Month: December 2014

A rail apparently placed by the railroad tracks in northeast Bend ruptured a locomotive’s fuel tank late Tuesday morning, spilling about 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel along a mile of track, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway official said. The railroad is investigating the incident as a possible act of sabotage. A local southbound train

Opening last January, the new skatepark at Ponderosa Park in southeast Bend has been in operation for nearly a year. Bend Park & Recreation District has seen high use of the skatepark by a wide variety of ability levels and age groups, from beginner pre-grade school children to those with a bit of gray hair,

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend is excited to announce the addition of Jim Crowell to the Board of Directors. Crowell, a 73 year resident of Bend, graduated from Bend High School in 1955. In 1998, Crowell was named the City of Bend’s “Citizen of the Year” for spearheading the restoration project of the

The holidays are here. and many of you are traveling to be with your loved ones. Whether it be by air or by ground, ’tis the season to be on the move. “Most flights are full, some are over-full,” Nicole Jurgensen, the Redmond Airport’s security coordinator, said Tuesday “This kind of a holiday, where it’s

The city of Bend is seeking volunteers to help with its annual bicycle and pedestrian count program. The city hopes to recruit at least 25 people to collect data for a two-hour period in January. Counts will take place: Noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, January 10 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, and

Construction at the new St. Charles hospital in Prineville is in full swing, and officials said Monday the project is on track to open in September 2015. “As you can see, the building is going up quickly, and now they’re starting to do a lot of the finishing work inside,” said Jeanie Gentry, CEO of

The Central Oregon Builders Association announced their Holiday Chefs on Tour event presented by Building Solutions raised $5,000 for U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots, which will benefit kids in need throughout Central Oregon. A check presentation was made Monday at Building Solutions, 62960 Boyd Acres Rd. in Bend. The builders involved in the

Willow True, from Ridgeview High School in Redmond, has been elected to serve a term of one year on the Executive Board of the Oregon Association of Student Councils. The elections took place at the Annual Fall Conference in Seaside, where a group of 1,500 students and advisors from over 100 high schools were in

The Bend Police Department will be enhancing patrol efforts during the holiday season. These patrols will be primarily focused on impaired drivers. The Bend Police Department has observed an increase in alcohol- and drug-related incidents, to include DUII, around past holiday seasons. It is the mission of the Bend Police Department to keep roadways safe

Whoever fired up to 13 gunshots near a southwest Redmond park on Friday night, hitting at least two nearby homes, also struck an SUV parked in a driveway, police said Monday as the incident became a Crime Stoppers case with a possible cash reward. Sgt. Jesse Petersen said the SUV was parked in a home’s

Friday marks the 10-year anniversary of the “Boxing Day” earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, causing a massive tsunami that devastated the island and damaged areas more than 3,000 miles away. The largest wave hit Indonesia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, and reached as far as the shores of Eastern Africa. The

The holidays will be in full swing in a few days, and the Humane Society of Central Oregon is reminding people to keep pets safe during family gatherings. If you lose or find a pet, report it immediately to your local shelter and reclaim your pet quickly. The Bend animal shelter has limited space due

Oregon’s strong job growth in November was not reflected on the High Desert, where job growth slowed and unemployment levels remained largely unchanged, the state Employment Department reported Monday. Deschutes County continues to see strong job growth over the past year, but those gains were tempered by larger than expected seasonal declines in November, Regional

Average retail gasoline prices in Oregon have fallen 11.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.67 a gallon as of Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,307 gas outlets in Oregon. That compares with the national average that has fallen 10.8 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.42/gallon, according to

Wayne Brooks, Sisters Rodeo announcer, was chosen the 2014 Announcer of the Year at National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in early December. This was a back-to-back win for the Texas cowboy professional, who has received the award four times in ten years. The One Arm Bandit, John Payne, was awarded the 2014 Specialty Act

‘Tis the season of merriment and gatherings of families and friends. Taking a few minutes to check for safety is wise and will help ensure a festive and fun holiday season. The following list of 12 recommendations is the best gift you can give at home: 1. Look first. Inspect all electrical decorations for damage

Deschutes County water managers, sheriff’s deputies and homeowners along Whychus Creek in the Sisters area were watching closely Sunday as rain, warmer temperatures and melting snow prompted the fast-running creek to surge over its banks in some areas. The minor flooding put water over some driveways in the Three Creeks area south of town and

The Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA) newly elected 2015 president is an experienced and respected local builder, Jay Campbell from Woodhill Homes. Campbell was sworn in as president by his oldest daughter Parker Campbell, a Summit High School freshman, in a ceremony at Pronghorn Thursday evening. Campbell has spent the past 15 years as a

The NewsChannel 21 Facebook page has been littered with comments and posts about the recent crimes and other tragic incidents that have taken place in Redmond. From two death investigations a month ago to an armed robbery, standoff and arrests just six days ago, and now most recently, police believe up to about a dozen

The year 2015 will bring a new leader for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, as Sheriff Larry Blanton has announced his plans to retire July 1 after more than seven years in the post and nearly 40 years in Central Oregon law enforcement. “It’s time to do something else,” said Blanton, 58, adding that “it’s