Saturday was the fourth and last bald eagle count of the 2015-16 season. Volunteers and federal and state biologists spotted 12 bald eagles at various Southern California lakes. The nesting pair at Lake Hemet were among the dozen eagles seen this weekend. Five adults and seven sub-adults or juveniles were observed during the one-hour count…
As Riverside County Fire Chief John Hawkins reminded local fire officials at last week’s Mountain Area Safety Taskforce meeting, the 2016 fire season is approaching quickly. “MAST is about preparation and cooperation,” he stressed. “We do all we can in a systems approach to reduce probable threats ahead.” Confirming Hawkins’ statement, items discussed during the…
Standard Mileage Rates Revised The standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck have changed to the following amounts: • for business miles driven in 2015, the mileage rate increased to 57.5 cents per mile from 56 cents in 2014. For those planning ahead, the 2016 rate, for use…
It’s tax time, and the “IRS Tax Scam” is out and about. Actually, this scam operates all year long, and it involves you receiving a recorded (usually) telephone message that “this is your second and last warning” that you owe the IRS money for back taxes and late fees, which you must pay off immediately…
Editor: I was at a food ministry outreach at the coast recently. While there, I had the privilege to speak with a few of the homeless folk receiving sustenance for the week. One gentleman explained that he was an unemployed, heavy-equipment operator, but he said that being in his 70s, no one would consider hiring…
By Brian J. Hunhoff Don’t take it personally? That’s usually good advice, but today we urge the opposite reaction to all government bodies operating in the shadows, purposely avoiding public scrutiny and genuine transparency. In other words, take closed government personally. Please! • Take it personally when a reporter is kicked out of a city…
Editor’s note: Each year, the Town Crier reports the information below for Fern Valley Water District, Idyllwild Fire Protection District, Idyllwild WD and Pine Cove WD. These will run over the next four weeks. The districts provide the information to the state Controller General who posts it on the agency website at http://publicpay.ca.gov/. The information…
One minor crash happened during the last week on Hill roads. At 10:50 a.m. on Friday, March 11, Lisa Greenfield, 47, from Encinitas, was driving her silver 2015 Toyota Highlander in an eastbound direction at the intersection of highways 74 and 371 when she rear-ended a 2012 silver Honda Civic driven by Amanda Rostrom, 27,…
At last Wednesday’s finance committee meeting, Idyllwild Fire Capt. Mark LaMont described the budget preparation process and how different assumptions affect the budget request. In her introduction of LaMont, committee chair and Commissioner Nancy Layton said, “He is in the thick of it; officer development and the most cognizant of pay and payroll issues.” Beginning…
Riverside County Firefighters assisted in the rescue of a Pacific Crest Trail hiker in a remote area of the trail near Anza. The rescue was reported at 9:49 a.m. on Thursday, March 10. The hiker was transported for non-life threatening injuries, first by Cal Fire Helicopter 301 with subsequent transfer to an awaiting ground ambulance.
