" There is a wonderful tree planting opportunity for our mountain community which is going unnoticed! Forest Aid is an organization which was created from a grant from the Disney Company and Boeing to plant 35,000 trees in our National Forest before the middle of May. I have been to several of the plantings, which are on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and have seen dozens of volunteers from all over Southern California. There are very few locals there, however. I challenge the entire community to log onto www.forestaid.net and register to help and show up over the next few weekends by the numbers. Let's show them how much we care about our forest!!! "

" My family and I would like to express our gratitude to a previous Crestliner, Sgt. Major Calton (Mitch) Mitchell - US Army - our thank yous and welcome back HOME to the USA - for your services in Afghanistan......thank you and welcome back home, Mitch! "

" I think desalination is urgently needed to solve the fresh water crisis.There are 2 technologies that seem quick and fairly cheap:1)Large Scale Solar Desalination and,2)miniature,factory sealed nuclear power plants(such as the ones manufactured by Hyperion Corp.in Santa Fe,NM)that would supply the electricity to power a HASE(heated air spray evaporator)desalination system.(cost?$25-35 million). "

" Why do we as a community allow such bad coaching at Rim High. Rim used to be a division 1 school, I believe that they are now division 4. What happend? Don't tell me that it has anything to do with school population. Bad coaching produces bad teams. There is an incredible amount of talent on the mountain even at the high school level, but it appears that the teams are runned by the good ol boy politic'n. If your parent has enough money, than that is more that likely who's starting, not the kids who really do have talent! "

" I'm furious that we are FORCED to pay for trash pick up. This is legal extortion. Why can't they just charge people who use it when they drop bags of trash off, that would be the fair thing to do. They haven't even told me where to take the trash, they just want my money. Someone is getting paid off. We have been fee'd to death up in Arrowhead since I bought the place. It was not like that before. We have no rights there. "

" I am desperately searching for an old friend Troy Cousins, son of Gerry Cousins(who died in upper crestline in 1982) and Carolyn cousins, nephew of Jim Madden, whom were all locals during the early eighties.Troy & i attended V.O.E Elementary together and were taught by May Downs. Any help locating Troy would greatly appreciated as i now live in Australia and am planning to visit Crestline in the coming months. Thank you, Ben "

" We are parttimers and who live in Carlsbad and have a unit in Lakeside Trailer Park. We are retired and come up once a month for up to a week. We frequently check the Mountain News website to find out, but fail to get, how much rain/snow fall is currently on the ground and how full or low the lake is. Is there any web site that will tell us that? Also what is the accumulated snowfall this season. Thank you. "

" Imagine this, what if Charter communications bought a deal with the county where all residents were required to subscribe. Some sort of poopycock about informing the community in case of fires and ridding the mountain of unsightly and unsafe tv antennas. Well that's what's next and I hope there are no doubts after the Burtec fiasco. So what would happen if we were forced to have cable tv? Customer service would be a thing of the past. No phone number, just log on to www.charter.com and register your complaint. Rates would go up from $39.99 a month to $79.99. All homes would be required to have it wether you have a tv or not. (important that all homes are pre-wired for charter.) Also a hook-up fee of $30.00 added on to your first bill. Not happy with the service? Too bad. Think this can't happen? Think again you know better! "

" Why do snow plows go out of their way to block our driveways? I live on a street where there are no houses on the other side and they still push the snow into my driveway. If they have to make two passes anyways, why not just push it the other direction? My son was in an altercation with a driver during the last storm because while he was shoveling the ice blocks from the last guy, another one came and pushed more ice where he had just shoveled. Somehow, it just doesn't seem right. "

" Another winter storm, more snow, and hundreds of visitors leaving their trash along 330 as they install and remove their chains. Maybe it would be best if Caltrans placed trash cans along the turn-outs and signs stating fines for littering. At least those with a conscience would eliminate some of the unsightly garbage mess. "

" Ok, its February 2 and not all of my Christmas decorations are down and put away, so I shouldnt complain, but I think it is time for Blue Jay Village to take down their Christmas Parade banner that is waving above the road to the Blue Jay Village. "

" I agree with all of the part time residents of the mountain communities. I have been frequenting the mountains and always do my part to support the local economy and to remove my trash myself. We are for the most part responsible adults. It is true there are a number of full and part time residents that have abused the trash situation. We have all seen the appliances and furniture littering the areas and have dealt with the effects. That does not excuse the county from entering in to a deal with the "devil" and comprising a set of rules that cannot be met. The 6kw usage limit to qualify for exemption is immpossible to meet, they know that. Offer alternative measures to prove our part time status. Water bills, alarm bills that give time stamped usage, any other means of proof should be acceptable. Shame on the county! "

" Regarding the Firefighter that was arrested this wk. We all know it was not the thing to do, even the young man. But drugs will do that & this kid had a rough start where he lived,where his WONDERFUL parents blew the house up cooking Meth when he was a young boy. Who knows what this boy endured? He had help after that as far as the Coach taking him in, but lets face it folks this young man obviously had some major issues that we all did not realize. Wrong thing to do, but with drugs they oversee every logical move you make. We, his friends & me, his best friends Grandmother will support him as best as we can, with tuff love. He needs professional help badly. Some people have to hit their own bottom, I think this kid has done that.
Thanks,
Grandma Casey
in Las Vegas "

" I haven't seen a word of this in any local county media, except for KCDZ FM 107.7 in Twentynine Palms, but it is all over the internet. It involves the use of military personnel in CHP DUI checkpoints, in violation of the Posse Commitatus Act, here in San Bernardino County:

http://bbvm.wordpress.com/2008/12/14/domestic-militarization-comes-to-san-bernardino-county/ "

" This "forced" trash collection situation is a sham. Though I think it might help to improve some of the junky looking cabins/homes in the area, to make it mandatory for the part time residents is ridiculous and absolutely unfair. I believe the driving force in this issue is the money making aspect, and nothing more. I keep my property clean, and I do remove all trash when I leave. To keep a couple of trash carts in the yard that I don't use is nothing more than a nuisance. "

" Why must part time visitors be forced to pay for trash collection we can't use? We can't leave trash cans on the road for weeks at a time. The "Clean Mountain Drop Off Sites" are only open until 3 pm.
We leave after 3 pm and always take our trash and recycling with us. These sites are also closed on holidays-the days we are most likely to visit. We use use 6 kwh just on low heating and security lighting, so we won't qualify for the exemption in the winter.
Why are our County Supervisors forcing us into this unfair plan? Is it true that the County gets a share of Burrtec's collections to help balance the County budget? How much? Exactly how much does Burrtec, or it's owners, donate to each of the Supervisor's campaign funds? The answer to those two questions might answer a lot. "

" Why does the county say to make check out to them and send it to them along with the electric bills covering the summer months for the trash fee exemption.Then turn around and say you have to pay the trash fee and try for a exemption from the trash company. I send the money and electric bill to the name and address on the application form only to have it returned from the county waste management. During the summer months our electric bills were 3 to 4 KWH every month. Also why not use the water bill and sewer fees which by them are outrageous. Who ever heard that using 0 to 1 HCF would cost you $117.00 every 2 months. I know they say because you have 2 bathrooms even though you have 0 usage. Its a fixed rate scram anyway. "