Cal Fire has given the Riverside County Fire Department $766,500 to combat the Gold-spotted oak borer. This is in addition to the $1 million grant last August for removal of dead and dying trees. The county plans to conduct most of the work fighting the GSOB in the Idyllwild Infestation Area. Some funds will be…
In July 2013, the Mountain Fire caused the evacuation of much of the Hill. The fire originated on property owned by Tarek M. Al-Shawaf in Mountain Center. It swept northeasterly along the east side of South Ridge and formed a crescent-shaped burn area that surrounded Idyllwild on three sides. Some homes and other structures were…
The search for John Sturkie will continue Saturday, June 1. Two weeks ago, the initial search discovered some valuable clues, said Theresa Sturkie, his wife of 21 years. John, a 55-year-old husband and father of four, has been missing since Jan. 5. A lover of the outdoors, frequent camper and hunter, Sturkie left his Oceanside…
Editor: Both Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol are integral parts maintaining our safety and ability to travel across our mountain roads. When service becomes compromised, everyone must step up to the plate, commuters included. The facts are simple. Our roads began falling apart long before Valentines Day, with repairs happening only when the collapsed…
Opposition to bill curbing personal exemptions mischaracterized In 2015, the California Legislature passed and then Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill revoking a parent’s ability to exempt their children from the measles vaccine. Beginning in 2016, a vaccine exemption required a doctor’s justification. This year, with measles spreading rapidly again, Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, introduced…
The Federal Communications Commission is alerting consumers to reported waves of “One Ring” or “Wangiri” scam robocalls targeting specific area codes in bursts, often calling multiple times in the middle of the night. These calls are likely trying to prompt consumers to call the number back, often resulting in per-minute toll charges similar to a…
The four-year, full-tuition scholarship honoring Chinese-American singer-songwriter Wang Leehom ’99 will be presented to Zhengxi Zhang this fall. Aspiring music producer Zhengxi is the 2019 recipient of the Wang Leehom Scholarship to Berklee College of Music this fall. The annual scholarship, which was announced in 2017, was created for a talented and deserving musician from…
Idyllwild Fire Here are some of the calls Idyllwild Fire Department responded to recently. • May 21 — Medical aid, 1:08 p.m., River Dr. Transport to Desert Regional Medical Center. • May 21 — Medical aid, 2:51 p.m., 54200 block of S. Circlel Dr. No transport. • May 22 — Medical aid, 5:39 p.m., 54000…
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the severe winter storm in Riverside County that occurred Feb. 13 to 15, SBA Acting Administrator Christopher M. Pilkerton said. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following a request received from…
Charges against Marcus Green, 54, of Thermal, and against Kristen Lauer, 25, of Rancho Mirage, have been combined into one trial. Green was the driver of a car that went over the side of Highway 74 in May 2016 and resulted in the death of his 5-month-old infant, and Lauer was the baby’s mother. Green…
