Month: July 2013

After a 3.7-acre brush fire near Neff Road ignited Thursday afternoon and threatened nearby homes, Project Wildfire reminded residents in Central Oregon that fire season has started. This is a good time to keep “Plan, Prep and Go” in the back of your mind. Have your 5 P’s: People, Pets, Pills, Photos, important Papers, and

Orange detour and construction signs can be seen all over Bend. The city has around 20 road projects to complete this summer. Three of them major road improvements. Every night from 7 p.m. 7 a.m., the underpass on Southeast Third Street is closed to traffic, for storm drain improvements to avoid future flooding. A busy

Small hidden cameras were found twice last year in a public restroom shared by two businesses in Bend’s NorthWest Crossing, police confirmed Thursday. Police first were alerted to the cameras in June of last year. Then, in December, a woman found another camera in the same bathroom. The camera was hidden inside what looked like

From the bottom of the river and the edges of the water, to the bag. On Thursday, the Deschutes River got a little cleaner. About 65 filled, large lawn bags cleaner, to be exact. “There’s been such an increase in use of the river, which unfortunately has led to an increase of the amount of

A federal judge in Eugene sentenced a 34-year-old Crook County resident Thursday to 2 1/2 years in prison for possessing a gun and ammunition after an earlier domestic violence conviction. U.S. District Judge Anne Aiken also sentenced Willard Bryan Wilhelm to three years of supervision after his release from prison. Wilhelm pleaded guilty without a

The Redmond Senior Center is in great need for volunteers to assist the homebound, disadvantaged, and seniors just requiring help – through three activities all of which take place during the week. Volunteer duties are for the following: Six volunteer drivers for Meals–On–Wheels. Delivery routes in the Redmond/Terrebonne area. Three or four volunteers will help

St. Charles Health System is one of only two health care organizations in Oregon to receive the American Hospital Association’s Most Wired Award, which recognizes great strides in the creation of robust clinical information systems aimed at improving patient care. The health system’s efforts toward implementing a closed-loop medication and administration program — commonly referred

The largest region in the country without a four-year university is $16 million closer to erasing that statistic. The High Desert has Central Oregon Community College and OSU-Cascades — but each are just two-year schools, together giving students a four-year degree. “It’s the most critical thing we need,” Deschutes County Commissioner Alan Unger said Monday.

The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team was honored as Oregon’s 2012 “Outstanding Task Force of the Year” Tuesday by the Oregon High Intensity Trafficking Area and the Oregon Narcotics Enforcement Association. Here’s a summary of the drug team’s recent work and background, as provided by Bend police Lt. Chris Carney: The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement

A fallen candle ignited a fire late Tuesday night that destroyed a mobile home in southeast Prineville, but the owner awakened and was able to escape unharmed, Crook County fire officials said. Crook County Fire and Rescue crews responded to the fire on SE Hopi Road around 11:20 p.m., officials said. They arrived to find

Come November, voters will decide if the tax visitors to Bend pay should rise. The Bend City Council voted 5-2 at a special meeting Wednesday night to send the new transient room tax compromise proposal to voters. If passed, the rate visitors pay at places at hotels and vacation rental homes will increase from 9

Pine Mountain Sports owner Dan McGarigle was greeted at his cycling and outdoor sports shop Wednesday morning by a smashed front door, and stolen high-end bikes. “My thought is that the people that actually came into our store merely grabbed the most expensive-looking thing they possibly could find and ran as fast as they could,”

There’s no better way to beat the Central Oregon heat than taking a slow float down the Deschutes River. But I always wanted to try something a little more active, like kayaking. So I met with Keoni Chung of Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe in Bend, to get started. “There’s just a lot of great

On Saturday the small city of Sisters will be flooded with about 12,000 people–‘sewing’ about $2 million into the local economy. “I was just excited like a little kid. And I just love it,” Sunriver quilting enthusiast Nancy Fischer said Wednesday. A show volunteer said she loves hearing the stories behind the quilts. “Little girls

Six-year-old Jesse Walker likes dinosaurs, angry birds and stuffed animals — like the one he got the day he was diagnosed with leukemia. On October 5th, 2010, Jesse was diagnosed with acute myloid leukemia (AML) at the age of 3 1/2 –the day after he and his adoptive parents Betty and Dwayne moved to Bend.

Hutch’s Bicycles are proud sponsors of the Kid’s Race that will take place during the Awbrey Butte Circuit Race Sunday, July 21 at Summit High School at approximately 1:30 p.m. Kids ranging from 2 years to 16 years old are encouraged to participate. Registration will take place between 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. at the

Oregon winemakers and homebrewers are invited to compete for top honors at the Oregon State Fair’s Amateur Wine Competition and Homebrew Beer Competition this summer. Registration for the Amateur Wine Competition is open through 4 p.m. Friday, July 12. Registration for the Homebrew Beer Competition is open through 5 p.m. Friday, August 2. Amateur Wine

Oregon’s sheriffs said the outcome of the just-concluded 2013 Legislature reminds them of the cliche’: When the world gives you lemons, make lemonade. More than a year ago, Gov. John Kitzhaber re-established a Public Safety Commission to review anticipated public safety budget shortfalls in the 2013-15 state budget and to avoid building a costly new

In the waning days of the 2013 legislative session, a team effort by state Sens. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) and Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) produced $250,000 for one of Central Oregon’s marque museums, the High Desert Museum south of Bend, the two lawmakers said Wednesday. “With help from Senator Johnson, we were able to secure resources the

The Prineville Police Department wants everyone to have a safe and enjoyable time at the Crooked River Round-up horse races this weekend. The Crook County DUII Victim Impact Panel has partnered with Country Cab to provide a limited number of free cab rides for individuals attending the Horse Races on Friday the 12th and Saturday