By Rhea-Frances Tetley
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
The Crest Forest and Lake Arrowhead Municipal Advisory Councils held a joint meeting at the San Moritz Lodge on Oct. 6.
The meeting opened with a tribute to the late Robin Bull, who most recently served as the mountain field representative for Supervisor Dawn Rowe. The supervisor’s chief of staff Claire Tetley and special assistant Ashley James spoke warmly about Bull.
“She cared so deeply about this community,” Tetley said. “It brought her a ton of joy to represent this community.” She then asked for a moment of silence and asked everyone to “reflect on everything she has done for us.”
The various county agencies reported on their activities and accomplishments. Each speaker expressed their condolences on Bull’s death and commented on how much they had enjoyed working with her.
Captain Craig Harris of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station reported they had 1,364 calls for service in September with 100 reports taken and 20 arrests made.
Harris addressed the Axon camera that had been installed on an SCE pole in Crestline. “We are asked to test one up here,” he said, “but we didn’t get permission from SCE so we were asked to take it down.
“We don’t use them (automatic license plate readers) to spy on our neighbors. They constantly scan and take photos of license plates and cars. We hope they help solve crimes.”
The captain also noted that SB 54 prohibits them from talking to Homeland Security about immigration issues.
Lt. Isaiah Kee of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that they issued 2,270 citations from July 1 through Sept. 30. They assisted 603 people and arrested 112, 89 for DUI.
“One thing that bothered me, coming to this community,” Kee said, “was that as our public information officer acquired more duties, he couldn’t give the community as he should. I didn’t like it so I created a mobile PIO. It’s working out very well.”
Lt. Kee introduced Officer Anthony Suarez, the new PIO or community-oriented policing service officer. Officer Suarez noted he attended several community events in September – back-to-school night at Charles Hoffman Elementary School, the career fair at Rim High and Coffee with a Cop.
A top priority, Suarez said, is school bus safety. They have been giving expensive tickets to those who pass school busses when the busses have their lights flashing and stop sign extended. Passing a school bus is unsafe for the children and the bus driver who must stand in the roadway to protect the students.
Lt. Kee said the number of DUIs is alarming. He expressed surprise at the time of day when many occur – between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., the time when people are going to work and children to school.
Battalion Chief Jerren Grundy, representing the San Bernardino County Fire, spoke on the training the department is undergoing in anticipation of the approaching El Niño storms and winter, including practicing swift-water rescues and snow recoveries. The local fire stations are offering sand and sand bags in advance of need.
Chief Grundy was excited about the new electric stair chairs that have been added to the ambulances. They assist personnel transporting patients up and down stairs inside and outside. This motorized device will help prevent injuries to all parties and the motor helps fire personnel move the patient efficiently.
Since October was Fire Safety month, Grundy reminded all to check the batteries in their home and business smoke detectors. He suggested formulating home escape plans and emergency evacuation routes and deciding where the family should meet in case of fires or other emergencies.
Candace Pearson from the Lake Gregory Community Advisory Committee said the summer was a huge success with 60,000 people coming through the gates at Lake Gregory.
Work on Camp Switzerland is progressing, Pearson said. The lift station has been completed and an RFP has been issued for engineering.
Lake Gregory and the Crestline Chamber of Commerce are working together to present a lighted Duffy boat parade on Dec. 19. Local nonprofit organizations and other groups may apply to reserve a boat for the parade as a part of the Holiday in the Pines celebrations.
Editor’s note: There were numerous comments from the public at this meeting which will be shared in a second article.
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