Work on Hwy 74 continues

This note just arrived from Caltrans. Work on Hwy 74 may affect travel between the hill and hemet for times next week. Rush hours will not be affected.

STATE ROUTE 74 – Culvert Project Update

Mountain Center – Caltrans continues repairs on SR74 approximately 6 miles west of Mountain Center. Crews will be pouring concrete on Monday March 1st and Wednesday, March 3rd to construct the headwalls and wing walls for the newly installed culvert. Traffic will be stopped on each side of the roadway for 15 min at a time between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

IFPD and Zoll Medical equipment

At special Saturday meeting, the Idyllwild Fire Protection District commission decided to explore options for financing the purchase of the Zoll Medical equipment originally ordered in September 2008.

Commission President Jeannine Charles-Stigall told the board that Zoll was adamant that a legitimate purchase order and transaction had occurred. Despite returning the equipment, IFPD must still complete the transaction with payment.

However, Zoll is willing to upgrade the software (a $10,000 value), replace all batteries, offer the standard four-year warranty from now, apply no storage fees for the equipment shipped back to Zoll or late penaties and a give $2,500 discount if the District provides payment by March 5, according to Stigall.

In general, the board was satisfied with the Zoll’s offer; however, Commissioner and Treasurer Ben Killingsworth expressed concern about the form of payment. He is reluctant to use all of the District’s contingency funds for this one action because of several other pending budget demands such as new radio equipment, audit bills, additional equipment for the station and personnel actions such as completion of the Fire Chief Steve Kunkle’s retirement.

Commissioner Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly, a chiropractor, shared his view that there are companies who specialize in purchasing and leasing medical equipment. This is one option the commission will explore.

Once the Zoll equipment is purchased, including new defibrillators, staff will need training. Also, IFPD must still obtain approval from the Riverside County emergency Medical Services Agency to use the Autopluse equipment. This is a strap placed around the thorax. It automatic performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The commission second item of business involved a closed session about Kunkle’s retirement costs. Before determining the amount of annual and sick leave owed to the chief, the commission says it needs to ascertain whether his time of service is just time at IFPD or his entire fire career.

Also it was noted that the estimate cost presented at the Feb. 17 special meeting, seemed to overstate his annual leave benefit. The contract or memorandum of understanding between IFPD and Kunkle appears to limit the accumulation of annual leave to 288 hours (one year’s total). The initial estimate of payout was fro 372 hours.

CSA 38 special meeting

The appearance of Ron Roberts, of 3rd District Jeff Stone's staff, at a special meeting of County Service Area 38 on Feb. 24 has been postponed. when a new date has been set, we will alert you.

Hope to see ya soon Ron!

Carol Acosta News

Carol Acosta of Idyllwild has been in Thailand from many months. While there she has been writing a blog about her Asian adventures. Unfortunately, she and her car were in an accident with an impaired driver.

Carol had a brain clot and some other injuries. She is out of the hospital but still limited.

You can read more details about this incident on her blog "Idyllwilder in Thailand".

I suggest you send her some wishful thoughts through the comment option.

Local census jobs still available

Census jobs in the Idyllwild area are still available if applicants register for and take the necessary test prior to end of February. Melanie Dark, census-recruiting assistant who has been facilitating census testing in Idyllwild, notified the Town Crier that the original local hiring target of 299 workers has been upped to 316.

As of this writing, only 82 qualified local applicants have passed the test and been approved for hire.

Local testing is conducted Wednesdays at 10 a.m., 1 and 4 p.m. at the Idyllwild Fire Protection District meeting room, and on Thursdays at 10 a.m. at Idyllwild Water District’s meeting room.

Pay in the Idyllwild area ranges from $12.50 and hour to $18.00 for jobs that will run from March/April through July. Supervisory positions could pay more. Those hired will likely work from 20 to 40 hours per week including evenings and weekends. Applicants must pass a background check, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident with work permission, have a valid social security number and driver’s license, and pass a test that involves reading comprehension, math, and map reading. The higher the test score, the higher the rate of pay and position level.

Practice tests are available, as is the downloadable application, on the census website, www.2010censusjobs.gov. But testing concludes end of February, so interested applicants should call toll free (866) 861-2010 to set an appointment, or the local office at (951) 324-2030. Questions can also be directed to Denise Salamon-Borquez, assistant manager for recruiting at (951) 324-2013.

Dark recommended calling on Monday or Tuesday to set appointments for Wednesday or Thursday test dates the same week.
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Weather Friday night and Saturday morning

This a recent naitonal Weather Service announcement for southern California including the San Jacinto Mountains, home of Idyllwild! Drizzling light rain has been falling for about an hour.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
117 PM PST FRI FEB 5 2010

RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
117 PM PST FRI FEB 5 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN
 EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PST SATURDAY...

* TIMING: LIGHT SNOWFALL WILL BEGIN
OVER THE HIGHEST RIDGES LATE
THIS AFTERNOON. A PERIOD OF
HEAVY SNOW WILL FALL AT TIMES
OVERNIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
NIGHT. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL
FLUCTUATE   BETWEEN 6500 AND
7000 FEET THROUGH SATURDAY
MORNING...LOWERING TO 5500 FEET
LATE IN THE DAY SATURDAY..
THEN DOWN TO ABOUT 4000
FEET BY SUNDAY MORNING.

* MAIN IMPACT: TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS
OF 12 TO 24 INCHES  WILL BE POSSIBLE ABOVE
7000 FEET THROUGH SATURDAY MIGHT...WITH 6
TO 12 INCHES BETWEEN 6000 AND 7000 FEET..
AND LESS THAN 6 INCHES  BELOW 6000 FEET.
SOUTH WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO
15 TO  30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

* OTHER IMPACTS: MOTORISTS TRAVELING
ACROSS THE HIGHER RESORTAREAS SHOULD
BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF
VISIBILITY NEAR ZERO AT TIMES DUE TO THE
COMBINATION OF BLOWING SNOW AND DENSE  FOG.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNTS OF SNOW... ARE EXPECTED. STRONG
WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE
TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.