John Exline has been selected as the new deputy Forest Supervisor of the San Bernardino National Forest. He is currently the district ranger for the Hume Lake District of the Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument in Dunlap, Calif. “John’s extensive 32-year career in the Forest Service and his experience in California make him a…
During the California Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee on Health and Human Services hearing earlier this month, Dr. Howard Backer, director of the state’s Emergency Medical Services Authority, indicated that the administration currently has no plan to maintain three emergency mobile field hospitals in the next fiscal year. These field hospitals can be deployed…
Appeals of the state’s fire prevention fee have been overwhelming. Nearly 10 percent of the bills mailed this fall have been appealed, according to Daniel Berlant, CAL FIRE’s information officer. Consequently, the bills for the 2012-13 fee have been delayed indefinitely, he said. The bills were scheduled to begin mailing April 2. More than 87,000…
U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Palm Desert) announced the opening of his district office in Hemet. The Hemet district office is located at 445 East Florida Ave., Hemet, CA 92543. The phone number is (951) 765-2304. “I have said from the start that I will always put people first, and my office is committed to…
Hemet Unified School District’s S.A.F.E. After School Program and “The Zone” Middle School Program announces the registration window for the 2013-2014 school year. The S.A.F.E. program operates at all elementary sites and “The Zone” at middle schools in Hemet Unified School District. All HUSD after school programs operate each day school is in session. Each…
The Forest Care Program has been granted another season to offer assistance to mountain communities. Landowners within the San Bernardino National Forest still have a chance to meet with one of Forest Care’s professional foresters for a free property evaluation and voluntary enrollment in the reimbursement program. Forest Care has been granted six more months…
Forest Service officials are seeking public comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California national forests (the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino). The proposal would change the land use zone allocations for select roadless areas on the four forests….
An early morning fire on Tuesday, March 12, destroyed a 1500-square-foot residence in the 43700 block of Chapman Road in Anza. The fire was reported at 4:18 a.m. CAL FIRE spokesperson Jody Hagemann confirmed four engine companies and 20 firefighters arrived on scene to find the mobile home heavily engulfed in flames. Paramedics evacuated a…
In August 2011, the U.S. Congress passed legislation to reduce federal expenditures and begin a road toward a balanced budget. Although many believed Congress and President Barack Obama would find an acceptable compromise to these across-the-board cuts, no other solution was mutually agreed upon. The reduced funding began March 1. Eighteen months after passage of…
Hemet Unified School District trustees had some good news and bad news about the district’s financial condition at last week’s board meeting. Vince Christakos, Assistant Superintendent for business services, reported the projected deficit for this fiscal year (ending June 30) is $2 million. The district’s reserves will easily cover this amount. “We’re fine the rest…
