Tree Monument at Home

It's moved!! Many thanks to David Roy, Mimi Lamp, Nick Todd, the Johnson brothers and all others who have helped. The monument now rests in village center. Come take a gander Saturday before, during or after the Christmas Tree Lighting
Celebration!! Marshall took the photo of them setting the monument in its new site. The next one is from this morning.














This is the morning view from in front of office.

HHS Girls Volleyball

The Hemet High School Girls Volleyball team's dream journey ended last night. Fortunately, they were at home and didn't endure the ride back. But in a very close match Hemet (seeded no. 7) lost to San Diego Canyon Crest Academy (seeded no. 2). The game scores were 25-19, 25-21 and 28-26.

Hayleigh Friemoth elevates for another kill, but Canyon Crest was able to overcome Hemet's best. Even Rosie Robinson had to pick herself up. Photos by DeeAnn Bradley.

Weather this week

Cal Trans warning today at noon:

HIGHWAY	STATUS	REASON	DURATION
All chain restrictions have been lifted – but snow is expected for tomorrow Tuesday, November 23rd – you must carry chains in your vehicle if traveling to mountain areas – it’s the law…	No chain restrictions at this time.		Until next storm.

National Weather Service Forecast (1:11 pm PST Nov 22, 2010)

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 37. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday: A slight chance of rain showers before 10am, then a slight chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. West wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21.

Thanksgiving Day: Sunny, with a high near 46.

Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 27.

Weather Sunday Nov. 21

Below is the morning National Weather Service Short Term forecast. Rainfall yesterday, Nov. 20 was about 1.49 inches at Keenwild and nearly 3.5 inches at Vista Grande.

SHORT TERM FORECAST 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 

643 AM PST SUN NOV 21 2010 

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- 

A COLD FRONT WILL BRING STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS AND
A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS
THROUGH 9 AM THIS MORNING AS IT MOVES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA. 

UP TO FOUR INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG WITH WIND GUSTS TO 55 MPH.
HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW...AND DENSE FOG WILL MAKE TRAVEL HAZARDOUS. 

THE SNOW LEVEL WILL BE NEAR 4500 FEET. EXPECT BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AT LOWER
ELEVATIONS ALONG WITH SOME PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS
AND ON SOME ROADS. 

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT ABOVE 6000 FEET. 

HHS Girls Volleyball Champs

(All photos by Michael Drell)

Congratulations to the Hemet High School Girls Volleyball team, they are now the California Interscholastic Federation — Southern Section Division 4 Champions! The team and coach, Jewel Robinson, hold the championship plaque. Idyllwild residents Gina Drell and Taylor Griner (first two on the left of row one) are ginning widely. Former Idyllwild residents, Rosie Robinson (black jersey row one) and Hayleigh Freimoth (right side of row two) are equally joyous.



Coach Robinson and Athletic Director Dave Anderson with the championship plaque. Although Hemet again won the match in three games, this was the closest match they have had throughout the Southern Section tournament. Scores were 25-16, 25-21 and the final game was 25-23.


Gina (above serving) and Taylor (below) preparing to serve.

Cal Trans chain advice

This is from Cal Trans.

Mountain Travel in Winter Weather

Winter weather is expected this weekend in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. That means it’s time to start carrying chains when traveling in mountain areas. The different levels of chain control are described below.

Snow chains can be purchased at discount, sporting goods, and auto parts

stores. Remember, mountain weather can change dramatically on very short notice.

CHAIN CONTROL REQUIREMENT LEVELS:

R-1: Chains are required on all commercial vehicles (trucks or buses). All other vehicles (cars, pick-ups, vans, etc.) must have either snow tread tires or chains on the drive axle.

R-2: Chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel drives with snow tread tires. Four-wheel drive vehicles must carry chains in the vehicle.

R-3: Chains required - ALL VEHICLES - no exceptions.

Weather Nov. 20 and 21

The weather conditions are becoming foggy (see photo to right) and damp. About .19 inches of rain has fallen at Keenwild Ranger Station since 3 a.m.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for more rain and snow sunday.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 409 AM PST SAT NOV 20 2010

RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS... PINE COVE

409 AM PST SAT NOV 20 2010 ..

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN DIEGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 6000 FEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO MIDNIGHT PST SUNDAY NIGHT.

* SYNOPSIS: A LARGE STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE NORTHWEST WILL BRING HEAVY SNOW AND WINDY CONDITIONS INTO SUNDAY NIGHT.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 6000 FEET. * SNOW LEVELS: 7000 FEET TODAY...LOWERING TO NEAR 4500 FEET BY LATE SUNDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 6 TO 12 INCHES BETWEEN 6000 FEET AND 7000 FEET WITH A FOOT OR TWO ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* TIMING: SUNDAY EVENING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: PINE COVE...ANGELUS OAKS...BALDWIN LAKE... BARTON FLATS...BIG BEAR CITY...BIG BEAR LAKE...FAWNSKIN... FOREST FALLS...RUNNING SPRINGS...WRIGHTWOOD

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST TO WEST 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO MPH NEAR THE RIDGES.

* VISIBILITY: LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE AT TIMES IN SNOW... BLOWING SNOW AND DENSE FOG.

* IMPACTS: TRAVEL WILL BE HAZARDOUS DURING WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. .OUTLOOK: LIGHTER SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY.

· PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

---

Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 840 AM PST SAT NOV 20 2010

RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-

840 AM PST SAT NOV 20 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ALL OF EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. .

DAY ONE...TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT A LARGE PACIFIC STORM WILL BRING WET...COOL AND WINDY WEATHER. THE HEAVIEST PRECIPITATION WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON...AND THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT.

