Both the California Highway Patrol and Cal Trans emphasize that the highways to Idyllwild have suffered significant damage in the past week. The large snowfall Wednesday and Thursday exacerbated the situation and created more dangerous opportunities. Therefore access to Idyllwild and Pine Cove will be strictly controlled. CHP will establish a checkpoint on Hwy. 74…
With military-honed skill and at great personal risk, Garner Valley resident Ronnie N. Imel delivered the most important Valentine neighbor Kathleen Walker had ever received. He saved her life. Imel is a modest man and was reluctant to discuss the rescue, saying it felt awkward to call attention to himself. But after several questions, he…
Wednesday night, a major traffic jam occurred on Highway 74, east of its intersection with Hwy. 371. The California Highway Patrol reported that between 20 and 50 vehicles were stuck on the highway on ice and snow. Hwy 74 remained closed until late this morning, Thursday, Feb. 21. However, chain control is in effect according…
Editor’s note: Each year, the Town Crier reports the information below for the three local water districts — Fern Valley, Idyllwild and Pine Cove — and the Idyllwild Fire Protection. The FVWD information appeared in the Feb. 14 issue and the IWD information was in the Feb. 7 issue. IFPD will appear next week. Each…
Cal Fire/Riverside County Here are some of the calls Cal Fire/Riverside County responded to recently. • Feb. 12 — Traffic collision, 2 motorcycles, 1:25 p.m. Unknown location. • Feb. 12 — Non-injury traffic collision, 1:29 p.m. Hwy. 74 and Bee Canyon Truck Trail. • Feb. 12 — Medical aid, 8:53 p.m. Hwy. 243. • Feb….
Winter storm conditions — snow, ice and road closures — have contributed to Hill vehicle crashes over the last week. At 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, Luis Ronquillo, 60, of San Jacinto, was operating a highway construction vehicle on Highway 243, 12 feet north of McGovern Road in Pine Cove. Ronquillo was backing the vehicle…
Directors of the Idyllwild Water District met Wednesday, Feb. 13, to discuss both short- and long-term goals for new General Manager Michael Creighton. Each director offered his ideas for goals, and Creighton made some general comments and will provide a proposed plan at the Feb. 20 meeting. Director David Hunt offered three short-term and three…
January water production was up in the Pine Cove Water District compared to January 2018, General Manager Jerry Holldber told the board at its Feb. 13 meeting. “The January production was a little more water than the last couple of years,” he said. “There have been a few leaks for people [customers], not us.” He…
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department reported that the body of Piotr Hopper-Jasinski, 62, of Idyllwild, who went missing from his South Circle Drive home Monday evening, Feb. 18, was found behind Fairway Market about noon Wednesday, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Ken Reichle. The department posted a flier on its website and…
Repairs may take weeks and months Roads into Idyllwild were closed for the second time in six months. This isolation is the result of an atmospheric river overflowing onto Southern California. In late July and early August, the Cranston Fire caused the closure of highways 74 and 243. The latter was opened when the fire…
