Month: March 2013

The automatic sequester of federal funds will have an effect on unemployment benefits and job search services in Oregon, the state Employment Department said Tuesday. Individuals receiving Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or EUC, will see a reduction in their weekly benefits of 10.7 percent. This reduction will begin the week of March 31, 2013 and

The Redmond School District has unveiled Redmond K-12 Online, a new program for the 2013-14 school year. Redmond K-12 Online is the district’s first virtual school that will be offered as a no-cost option. The online program will be available to kindergarten through grade 12 as a full-time option. Students will have access to more

A Bend driver swerved to avoid a deer on a La Pine road late Monday night, causing his car to roll and sending one of two passengers to the hospital, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said. Deputies and La Pine Fire medics responded to the crash around 11:20 p.m. on State Recreation Road near Huntington Road,

A Deschutes County hearings officer has denied AT&T’s controversial request to place a 100-foot cell phone tower along Alfalfa Market Road east of Bend, agreeing with a county planner that it would lack adequate screening from nearby homes and would harm the neighbors’ scenic views. Residents who have fought the project for nearly a year

February has come and gone as 2013 quickly marches forwards. Climatologically speaking, February was warm and dry for Central Oregon. Most of our storm system pushing through the state brought snowfall to the mountains but left lower elevations dry. Bend only had three days of either rain or snow through the whole month. In total,

Silt build-up in Mirror Pond has prompted a lot of debate about whether to dredge the pond or get rid of the dam and let the river flow free or do something in between those two extreme options. On Monday, the Mirror Pond Steering Committee met with the landscape architecture firm hired to help craft

A 36-year-old Utah man has been arrested along Highway 20 east of Bend after an Oregon State Police trooper found about 16 pounds of marijuana in his car’s trunk, troopers said Monday. Hastings said the OSP’s Drug Enforcement Section’s investigation “has reached a point allowing release” of the information about last week’s traffic stop and

– Redmond Dental Group, took tenth place on the “Best Small Business to Work for in Oregon” list by Oregon Business Magazine. For the third year in a row, Redmond Dental is the only dental office in the state to receive this award, and the only small company recognized from Central Oregon. The 20th annual100

The U.S. Bank Mini PPP is now open for online registration. This is the first time that the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation has been able to offer this time saving option. Registration forms are also available at all Central Oregon U.S. Bank locations, the MBSEF office and at all the local elementary and middle

A Bend man has been indicted and arrested on federal charges of falsely seeking nearly $900,000 in federal tax refunds – receiving one refund of more than $300,000 – and of making false claims to retaliate against former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and two Eugene IRS employees, the agency said Saturday. Mark T. Ellis was

This year marks the 31 st Anniversary of the “Governor’s State Employee Food Drive” of Oregon. The Governor’s State Employee Food Drive was first brought into being in 1982, when Governor Victor Atiyeh called on every state agency to sponsor a food drive “to reduce the suffering of those without adequate food resources” and “to

A large two-story home at a ranch east of Prineville – outside any fire protection district — was destroyed by a fire Friday evening that was believed started by a propane barbecue left on for nearly a day, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said Saturday. Deputies responded at 5:18 p.m. to the reported house fire at

In Oregon, 16 percent fewer juveniles are being incarcerated compared to 20 years ago — but nationally, the drop is 40 percent. A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing data from 1997 to 2010 says most states have expanded community-based alternatives to locking kids up, but there is still a long way

Oregon Adaptive Sports honored injured veterans and their families in a special way this weekend. The sixth annual “Heroes in Sisters” event started Friday night in Sisters, and ended Sunday on the sunny slopes of Mt. Bachelor. The event gave our wounded heroes an all expense-paid weekend, which included ski equipment, lessons, meals and two

NeighborImpact took advantage of the beautiful weather Sunday for its Bend Urban Iditarod. Dressed in funky costumes and toting decorated grocery carts, about 10 teams helped raise money, and food for NeighborImpact’s food bank. Each participant paid a $10 entry fee, and each team donated 30 pounds of non-perishable food items. Unlike the real Iditarod,

“Change begins within” — that was the message at the MUSE Women’s Conference in Bend this weekend. The three-day event was based around International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, which began Friday. The conference was taught through art, panel discussions and keynote speakers such as Dr. Tererai Trent, dubbed Oprah Winfrey’s “all-time favorite guest,”

The Wanoga Sno-Park was packed Saturday morning, as dog sled teams took advantage of the good conditions for the fourth annual Bachelor Butte Dog Derby. About 30 sled dog and skijoring teams gathered at the sno-park to take part in the race, all of them racing anywhere from five to 25 miles. The youngest competitor

The Deschutes County Courthouse was packed Saturday, as real judges and lawyers heard from both sides in mock murder trials put on by high school students. Students from Sisters High School are among the many who have been working for months to prepare their cases for today — actually a case, since everyone uses the

All those tests, getting into college — senior year is hectic — now lawmakers could add life-saving skills into the required mix. Health teacher Guy Millington said Friday that all students who graduate from Ridgeview High School will be trained in CPR and AED. “Having those skills, (it’s important) to react quick enough and confident

The political fight over mandatory budget cuts continues after the deadline passes in Washington. “It’s really just a cut in their percentage increase and because their budget naturally goes up,” said attorney Neil Bryant, a former state senator and NewsChannel 21 political analyst. “So there is a misunderstanding about that.” Bryant said Friday he thinks