Last Friday, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency due to the number of dead and dying trees resulting from the four-year drought. He also wrote U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack seeking help to mitigate this forest crisis. “California is facing the worst epidemic of tree mortality in its modern history,” said Brown…
Terri Kasinga, Caltrans District 8 public information officer, confirmed stops signs have been installed by Caltrans on Southern California Edison’s Highway 243 project in the center of Idyllwild. Kasinga noted stop signs now require northbound motorists exiting the one-way lane on Highway 243 to stop before continuing north or turning right or left. Residents of…
At about 1:55 p.m. Sunday, James Thomas, 57, resident of Pinyon, was riding his mountain bike downhill on a dirt trail near Pinyon. Thomas was two-tenths of a mile southwest of Highway 74 and Pinon Flats Transfer Station Roda when, according to Riverside County Coroner Sgt. Brent Sechrest, he hit a rocky patch and was…
On Thursday, Oct. 26, Richard Latka, 56, of Hemet, was convicted by a federal jury in U.S. District Court of threatening a federal officer. Latka threatened to kill a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer who came to the man’s home to ask about trash dumped in the San Bernardino National Forest. In October 2014,…
The Hill has received more rain and for longer periods than Monday night but the 0.76 inches that fell in Pine Cove was the most throughout Southern California, according to the National Weather Service. Idyllwild received about 0.64 inches, which was the eighth greatest amount that night. Vista Grande followed with 0.63 inches, whereas the…
Whatever the current financial situation of the Idyllwild Fire Protection District, the commission is confident there are sufficient funds to continue to cover its payroll through December when its first property tax receipt arrives. Commission President Jerry Buchanan established a committee composed of commissioners Rhonda Andrewson and Nancy Layton to prepare a strategic plan for…
In our Thursday, Oct. 15 edition, we reported that property tax bills mailed to Idyllwild residents of County Service Area 36 contained a significant error — a billing for $35 for streetlights in CSA 27 which is in Cherry Valley. That error had come to our attention on Friday, Oct. 9. We began contacting county…
Fire log Idyllwild Fire Station did not report responses for the week. Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls, Sunday to Saturday, Oct. 18 to 24. Idyllwild • Oct. 18 –– Public disturbance, N. Circle Dr. Handled by deputy. • Oct. 19 –– Alarm call, 54000 block of…
At its Oct. 21 meeting, the Idyllwild Water District board approved two major policy documents. First, the board approved a revised ordinance for water conservation measures. Later in the meeting, it approved a set of new policies for board action. In financial matters, the board also accepted its 2014-15 audit from Rogers, Anderson, Malody &…
Jerry Holldber of Pine Cove was appointed to represent Riverside County Supervisorial District 3 on the county’s Emergency Medical Care Committee. Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington submitted Holldber’s nomination to the county Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday, Oct. 27, meeting. “My interest goes back nearly 40 years when I became a volunteer EMT firefighter…
