On Friday, May 20, Randy Moore, chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), announced, “… Today, because of the current extreme wildfire risk conditions in the field, I am initiating a pause on prescribed fire operations on National Forest System lands while we conduct a 90-day review of protocols, decision support tools and practices ahead…
California has already experienced an unusually early start to fire season amid an ongoing drought and historically low rainfall and reservoir levels. While wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, the fire season in California and across the West is starting earlier and ending later each year. Warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced snowpack,…
As pointed out last week, if you are a Town Crier Member you’re not limited to the print-on-paper version, you also have access to the TC’s online versions, which are real, complete newspapers you can read on computer monitor, laptop, tablet or cellphone. But we must know your email address so you can be included…
Dear editor:I’m as surprised as you may be, but I feel moved to offer kudos to Southern California Edison.Over the last few years, SCE has proactively sent numerous convoys up the Hill to repair or replace aging, inadequate equipment. Although this has meant frequent scheduled interruptions in service, it has also resulted in a sharp…
By David GotfredsonInvestigative ProducerCBS8 Editor’s note: David Gotfredson has given the Town Crier permission to republish this story.The former boyfriend of Dia Abrams, the woman who went missing almost two years ago from her ranch near Idyllwild, will have to continue to register as a sex offender.Keith Harper represented himself in court Tuesday, May 17,…
On May 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his revised fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 budget. For the first time, the state budget exceeded $300 billion. His January proposed budget was $286.5 million. Total expenditures approach $227.4 billion and revenues are forecast to be $222.6 billion.The estimated $15.4 billion surplus from FY 2021-22 plus new revenues is…
At the May 17 meeting of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen reported that at the end of June, the county’s projected deficit in discretionary funds for fiscal year (FY) 2021-22 would be $3 million, significantly less than the projection when the budget was adopted nearly a year ago.He…
Idyllwild FireThe Idyllwild Fire Protection District responded to these calls from Monday to Sunday, May 16 to 22. • May 14 — Public service assistance, 10:24 a.m. Maranatha Dr.• May 14 — EMS call, provide basic life support, 23:52 p.m. Village Center Dr.• May 14 — Power line down, 3:53 p.m. Tollgate Rd.• May 14…
The California Department of Insurance (CDI) is rolling out new regulations mandating that insurers in the state offer discounts to policyholders who undertake fire hazard mitigation and structure “hardening.” The rules are intended to make decisions about rate and risk more transparent and more tuned to the specific risk of an individual property, as opposed…
The Lake Hemet Municipal Water District (LHMWD) Board of Directors restated its declaration of a water shortage emergency, Ordinance No. 176, last Thursday, an ordinance that was adopted Aug. 20, 2015.The restated Ordinance 176 was passed, 4-1, with Director David Jorgensen voting against.The ordinance “restricts new or additional service connections.” It acknowledges that California continues…
