Month: August 2014

The economic impact of legalizing marijuana in Oregon is difficult to estimate because the potential market will depend in large part on what kind of policies would be adopted if a proposed ballot measure passes in November, according to an Oregon State University sociologist who studies the issue. “Marijuana is already a serious economic force

The Bend Fire Department is looking for individuals who would like to become a long-term member of the Bend Fire Department as a volunteer — not to fight fires, but in a variety of other needed duties. They said they need help in the following areas: Safety Outreach for Seniors (SOS). This is a program

A total of 18 one-way trail signs have been tampered with or vandalized over the past four months along or near the popular Phil’s Trail mountain-biking area west of Bend, according to the Central Oregon Trail Alliance said Tuesday. “This is the third round of vandalism we’ve found,” said Woody Starr, chairman of the board

Bend police issued eight tickets and gave 12 warnings during a two-hour pedestrian safety operation Tuesday — and also witnessed a rear-end crash involving a vehicle stopped at the crosswalk. The “sting” took place between 9 and 11 a.m. a the corner of NW Riverside Boulevard and Kansas Avenue. Lt. Nick Parker said the purpose

A planned paved trail that would start right on the outskirts of Sisters and go seven miles along Highway 20 to Black Butte Ranch would pass a quiet community where some neighbors aren’t very happy about it. “Just sort of — it’s shocking!” one neighbor said Tuesday. “They think a need — we don’t see

The Oregon Public Utility Commission issued an urgent scam alert Wednesday, warning consumers about online postings offering to help them to get a free cellphone. Assurance Wireless (Virgin Mobile) and SafeLink Wireless (TracFone) are authorized to provide free cell phone service (Lifeline) in Oregon to eligible consumers. The scammers claim to be representatives for either

“You’ve won millions!” That’s the bait from the latest Jamaican lottery scam hitting the Northwest, the Better Business Bureau warned Wednesday. The caller tells the “winner” all he needs to do is pay a few thousand dollars in taxes and fees then the Mega Millions Jackpot is his to keep. The problem is, once the

The Oregon Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 11:30 a.m. at the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Region 4 building, 63055 N Hwy 97 in Bend, in the Diamond Lake/Crater Lake rooms. The agenda includes discussions on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, the Scenic Bikeway Economic Impact

This week, Oregon Adaptive Sports is hosting the first of its kind, Camp Oasis, a day camp for children between the age of 6 to 13 years old with cognitive and physical disabilities. This is a start-up camp for OAS and one that quickly filled. OAS is in its second summer season since becoming a

This upcoming Saturday at the Bend Rock Gym, OAS and Mark Wellman, an avid adaptive rock climber, instructor and two-time Paralympian will be hosting a climbing clinic for local wounded warriors. Mark Wellman was disabled by a climbing accident in 1982 and since then, has overcome staggering physical and emotional obstacles to achieve what one

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning to the public Wednesday after a citizen reported being called by someone falsely claiming to work for the agency who said an arrest warrant had been issued — and to send money to clear it. Sgt. Troy Gotchy said the sheriff’s office was contacted Tuesday by a

About 30 new smoke reports have come in to the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center over the last 24 hours as a result of Sunday’s thunderstorms, and while most have been stopped at less than an acre, crews were fighting two Tuesday. The Ferguson Springs Fire was spotted Monday afternoon in the Maury Mountains, about

Few reports have come in for new fire starts over the last 24 hours, the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center reported Sunday. COIDC and associated resources remain at 100 percent initial attack capability due to a continued risk of wildfire in the area. Resources are actively patrolling for holdover fires, as fuels dry, after the

As firefighters continue to battle wildfires around the West, a group of scientists is claiming that climate change is fueling the costly blazes and the costs of fighting them. In its report issued last week, the Union of Concerned Scientists noted that to pay for the cost of fighting blazes, the U.S. Forest Service —

The Redmond Municipal Airport announced Friday it has pushed back the scheduled Monday start of its $20 million runway reconstruction project by nearly a month, to Sept. 15, so as not to interfere with air tankers at work fighting wildfires in the region. “The city of Redmond, in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, has

With about two weeks left before ushering in the new school year, a few Bend-La Pine schools still look more like a construction site, with torn-up halls, heavy equipment and a track stripped to the bare ground. “We’ll be right down to the wire, but we’ll be ready,” Project Manager Hal Beumel said Tuesday. Beumel

There is another change in the ranks of the Prineville Police Department, as Capt. Michael Boyd has announced his retirement. Boyd has spent more than a decade on the Prineville police force, including serving as the interim chief after Eric Bush was placed on paid leave last fall, then fired in July. Last week, former

Southeast Bend’s Reed Market Road construction project enters its third phase on Sept. 8th. It has been going for over a year now, and businesses in that area are being affected in varying ways by the detours taking place. “It’s all pretty well torn up here,” Expressway owner Tom Healy said Tuesday. “It has been

A Deschutes County judge tried and convicted a 46-year-old Mitchell man Tuesday, then sentenced him to 2 1/2 years in prison in the June holdup of a northeast Bend bank. Gary Kent Peterson was convicted of third-degree robbery and second-degree theft in the June 16th holdup of the Columbia Bank at 1701 NE Third Street.

A federal judge in Portland ruled this week that health care providers cannot deny coverage to autistic children for applied behavioral analysis treatment. It’s a huge win for the autism community. “My son enjoys being out in the world. He likes being with people, socializing,” said Jill Sauter, whose son has autism and underwent years