Arrested in May 2016 on charges of public corruption and embezzlement from the city of Beaumont, former Idyllwild Water and Idyllwild Fire Protection districts counsel Joe Aklufi of Riverside filed a motion earlier this month to dismiss his charges and case for the lack of speedy trial. Last week, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin…
In October, John W. Johnston, 31, of Idyllwild, pleaded guilty to unlawful intercourse with a minor more than three years younger than himself. Earlier this month, his sentence of 112 days in a work-release program was revoked. On Jan.10, Riverside County requested that the work-release time be converted to straight jail time. Judge Kelly Hansen…
Neil Cooper, 42, of Idyllwild, pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges for issuing criminal threats and willful resistance. Judge John Monterosso sentenced Cooper to 360 days in the custody of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Cooper was given credit for serving 180 days. The remainder is to be served in a work-release program to…
At 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, Werner Thatje, 74, of Hemet, was driving eastbound on Highway 74, three-quarters of a mile east of Keen Camp Road in Mountain Center when, in executing a left-hand turn, he allowed his vehicle to drift to the right, according to a California Highway Patrol report. In doing so, his…
Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Sunday to Saturday, Jan. 14 to 20. Idyllwild • Jan. 14 — Alarm call, 7:53 a.m., North Circle Dr. Handled by deputy. • Jan. 15 — Alarm call, 6:24 a.m., North Circle Dr. Handled by deputy. • Jan. 15 — Public…
Last month, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument launched a free reality app for kids and their families. The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service have utilized the Agents of Discovery platform to create a free, educational app to get youth active, engaged and learning about the world around…
The Hemet Unified School District is investigating the feasibility of initiating a new bond measure this year. The measure would authorize the district to borrow between $100 million and $150 million for capital improvements throughout the district, including Idyllwild School. “Right now we are in the feasibility study stage. The only thing we’ve done is…
Late Friday, Jan. 19, John Hawkins, Cal Fire’s Riverside Unit chief and the Riverside County fire chief, was removed from his position. His temporary replacement is Dan Talbot, deputy chief for the county’s eastern operations. “All I have right now is Chief Hawkins is no longer the fire chief and the department has put an…
The Mountain Area Safety Taskforce has created a committee to investigate what actions might be necessary to improve, strengthen and expand the ability to broadcast emergency messages on the Hill. Last month, several county and local officials met at the Idyllwild Fire Station to explore what options might be best to achieve these goals. Concern…
Late Friday, Jan. 19, John Hawkins, Cal Fire’s Riverside Unit chief and the Riverside County Fire Chief, has been removed as chief. His temporary replacement is Dan Talbot, deputy chief for the county’s eastern operations. “All I have right now is Chief Hawkins is no longer the fire chief and the department has put an…
