The winter storms severely damaged two local highways, both of which remain partially or fully closed. Highway 74 between Mountain Center and Valle Vista is open daily from 4 to 8 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to midnight. Highway 243 to Banning is totally closed from Lake Fulmor north to Poppet Flats. The result of…
Weather — winds, temperatures and precipitation — plays a critical role in fire behavior and predictions. The recent wet and cold winter and spring may have delayed the arrival of the traditional late-spring fire season, but fire agencies are expecting it to begin before June ends. By the end of summer it could develop into…
Michael Kellner, 26, and James McMahon, 22, both of Idyllwild, were arrested for a series of burglaries. Kellner was arrested at 9:49 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, in the Marian View Drive/Rainbow Lane area. McMahon was arrested at 2:15 p.m. the next day on San Jacinto Road. Both men were charged with burglary and possession of…
Caltrans, in cooperation with Mountain Disaster Preparedness, will hold another community meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Idyllwild School. Caltrans staff, Ames Construction Inc., the California Highway Patrol and Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington will discuss the current status of the repairs and reconstruction of highways 74 and 243 and…
As June approaches, it appears that winter is finally receding from the Hill and surrendering to the traditional seasons of the calendar. Last week, there were three separate “winter weather advisories” issued for the Hill areas. The final advisory was from noon to midnight Sunday, May 26. Snow fell from San Jacinto Peak to flurries…
About 4:15 a.m. Monday, May 20, Frank Ferro’s alarm system at his Ferro restaurant activated, and he tumbled out of bed to go to the Cedar Street location. When he arrived, the light in the office was on and the office window was broken, he said. Not knowing whether someone was still in the building,…
Cal Fire has given the Riverside County Fire Department $766,500 to combat the Gold-spotted oak borer. This is in addition to the $1 million grant last August for removal of dead and dying trees. The county plans to conduct most of the work fighting the GSOB in the Idyllwild Infestation Area. Some funds will be…
In July 2013, the Mountain Fire caused the evacuation of much of the Hill. The fire originated on property owned by Tarek M. Al-Shawaf in Mountain Center. It swept northeasterly along the east side of South Ridge and formed a crescent-shaped burn area that surrounded Idyllwild on three sides. Some homes and other structures were…
The search for John Sturkie will continue Saturday, June 1. Two weeks ago, the initial search discovered some valuable clues, said Theresa Sturkie, his wife of 21 years. John, a 55-year-old husband and father of four, has been missing since Jan. 5. A lover of the outdoors, frequent camper and hunter, Sturkie left his Oceanside…
