Month: October 2013

The Oregon Department of Transportation is reminding motorists that this weekend’s clock adjustment may also require adjustments in sleeping patterns to ensure you don’t get sleepy behind the wheel. “Getting a good night’s sleep is the best way to fend off drowsy driving,” said Troy E. Costales, ODOT’s Safety Division administrator. And getting a couple

The Bend Fire Department is urging residents to test their smoke alarms before routinely changing the batteries. Sunday, November 3rd marks the fall tradition of changing clocks an hour back and it serves as a good reminder for Central Oregonians to test their smoke alarms. “Smoke alarm technology has advanced and many now come with

With weather forecasts predicting sustained fall weather conditions, fuels specialists continue to burn piles across Central Oregon. As part of this pile burning effort, the Prineville Bureau of Land Management intends to begin burning piles in several locations that may produce smoke in the La Pine basin along Highways 97 and 31, as early as

BrightSide Animal Center urges animal lovers to support its high-save mission by becoming members during its fall membership campaign, Nov. 4-27. To become a member, visit http://brightsideanimals.org/join-us/become-a-member/. “We depend upon members’ support to enable us to find safe, secure, forever homes for the animals brought to us,” said Mark Crose, president of the board of

The Redmond School District Board of Directors is seeking qualified applicants for a vacancy on the board. The person filling this appointment will serve from January 8, 2014 through June 30, 2015. The position will replace Lisa Klemp, who was elected to serve the remaining two-year un-served term of Jim Erickson. The Redmond School District

Economic Development for Central Oregon is pleased to announce the hiring of Caprielle Foote-Lewis to lead business and economic development efforts for the greater Sisters area. The program is a partnership of the City of Sisters, Deschutes County, local businesses and EDCO. In this role, she will manage recruitment efforts to attract new companies, work

Saving Grace announced Thursday that it has been honored with a prestigious 2013 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. “We are excited to be named a Top-Rated 2013 Nation-wide Nonprofit,” says Janet Huerta, executive director. We are proud of our accomplishments this year, including being one of the

Who needs the water more? The debate in Central Oregon has been going on for decades. Now one issue in Prineville is before the U.S. Congress for the second time. Prineville Mayor Bette Roppe says the city needs more water to grow their economy and get residents off shallow wells near septic systems. She says

Soroptimist International of Bend is taking applications for two $500 awards for young women between the ages of 14 and 17 living in the Bend and La Pine communities. Applications must be received by December 1, 2013. The Violet Richardson Award is designed to recognize young women who are involved in activities that make the

Bend is the best city in Oregon, according to a ranking released Wednesday by a California-based online real estate brokerage that weighed factors far beyond housing. Spokesman Nick Johnson said they based their list on factors from amenities and cost of living to crime, education, employment and distance to hiking and skiing. The full list

“She knew that it only takes a few minutes, it only feels like a few minutes in heaven for your family to join you. And so I hope she’s up there having fun, and we’ll be there in a few minutes bud, we’ll be there in a few minutes,” Avrey Walker’s dad, Aaron, said Wednesday.

Bend Park and Rec officials said on Wednesday this is the most costly year of vandalism, as another local park is hit with graffiti. Director of Park Services Pat Erwert said Quail Park near COCC on Awbrey Butte was vandalized over the weekend. “The damages are pretty significant, and on a hard surface,” Erwert said.

There have been numerous reports of a bright fireball sighting from all over the Pacific NW that occurred early Wednesday morning, according to the Oregon Museum of Science And Industry. According to Jim Todd, director of space science education at OMSI, the reports were about a fireball seen around 5:55 a.m. in locations from Oregon

One of Chimps Inc.’s eight beloved chimpanzees, Maggie, has died at the age of 23 of unknown causes, the sanctuary announced Wednesday, The facility’s team of board members, staff and volunteers announced that Maggie passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon. “She was surrounded by her sisters, Thiele and Patti, who stayed with her and together

Bend resident John Spence, known in World War II history as “America’s first frogman,” has died at the age of 95, a friend and fellow veteran confirmed Wednesday. Jake’s Diner owner Lyle Hicks, who hosts the local Band of Brothers meetings, said he went to visit Spence at an assisted living facility on Tuesday and

Winter is a pleasant time to visit the exhibits, galleries and animals of the High Desert Museum. The price of admissions during this time is reduced, and the Museum Store offers discounts during the holiday season. The winter schedule features plenty of activities throughout the day, including two Birds of Prey Encounters, a Porcupine Encounter,

Boaters with registration decals that expire on Dec. 31will soon be getting their courtesy registration renewal notice in the mail. The Marine Board is mailing approximately 90,000 notices on November 1. “Renewing online is quick and easy and there’s zero processing fee,” said Melinda Harrison, Registration Assistant Manager for the Marine Board. Each renewal notice

The Deschutes Land Trust presented two Bend residents with Volunteers of the Year Awards at its annual Open House on October 29. Derek Loeb and Kelly Madden were honored for their dedication to conserving land in Central Oregon. Derek Loeb is a retired geophysicist who first got involved with the Land Trust in 2012. An

Forest Road 370 on the Bend-Ft. Rock and Sisters ranger districts of the Deschutes National Forest is now closed for the season and will not reopen until weather conditions allow in the spring. The road is gated from Road 16 in the Three Creek Lake area of the Sisters Ranger District to the Todd Lake

With former Bend real estate broker Tami Sawyer already serving a nine-year federal prison term on fraud and money-laundering convictions, the Oregon Department of Justice said Wednesday it has moved to dismiss another fraud case against her. Sawyer and her husband, Kevin, a former Bend police captain, were sentenced last spring to years in prison