Casey Abrams voting alert: American Idol voting procedure for Tuesday, March 1

On Tuesday, March 1 the top 12 men sing for viewer votes for the first time this season. The 12 male semifinalists will perform Tuesday, March 1 8/7c, and the 12 female semifinalists will perform Wednesday, March 2 8/7c on FOX. Then, tune in to see who America picks to become a finalist on the season’s first LIVE results show Thursday, March 3 8/7c.

At the end of each performance show, the phone lines will open for at least two hours and American Idol viewers will be able to vote for their favorite contestant(s) via the branded toll-free telephone numbers (1-866-IDOLS-01, -02, etc.). AT&T wireless subscribers can use their cell phones to vote by texting the word “VOTE” to the four-digit short code (5701, 5702, etc.) that corresponds with the contestant of their choice. Additionally, fans will be able to cast their votes online right here on AmericanIdol.com.

To vote online during the voting window, fans should visit americanidol.com and follow the directions. Fans will be required to log in using their Facebook account to access the American Idol voting page, which will feature the name and photo of each of the current contestants. To vote, fans will simply choose their favorite contestant, complete the security verification and submit their choice. After each performance show and during the online voting window, fans may cast up to 50 total online votes for that evening's performances. Only fans with a registered Facebook account in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be able to cast their vote(s) online.

Weather the week of Feb. 28

According to the National Weather Service, the sun and snow will be here for a many days:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 38. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.

Monday: Sunny, with a high near 46. East wind around 5 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. West wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 54.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 60.

Lauren "Skeleton" Salter earns a medal

Idylwild's lauren Salter competed in the 31st Empire State Winter Games, which is a pretty big deal in the state of New York (as you can guess from the title). In a field of 13 women, she placed third, winning the bronze medal, only 0.67 seconds behind the leader.

Snow at 5,300 feet Sunday, Feb. 27

N. Circle looks clear as the sky already.


The eagle and bear are fine this morning, just cold.


Tahquitz got snow yesterday, but it's sunny today in Idyllwild.

Snow all the way down to 9,000! Oh yea, we've "been there and done that!"


So this is what we do with excess snow.


And sometimes the snow monster stays hungry!


Mike Pearson still working before 8 am and helping.


Roads and shops look open.


Notice the writing on the windows!

Snow pictures Saturday, Feb. 26

Casey Abrams makes the top 24 on American Idol

Casey Abrams made it to the top 24 of American Idol’s (AI) season 10. On Thursday Feb. 24, Abrams was one of the last contestants to take the long “Green Mile” warehouse walk to face the three AI judges on their elevated platform. Abrams is now one of 12 men remaining in the competition. Welcoming Casey afterward were his parents Ira Abrams, Pam Pierce and jazz mentor Marshall Hawkins.

Joining Abrams among the top 24 is Idyllwild Arts one-year veteran Julie Zorrilla, one of 12 women remaining.

On Thursday’s show, Abrams was again given a feature spot, with his bass accompanied “I’m here to prove people like me can be sexy” take on “Why Don’t You Do Right?” Afterward, it fell to Randy Jackson to deliver the news to Abrams. With sincerity and no traditional judge-fake out, Jackson observed, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen in my life, on this show, a musician as talented as you.” And with that, Abrams jumped to his feet knocking his chair off the platform. Glancing down at the fallen chair and with characteristic Abrams quickness, Casey said,” Don’t worry, I’ll pay for that.”

Surprise eliminations include 15 year old Jacee Badeaux and cowboy John Wayne Schultz.

The 12 remaining men are: Abrams, Jovany Barreto, Jordan Dorsey, James Durbin, Clint Jun Gamboa, Tim Halperin, Stefano Langone, Brett Loewenstern, Jacob Lusk, Scotty McCreery, Paul McDonald and Robbie Rosen. The 12 women are: Naima Adedapo, Lauren Alaina, Kendra Chantrelle, Ashton Jones, Thia Megia, Haley Rinehart, Karen Rodriguez, Pia Toscano, Lauren Turner, Tatynisa Wilson, Rachel Zevita and Julie Zorrilla.

On Friday, Feb. 25 the remaining men taped an episode to be aired Tuesday, March 1. After airing, viewers can vote for the first time, by phone or online (through Facebook.) Reliable sources confirm that Casey was released from the hospital and did tape on Friday.

Viewers will have a two hour window after the Tuesday episode concludes at 10 p.m. to vote for Casey.

Hemet High Girls soccer team advances

The Hemet High School girls' soccer team plays its CIF semi-finals game at Hemet Stadium, 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 1. Hemet is the final Mountain Pass team remaining in the CIF playoffs.

This is the Segerstrom goalie trying to block a Hemet shot on goal. Hemet's coach Craig Dwinnell expected this one to go in, instead it hit the post and careemed back past the goalie, see second photo below.



