County closes six hiking area due to wildfire threats
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
Several areas within Riverside County have been closed to public access and open burning suspended because of high potential fire danger. These are two of several steps the Riverside County Fire Department is taking to reduce wildfire threats and prepare residents in case of an emergency, even earthquakes or floods.
The forecast of drier and warmer weather for this summer has increased the threat of larger than normal wildfire in the next several months
At its May 20 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors approved County Fire Chief Bill Weiser’s recommendation to close six areas – Eagle Canyon/ Tin Mine (east of Corona), Steel Peak (north of Lake Elsinore), Bautista Canyon (southeast of Hemet), North Mountain (south of Banning, north of San Jacinto), Whitewater Canyon (east of Cabazon), and the Ramona Bowl (south of Hemet) *Open daily from sunrise until 12:00 P.M.
The closures were effective Sunday, June 15 and will continue until Chief Weiser believes it is safe to reopen them to public use.
In addition, Weiser has also suspended all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Riverside County. This suspension is a necessary step to help prevent wildfires and protect lives, property, and natural resources.
This suspension also took effect Sunday, June 15, and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves. Agricultural burning in the Palo Verde Valley and Coachella Valley is authorized as required for agricultural rehabilitation.
In a press release following the approval of the closures, Weiser explained the need and purpose for this action.
“In the interest of public safety and wildfire prevention, access to these hiking areas is temporarily restricted to protect nearby communities and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic fire events.”
Weiser recommended their closure, except for public roadways and private property within these areas that is inhabited.
Riverside County Ordinance
787.9 restricts public access to identified hazardous fire areas unless private property access is required. It does not prohib-
it residents or owners of private property within any closed area, or their guests, from going in or being upon their lands.
Violators of the closure may be subject to a minimum fine of $100 for firsttime offenses.
“As we enter the summer season, temperatures will increase and the abundant vegetation will dry out. We urge residents to prepare their homes, clear overgrown parcels, and comply with this restriction until it is determined that it is safe to resume open burning,” said Weiser.
While outdoor burning of landscape debris by homeowners is no longer allowed, CAL FIRE is asking residents to take that extra time to ensure that they are prepared for wildfires by maintaining a minimum of 100 feet of Defensible Space around every home and building on their property and being prepared to evacuate if the time comes.
CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department officials encourage all residents to take safety precautions now. RCFD stressed that immediate action can be the difference between life and death.
The department may issue restricted temporary burning permits if there is an essential reason due to public health and safety. Agriculture, land management, fire training, and other industrial-type burning may proceed if a CAL FIRE official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.
The suspension of burn permits for residential landscape debris does not apply to campfires within organized campgrounds or on private property. Campfires may be permitted if the campfire is maintained in such a manner as to prevent its spread to the wildland. A campfire permit can be obtained at local fire stations or online at PreventWildfireCA. org.
Besides its first responder action, RCFD wants residents to be informed of potential or actual threats. This type of critical information is available through the County’s enhanced emergency alert system known as Alert RivCo.
The Riverside County Emergency Management Department’s site is rivcoready.org and to register for alerts visit, www.rivcoready.org/alert-rivco.
Future closures may be implemented based upon weather conditions, fuel moisture, and increased fire threats. Maps for each of the affected areas can be located at https://tinyurl.com/hikingclosures.
For additional information on the areas closed to the public, please contact the Public Affairs and Community Education Bureau at 951-940-6985.
Idyllwild Residents Join ‘No Kings’ Protest
PCWD discovers structural damage to dip tank, may receive county funds for generators, continues conservation rebates and leak detection rewards
By David Jerome Editor
At their June 11 meeting the Board of Directors of Pine Cove Water District approved the budget for financial year 2025-26. The total was $1,326,000, 2% above last year.
General Manager Jeremy Potter reported a low water loss figure for the last month of 4%, a number Director Becky Smith called “awesome.” Potter said that he came to the figure after accounting for water used during flushing and filling the dip tank that PCWD keeps ready for fire helicopters.
Potter also said that the main dip tank at the Dutch Flats facility has “damage to its structure.” The dip tank’s tubular frame is showing splitting and leaks, he said. The tank was pulled out, and the districts portable tank was put in its place. Potter said he thought that the tubular frame may have been damaged during winter freezes, and that he has
See PCWD, page A5
FOR
Nature Center’s ancient “Mother Oak” needs help ...PAGE B1
Bob Krieger, former FVWD director, discusses his tenureKrieger, former FVWD director, discusses his tenure ...PAGE A2
IFPD Board approves $4.7 million budget ...PAGE A2
County Budget hearings begin, deficit projected ...PAGE A3
Forest Service closes two fire lookouts after failed lightening safety inspection ...PAGE A3
County Budget hearings begin, deficit projected ...PAGE A3
Department heads make pitch for more money ...PAGE A3
Over three hundred demonstrators participated in the June 14 “No Kings” event organized by Idyllwild Indivisible
PHOTO BY DAV JEROME
MORE PHOTOS, SEE PAGE B4
Bob Krieger, former FVWD director, discusses his tenure
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
The June 29 meeting of the Fern Valley Water District Board of Directors was the final meeting for Director Bob Krieger. He had served nearly 25 years, including three as Board chair.
At 87, he deserves respite from the water business since he has devoted more than three-quarters of his life to water engineering.
During this time, he and his wife, Susan, have had three children and nine grandchildren.
In the late 1950s, while attending the University of California, Riverside, he grew disappointed with the challenge of their water engineering program.
“UCR didn’t have the program I wanted, so I quit,” Krieger said.
After leaving school, he began work with Albert A. Webb and Associates. During his time at Webb, he worked throughout Southern California and learned much about water and how to move it to be easier for human consumption.
While he realized that his experience and interest were good, to go further in the water field he would need more academic training. In 1960, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley.
He returned to Webb, worked for other firms, even spent some time with Imperial Irrigation District for several years. In 1971, he and Julian Stewart formed and founded their own firm. They limited clients to public agencies rather than private water developers. Charles Krieger, his son, eventually became president of Krieger and Stewart.
