Month: August 2011

The Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and the Crooked River National Grassland announced Monday a decision that will guide changes to motor vehicle use on public lands. Following an extensive planning and environmental analysis process with significant public involvement the two forests and grassland will implement new motor vehicle use rules on local Forest Service

Four large wildfires on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation have now burned more than 32,000 acres, and the threat to nearly 200 homes has prompted Gov. John Kitzhaber to invoke the state?s Conflagration Act so that fire departments from northwest Oregon can help protect those homes from the growing blazes. The Office of State Fire

The smoky skies in Bend on Sunday didn’t stop art lovers from heading outdoors to browse hundreds of vendors’ inspiring artwork at the Old Mill. This weekend was the fourth annual Art In The High Desert — a juried fine art and craft festival. This year’s event showcased more than 110 artists selected from across

Jefferson County sheriff?s deputies asked the public for help Sunday in identifying whoever is responsible for recent thefts from unlocked vehicles on Crooked River Ranch. More than 10 vehicles have been illegally entered and searched in the past week, with multiple items stolen, said sheriff?s Det. Jake Fowler. In every instance, he said, the vehicles

Trey Hardee successfully defended his world decathlon title Sunday, winning the gold ahead of Bend’s Ashton Eaton to give the U.S. its first 1-2 finish in the event at the world championships. Hardee, the world indoor and outdoor champion, solidified the lead he had taken earlier in the day with a javelin throw of 226

A barn filled with 70 tons of hay, a tractor and other equipment went up in flames Saturday evening along Lower Bridge Way in the Terrebonne area, a human-caused fire that caused an estimated $70,000 in losses, authorities said. Fire crews arrived at 1995 NW Lower Bridge Way to find a barn owned by Ken

Imagine more than 400 pounds of delicious brownie, covered in chocolate frosting and cookie dough — now stop dreaming, because it was real and right here in Bend on Saturday. The Albertson’s on Bend’s south end created the world’s largest brownie, beating out the record of 233 pounds for a whopping 400 pounds of gooey

Three weeks ago, a couple out exploring near La Pine found an injured baby bald eagle on the road. On Saturday, after weeks of rehab, Dr. Jeff Cooney and his assistant Jeannette Bonomo released the raptor at Crane Prairie Reservoir, before a large crowd. They named her ‘Patriot Jr.’ and as soon as the cage

It’s like a tour of homes for backyard farm enthusiasts, or those considering taking the plunge. NeighborImpact is putting on a Bend fund=raising event this weekend that’s teaching you a little something about backyard gardens. It’s a self-guided tour through 20 homes and community gardens in Bend. Owners and volunteers will be on hand to

A single-vehicle crash Friday afternoon on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation killed a 7-month-old baby girl and injured 11 other occupants, including six children, some seriously, authorities said Saturday. Warm Springs police got a report around 1:30 p.m. Friday of the crash on Trout Lake Road, said Stan Suenega, general manager of the tribes? public

We all know that going to the hospital isn’t the most pleasant experience for people, but St. Charles Medical Center-Bend is trying to change that. The hospital received over $100,000 in grant money that will go to 28 projects to help improve patient care, and some are already starting. Nurses and doctors brainstormed ways to

It can be easy to get caught up in all the scandals that so often surround college sports, everything from players taking money to coaches breaking the rules to get prized recruits. But this weekend in Bend, there’s a chance to see how some Oregon State University student athletes have made a difference in a

Drug agents said they stopped a car on the outskirts of Madras Wednesday and arrested the man and woman inside, then raided the driver?s mobile home and found more methamphetamine and other items. Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team detectives, assisted by Jefferson County sheriff?s deputies, stopped Ignacio Joel Ortiz-Ramos and Toni Sophia Smith, both 27

A wanted felon, on the run for weeks since allegedly pulling a gun on his girlfriend and trying to run her and their daughter over, was caught Thursday after a car and foot chase in southeast Bend, police said. Just after noon, officers spotted a blue Ford pickup being driven by Danial Chase Kennedy, 25,

One day after Oregon was peppered with thousands of lightning strikes, crews scrambled to put out numerous new blazes, including one near Johnson Creek east of Prineville, as others fought a 15,000-acre group of five fires around Clarno that forced a camp evacuation, and about 30 fires of up to 1,000 acres on the Warm

Many people ran for cover as lightning pounded Bend Wednesday night. For some, the strikes came too close for comfort. A group of friends who were enjoying themselves outside say they’re lucky to be alive, after lightning struck a tree right next to them. “I thought I was dead,” Elmer Groener said Thursday. “I was

Western Communications, which owns The Bulletin in Bend and other properties, says it has filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 in a dispute with a lender over the terms for $18 million in loans. The company said Wednesday it will continue operating normally. Chairwoman Betsy McCool says the business is “here to stay.” Company officials

Court documents show a 24-year-old man arrested in the November firebombing of an Oregon mosque had ranted against Muslims in subsequent encounters with police officers and said Christians are also capable of jihad. Cody Crawford was arrested Wednesday night. He’s accused of setting fire to the Corvallis mosque just two days after FBI agents arrested

Investigators don’t know what touched off an explosion in a motel room in the Willamette valley town Newberg, but they have ruled out a meth lab or a gas line as causes. Newberg-Dundee Police Capt. Jeff Kosmicki said investigators are still gathering evidence at the Best Western Newberg Inn, where a 3 a.m. blast Thursday

When the smoke starts billowing skyward, you can bet someone already knows about it. They are the eyes in the sky — the lookouts on the High Desert. Trained to spot fires, like the 47-acre blaze burning near Lava Butte, the second they start. “I can see things that most people wouldn’t be able to