Month: September 2015

The Oregon Department of Human Services said Monday it has determined the cause of a computer error was the deployment of new computer code in the OR-Kids system — and that the $500,000 in resulting payments are now accounted for. The OR-Kids system processes payments to service providers in Oregon’s child welfare system. Earlier media

Eligible Pacific Power customers in Oregon will see their bill drop an average 3.1 percent due to adjustments to the Residential Exchange Program, the utility announced Monday. The average Oregon residential customer using 900 kilowatt hours per month will see monthly bills go down an additional $4.22, the company said. For the average residential customer,

Rainfall and cooler temperatures helped 160 firefighters on Monday reach 20 percent containment of the Dry Gulch Fire in northeast Oregon, which nevertheless grew to 17,536 acres. The precipitation led to reduce fired activity, and crews expect to fully contain the fire by Saturday, if all goes well. As a result, the Baker County Sheriff’s

A fire at a vacant home in the Saddleback neighborhood northwest of Bend caused an estimated $15,000 damage late Sunday night. Investigators traced the fire to an accidental failure of the home’s main power supply. Firefighters were called shortly after 11 p.m. to a report of a fire on the side of a home at

A northeast Oregon wildfire reported Saturday afternoon quickly grew to 3,800 acres by Sunday and prompted evacuation orders for nearby residents, officials said. The Dry Gulch Fire was reported around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday about seven miles northwest of the town of Richland. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Oregon Department of Forestry

A Christmas Valley man killed last week just outside of Prineville was shot in the head with a handgun during a drive-by shooting after a drug deal, according to court documents. An affidavit filed in Crook County Circuit Court said 25 year-old Michael Donovan of Prineville used a 45 Hi Point handgun to kill 39-year-old

For the second time in two weeks, the Bend Police Department conducted a focused enforcement for distracted driving on Thursday, issuing 24 tickets and 11 warnings for driving while using a cellphone. “Being committed to ensuring the safety of the community by making roadways safer, the Bend Police spent two hours on the most recent

A 22-year-old Bend man was arrested on rape, assault and other charges Thursday night, accused of sexually assaulting one woman and attacking her and another woman with a baseball bat, police said. Deschutes County 911 dispatchers got a call around 9:45 p.m. and could hear a fight taking place in the background, said Lt. Clint

City Walls at City Hall, an arts initiative of the City of Bend Arts, Beautification and Culture Commission, is pleased to announce a special exhibition featuring the works of studio artists from The Workhouse. As a recipient of the 2014 Arts, Beautification and Culture Commission’s Annual Award, The Workhouse has proven to be a key

Three people arrested in a drug raid on a La Pine home Thursday also are charged with endangering the welfare of a 9-year-old child who also was home at the time, officers said. Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team detectives, assisted by Bend police and Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, executed a drug-related search warrant around 8

An explosion and fire in a travel trailer in southwest Bend early Friday left a man critically burned and apparently was caused by an uncapped propane pipe leaking into the RV, authorities said. The explosion sent 45-year-old Chase Swafford to the hospital with severe burns over much of his body, according to his neighbor, Allan

Ending summer with a splash, volunteer kayakers took to the Deschutes River Thursday to test Bend’s new whitewater park. “We’re finally getting in the water to see how things are rocking and rolling,” said Jayson Bowerman of the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance. “It takes a few rides to get the hang. We’ve also been making

The Oregon Department of Justice announced Friday the indictment of Klamath County Sheriff Frank Skrah on nine counts of official misconduct, assault, strangulation and attempted assault. The Klamath County grand jury charged Skrah with three counts of harassment, three counts of official misconduct in the first degree, one count of attempted assault in the fourth

The arrest of one Bend man on drug charges nearly two weeks ago led to this week’s arrest of a plumbing company co-worker at a Redmond construction site and the second suspect’s twin brother, Central Oregon drug agents said Friday. Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team detectives and Bend police contacted Albert Herrera, 54, on Aug.

Thursday was World Suicide Prevention Day, and Central Oregonians commemorated the day with a candlelight vigil at Larkspur Park. Event organizer Leanna Leyes is the mother of Zack Leyes, who committed suicide last year in a classroom at Bend High School. She has dedicated herself to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention after Zack died.

Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said Friday he’s filed a motion with the circuit court seeking dismissal of the case against La Pine resident Mark Fisher that alleged he assaulted Albert Reisert. The alleged incident precipitated the assault of Reisert by James Drake that resulted in Reisert stabling Drake to death in self-defense, Hummel

BendFilm, Central Oregon’s premiere and celebrated Film Festival, has announced the opening night film and the full film line up as well as pass and ticket sale details for the 12 th annual festival, set to take place October 8-11. In the spring of 2015, Moviemaker Magazine once again included BendFilm in the “Top 50Film

Today, Crook County Commissioner Seth Crawford announced his intent to seek the position of Crook County Judge. If elected, Crawford’s priorities will be jobs, long-term budget planning, growing grassroots small business programs such as the Made in Crook County campaign, and maintaining the quality of life that has made Crook County a great place to

Crook County District Attorney Daina Vitolins has been nominated by Governor Kate Brown to serve on the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST.) The Oregon Senate will review all new nominations for approval later this month.The governor appoints 24 members to BPSST. Members are appointed from a variety of disciplines – chiefs of

Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson, who was appointed sheriff by county commissioners when Larry Blanton retired earlier this year, filed formal papers Thursday to run for a four-year term in 2016. NewsChannel 21 was on hand Thursday morning when Nelson submitted his official election bid at the county clerk’s office, with Blanton and his predecessor,