Krieger became a FVWD director in 2001. Although he still lives in Riverside City, FVWD is a property owner district, which means eligibility for the Board is limited to owners of property within the District. Simply being a resident is not sufficient as it is in the Idyllwild and Pine Cove Districts.
He has done some research and is not sure why the original founders of the District chose to incorporate in this manner rather than the more traditional water district organization.
No special issue nor incident created his interest in board membership. He had worked with many districts and felt his experience in the industry would benefit the District.
When asked about his highlights of more than 20 years on the Board, Krieger did not point to any specif-
ic issue, rather he immediately mentioned the Board, itself, and the District’s leadership.
“It is the mutual respect among Board members and staff,” he said with pride. “We discuss, we argue, then we find the right common solution.”
He noted that during his time on the board, there have been only two General Managers at Fern Valley –the incumbent Victor Jimenez and his predecessor Steve Erler. Pine Cove Water District has also only had two general managers during this period, but Idyllwild Water has had almost ten in 25 years.
To Krieger, the Board’s camaraderie and cooperation is best demonstrated in how they have made water rate decisions. From his experience, many districts view the usage revenue as funds to pay bills, such as salaries and utilities, or to put in the bank or simply keep them low.
Krieger stressed that rate discussions at FVWD incorporate two other issues that are often not part of the final rate levels. First is the need to use the water rates to encourage conservation. The rates are not simply a means to raise revenue or to cover operating costs, but are also important tools to control the resource so that it is not wasted.
Secondly, the rate process should involve analysis of costs and future plans. “Budget are not just year-toyear. We spent more time discussing long-term plans,” he stressed. To ensure objectivity and a wide view of possible outside issues, the Board has used consultants regularly in the past.
For example, during Krieger’s chairmanship in 2014, a rate increase was placed on the agenda. He strongly urged the use of a consultant to develop options and their evaluation. Even the initial draft was not satisfactory to his standards.
A final study was submitted to the Board in late 2015 and there were plenty of discussions. The new rates were finally approved in January 2018.
“Don’t rush rate changes,” he advised.
He also compared how the FVWD’s board debated and eventually found concurrence with the demise of the long-term water agency on the Hill. The San Jacinto Mountain Water Agency was a joint powers agency. It existed from 1981 to 2013.
Its board was composed of directors from all three Hill water districts. Obviously to take action required consensus, which was missing during its final ten years.
Krieger felt that the SJMWA could have been used to build greater cooperation and improve the availability of water resources on the Hill. However, the other
IFPD Board approves $4.7 million budget
By David Jerome Editor
At their May meeting, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District’s Board of Commissioners approved their final budget for financial year 2025-26. The new budget total is $4,786,250. This is 33% over last year’s budget, but 35% under last year’s actual figures.
In past years, Chief LaMont has left grant revenue off the budget because it is less certain than other revenue. He has also taken an extremely conservative approach to estimating Mutual Aid income, the reimbursements for their participation in incidents and fuels reduction projects outside their own jurisdiction.
This year, LaMont felt confident in including a large tranche of money from their Idyllwild Right of Way grant, the largest grant they have ever received, a line item for $675,000. This grant, through CalFire and drawing on California Climate Initiative funds, was for a total of $939,955, and may be drawn on for five years. Although he held back spending on this project over concerns about federal and state budget uncertainties, he has said that he has been reassured by state officials that the funding is secured and will not be pulled back.
The meeting packet says that IFPD “anticipates purchasing vehicles equipment..throughout June and July” and work will begin “as soon as we obtain necessary clearances…” The largest item is a masticator and
its support vehicles, and the project intends to create defensible space around the highway and major roads in Idyllwild. These spaces will include 19 “Community Refuge Areas” that may be used as shelter if an evacuation, or parts of an evacuation need to be paused as fire crosses the highway.
The Mutual Aid revenue estimate for the coming FY is $1,896,000. This would be less than half of last year’s actual number. The board packet quotes the figures for the last five years: $500,000 in 2020, $1.2 million in 2021, over $2 million in 2022, $1.3 million in 2023, and over $4.6 million in 2024. The figures rise, but not predictably. This year’s estimated number is lower than last year, but higher than the lowest of the last 5 years.
The District’s Emergency Medical Services are predicted to run at a deficit of over $1.2 million, due to low reimbursement rates for Medicare/Medicaid. The rates are determined nationally, and do not take into account the distance and time taken by a medical transport from Idyllwild to a hospital. EMS accounts for the majority of calls IFPD responds to, and the majority of salaries. LaMont clarified in an email: “Statistically we run about 62% EMS and 38 % Fire. However, if you add the structural fire protection fund and the Mutual Aid fund you will note that EMS (expense) totals about $2.5 million and that General Fire and MA (expense) totals an estimated $2.2 million.”
districts preferred to continue as originally constituted.
“Trying to negotiate between water districts got frustrating,” he admitted. “We got tired of rejection. Each district had its own concept of management and believed they had the better process.”
Krieger is optimistic about FVWD’s future. But added this caveat, that it will depend upon the residents. Nearly half of FVWD users are part-time. It grew during the COVID period but has leveled.
“Demand has decreased recently,” he noted. “But the future could go swimmingly! Ultimately it will depend upon how the District grows and how the new customers react to the Board and management.”
At his final meeting, the Director’s Comment period was an expression of gratitude for his service and despair at his leaving.
“We offer a huge ‘Thank you’ to Director Krieger for his decades of service to the District,” said Director Jon Brown. “It has been a pleasure to serve with you.”
“I like your engineering approach. You have provided a lot of good ideas,” said Board Chair Kevin Scott. “Fern Valley has done well and better than the other two districts because of you.”
Solo crash in Pine Cove
By David Jerome Editor
A solo vehicle crash blocked the southbound lane of 243 in Pine Cove on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 10. Officer Johnathan Torres of the CHP provided these details: At approximately 1:15 p.m. a white Nissan Sentra drive by a 45-year-old male from Cathedral City, was driving north on Marion Ridge Dr when it veered off the roadway and struck a utility pole. There were no injuries, and no suspicion that alcohol or drugs played a role.
