Month: July 2011

A 28-year-old Bend man was arrested at a northwest Redmond park Monday night, accused of brandishing a handgun at a nearby home a short time earlier, police said. Officers were dispatched shortly after 9 p.m. to a report of a man who had walked up to a house with a gun in his hand in

If a campfire gets out of control, and ignites the next major wildfire on the high desert, the person responsible could face fines, community service or even jail time, depending on the situation. Summer in Central Oregon means taking advantage of the outdoors. One of the best ways to do so is good old-fashioned camping.

Two Smith Rock climbers were injured Saturday afternoon, one critically, after a rope that swung across the face of Monkey Face struck them, causing them to lose their balance and fall up to 85 feet, authorities said. As it turned out, the pair already had climbed Monkey Face, a recognizable feature of the well-known climbing

The 21st annual Bend Summer Festival wrapped up downtown Sunday, having benefited from beautiful weather for the weekend event. The three-day festival features all the usual fun: food booths, activities for the kids and arts and craft vendors. And of course, the wide variety of live music was a huge hit. Organizers say the fest

The 14th annual CAST For Kids fishing event had everyone reeling in a good time at the Prineville Reservoir on Sunday. The non-profit organization known as “Catch A Special Thrill” allowed children with a wide range of disabilities to have the opportunity to hit the waters and land some fish. Volunteers from the Central Oregon

“He was devastated, and I think any of us that have things stolen, robbed or whatever, you feel invaded — you feel very violated,” Sue Kay, Bob Warr’s mother, said Sunday. Last Thursday morning, 50-year-old Bob Warr woke up to find his modified black and gray Northrock bicycle, the one thing he cherished, missing from

What do get when you combine The Amazing Race and Fear Factor? It’s the first annual Sagebrush Community Challenge, and it’s done Central Oregon-style Hundreds grabbed their most trusted, rowdy and savvy friends and headed downtown Saturday morning for the new event to kick off the newly expanded Sagebrush event, which has built from an

From state to state, from near and far. What started out with just a dozen quilts 36 years ago now has over 1,300 quilts from 35 states and four countries And it draws nearly 15,000 fans from all over the world who come to ooh and ahh at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. “My favorite

It’s been a battle between animal rights activists and egg producers: Should farms be required to let egg-laying chickens roam free? Unhappy with Oregon lawmakers’ actions, an animal rights group wanted a vote. But this week, there was a compromise. It’s a landmark decision, according to the Humane Society of the United States. State lawmakers

A good, quiet overnight on the lines of the Upper Dry Creek Fire on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation meant a few dozen residents in the fire’s path were allowed to return home Friday morning, as new mapping reduced the size estimate to 1,303 acres. “Last night was very quiet, and crews were able to

A history of the American people, one voice at a time — two voices, actually. “We want it to be an archive where your great, great grandkids could go and hear you talk about your life in your own voice and you know, not just here you in a speech or soundbite, but hear you

A Deschutes County Sheriff?s Search and Rescue volunteer was hospitalized Thursday after being thrown from an ATV that then rolled on top of him during an annual qualification checkout ride on a trail east of Bend, authorities said. Henry Cure, 72, of Redmond, was in fair condition Thursday night at St. Charles Medical Center-Bend, a

As one family lost its home to the Upper Dry Creek Fire that raced across 2,000 acres Thursday, many others almost suffered the same fate. But John Marcom was among those who took matters into their own hands, refusing to leave and fighting to protect a family home from the same fate. “I was just

Thunderstorms, rising temperatures and people’s carelessness: That dangerous mix is fanning wildfires in Central Oregon, burning through taxpayer dollars. So when the flames go up, who foot’s the bill? The simple answer: you. “A fire, whether it’s on Forest Service or BLM, those are dollars given to us by Congress, which is the American taxpayers

Black Butte Trail, one of Central Oregon?s favorite hiking trails, took a new direction this week when it was rerouted to provide better separation of recreation and fire lookout activities. Starting Tuesday, a youth crew with Northwest Youth Corps defined a trail system on the top of Black Butte to provide clear direction to scenic

Three separate fires sparked up Wednesday evening, all apparently starting from power lines from the same utility. The first two fires were in Tumalo, the first on Pinehurst and Tumalo Reservoir Road that was put out very quickly. The second blackened an acre on Johnson Road past Shevlin Park, stopped thanks to a quick-acting homeowner

Long-time contractor Kirby Nagelhout has been an integral part of building Bend and Central Oregon to where it stands today. After a long battle with cancer, he passed away Saturday at the age of 55. He leaves behind a family, business and legacy of iconic buildings on the High Desert. There are hundreds of projects

Road conditions in Bend are always a hot topic for drivers, and while the city takes steps to maintain during tough budget times, officials are finding one method to repair some of Bend’s busiest streets isn’t holding up. Cracks, bumps, and loose rock are certainly noticeable and on roads like Empire Avenue, recent chip seal

Central Oregon fire crews were busy again chasing field and other fires Wednesday as temperatures heated into the 90s in many locations. Crook County Fire and Rescue and the BLM responded around noon to a small brushfire off Juniper Canyon and Barita roads, said Fire Marshal Casey Kump. Neighbors reported seeing a fire in a

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue unit was well-prepared to go out and find an injured hiker on South Sister Tuesday, but they give credit to one crucial tool in helping in this medical emergency: AirlLnk’s helicopter. Airlink, the emergency air ambulance service, averages more than four life-saving missions every day in Central Oregon.