Month: December 2015

Search and Rescue is the responsibility of the Deschutes County Sheriff. Our mission is to provide professional, high-quality search and rescue assistance to the citizens of Deschutes County and its many visitors who may be lost or injured in the wilderness. Approximately 120 volunteers make up the Deschutes County Search and Rescue organization. Our volunteers

A Bend family is grieving for and remembering an extraordinary pilot, who had a passion for his job and loved to spend time with his family. Thomas Hampl was killed last Thursday night in a medical helicopter crash in Central California, leaving behind his wife and three kids. “He was my light — he was

After a weekend snowstorm helped build the base, Hoodoo Ski Area announced late Sunday it is making preparations to open for the season next Friday — just in time to kick off winter break. Currently, Hoodoo has 35 to 40 inches at the base and said it expects more snowfall this week. Snow cats are

A semi-truck crashed into a freight train on U.S. Highway 30 in north Portland Sunday morning, killing the driver and sparking a fire that damaged eight rail cars. The blaze sent flames 70 feet high, as well as a tall plume of thick, black smoke over the city, officials said. Portland Fire & Rescue said

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., released the following statement Saturday after nearly 200 nations announced an international agreement to take on climate change at the conclusion of talks that have been ongoing in Paris. Last weekend, Merkley traveled to Paris as part of a delegation of ten U.S. Senators to take part in the talks. As

The Bend Endurance Academy launched a public campaign Friday to convince Mt. Bachelor to give it greater access to its Nordic Center, as it has for Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation for over 30 years. But the resort is holding firm on the matter. Here’s the full news release from BEA, the full response from

Four people are dead, including a pilot from Bend, after a medical helicopter crashed in Kern County, California, officials said. The SkyLife 4 helicopter went down Thursday night, said emergency rescue spokesman Daniel Lynch. It was transferring a patient in critical condition from Porterville Airport to the San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield, some 50

A 15-year-old Ridgeview High School student said Friday she is concerned about religious songs in her choir’s class and is asking for changes from the school. Eve “Jazzie” Goldsworthy loves to sing and enjoys her choir classes at the Redmond school. “I want to do choral, and it’s something I see myself doing outside of

The snow may be flying, but it’s still harvest season for the Bend Seed Extractory. “We get deliveries almost daily,” Manager Kayla Herriman said Friday. Herriman is talking about plants — packages of shrubs, grasses, flowers and conifers employees open before they get to work using machines to shake, blow and rip seeds from their

As of Jan. 1. the World Famous Cannabis Cafe in Portland is being forced to close, as state lawmakers have broadened the state’s clean indoor air regulations to include marijuana. Within House Bill 2546, lawmakers defined what they mean by “inhalant.” By law an Inhalant means: “Nicotine, a cannabinoid or any other substance that’s inhaled

Redmond Municipal Airport said it was notified Friday of new carry-on and checked baggage restrictions being enforced by air carriers and the Federal Aviation Administration, particularly restrictions on flying with items that have lithium-ion batteries — and a ban on hoverboards “These agencies are enforcing restrictions for items allowed for transport onboard passenger aircraft, particularly

A technical problem knocked out some cellphone services for Verizon’s Southern and Central Oregon customers for about two hours Friday morning, officials said. Verizon spokeswoman Heidi Flato in Walnut Creek, Calif., said the problems affected “certain wireless voice services” in areas including Bend. “Verizon’s 4G LTE data and voice over LTE (VoLTE) services were not

The Oregon Community Foundation Board of Directors approved more than $337,000 in 26 grants last month to Central Oregon nonprofits, the organization said Friday. Following the third consecutive difficult wildfire season, OCF funded grants to support firefighting and wildfire prevention efforts in the region. Other grants addressed disparities in health and access to recreational opportunities

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, ranking member of the Finance Committee Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy Subcommittee, along with five Senate Democrats introduced a bill Thursday to protect Americans who receive Social Security from having benefits taken away to pay outstanding federal debts, such as student

The Bend Park and Recreation District announced Thursday another brief delay in the opening of The Pavilion, the community’s new ice rink and recreation facility, with final construction work still underway. Officials said the anticipated opening now will fall between December 28 and 31, a few days later than the December 19 – 24 opening

With many furbearer trapping seasons underway until March 31, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding dog owners to be aware that trapping activities could occur in areas where they walk or hike with their dogs. Traps can be set on public land, but state regulations require they be set at minimum distances

The High Desert Museum has selected the Honorable Owen M. Panner as the 32nd annual Earle A. Chiles Award winner. Judge Panner is being honored for his thoughtful and considered advocacy on behalf of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon. Through his service to the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs

A new home for women and children is opening in Bend, one its founders hope will eventually become the largest shelter of its kind in Central Oregon. It’s called the Women’s and Children’s Center. The facility is a branch of The Shepherd’s House, which is a Christian-based Bend nonprofit shelter for men in Bend. The

The La Pine City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to repeal the city’s 5 percent sales tax on medical marijuana, a week after the city was sued Dec. 2 by Green Knottz, a dispensary in La Pine. City Attorney, Jeremy Green told NewsChannel 21 Thursday that the decision to repeal the tax was ultimately a

Snowpack melting across the Cascades is what keeps the reservoirs filled during the summer months. In order to help Central Oregon through potential droughts, the snowpack needs to be at or above normal. “What we’d really like to see is the snowpack building up, which requires cool temperatures and snow in the mountains, and that