Month: November 2012

The Bend Police Department announced Thursday that its new drug-detection K-9, “Zoey,” and partner Officer Don Barber are newly certified and ready to hit the streets. The pair passed certification standards Nov. 15 after an extensive four-week training period consisting of over 160 hours of specialized training. Zoey came to the department in early October

Redmond Fire & Rescue and the Salvation Army have once again partnered together for the annual “Redmond Toy and Food Drive.” Donations from organizations, businesses and individuals are used to provide toys, canned food, and a Christmas dinner for those in need during the holiday season. Donations of unwrapped toys for ages 1 through 13,

St. Charles Health System is pleased to announce it has contributed $4,000 to the Bend Ronald McDonald House to provide security fencing, lighting and surveillance cameras The Bend Ronald McDonald House provides lodging and support services to families whose children are receiving treatment at St. Charles Bend. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Oregon prides

A Bend man called a taxi for a ride home from a downtown bar late Wednesday night, but said he had no money, went inside to get some – and instead came out with an Airsoft pistol he pointed at the cabbie’s face, police said. Police were called shortly after 11 p.m. to a reported

Come Monday, the Lynch Community Clinic will open at M.A Lynch Elementary in Redmond. It’s the only community medical clinic in Oregon housed in a school. And school officials say the clinic couldn’t have come to a better place at a better time. “School-based health systems are always in jeopardy, because we have grants we

The holiday season is the busiest time for many local non-profits, as they try to provide for those in need. But for a Sisters non-profit, helping others is hard, because they’re struggling themselves. A crowded sorting room, rickety stairs and a collapsing ceiling are just some of the obstacles at the Kiwanis Food Bank in

I Love Bend OR is pleased to announce the release of their second annual wall calendar. This is the only calendar that is 100% focused on our community, and this year featuresOlympic Gold Medalist Ashton Eaton. The 2013 calendar features the wildly popular photography of Jill Rosell and her I Love Bend OR facebook page,

It’s something that’s been ingrained in women’s minds: Get a mammogram every year after age 40. Bend Dr. Archie Bleyer said Thursday his research suggests women should do otherwise, but his new advice for patients is far from universally accepted. Bleyer, an oncologist, is co-author of a study published recently in the New England Journal

Now through New Year’s Eve – mention Equine Outreach when you come into Bend d’Vine, and we’ll donate 10% of your purchase to their cause. An above-the-norm number of rescues coupled with this year’s drought-driven high hay prices have made hay a huge investment for Equine Outreach this winter. This unique Bend-based rescue’s mission is

A new study led by an OSU-Cascades professor has found that young, less-experienced surgeons made major surgical mistakes almost half the time during a “simulated” gall bladder removal when they were distracted by noises, questions, conversation or other commotion in the operating room. In this analysis, eight out of 18, or 44 percent of surgical

Joining a national campaign to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities during the holiday season, the Oregon Department of Transportation, with continued support from Governor Kitzhaber, Oregon State Police and a variety of partners, is stepping up efforts to remind motorists not to get behind the wheel if they are impaired. The governor has proclaimed December

Artist members and the Red Chair Gallery will donate 10% of December’s proceeds to the Bethlehem Inn, Central Oregon’s only emergency shelter serving adults and families experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon. Last year Red Chair Gallery began this donation effort and was able to give Bethlehem Inn $2,000. The Red Chair Gallery has been open

Ochoco National Forest Supervisor Kate Klein announced plans earlier this year to close the more than century-old Rager Ranger Station on the Paulina Ranger District due to tight budgets — and that’s happening on Friday, “The decision was primarily financially driven in light of current and expected budget reductions and is part of an effort

The Oregon Department of Agriculture finalized the rules for a new state law this week. Its aim: to protect Oregon forests from pests and diseases. If you are cutting or burning firewood in Oregon, Idaho or Washington, there are no changes for you. But those importing firewood into Oregon from outside the Pacific Northwest, are

High School graduation: It’s a benchmark in a young person’s life. But a new report from the U.S. Department of Education released Monday shows Oregon has the fourth worst four-year graduation rate in the nation. Just 68 percent of seniors earned a high school diploma last year. And among the state’s 25 biggest districts, Redmond

You can call them Santa’s elves — or you can just call them seniors becoming kids again. Either way, inside the shop at the Touchmark Retirement Community Center in Bend — when it’s time to work, it’s time to work. “They call and tell us to be down there at 9 a.m. on Monday and

Mt. Bachelor announced Wednesday the details on its charity programs this winter, including the annual Charity Ski Weeks, Ski for Schools, and the recently announced ‘4 Central Oregon’ OSU-Cascades campus expansion campaign. To date, Mt. Bachelor has generated $475,825 over the past seven seasons for Central Oregon non-profit organizations through its local fundraising efforts. Mt.

The freezing fog that blanketed much of Central Oregon early Tuesday returned after nightfall, causing more travel issues amid the murky gloom. Both the Redmond and Bend airports reporting freezing fog and quarter-mile to half-mile visibility for much of the night. A Horizon Air flight from Portland to Redmond arrived shortly before 10 p.m., about

A spark from a shovel ignited a fierce fire in a pit of flammable zirconium in an industrial area west of Prineville late Tuesday morning, officials said. The blaze sent up a tall smoke plume for hours, prompting authorities to keep students in doors and urge that anyone with respiratory problems do so as well,

Oregon’s members of Congress are each taking different routes to address the federal budget deficit — but some who could be hit or hurt the hardest by cuts in programs for the poor, sick and elderly aren’t waiting for the deal to be hammered out before weighing in. On Wednesday, advocates for people who depend