Month: December 2013

Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) is now the lead Democrat on a bipartisan bill, the Prohibiting In-Flight Voice Communications on Mobile Wireless Devices Act of 2013, to prohibit wireless voice services on commercial flights above 10,000 feet. The bill, introduced by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, is a response to the Federal Communications

An estimated 26 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. To help better serve them, Crook County now has a new place for those affected to get help. On Wednesday, Lutheran Community Services Northwest opened a permanent home for several services to help those in need. “I am celebrating

The Bend City Council is poised to vote at a special meeting Friday on a resolution and ordinance laying out their water policy goals in a controversial pipeline project. But a land-use attorney whose group is seeking a second federal court order to again block the project sees nothing in the language to change their

It has been a year since the Newtown, Connecticut school massacre. It has also been a year since Central Oregon school officials sat down to discuss new safety precautions, in light of the tragedy. One year later, public outcry has died down, but schools have been busy at work making good on their promises. “Beginning

Sounds of drills and hammers fill the air outside the Deschutes County Jail. Construction has begun on the jail’s $11 million expansion and remodeling project, which will add 144 beds to it’s current 228, which are almost always full. “We have some jail beds rented in Jefferson County, so that’s helping us alleviate our population

On Dec. 14, 2012 — tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 20 kids and six adults were shot and killed. Six-year-old Jack Pinto was one of them. “It’s helpful for us to remember that not just bad things happen, there’s plenty of people out there that do good things,” said Jack’s father, Dean Pinto.

The Old Mill District and developer Bill Smith of William Smith Properties were recognized earlier this month with a special conservation award from the East Cascades Audubon Society. Since its inception many years ago, plans for the Old Mill District included important riparian restoration and environmental sustainability efforts for local plants and wildlife. “Sheryl Pierce,

A working smoke detector, nearby fire extinguisher and quick-acting homeowner headed off “potential disaster” in a fire at a northeast Bend home early Wednesday morning, an official said. Firefighters responded just before 4 a.m. to the blaze at the home of Jake Woerner at 454 NE Franklin Avenue, said Bend Fire Capt. Todd Riley. They

A Sisters jerky and produce stand owner has filed a $2.5 million federal lawsuit against the city and several officials, claiming they are trying to shut him down because they don’t like his style of business. That business is Wild Mountain, a jerky and produce stand on the east side of town, just off Highway

Caldera is excited to welcome its 2014 Artists in Residence (AiR). January through March, Artists in Residence will stay for four-weeks at Caldera’s Arts Center on Blue Lake. Artists are selected through an application and jurying process and are granted a private cottage and studio or workspace. Caldera was recently awarded a Golden Spot Award

Three Peaks Coffee Company, located at 610 SW 6th Street in Redmond, is promoting Central Oregon’s season of giving by donating a portion of every coffee or holiday beverage sold to Beulah’s Place, a 501c(3) non-profit organization providing temporary drop-in shelter services to homeless teens in Central Oregon December 10 through December 31 . This

The cold snap that sent Central Oregon 20 to 30 degrees below zero Sunday morning may have taken a toll on your Christmas tree. Varieties like Douglas and Grand Fir don’t tolerate the cold as well as Noble Firs. With trees left on lots overnight, some say even covering the trees wouldn’t have mattered. Redmond

Trinity Lutheran fifth-grader Aidan Ramsthel is learning how to program. “I’m trying to get the angry bird to go around corners and get the pig,” he said Tuesday. Aidan and the rest of his classmates are taking an hour out of their day to code, using the popular game “Angry Birds.” “Uou can hit reset

Like many fathers, Cameron Gergits is proud to talk about his son. “I just want to make sure he has everything that he could possibly need for the holiday season,” said Gergits. That’s tough for him to do, he doesn’t have steady work lives in a homeless shelter and is a about to go back

Statewide, the number of students that don’t have a home is decreasing, but the numbers are still high here on the High Desert. One district facing shocking numbers is Culver, where 18 percent of its students don’t have a place to call home. That’s the second-highest homeless population of any district in the state. “Instead

Two Klamath Falls residents were killed and a third family member seriously injured late Tuesday morning when a freight train struck their SUV at a crossing south of Klamath Falls, Oregon State Police reported. Troopers and emergency responders were dispatched to the crash, which was reported shortly before 11 a.m. on an access road off

Recent sub-freezing temperatures have frozen water service to the Highway 97 southbound highway rest stop, about two miles south of Chemult, ODOT said Tuesday. Since the extreme weather conditions set in, water service has been interrupted by the freeze and efforts to restore water service to the rest stop have been unsuccessful to date. ODOT

HONOLULU (AP) — Oregon State will play Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve at Aloha Stadium. The Beavers went 6-6 but dropped their final five games. There were questions about whether the team would receive a bowl bid, because the Pac-12 had nine bowl-eligible teams with only seven bowl agreements. “I am

Long-time, local homeowner association Management Company, Aperion Management Group, LLC, is partnering with NeighborImpact for a holiday food drive and wants to invite you to help. Local area food banks serve 20,000 people in Central Oregon, part of Aperion’s mission is to help build healthy and thriving communities. So help us provide food to thousands

Bend Spay and Neuter Project’s fourth annual Doggie Coat Drive is in full swing! This project is completely volunteer-driven and works to provide coats, sweaters and booties for dogs belonging to people who are homeless or displaced in Central Oregon. “The greatest need by far is for durable coats for medium and large size dogs.