Bob Krieger
PHOTO
A single vehicle crash blocked the south bound lane of 243 in Pine Cove on June 10
PHOTO BY WALTER GIACOMAZZI
County Budget hearings begin, deficit projected
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
Editor’s note: On Monday, June 9, the Riverside County Board of Directors heard presentations about the budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26, which begins July 1. This is one of three stories covering this topic. The first is County Executive Jeff Wagenen’s discussion of the overall budget and financial state of the County. Another separate story (see below) will discuss several of the Departmental requests for additional funds. The final story (see page A4) will detail Van Wagenen’s recommendations to the board and its subsequent action.
The FY 25-26 budget will return to the Board’s agenda at its June 24 meeting for adoption.
Last week, Monday, June 9, the County’s Executive Director, Jeff Van Wagenen, officially presented the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget to the Board of Supervisors. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, the total budget totaled $10 billion, or 4.2 %, greater than FY 24-25.
However, the Board has significant and direct control only for the discretionary portion, which is $1.3 billion, a $95 million increase over the current fiscal year.
Before Van Wagenen began, Supervisor Chuck Washington (District 3) warned the public that the budget’s overall size, $10 billion, and many programs or agencies with hundreds of millions or billions of dollars, was somewhat misleading.
These large numbers are not indications of high amounts of waste in the budget, he stressed.
“As to the present budget’s, the numbers look big,” he began. “But we are a large county. With 2.5 million residents and more than 73,000 square miles, consequently, there are a lot of services we have to provide. The numbers are big, but I don’t want people to feel there’s a lot of extra money in the budget.”
Emphasizing the Board’s limitations, Van Wagenen said nearly 46% of the total
Forest Service closes two fire lookouts after failed lightening safety inspection
By David Jerome Correspondent
Readers have noted that the Forest Service has closed two local fire lookout towers, Black Mountain and Tahquitz Peak. The closures are announced on the USFS website simply as “site temporarily closed.”
Bob Romano, president of the local Forest Service Volunteer Association, confirmed that the Black Mountain lookout had failed its lightening inspection, and that the Tahquitz lookout was closed without an inspection, based on its similarity to Black Mountain. He said “We don’t know when it will open it again, but we and the Forest Service want to re-open it as soon as possible.”
Jon King, volunteer fire lookout at Tahquitz Peak for eleven years and Black Mountain for nine years, and founder of the San Jacinto Trail Report (sanjacjon. com), explained more fully: “Black Mountain fire lookout tower failed a federal inspection of its lightning conductor system in early May this year. To the best of my recollection this is the first such inspection for at least a decade. The tower was consequently closed within days of having reopened for the season. Out of an abundance of caution, Tahquitz Peak lookout, which has not yet been inspected, was not reopened for the season as planned in late May. Regrettably the expectation is that Tahquitz Peak may also fail inspection. As it is possible to drive up to Black Mountain lookout, the situation there may be easier to resolve. The challenge at Tahquitz Peak, which is the only fire lookout situated in wilderness in the San Bernardino National Forest, is that access is more complicated, both for initial inspection and then for any subsequent repair work that may be needed. Forest Service regulations apparently require all such work to be undertaken by electricians specifically certified in the field of lightning conductors, so finding suitably qualified individuals is also a slow process. My understanding is that cost is not the issue, and that the Forest Service Volunteer Association (which runs the lookout program) has offered to assist with expenses if the Forest Service (which owns the physical structures) is unable to fully cover any costs.”
A request for comment from the USFS has not been answered at press time. The request includes the question: “How important are these towers in providing early warning of fires in a forest that surrounds a resort community?”
budget comes from state and federal sources. If these begin changing this year or in the future, that could impose a significant effect on the budget. Another 30% comes from user charges.
Nearly $4 billion of the costs go for employee salaries and benefits.
For the first time in four years, this year’s discretionary General Fund budget is not in balance. To offset the deficit, Van Wagenen recommended using $73 million from the County’s reserves. If the Board approves, reserves will be $655 million at the end of FY 25-26, still an increase of over $400 million in less than a decade.
The deficit is not the result of falling revenue, although projections do not indicate significant revenue growth. The increases are the result of growing costs, such as new contracts with employees, such as the Sheriff’s Association.
Other actions that he recommended in order to control the County’s financial situation and reduce demands for use of the reserves are a hiring freeze, limitations on filling vacancies, and “just-in-time” funding for some programs or actions.
The hiring freeze would have some exceptions. These include elected departments (e.g., the District Attorney or Sheriff), Department of Public Social Services, Riverside University Health Services Behavioral Health, RUHS Medical Center & Clinics, RUHS Correctional & Detention Health, Animal Services, and the Registrar of Voters.
The hiring freeze will be effective July 1. Van Wagenen stressed that any new offers made before that date would be honored.
Overall health services and public safety are the two areas receiving nearly 50% of the total budget. Of the discretionary funds, public safety is allocated 64%, consistent with the public’s attitude toward County budget priorities.
Department heads make pitch for more money
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
Editor’s note: On Monday, June 9, the Riverside County Board of Directors heard presentations about the budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26, which begins July 1. This is one of three articles about this topic. This story addresses the specific requests for additional funding from several of the County’s Department heads. The final story (see page A4) details Van Wagenen’s recommendations to the board and its action.
The FY 25-26 budget will return to the Board’s agenda at its June 24 meeting for adoption.
At their June 9 special hearing, the Board of Supervisors heard from seven different Department heads. County Executive Director Jeff Van Wagenen had already informed the Board that the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 discretionary budget was not balanced. It would need more than $70 million to be balanced.
District Attorney
Mike Hestrin, the County’s District Attorney, was the first to present his request for additional funding.
Hestrin began by describing two innovative programs that the DA’s office has implemented.
The first is a digital evidence management system and paperless prosecution. His office is using computer technology in order to reduce the time for cases to be prepared and analyzed while in trial and sharing discovery with defense attorneys.
“It’s more important than it sounds,” he stressed. “Agency’s submit evidence to the DA office and it is converted to a ‘trusted system’ archive.”
This is easier for all parties – paralegals, attorneys, and investigative agencies – to access the archives without searching shelves in dark rooms. Another benefit to the county is that less storage space is needed to be rent-
ed, which is a cost savings.
