Jon Alan Kibby, 69, of Idyllwild, passed away Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. He was born April 13, 1954, in Lowell, Massachusetts. Jon had a salt-of-the-earth personality and was loved by all who knew him. He had a huge heart, a great sense of humor, and a love for his family, friends and dogs. Jon was…
After more than 10 years, a transient man responsible for starting the Aug. 7, 2013, Silver Fire in the Poppet Flats area pleaded guilty to 14 counts of recklessly and unlawfully setting fire to and burning, “and cause to be burned, an inhabited structure and inhabited property.” Stephen Patrick Medlock, 58, entered into a plea…
After several years of being dark, the Mountain Area Safety Task Force (MAST) is planning meetings again this year. Participants have included fire agencies, water districts, nonprofit organizations and other groups that have a say in safety issues on the Hill. The public forums are from 11 a.m. to noon the Wednesdays of March 13,…
Local musician Bill Sheppard is enjoying some late-breaking acclaim for work he did more than 50 years ago. Back in the day, his band Stack was prominent in the Southern California area. Stack’s lone 1968 LP “Above All,” re-issued on CD, has been available internationally for 20 years. “They reissue it every time they run…
The Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) honored three former local paid call firefighters (PCF) at an appreciation ceremony at the station Thursday evening, Jan. 18, in the IFPD board room. The honorees are three longtime Idyllwild community members and business owners: Capt. Keith Smith (Harold K. Smith Construction Co.), who served for 40 years (1973-2013);…
The Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) commissioners met for a special meeting Tuesday, Jan. 9. All commissioners were present to hear Chief Mark LaMont present a resolution regarding a grant application to be submitted to the state. The application asks for almost a million dollars to help IFPD complete work on the Bear Trap Fuels…
Oct. 13, 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 446. Now cursive writing or joined italics will be included as part of the educational program for grades one through six. Although it was never formally dropped, writing instruction, particularly for cursive, waned as the use of laptop computers and tablets grew within the school environment….
At its first meeting in 2024, on Jan. 9, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors elected new officers for the year. 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington is the board’s chair for 2024 and 4th District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez is the new vice chair. He served as chair during 2020. Washington last served as chair…
The Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) held its regular board of directors meeting Wednesday, Jan. 10 with all directors present, although last month’s resignation of Diana Luther leaves an empty seat, one of the questions facing the board now. Other matters before the directors included a review of the first half of the financial year…
