Month: August 2013

A stray bullet discharged by users of the Burns Butte Shooting Range sparked a fast-moving fire that burned about 150 acres Friday afternoon and threatened nearby homes, authorities said. Here’s a news release issued by the Bureau of Land Management’s Tara Martinak late Friday night: The Shooting Range Fire, located near Switch Canyon just west

A fast-moving fire destroyed two neighboring mobile homes and damaged a third at a Madras trailer park Saturday morning, but all got out safely and no injuries were reported, initial reports indicated. The fire was reported at 10:08 a.m. at Tops Trailer Park, at 23 NW Depot Road (west of Hwy. 26), bringing in Jefferson

A thunderstorm late Friday afternoon and evening produced 800 lightning strikes that have sparked several wildfires from The Dalles to Eastern Oregon, the state Department of Forestry reported Saturday. Three fires erupted about seven miles west of The Dalles at about 5 p.m. Friday The Blackburn Fire, located in The Dalles watershed, has burned about

Summit boys tennis coach Josh Cordell and his wife Emily have had an extremely stressful week. Their daughter was born 15 weeks prematurely on Monday. Cordell’s daughter was supposed to be born in November. Instead, Emily gave birth just 25 weeks into her pregnancy this past Monday. Brynlee Cordell weighed in at just 1 pound,

A shoplifting incident at a Bend store led to the arrest of three people Thursday after they headed north and parked at the Redmond Fred Meyer, police said Friday. In their SUV, police said they found stolen property as well as heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. Redmond police Lt. Keith Knight said a Deschutes County sheriff’s

It’s starting to look a bit like Dr. Doolittle’s menagerie at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office’s Large Animal Rescue and Shelter. Already seeking the owners of a recently found piglet and miniature donkey, now they have two new arrivals: two standard donkeys. The sheriff’s office is seeking information on the possible owners of the two

If you think keeping up your yard is tough, imagine maintaining a city. “Weeds, tree trimming, yard debris, there’s so much we have to take care of in the summertime,” Redmond Public Works spokesman David Bergstrom said Friday. Bergstrom said between painting roads, maintaining signs and other roadwork, the city has a full plate. But

A public memorial service and procession is planned next Thursday for Jefferson County EMS Chief Don Heckathorn, who died Wednesday evening of injuries suffered in a motorcycle car crash nearly a week earlier. The announcement came late Friday night from Jefferson County sheriff’s Capt. Marc Heckathorn, whose father died Wednesday evening at St. Charles-Bend. “My

A disposed-of, smoldering object – such as a used charcoal briquette – likely sparked a fire in a large trash trailer early Friday evening that caused about $30,000 damage to a receiving building at Deschutes County’s Knott Landfill in southeast Bend, fire officials said. Firefighters responded around 5:30 p.m. to the reported structure fire at

Twenty of 22 businesses visited in Prineville passed a check for alcohol sales to minors by refusing to sell alcohol to a minor volunteer, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission reported Friday. The sales checks were performed July 10 by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission and Prineville Police Department. The sales check resulted in a compliance

The Oregon DEQ said Friday it is taking the rare step of levying a nearly $800,000 fine against the individual owners of a limited-liability corporation after years of neglect and fires at a northeast Oregon landfill. The agency issued the $790,062 penalty against Kunzua Resources, the LLC that owns the Pilot Rock Sawmill Wood Waste

Riding the big yellow bus is an important first step as kindergarten students set off for their first day of school. To help make the transition easy for parents and students alike, Bend-La Pine Schools transportation staff has invited a familiar face, Winnie the Pooh, along for their first ride. The 14th annual “Winnie the

NPG of Oregon Inc., a cluster of television stations that broadcasts live news on the NBC and FOX affiliates in Bend, Oregon is accepting applications for News producer/anchor/reporter. This position will be responsible for producing, reporting, and presenting enterprising stories on our top rated newscasts. We are looking for someone who combines strong journalistic skills

Truffle hunting — a hobby pursued in Oregon’s forests, not the grocery store candy aisle –has a new set of regulations, including a state permit requirement, under legislation adopted by lawmakers earlier this year. These fungal delicacies that grow beneath the soil’s surface were designated a “special forest product” by the Oregon Legislature. As a

It’s time for the Sisters Rodeo Association Queen Tryouts. This is an opportunity for young ladies to compete for the title of the 2014 Sisters Rodeo Queen. The competition is open to young ladies that live within the state of Oregon, and are between the ages of 18 and 23 years of age at the

When T-Mobile announced it was closing its Redmond call center in the spring of last year, employees weren’t the only ones who winced at a serious blow to a fragile, recovering Central Oregon economy – so did the city and region. But very soon, before the doors actually closed, up stepped a new tenant: Oregon-based

The Deschutes County Road Department will be chip sealing SW 61st Street from US 97 to Six Corners and the entire length of the Old Bend-Redmond Highway beginning Monday, August 19th through Thursday , August 22nd . Operations will run from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. A pilot car will be guiding traffic

Last November, voters in Bend passed a $29 million bond measure for the Bend Park and Recreation District. The proposed projects are starting to take shape. One of them is fixing the dangerous Colorado Dam spillway near the Old Mill District. “It’s a very dynamic project,” Project Manager Chelsea Schneider said Thursday. “Very interesting, lots

Oregon deer and elk archery seasons begin Aug. 24, and bowhunters will be facing high fire danger and some closures and access restrictions as the season opens, officials said Thursday. Hunters are asked to use extreme caution and follow all fire restrictions while in the field. The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) says the fire

The Bend Police Department conducted a pedestrian safety detail on Thursday at the intersection of NW Wall and Vermont streets. The primary focus of this detail was to raise pedestrian safety awareness of drivers and pedestrians through education and enforcement of pedestrian right of way laws. Warning signs and traffic cones were posted prior to