Month: April 2013

The Sisters Folk Festival has shifted the focus of its songwriting contest to a showcase format. The Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest has been part of the festival from its beginning in 1995 and has helped bolster careers from that of first contest winner Dave Carter to festival regular Beth Wood to current winner RJ

At the end of a three-day trial, a Jefferson County jury deliberated for about 90 minutes Wednesday and acquitted a former Culver 4-H leader of sex abuse charges. Steven Stoltz, 67, of Culver, was arrested Dec. 30, accused of sexually abusing a teenage club member. The jury cleared Stoltz of second- and third-degree sex abuse

Oregon lawmakers made cuts to Medicaid two years ago that have yet to be restored. Those cuts include funding for adult foster care programs — something Connie Chance of Bend has dedicated her life to. Last week, Chance testified before the state’s budget-writers, where she asked lawmakers to restore money to help at-risk seniors. In

A plane crashes into the Jefferson County Jail, bodies are everywhere, and several emergency crews rush to respond. That was the scenario in a disaster drill staged Thursday in Madras. “I’m actually simulating an airplane coming from the south, and landing in that big field out there and landing into my jail,” said Sheriff Jim

Cylvia Hayes, First Lady of Oregon and a champion of sustainability will provide the commencement address at Oregon State University – Cascades on Sunday, June 15. OSU-Cascades Vice President Becky Johnson extended the invitation to the First Lady to participate in the university’s 12 th annual commencement. “Cylvia’s leadership in sustainability and her support of

Starting May 1 st , the Mosaic Medical and Crook County Health Department campus in Prineville is tobacco-free and will offer patients, visitors and staff smoking cessation assistance during the transition. The Prineville Mosaic Medical location is the first Mosaic campus to implement a smoke and tobacco free policy with all other Mosaic locations to

Get the scoop! For several days in May and June, dog park users are invited to volunteer at clean-up events in Bend’s off leash areas. Hosted by local off-leash advocacy group, DogPAC, in conjunction with Bend Park & Recreation District and various groups that have adopted the off leash areas, “Dog Park Clean-up Days” offer

Personal use firewood collection in designated woodcutting areas of the Deschutes National Forest will open on Monday, April 29. The firewood-cutting season on the Ochoco National Forest and the Prineville District Bureau of Land Management will open on Wednesday, May 1, and all areas will remain open through Nov. 30. Starting Monday, firewood permits will

In May, all scrap metal proceeds generated by the Bend Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore will fund the Family Access Network voucher program. The voucher program provides struggling local families with basic home furnishings and appliances. The Bend ReStore is located at 760 NE 1 st St. in Bend. Donate your scrap metal and help

Do you know a Champion for Children that deserves to be recognized? Healthy Beginnings is pleased to announce the opportunity for community members to nominate individuals for the 2013 “Champion for Children” award. The “Champion for Children” award honors those who are deserving of recognition for their work on behalf of young children in our

A homeless man was arrested Monday night after Bend police say he robbed the Ericksons Thriftway in northeast Bend. Employees said Tuesday they couldn’t talk to us on camera, but did tell us it was a crazy night. A man in the checkout line at the northeast Bend grocery store Monday night pulled out a

A telephoned bomb threat prompted evacuation of the Erickson’s Thriftway in Madras Wednesday evening, but a search found nothing and it reopened within an hour, the night manager said. “Somebody called on the phone and said they put a bomb in the store and it was going to blow up,” Josh Bibler told news partner

Worthy Brewing CEO Chris Hodge said he has a lucky location. His business have never gotten a noise complaint. “I would be concerned if I owned an urban pub, tavern or restaurant, because I know those establishments do rely upon that late-night music,” Hodge said Wednesday. But a new law that could be slapped on

An extra $5 million in the Bend-La Pine Schools’ proposed budget could mean new possibilities for the year to come, officials said Wednesday. District officials have proposed a budget of $138 million for the 2013-2014 school year. They hope to add two school days back into the schedule, and invest in technology in the classrooms.

The city of Bend is losing one of its veteran leaders. Larry Huhn, a Bend firefighter for 30 years, and the fire chief for the past five years, is retiring. His last official day is Friday — and apparently, we learned Wednesday, his shoes — make that boots — are hard to fill. NewsChannel 21

Do you know an individual, family, business or organization, who has made a positive impact on the lives of fair goers or an outstanding contribution through accumulated service hours, to the success of the Crook County Fairgrounds? The Crook County Fair Board is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Crook County Friend of the Fair

Deschutes County 911 dispatchers were swamped with calls Tuesday about a tall smoke plume and were reassured it was only a planned, prescribed burn south of Bend. Forest Service officials had advised Monday of plans for the 400-acre burn as part of the South Bend Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project located along China Hat Road (Forest

TCF (The Center Foundation) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2013 Junior Scholarship Award program. TCF, in partnership with community donors, gives multiple $1,500 scholarships to outstanding Central Oregon high school juniors who demonstrate academic excellence (3.5 or better), school leadership, and community service. This year’s scholarships are donated by; The Center, Drs.

The city of Bend said Wednesday it will reopen its recruitment for the fire chief position, having decided not to choose any of the four finalists for the job. The city began its search in January, doing it in-house rather than hire a consultant, and received more than 80 applications. Four finalists were brought to

Register now for the Third Annual Bend Honda Happy Girls Run on May 25 -26, 2013! The Happy Girls Run includes an all-women’s Half Marathon, 10k and 5k race, and the Happy Little Kids run for children ages 3-10. Join thousands of women in beautiful Bend for this annual tradition, which features pre- and post-race