Month: August 2012

Wells Fargo has donated $510,000 to 11 nonprofit Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Oregon and southwest Washington to support the construction of 32 affordable homes for low- and moderate-income residents. The grants from the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation include: * $80,000 to the Portland/Metro East affiliate to help build one home in Portland.* $80,000 to

The city of Bend has hired Carolyn Eagan as its new business advocate. Eagan replaces Jon Skidmore, who was promoted to Assistant City Manager earlier this year. The Bend Business Advocate staffs the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board (BEDAB) and generally works with the community, city processes and local business support organizations to build a

An agreement between two Central Oregon landowners and ODFW’s Access and Habitat Program will provide ‘By-Permission’ public hunting access on a total of 15,000 acres for pronghorn, elk, deer and cougar beginning with the 2012 hunting seasons. Aspen Valley Ranch Hunting Access East of Prineville near Post, Maury Unit8,000 acres on a By-Permission reservation basisOpen

ODOT maintenance crews will take to Highway 97 in south Redmond beginning Wednesday, August 8, to make repairs to the highway surface. Patching and grinding work in the slow lanes in both directions from Veterans Way to Yew Avenue will continue until Thursday, August 23rd. Hours of operation will be from 7am until 3pm. The

More than 100 northeast Bend residents lost power for up to 4 1/2 hours Thursday night after a fuse blew in an underground cable, Pacific Power officials said. The outage began around 8 p.m. in the NE Daggett Lane area, said utility spokesman Tom Gauntt. Some callers to Deschutes County 911 in the Wells Acre

Meet Benny, a Yorkshire hog competing at this year’s Deschutes County Fair. He’s part of a team, with 17 year old Mountain View senior-to-be Makayla Bashian. Together, you could say they’re going for gold. “This is their Olympics,” said Makayla’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) advisor, Tracy Dulany. Much like the Olympics, you find parents

On Monday, the Deschutes County Road Department will be chip sealing on Rickard Road, from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, working between Groff Road and SE 27th St. Please expect delays. Flaggers and pilot car will direct traffic through the work zone.

Some of Oregon’s larger blueberry growers this summer have enlisted a winged warrior in the battle against starlings. The use of falcons to ward off a fellow bird species that can cause thousands of dollars in crop damage is showing very positive results and may be a growing trend among Willamette Valley blueberry farms. “People

The U.S. House passed legislation Thursday to extend lapsed disaster relief for ranchers, including those recovering from recent devastating wildfires in Eastern Oregon. “As Eastern Oregon begins to recover from the largest wildfires in the state in more than 100 years, the House has acted today to extend disaster relief for ranchers,” said Rep. Greg

The Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office announced that it will be extending the public comment period on the Priest Hole Site Plan Environmental Assessment until August 24. “We’ve heard that some people didn’t realize this planning effort was taking place and we want to hear from them,” said Chip Faver, Prineville Field Manager.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Four kittens died and a fifth is fighting an infection after someone put them inside a bucket of kitty litter and taped it shut. Officials at the DoveLewis emergency animal hospital say the kittens were brought in by Multnomah County animal control workers after they were found near a Portland intersection

A wind-whipped brushfire burned almost a half-acre near an Eagle crest condominium Sunday afternoon, but neighbors with garden hoses helped fire crews keep it from reaching any structures, officials said. Neighbors and a passer-by reported the fire just after 3 p.m. at 617 Highland Meadow Loop in the resort west of Redmond, said Redmond Deputy

Some Bend residents saw a tall wildfire smoke plume on the horizon Wednesday and wondered if a new fire had erupted near town. But it was actually from intense burn operations along the perimeter of the Lava Fire, pushing its size to more than 21,000 acres northeast of Fort Rock. Weather conditions cooperated with the

Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) announced final congressional approval Wednesday to transfer federal land to local control in La Pine and Wallowa, allowing for increased economic development in both communities. Both plans passed the House unanimously and were approved by the Senate late last year, meaning they now go to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

In a split 4-2 vote on a long-contentious project, a divided Bend City Council agreed Wednesday night to extend an 8-year-old development agreement with the owners of The Riverhouse to add up to 350 more homes along the River’s Edge Golf Course. With Mayor Jeff Eager absent, councilors Tom Greene, Scott Ramsay, Mark Capell and

A massive search for two men who reportedly robbed a jewelry store in Redmond Tuesday was quickly put on hold by reports of gunshots at the COCC Redmond campus. That call sent officers rushing to the school, where they pointed automatic weapons at a building before clearing the students and faculty inside, doing a room-to-room

Caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s can be a struggle for many Central Oregonians. Home Instead Senior Care will be holding a free all-day workshop for people to learn tips and methods to help deal with the issue together. More than 80,000 Oregonians suffer from various forms of Alzheimer’s Disease. “They’re not acting

A 60-year-old La Grande man whose pickup ran out of gas on a forest road east of Prineville, prompting an air and ground search of the rugged area, was found dehydrated but in good shape Wednesday afternoon by family members near Ochoco Reservoir. Officials said he had walked more than 20 miles cross-country over two

After getting some necessary maintenance, a boat dock will be installed in Crane Prairie Reservoir this week. This Friday, crews will install a boat dock at Crane Prairie Boat Launch. Installation was delayed because the dock required repairs to its decking and replacement of its float and hinge assemblies. The Oregon State Marine Board awarded

A raid on a southwest Redmond home Tuesday turned up more stolen items and evidence in connection with a string of Prineville car break-ins and thefts last week. Three residents of that home now face charges and more arrests are expected, officers said. Around 1 p.m. Tuesday, Prineville police detectives, assisted by Redmond officers, executed