More game action.

IFPD schedules special closed session, Friday Feb. 25

Idyllwild Fire Protection District

Board of Commissioners

Special Meeting with Closed Session

AGENDA

February 25, 2011

1800 (6:00 pm)

The meeting will be held in the conference/training room of the Idyllwild Fire Protection District

54160 Maranatha Drive, Idyllwild, CA

Call to Order: Please quiet your cell phones and pagers.

Roll Call: Commissioners Capparelli, Riggi, Killingsworth, Stigall, Schelly

Chief Walker and Administrative Assistant Andrewson

Citizens’ Comments:

If you challenge any decision in court, you may be limited to raising only those items you or someone else raised at the public meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to this agency at, or prior to, the public meeting.

Special Session Item(s)

• Rescind prior action of February 8, 2011 election of officers for Board of Commissioners
• Election of officers for Board of Commissioners
• Approval minutes of February 8, 2011
• Approval of Resolution 501 – IFPD Compensation Report

Special Session ended at

Non-Board members excused

Closed Session started at

Closed Session Item(s)

· Chief Walker’s evaluation

· ICFA MOU and other salary issues

· Administrative Assistant contract

Closed Session ended at

Announcement of any actions taken during closed session

Return to Special Session at

Meeting Adjourned

Next regular Board meeting is on Tuesday March 8, 2011

Hemet High Girls soccer team wins quarterfinals

At 3 p.m., the score was 0-0, the CIF quarterfinal game between Hemet High Scholl and Segerstrom High School had just begun.

At 5 p.m., the score had not changed, 0-0. But dozens of cold anxious fans were still watching and twenty-some players were nearly empty on adrenalin.

Midway through the first half, 0-0. After twenty minutes, the halftime

score was 0-0. In the thrilling last 5 minutes, neither team could score and both goalies had hit the turf hard and needed time to recover.

Eighty minutes of excitement and drama, but still no score. Then a 10 minutes scoreless overtime followed by the second overtime without the ball crossing either goal, but several spectacular saves.

Segerstrom had the first penalty kick, no score. Hemet goalie – one critical save.

Hemet’s first kicker is Jennifer Gordon, boom! Goal!! 1-0. The goalline is not impregnable.

Segerstorm’s second kicker scores, 1-1. Then Hemet’s next two are stopped. It’s still 1-1 and Sarah Hooper approaches the ball, stutter steps and puts it to the keepers left, 2-1. S

Segerstrom’s final kicker, eyes the goalie, the ball and puts it in, 2-2.

Now Hemet’s final kicker comes to the ball, Destiny (her name), kicks, … G O O O O A A A A L L L !! makes the final and winning penalty kick, Hemet 3-2.

The semi-final game will be Tuesday. Location to be decided, depending upon their opponent.

Runnels convicted of first degree murder

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, a Riverside County Superior Court criminal jury convicted Jason Howard Runnels and co-defendant Lucia Janet Martinez of premeditated murder in the first degree of Rick Macias. Sentencing is set for April 5 for both defendants.

Macias was killed on Dec. 31, 2008 during or after a New Years Eve party at Runnels' Poppet Flat residence. His body was subsequently dumped in Lake Fulmor.

Casey Abrams hospitalized for dehydration, expected to continue in competition

American Idol top 24 season 10 semifinalist Casey Abrams is hospitalized, suffering from dehydration but is expected to fully recover, according to reliable sources. At this point, Abrams is expected to tape an Idol episode on Friday, Feb. 25 in which the final 12 men perform.

Idol has kept a tight lid on reports but other news media broke the news of Abrams' hospitalization in Los Angeles.

Abrams' and the other male contestants' taped performances will air next week and, according to schedules published in TV Guide, and confirmed by Idol PR's Jennifer Sprague, the men's episode will air on Tuesday, March 1, a change from normal Wednesday, Thursday Idol airings. After the Tuesday and Wednesday telecasts, viewers will have two hours to vote by phone or online (through viewers' Facebook accounts).Viewers who want to vote for Casey must do so immediately after the Tuesday, March 1 telecast.

Check this blog for confirmation of whether Abrams taped on Friday.

The picture used above was taken at Idyllwild Arts during the telecast of Abrams' Austin audition.

Hemet High Girls soccer team wins #2

The Hemet High School girls soccer team won its second round CIF game 4-1, according to our on the scene reporter, Shelby Read. At halftime, Orange County's Garden Grove High School had a 1-0 lead, but the Hemet women roared in the second half.

HHS Girls Soccer CIF play-offs

On Thursday, the Hemet High School girls soccer team won its first round game. They defeat Coast Union 8-0.

The second round game tomorrow against Garden Grove of Orange County, is 3 p.m. at Hemet. Originally, it was scheduled to be at Garden Grove, but CIF changed it to Hemet.

