Idyllwild News

LaMont offered Idyllwild Fire Chief position As reported in last week’s Town Crier, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission unanimously decided to offer the position of fire chief to current Assistant and Acting Chief Mark LaMont. Commission President Jerry Buchanan announced the decision after the conclusion of a nearly three-hour-long closed session. It is still…

Continuing a longstanding practice, the Pine Cove Property Owners Association announced its annual donations and gifts to various local organizations. This year’s donations totaled $5,750. The PCPOA membership is 592. “Every year, PCPOA makes these donations to the benefit of Pine Cove members, as well as the wider community,” said Richard Schwartz, PCPOA president. The…

No challenge to re-election of Clark and Schnetzer At a special meeting Monday morning, June 3, the Fern Valley Water District Board of Directors selected James Gates as the fifth director. The other applicant was Fred Hamblin. Gates will fill the vacancy created when George Rowell resigned in April. Gates’s appointment is until December, the…

A 3.3 magnitude earthquake occurred late Monday about 9:34 p.m. The tremor was centered 3.3 miles northwest of Cabazon and 3.6 miles northeast of Banning. Two smaller tremors — 2.3 and 1.9 — followed it within minutes.

Riverside County Fire Department responded to an injured Pacific Crest Trail hiker in the Whitewater area at 8:56 a.m. Thursday, May 30. Three engines and one truck responded but were unable to access the hiker. California Highway Patrol Helicopter 60 was able to reach the hiker and transported the unknown person to an awaiting ambulance…

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…