September is National Preparedness Month, and the Mountain Disaster Preparedness group wants Hill residents to prepare for a significantly wet fall and winter. The National Weather Service has forecast that a major El Niño will arrive this fall and continue to affect local weather through spring 2016. On Thursday, the NWS Climate Prediction Center wrote…
Anyone who was near the Rustic Theatre last Friday night knows there were big doings in town. The fire truck outside flying the big American flag set the tone for the afternoon and evening events all in the honor of 12-year-old James Bachmann and his fight against brain cancer. There was something for all ages….
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors has approved the request from the Idyllwild Fire Protection District for an advance of its property tax revenue. IFPD requested an advance of $350,000 from the county in June. The advance will be repaid, with interest, in December and January when Riverside County makes its first allocation of property…
Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington granted the local Forest Folk $2,500 for their shuttle bus service program. These are Community Improvement Designation funds and will be used to pay drivers and purchase gasoline for the shuttle service. Earlier this year, Forest Folk received a $157,000, three-year grant from the Riverside County Transportation Commission…
A 2-acre fire started near Toro Peak Monday afternoon, Aug. 17. As of Tuesday morning, the fire was 90 percent contained and full containment was expected by Tuesday evening. To prevent the fire’s spread, more than 130 firefighters were committed, including two helicopters and four air tankers. Units from Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego…
Diana “De” Eskew is the new vice president of the Pine Cove Water District Board of Directors. She was elected unanimously at the Aug. 12 meeting. Robert Hewitt, former vice president, was chosen president at the July meeting, following the resignation of former President Michael Esnard. Following the filling of its officer positions, the board…
Students have already completed nearly two weeks of the 2015-16 school year. Now parents will have a chance to visit their children’s daytime hangout. The Hemet Unified School District has announced its Back-to-School nights for 2015. Idyllwild School invites parents to its Back-to-School Night Thursday, Aug. 27. The Parent Teacher Association will kick off the…
The heat and dry weather have accelerated the damage to local oaks from the invasive Goldspotted oak borer. According to Greg Bratcher, Cal Fire’s unit forester for the San Jacinto Mountains, another 18 trees have been identified as GSOB victims. Of these, 11 will be cut down and six were recommended for spraying. This…
Karen Epperly appeared in court Monday, Aug. 3. Pursuant to her agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, she began paying fines, penalties and restitution for her embezzlement. Epperly, 50, of Idyllwild, pleaded guilty to embezzlement on July 21. Sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 3. She was initially charged in December 2013. With the…
The Anza Fire, which started Monday, Aug. 10, was fully contained, Saturday, Aug. 15. The fire, which was actually in the Piñyon area, burned a total of 543 acres over the five days. It started when a motor home caught fire and pulled to the side of Highway 74. The initial response to the fire…
