Month: October 2012

A new report released by the Forest Service is shedding more light on the dramatic water-bucket rescue of a firefighter from the fast-moving flames of the Pole Creek Fire near Sisters in late September. On Friday, Sept. 28, a task force leader and a water-dropping helicopter were doing bucket work on the west side of

A Bend family is trying to explain to their three young kids what happened to their cherished toys and all their holiday decorations, after thieves broke into their storage unit and stole it all. “I feel like they hurt the kids directly,” Jessica Hillier said Wednesday from her southwest Bend apartment. “My daughter has cried

What can state lawmakers do to create jobs and help schools? Wednesday at a political forum on the COCC campus, local candidates lobbied students for their vote. Packed into Willie Hall, many students and first-time voters came to meet their local candidates running for office. “My mind isn’t quite made up yet, but it gave

Painful memories of an argument that turned deadly last December were relived Wednesday morning in Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby’s courtroom. Wednesday marked the start of Jim Hargrave’s murder trial in the shooting death of his 28-year-old son, Steven Hargrave. Police say Hargrave. 62, shot his son in the chest after a fight at

Marie Keiser and and Lisa Holm were searching for the perfect Halloween costume. “I’m going for the zombie, fairy look,” Holm said. And they’re not alone. A record-breaking 170 million people will in the festivities. That’s more than any year over the past decade. According to the National Retail Federation, this year, Americans will spend

Notification to consumers has begun in the $69 million legal settlement between 49 states and certain electronic book publishers, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said Wednesday. Publishers agreed to pay the money — more than $917,000 to Oregon consumers – to settle allegations they conspired to fix prices. Over the past few days, eligible consumers

If you think a Halloween costume will disguise your drunk driving, Oregon law enforcement agencies across the region have a message for you: keep the Halloween party off our roads. “As party-goers celebrate Halloween over the weekend and trick-or-treaters scatter around our neighborhoods Wednesday night, be aware that your disguise won’t make you invisible,” said

When the second annual PacificSource Healthy Life Civil War Challenge kicks off on October 23, Ducks and Beavers statewide will be united in a friendly competition to encourage, achieve, and take an active role in healthy living. By pledging to take part in the PacificSource Healthy Life Civil War Challenge, which runsOct. 23 through Nov.

On the heels of a busy wildfire season across the United States, the American Red Cross has released its official Wildfire App. The app puts lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in or who visit wildfire-prone areas and gives residents instant access to a ‘Blaze Tracker’ features so they can prepare

Humans love to celebrate Halloween with costumes, candy and parties. These may be fun for us, but can be a confusing and stressful experience for our companion animals. Our pets do not understand why family members transformed into a bumble bee and why scary people keep ringing the doorbell and yelling “trick-or-treat.” The Humane Society

After a year and a half of waiting, the results are in. The Insurance Services Office has released its newest rating for the Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District. ISO is the entity that rates fire departments throughout the U.S. and directly influences homeowners’ fire insurance rates. On a scale of 10, with 1 being the

Distressed homeowners throughout Oregon can now apply for up to $20,000 to pay off past-due bills and become current on their mortgage. The Loan Preservation Assistance (LPA) Program was piloted earlier this year in select Oregon counties and is now available statewide. The program aims to help more than 2,000 Oregon homeowners avoid foreclosure by

The U.S. Forest Service is waiving fees at most of its day-use recreation sites over the Veterans Day holiday weekend, Nov. 10-12. The fee waivers – the fourth this year — are offered in cooperation with other federal agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Day-use fees will be waived at all standard amenity

Michael Bremont, the former director of the Redmond Proficiency Academy accused of abusing a female student, as well as another student in Linn County more than six years ago, entered conditional guilty pleas to sex abuse and theft charges Tuesday in a deal that apparently will bring a 19-month prison sentence. Bremont, 39, was arrested

A total of $1.4 million has been awarded to 21 of Oregon’s 36 counties to provide resources and capabilities for responding to terrorism through the State Homeland Security Program. The SHSP is provided through FEMA and focuses on responders including emergency management, law enforcement, fire protection, public health, 911 programs and others. A priority for

The U.S. Department of Labor announced Wednesday a $198,495 National Emergency Grant to provide job training and support services to about 120 workers affected by the closure of T-Mobile USA Inc.’s facility in Redmond. “The telecommunications industry is highly competitive, and these workers face challenges in finding re-employment comparable to the jobs they lost,” said

Deschutes Brewery honors its namesake Central Oregon river with a brand-new, year-round beer dubbed Deschutes River Ale. The new brew, which underwent several experimental batches at the brewery’s pubs over the past few months, will hit shelves in the spring of 2013. The beer will be released in six-packs and draft to craft beer fans

From the outside of a mailing by Deschutes County judicial candidate Beth Bagley, you might not think it’s a political ad — and some recipients say they didn’t, since it was addressed to them as parents, and otherwise blank. Robert Tyler is a parent of a Bend-La Pine student. But when Tyler was getting his

Nationwide, patients complain twice as often about noise in hospitals as they do about any other part of their stay. Starting this week, St. Charles Health System is launching a “quiet campaign” to address the problem throughout its facilities in Central Oregon. The health system says it has spent the past several months working to

Many in Prineville and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are mourning the loss of wildlife biologist Crystal Ann Strobl, who died on Highway 126 west of Redmond Saturday night when her motorcycle hit the rear tire of another that was slowing down ahead of hers. OSP Sgt. Keith Taylor identified the woman Sunday