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT ABOVE 6000 FEET FOR THE SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL MOUNTAIN AND DESERT AREAS. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE INNER AND OUTER WATERS.

Tree Monument

The Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce is still planning on moving David Roy's Tree Monument to the center of the village, according to Chamber Director Nick Todd. The move is scheduled for Tuesday morning, Nov. 23.
The above photos were taken during Thursday's attempt to move the Tree Monument. Photos by Marshall Smith



In the meantime, the Chamber and Roy are trying to iron some details, which explains why Roy has placed the "For Sale" sign on the art work.

Photo taken Friday, Nov. 19 by James Larkin

More to follow

winter hours for grinding station

Idyllwild grinding facility winter hours


The Idyllwild grinding facility will be closed on Saturdays from Dec. 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011. Saturday operations will resume May 7, 2011.

Monday through Friday operations will continue uninterrupted and greenwaste will be accepted between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Riverside County Waste Management Department at (951) 486-3200 or visit www.rivcowm.org .

Register of Voters dismissed

Riverside County Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore was dismissed from her position Tuesday.

The dismissal by County Executive Officer Bill Luna came after a lengthy discussion at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting about the ballot count in last week’s general election and how the results were released.

“I appreciate Ms. Dunmore’s service but it is time for new leadership,” Luna said.

Dunmore was appointed registrar in July 2004. The Registrar of Voters is responsible for conducting all elections within the county. The office also processes state and local initiatives, referenda and recalls. Prior to her appointment as registrar, Dunmore worked for 14 years in the Riverside County Executive Office, the last two as a deputy county executive officer.

Beginning immediately, the Registrar of Voters office will be overseen by the county Executive Office, working directly with the registrar’s staff. The Registrar of Voters is a position appointed by the county executive officer.

A process to begin recruiting a new registrar of voters will commence immediately. No timetable has been set for appointing a replacement but county officials will move the process forward as quickly as possible.

RMRU rescues Tahquitz climbers in dangerous conditions

Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU) pulled two climbers off the face of Tahquitz Rock during what Lee Arnson called “brutal conditions.” What began as a textbook rescue on a beautiful Sunday, Dec. 7 night quickly deteriorated “into a full blown technical over the side mission with weather as dangerous as it gets,” as described by Arnson.

Two 23-year-old climbers from Santa Cruz, properly clothed and equipped, began their climb in beautiful weather Sunday during the day on a moderate ascent route and got off track. They wound up stranded 80 feet from the top of the peak, near White Maiden’s Walkaway, unable to go back or forward. “They went into a bad route and got way above their climbing ability,” said Arnson. The climbers used a cell phone to call 911. RMRU mobilized at 7, and had three members in place on the top of the peak by 10 that night. Arnson described rappelling down to the stranded climbers in rain, snow, winds gusting up to 50 M.P.H. and fog beginning to set in, using the voices of the climbers to orient the descending team.

By 3:30 a.m. the climbers were off the rock and at Humber Park thanks to Lee Arnson, Les Walker, and new member Donny Goetz, himself an accomplished climber. “Les and Donny were the technical guys,” said Arnson. “It was gold.”

Manning a Humber communication base and serving as backup were RMRU
members Paul Caraher and Carlos Carter.

Hwy 243 maintenace Next week

Cal Trans is planning maintenance work on Highway 243 next week (Nov. 10 and 12). see below for the details.

Wed & Fri Nov 10 & 12

SR-243 from Poppet Flats to Twin Pines (below Idyllwild)

Flagging

8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Drain repair

Stone to meet about property tax bills

Meetings set for residents in Supervisor Stone’s district to discuss tax bills

Residents in the Supervisor Jeff Stone's third supervisorial district will be able meet with county officials by appointment to discuss property-tax bills at two special meetings in November.

At the request of Supervisor Stone, representatives from the county Assessor-Clerk-Recorder, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors/Assessment Appeals Division and Treasurer-Tax Collector offices also will be on hand to answer questions about tax bills, valuation of assessments, applications for assessment appeals and related topics.

Appointments are limited to 15 minutes each and must be made in advance by calling (951) 955-1030. The meetings will last from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and be held:

Nov. 8 -- Supervisor Stone’s Hemet office, 43950 E. Acacia, Suite A, Hemet in the Riverside County Sheriff’s Valle Vista Station off Florida/Fairview.

Nov. 22 -- Supervisor Stone’s French Valley office at the French Valley Airport, 37600 Sky Canyon Dr., Suite A, Murrieta.

For more information, contact Supervisor Stone's office at (951) 955-1030.

Nov. 3 Highway 243 cycle collision

Around noon on Wed., Nov. 3, a motorcyclist northbound on State Highway 243 just south of the grinding station rounded a curve, crossed the yellow line and collided with the left rear tail light assembly of a southbound tandem multi-axle truck, according to California Highway Patrol officer Mike Murawski.

The bike skidded and came to rest north of the collision point near the shoulder of the northbound lane, closing traffic in both directions for nearly 30 minutes. The driver of the motorcycle, who appeared to be in his 30’s and is unidentified at the time of this writing, was airlifted from the Mountain Center helipad. The Forest Service served as incident commander since they were first on the scene, aided by Idyllwild Fire and CAL FIRE. There is no word of the motorcyclist’s condition at this time.

Murawski cited excessive speed on the part of the motorcyclist as a probable cause of the incident. Murawski acknowledged the high number of motorcycle collisions on Hill highways and noted that excessive speed by the cyclists is the primary contributing factor. “I write them tickets and it’s like a game of cat and mouse,” he said. “They know the [speed] laws. They just choose to disobey them.”