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.)