Seventeen cities, and one Indian Tribe, contract with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for police services. In the past several years, as the county’s budget problems have stabilized, but not been eliminated, most of the cities have expressed concerns over increasing costs of their contracts. In the past, their options were to negotiate fewer services…
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month in California. Summer brings more motorcyclists on California roads, according to the California Highway Patrol. Accordingly, CHP and the California Office of Traffic Safety are working together to help reduce motorcycle fatality and injury collisions, and to promote roadway safety through education and awareness. “No matter how you travel…
Improvements but still major quality problems The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air 2017” report cited the Los Angeles region, which includes the Inland Empire, for recently achieving its lowest levels ever for unhealthy ozone days and year-round particle pollution. But the region remains among the most polluted in the country. “Our state’s…
Technology certainly changed the way we operate here at the newspaper now from how we operated when I started here in 1984. For one thing, the number of people it takes to produce the weekly newspaper dropped as a result of speed. When I started, a composing department included folk who made up ads using…
Imagine that you run a U.S. small business. You have long-term employees to whom you are loyal and vice versa. You have an anniversary coming up, but it is not one you look forward to because it is that time of year when you renew the health insurance you purchase for your employees and yourself….
By John R. Hawkins Fire Chief Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department A major wildfire is burning below the ridge and above Hemet. You wonder if the fire will reach your house. Then, your mind wanders to your own personal responsibility. You question what will you do if the fire reaches your house. How will your…
The whole state Legislature was busy last week approving bills to move California’s presidential primary to March. Last week, both the Assembly and the Senate separately approved bills that would move the state primary earlier in presidential election years. The Senate bill would move the presidential primary to the third Tuesday in March and the…
Eleven seats up for election There will be summer elections for all three Hill water districts — Fern Valley, Idyllwild and Pine Cove. The Riverside County Registrar of Voters announced the mail-in ballot election for directors in these districts and several other county special districts as Tuesday, Aug. 29. A total of 11 director seats are…
Sunday afternoon, a chimney fire was reported at 55055 Strong Drive. Once the Idyllwild Fire Department crews arrived, they found heavy smoke coming through the eaves. IFD sent five units and several other agencies assisted during the fire. Two engines came from Riverside County/Cal Fire. California Highway Patrol controlled traffic and Idyllwild Water staff, as…
About a dozen people attended the Idyllwild Water District’s Special Workshop Wednesday. The board called the workshop in an effort to learn more about the community’s assessment of the district and its desire for the future. Beginning the meeting, President Dr. Charles Schelly invited feedback from the public: “The purpose is to obtain community input…
