Month: June 2014

A temporary closure for the Benham Falls trail bridge is in place today through the week. The closure is expected to be lifted on Saturday. The closure is for public safety while a connector section is installed in the bridge. The bridge accesses Lava Lands from Benham East as a part of the Sunriver to

Fire conditions around Central Oregon have also prompted the Bend Fire Department, Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District 2, Oregon Department of Forestry-Prineville/Sisters Unit and Deschutes National Forest to increase the Fire Danger Rating level to HIGH. This is due to the projected weather patterns, low fuel moisture and current fire behavior as seen on

An 82-year-old 4th of July parade that features a menagerie of animals and families in Independence Day regalia is the newest Oregon Heritage Tradition by the Oregon Heritage Commission. The Bend Fourth of July Pet Parade is one of 10 events that have been designated. The others include the Oregon State Fair, the Pendleton Round-Up,

The Family Access Network is the recipient of a $4,000 grant from U.S. Bank Foundation to help support a FAN advocate at John Tuck Elementary School, a high-needs school in Redmond. The FAN advocate will connect over 400 children and family members to basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, heating and healthcare. Coby Horton, commercial

Police responded shortly after 8 a.m. to a report of shots fired at Reynolds High School in Troutdale. KGW reports police responded shortly after 8 a.m. to a report of shots fired at Reynolds High School. A number of emergency vehicles have been staged near the school. A significant number of officers have arrived and

Bend has been slowed by the Two Bulls Fire, but bikers in particular have had to put their brakes on. And with that, so have business owners. “We’ve definitely seen traffic slow down in the shop,” Jane Quinn, sales associate for Pine Mountain Sports on Southwest Century Drive, said Monday. “There’s definitely concerns as a

Most Bend residents are experiencing the smoke throughout central Oregon from a fast-moving wildfire named the Two Bulls Fire, which swelled to 6,800 acres in the past two days. Two Bulls was spotted by a lookout on Saturday afternoon where it quickly grew in a matter of hours, prompting numerous evacuations and some residents are

The Department of the Interior announced Monday that the Bureau of Reclamation will make $1.8 million available for comprehensive water studies addressing climate change options to three Western river basins, including the Upper Deschutes Basin in Central Oregon. These studies will address basin-wide efforts to evaluate and address the effects of climate change and define

You probably saw the amazing Bend-area wedding photo that lit up Facebook after the Two Bulls Fire erupted over the weekend, but the story behind it is even more heart-warming. April and Michael Wolber of Portland are your average newlyweds, with a not-so-average wedding story. On Saturday, just hours before their wedding, two fires filled

Residents west of Bend drove toward the smoke Monday morning to grab what they could from the heart of the Level 3 evacuation zone as the Two Bulls Fire continued to burn just miles away. “A lot of people have their life savings in these houses,” said evacuated Bend resident Don Lukinbeal. “And they can

A 77-year-old Prineville man was killed Monday when three bales of hay fell from the truck he was loading, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said. Sheriff’s officers and Crook County Fire and Rescue medics responded around 2 p.m. to the area of North McKay Road near NW Peppermint Lane on the reported farming accident, said Deputy

While much of the Two Bulls Fire has burned on private, state Department of Forestry-protected land, it’s also tearing through part of a proposed “community forest” known as Skyline Forest. The Deschutes Land Trust has been shepherding the proposal through a nearly decade-long process so far. Executive Director Brad Chalfant said Monday it’s “way too

The Bethlehem Inn announced Monday it has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Oregon Community Foundation. This grant funding represents year one of support to increase Inn capacity to meet the growing need for programmatic assistance and services for Inn residents along with expanding the Inn’s volunteer outreach capacity to ensure the ongoing delivery

Bend’s first “vape” shop, a lounge for people to buy and smoke e-cigarettes, opened its doors Friday in Bend, and already has a critic who worries such places will become an attractive lure for minors. The store, called “Vape Game,” has an area for playing video games, drinking soda and energy drinks, and of course,

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on Saturday, June 7 , at 7:08 p.m., effective immediately, in response to fires burning near Bend in Deschutes County. In accordance with ORS 476.510-476.610 , Governor Kitzhaber determined that a threat to life, safety, and property exists due to the fires and that the threat

2014 Miss Northwest Professional Rodeo Association (NPRA) Kayla Vincent, of Madras, received the first place trophy for state/regional queens in the 2014 Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade held Saturday, June 7 in Portland. Sara Marcus, 2014 Miss Rodeo Oregon and 2013 Miss NPRA of Sisters took home the second place ribbon. Both young ladies

Did you know you can register to receive future emergency notices on your cellhone from Deschutes 911? The online registration service is available for residents living in Deschutes County, Crooked River Ranch, and Camp Sherman. Notices can ONLY be received if you register for the service. The Deschutes County Citizen Emergency Notification System (CENS) notifies

Due to the Two Bulls wildfire, smoky conditions are expected to persist throughout Deschutes County for an indefinite amount of time. Deschutes County Health Services will continue to communicate to the public the health impact of wildfire smoke inhalation on an ongoing basis until the fires reside. Residents can check the current local air quality

The Pet Evacuation Team (P.E.T.) is assisting with the Two Bulls Fire. Volunteers were stationed at the initial Red Cross shelter at Cascade Middle School on Bend’s Westside to assist any evacuees with companion animal care and were moved to the new shelter location, at High Desert Middle School on Southeast 27th Street later Saturday

The outbreak of the Two Bulls Fire west of Bend has caused some area residents to evacuate their homes. Today ‘s conditions may require further evacuations. The American Red Cross offers these tips to be prepared for such activity. – Back your car into the garage or driveway to leave on a moments notice– Put