Nearly one year ago, on Jan. 18, 2020, before the world went on lockdown due to COVID, there was another danger making news in Big Bear Lake. A family of three, ignoring warning signs to stay off the ice, fell through into the chilly waters of Big Bear Lake near Stanfield Cutoff.

Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a proposal to be sent to the state legislature that would phase in a return to in-person learning by early spring.

Dr. Mark Ghaly said Dec. 29 the data shows demand is exceeding ICU capacity in Southern California and San Joaquin regions. As a result, the stay-at-home order will remain in effect indefinitely. Hospitals are stretched trying to provide care, and they have to make hard decisions, Ghaly said. He used a rubber band as an example saying that a rubber band can stretch pretty far, as hospitals and the health care system is being stretched. But at some point the rubber band — and a hospital — reaches the breaking point, Ghaly said.

During a virtual meeting with Dr. Anthony Fauci, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the variant of the coronavirus has been found in Southern California.

COVID-19 pandemic, Kobe Bryant death, retirements and the defeat of Measure I to fund Big Bear Fire Department are Q1 top stories.

Snow and ice blanketed the roads in Big Bear Valley Dec. 28 and the result was easy to predict. Road conditions were so hazardous that Caltrans issued R3 chain control for much of the day and into the night, requiring all vehicles on the roads to chain up. Numerous traffic collisions and stuck vehicles stretched public safety responses to the limit.

COVID shutdown, nationwide protests, visitors and second-home owners flock to Big Bear.

The importance of essential workers came into sharper focus in 2020. Before COVID-19, athletes and actors were often the ones children looked up to, but the pandemic put the spotlight on everyday heroes. First responders, teachers, grocery store employees, truck drivers and many other professions stood front and center in 2020.

The third quarter of 2020 brought heat waves, toxic algae, forest closures, wildfires, surges in COVID and record tourism to Big Bear.

Social media has become part of daily life. Users can keep everyone updated in life with a click or post away. Yet, during the year 2020, Big Bear Valley saw new interest in outdoor activities. The mountain scenery replaced the view on a screen. Big Bear streets and trails were busy with people going outside to enjoy the fresh air.