Month: July 2015

A fire that caused $100,000 damage to a northeast Bend four-plex Wednesday evening and spread to nearby brush and trees, threatening to start a wildfire, was caused by improper disposal of cigarettes on the home’s back deck, investigators said. Bend firefighters were called around 5:42 p.m. to the structure fire at 2025 Northeast Rachael Court,

Unusually low water levels forced Prineville Reservoir State Park officials to pull docks out of the water Wednesday, several months earlier than usual. The move sent one family home from vacation sooner than expected. “We were using the docks, and that was a problem, so when they were taking them out, we figured we’d just

Dead and distressed sockeye salmon found this past weekend in the Deschutes River appear to have been fish from the Columbia River bound for other upriver locations who likely swam into the Deschutes in search of cooler water, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Wednesday. ODFW officials said early pathology results suggest the

Experience the thrill of the ride on one of three free guided mountain biking tours at LaPine State Park this summer. The rides are hosted by Oregon State Parks and Bend bike tour and rental company Cog Wild. Rides are from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 16 and Sept. 12, with an additional ride

University officials say delays to OSU-Cascades’ new westside campus have cost the school millions. Legal fees, escalation of construction costs and another year of renting Central Oregon Community College’s Cascades Hall total about $3.8 million, according to public records requested by KTVZ. Even as the university begins site prep on the land bordered by Mt.

The federal Bureau of Land Management said Wednesday said it will initiate 21 research projects aimed at developing new tools for managing healthy horses and burros on healthy rangelands. “As part of its ongoing commitment to improving the health and management of wild horses and burros on federal lands in the West.” the agency said,

A new resident of the unincorporated Crook County town of Post got lost on a hike Tuesday evening, prompting a search that found him okay but a bit dehydrated, sheriff’s deputies said. Sgt. James Savage said he was dispatched around 7:30 p.m. to a home on Southeast Osprey Road after Jason Athanasopulos, 32, had walked

An unusual lightning-related fire damaged a La Pine detached garage-shop late Tuesday afternoon, when a lightning bolt struck a tall Ponderosa pine tree – and its flaming top half broke off, fell and pierced the roof, setting it ablaze, officials said. La Pine Rural Fire District crews responded around 4:50 p.m. to the reported structure

The Deschutes County Planning Commission will hold two public hearings in coming weeks on a proposed exception to Statewide Planning Goal 11 (Public Facilities and Services) to amend the Deschutes County Comprehensive Plan to allow sewers in unincorporated southern Deschutes County. The hearings will be held Thursday, July 23 at 2:00 and 5:30 p.m.in the

Another round of thunderstorms marched north through the High Desert Tuesday afternoon, dumping heavy rain in spots and plenty of lightning that could spark more wildfires. By about 8 p.m. Tuesday, the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center in Prineville reported firefighters chasing smoke reports had found five confirmed fires, all on the Deschutes National Forest

The steering committee for the city of Bend Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) remand project recently approved three alternative UGB expansion alternatives, or “scenarios,” for further evaluation, officials said. The UGB is a line on the city’s map that represents an estimated 20-year supply of land for housing, employment and other urban uses, as state land-use

Have you wondered how your county tax dollars are spent? Do you know what services Deschutes County provides to you? For the sixth consecutive year, County residents have an opportunity to enroll in Deschutes County College, a free and fun program aimed at educating the community about County government. Deschutes County College will be held

The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, which represents Oregon’s 62 community hospitals, on Tuesday celebrated the passage of a bill that will set up a groundbreaking hospital price transparency website. The bipartisan bill, SB 900, supported by OAHHS and other stakeholders, passed the Legislature on Monday and is expected to be signed by

A bull that jumped out of the La Pine Rodeo arena after being ridden Friday evening was later found on a rodeo board member’s property, where it remained over the weekend. But when its owner sent workers to euthanize it after several escapes, they found it had bolted again, crossing Highway 97 and reaching the

It was a festive weekend on the High Desert. People celebrated Independence Day in many ways, from the Pet Parade and the Freedom Ride, to — of course — fireworks. It also was the first weekend where recreational marijuana was legalized in the state. The weekend was slammed, for those in first-responder uniform. “It gets

A new color appears on the updated 2015- 2017 Official Oregon State Map: it designates lands owned by the Bureau of Land Management, offering travelers another piece of information as they navigate the state. Also new this year, the base map depicts terrain with shaded relief. The covers feature Trillium Lake shadowed by Mt. Hood,

Michelle Rainville, Redmond School District Transportation Services Supervisor, has been named 2015 Supervisor of the Year by the Oregon Pupil Transportation Association. Each year, the OPTA honors individuals who should be recognized for their outstanding contribution to student transportation. Supervisor of the Year honorees must demonstrate safety, integrity, attitude, cooperation and a commitment to student

The Redmond Police Department conducted enhanced DUII patrols throughout the month of June. A total of eight grant-funded overtime hours were worked by two officers during this time. Two DUII arrests were made by the officers on the grant-funded overtime shifts. RPD Patrol Officers (non-grant time) arrested 12 DUII offenders during June. Redmond police will

A 24-year-old San Diego man was in serious condition Tuesday at a Bend hospital, more than a week after police say he was thrown from his motorcycle when he ran a stop sign and collided with a car at a northwest Bend intersection Monday afternoon. Kenneth Tello was riding a motorcycle shortly after 4 p.m.

A report of smoke Monday night led firefighters to a home northwest of Redmond where a fire in an exterior wall and concealed space caused an estimated $72,000 damage, officials said. The incident originally was reported around 8:20 p.m. as smoke in the area of Tetherow Bridge, one of numerous smoke reports received by Central