crew was present at the meeting and began to administer aid, including blood-pressure checks and heart monitors. Within minutes, they wheeled him out of the Idyllwild Library’s community meeting room….

Shellie Milne, candidate for Riverside County supervisor from the 3rd District, met with supporters Saturday evening. Milne, a member of the Hemet City Council, and Randon Lane, a member of the Murrieta City Council and its current mayor, are challenging incumbent Supv. Chuck Washington, whom Gov. Jerry Brown appointed last March to replace Jeff Stone,…

The Forest Folk have a new van. The 1999 eight-passenger vehicle came from Riverside County after the group approached 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington. With the new van, Reba Coulter, the group’s treasurer and project director, said they hope to expand the existing shuttle bus service. The shuttle service has grown, she added. On Wednesday…

In the early morning of Wednesday, April 20, an earthquake, magnitude 2.9, occurred about 2 to 3 miles west of Little Thomas Mountain and the same distance south of Baldy Mountain. The quake was at about 4:40 a.m. During the next 12 minutes, another four minor quakes were recorded. Their magnitudes ranged from 0.3 to…

More wildfires and greater areas burned is the forecast for the future as climate change continues. Recently, a new study published in the “Environmental Research Letters” expects fire severity to decrease. Fire severity is the extent of change in the local vegetation one year after a major fire. For example, if brushes and shrubs took…