As 2015 ended, the Hill received its biggest rainstorm in more than year. During the pre-Christmas storm on Dec. 22, the U.S. Forest Service’s Keenwild Ranger Station recorded 2.15 inches of rain and Pine Cove received 2.9 inches of rain. The Keenwild total was almost twice the amount of rain that came during summer storms…
El Niño conditions or patterns, which have recently become daily conversation on the Hill, are not defined by the amount of precipitation. Rather, the National Weather Service defines them as higher-than-normal sea-surface temperatures along the equator from the coast of South America to the central Pacific Ocean.
The strong winds, Saturday, Dec. 26, blew steadily all morning in Idyllwild. Gusts were between 40 and 50 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service sites. But about noon, a tree fell in Fern Valley and much of that neighborhood lost electrical power. As of Monday morning, according to Southern California Edison, about…
Southern California Edison acknowledges a power failure in the Idyllwild-Pine Cover area affecting an estimated 425 customers. Edison estimates that most interrupted services will be up and running again by 3:30 p.m. this afternoon, Saturday, December 26, 2015.
Fire log the Idyllwild Fire Station responded to the following calls, Monday to Sunday, Dec. 14 to 20. Idyllwild • Dec. 14 — No responses. • Dec. 15 — Two walk-in medical aids. • Dec. 16 — Medical aid, 53000 block of Tollgate Rd. • Dec. 16 — False alarm or call, N. Circle Dr….
Before recessing for the holidays, the U.S. Congress passed an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the federal government through the end of the fiscal year (Sept. 30, 2016). This includes $5.6 billion for the U.S. Forest Service, almost $600 million more than enacted for 2014-15, but $116 million less than President Barack Obama requested in…
While business at the Dec. 16 Idyllwild Water District board meeting was routine, the meeting itself was distinctive and noteworthy. Not only did the meeting last less than an hour, but Steven Kunkle and June Rockwell, elected in August, attended their first meeting as directors. In fact, Rockwell was the second on several motions, including…
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…
