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Page 8 - Idyllwild Town Crier, November 12, 2009 Just doing, less talking is sheriff’s motto By Marshall Smith Staff Reporter Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff is committed to action. “It’s too late to communicate in the middle of a crisis,” he said in an interview in Idyllwild last week. “I’m committed to making this department get on the right track, restore an ethical climate, and leave the department in a better position.” Sniff’s 2007 appointment by a divided Board of Supervisors surprised many. Undersheriff Neil Lingle and Assistant Sheriff Mike Andrews, part of retiring Sheriff Bob Doyle’s administration, had been on the short list to succeed Doyle. So when Sniff took the oath on Oct. 2 for the three-year balance of Doyle’s term, he had a lot of ground to cover — figuratively and literally. Riverside is a geographically large and ethnically diverse county with an infrastructure challenged by a rapidly burgeoning population. Sniff took stock, saw how the county’s growth trajectory would continue to impact his department, and set priorities to ensure staffing, prison and training infrastructure adequacy. He also made a commitment that as sheriff of all parts of the county, he would be a presence in all parts of the county. Although a polished and effective communicator with an urbane CEO presence, Sniff also follows a code of the Old West cowboy directive. He is one of 80,000 national members of the Old West-themed Single Action Shooting Idyllwild School teacher Patty Carratello is gathering information on the “Hillbilly” experience — students who were in continuous enrollment in Idyllwild School from kindergarten through eighth grade (or seventh grade for the years when eighth grade wasn’t offered). Her study is on groupings found in schools and how being grouped together for eight or nine years was for local students. She is hosting Hillbilly reunion meetings in Room 17 at Idyllwild School with three choices of dates and times: from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14; from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15; and from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Sheriff Stan Sniff costumed and ready for action as part of the Old West Single Action Shooting Society. Photo courtesy of Sheriff Stan Sniff Hillbillies sought for study Society (SASS) in which contestants compete with firearms typical of the period, adopt costuming and a shooting alias appropriate to a character or profession from the late 19th century, and shoot at steel targets in a staged but constantly evolving Old West scenario. “It’s a time motion study,” said Sniff. “You can compete in eight to 10 puzzles [scenarios] a day.” It seems like good practice for the head of a department and county with rapidly changing and evolving targets. SASS members follow what they call “The S p i r i t of the Game.” Competitors are instructed not to look for ways to create an advantage out of what is or is not stated as a rule or shooting practice. They are penalized for willfully or intentionally disregarding the stage instructions in order to obtain a competitive advantage. Sniff ’s adherence to the code’s requirement of a level playing field stands in contrast to accusations made against his predecessor. The Los Angeles Times reported at the time of Sniff ’s appointment that Doyle had been accused from within his department of promoting sheriff’s officials who contributed to his campaign, ousting those who didn’t, and rewarding loyalty over competence. Doyle had dismissed Sniff in 2006. Sniff said Doyle gave no reason for the dismissal but he believed it was because Participants will be asked to complete a short survey, share experiences and perceptions, and discuss key points with other Hillbillies. Refreshments will be served. For more information and to RSVP, e-mail Carratello at carratello@greencafe. com. Riverside County Sheriff Stan Sniff met with Town Crier editorial staff. Photo by Marshall Smith he had stated he intended to run for sheriff in 2010. Upon taking office, Sniff, a 32- year law enforcement veteran and former colonel in the Army reserves, committed to staying close to the community, getting out to all parts of the county, and in his words, “just doing with less talking. I got to spend the first nine months [in office] without having to campaign,” said Sniff, acknowledging the luxur y of time that gave him to evaluate the state of the department and set goals. He prioritized staffing up patrol and prison cell expansion as the two most pressing needs. Even before the recession hit, Sniff had begun staffing increases, recognizing that public safety depended on responsibly filling the patrol pipeline. Once county officials recognized the seriousness of the recession, Sniff had already, in large measure, prepared for it. Forward thinking is an apt characterization for Sniff, who sees future exigencies and begins preparing for them well in advance. The strategic battle he has lately waged is against across-the-board budget cuts the county executive officer directed. Are you looking for a Christian Infant-Preschool? Check us Out We care for Infants 6 weeks - 5 years old Valle Vista Assembly of God Preschool 45252 