The second innovation is the establishment of a countywide call center, rather than calls going to one of the seven main offices. On an annual basis, more than 100,000 telephone calls are made to the DA’s office. Hestrin also noted that the call center operators are bilingual.
As he finished, Board Chair Manuel Perez (4th District) complimented Hestrin on these steps. “You’ve come up with a lot of innovative services. I think you have integrated your staff into truly more effective work.”
Hestrin’s initial additional funding request was for $7.9 million. He described these monies as “Stay Flat Funding.” This would ensure continuation of current staffing and support resources.
He made two other requests. The first was $984,000 for the DA’s Victim’s Services unit. This is a dedicated group which provides notifications and updates to victims as their cases progress through the criminal justice system. They reach out and keep them informed.
This money would provide for 13 more staff, including senior victim service specialists and office assistants. He also requested $384,000 for six additional paralegal staff. Hestrin has been expanding paralegal staff since becoming District Attorney. This has also helped to reduce the time for case review and process
Sheriff
The Sheriff’s Department also requested additional funding, most would be to keep current staffing, although there was a request for new funding for the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.
The USFS website notes the closure of Black Mountain and Tahquitt Peak fire lookout
“ASK SPIRITUAL WORKOUT”
By Steven Morrison, M.A.
• Editor’s Note: Spiritual Workout is a practice of these 15 concepts: Be Compassionate • Beliefs Matter • Be Present • Choices Abound • Everything Is Energy • Have an Attitude of Gratitude • Intentions Matter • Judgments Separate Us • Listen to Inspiration • Mind & Body Are Connected • Take Responsibility • The Law of Attraction Is Always On • We Are All Connected • We Are Here for a Reason • We Belong to the Planet, Not the Planet to Us. More at spiritualworkout. com.
Dear Spiritual Workout:
I’ve heard you and everyone else say that we have to think and speak our intentions in present tense as though what we’re wanting is happening. “Act as if.” But I just can’t get past how much it feels like I’m lying and I just can’t do it. Is that a question? To be clear, I’m not in the business of explaining how the law of attraction works there are teachers aplenty for that.
Dear Reader: Spiritual Workout is, however, in the business of helping people see how to leverage the law of attraction in a way that works for them since it’s always on and all. So let’s do this Spiritual Workout-style. “Everyone” is telling you how to do something you’ve ostensibly expressed interest in doing and you can’t” so, first off, you’re right: you can’t engage the law of attraction in a conscious manner if you believe you can’t. So the question is about the apparent resistance you have to following the well-worn recipe. I don’t have much to go on here but in my experience, your “I can’t” is sometimes rooted in taking responsibility. In other words, what might you believe you’ll be responsible for, what demands might be placed upon you if you’re no longer the person who can’t” have what you say you want? And sometimes the resistance is couched in some other fear of getting what you’re asking for. If these ideas resonate, then look closely at the range of beliefs that make up your resistance and go from there. That, of course, or give up what you say you want.
Dear Spiritual Workout:
I’m scheduled for a medical procedure next month and am full of uncertainty and angst. The doctors and nurses keep telling me it’s routine to gather more information but it’s also true that anything can happen no matter how routine anything is. Plus it’s not for sure that it will work and I’m not sure I should even do it. I’m spinning and wondering what SW would tell me.
Dear Reader: Spiritual Workout would tell you that the way out of uncertainty is intention, intention, intention — every time. When we are ultra, super-clear about what we want/our intentions, then it is infinitely easier to make choices and decisions that align with our desires and walk away from choices and decisions that do not. In this way, it’s often the case that one’s desire to be strong and healthy produces something like your pending procedure to gather information.” As such, the procedure could readily be seen as aligned with one’s overall desire to be strong and healthy. Absent that clear intention, however, it’s harder and harder to assess what shows up in our lives, which produces uncertainty and angst. So I wonder if, at this point, you might have a larger intention for your physical health and well-being into which this procedure fits — or doesn’t. In other words, is the uncertainty and angst resistance based more in fear or is it a message that, given some overarching intention, simply doesn’t fit? Only you will know what’s true…for you.
• Dear Reader
Send your questions to dearspiritualworkout@ spiritualworkout.com. (Confidentiality assured.) When you’re ready for more, find cutting-edge counseling Spiritual Workout-style for $50/month at spiritualworkout.com
County Sheriff Chad Bianco addressed the Board through a video, since that day he was being sworn in as the Vice President of the California State Sheriff’s Association.
He stressed that the current FY25-26 budget level is “. . . woefully short of adequate.”
Both he and Under Sheriff Don Sharp, who offered more specific comments at the budget hearing, argued that the Department needed $109 million more just to maintain the current level of service.
Almost 70 percent would be for unfunded pension and salary increases due to recently approved agreements with staff, such as the Riverside Sheriff’s Association. Another $14 million would cover the anticipated increases arising from the anticipated Law Enforcement Management Unit contract.
Sharp reminded the Board that these Memorandums of Understanding with the Sheriff’s staff units had been approved in December and were just becoming effective, which is why the request seems so high.
Other program requests included internal service funding, new courthouse security, and backfills for criminal justice staffing.
Nearly $55 million of new funding was requested for the JBDC. This would provide an additional 310 positions and make available more than a thousand additional beds at the Center.
County Fire
County Fire Chief Bill Weiser presentation included two requests for augmented funding. There was $3.5 million total for additional staff, fire marshalls, and a new truck.
Also two new fire stations are planned to be opened in the next year.
Emergency Management
Director of the County’s Department of Emergency Management, Bruce Barton, asked for an additional $332,000 for two staff positions. This would fund an Alert and Warning Coordinator and an Access and Functional Needs Coordinator.
The alert and warning coordinator would serve as the EMD’s main point of contact and coordinate all activities with relevant partners during and in preparation for active emergencies. This includes life-saving alert and warning capabilities to the residents, businesses, and visitors of Riverside County.
The access and functional needs coordinator would ensure that needs, such as transportation for the elderly and disabled, are incorporated into its emergency plans. Specifically, the focus would be emergency communications, evacuations, and sheltering.
Animal Services
Mary Martin, the new director of the County’s Department of Animal Services, and Kimberly Youngberg, assistant director of animal services, made three requests to the Supervisors.
Riverside County has one of the largest animal service agencies in the country, Youngberg said at the beginning. Last year, DAS impounded more than 31,000 animals and the direction looks the same for 2025. Consequently, shelters are overcrowded. Nearly 20,700 animals were saved, 14,000 dogs or cats were spayed or neutered. The live release rate was 71 percent.
Last month, the board also approved a resolution making Riverside County a “no-kill” community for impounded animals.
Between 2008 and 2010, the county staffing for adoptions, foster homes, education and animal behavior was reduced by 57 positions, or 30 percent. Currently, only 15% of Animal Services staffing is focused on life saving programs.
Consequently, DAS made three specific requests for additional funding. The first was for $1.9 million to increase fostering, intake and placement opportunities. This would fund 12 additional staff.
The second proposal was $2.2 million for 22 staff to focus on increasing and improving the adoption of rescued animals.
Finally, DAS asked for $700,000 to improve its outreach and media information for improving adoptions.
Other requests
Both the Public Defender and Housing and Workforce Solutions made direct requests for more money. The Public Defender requested $1 million and Housing asked for $5 million to improve housing in the county.
STAFF CONTRACTED FIRMS WHEN TO REACH US
David Jerome | Editor david@towncrier.com
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Bookkeeping Tobin Ale | Distribution Gannett Publishing rjthomas@gannett.com
Board of Supervisors approves $15.7 million more, other issues await mid-year review
By JP Crumrine Correspondent
Editor’s note: On Monday, June 9, the Riverside County Board of Directors heard presentations about the budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26, which begins July 1. This is one of three articles about this topic. This story addresses how the Board handled the specific requests for additional funding from several of the County’s Department heads.
The FY 25-26 budget will return to the Board’s agenda at its June 24 meeting for adoption.
County Executive Jeff Van Wagenen offered a mixture of solutions to the Board to address the additional needs which various Department heads placed before the Supervisors.
Part of his solutions used the $20 million of unallocated funding in the proposed budget. This was the Augmentation fund.
The District Attorney and the Sheriff requested more than $80 million in additional funding simply to maintain the current staffing and service levels.
Van Wagenen recommended that these needs could and would be addressed during the coming fiscal year. This was identified as “just-in-time” funding solutions. Thus, no current action was required. As the fiscal year progresses, the agency and the executive office will have a more exact estimate of what these additional costs will be.
He did propose using $15.7 million of the Augmentation funding for several specific requests.
The greatest use of these funds was $6 million for affordable housing including the Lift to Rise program.
Another approved large request was the Department of Animal Services request of $4.8 million for 38 staff. The entire Board was advocating funding these programs.
The District Attorney was granted $1.375 million for the Victin’s Service Unit and for additional advanced paralegal staff.
Most of the Sheriff’s request to fund the additional costs of new staff contracts will be funded during the next fiscal year (just-in-time funding, Van Wagenen called it) as the specific amounts are more accurate.
Van Wagenen recommended the use of about $1.15 million from Proposition 172 reserves for the flock camera and security programs
Fire Chief Bill Weiser’s request for 18 additional fire marshals, costing $1.9 million, was also approved.
The Emergency Management Department requests for two additional coordinators costing $330,000 were funded from the Augmentation Fund.
The Public Defender was granted $1.3 million in Augmentation Funds for seven more staff and $320,000 from the Prop 172 reserves.
The $4.2 balance in the Augmentation Fund total will be directed to the Board’s Contingency Fund, which will now total $24.2 million for FY 25-26.
All of the proposed increases, from either the Augmentation Fund or Prop 172 reserves, were unanimously approved.
The new budget must be approved by June 30, and the Board has it on its agenda for the June 24 meeting.
CREST DR
RD
continued from A1
contacted the company that installed the tank to ask if they have built others in areas that experience freezing. The frame, he said, did not have solid welds, there were areas that were caulked, and the metal was painted with what appeared to be automotive paint, and not the twopart epoxy treatment that is now used.
The tank, according to Potter, was paid for by funds from CSA 38 and CalFire, essentially dollars from Pine Cove taxpayers. Board president Robert Hewitt asked Potter to get a commitment from the county for reimbursement before attempting repairs. Potter said he thought that repairs could be done “in-house.”
Potter reported that he had been approached by the county Emergency Management Department, which is inviting PCWD and other districts to apply for grants to purchase generators to keep pumps running during power outages. EMD is offering to pay 75% of the cost, Potter said.
The GM has discussed purchasing more generators recently. The units he has in mind cost around $80,000 each. Instead of stretching to buy one, he said PCWD could now afford two. These would supplement the districts present two portable units. Each generator can power two or three wells, and four generators would allow normal pumping during a prolonged outage. Potter added that two pump sites already have most of the infrastructure to hook up the generators, and the new units would also be portable, but housed in protective structures.
Bi-annual hydrant flushing and valve maintenance was underway, the GM said, and after that crews will continue with meter replacements. Two wells are ready to be overhauled, and this work will be addressed during the coming financial year.
Potter also addressed the unusual static monitoring well figure in last month’s report. In May, the board heard, to their surprise, that the well had risen 48.85 feet, to 27.28 below the surface. This was tentatively attributed to the fast melt of high country snowpack. This month the well was measured at 78.76 feet, an apparent fall of 51.48 feet. Potter said that last month’s figure may have been a glitch. He also thought that the level may have been affected when nearby wells, that were not being used that month, were returned to service. The monitoring well is intended, he said, to show the effects of pumping, but in the future he will double check these figures. Director Smith noted that the total is now 3 feet below April’s level.
The board approved a continuation of their rebate program for the purchase and installation of water saving products. These include: low-flow toilets replacing older units, 50% up to $100; high-efficiency front-load washing machines replacing older units, $50; instant under-sink hot water units, 50% up to $100; rain water collection systems 50% up to $100, with a $200 limit for “large extensive systems.” All rebates must be approved by the General Manager in writing, and must include proof of purchase and installation. There are limits on the number of rebates within one and five years, and maximums for commercial or multiple units. Contact PCWD for more information.
