Month: August 2015

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Prineville District Office recently welcomed Jeff Kitchens as the new Deschutes Resource Area Field Manager. The position oversees the management of public lands from northern Klamath County to the BLM lands near The Dalles. “I am truly excited to take on this wonderful opportunity” says Kitchens, whose 20 years

Deschutes County home prices continue to rise at one of the fastest rates in the country, again making the top 10 in new statistics out Tuesday from the Federal Home Financing Administration. The Bend-Redmond metro area, defined as all of the county, saw home prices appreciate 10.87 percent in the past year, according to statistics

Despite a flurry of Internet rumors claiming otherwise, statewide deer and elk archery seasons will open as scheduled on Saturday, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Tuesday. “The archery season is starting soon, and we hope bowhunters have a fun, safe and successful experience,” says Ron Anglin, ODFW wildlife division administrator. “Because of

As the fight on fire lines continues around the Pacific Northwest, hundreds of families of firefighters continue to hope their loved ones remain safe. “I’m proud of him,” Grace Deboodt of Prineville said Tuesday. Her son, Russ Deboodt, works for Crook County Fire and Rescue and was sent out to the County Line 2 Fire

A suspected drug trafficker from Salem who eluded pursuing police and a manhunt east of Bend last week was arrested the next morning, along with a Bend woman, in a car stopped by police. They said they also found methamphetamine, heroin and the woman’s young daughter, who was taken into protective custody. Central Oregon Drug

With hundreds more students enrolling each year, Bend-La Pine Schools now have some room to grow. The district’s two newest schools, built using bond funds approved by voters in 2013, will open this fall. Community members, neighbors, students, parents and school staff are invited to join the dedication celebrations for the two new schools: Pacific

A controversial man-made lake in Tumalo was making some more noise Monday in a small, rural neighborhood — this time on purpose, to hear just how loud water-skiing boats would be. The two lakes are on private land, but are holding Tumalo Irrigation District water. The private landowners developed the lakes for a second, more

Applications are being accepted for the 2016 PRCA Sisters Rodeo Queen, according to John Leavitt, queen selection committee chair. Applications will be accepted until September 16. Tryouts are scheduled for Sunday, September 20, 1 p.m. at the Sisters Rodeo Arena. Applicants must be 18 years to 23 years of age before June 1, 2016, single,

The Tower Theatre Foundation has received $3,500 in support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a state-run agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts. The support will assist the Tower Theatre Foundation in its mission to be Central Oregon’s leading performing arts organization, providing vibrant cultural and educational programs

Sisters Camp Sherman Fire District is hosting five firefighters from the United Kingdom for two weeks as part of an international firefighter exchange program. The firefighters are from the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Fire Department, which provides fire protection to Hampshire, U.K. and the Isle of Wight. Sisters Camp-Sherman Fire district is gladly hosting the

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recorded Tuesday’s air quality in Central Oregon as “moderate,” meaning there’s still some smoke in the air, but not as bad as it has been in recent days. The DEQ’s automated instruments recorded Monday’s air quality level in Central Oregon at “unhealthy for sensitive groups” — which in turn

On Monday morning, activists with Cascadia Forest Defenders hung a banner across Cascade Lakes Highway in protest of the Forest Service’s plans of plans they claim will clear-cut and log old growth on public land. The banner reads “Blue Marks = Proposed Cuts! Forests Need Old Growth.” Some of the trees slated for cutting are

A threat of thunderstorms had crews on the 65,000-acre County Line 2 Fire on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation watching for new problems to emerge Monday, but it moved to 69 percent containment – and if all goes well, it’ll be fully contained by Friday, officials said. Containment doesn’t mean a fire is out, only

A 35-year-old alleged drunk driver refused to pull over for a traffic stop in northeast Bend Sunday night, leading police on a pursuit several miles down Third Street until his arrest during a high-risk (guns drawn) traffic stop in the Fred Meyer parking lot, officers said. Seth Peter Morningsun, at the wheel of a 2014

Cooler temperatures and calmer winds made for good progress Saturday on the more than 73,000-acre Canyon Creek Complex Fire south of John Day and Canyon City, but new growth on the fire Sunday night prompted new evacuation orders. Late Sunday, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office was evacuating the Upper Pine Creek and Upper Dog Creek

The Bloom Project , a volunteer-driven nonprofit providing fresh floral bouquets to hospice and palliative care patients, has received a $5,500 grant award from The Hoover Family Foundation . The grant supports the nonprofit as it provides donated flowers for patients receiving end-of-life care in Portland, Bend and the surrounding areas. “We are honored to

The Bend Chamber is seeking entries for the 16th annual Veteran’s Day Parade. “This parade honors the service and sacrifices made by ALL military, veterans and their families,” said Robin Rogers, Bend Chamber senior vice president of programs and events. Bend’s annual Veterans Day Parade is the second-largest Veteran’s Day parade in Oregon, with more

Citizens helped police and fire medics remove a Bend man from his SUV after it crashed into a southeast Bend irrigation canal Sunday morning, but he did not survive an apparent medical crisis that triggered the crash, officers said. Bend officers and Bend Fire and Rescue personnel responded at 10:38 a.m. to the reported crash

A Eugene woman injured while hiking Sunday in the Green Lakes area west of Bend prompted a rescue effort by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, officials said. County 911 dispatchers got a call around 8:35 a.m. from another hiker reporting he had located Nancy Allender, 55, about four miles from the Green Lakes Trailhead,

The more than 65,000-acre County Line 2 Fire on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation reached 67 percent containment Sunday, thanks to nearly 600 firefighting personnel. Officials updated the damage to homes and other structures wrought by the week and a half-old blaze. By Sunday, Warm Springs officials said they had determined that three homes were