The Idyllwild Community Fund Advisory Committee, continuing work begun when a local couple established the fund in the 1990s, awarded nearly $16,000 in 2017 grants to seven Idyllwild-area nonprofits. Each year the committee awards grants from interest earned from the fund’s principal. The advisory committee, composed of local volunteers, has two primary duties: to grow…
Dwight “Buzz” Holmes, Idyllwild School music teacher, retired after 25 years from a job that has touched and enriched a generation of Idyllwild School students. He taught it all: choral music, instrumental music beginning with woodwinds and brass, then later introducing strings. He produced musical theater productions, often involving every student in the middle school…
At its July monthly meeting, the Pine Cove Property Owners Association announced its annual donations to local nonprofit groups. The single largest gift was $3,000 to the Idyllwild Library for the purchase of a 3-dimensional printer. This was the largest award in the past three years. “This year, we are especially pleased to assist the…
The Manzanita Fire, burning east of Highway 79 in Lamb Canyon, grew to 6,309 acres and was 86 percent contained by 7 a.m. Thursday. Currently, more than 1,300 firefighters, including the Idyllwild Fire Department, are combating the blaze. Three helicopters and eight aircraft are providing air attack. The fire started Monday afternoon. The apparent cause…
Friday, July 1, is when the California tax rate on tobacco products other than cigarettes will increase from the current rate of 27.3 to 65.08 percent of the wholesale cost. The new tobacco products tax rate will stay in effect through June 30, 2018. California voters approved Proposition 56, in November 2016. This proposition increased…
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Chief John R. Hawkins reminds all citizens that Riverside County Ordinances 858 and 787 prohibit the use of any type of fireworks in Riverside County; including sparklers. The cities of Blythe, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs and Indio are allowing the sale and use of State Fire Marshal approved “safe…
A magnitude 3.5 quake, the fourth since June 7 over magnitude 3 to strike near the Idyllwild area, occurred at 6:53 a.m. Sunday, June 25. The quake epicenter was 5 miles north-northwest of Banning at a depth of 8.6 miles. A June 7 quake measured magnitude 3.2 and was near Cabazon, one on June 9…
The full board of directors of the Idyllwild Water District voted to adopt multiple regulations involving rules and regulations, water and sewer standby fees, water and sewer rates, fees and charges and the budget for 2017-18 last week. The votes were unanimous in all but one, adoption of Resolution 738, water and sewer rates, fees…
Matthew Castillo, 31, of Idyllwild, pleaded guilty to inflicting corporeal injuries and a prior conviction within the past seven years. The plea was made Monday, June 26, following the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office’s submission of an amended complaint. Judge Mark Mandio denied probation and sentenced Castillo to two years in state prison. This is…
Arrested in July 2015, Frank Gutierrez pleaded guilty to two felonies and two misdemeanor charges and admitted to several prior convictions on March 30. Judge David A. Gunn pronounced the sentence Monday, June 19. He imposed a low term of two years and eight months for counts 2 (possession of controlled substances) and 3 (marijuana…
