Soroptimist International of Idyllwild has scholarship money for women furthering their education or vocational skills. Applicants must be residents of the mountain communities between Twin Pines/Poppet Flats and Anza. The scholarships can be used for expenses at any accredited institution of higher learning when pursuing an associates, bachelors, masters or doctoral degree, or for a…
Funds to help local homeowners replace wood shingles will soon be available. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors formally accepted an $870,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for this purpose. The Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council had submitted the application in 2009 and will manage the funds under the auspices of the county’s…
On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 8, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Cabazon station deputies responded to the Palm Springs Tram regarding a report of two hikers needing rescue. They became lost while hiking at the top of the Palm Springs Tram. The hikers were identified as Alejandro Escobedo, 62, of Austin, Texas and Tracey Pomeroy, 50, of…
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a $15,000 agreement to provide assistance to low-income victims of the Mountain Fire. The state’s Department of Community Services is providing the funds to the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County that can help these people with mortgages, rentals, utility or food costs, according to Colleen Meyer, client…
During the past week, Idyllwild has seen near-record September rainfall. Since Sept. 1, nearly 2.8 inches of rain has been recorded at the Idyllwild Fire Station and 2.4 inches of rain recorded at the Keenwild Ranger Station in Mountain Center. The 70-year average is .83 inches during September. The maximum is 8.3 inches, which fell…
Residents of California’s 36th Congressional District who lost homes or businesses in the recent wildfires may be eligible for federal assistance. The office of Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Desert) is available to assist those affected by damage to homes or businesses with claims to the Small Business Administration. Also, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has…
The mountain burn areas around Idyllwild and Pine Cove will be especially susceptible to heavy rain and flooding this afternoon according to a National Weather Service weather warning issued minutes ago. This includes Bonita Vista Ranch, which already lost two natural ponds to Thursday’s flooding. (See related story below.) NWS Doppler radar continues to indicate…
Cynthia Cowell, Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance public information officer, met with Hill business people last week. SBA is making loans to local businesses that incurred economic injury from the Mountain or Silver fires. Cowell, here at the request of Riverside County’s Office of Emergency Services, explained the details of the process. These…
The U.S. Forest Service reported that the Little Fire, which started Saturday afternoon, Aug. 24, was fully contained Thursday evening, Aug. 29. The fire’s size was 97 acres and its cause is still under investigation. Firefighters continued to improve the fireline and extinguish burning logs and materials within the fire perimeter. The fire burned chaparral…
The turnout for the 2013 Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission election was 37 percent, the lowest since the 2001 election. Registered voters in the district have declined from 1,799 in 2001 to 1,593 this year, which was 44 more than 2011, the nadir. Besides the decline in registered voters, the actual number of votes cast…
