Month: December 2014

The year 2014 was tumultuous on a global, national and state scale – from ISIS to Ebola, missing-jet mysteries, a shift in congressional power and the demise of troubled Cover Oregon. The High Desert had its share of drama as well, from a pair of fired police chiefs to the buyouts of two high-profile Bend

It’s been just over a month since the Mirror Pond Ad Hoc committee first introduced the Mirror Pond and Downtown Redevelopment concept to address the future of Mirror Pond. Since then, there have been several community meetings and nearly 390 people have completed the online questionnaire on the concept. With the public input period closing

The Prineville Police Department will be participating in a statewide high-visibility DUII enforcement during this holiday season. Our goal is to increase the number of officers on the streets aggressively seeking out impaired drivers. High visibility enforcement is designed to deter people from driving impaired and to save lives. The Prineville Police Department encourages all

A California man has died at a Bend hospital after a two-car head-on crash Tuesday evening on Highway 97 near Chemult, Oregon State Police reported. Preliminary information indicates a silver 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Bill Foster Chapman, 86, of Tulelake, Calif., was heading south around 5:30 p.m. when, for unknown reasons, his car

Bend Endurance Academy announces two upcoming youth rock climbing programs for the coming year. Starting In February, the spring season of the Youth Development Climbing Team will get under way. The program is for youth ages 9 and older who have had some previous climbing experience. “For the Development Team we’re looking for those kids

An air stagnation advisory is in effect through Sunday for much of Central, Southern and Eastern Oregon. The advisory is based on the latest information from the National Weather Service. Read the NWS warning here. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality asks people in the affected areas to limit outdoor burning and the use of

U.S. Bank and the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation are hosting the U.S. Bank Pole Pedal Paddle Logo Contest. The public is encouraged to visit the downtown Bend U.S. Bank branch December 31st through January 8, 2015 to vote on their favorite logo. The winning logo will be featured on all U.S. Bank Pole Pedal

Sometimes, a car fire is more than it seems — as was the case late Tuesday afternoon in northeast Bend, when police say a man who went four-wheeling in a snowy field by St. Charles Bend got his rig stuck – then got his foot stuck under the Jeep while trying to free it. Then

Several inches of snow fell over a wide swath of the High Desert on the last Monday of 2014, keeping police and fire medics scrambling from one crash or slide-off to another but allowing Hoodoo Ski Area to set a New Year’s Eve opening as students enjoyed another holiday-week snow fest. And then, as forecast,

It was a cold Tuesday on the High Desert, with temperatures topping out in the teens. But the frigid weather did not keep shoppers away from downtown Bend. “The sun is shining, so you just have to embrace it,” said Janelle Centers from Portland. The sun is also shining on businesses in Bend. Store owners

Hoodoo Ski Area near Santiam Pass is opening more than a month earlier than last year. Its lifts will start running on New Year’s Day. Sno-Cats were grooming the trails and ski patrol was readying equipment on Tuesday. Cooks were in the kitchen, making sure food would be ready. All the while, puffy clouds rolled

Want a new twist to your New Year’s resolutions? Focus on positive changes for your four-legged friend. The Humane Society of Central Oregon would like to suggest resolutions that improve the quality of life of your pet and our community. Want to give back to the community? Volunteer your time or talents to the Humane

A car stolen at gunpoint from a Bend motel guest Sunday night was spotted about an hour later, leading to a 15-mile police chase on Highway 20 east of town and use of a police “PIT maneuver” to stop the car and arrest the four people inside, officers said Police responded around 8:30 p.m. to

A Redmond man suspected of drunk driving refused to pull over on Highway 97 late Sunday night and led police on a wild chase toward Bend at speeds of 100 mph or more, pulling three U-turns and hitting spike strips three times before pulling over south of Redmond and being arrested on several charges, police

Hydro Flask —the award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks—is gifting $100,000 to three Bend, Oregon-based nonprofit organizations. The donation aims to give back to the local community that helped Hydro Flask become the business it is today . Recipients include NeighborImpact Head Start, Oregon Adaptive Sports and the Oregon Natural Desert Association. Charities

Building owners, occupants, facility managers and building maintenance personnel: If you have not already done so, NOW is the time to take the preventive measures to prevent fire sprinkler systems from freezing, Bend fire officials said Monday. Here’s a news release from Deputy Fire Marshal Jeff Bond: Weather forecasts anticipate temperatures to stay below freezing

Since changes were made in 2007 and 2012, Oregon state law has said money on gift cards cannot depreciate over time. “So you could take a gift card that you got 20 years ago and still use it today,” Katie Clark with the Bend Target said Monday. That means your money goes further in Oregon.

Tyler Russell is a 10-year-old Hillsboro boy who lives and breathes basketball. But on occasion, he also hits the slopes to snowboard, like on his family’s first Central Oregon Christmas vacation. It was his third such outing — and no doubt most memorable, though not in a way anyone would wish for. But Saturday’s fun

The Bend Park and Recreation District is looking for referees to officiate games for the 2015 Youth Basketball League for third through fifth grade boys and girls. Games are played at Bend area middle schools on Saturdays, January 17th through March 7th. Potential applicants must enjoy working with youth and be able to create a

A 91-year-old Bend man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after his SUV left icy Brookswood Boulevard south of town and overturned Saturday night, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said. Deputies responded around 10:15 p.m. to the reported crash on Brookswood Boulevard near Buck Canyon Road, just south of Bend, said sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin