The U.S. Forest Service is proposing some changes to the Land Management Plan for the San Bernardino National Forest and requesting the public’s input on these changes. The FS considers these administrative changes to improve its forest monitoring during 2016. The changes modify questions about activities on the forest. The answers require data collection for…
On Thursday, March 31, Idyllwild Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service responded to a fire on the Ernie Maxwell Trail. It was about 0.7 miles below Humber Park, and the two fire units extinguished it. “Someone had started what appeared to be a warming fire in a large log along the trail,” wrote Idyllwild…
Three vehicles overturned under similar circumstances and one two car-collision with injuries occurred during the last week on Hill highways. At 2:15 am. Wednesday, March 30, Tom Jimenez, 19, of La Quinta, was driving his 2009 Toyota Camry east on Highway 74 just west of Santa Rosa Truck Trail when he made an unsafe turning…
The Rustic Theatre was filled late Monday afternoon with an audience who came not for the latest comic-book film, but rather to hear about the progress and future of the long-awaited Idyllwild Community Center. Despite several interruptions for applause and a standing ovation for the site’s generous benefactors — Dave and Loie Butterfield —the board…
Editor’s note: The following are quotes from Administrative Law Judge Eric Sawyer’s opinion in his decision regarding the Idyllwild Fire Protection District’s termination of former Capt. James Reyes. Sawyer found the facts presented during seven days of hearings did not support Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz’s decision to fire Reyes. Throughout the opinion, Sawyer refers…
An administrative law judge recommended overturning Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz’s 2014 decision to fire former Capt. James Reyes. But the Idyllwild Fire Protection District commissioners have refused to adopt his decision and want to review the records, including the transcripts for the seven days of hearings. After a series of hearings over the past…
The Idyllwild Fire Protection District Finance Committee is considering a $91 increase to its current unit fee of $65 property owners currently pay, bring the unit fee to $156 annually. At its April 20 meeting, the committee expects to make a specific proposal to the fire commission, which will meet Tuesday, April 26. Increasing the…
According to CHP officer Mike Bell, at 2:10 p.m., Friday, Terease Rocha, 27, of Idyllwild was driving southbound on Highway 243 near mile marker 10 in her 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer. According to evidence at the scene, Rocha crossed the double yellow line causing a head on collision with Michael Yang, 66, of Idyllwild, who was…
Fire log The Idyllwild Fire Station did not report responses for last week. Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Sunday to Saturday, March 20 to 26. Idyllwild • March 20 — Alarm call, 24000 block of Fern Valley Rd. Handled by deputy. • March 21 — Alarm…
The Hemet Unified School District is in the process of recruiting a new superintendent to replace Dr. Barry Kayrell, who announced his retirement in January. A meeting to discuss the process will be held in Idyllwild next week. Several weeks ago, the board hired McPherson and Jacobson LLC from Omaha, Nebraska, to find qualified candidates…
