Month: February 2014

Oregon has fewer but larger farms, and older farmers and ranchers, according to early data from the2012 Census of Agriculture just released by the U.S. Department ofAgriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Service. The process ofcollecting and tabulating information from thenation’s farmers and ranchershas been completed, the Oregon Department of Agriculture says. A quick look at the

The Deschutes National Forest said Thursday it has opened a public comment period for an analysis of how to improve fish passage and habitat conditions for wildlife and aquatic species along Indian Ford Creek and its tributaries. A comment period for the Indian Ford Restoration Project opened this week and comments will be accepted until

Redmond police have made an arrest and a Central Oregon man is facing a long list of charges, accused of physically abusing two young girls. Court documents released Wednesday by the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office show the alleged abuse included shock collars, a Taser and a rock, among other things. Gordon Elliot, 37, was

A discussion has started about downtown Bend surveillance cameras that could help solve crimes, such as a window-smashing vandalism at a non-profit boxing club early Wednesday. The cameras idea was proposed eight years ago, but it was axed weeks later, when then-police chief Andy Jordan said he was not convinced the project was a smart

Here’s the notice we got of the return visit of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to Central Oregon: My name is Cokie Reed and as an Oscar Mayer Hotdogger, I drive the Wienermobile all across the country stopping at communities along the way! This week, we will be rolling into your area with the iconic Oscar

Crook County sheriff’s deputies warned Wednesday of a frightening call several residents got earlier in the week from a scammer claiming to be with law enforcement – and threatening arrest if they didn’t quickly pay hundreds of dollars in bail. The department received several reports Monday of a male caller who claimed to have a

On February 19 th , the Healthy Beginnings’ staff and volunteer experts provided the program’s very first Custom Preschool Screening at Happy Learners and Sunrise Preschools located in Bend. Healthy Beginnings was able to screen 22 children on early childhood development and vision, sending home additional questionnaires related to behavior for their parents to fill

Looking for a job? The city of Bend is hiring. At Wednesday night’s city council meeting, councilors voted to modify the city’s budget and approve six new positions. New positions include two new city planners, two building inspectors and two more jobs in Public Works. Community Development Director Mel Oberst told NewsChannel 21 earlier the

Photographer Alan Huestis has filmed and worked on many stories in his lifetime, but his most recent piece is personal. “Paul Heidtke — he was a Rotarian with a heart of gold,” Huestis said this week. Huestis has made a documentary dedicated to his late friend and fellow Rotarian, Paul Heidtke, and his work. “Paul

It’s a high school class, with a college mentality. “We wanted to target students who are uneasy about the concept of college,” said COCC College Prep Instructor Willan Cervantes. Cervantes wants to let these Latino students know that college doesn’t have to be scary — it’s achievable. The Avanza program was created to do just

The fast-running Deschutes River at Benham Falls, south of Bend, apparently peaked Tuesday night as authorities continue to keep watch over high water levels on the Little Deschutes and downstream at Tumalo, where residents were warned to be ready in recent days. The National Weather Service in Pendleton on Wednesday extended by another 24 ours,

A 5-year-old boy was thrown from an SUV and suffered fatal injuries when a Warm Springs man apparently ran a stop sign and struck a car north of Madras late Monday afternoon, Jefferson County sheriff’s deouties said Tuesday. The sheriff’s office is not releasing the child’s name, at the family’s request, said Capt. Marc Heckathorn.

Last week, while the Oregon Zoo’s three African lion cubs took a snowy star turn on Good Morning America, another lion cub trio was purring away in private, camped out behind the scenes at the zoo’s veterinary medical center. Three young mountain lions — orphaned in Eastern Oregon last month when their mother was shot

The Bend Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, is sponsoring a children’s book drive, March 1 through April 30 , to benefit local children in shelters and in foster care. Many of these children have never owned a book of their own. If you, or your business, would like to donate new, or gently used,

Information from the parent of a young witness led to charges Tuesday against a juvenile accused of shooting a dog with an arrow in the Sisters area, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said. Few details were released, but deputies said a juvenile male was cited for animal abuse in the injuries to Stewie, a 2-year-old black-and-white

Central Oregon residents’ main concern for the Deschutes National Forest is to manage forests to reduce wildfire risk, according to a new poll commissioned by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, a state agency charged with public education about forest management. OFRI contracted with DHM Research in Portland for the phone survey, which polled 300 Deschutes

Opponents of Bend’s planned $23 million water pipeline replacement project said Saturday they won’t appeal a federal judge’s ruling allowing the work to start, and instead will prepare for a later court hearing, focusing on their objections to the rest of the project at the city’s water-intake facility by Bridge Creek. “We anticipate that the

The wait is over! Girl Scouts throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington are now selling all of your Girl Scout cookie favorites at booths in front of local retailers. All eight varieties return for 2014 – Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, Thank U Berry Munch, Dulce de Leche and Savannah Smiles. Cookies are $4 per

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has presented the City of Bend with the organization’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2013-2015 Biennial Budget. In order to receive the honor, the City had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how

Firefighters who kept a carport fire from spreading into a northwest Bend home Tuesday evening said later it was traced to a failed, pinched extension cord used to recharge electric bikes. Firefighters were called around 7:15 p.m. to the reported house fire at a duplex at 1632 NW Sixth Street, off Portland Avenue, said Deputy