Hwys 74 & 371

Don't forget, starting Thursday, traffic between Idyllwild and Palm Desert —

State Routes 74 and 371

Project to Construct Left-Turn Lanes Begins

Riverside County– Hazard Construction Company has been awarded a $406.5 thousand contract to construct left-hand turn pockets and improve the intersection at SR-74 and SR-371

in Anza, CA.

Beginning Thursday, September 30^th, crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 8-week construction project. One-way traffic control will be in effect through the construction site. Minimal delays are anticipated. Allow extra time for your commute.

Thank you for your patience. For information relating to this and other District 8 projects

visit the web site at caltrans8.info or call (909) 383-4631.

Election blog

Our newest blog "Election 2010 — The Hill" is now available. By tomorrow, we will have the links from our home page connected to the political pages. come and visit. Lots to peruse and not just previously published articles.

Also go the blog and offer some thoughts about Election Day November 2!

Authorities seek Lake Fulmor skull ID

Riverside County Sheriff's Department Homicide unit is seeking information about the identity of a man whose skull was found just off Highway 243 about two miles east of Lake Fulmor on May 18, 2010.

Homicide detectives released a composite sketch of the man based on the bone structure of the skull. He is believed to be Caucasian between 20 and 40 years old at the time of death. Detectives, who are treating the case as a homicide, estimate the skull had been at the Lake Fulmor area site for some time. No additional skeletal remains were found, just the skull. Because of the skull's condition, it can't be tested for DNA.

At the time of discovery in May, detectives searched outstanding missing persons reports but found no match or leads.

Homicide is hoping that by publishing the composite sketch and calling attentiion to the case and location where the skull was found, people might come forward with information that could lead to identifying the individual.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to call Investigator Rick Simms at (760) 393-3524 or the Sheriff's homicide tipline website at www.riversidesheriff.org/tipline.

Traffic restrictions Hwys 74 & 371

Road construction on Highway 74 at the intersection with Highway 371 will impede traffic beginning next week and continuing for about eight weeks.

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 30, Cal Trans will be adding a left turn lane from Hwy. 74 to Hwy 371 in the west bound lane (coming from Palm Desert) and pavement improvement.

From 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, traffic will be restricted to one way with a flagger.

The $400,000 project is estimated to take about eight weeks, according to Shelli Lombard, Cal Trans.

Forest Service arrests suspected arsonist in Idyllwild

On Monday, Sept. 20, around 7 p.m., the Forest Service arrested Shawn Lee Westwood, 41, no known residence address, for suspected arson. Idyllwild Fire Department, Forest Service and CalFire all responded to a brushfire incident near Jameson Drive's intersection with Highway 243.

In the course of putting out a small vegetation fire, responders noticed what appeared to be a temporary camp that Westwood had built. Westwood was arrested, charged with suspected arson on a non-dwelling, and is presently at Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta pending a Sept. 23 court date.

Bail was set at $32,500.

Pine Fire Sept 15 in Pine Cove

Pictures of the house in Pine Cove that burned this morning.


Photos by Beth Nottley

Photos of accident on Hwy 74

Shane Fender of the Town Crier was able to take these photos: