Month: January 2016

On Wednesday, evening, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners will receive public input on a proposed exception to state land use requirements that would allow, but not require, sewer systems in rural areas outside of La Pine. The proposed exception is intended to protect groundwater in southern Deschutes County. The public hearing will begin at

Oregon Secretary of State Jeanne Atkins released a preliminary list Tuesday of three Democratic and 11 Republican presidential candidates expected to appear on the ballots for the May primary election. Oregon law gives the Secretary full discretion to place names on the ballot. Candidates who are not placed on the ballot by the Secretary have

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., offered his reaction Monday to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge takeover, while the state’s cattle and farm associations also weighed in on the dispute – as did the more sharply critical, Bend-based Oregon Natural Desert Association, calling the occupiers “militant extremists.” “What’s happening in Harney County is very troubling, and, if

Protesters, terrorists, patriots — the list goes on for words some use to describe the militia members who have taken over a national wildlife refuge near Burns. The occupiers are calling themselves patriots, as they are protesting government overreach. But others are saying they should be called terrorists, and that the only reason why they

This year, Deschutes County – Oregon’s youngest county – will celebrate its 100 th birthday next December, and many events are planned through the year. In 1916, voters passed a ballot measure to create a new county from western Crook County territory, and Deschutes was born. From humble beginnings, Deschutes County now experiences the most

The 2016 U.S. Bank Kid’s Mini Pole Pedal Paddle T-shirt Contest is here! This year’s race is May 22! This is such a great project to encourage kid’s 1st grade – 6th grade to express their creativity. Entries must be submitted on white paper with colored designs. The design may represent the activities of the

Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth (COPY), a program of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, is offering a class to prepare volunteers to become mentors for children with an incarcerated parent. After initial training and comprehensive background checks, volunteers are matched with a child in Bend, Redmond, Sisters or LaPine that share similar interests and activities

AARP/TaxAide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service. AARP has been partnered with the Internal Revenue Service since 1968, as part of their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance & Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. There is no requirement for AARP membership or any restrictions in age or income level to take

Just realized your car’s registration stickers expired? Maybe it’s a weekend or evening, and you need to drive but can’t wait to renew by mail or go to a DMV office. Under a new Oregon law that took effect Jan. 1, when you renew your registration online at OregonDMV.com you can print the online receipt

With a new year comes a new slate of officers on the Oregon School Board Association’s Board of Directors, headed by President Doug Nelson of the High Desert Education Service District (ESD). Joining Nelson as officers are Betty Reynolds (West Linn-Wilsonville School District), president-elect; LeeAnn Larsen (Beaverton SD), vice president; Don Cruise (Philomath SD), secretary-treasurer;

A member of the Central Oregon Constitutional Guard was back from Burns Monday, attending Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden’s town hall meeting in Madras and urging him to visit Harney County and help defuse the protest by militia members who took over federal buildings. “I’m concerned — I’m truly concerned,” B.J. Soper of Redmond told Wyden

The Harney County Sheriff’s Office announced late Monday it has requested the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association to assist in daily and enhanced patrol duties due to the ongoing takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Sheriff David Ward said residents could expect to see patrol vehicles from other counties in the community in coming days.

On Friday,, the city of Redmond will be hosting over 80 University of Oregon students to launch the Winter Term of the Sustainable City Year Program. Over seven classes comprised of approximately 150 students, both undergraduate and graduate students, will be working on 15 different projects for the next ten weeks with Redmond staff and

The city of Bend is accepting applications for two positions on the Bend Accessibility Advisory Committee. Committee members are appointed by the city manager for two-year terms to assist and advise the city on the most appropriate means by which to make programs, services, activities and facilities accessible to Bend’s citizens. Applications will be accepted

The Bend Park and Recreation District is looking for referees to officiate games for the 2016 Youth Basketball League for third through fifth grade boys and girls. Games are played at Bend area middle schools on Saturdays, January 16 through March 5. Potential applicants must enjoy working with youth and be able to create a

Here’s the full text of the Oregon U.S. Attorney’s Office news release of Oct. 7, 2015, entitled, “Eastern Oregon Ranchers Convicted of Arson Resentenced to Five Years in Prison”: EUGENE, Ore. – Dwight Lincoln Hammond, Jr., 73, and his son, Steven Dwight Hammond, 46, both residents of Diamond, Oregon in Harney County, were sentenced to

To learn more about the upcoming roundabout construction at Bend’s Murphy Road/Parrell Road intersection and accompanying sewer work, the public is invited to an open house informational meeting from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.Thursday at Jewell Elementary School (at 20550 Murphy Road). A large sewer collection pipe, primarily located underneath the existing Murphy Road, will

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Sunday “outsiders” are to blame for the situation in a rural part of the state where protesters are occupying a national wildlife refuge to object to a prison sentence for local ranchers for burning federal land. Wyden told The Associated Press he had been briefed by Gregory Bretzing, the FBI

One of the protesters occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge said Sunday the ultimate goal is to turn the land over to local authorities so people can use it free of federal oversight. Ryan Bundy — one of the sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a 2014 standoff with the government

A woman’s report that she was violently assaulted and seriously injured by her heavily armed husband at their home southeast of Prineville brought out Central Oregon’s SWAT team and a heavy police presence Friday night, and it took the use of a Taser to subdue and arrest the 50-year-old man, officials said. The Crook County