Charges against Marcus Green, 54, of Thermal, and against Kristen Lauer, 25, of Rancho Mirage, have been combined into one trial. Green was the driver of a car that went over the side of Highway 74 in May 2016 and resulted in the death of his 5-month-old infant, and Lauer was the baby’s mother. Green…
Acting Idyllwild Fire Chief Mark LaMont has been offered the position of fire chief permanently. Commission President Jerry Buchanan announced the commission’s decision Tuesday night at the conclusion of a closed session. He added that it is still subject to negotiating a satisfactory contract with LaMont. The final decision may still be a few weeks…
“Helen, it got me,” Lee Anderson called out to her friend Helen Hixon of Idyllwild. Wednesday, May 15, the two women were hiking along a road in Garner Valley. They were not on Thomas Mountain or hiking a trail leading to the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail was chosen because of all the wildflowers blooming…
Last weekend, Caltrans extended the hours Highway 74 was available to motorists, even with a pilot car escort between Valle Vista and Mountain Center. However, the discouraging news is that Highway 74’s use may continue as currently permitted for at least two more months. And the opening of Highway 243 is currently unknown. Caltrans has…
The Fern Valley Water District has scheduled a special meeting for 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 28 at the District office. Two items are on the agenda for the morning meeting. First, the directors will review the applications to fill the vacant board seat created when former Director George Rowell’s resigned earlier this…
Caltrans has provided some status information on the repairs and work on Highways 74 and 243. “Additional damage and erosion continue weekly to slopes, culverts and the pavement on both routes,” Friday’s press release said. Work on Highway 74 may require at lease another two months. The storm events in May have reduced…
By Tony McReynolds Maybe they think, “Hey, it’s the woods, nobody’s going to step in it.” Or, “Hey, it’ll decompose and help fertilize the ground.” Or, “Hey, bears go in the woods and nobody picks up their poop. What’s the difference?” The difference is their diet. Bears don’t eat commercial dog food (unless they’ve stumbled…
Two different medical aids occurred in Garner Valley last week. During a training exercise, a Cal Fire captain was injured. He was evaluated and transported to a hospital. “He is improving and doing well,” said Capt. Fernando Herrera. The second incident involved a hiker on Morris Ranch Road. A rattlesnake bit the hiker. Due to…
Kacee Lloyd Monroe, 34, who was convicted in 2004 for the Nov. 19, 2001, second-degree murder of his friend Austin Ross, both 16, and both Pine Cove residents, has been denied parole by Gov. Gavin Newsom. On Oct. 2, 2018, a two-commission parole board recommended parole for Monroe, serving time in the Avenal State Prison…
Hydrant service to be extended The County Service Area 38 (Pine Cove) Advisory Committee met for the first time in nearly a year. At this point in 2018, the committee was formulating its fiscal year 2018-19 budget. Last week, the committee discussed the status of that budget and began preliminary deliberations over the FY 2019-20…
