Editor’s note: This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network, supporting astronomy clubs across the U.S. dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.org to find local clubs, events and more. Observers in the Americas are treated to an evening total lunar eclipse in January. Early risers can spot some striking morning conjunctions between Venus, Jupiter…
Cal Fire/Riverside County and Idyllwild Fire departments personnel responded to a report of an injured hiker at Humber Park at 11:37 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28. The incident occurred off of the Ernie Maxwell Trail. It is unclear at this time if the patient was a hiker or a climber. The 20-year-old male patient with a…
The Idyllwild Water District directors continued their pursuit of a senior water manager last week. However, the board is neither unified nor clear on its path. For example, both President Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly and Vice President Peter Szabadi confirmed that the board is not yet sure whether a replacement general manager for Jack Hoagland,…
Directors for the Lake Hemet Municipal Water District gave customers an unusual Christmas gift Thursday evening, Dec. 20. The board unanimously agreed to raise its rates for all customers. LHMWD has two groups of customers — Garner Valley, and portions of Hemet and San Jacinto. About 240 of the more than 15,000 LHMWD customers live…
Earlier this month, U.S. Forest Service firefighting tactics came under attack by Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, which issued a report severely critical of the approach used on the Soberanes Fire in 2016. In July 2016, started by an illegal campfire, the Soberanes Fire burned more than 130,000 acres, including 57 homes. It…
Idyllwild Post Office Officer in Charge Ray Wilson said since the U.S. Postal Service does not receive any tax dollars, a federal government shutdown predicted for midnight Friday, Dec. 21, will not affect U.S. mail. He said customers can depend on receiving and sending mail as usual. The Idyllwild Post Office will be open from…
Winter is just beginning, yet fire agencies are still active and making announcements. The Forest Service has begun a series of prescribed burns throughout the San Bernardino National Forest. Many of these have been and will be in the San Jacinto Ranger District. For Idyllwild residents, the broadcast burn on the Pine Cove fuel break…
Last week’s Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting was notable for several reasons. But one was both sad, good and worthy. The board and the county recognized several important public servants who are departing the public sector. The Sheriff’s Department will lose several senior officials who have watched over this community. Foremost is Sheriff Stan…
With no major fires in Southern California, Hill fire agencies were able to hold the quarterly Mountain Area Safety Taskforce meeting last week. Work on fuel breaks, including burns, were the major topics and some personnel changes will occur in the U.S. Forest Service’s San Jacinto Ranger District early in 2019 as well as Rivereside…
Directors of the Pine Cove Water District re-elected Robert Hewitt as board president last week. Director Diana Luther returns as vice president and Director Lou Padula as secretary. All of the officers were elected to their current board office in August 2015. When Hewitt asked for nominations, Director Vicki Jakubac replied, “I’m happy with the…