PCWD also offers a reward program for those who spot leaks. Anyone who spots a drip, bubble or spring, or hears a leak, should report it to PCWD. If it is confirmed to be leak in the district’s system, the reporting party will receive a $25 gift card for the local restaurant of their choice. The program, Office Manager Jennifer Hayes said, is popular with customers. It is one more incentive to take a walk and look around.
The meeting also included a public hearing on standby fees for unimproved parcels. There was no public comment and the $30 annual fee will continue as before.
The next meeting is scheduled for July 9. PCWD
Sheriff’s
log
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station responded to the following calls
=== IDYLLWILD ===
-- Sunday June 01, 2025 --
21:27:00 – PUBLIC DISTURBANCE – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243
15:01:00 – TRESPASSING – 5400
*** BLOCK NORTH CIRCLE DR
-- Monday June 02, 2025 -19:50:00 – PUBLIC DISTURBANCE – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
02:05:00 – ALARM CALL – 5400 *** BLOCK NORTH CIRCLE DR
-- Tuesday June 03, 2025 -17:28:00 – BRANDISHING A WEAPON – 5400 *** BLOCK RIDGEVIEW DR
13:51:00 – LOST HIKER – AD-
DRESS UNDEFINED
13:51:00 – LOST HIKER – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
-- Wednesday June 04, 2025 -16:33:00 – ALARM CALL – 5300
*** BLOCK IDYLLBROOK DR
15:47:00 – ALARM CALL – 2500 *** BLOCK FERNLEAF DR
-- Thursday June 05, 2025 -11:40:00 – PUBLIC DISTURBANCE – 2600 *** BLOCK DELANO DR
11:04:00 – ALARM CALL – 5400 *** BLOCK MARIAN VIEW DR
-- Friday June 06, 2025 --
05:54:00 – ALARM CALL – 2600
*** BLOCK ST HWY 243
-- Saturday June 07, 2025 -15:23:00 – 911 HANGUP FROM CELLPHONE – 5400 *** BLOCK MARANATHA DR
08:07:00 – TRESPASSING – 5400 *** BLOCK FOREST HAVEN DR -- Sunday June 08, 2025 -20:30:00 – UNKNOWN TROUBLE
– ADDRESS UNDEFINED
18:52:00 – AREA CHECK – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243
17:41:00 – SUSPICIOUS PERSON – 5400 *** BLOCK SOUTH CIRCLE DR
13:32:00 – ALARM CALL – 2400
*** BLOCK FERN VALLEY RD
04:37:00 – SUSPICIOUS PERSON – 5400 *** BLOCK VILLAGE CENTER DR
-- Monday June 09, 2025 -17:16:00 – SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243
17:15:00 – PUBLIC DISTURBANCE – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
16:09:00 – PETTY THEFT – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243
11:54:00 – PUBLIC DISTURBANCE – 5300 *** BLOCK TOLL
GATE RD
00:35:00 – BATTERY – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 -- Tuesday June 10, 2025 --
21:16:00 – NOISE COMPLAINT – 2500 *** BLOCK INDIAN ROCK RD
18:12:00 – FOLLOW-UP – ADDRESS WITHHELD
16:50:00 – GRAND THEFT – 5400 *** BLOCK SOUTH CIRCLE DR
12:52:00 – TRESPASSING – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 -- Wednesday June 11, 2025 -20:53:00 – NOISE COMPLAINT –ADDRESS UNDEFINED
17:14:00 – NOISE COMPLAINT – 2500 *** BLOCK INDIAN ROCK
10:42:00 – MISCELLANEOUS
CRIMINAL – 2500 *** BLOCK
CASSLER DR
07:38:00 – ATTEMPT WARRANT SERVICE – ADDRESS WITHHELD
-- Thursday June 12, 2025 --
17:59:00 – ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT – 5400 *** BLOCK MARANATHA DR
17:08:00 – ALARM CALL – 2600 *** BLOCK DELANO DR
14:43:00 – CHECK THE WELFARE – 2500 *** BLOCK ALDERWOOD ST
14:37:00 – EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION – ADDRESS WITHHELD
13:20:00 – VANDALISM – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243
12:50:00 – CHECK THE WELFARE – 2500 *** BLOCK ALDERWOOD ST
02:44:00 – ALARM CALL – 5300 *** BLOCK COUNTRY CLUB DR
-- Friday June 13, 2025 -22:35:00 – ALARM CALL – 5400 *** BLOCK CHIPMUNK DR
18:56:00 – FRAUD – 5400 *** BLOCK RIVER DR
14:17:00 – TRESPASSING – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 -- Saturday June 14, 2025 -20:26:00 – BATTERY – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
13:00:00 – TRESPASSING – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 -- Sunday June 15, 2025 -19:45:00 – SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE – 5400 *** BLOCK SOUTH CIRCLE DR
19:11:00 – ALARM CALL – 5400 *** BLOCK VILLAGE CENTER DR
-- Monday June 16, 2025 -09:28:00 – PUBLIC DISTURBANCE – 2600 *** BLOCK DELANO DR
08:52:00 – ALARM CALL – 5500 *** BLOCK FOREST HAVEN DR
-- Tuesday June 17, 2025 -18:07:00 – TRESPASSING – 2600 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243
08:29:00 – SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE – 5400 *** BLOCK NORTH CIRCLE DR
07:06:00 – DANGER TO SELF/ OTHER – 2600 *** BLOCK DELANO DR
04:10:00 – ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT – 5300 *** BLOCK TOLL GATE RD
01:27:00 – NOISE COMPLAINT –2500 *** BLOCK WAYNE DR === PINE COVE ===
-- Sunday June 01, 2025 -21:55:00 – ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT – 5200 *** BLOCK PINE COVE RD
-- Tuesday June 03, 2025 -13:17:00 – AREA CHECK – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
-- Saturday June 07, 2025 -16:33:00 – SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE – 2500 *** BLOCK EAGLE NEST CT
-- Monday June 09, 2025 -21:06:00 – SUSPICIOUS PERSON – 5300 *** BLOCK CEDAR CREST DR
08:46:00 – ALARM CALL – 2300 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 -- Tuesday June 10, 2025 -23:53:00 – ALARM CALL – 2500 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243
20:23:00 – ALARM CALL – 5200 *** BLOCK OAK KNOLL RD 19:46:00 – SUSPICIOUS PERSON – 5300 *** BLOCK CEDAR
09:32:00 – SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE – 2500 *** BLOCK FRANKLIN DR -- Thursday June 12, 2025 -21:21:00 – ALARM CALL – 2500 *** BLOCK ST HWY 243 -- Saturday June 14, 2025 -13:47:00 – FOLLOW-UP – AD-
