France, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S. have all reported finding a new COVID variant, sometimes referred to as the Deltacron variant. The good news is that is this new variant is rare and appears not highly transmissible while being vulnerable to existing vaccines. It may also be less likely to cause severe disease…
Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation (IAF) President Michael Slocum has shared a message from IAF President Pamela Jordan regarding Idyllwild Arts Academy (IAA) students from Ukraine and Russia. In it she thanks the many who have reached out and offered to help students and families whose lives have been upended by the conflict and international…
Leaks due to frozen pipes was an important topic at the Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) Board of Directors meeting Wednesday morning, March 9.PCWD reported about a 30,000-gallon increase in usage over the prior two years: 2,148,720 gallons in February 2022 compared to 2,118,250 in February 2021 and 2,120,410 gallons in February 2020.“Production was up…
California Highway Patrol Public (CHP) Information Officer Jason Montez reported three recent crashes on Hill highways, the first in Idyllwild and the other two in Mountain Center.At about noon Thursday, March 3, William Austin, 36, of Idyllwild, was driving a blue 1999 Toyota Avalon eastbound on Double View Drive at about 5 to 15 mph…
Officials with San Bernardino National Forest are seeking comments from the public on two preliminary grants submitted to the state of California to help fund the forest’s off-highway vehicle (OHV) operations. The draft applications, based on public and staff feedback given in February, seek to enhance ground operations and law enforcement functions:• Ground operations requests…
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is applying for $264,107 from the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Division Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program funding for law enforcement projects, such as the Hemet OHV Team.The Hemet Station area is about 750 square miles. Most of the area patrolled is accessible to OHV-style vehicles. The…
Idyllwild FireThe Idyllwild Fire Protection District responded to these calls from Monday to Sunday, March 7 to 13. • March 7 — EMS call, provide advanced life support, 9:11 a.m. N. Circle Dr.• March 8 — EMS call, provide first aid & check for injuries, 11:31 a.m. Maranatha Dr.• March 8 — EMS call, provide…
Idyllwild Arts Foundation President Pamela Jordan announced Monday that Craig Sellers has been appointed Idyllwild Arts Academy’s interim head of school for the 2022-23 school year, replacing Marianne Kent-Stoll who retires from the school June 30. A search is also underway for the permanent head of school, who will begin July 1, 2023.Sellers has a…
Riverside County’s Planning Department has proposed major changes to Ordinance 927, “Regulating Short Term Rentals” (STRs). The draft is available for public comment. (See the March 10 edition of the Town Crier for details on the proposed changes.) The existing ordinance was approved six years ago when STRs were raising hackles mostly in the county’s…
By Stephanie YostIdyllwild Community Center President The long-awaited Idyllwild Community Center (ICC) building is soon to be a reality. After many years of planning and fundraising, and then more years of planning and fundraising, the new building is finally on track to be built. ICC, doing business as the original 501(c)(3) nonprofit San Jacinto Mountain…
