Month: July 2012

A Bend judge Monday afternoon found former COCC instructor Thomas Bray guilty of raping one of two alleged victims, but cleared him on charges involving the other accuser. “There’s a big difference between believing, and proving beyond a reasonable doubt,” District Attorney Patrick Flaherty said later, referring to the case Bray was acquitted in. Circuit

A 16-year-old Bend girl drowned in a rafting accident Sunday afternoon on the North Umpqua River in southern Oregon. Her body, trapped underwater, finally was recovered from a hazardous spot on the river Monday afternoon. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says Nichole Pomeroy of Bend became trapped in debris under water after a raft carrying

Eighteen of 20 businesses visited in Bend passed a recent check for alcohol sales to minors by refusing to sell alcohol to a minor volunteer., the Oregon Liquor Control Commission reported Monday . The sales checks were performed June 15 by the OLCC. The sales check resulted in a compliance rate of 90 percent which

After nearly four years of service as Jefferson County Manager for Economic Development for Central Oregon, Wayne Pearson is announcing his retirement effective Sept. 28. The Jefferson County Economic Development program is a partnership between EDCO, Jefferson County, City of Madras, City of Metolius, Madras Chamber of Commerce, Crooked River Chamber of Commerce, and Confederated

A plan to address the needs of Oregonians impacted by Alzheimer’s disease was announced Monday by a broad coalition of partners who came to consensus on first steps to take on the growing impact of this devastating disease. The plan is the first for Oregon, and represents a groundbreaking effort between the private sector, government,

Bend is going to the dogs — and that’s cause for celebration. Bend has been named DogTown USA — the nation’s dog-friendliest city — in the September 2012 issue of Dog Fancy magazine. The city was selected based on Bend’s abundance of canine-friendly recreation opportunities, businesses, restaurants, and off-leash areas. “The application process was extremely

A researcher at Oregon State University–Cascades will lead a major new research initiative on a vehicle-based natural gas refueling system, a $700,000 project to create technology that would use the vehicle engine itself to compress natural gas. The project will be led by energy engineering management professor Chris Hagen, with support from Colorado State University,

It’s been a tough year for the family of Sandra Meyer, but they said Saturday’s donation of items to Saving Grace brings some good out of a terrible situation. The news of Sandra Meyer’s disappearance dominated our headlines for months last year, as police searched for her. Then, weeks later, her husband John Meyer took,

The Deschutes Land Trust and Sisters Habitat for Humanity partnered together to recycle household goods and building supplies for the benefit of local community members. The recycled items came from an old home the Land Trust is in the process of removing from its Camp Polk Meadow Preserve near Sisters. Land Trust volunteers helped remove

Local senior care experts are urging Central Oregon families to be alert for scammers who may be targeting their senior loved ones with a variety of clever cons that could jeopardize not only their life savings but their independence. “Scam artists are specifically targeting seniors because they are the fastest-growing segment of the population, which

Seniors in search of a social atmosphere and delicious food are invited to nutritious lunches at the Bend’s Community Center. The program, paid for by Central Oregon Council On Aging (COCOA) congregate dining program, offers low-income seniors (60+) the opportunity to enjoy a free, delicious hot meal and the opportunity to socialize with others. Bend’s

Bend Park & Recreation District’s Al Moody Park will be temporarily closed on Wednesday, August 1st due to an asphalt maintenance project. Located at 2225 NE Daggett Lane, the park is expected to reopen on Thursday, August 2nd. During the closure, people are encouraged to use other parks in the area including: — Stover Park,

A Terrebonne woman critically injured in a crash last Monday has improved to fair condition and is due to be released to rehabilitation on Monday, a nursing supervisor said Sunday night. Glennda Bickley, 65, had to be cut out of the wreckage of her gray 2000 Saturn SL, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said. She was

More than 98 percent of Oregon home-care workers have voted to ratify their new union contract with the state. And for the first time, the contract covers about 7,500 caregivers who work with people with mental health issues and developmental disabilities. Rebecca Sandoval, a caregiver who was the bargaining unit chair for Service Employees International

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man shot and killed by Portland police on Saturday as 28-year-old Billy Wayne Simms. Police said Sunday that Simms was involved in a number of criminal incidents in the days before he was killed. They say officers tried to contact Simms in the parking lot of a

KELSO, Wash. (AP) — A coroner says a man found dead at a campsite near Kelso, Wash., died after sustaining multiple stab wounds. The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday that the man was identified as 29-year-old Nicholaus Fickett of Kelso, and his death has been ruled a homicide. Authorities say they believe he died

If you saw a helicopter dropping thousands of golf balls from the sky in Bend Sunday, and wondered what that was all about — it was all for a good cause. More than 4,000 golf balls rained down on Riverbend Park Sunday afternoon. It was all a fundraiser for Wendy’s Wish, an organization supporting cancer

Redmond wants to showcase what it has to offer to the cycling community, so Sunday, a cycling team held their own race. The first annual Redmond Downtown Criterium was hosted by the Trinity Bikes Cycling team and drew racers from all over the state. Racers took part in an L-shaped course from 6th Street out

Three separate fires were started early Sunday morning along the Larkspur Trail in southeast Bend, police and fire officials said — and they need your help to find the suspects who lit them. Police tell us they believe the blazes were started on purpose. They were reported early Sunday morning, and while they weren’t very

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Danny Califf scored his first goal of the season to give Chivas USA a 1-0 victory Saturday night that sent the Portland Timbers to their fifth consecutive defeat. Califf scored on a set-piece header in the 68th minute when Chivas capitalized on Ben Zemanski’s free kick. It brought Portland goalkeeper Troy