Cal Fire performed a successful helicopter evacuation of an injured hiker from the Sunshine Face of Suicide Rock on Sunday, March 19. According to Jody Hagemann, Cal Fire senior public information specialist, Cal Fire was notified by Idyllwild Fire Protection District of the incident and responded at 4:44 p.m. According to the Cal Fire report,…
A jury trial for Frank Gutierrez of Idyllwild has tentatively been set for March 24. He was arrested in July 2015 on charges of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of stolen property and firearms. On Friday, March 17, Judge Thomas Glasser presided over a hearing on Gutierrez’s attorney’s request to suppress certain evidence….
Police activity beginning around 7 p.m. Sunday, March 19, that began in the area of Canyon and Marian View drives in Idyllwild and concluded in the 53000 block of Country Club Drive and Lake Lane was initially reported as an attempted suicide but proved to be otherwise. As reported by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet…
Earlier this month, the California Supreme Court unanimously affirmed what many believed. If a public employee or officer who uses a private device, for example, cell phone or computer, to conduct public business, those messages (texts or emails) have to be disclosed if requested, pursuant to the California Public Records Act. The ruling arose from…
By Marshall Smith Staff Reporter The Mountain Emergency Services Committee monthly public meeting on Thursday, March 16, had a full house. Even though the MEMSCOMM meetings provide general preparedness information, they are generally not well attended. But with “active shooter” scenarios and training provided by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, turnout for the meeting…
The Fern Valley Water District directors agreed to move from water-conservation Stage 3 to Stage 2. General Manager Victor Jimenez told the board, “I wanted to go to Stage 1, but we can’t. The state still mandates for local government to ask restaurants and hotels if users want water. “Our Stage 1 doesn’t have that…
Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington named two Hill locals, Mark Garrett and Ted Janka, to fill the two vacant seats on the County Service Area 36 Advisory Committee. Both live within the prescribed CSA 36 boundaries. Washington’s recommendation went before the full Board of Supervisors for appointment on Tuesday, March 21. With their…
During the public comment period of the March 15 Idyllwild Water District board meeting, Tom Paulek, Idyllwild resident, accused Director Steve Kunkle of a potential conflict of interest. “Steve is involved with the [Idyllwild Brewpub] treatment system and that is a clear conflict,” Paulek alleged. Neither Kunkle nor other board members responded to Paulek’s claim….
After a lengthy discussion on two items, the Idyllwild Water District directors moved forward on the current water-emergency condition status and its wastewater treatment plant. IWD is returning to a Stage 1 Water Conservation Emergency that began September 2013. (See separate story in this issue.) While the current board has rejected the need for a…
Karin Greenwood and Idyllwild Postmaster Kelly Gates worked together to create paper recycling opportunities in the U.S. Postal Service lobby. “Paper only is what can go in the recycling slots,” admonished Greenwood after someone put tacos and soda into the blue recycling containers. “If paper goes into the bins under the sorting stations it just…
