Idyllwild News

A self-representing Mountain Fire victim unraveled the $30-million federal case and put the state’s $5-million findings into question. Lawrence Goda, a homeowner-plaintiff in the state-court action that settled last year for nearly $5 million to Cal Fire, and other plaintiffs, confirmed James Nowlin’s information reported in the Town Crier’s Aug. 1 issue regarding the two…

In an effort to further improve communication and cooperation during incidents, the United States Forest Service (USFS), Cal Fire (state and county) and Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) joined forces for a training on July 31 organized by Chief Chris Fogle of USFS, Battalion Chief Jesse Park of Cal Fire and IFPD’s Chief Mark LaMont. …

Hemet Unified School District (HUSD) will continue to increase its security presence during the 2019/20 school year with several new initiatives. This past school year, the district transitioned from a supervision model to a security model and added several physical security improvements to provide a better learning environment for students and staff. In an effort…

Winter and spring moisture drying up Fire season is still expected. After a wet May and cooler than normal June, fire activity in July was well-below the normal level, but fire forecasters expect that situation to change this month and in September. In July, the combination of temperatures above normal and the lack of significant…

The Town Crier’s Membership model — and the resultant increased advertising by businesses and nonprofits — have saved your hill newspaper from the fate suffered by many community papers throughout our country. The New York Times just recently published a sad story about a small-town newspaper in Warroad, Minnesota — the Warroad Pioneer — which…

Woody Henderson Contributor Emergency Supply Kit Tips • Enough food and water to get you off the hill, and then some. Note: you may be asked to shelter in a safe place for hours before you have traveled all the way down the hill. • Keep a map marked with potential routes off the hill….

There could be many reasons the federal court lawsuit stemming from the 2013 Mountain Fire was dismissed. Some of those reasons would be legitimate — “new evidence” justifying its dismissal in the interests of justice would be one. That’s the U.S. Attorney’s/Department of Justice (DOJ) full comment. We have no reason to doubt that it’s…

There were two traffic incidents on hill roads over the last week, Officer Darren Meyer of the California Highway Patrol reports. At an unknown hour on Friday, Aug. 2, there was a hit-and-run on Pinecrest Ave. An unknown vehicle hit the front-end of an unoccupied silver 2011 328 BMW belonging to Laura Sherman of Idyllwild….

Fire restrictions on the San Bernardino National Forest were elevated Tuesday, Aug. 6. Forest officials announce that the changes include limiting campfires to selected sites, increased restrictions on smoking and the prohibition of welding and other open-flame activities without the proper permits. “The wet winter has provided a very mild fire season on the forest…