Columns

  • Past Tense: Oct. 27, 2011

    60 years ago – 1951 The Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce endorsed county plans for a local building code. 55 years ago – 1956 The Town Crier threw a 10th-anniversary potluck celebration at Town Hall. Everyone was invited to come and “talk over old times and swap yarns about our beginnings on the Hill.” 50 years…

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    Chief’s Corner: About fall …

    I wrote a similar column about this time last year but the message is still very important to your individual safety, your home and the community in general. After 39 years in the fire suppression business, I still can’t predict fire season exactly and I’ve never met anyone who can. However there are a few…

  • Creature Corner: Oct. 20, 2011

    Found: Almost all black male cat near Fireside Inn in Idyllwild. Blue collar. Please call ARF at (951) 659-1122 to identify. Abandoned on the ARF front porch in a cardboard box, alone and afraid, was a beautiful female Maine coon tabby mix we are calling Sweet Pea. A soft mixture of gray, black and white, she will be available soon for adoption. A reminder: It is against the law to abandon your animals. Without a medical record, we have no record of prior vaccinations and rabies shots, which could result in over inoculation.

  • Past Tense: Oct. 20, 2011

    60 years ago – 1951 Native Americans from the valley were gathering acorns in Strawberry Valley, where the crop was tremendous. 55 years ago – 1956 Hill Republicans and Independent voters turned out 134 strong to the Dwight Eisenhower birthday party at the Hillbilly Lodge. Featured speaker was Loyd Wright, Sr., Speaker of the House…

  • Past Tense: Oct. 13, 2011

    55 years ago – 1956 Of the 651 registered voters from Pine Cove to Anza, 384 were Republican, 225 were Democrats, and 42 declined to state their party affiliation. 50 years ago – 1961 Bonnar Blong, local game manager, reported the extreme drought had caused a drastic drop in the number of coyotes, bobcats and…

  • Creature Corner: Oct. 13, 2011

    Come on over to ARF to celebrate because October is Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. Our dogs and cats will be wagging tails and purring tunes all month to help you find the perfect pet. For every dog adoption, we will include dog treats and a CD from Cesar Milan, the renowned dog whisperer, with tips for a new pet in your pack.

  • Before Our Times: Horsepower …

    “Getting there is half the fun.” With summer vacation season well behind us, it may be easier to assess the validity of that old adage. In the case of Idyllwild, and with a suitably elastic definition of “fun,” I think it rings true. Let’s return this month to Florence Casebeer’s “Logbook,” where accounts recorded by…

  • Fire and Forest: Fire budgets and reality …

    Texas has had a terrible fire season. The state has been in a multi-year draught, and this year set a record for low rainfall. Another unwanted record was in heat, in which Texas had the highest average daily temperature through the summer of any state ever recorded. This summer was the hottest and driest Texas…

  • Creature Corner: Oct. 6, 2011

    Come on over to ARF to celebrate because October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Our dogs and cats will be wagging tails and purring tunes all month to help you find the perfect pet. For every dog adoption, we will include dog treats and a CD from Cesar Millan, the renowned dog whisperer, with tips for adding a new pet to your pack. With every cat adoption, we will include a “get started” package that includes cat toys, litter and cat food. Always included, of course, is the forever love you receive from your 4-legged companion.