At last Wednesday’s finance committee meeting, Idyllwild Fire Capt. Mark LaMont described the budget preparation process and how different assumptions affect the budget request. In her introduction of LaMont, committee chair and Commissioner Nancy Layton said, “He is in the thick of it; officer development and the most cognizant of pay and payroll issues.” Beginning…
Riverside County Firefighters assisted in the rescue of a Pacific Crest Trail hiker in a remote area of the trail near Anza. The rescue was reported at 9:49 a.m. on Thursday, March 10. The hiker was transported for non-life threatening injuries, first by Cal Fire Helicopter 301 with subsequent transfer to an awaiting ground ambulance.
The bail hearing for Frank Gutierrez, 66, of Idyllwild, arrested in July 2015, was held Wednesday, March 9. After reading a report and hearing arguments from his public defender, Melissa McConaghay, Judge Bambi Moyer reduced his bail $50,000 to $200,000. Gutierrez remains in custody until the rescheduled Felony Settlement Conference on Friday, March 18. Gutierrez…
Both men — Ryan Mason and Nickolas Melendez — charged with burglary of the Mountain Center Market in September, have pleaded guilty to burglary. Their sentencing has been deferred. Melendez, 27, of Cabazon has his sentencing hearing scheduled for April 28. Mason, 25, of Hemet had undergone an evaluation for possible residential substance abuse treatment…
The Town Crier’s reporting of propane prices and policies of the six companies that serve the Hill began after reader inquiries. Readers said they often did not understand how prices were set and how they varied from company to company. Beginning Jan. 28, and continuing thereafter every two to three weeks, we queried local providers…
Fire log The Idyllwild Fire Station did not provide responses for last week. Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls, Sunday to Saturday, Feb. 28 to March 5. Idyllwild • Feb. 28 –– Alarm call, Village Center Dr. Handled by deputy. • Feb. 28 –– Trespassing, West Ridge…
Hemet Unified School District announced the registration window for the 2016-17 school year Students Achieving in Fun Environments After School and The Zone middle-school programs. Registration opens on Monday, March 14, and closes Friday, April 22. District schools will be closed from March 28 through April 1 for spring recess. The SAFE program operates at…
The Local Control and Accountability Plan was the subject of a lively discussion at Idyllwild School last week. The LCAP is a product of 2013 legislation that changed the method in which the state allocates educational funds. Hemet Unified School District is preparing its third LCAP and has been holding meetings throughout the district to…
This week, Cal Fire is continuing its prescribed burn at Camp Maranatha. The burn, consisting of 125 piles of brush and slash, was to occur between Tuesday, March 8, and Wednesday, March 9. Residents in Idyllwild, Pine Cove and surrounding mountain communities or anyone traveling on Highway 243 may see smoke from 6 a.m. to…
The National Weather Service forecast for precipitation in Southern California this past weekend proved correct — first rain, then snow. From Saturday through Sunday afternoon, rain fell over the whole region, although the coast and the San Bernardino Mountains received the most rain. And Monday during the morning, late afternoon and evening, snow fell all…