Forecast and Streets of Idyllwild Feb 19

Below is the NWS winter storm warning from early this morning. But first some photos the roads and streets in Idyllwild this morning.

Hwy 243 from in front of Idyllwild School.

The center of town, from in front of the Fort.


N. Circle from in front of Café Aroma. Notice the crowd crossing the street.

Fern Valley Road near the Fern Valley Inn.

Fern Valley Road at Forest, near entrance to Humber Park.

Here's the Weather Service early forecast:

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA 
542 AM PST SAT FEB 19 2011 

 ...SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MOUNTAINS TODAY AND TONIGHT...  .

A COLD UPPER LOW WILL BRING SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS TO THE MOUNTAINS.
THE SNOW WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THIS EVENING
AS A SECOND FRONT MOVES THROUGH. SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF SUNDAY MORNING.  

RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
GARNER VALLEY...IDYLLWILD...PINE COVE...VISTA GRANDE 

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST SUNDAY...  

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS
IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST SUNDAY.  

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 4500 FEET.  

* SNOW LEVELS: SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER TO 4000 FEET TODAY.
MINOR   ACCUMULATIONS DOWN TO 3500 FEET ARE POSSIBLE AT
TIME DURING SNOW   SHOWERS.  

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 

A FEW INCHES BELOW 5000 FEET
...6 TO 12   INCHES FROM 5000 TO 6500 FEET
...AND OVER 12 INCHES ABOVE 6500   FEET.  

* TIMING: THROUGH 4 AM PST SUNDAY.  

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH
 WITH GUSTS NEAR   50 MPH.  

* VISIBILITY: LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER MILE AT TIMES IN
   SNOW...BLOWING SNOW AND FOG.  

* IMPACTS: SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL IMPACT
TRAVEL ON INTERSTATE 15   THROUGH THE CAJON PASS
AS WELL AS ALL MOUNTAIN HIGHWAYS.  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. 

Private Management at Lake Hemet Campground

At its Thursday Feb. 17 meeting, the board of directors of the Lake Hemet Municipal Water District approved a 25 month contract for private management of the Lake Hemet Campground and lake recreational facilities. The contract takes effect on April 1, 2011.

The board voted to award the management contract to the California Parks Company (www.calparksco.com), a company that currently provides management services for : Angel Island State Park and the Big Basin Redwoods State Park for California State Parks; the Los Vaqueros Watershed for the Contra Costa Water District; Lake Chabot and Little Hills Ranch for the East Bay Regional Park District; Diamond Valley Lake for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Camanche Reservoir and San Pablo Reservoir for the East Bay Municipal Utility District; UPC Gate Services for the Santa Clara County Parks; Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area for the U.S. Forest Service; and Lassen Volcanic National Park for the U. S. National Park Service.

The board stated that they were happy to be out of campground management and could now concentrate exclusively on their primary portfolio — water management.

In business since 1975, the California Parks Company markets itself as expert in providing: campground, conference center and resort management and facility support services; event management; automated gate and parking systems; retail services; water recreation management; and food services.

The contract approved by the board sanctions a three year (36 month) automatic extension if the contractor is performing to board and contract expectations.

Logan Schelly, HHS valedictorian

Congratulations to Mr. Logan Schelly, the 2011 Hemet High School valedictorian. Logan spent nine years working his way through Idyllwild Elementary and Middle school in preparation for this honor.
In 2010, Michael Drell, of Idyllwild, was Hemet High School's salutatorian.

Hemet High Girls soccer team advances

Hemet High School's girls soccer team won its first CIF game yesterday afternoon. Hemet defeated Coast Uniion High School 8-0. At halftime, the score was 5-0.

The second round CIF soccer playoff game will be Tuesday, but the location is not known yet.

Five players scored for Hemet, including multiple goals Sarah Hooper's three and Rosie Robinson's two goals. Rosie also had two assists.

Robinson went from Idyllwild School to Hemet. She and Savanah Loutzenhiser start for the Hemet team. Also playing yesterday were Megan Read and Danika Hitchcock. (See photos below.)

(Left. Savanah Loutzenhiser interrupts a Coast Union attack.)


Four teams from Hemet's league — Mountain Pass — made the playoffs. Hemet was the number two seed in CIF Division 6 playoffs. Both Beaumont, the number 7 seed, and Tahquitz, the number 9 seed, won yesterday. Only San Jacinto from the local league lost. Sixteen teams remain in competition.

(Right Megan Read stands in front of goalie waiting for a corner shot.)

Coast Union High School is located in Cambria. The team had to come more than 300 miles and six hours for the game.



(top from left, Danika Hitchcock, Rosie Robinson, Savanah Loutzenhiser and Megan Read. Accompanying the players are Shelby Read and Payton Priefer.)