E. Florida Ave, Hemet, Ca. 92544 E-mail: droberts@vallevistaagpreschool.org Web: www.vallevistaagpreschool.org Open 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday Christian Curriculum & Environment Low Tuition Rates Low Registration Fee Call Today: 951-927-4200 “Paring budgets should be about looking at the criticality of functions,” said Sniff. Sniff argued that Sheriff ’s Department employees should not be cut or furloughed by arbitrary percentages as other county departments because of the nature of services they provide: 24/7 responsibility; deployment in harm’s way; responsibility for public safety; and staffing and administration of jails — functions he said required growth, especially in a county with a population explosion. “I grabbed early onto strategic pieces like building up the infrastructure of the [Clark] training facility in order to badge more law enforcement personnel,” said Sniff. “Staff training is not a luxury. The liability of payouts [because of court cases] for green recruits would be huge.” Through strategic cuts, Sniff reduced a $30 million deficit to $3.1 million and preserved critical department functions. “We had to come down on some staffing levels,” he said, “but we preserved the proper mix of agencies.” Sniff has broadened outreach to the Native American community and increased ethnic and gender diversity hiring and promotion within the department. “We have to get that diversity in at entry level,” he said. He complimented the valuable role the Riverside County Mountain Rescue Unit plays. “We can’t do what they do, particularly with technical rescue,” he noted. “To be able to have that technical ability in-house is excellent.” Sniff will run in a June primary and if successful, in the November General Election for a full term. Marshall Smith can be reached at marshall@towncrier.com. Pay just $50/mo. Call Grace at the Town Crier for more info. (951) 659-2145
PCWD prepares for emergency hazards By J.P. Crumrine News Editor At its Nov. 4 meeting, the Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) board confirmed its participation in Riverside County’s mitigation planning for potential hazards and emergencies. The board approved a letter to the California Emergency Management Agency expressing its commitment to the county’s planning effort. The state and county recognize that independent and smaller jurisdictions will have unique needs and situations in the event of an emergency. Not all of their requirements can be foreseen or addressed in the higher-level plans. These jurisdictions agree to prepare a local plan as a supplement to the county and state plans. As part of the state planning effort, PCWD must identify hazards unique to the district, prepare a local vulnerability analysis and involve the community in this planning. The most common examples of a local emergency would be a fire or earthquake rumbling the Hill. PCWD General Manager Jerry Holldber reported that the district’s customers consumed 2.8 million gallons of water in October, nearly 10 percent less than October 2008. Since January, PCWD consumption is 1.3 percent, or nearly 415,000 gallons, less than a year ago. Holldber was pleased with the lower consumption. He also informed the board that the groundwater level for the district’s monitoring well had not changed from September. In a year, the water level has fallen nearly 13 feet and threequarters of that decline has occurred since January. Holldber also reported on repair work for the pump supporting wells no. 7 and 11. He is examining several possibilities and hopes to have the wells functioning soon. At the Dec. 9 meeting, Holldber plans to discuss “The Decade in Review,” a comparison of the district’s accomplishments to the 10-year plan. In January, he plans to unveil a new 10-year plan. J.P. Crumrine can be reached at jp@towncrier.com. Third Thursday shopping in Idyllwild Dozens of Idyllwild businesses will be open until 8 p.m. for shopping the third Thursdays of each month for the rest of the year. A portion of each of the sales Lodging Directory of Idyll wild during the period will be donated to a local charity. The dates of Nov. 19 and Dec. 17 also will include refreshments, entertainment and give-aways. Elite Mountain Homes • Large homes Spa, Pool, Creek, TV, BBQ. Wheelchair access. All amenities. www.idyllwild-elitemountainhomes.com 1-310-398-6058 The Fireside Inn & Cabins • Fireplaces, TV/DVD players, pets welcome • 1-877-797-3473 54540 North Circle Dr. • www.thefireside-inn.com The Lodge at Pine Cove-Bed & Break fast Historic lodge • Getaways • Honeymoons • Retreats 24900 Marion Ridge Drive • Toll Free 1-866-LodgePC Quiet Creek Inn & Vacation Rentals Quality Cabins • Creekside • Fireplaces • Spas • Pet Friendly 26345 Delano Dr.