Better Wildlife Control owner Tracy Phillipi said he has captured 25 rattlesnakes on residents’ property in the Idyllwild-Pine Cove area this week. He said one was a speckled and the others all Southern Pacifics, one of the most dangerously venomous snakes to humans and other animals in California. Even more frightening is that seven of…
California Highway Patrol Officer Ron Esparza is retiring. Since 1999, Esparza has served the Idyllwild Area Post. He and his wife Karleen have been Hill residents since 1989. When Esparza first came to Idyllwild, he worked as a ranger for Riverside County Parks. For the CHP, he has worked both in Central Los Angeles and…
Better Wildlife Control owner Tracy Phillipi said he has captured 19 rattlesnakes on residents’ property in the Idyllwild-Pine Cove area this week. Five were caught Wednesday. He said one was a speckled and the 18 others all Southern Pacifics, one of the most dangerously venomous snakes to humans and other animals in California. Even more…
The California Department of Transportation will close Highway 243 next Wednesday, July 6, to complete a rock scaling operation. The work was identified earlier this year when on January 10, 2016, an 18 to 20 foot boulder fell onto the highway near Sunrise Drive/Overlook. It took Caltrans crews three days to break down the boulder…
The revived County Service Area 36 Advisory Committee has scheduled its first meeting for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 8 at Town Hall. The agenda, which has been distributed, is brief for the first session. 1.0 Administrative action: 1.1 Call to Order 1.2 Roll Call: Ginger Dagnall, David Hunt, John Metroka, Wendy Read, and Kathy Wilson…
San Bernardino National Forest fire officials have exempted certain campgrounds and picnics areas from the prohibition for building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire. Individuals with a valid California Camp fire Permit may use a propane or gas cooking stove. These actions are permitted the following campgrounds and picnic areas, listed…
As June ends and fire season begins, the San Bernardino National Forest will implement seasonal fire restrictions effective today, June 30. “Monthly and seasonal weather outlooks predict above normal ‘large fire potential’ from July to September 2016. With these predictions we want our visitors to be able to continue to enjoy their public lands but…
Cal Fire investigators made two arson arrests on Wednesday, June 29. Both individuals are Riverside County residents and the arson incidents were unrelated. Traci Farley, 52, of Piñyon, was arrested for allegedly setting multiple fires in Pinyon, an unincorporated area of Riverside County. She was arrested and booked on 13 counts of arson; along with…
Fire log The Idyllwild Fire Station did not report responses for last week. Sheriff’s log The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls Sunday to Saturday, June 19 to 25. Idyllwild • June 19 — Alarm call, 54000 block of S. Circle Dr. Handled by deputy. • June 19 — Assault…
Twice, arraignments for Robert Pape, 28, and Cristin Smith, 27, have been re-scheduled. The latest arraignment was for June 21 and a new time for the arraignment is now Tuesday, July 5. Both men have been arrested for the 2006 triple murders of Jon Hayward, Vicki Friedli and Vicki’s daughter, Becky Friedli, that occurred in…
