Mick Lynch Makes Room for Everyone It was in the back of Middle Ridge Winery that Mick Lynch asked my husband Nick Gillett to take the lead in one of his Old-Time Radio Shows. Nick has a degree in physics and had never acted in his life — but Mick handed him the role of an…
Senate Bill 1379, which would require the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to separate the sheriff’s and coroner’s offices by July 1, 2027 passed the California legislature and is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature or veto. Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, whose District 31 extends from San Jacinto to Corona in Riverside County, introduced SB 1379 in…...
After several days of negotiations, the California Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom could not find an agreement on major changes to the state’s wildfire insurance programs. While some minor changes affecting smoke damage (see accompanying story on this page) were adopted, solutions to the major issues of payments and responsibilities could not be found in…...
Last month, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection unanimously approved the final draft of its new Zone Zero defensible space regulations. These will restrict vegetation and other potential flammable items within five feet of a structure. The Zone Zero regulations apply within State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones located…...
Eighty years ago, Ernie and Betty Maxwell sat in the attic of their Idyllwild home piecing together a newspaper. The first Town Crier was four pages long, typed and mimeographed, with artwork by Ernie and, in the issues that followed, headlines and bylines drawn by hand. It was a small operation made for a small…
Dr. Talisin Hammond of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) gave a presentation at the Idyllwild Nature on conservation breeding, reintroduction, and management of the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog on Saturday Aug. 29. Dr Hammond said she is one of eight scientists on the “core frog team” at the zoo. The restoration effort includes…...
By JP Crumrine Correspondent In March, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to establish federal control of state processes for voting by mail, and ordered oversight of citizenship verification of voters. Within days, several lawsuits opposing this action were filed in Massachusetts Federal District Court. Last week, several actions relating to the EO, including…...
The Climate Credits for Southern California Edison customers will appear on their summer bills. This year the full credit is $72. Both the August and September bills will receive $36, or half the full credit. In the past, there was a spring and a fall credit. This year, the California Public Utilities Commission shifted the…...
A fire, alternately named “Panarama” and “Panorama,” closed access to Mountain Communities from Banning on Monday, Aug. 30. According to Cal Fire’s website, the incident was initially reported just after noon as a vehicle over the side near Highway 243 and Mount Edna Road. The vehicle caught fire, which extended into the surrounding vegetation. One…...
Idyllwild’s house-call veterinarian, Lorraine Kassarjian, will soon be taking a trip to Zambia, where she will help put radio collars on wild animals at the Nyamvu Game Reserve. “I’m leaving in two weeks. I’m working on three different projects, collaring Roan antelopes, Cape buffaloes, and lions. I’m working with group of veterinarians and conservationist.” Kassarjian…...
