“Inadequate quroum.” “Didn’t have necessary quorum.” Either way you say it, it’s stacking the deck, arranging a situation so its outcome fits you. That’s what Idyllwild Water District Prez Jim Billman and GM Tom Lynch did by canceling last week’s board meeting. Why? Because electing officers was on the menu, along with other matters. And…
Most often the press writes about some Brown Act, California’s Open Government law, violations committed by a board or commission. But last month, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors amended its policy on Electronic Media and Use (A-50) to help supervisors and staff avoid an inadvertent violation. Supv. Kevin Jeffries (District 1) observed to his…
Even though the boulder that closed Highway 243 between Idyllwild and Pine Cove from Jan. 10 to 13 is gone — mashed into pebbles now — the effect of this incident still remains. And while the county encourages and pursues planning for possible disasters such as fires, earthquakes or El Niño, the boulder was deemed…
The Idyllwild Water District meeting for Jan. 20 was canceled “due to lack of necessary quorum,” according to the Jan. 19 announcement memorandum from General Manager Tom Lynch. Based on discussions with board members, four of the five directors were available for the meeting. Only Director Mike Frietas was going to be absent and he…
The Board of Supervisors has approved a revised ordinance regulating short-term rentals in Riverside County. The board’s vote was 4-1, with Supv. Kevin Jeffries (1st District) opposing. Supervisors Chuck Washington (3rd District) and John Benoit (4th District) had originally brought the ordinance forward in November. But after two sessions discussing it, Benoit said they would…
Three fresh graves discovered recently on U.S. Forest Service land led to a forensic investigation of the site. The graves, in a canyon near Alessandro Trail and Bautista Canyon Road in the Anza area, turned out to contain canine remains, said John Ladley, Forest Service’s local recreation officer. “When pets pass, public land may be…
A power outage affected the wider Idyllwild area beginning at 7:44 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25. Affected areas included most of Idyllwild, Pine Cove and along Highway 243 to Round Robin Drive past the Alandale Guard Station. Parts of Garner Valley also experienced the outage, which rolled out at slightly different intervals and ended roughly one…
An 80-year-old man from Pomona died on Highway 243 when his car spun out of control and overturned on Friday, Jan. 22. Everett Mitchell was driving his gray 2005 Ford Ranger northbound on Highway 243, 3 miles north of the intersection with Round Robin Drive, at about 9:18 a.m. when, on a curve, his vehicle…
Basketball Town Hall Youth Basketball Coordinator Bob Lewis gave this report for recent games. Division 1 (ages 6-9) On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the Wildcats played the Trojans. Tony Solorio played good defense and grabbed many rebounds for the Wildcats, but Jake Fey played good for the Trojans, scoring a bucket as the Trojans beat the…
Larry and Janet Everitt, artist owners of Idyllwild’s Everitt’s Minerals and Gallery on North Circle, met by chance and formed a relationship based on a shared fascination with rocks, stones and fossils. “We met in D.C. I walked into Larry’s gallery in Georgetown,” said Janet. “He had these antique Japanese woodblock prints. One of our…
