Idyllwild News

In its final meeting of 2012, the Mountain Area Safety Taskforce heard about several projects and plans, which will bear fruit in 2012.

Continuing what it believes has worked well, the Pine Cove Water District board of directors re-elected the officers that have headed the board for the past several years — President Tom McCullough, Vice President Mike Esnard and Secretary Lou Padula.

Pressured by public concerns over health and privacy issues, the California Public Utilities Commission previously required state public electricity providers to offer Smart Meter opt-out provisions to its customers. Now the utilities are proposing to raise the opt-out charges.

The Idyllwild Fire Commissioners re-elected Jeannine Charles-Stigall as president, Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly as vice president and Jerry Buchanan as secretary of the commission. Fire Chief Patrick Reitz was appointed to be clerk of the board.

On Saturday, Dec. 15, the U.S. Forest Service conducted its first bald eagle count of the winter. Local, federal and state biologists and volunteers participated in the count, which was around lakes in Southern California.

Nearly 18 months after county authorization of an Idyllwild historic preservation district, the local commission may finally be appointed. In July 2011, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors passed Ordinance 578.5, which created the district.

Hill businesses and institutions that will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 25, to observe the Christmas Day holiday: Area post offices BBVA Compass Bank Fairway Market Fern Creek Medical Center Idyllwild Library Idyllwild Pharmacy Idyllwild Transfer Station Mt. San Jacinto State Park These will be closed Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 24-25, to observe the Christmas Eve and Day…