Recent torrential rains and flooding in Louisiana, the second-poorest state in the country, have again severely impacted children and the elderly. And, to worsen matters, some families who lost their New Orleans homes during Hurricane Katrina, then relocated to Baton Rouge, lost their homes again during recent flooding. Art therapist and Idyllwild resident Karla Leopold…
Executive Director Edwina Scott and President Chris Kramer of the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council, want to revise and bring the Hill’s last Community Wildfire Protection Plan up to date. However, the plethora of fires throughout the state has made it difficult to include the local fire agencies in this effort. Nevertheless, as fall and…
The attorney for Robert Pape, 28, requested to re-schedule his preliminary hearing to Wednesday, Sept. 7. This is the same date co-defendant Cristin Smith, 27, has his preliminary hearing scheduled. Both men have been arrested as suspects for the 2006 triple murder of Jon Hayward, Vicki Friedli, and Vicki’s daughter, Becky Friedli, in Pinyon Pines….
Deputy Mike Vasquez, public information officer at the Hemet Station’s Riverside County Sheriff’s office, confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 24, that the body found by a hiker on Sunday, Aug. 21, is that of Josephene Youssef, 71, of Pinyon. Youssef had been missing since June 7 when she went for a walk from her family’s home in…
Driving under the influence was the cause of the only crash on Hill roads over the last week. At 12:55 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, Ronald Cook, 48, of Hemet, was driving his black 2007 Volkswagen Jetta eastbound on Highway 74 just west of McCall Park Road in Mountain Center when he ran off the road…
Last week, the California Department of Education released the results of the second California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, and once again, Idyllwild School’s performance was better than statewide or districtwide averages. “We did well, scoring higher than Riverside County [students] in every grade level,” said Idyllwild School Principal Matt Kraemer. “And we were…
On Saturday, Aug. 27, a horse and rider tumbled into a deep and steep ravine in the Apple Canyon area. The rider, who incurred minor injuries, is a member of the U.S. Forest Service Volunteers, according to Lt. Dean Spivacke of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Hemet Station. The incident occurred about 3.5 miles up Spitler…
The San Bernardino National Forest will increase the current seasonal fire restrictions effective this Friday, Sept. 2. “Continued hot and dry conditions, coupled with a long-term outlook that predicts no change in weather trends and normal fall winds, have prompted local fire mangers to implement additional fire restrictions on the national forest,” the Forest Service…
On Thursday evening, a sign asking for the resignation of Idyllwild Water District directors Jim Billman, John Cook and Michael Freitas appeared on the property across Highway 243 from Butterfield Commons on Strawberry Creek, future home of the Idyllwild Community Center.
Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Sunday to Saturday, Aug. 14 to 20. Idyllwild • Aug. 14 — Incorrigible minor, address withheld. Handled by deputy. • Aug. 16 — Noise complaint, 26000 block of Hwy. 243 & Tollgate Rd. Handled by deputy. • Aug. 16 — Burglary,…
