At its March 10 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors listened to County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen’s presentation on the status of the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, and the future direction of the County’s finances. “At mid-year, the County financial picture is stable, but it is tightening,” Van Wagenen said beginning his report. As…...
In the June Primary, Hill voters will be casting votes for many offices. Statewide there is the Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Controller, and Insurance Commissioner. The local elections will be for State Senator, two Assembly districts, the U. S. Congress and County Supervisor. Friday, March 6, was the official deadline…...
In the final weeks of his Presidency, former President Joe Biden established the Chuckwalla National Monument in Riverside County, just south of the Joshua Tree National Park, using his authority under the Antiquities Act. Two recent developments have occurred which may eventually affect the Monument’s future. One involves the lawsuit opposing its establishment and the…...
On March 4, Mega Fire Action, a California-based advocacy group seeking to end so-called megafires, assembled a group of State legislators to discuss a package of bills designed to address problems with fighting wildfires as well as prevention efforts and the post-fire issues homeowners may encounter. In his introduction for the press conference Eric Horn,…...
On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:05 a.m., a silver 2006 Honda Insight was being driven by a 27-year-old female from Palm Desert, CA, and was driving southbound on SR-371, south of Homestead Rd. A 56-year-old male from Aguanga, CA, was driving a black 2016 Toyota Tacoma north on SR-371 south of Homestead Rd…....
One of the main ways that MAST members keep our communities safe are fuel reduction projects, also known as Vegetation Management Projects. At the March meeting, Chuck Weisbart of Mountain Community Patrol made the point that the community does not know how well they are being protected. The network of fuel breaks that surround the…...
On the evening of Friday night, March 13, an RSO helicopter was called for a patient on the Ernie Maxwell Trail in “full arrest,” i.e. without vital signs. The copter hovered but did not lift the patient, who was extracted by Idyllwild Fire Protection District and taken by ambulance to the Keenwild Helipad. A Reach…...
Seventy years separated bassist Dr. Marshall Hawkins and pianist David Lim on stage at Town Hall this week — but the musical conversation between them felt timeless. As the two musicians settled into their instruments, the room seemed to lean closer. Hawkins, 87, coaxed deep, resonant tones from his upright bass while Lim, a 17-year-old…...
Hill resident Jon Zorn has launched an app to help students learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The app, BJJ flash cards, uses a series or “deck” of video flash cards, each of which teaches a different move. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a self defense system, martial art, and combat sport that includes many wrestling or grappling techniques. Zorn…...
On Wednesday, March 4, the Idyllwild Town Crier hosted its first Movie Night at the Rustic Theatre, bringing the community together for a showing of the classic film Back to the Future. The film was chosen for its cross-generational appeal, offering something fun for longtime fans as well as younger audiences experiencing it on the…...
