Idyllwild News

“After the playground,” said Dawn Sonnier, Idyllwild Community Recreation Council chairwoman, referring to other pending board business and the upcoming June 13 through 17 construction of the community playground on the Idyllwild Community Center site. Other business that will wait until completion of the $100,000 plus project includes recruitment of new board members, a decision…

Operating procedures and policies were the topic of last week’s fire commission special meeting and workshop. Commissioner Jerry Buchanan and interim Fire Chief Mike Sherman presented several draft policies, which Buchanan had received from the California Special District Association and modified for application to the Idyllwild Fire Protection District. Policies included filling board vacancies, board…

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department reported the rescue of two hikers, lost in the area of Marion Mountain Trail near Idyllwild. The hikers, Marines who had become separated from two friends after a hike to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto, used a cell phone to call for help around 7:20 p.m. Sunday, June 10….

On June 6, Joshua Benson, 21, of Idyllwild pled guilty to assault of a person by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury (Penal Code 245 (A)(4)). He now faces three years in the state prison system. Benson had been arrested on May 25, two days after the incident, which occurred in front…

Locals Ron Kimmerle, 49, and Taylor Dravenstatt, 20, are charged with felony burglary and receiving stolen property for crimes committed in the Idyllwild and Pine Cove areas. Both are in custody, linked to recent local property crimes by charges filed by the Riverside County district attorney. Both have pled not guilty. The court set bail…

Early Tuesday morning, Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a critically injured man in a late model white pickup truck. Upon arriving at a westbound pullout on Highway 74 west of McCall Park Road in Mountain Center, deputies discovered 21-year-old Jamie Godfrey of Moreno Valley wounded in the vehicle. Deputies were called out…