Month: January 2016

Average retail gasoline prices in Oregon have fallen 9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.19 a gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,307 gas outlets in Oregon. That compares with the national average that has fallen 6.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $1.90 a gallon, according

The wait is over! Girl Scouts throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington are now taking Girl Scout Cookie pre-orders from family, friends and neighbors. Eight varieties, including Thin Mints®, Samoas®, Tagalongs®, Do-si-dos®, Trefoils®, Savannah Smiles®, Rah-Rah Raisins™and gluten free Toffee-tastic™, return for 2016 at the same price of $4 per box (with the exception of Toffee-tastic™,

The armed activists occupying a national wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon clashed with environmentalists Saturday as a standoff stretched into a 15th day. Meanwhile, authorities said a Crescent man arrested Friday for use of a stolen refuge vehicle also faces likely charges for violating a court order to stay off federal property. Kenneth Medenbach, 62,

Harney County officials on Friday evening defended and explained their decision not to let the armed militia that took over the Malheur County National Wildlife Refuge use the county fairgrounds for a public meeting. Here’s their statement in full: “Recently, the group occupying the buildings at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge stated they intended to have

About 100 opponents of the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge gathered 150 miles away in Bend on Friday for a protest and march through downtown streets, urging occupiers to leave and allow the public lands to reopen to the public. A group called Great Old Broads for Wilderness organized the event, with

The Burns Paiute Tribe on Friday asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect its important cultural resources at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, and to prosecute occupiers for any damage or destruction they cause. In a letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director Robyn Thorson, Tribal Chairperson Charlotte Rodrique asked for

The Bend Police Department announced the recent launch of a new team intended to help community members who are dealing with mental health issues. Several larger cities have created community response teams to better deal with people in crisis. Bend’s Community Response team is comprised of three officers. Their training was paid for by a

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday it plans to add tiger trout to its standard Diamond Lake rainbow trout stocking this June. These brook and brown trout hybrids are reproductively sterile and known to prey on smaller fish – biologists are banking on them to help keep tui chub in check. A

Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., cheered news Friday that the Interior Department will pause and conduct an environmental review of the federal coal leasing program: “A wholesale review of the federal coal program is long overdue,” Wyden said. “This provides an opportunity to make sure taxpayers get a fair return for coal mined

The city of Redmond said Friday it has promoted Zachary Bass to the position of Director of Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM). Bass succeeds Jeffery Tripp, who resigned from the position last summer. “Mr. Bass’ leadership skills and management background provide him with the tools he needs to oversee this critical part of the Redmond organization,”

Aaron Yuma will start as Redmond’s new Building Official next Tuesday, officials announced Friday. Aaron brings more than 23 years of Building Official experience to Redmond – 15 years in Douglas County and eight years with the City of Roseburg. His most recent work experience is with the State of Oregon Building Codes Division. “We

The Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville District said Friday it has started implementing a series of annual wildlife closures to protect several species of birds of prey during sensitive nesting periods. Harassment by humans – unintentional or deliberate – is a leading cause of nest failure or abandonment, officials said. People walking or riding near

Bend-La Pine Schools is looking for interested volunteers to join the Bend-La Pine Schools Budget Committee. The Budget Committee works with the School Board to review and approve the budget for each school year. Committee members are asked to attend several meetings each school year, mostly in the spring to review the proposed budget. To

Deschutes County is accepting applications for its new Marijuana Advisory Committee. which will provide recommendations to the county commissioners on medical and recreational marijuana land use regulations. In December, County Commissioners voted unanimously to temporarily ban marijuana business in unincorporated Deschutes County, expressing a desire to have more time to evaluate the impact of proposed

Do you know an exceptional woman or young lady who is worthy of recognition? Nominate her for the Bend Chamber Women of the Year Awards! The Bend Chamber is proud to partner with U.S. Bank for the second annual Women of the Year Awards, hosted at the Tower Theatre on Wednesday, March 9. The Women

For the last three years, wildfires have rampaged through Oregon and destroyed delicate ecosystems, polluted air quality, endangered rural communities, and also cost the state millions of dollars. In a recent legislative poll conducted by state Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend), Central Oregonians made it clear that the reduction of wildfires, through sustainable forest management plans,

The third annual Harney County Coyote Classic will take place near Burns and Crane this weekend as planned, despite the ongoing refuge occupation nearby, authorities said Wednesday as they warned residents they might hear hunters’ gunshots and see spotlights. This competition hunt will include at least 150 to 160 people in one-, two- and three-person

There’s a new pub opening up in town. Less than a month after Oblivion Brewing decided to close its door on Galveston Avenue, another local brewery is stepping up to take its place. The brewery is an award-winning brewhouse called Sunriver Brewing Co. The brewery’s pub first opened in the Village at Sunriver in 2012.

Redmond High School has been awarded $231,700 through the Career and Technical Education Revitalization Grant by the Oregon Department of Education and the Bureau of Labor and Industries. ODE and BOLI issued statewide CTE Revitalization Grants totaling $9 million to 142 middle schools and high schoolsin Oregon. The CTE Revitalization Grant funds will serve diverse

Amid proposals by lawmakers and others who seek a statewide vote, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday her proposal to increase the minimum wage statewide, to a higher level in the Portland area than elsewhere. Brown said her proposal was developed after conversations with stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. “Their input was