Month: February 2014

Heavy snowfall has blanketed all of Deschutes County leading to hazardous driving conditions. Some roadways are impassable for most vehicles. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to forgo travel plans and stay off the roadways . Please allow road crews to get the roads clear to ensure safe travel. City, county and state road

A Bend High School student shot and killed himself in a modular classroom amid other students Friday afternoon, bringing police and medics rushing to the scene as the school was placed in lockdown for several hours, officials said. The student fatally shot himself in a modular classroom around noon with a gun he brought onto

These days, Americans are wincing at a different kind of pump, as propane prices skyrocket. “We can’t afford it — it’s ridiculous,” Bend resident Elise Michaels said Thursday. Even those in the business are stunned. “It’s higher now than I can ever recall, and I’ve been in the propane business my entire life,” said CoEnergy

Taylor Brooks LLC, a joint partnership of Taylor Northwest and Brooks Resources, announced Friday that they will develop a health and wellness center at NorthWest Crossing. The new Shevlin Health and Wellness Center, which hopes to offer everything from primary medical to holistic care and from fitness to veterinary services, will be located at the

Designed to raise awareness and collect oral care products for at-risk children and teens, the America’s ToothFairy Smile Drive will be held this February, National Children’s Dental Health Month. Donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and rinse will benefit Bend-based Kemple Memorial Children’s Dental Clinic, an America’s ToothFairy Affiliate non-profit children’s oral health program, and Kemple Clinic’s

On Friday, January 24, the Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon was awarded Business of the Year at the Annual Redmond Chamber Awards Dinner. Each year, the Redmond Chamber of Commerce takes nominations for local businesses and, after a vote, the Board of Directors selects a winner. “This is an organization whose roots run deep in

Cycle Oregon is gearing up for its 2014 ride in September. New this year — a stop and stay in one Central Oregon city Madras will welcome 2,000-plus riders during their week-long ride this summer. During Cycle Oregon, now in its 27th year, thousands of people from around the world cycle thousand of miles across

Matthew McFarland, general manager of Hoodoo Ski Area, announced via hisMatthew’s Mountain Memothatguests who have unused 2013-14 season passes will be allowed to transfer them to the 2014-15 season. “Just a reminder to all of our season pass holders: Please don’t forget that we are Hoodoo. We always do things differently here, and we like

The U.S. Bank Mini PPP is now open for online registration. This is the first time that the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation has been able to offer this time saving option. Registration forms are also available at all Central Oregon U.S. Bank locations, the MBSEF office and at all the local elementary and middle

The Shared Future Coalition invites the public to vote for their favorite video from the “Success Not Wasted” video contest. Videos can be viewed either by clicking on the “Vote For Your Favorite Video” tab on the Coalition Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharedfuturecoalition , or by going to the direct voting link: https://woobox.com/q57ms8. Voting closes on

At Bend-La Pine Schools, we maximize achievement by encouraging students of all ages to find the learning environment that best suits their interests. By customizing each student’s curriculum to match his or her particular strengths, Bend-La Pine Schools students build a strong foundation for higher education and future careers. This spring, parents of students in

To ensure that your Valentine’s Day includes a smooch from a pooch or a purr of contentment, the Humane Society of Central Oregon’s Unleash Your Love promotion has reduced the cat adoption fee to only $14 and featured dogs will have special promotions through February 28 th . The Humane Society of Central Oregon’s Unleash

As frigid, below freezing temperatures hit Central Oregon, the Humane Society of Central Oregon would like to remind people to provide extra care for their pets. Pets are best kept inside. Bring your pet inside when the temperature drops to 32 degrees with the wind-chill factor. Dogs and cats can get frost bitten ears, nose,

Oregon’s exports rose 1.3 percent in 2013 with solid growth from computer products and machinery, particularly with the state’s largest trade partner, China. The state’s trade with China grew 27 percent over 2012, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Division. The increased trade with China was highlighted by 122 percent growth in manufactured

Rep., Greg Walden, R-Ore., cheered U.S. House passage Thursday of streamlined grazing permits and doubling their length, from 10 to 20 years, calling it “common-sense legislation that would boost certainty for ranchers with grazing permits on federal land.” The Grazing Improvement Act would streamline the process for renewing permits and double their duration. Walden is

The public may visit many federal recreation day-use sites on the Presidents’ Day weekend holiday – Saturday, Feb. 15 – Monday, Feb. 17 – without paying a fee. The fee waiver is the second of four such days and two weekends offered by the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service during 2014. The

A hot debate has sprouted in Deschutes County — bringing a packed room and lots of opinions before commissioners at Wednesday’s meeting about a new noxious weed ordinance. “I would like to see a citation as the first step,” said one man. “My observation is the biggest offender are all of the public entities,” said

Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Rand Paul (R-KY) announced Thursday the introduction of a bipartisan resolution calling for Congress to have a role in approving any further U.S.States military involvement in Afghanistan after the current mission ends on December 31. The Administration is reportedly negotiating an agreement that could

Deputy Schools Superintendent Rob Saxton announced Thursday that Oregon’s 4-year graduation rate for 2013 was 68.7%, up only slightly from the previous year’s rate of 68.4%. The 4-year graduation rate has increased 2.5% over the past five years. Here’s the rest of the Oregon Department of Education news release, including positive results at Bend-La Pine

A Bend home is destroyed after fire ripped through it Tuesday night. Fire officials say the blaze started because the family’s iguana enclosure was made of combustible materials, and it was too close to the wood stove. Stephonie Smith, 25, and her family are lucky to be alive. “I was sleeping, and I woke up