DRESS WITHHELD -- Sunday June 15, 2025 -17:28:00 – OFF ROAD VEHICLE – 5200 *** BLOCK CHICKADEE LN
=== POPPET FLATS === -- Sunday June 01, 2025 -13:20:00 – FOLLOW-UP – AD-
DRESS WITHHELD
11:48:00 – BURGLARY – 4600 *** BLOCK POPPET FLATS RD
-- Thursday June 05, 2025 -11:19:00 – PETTY THEFT – 4600 *** BLOCK POPPET FLATS RD
-- Monday June 09, 2025 -15:20:00 – ILLEGAL DUMPING –ADDRESS UNDEFINED
10:23:00 – SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
-- Tuesday June 10, 2025 -09:02:00 – CHECK THE WELFARE – 4500 *** BLOCK COYOTE ST
-- Wednesday June 11, 2025 -00:45:00 – SUSPICIOUS PERSON – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
-- Thursday June 12, 2025 -09:36:00 – LOST PROPERTY –ADDRESS UNDEFINED
-- Tuesday June 17, 2025 -13:03:00 – ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT – 1800 *** BLOCK CRYER DR === SAN BERDO NAT FORS ===
-- Thursday June 05, 2025 -21:24:00 – ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
-- Friday June 06, 2025 -22:49:00 – PUBLIC ASSIST –5600 *** BLOCK E ST HWY 74
-- Saturday June 07, 2025 -07:33:00 – PUBLIC ASSIST –5600 *** BLOCK E ST HWY 74
01:12:00 – ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT – 2800 *** BLOCK BONITA VISTA RD
-- Sunday June 08, 2025 -11:01:00 – PUBLIC DISTURBANCE – 2800 *** BLOCK SAUNDERS MEADOW RD
-- Monday June 09, 2025 -13:36:00 – PUBLIC ASSIST – ADDRESS UNDEFINED
-- Tuesday June 10, 2025 -14:58:00 – PUBLIC DISTURBANCE – 6700 *** BLOCK SKI VIEW DR 12:22:00 – TRESPASSING – 2800 *** BLOCK SAUNDERS MEADOW RD 08:33:00 – SUSPICIOUS PERSON – ADDRESS UNDEFINED -- Wednesday June 11, 2025 -21:24:00 – ASSIST OTHER DEPARTMENT – ADDRESS UNDEFINED -- Friday June 13, 2025 -18:38:00 – BATTERY – 5200 *** BLOCK TEMECULA RD 11:40:00 – SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE – ADDRESS UN-
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On the Town
& Entertainment
Nature Center’s ancient “Mother Oak” needs help
By By David Jerome Correspondent
The ancient oak that shades the Idyllwild Nature Center’s outdoor amphitheater is suffering from root compaction from human traffic, according to Site Supervisor Allison Fedrick. Fedrick estimates the live oak is between four and six hundred years old.
“It has come into great stress because of human impact. We have used this tree as a centerpiece at the Nature Center for decades. It is a place that a lot of people come and walk. Eventually all this walking creates root compaction. The roots are no longer growing properly and they are dying. We are hoping to figure out a way to help rehabilitate the roots through aeration, and other methods described to me by a couple of different arborists. We are looking for some funding to do that and we thought we would put out a call to the community.”
Fedrick says there are several signs of the oak’s distress. “Wood ants have developed a giant anthill in the root ball of the tree. They are excellent decomposers. They are a symptom of the tree’s stress. They have been able to develop a home within dying wood, as opposed to healthy wood. When we look at the soil around the tree, it is quite compacted. The ants have started to split the tree. It’s not just the roots, they are climbing inside and up.” On two sides of the tree a cavity can be seen, half-filled with decomposing pulverized wood. “They are just building more and more of an anthill.” Fedrick is looking for ways to keep foot traffic away from the roots. “We probably will temporarily have a fence around it while we undergo this process.” Moving the bench seating is another possibility.
Asked if the tree has a name, Fedrick said that although oaks are technically self-germination and both male and female, the tree has become known as “Mother Oak.” “The Cahuilla thought of her as a mother. The Oak trees provided so much sustenance to the original people of this land.” Fedrick added that the tree still receives annual blessings from tribal elders.
To find out more and contribute to the effort to save “Mother Oak,” contact Allison Fedrick at (951) 836-4893.
IDYLLWILD, CA
Nature Center Site Supervisor Allison Fedrick and "Mother Oak"
PHOTO BY DAVID JEROME
My grandmother gave me a journal. It’s a book full of blank pages! What do I do with it?
She said I can
Journaling is like talking to a friend but on paper!
Sometimes when your brain feels full, writing things down can help you feel calm and clear again. Plus, when you get older, you can look back and see how much you’ve grown!
You
Ask a family member to give you some nouns, plural nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Write these words to ll in the blanks of this silly story. Then, read it aloud to your family!
We came home with many ___________ memories from our visit to the theme park.
We started by riding the _________ boats. We took lots of photos as we floated down the ______________ canal and through a ___________ tunnel filled with singing __________ animatronics.
Then came the haunted house. My dad began to ___________ as we entered the dark hallway. Bats and __________ fluttered around us, and a ___________ ghost popped out of a dusty ______________, making my mom and me ____________.
We decided to ride the huge ___________ coaster together. As our train began to ________ up the lift hill, we had a great view of the park’s colorful _______________ and hedges shaped like _______________. We flew down the first big drop faster than a ______________ __________! I laughed and screamed at the same time as we swooped around curving _____________ and back into the _______________ station.
