Month: January 2013

A nearly $11 million expansion of the Deschutes County Jail is back on the table. County commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday night to add 144 beds to the jail, a project expected to be complete in two years — five years after voters rejected a tax hike to pay for a larger jail project. It’s a

Deschutes County has been grappling for many years over whether and how to allow property owners to host weddings on land zoned for farming. A Sisters-area man said Thursday he’s hoping to get a private park permit for his proposed wedding venue, and believes it will boost the local economy. John Shepherd owns 216 acres

To ensure that your Valentines Day includes a smooch from a pooch or a purr of contentment, the Humane Society of Central Oregon’s Unleash Your Love promotion lets you “Pick Your PURRfect Price” on all cat adoptions and featured dogs will have special promotions through February 16 th . The Humane Society of Central Oregon’s

The Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office is implementing a series of wildlife closures to protect several species of birds of prey during sensitive nesting periods. Harassment by humans – unintentional or deliberate – is a leading cause of nest failure or abandonment. People walking or riding near a nest — or even being

The on-time graduation rate for Oregon high school students in the class of 2012 is up, but barely. The Oregonian (http://bit.ly/11jUqLp) reported that state figures showed the rate rose by less than a percentage point and remains at 68 percent. Gov. John Kitzhaber and his chief education officer, Rudy Crew, call 68 percent unacceptably low.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced Thursday that Oregon, 45 other states and the District of Columbia have agreed to settle legal claims against Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) and its subsidiaries, LPS Default Services, Inc. and DocX, LLC. The companies were allegedly involved in widespread “robo-signing” of foreclosure documents and other abuses related to

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered in hopes of solving an arson fire that heavily damaged a former transitional housing facility in southwest Bend just over a month ago, police said Thursday. Police and firefighters were dispatched the morning of Dec. 29 to a report of smoke coming from the former Lake

After having been open for over 70 years, the owner of Petersen Rock Garden in Redmond said Thursday they are “taking a needed break in order to evaluate and identify critical areas for preservation, restoration, repair and timely improvements. “ This closure will last from Friday until May 24, the start of Memorial Day weekend,

Ten years ago this fall, BendFilm was founded by Katie Merritt and a group of film lovers and culture enthusiasts in Bend. In the years since then, the festival has grown to become a beloved regional happening, featuring over 80 films, four days of films and becoming known as a “gem of a small festival.”

Cascades East Transit is hosting public information sessions on two days at Hawthorne Station in Bend (334 NE Hawthorne Ave, Bend, to discuss proposed changes to Bend Routes 4, 5 and 6. The sessions will be held:• Wednesday February 6 from 7:30am to 8:30 am• Wednesday February 6 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm• Friday, February 8

After months of study, Bend’s Sewer Infrastructure Advisory Group has recommended two solutions to relieve specific city sewer system capacity issues. SIAG members presented their findings to the city council Wednesday night, and councilors are scheduled to formally vote on the proposals at their meeting next Wednesday. While plans for a citywide sewer system upgrade

Talk about parts of the region’s highway system took center stage at a work session before Wednesday night’s Bend City Council meeting. The city wants to drop the expressway designation for part of the parkway on the north end of the city. The designation means traffic can move along a lot quicker, and entrances are

More than one-third of Oregon residents don’t have enough money in savings to keep them afloat for three months, according to a new national report, and the average family’s credit card debt tops $10,000. The report from the nonprofit Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) makes recommendations about what states can do to help people improve

Funneling in from all over Oregon, business leaders are here in Bend to talk about our state’s future. Competitiveness will be a main theme of Thursday’s Oregon Business Conference. The keynote speaker, Craig Barrett, retired CEO of Intel, says he’ll focus on how he believes education propels economic success. “Oregon’s got an okay K-12 school

A Bend woman has been arrested on DUII and other charges, accused of rear-ending a Bend police patrol car finishing a traffic stop along the Bend Parkway late Tuesday night, Oregon State Police said. The officer in the car was treated for minor injuries, troopers added. Around 11:20 p.m., Officer Justin Lovrien, a 10-year veteran

World War II veteran and Bend resident Robert Wyatt used to have to make a three-hour trip to Portland to get his hearing aids checked and adjusted–but on Wednesday, he had his first appointment at Bend’s new, larger VA clinic. “It smells new like a new pair of shoes — I mean, it’s going to

The Culver School District is hoping to update their schools, but first of course, they need money. The superintendent is now pushing for a bond measure in May. This wouldn’t be the first time the school district has asked for a property tax hike.In 2011, they proposed a $14.5 million bond, but that was shot

A barred owl hanging around Riverbend park and the Old Mill district has caused quite the commotion, but Wednesday afternoon, it was nowhere to be seen. And still, many people waited, hoping to get catch a glimpse (or another glimpse) of it. “I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Kelly Burns said. “It was just

A new study by Oregon State University researchers finds that Head Start can make a positive impact in the lives of some of its highest-risk children, both academically and behaviorally. Published in the current issue of the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, the study sheds light on how Head Start has helped children living in

The City of Redmond Public Works Department recently was honored with the Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB’s President’s Choice Award. Chamber President, Dustin Hewitt, selected the City of Redmond Public Works Department as this year’s recipient for their contributions to the community throughout the year, including their outstanding customer service record and problem solving