A ballot measure for the 2016 November general election, which would allow water districts to restore tiered rates, has been submitted to the state Attorney General’s office. Water districts would have the authority to use their rates to encourage and motivate water conservation. The proposed measure would overturn the recent California Appeals Court decision upholding…
Hill businesses and institutions that will be closed Friday, Dec. 25, to observe Christmas are: • Area post offices (closes noon Thursday) • BBVA Compass Bank • Fairway Market • Fern Creek Medical Center (closes noon Thursday) • Fern Valley Water District (also Thursday) • Hemet Unified School District (also Thursday) • Idyllwild Health Center…
On Wednesday, Dec. 16, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission and its Finance Committee met in a rare joint session. The purpose was to discuss the role, responsibilities, goals and objectives of the committee, originally established as the Budget Committee in November 2013. A new resolution was passed in May 2015 and superseded the 2013…
The deadline for submitting applications for the County Service Area Advisory Council has been extended until Jan. 31, 2016. Opal Hellweg, legislative assistant for 3rd District Supv. Chuck Washington, announced the extension, noting that to date four applications have been received for the five-member council. The council has been moribund for nearly two years. It…
The extremely cold, freezing weather at the beginning of last week took its toll on the water supply in Pine Cove when warmer temperatures arrived Thursday and Friday. Water usage was significantly higher than normal for this time of year, said Pine Cove Water District General Manager Jerry Holldber. Total system demand approached 125 gallons…
Nearly five months after a fatal hit-and-run collision, Lisa Marie Brown, 40, (also known as Lisa Sanchez) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison last week. On Monday, Dec. 14, Judge Helios Hernandez accepted her guilty plea and pronounced sentence. He imposed a three-year sentence for the hit and run and another three years for…
Seven vehicles, in various states of disrepair, were recovered in a sting conducted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Among them was a gray Ford F-150 truck belonging to Idyllwild resident Shane Stewart. Sgt. Doug Untener, of the Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail, reported that Stewart’s truck, which had been stolen…
One traffic collision on Hill roads took place over the last week. This one, at 5:50 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, was a hit and run in Idyllwild. According to Officer Ben Bolon, California Highway Patrol San Gorgonio Pass Station, an unidentified person driving a blue SUV was driving east on Tollgate Road, west of Delano…
The Idyllwild Master Chorale had a wonderful surprise during Sunday afternoon’s performance at the IAF Theatre at Idyllwild Arts. For its annual holiday concert, State Sen. Jeff Stone sent his District Director Glenn Miller (right) to present a proclamation honoring the chorale for its long history of work.
In January, when President Barack Obama submitted his budget requests for fiscal year 2015-16, he included a recommendation to change the funding mechanism for federal firefighting costs. In conjunction with the budget package, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said, “The budget again proposes a new approach to wildland fire suppression. It will treat severe wildfires…
