Month: March 2015

Wildlife advocates in Salem announced new legislation Wednesday to end the trade of elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn in Oregon. Championed by Sen. Mark Hass, Senate Bill 913 prohibits the sale of any ivory article or rhinoceros horn, closing loopholes that allow the black market to go unchecked. The bill’s supporters include The Humane Society

Sam Biskup of Bend has claimed his first national title at the 2015 Junior XC National Championships for the Male U16 category in the freestyle sprint races being held at the Auburn Ski Club in Truckee, CA. The 15-year-old Nordic skier trains and competes with the Bend Endurance Academy and is one of 11 athletes

A grocery store moving in south of downtown Bend has some NewsChannel 21 viewers and KTVZ.COM readers asking: Where are people going to move affordably to be able to shop there? “People are always struggling to pay the rent and, you know, find a place they can afford,” one Bendite said Tuesday. Construction has started

Following round after round of snow, freezing rain and arctic cold in many parts of the country, the American Red Cross has an urgent need for eligible blood and platelet donors to give now to help restock its shelves. March storms forced the cancellation of more than 200 blood drives, resulting in nearly 7,000 uncollected

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife invites Oregon families to come fishing at one of 33 free Family Fishing events scheduled throughout the state this spring and summer. The events are designed to show families how easy and fun fishing can be, said Shahab Farzanegan, ODFW angler education coordinator. ODFW provides loaner rods and

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking qualified applicants to fill three positions on the Fish Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Program Board. Interested individuals must apply by March 27 , 2015. The positions will represent sport fishing interests, troll fishing interests, and seafood processing interests on the R&E Board. The ideal sport fishing

Despite a low snowpack, Mount Bachelor Sports and Education Foundation is hosting The Desert Orthopedics Great Nordeen Nordic Race this Saturday. Originally, it had planned on having a Fat Tire Bike Race the same day. This would have been the first year for MBSEF to host a Fat Tire Bike Race. Low snowpack forced it

Bend International School (BIS) is pleased to announce their approval Tuesday night by the Bend-La Pine School Board to be a K-8 Public Charter School, scheduled to open in the fall on Bend’s east side. BIS is open to students of all backgrounds and seeks diversity within its student and staff population; including differences in

The seven-member Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors named Shay Mikalson as their top candidate for the position of superintendent during Tuesday night’s board meeting. Mikalson has been the assistant superintendent of secondary programs for Bend-La Pine Schools. “We are fortunate to have had a very deep and visionary pool of finalists to choose from.

The Sisters School Board meets at 2 p.m. Friday to discuss the search for a new superintendent, now that Jim Golden has taken a new post leading the Greater Albany Public Schools. The Albany School Board voted unanimously Monday to offer a three-year contract to Golden, 54, who will start his new position July 1.

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel announced Tuesday a project called DeschutesSafe, a plan to engage county residents in a dialogue about public safety and crime prevention. “Working together we can enhance our already stellar crime prevention efforts,” Hummel said, issuing this overview of the 18-month project: Communities across the country are developing and implementing

For Rowdy Randall and Kayla Wampler of Redmond, having a roof over their heads is not something they take for granted. “It felt like a blessing. It felt so surreal. We don’t get chances like this,” Wampler said Tuesday. Randall and Wampler are recovering addicts. In 2012, their children were taken away from them. It

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Ron Wilkinson announced Tuesday that Patrick Flanagan has been selected to become La Pine Elementary School’s next principal. Flanagan is currently assistant principal at La Pine Elementary. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead such a fantastic school community,” said Flanagan. “There are great things happening at La Pine Elementary and

Klamath Falls police requested the public’s help Tuesday as they try to find a 35-year-old woman who disappeared in the Klamath Falls area in late January and has family in the Bend area. Alicia Christine Scott, also known as Alicia Jensen or Alicia Maris, went missing from the Klamath Falls area on Thursday, Jan. 22,

State Sen.Tim Knopp, R-Bend, testified Tuesday before the Joint Ways & Means Subcommittee on Education in support of an $8 billion K-12 budget. Knopp spoke in favor of the -1 amendment to SB 5017 that mirrors his earlier bill, SB 642, to give $765 million more to the State School Fund than currently recommended in

Thirty-one people covered by the Oregon workers’ compensation system died on the job during 2014, the Department of Consumer and Business Services announced Tues day . That’s up slightly from 2013’s figure of 30 deaths but continues to be consistent with fatality counts in recent years. The year 2010 marked the state’s all-time low of

If it seemed like Oregon has had a lot of unseasonably warm days this winter, well, it’s because we have. Now the focus is on a very low snowpack – and the implications that may have later this year. The meteorological winter – which is comprised of December, January and February – recently wrapped up,

Eleven members of the U.S. House from the Pacific Northwest wrote Tuesday to the U.S. Forest Service, urging them to hold more listening sessions on upcoming revisions to the Northwest Forest Plan. The members expressed concern that sessions are only planned for three locations: Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; and Redding, Calif. “For over 30 years,

Central Oregon began the new year with a brighter jobs picture, though employment grew more quickly in Deschutes County than in Crook and Jefferson counties, the state Employment Department reported Tuesday. Unemployment rates also declined in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, Regional Economist Damon Runberg said. Crook County: Despite recent layoffs in Crook County, the

Registration for Bend Endurance Academy summer rock climbing programs is now open. The programs focus on getting kids outside and introduced to climbing outdoors in a safe and welcoming environment. Camps will take place at the world-class climbing destination of Smith Rock State Park and include transportation, equipment, and instruction. The summer programs are geared