Month: August 2014

This fall, the Cascade Swim Center is getting energy efficiency upgrades, and using the energy savings to help fund the project. The project will upgrade equipment that was originally installed in 1978 with a more energy efficient boiler, a pool cover, HVAC improvements, pool pump motor, exterior doors and insulation on the ductwork and piping.

The Bend Police Department would like to remind all citizens that school starts back up on September 3rd. We are asking drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians be extra cautious around schools during commutes. Safety reminders include: The speed limit in school zones is 20 mph. Pedestrians should always use designated crosswalks. Bicyclists should wear protective gear,

If drunk driving was eliminated, more than 10,000 lives would be spared each year, the Bend Police Department said Thursday, joining other Central Oregon police agencies in the fight against impaired driving by participating in a four-day High Visibility Enforcement campaign dedicated to DUII enforcement. Local agencies participating in the increased traffic enforcement Aug. 30-Sept.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday its decision to extend protection to the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The species will be protected throughout its range, which extends from southwestern British Columbia through the Puget/Willamette Valley, and in the Cascades Range from south-central Washington

A member of the notorious ‘Redmond Five’ group is back in the Deschutes County Jail on Tuesday, awaiting what could be a new sentence for the murder of 52-year-old Barbara Thomas back in 2001. Justin Link — then 17, now 31 — will appear before a Bend judge Sept. 2nd to ask for a lighter

Exploring Oregon’s high desert and the roughly 800-mile Oregon Desert Trail just became easier, as the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) has unveiled a new area of its website devoted to trip reports. Thanks to support by KEEN’s KEEN Effect program, the High Desert Trip Reports area of the site (ONDA.org/TripReports) is now online. It’s

Two men who allegedly broke into a Redmond rock quarry to steal metal were caught in the act and arrested late Wednesday night, but it took a police dog’s bite to get a hiding suspect into custody, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said. A deputy on routine patrol shortly after 11 p.m. spotted damaged fencing around

Third-grade teacher Jesse Rasmussen is getting his classroom inside Jewell Elementary prepped and primed. In his room, you’ll find posters, maps and board games. Makes for a pretty sweet set-up, but it comes at a cost. “I probably spend $200 to $300 a year. But my first year in teaching, I spent more like $500

The door-to-door sale is a dying art, but for the past few summers in Central Oregon, it’s found life with an educational sales company based out of Tennessee. However, an aggressive sales approach has led to controversy in the high desert and beyond. Southwestern Advantage was founded in 1855 as a publishing company. Following the

The Oregon Heritage Commission will meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 8 at the Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond. Agenda items include issues related to Oregon heritage sites, organizations and activities, including the recommendation of an Oregon Heritage Tradition. The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon’s heritage and

After a fairly calm few weeks on the wildfire front for Central Oregon, thousands of residents were alarmed to see a massive cloud of smoke blowing into the region late Wednesday — but as it turns out, it was from the Deception Fire burning fiercely about 70 miles to the southwest on the Willamette National

The Bend Police Department is currently accepting applications for Police Cadets. The Cadet program is a great mentorship program that provides youth insight into an exciting career. Cadets are required to be between the ages of 14-20 years old. It is a volunteer position. Those interested can email Officer Christian Smelser at csmelser@bendoregon.gov for applications

With election season right around the corner, already in full swing are those political ads — and sometimes the special interest groups come out swinging. The candidates for Bend’s Oregon House District 54, Democrat Craig Wilhelm and Republican Knute Buehler, weighed in. You can’t miss those ads every time election season rolls around. But as

For 40 years, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) has been helping families raise thriving babies, and smart, school-ready kids in Oregon. Deschutes County WIC started in 1980! To celebrate the successful and significant anniversary, Deschutes County Health Services and WIC invites the public to an open house with fun for the whole family! The open

The 2014 football season kicks off this weekend for both University of Oregon and Oregon State University, so the Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation urge football fans and other game-day travelers to start planning now for the upcoming season. According to ODOT, an estimated 30,000 additional vehicles converge on Interstate 5 and

With several recent bicycle-car crashes – and back-to-school just around the corner – ODOT and its partners are encouraging vigilance in sharing the road and watching out for one another. A transit campaign appearing soon on buses around the state says, “School is in. Keep an eye out.” Print and television public service announcements urge

What was meant to be an educational conference on marijuana, alcohol and other drugs in Madras in turning into a big controversy — – but a big donation from the state’s sheriffs is keeping the almost-scrubbed plans moving forward. A week after BestCare Treatment, a non-profit that runs treatment and prevention for Jefferson County, pulled

A swelling state treasury is on the verge of triggering “kicker” rebates for Oregon taxpayers. For the third time this year, economists on Wednesday revised their revenue forecast upward, leaving it just $27 million shy of the kicker threshold. That means even a small improvement over expected employment and wages could send at least $290

A proposal to construct a boat ramp on the Deschutes River in Sunriver was approved by 86 percent of members of the Sunriver Owners Association who cast ballots in SROA’s Aug. 9 election. The measure passed with 1,835 yes votes versus 219 opposed. Members also renewed the terms of two incumbents (Bob Nelson, Roger Smith)

Bend-area (Deschutes County) home prices continue to rise at a pace that puts the area in the top 10 of the nation, new federal statistics released Tuesday show. The Bend-Redmond Metro Area, defined as all of the county, saw its house prices rise about 19 percent in the year ended June 30 th , No.