© 2025 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Je Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 41, No. 29
Live Music
Another Beat Nite at Middleridge Winery. Mick Lynch Jessie Davis and Sarah Hanner brought the poetry, and Paul Carmen and Dr Marshall Hawkins provided the beatitude.
PHOTOS BY MYRA DUTTON
— Marcus Aurelius
Starting out
PHOTOS BY DAVID JEROME
Congegrating outside of Art Dept.
5 year ago - 2020
Past Tense
75 years ago - 1950
A new layout for the Idyllwild brochure was planned at a meeting of the Chamber’s Businessmen’s Committee.
70 years ago - 1955
State Park Ranger Frank Davies reported he would have a six-man crew working on the backcountry trails during summer. Extensive repairs were planned for the trails that were damaged by the September flash flood.
65 years ago - 1960 County crews were adding new corrals and feeding troughs at the Horsemen’s Camp in Mountain Center.
60 years ago - 1965
Lloyd Wood was sworn in as Idyllwild’s postmaster. He replaced Rita Patton, who retired after 26 years of service.
55 years ago - 1970
It was reported that the Big Cedar Glen Property Owners Association was in favor of the new county park, even though members would have preferred the land remain the property of the U.S. Forest Service.
Creature Corner
Last week in Days of Our Nine Lives, the ARF cats celebrated Harley's adoption.
Pepper: So, you might notice things are more, um, roomy around here.
Marlowe: Of course. Harley is gone, and it was very difficult to not notice him, and even more difficult to notice his not being here!
Pepper: True, but can you guess who else is missing?
Rowan: Hmmm. Wait!
Noelle isn't here! Where is she?
Pepper: Adopted! And who else is missing?
Marlowe: Odie! Mama cat Odie isn't here. Was she also adopted?
Pepper: She was, and so was one of her babies. Great weekend, right?
Marlowe: So four kittens are still with us, looking for their forever homes.
Rowan: That's right. But to help fill the void, we now have a precious canine.
Chappy: (trotting into the room) Hi everyone! I'm Chappy, the new ARF dog, but I'm kind of afraid of cats, so do you mind giving me a little space?
Pepper: Not at all! Chappy, how do you feel about other dogs?
Chappy: Oh, I just love other dogs. And I don't care, really, about their size. I pretty much like them all.
Marlowe: And what about those little humans, you know, children?
Chappy: They're just fine! And what else makes me so adorable is that I'm only 13.8 lbs, house trained, quiet, and I just love a lap in which to snuggle.
Rowan: You look kind of like a Poodle.
Chappy: Correct! I am a Poodle, but probably have some other little breed mixed in. Regardless, I'm told I'm very cute. Pepper: So humans had better get in here quickly, as those kittens and you, Chappy, will go fast!
50 years ago - 1975
The Idyllwild Property Owners Association protested new tax assessments by the county, which had doubled and tripled many assessments.
45 years ago - 1980 Idyllwild crime reports were down 20 percent compared to the previous year.
40 years ago - 1985
A 93,000-gallon water storage tank owned by the Pine Cove County Water District collapsed, releasing a 64,000-gallon flood of water onto a two-block area in Pine Cove. No one was injured but several homes and a single car were damaged.
35 years ago - 1990
Receiving nearly $100,000 less than requested in Riverside County augmentation funds, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners voted to in-
crease the special district assessment fee from $20 to $30 for the 1990-91 fiscal year.
30 years ago - 1995
The Hemet Unified School District proposed to discontinue “late bus” transport home for mountain-area students who were involved in afterschool extracurricular activities.
25 years ago - 2000
A 15-year-old Garner Valley boy was hospitalized after being shot in the face with a .22-caliber rifle by his 13-year-old brother. Sheriff’s deputies said they were treating the incident as an accident but that they were still investigating.
20 years ago - 2005
Idyllwild Arts faculty member Todd Carpenter was fundraising for student scholarships. Riding his bike from Idyllwild to Waukesha, Wisconsin, his
plan was to make stops in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin asking for donations in each city. Before he left Idyllwild he had already raised $2,500.
15 years ago - 2010
The Idyllwild Trailer Park was under the county microscope for alleged violations of county code, including substandard electrical wiring attached to trees as well as resident violations.
10 year ago - 2015
After two major earthquakes struck Nepal in 2015, Matt McDonald and his friends traveled from Idyllwild to provide direct aid to victims. During their two-week stay, they delivered supplies, assisted injured villagers, and worked with international medical teams in remote areas.
The Idyllwild Community Fund awarded a $3,500 grant to Forest Folk, Inc. to expand the free Idyllwild Shuttle service, which became especially vital after the Cranston Fire. The grant helped retain the shuttle driver and extend service to the Mountain Center food share, while additional funds supported fire victims through the Idyllwild HELP Center.
1 year ago - 2024
The Idyllwild Forest Health Project appointed Veronica Aragón as volunteer coordinator to expand its Mountain Communities Mutual Aid program. With support from a new grant, the organization aims to increase volunteer involvement and launch initiatives addressing broader community needs beyond food security.
This week's Creature Corner is sponsored by Lola Thomas. Would you like to be a sponsor? Please let us know! Be sure to keep up with the animal antics of Days of our Nine Lives each week. And please stop in to say hello to the entire adoptable cast at the ARF House, 26890 Hwy 243. ARF is open Saturdays 10-3, Sundays 10-2, and during the week by appointment. Please call 951-659-1122.
Churches & Spiritual Centers Directory
Idyllwildof
Associates Vote Fund for Campus, Town Crier 1969
SOURCE NEWSBANK ARCHIVE
FRIDAY, JUNE 20th, 11:30 am
Please join Riverside County Supervisors Chuck Washington and V. Manuel Perez at the dedication and ribbon cutting of the long-awaited new ICC community center building, located at 54201 Ridgeview Dr. (next to the Community Playground). Everyone is welcome to the celebration!
An enthusiastic Dr. Larry Kawano shares astro photography during his talk at the Library. This shot is of the Aurora Borealis.
PHOTO BY DAVID JEROME