Month: January 2015

Surveys across the nation find that American’s aren’t saving enough for retirement. An AARP poll shows that one in six Oregonians between 45 and 65 have less than $5,000 in their retirement savings accounts. State leaders are hoping a new program implemented through employers will encourage more to contribute to their own futures. “We’re really

Students at Bend-La Pine Schools are graduating at a higher rate than their peers around the state, according to data released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education. For 2013-14, the graduation rate at Bend-La Pine Schools was 77.2 percent, compared with 72 percent for the state. During the past five years, the district’s graduation

A heavyset, masked man reportedly wielding a knife robbed the downtown Bend branch of Home Federal bank late Monday afternoon. The holdup was reported at 4:52 p.m. at the branch located at 805 NW Bond Street. No injuries were reported, said Lt. Paul Kansky. Police, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents responded to the

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but what about $20,000? A Bend couple’s mountaintop engagement photo won just that. The happy couple have had a wild ride since day one, literally. They actually met while driving down I-5 — in separate cars. It was love at first sight: He waved at her,

Fuel specialists with the Deschutes National Forest will be conducting pile burning Thursday and Friday near Sunriver. The burning will occur just west of Highway 97 along Cottonwood Drive on the north side of the road. The reduction of fuels in the area is designed to reduce the threat of wildfire to the community of

A Beaverton man who pleaded guilty Tuesday to invasion of personal privacy is expected to spend two years behind bars, the punishment for using a hidden camera to spy on an underage teen girl naked for nearly five years. Bradley McCollum, 48, was convicted of filming now-18-year-old Madison Reed starting when she was just 13

Three long years of planning and fundraising will be rewarded on Friday, Feb. 13, when the Kiwanis Club of Redmond and the City of Redmond break ground for the renovation of the playground at Sam Johnson Park. in Redmond’s Dry Canyon. Ceremonies will be part of the weekly coffee clatter sponsored by the Redmond Chamber

The venomous spikes of a Spanish ribbed newt and the stinging tail of a scorpion are just two examples of toxic weapons used by animals to immobilize their prey and protect against predators. The High Desert Museum on Saturday is unveiling a new collection of these captivating creatures in its latest exhibit, Deadly by Nature:

Douglas Jewelry Design is proud to announce that owner/designers Elyse and Steven Douglas have won first place in the 2014 “Gemmys” (like the Emmys but for jewelry) jewelry design competition. Sponsored by Interweave Press’s “Jewelry Artist” magazine the “Gemmys” is open to all gem and jewelry artists in the United States and includes divisions for

The city of Bend would like residents’ opinions on city services, priorities for future planning and the general quality of life in Bend. This online survey coincides with the city’s biennial budget process, and the results will be shared with the City Council and staff to help with budget prioritization. The survey will be open

Thanks a to a $5,000 grant from the Oregon Association of Realtors Home Foundation, NeighborImpact can assist more families in Central Oregon realize the dream of homeownership. This competitive grant award comes at a perfect time because the home-buying season is just around the corner. “We are thrilled to receive this grant from great community

A Bend man standing at the edge of a steep overlook along the Deschutes River south of Bend lost his balance and fell about 30 feet to the rocks below Tuesday afternoon, prompting a multi-agency, 2 1/2-hour rescue of the critically injured hiker. A friend called Deschutes County dispatchers around 12:40 p.m. to report that

The Redmond Police Department will be conducting enhanced DUII patrols during and immediately after the Super Bowl on Sunday. Two additional patrol officers, funded by DUII overtime grant funds, will be working Sunday evening looking for impaired drivers. This is part of a nationwide law enforcement effort to prevent and remove DUII drivers from the

The High Desert Region Porsche Club of America (Bend) recently donated $3,600 to the High Desert Driver Education Program. This fund will pay for 40 students to take a Deschutes County SkidCar training. The students will learn winter driving skills that will stay with them for a lifetime. The Deschutes County SkidCar can simulate the

Hydro Flask—the award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks—announced the donation of approximately 6,000 Hydro Flask products to the Community Action Partnership of Oregon and its 17 Community Action Agencies. Hydro Flask’s product donation is aimed at helping CAPO’s agencies, whose mission is to eradicate poverty in Oregon. On January 29 th , CAA

Deschutes County Health Services reminds parents that children will not be able to attend school or child care starting Wednesday, February 18 if their records on file show missing immunizations. State law requires that all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start, and certified child care facilities have up-to-date documentation on their immunizations,

TheSeattle Seahawks make a return trip to this year’s Super Bowl to take on theNew England Patriots. The advice to beverage drinkers who will be watching thegame on TV is simple: Eenjoy a Northwest brew while cheering for a Northwestteam. “Allthe statistics indicate that the traditional big-name beers are on the declinein terms of consumption

With 7,600 flights canceled and 3,200 flights delayed, air travelers in Central Oregon were concerned Tuesday if their flights were still on track. For the most part, they were. “I was worried. I called the airport earlier to make sure that everything was still flying,” said Peggy Himes-Kershaw, who was traveling to California. Staff at

Wolves in Oregon have hit the threshold for consideration of taking them off the state endangered species list, officials said Tuesday. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the latest wolf census confirms at least seven breeding pairs — six in northeastern Oregon and one, led by the famous OR-7, in the southern Cascades.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife unveiled Tuesday a Google-based map that highlights 133 sites across Oregon that may be suitable for anglers with physical disabilities. This is the latest in a suite of interactive maps designed to help anglers find places to fish. When users click on the map’s icons they launch information