Month: June 2014

Following a tragic series of events, an Oregon family with roots in La Pine was reunited this week. And with the help of the La Pine community, they’ve received a huge hand in tackling funeral expenses. Amoz and mother Janice Hickman were killed in a car crash in Flagstaff, Arizona last week. They were traveling

FACT — Families and Communities Together — is a nonprofit organization that has been operating in southern Deschutes Country for over a decade. The goal of the volunteer-operated program is to support local parents through resource classes, community gatherings, and most recently through the Giggles Learning Center. “For the last two years, we have been

Only 79 slots remain for NeighborImpact’s Head Start program for the 2014-2015 school year. NeighborImpact staff have been busy processing applications and getting the word about this critical program for low-income children in Crook and Deschutes County. Several local communities still have slots available for children: Redmond, 44; Bend: 23; Prineville: 8; and La Pine:

A national newspaper claims that in Deschutes County, “gun stores” outnumber museums and libraries by nearly 7-to-1– the most lopsided ratio in the country. But how it characterized that data is drawing fire from critics. The recent report in the Washington Post was headlined, “Where guns are easier to find than knowledge,” and included an

Nine months to the day, as of Wednesday: That’s how long Prineville Police Chief Eric Bush has been on paid leave, pending a multiple-agency investigation. So far, there’s still no public word why Bush has been under investigation. City officials have refused to comment on-camera for months, but Mayor Betty Roppe told NewsChannel 21 Wednesday

At the June program meeting, Meyer Memorial Trust’s board of trustees awarded ten grants worth $378,421 to organizations in Central Oregon. The awards include a $28,162 grant to the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance in Bend to help increase public access to healthy, sustainably grown foods in Central Oregon, and three Habitat for Humanity

Spend a few minutes talking about jail beds with Crook County Sheriff Jim Hensley and it’s not hard to tell the too-small jail is a big source of frustration. “We’re releasing people all hours of the day and night,” Hensley said Tuesday. “It’s a residential area, there’s a school a block away, there’s a kiddie

Deschutes County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved the first-ever imposition of public use restrictions on all county-owned property and land outside fire districts, a move aimed at reducing the threat of major wildfires in what’s shaping up as a dry summer fire season. The 3-0 vote puts the restrictions into effect immediately and through mid-October,

The July 4 th holiday weekend is a highlight of summer, but it can be dangerous for pets. You are your pet’s guardian, voice and protector. Please keep in mind these tips to keep your pets safe: Do not take pets to public fireworks displays. Keep pets indoors to prevent them from running off if

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that law enforcement must obtain a warrant in most cases to search an arrested person’s cellphone. “Today’s decision is a huge win for individual privacy. In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court acknowledged that searching a person’s cellphone is

Mark Capell announced Wednesday that he will run for re-election for a third term on the Bend City Council. Capell was elected to the Bend City Council in November, 2006 and was reelected in November, 2010. He is Chair of Bend Metropolitan Planning Organization, Chair of Bend Urban Renewal Agency, Member of Deschutes Water Alliance

Fireworks have been a big part of our tradition since the first Independence Day, but what if they pose too much danger? It’s not a new debate, but a dry spring has added fuel to the fire. Last year, there were nearly 200 fireworks-related fires in Oregon, and with the Fourth of July just days

The City of Bend is seeking applicants for one position on the Planning Commission. Committee members are appointed by the City Council to review and make recommendations regarding land use matters. The open term will run from the appointment date through December 31, 2016. Applicants must be residents of the City of Bend. Applications will

Deschutes County is looking for two residents to serve on the Deschutes County Audit Committee. Please apply now until Wednesday, July 16. The County plans to conduct selected applicant interviews in late July or early August. The Audit Committee is an advisory committee to the Board of County Commissioners that: Provides oversight and coordination to

Oregon State Police arrested a resident of the small Wasco County town of Dufur at his home Monday night on charges he held a knife at the throat of a Bend man and stole his wallet after offering him a ride home, police said. The victim, a 21-year-old Bend man, contacted police around 9:40 p.m.

This spring’s rash of motorcycle crashes serve as a poignant reminder that safety should be a top priority for both motorcyclists and drivers. The Oregon Department of Transportation has received preliminary reports of 19 motorcycle fatalities this year (Jan. 1 to June 19); that’s a 100 percent increase from the same time period last year

Two fires, both on Bend’s Westside, both very close to town. The Awbrey Hall and Two Bulls wildfires have a lot of similarities — but the 1990 fire sparked changes that have reduced the threat from future blazes. The August 1990 Awbrey Hall Fire, which destroyed 22 homes, burned itself forever into Central Oregon’s memory.

Whether it’s for the outdoors or the microbrew, Bend is used to luring visitors in the summertime. But NewsChannel 21’s Samantha O’Connor caught up with an extra-special snowbird: Santa Claus himself. “Ho ho ho, look at that!” Santa said Tuesday as he smacked the ball to the outfield. Aside from Christmas, Santa loves softball. “It

Art, food and furniture. You can find it, all local in two blocks. “There really are some interesting, innovative and creative people in a very small area that people might otherwise not find,” said Sara Wiener, owner of Sara Bella Upcycled, said Tuesday. Say hello to Bend’s Makers District. “It’s attracted something that someone makes

Bend police released a surveillance photo and sought tips from the public Tuesday to find an identity theft suspect who stole a credit card and other personal ID from a car in northeast Bend last week and has used it at several stores around the city. They also are reminding residents not to leave valuables