•www.quietcreekinn.com•800-450-6110 Alhatti Private Christian Resort A private Christian setting • Lodging, Weddings, Conferences 23551 Hwy. 243 • (951) 659-2066 • www.alhatti.com The Bluebird Cottage Inn on 3 ac. • www.thebluebirdcottageinn.com • Dogs welcome 26905 Hwy. 243 • (951) 659-2696 Edelweiss Lodge • www.1cabin4u.com Romantic cabins • Kitchens • Fireplaces 25055 Marion Ridge Dr., P.O. Box 1747, 659-2787 chaacecha Check out our Lodging Directory Web site at www.towncrier.com Idyllwild Town Crier, November 12, 2009 - Page 9 WNKI emergency test By Marshall Smith Staff Reporter On Saturday, Nov. 21 Idyllwild’s emergency radio station, WNKI 1610 AM, will test its new transmitter’s expanded reach between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The purpose of the broadcast is to ensure that listeners are able to hear WNKI in the full area of its expanded coverage — 10 miles past station 53 in Garner Valley, to Alandale in the north, and Valle Vista in the west. “With our old transmitter of 10 watts we could reach a radius of 4 miles from the fire station [Idyllwild Fire Station],” said WNKI head Bob Mc- Cullough. “Now with our new 25-watt transmitter we’ll reach our full area of responsibility. But we need listeners to call in to let us know they can hear us.” The Mountain Area Safety Taskforce urges listeners to call WNKI emergency radio volunteers during test hours on Nov. 21 at (951) 659-5029 or e-mail at wnki@greencafe.com to confirm their location and the strength of the signal. In the event of an actual emergency, WNKI broadcasts alerts and updates. In a coordinated effort to keep the message current, McCullough will now be able to broadcast remotely from an Incident Command (IC) center. “In the past there have been delays in getting the information out,” said McCullough. “Now, once fire camp is set up I’ll broadcast from there and there’ll be no delays.” George Covington founded WNKI in 1988 and McCullough began his volunteer service at the same Trivia test Music: What rock group performed the song “Pride (In the Name of Love)”? Answer: U2 time. He has headed it since Sept. 1, 2003. He advises that WNKI’s frequency is sandwiched between two other stations’ strong signals. “You have to be right on the money,” said McCullough. “With a digital radio, you should have no problem, but with an older radio, you’ll need to finely tune to get the signal.” McCullough reminds readers that WNKI is all-volunteer staffed and depends on donations for its continued operation and service to the mountain. M a r s h a l l S m i t h c a n b e r e a c h e d a t marshall@towncrier.com. Churches and Spiritual Centers Directory of Idyllwild Chapel in the Pines Christian Fel low ship Interdenominational, Pastor Wally Boer. Sunday Worship Service & Sunday School, 9:30am plus Weekly Studies. Call for info, 659-0097, 659-2038. On Hwy 243 at Idyllwild Pines Camp, directly across from Idyllwild School. Christian Science Church 25970 Cedar St. at River Drive, 659-2511. Sunday school, 10 a.m.; Service 10 a.m.; Wednesday meeting, 7 p.m. Christian Science Reading Room, in church building, open to the public, Wednesday through Friday, 2 - 5 p.m. Community Presbyterian Church 54400 N. Circle Dr. 659-2935 • Rev. Richard Olson Sunday Worship – 9:30 a.m. Celebration: 5th grade & under during worship ~ Child care available • Wednesday: Men's Breakfast – 6:15 a.m. 2 Services Idyllwild Bible Church 25860 Highway 243, Pastor Tim Westcott. A Family Friendly Bible Based Fellowship. Sunday Worship & Nursery Care, 9 a.m. Sunday Worship, Nursery Care & Sunday School, 10:45 a.m. Mid-week Bible Studies & Youth Groups. Call Church Offi ce for Information. 659-4775 Queen of Angels Roman Cath o lic Church 54525 N. Circle Dr., P.O. Box 1106, Idyllwild, CA Father Charles E. Miller Mass Schedule: Tues.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.; Sat. 5 p.m.; Sun. 8 a.m. + 10 a.m.; Confession: Sat. 4 p.m. or by appt. 659-2708 Spiritual Living Center Idyllwild Religious Science 54423 Village Center Dr., Ste. 5 on lower fl oor. 659-3464. Dr. Betty Jandl. Classes available - contact Church; Sunday ser vice, 10:00 a.m. Sunday school, 10:00 a.m.; Teen group, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Sundays. Shiloh Christian Ministries ~ FULL GOSPEL ~ 54968 Upper Pine Crest Pastor Kristeen Bandelin 659-2416 Sunday Worship 10 am - Wed. Bible Study 7 pm International Healing Rooms of Idyllwild First three Tuesdays., 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 659-5255 Episcopal Church An Anglican House of Prayer for all people St. Hugh's Sunday Service and Sunday School, 10:00 am 25525 Tahquitz Dr. (in Fern Valley off South Circle Dr.) Phone (951) 659-4471 Yokoji Zen Mountain Center 58900 Apple Canyon Rd., Mtn. Center, CA 92561 Zen Buddhist Retreat Center & Monastery Under the direction of Charles Tenshin Fletcher, Roshi. SUNDAY PROGRAM 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Including silent meditation, Buddhist service, lecture & lunch. Meditation instruction available. Call 659-5272 or 3275 for info. www.zmc.org
Page 1 and 2: Real Estate See page 18 Printed on
Page 3 and 4: Headlamps: the next generation of l
Page 5 and 6: Community calendar For the Idyllwil
Page 7: Youth talk by Jenny Kirchner, Staff
Page 11 and 12: Becky Continued from previous page
Page 13 and 14: Idyllwild Town Crier, November 12,
Page 15 and 16: Arts & Entertainment Calendar listi
Page 17 and 18: On The Town Idyllwild Town Crier, N
Page 19 and 20: Forest Service approves grazing per
Page 21 and 22: Classifieds (Continued from previou
Page 23 and 24: Benoit Continued from page 1 govern
Page 25 and 26: Vehicle use map for National Forest
Page 27 and 28: Fishing report The fishing report g

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