Hot weather and lower fuel moisture have prompted the San Bernardino National Forest to increase fire restrictions, effective Thursday September 1, 2011. Forest officials are taking these steps to prevent human-caused fires and raise public awareness as the summer continues to get warmer and dryer. Most wildfires on the San Bernardino National Forest are human-caused…
In the second consecutive election, voters rejected the incumbent Idyllwild Fire commissioners and chose challengers to manage the district. Voters also told the commission to find another way to improve its finances before raising taxes. Measure G was soundly trounced. Newcomer Jerry Buchanan and long-time resident, Larry Donahoo easily won the commission seats up for…
The first of the Community Dialogue projects, a Family Mentoring Program got off to a solid start on Monday, Aug. 29. The community dialogues began in response to several hate crimes in Idyllwild in spring and fall of 2010 and a subsequent escalation of graffiti throughout town. The Family Mentoring Program is designed to train…
Idyllwild Arts (IA) has plans to expand its campus facilities, but no ground will be broken or new project started until late spring 2012. A replacement health center will be the first construction. Then, three faculty residences will follow, according to John Newman, dean of students. A multi-million dollar concert hall is part of the…
It’s not just a new sign, although the graphic is strong and provides a new look for the venerable institution. The 88-year-old Idyllwild Pines nondenominational Camp and Conference Center has a new management team and a newly refined message and mission. Headed by a trio of experienced and engaging professionals, Idyllwild Pines is planning to…
Tom Dillon, new fifth grade teacher at Idyllwild School, has a few sleight-of-hand magic tricks up his sleeve that he uses to help students pay attention, improve their observational and cognitive skills and reward them for those little leaps forward that he says makes teaching so rewarding. “I enjoy giving knowledge to kids,” said the…
The 2nd-annual Lemon Lily Festival (LLF) drew a larger audience and organizers learned some lessons they will use to improve the festival for next year. Key organizer Doug Yagaloff reported that based on site surveys, shuttle transport and merchant queries, he believes the festival drew about 5,000 attendees, most of whom were from out of…
Around 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, an alert teacher on her lunch break at Idyllwild School heard a domestic argument in progress at a residence on Saunders Meadow Road, opposite a wing of school classrooms. She then spotted a man with a rifle getting into a truck and driving away from the residence. Despite…
Saturday, Sept. 10, Mountain Disaster Preparedness (MDP) will mount a “boots on the ground” simulation of the aftermath of a 7.9 magnitude earthquake, with an epicenter 2.2 miles east of Banning, in the Pass area. At 9 a.m., MDP will announce over its radio and email systems and through the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services…
Jeral Steven Cooley, 30, of Anza, has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography (Penal code 311.11(B)). Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7. Cooley was arrested on Aug. 15. Investigators and officers with Riverside County’s multi-agency Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force found more than 75 images of child pornography in Cooley’s possession. Cooley…
