Month: January 2016

High Desert Chamber Music has been awarded a two year capacity grant in the amount of $15,000 from the Miller Foundation, to strengthen the management team with an administrative assistant. The independent and private foundation was established in 2002 to enhance the quality of life of Oregonians through support of the Arts and Education. High

In response to a petition from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon state Marine Board last week approved initiating a rulemaking process to consider new boat operation rules on lakes in the county. The proposed rules would prohibit mooring in the same location for more than 16 days and would require a boat to

Average retail gasoline prices in Oregon have fallen 3.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.29 a gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 1,307 gas outlets in Oregon. This compares with the national average that has fallen 1.8 cents per gallon in the last week to $1.97/g, according to gasoline price

The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donations to prevent a shortage this winter, officials said Monday. Busy holiday schedules in November and December contributed to about 1,700 fewer blood drives held across the country compared to the two previous months, which has resulted in about 50,000 fewer donations and

Research teams have evaluated the major 7.8 magnitude subduction zone earthquake in Gorkha, Nepal last April and identified characteristics that may be of special relevance to the future of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon State University reported Monday. Most striking was the enormous number and severity of landslides. Many people understand the damage that can be

For Harney County Judge Steve Grasty, this is all personal — not just for his community, but his family. Grasty was emotional Friday when he told NewsChannel 21 how his wife recently asked him for a refresher on how to shoot her pistol, because she’s so frightened with what’s going on. The county judge (not

A convoy of more than a dozen pickup trucks carrying armed men arrived at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon on Saturday morning, and the men said they were there to assist with security. But they apparently were not wanted, and later headed off to talk to the FBI at the airport and the sheriff

A planned snowmobile ride near Three Creek Lake south of Sisters turned into a search-and-rescue mission Thursday night after a Bend man went for a hike and got lost in the snow, officials said. About 5:20 p.m., Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue was dispatched to a report of a lost subject that had

For the first time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Friday awarded $240,237 to provide permanent, supported housing to 20 Native American Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness in communities served by the Warm Springs Housing Authority. Friday’s award totaling $5.9 million in grants to

A mild winter, an early spring and warmer-than-average temperatures every season contributed to a record-breaking year, as 2015 will go down as the warmest in Oregon since state records began in 1895, officials said Thursday. Oregon’s previous record high average temperature of 49.9 degrees was set in 1934 – the height of the Dust Bowl

Housing Works announced Friday that the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 program, will open Monday, January 11th at 8 a.m. and stay open through Friday, Jan. 15, at 5 pm. This program is open to low-income qualified residents

Steven Louie of Portland has won the 2016 logo contest for the U.S. Bank Pole Pedal Paddle. He will receive a Commemorative Plate specially designed by Earhart Studios, logowear and a $500 check from the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation. This is his second win. He won last year as well. The U.S. Bank Pole

The Family Birthing Center at St. Charles Madras, closed six months ago due to staffing issues, will reopen on Monday, Jan. 25, officials announced Thursday. “We’re going to be better than we’ve ever been before,” CEO Jeanie Gentry said. In July, St. Charles said it “made the difficult decision to temporarily close the unit to

A widening gap between responsibilities and resources has made meeting agency goals increasingly difficult for Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, a new state audit says. According to an audit released today by the Secretary of State’s Office, a steady decline in the number of hunters and anglers and a widening gap between responsibilities and

A Bend man is the Ham Radio Operator of the Year for 2015. Joseph Barry was chosen for the award by members of the High Desert Amateur Radio Group (HIDARG). He was also given a service award from the group. Barry was given a plaque and a certificate along with a handmade ceremonial telegraph key

It’s that time again: If you didn’t get on the health bandwagon for the new year, you still have a reason to give your diet a makeover. The government on Thursday released its new dietary guidelines for the next five years, and for the first time ever, they are cracking down on sugar. “When it

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., were joined by 27 colleagues Thursday in urging President Obama to limit anonymous political spending in elections by requiring new transparency for previously secret campaign contributions. In their letter, the senators called on the president to issue a final Executive Order to require federal contractors to disclose

For the first time, the Oregon attorney general must now be notified when there has been a consumer data breach involving more than 250 Oregonians. The new law, which went into effect Jan. 1 requires businesses and government agencies to notify the Oregon attorney general’s office when the personal data of at least 250 Oregonians

A Website that creates “bite-sized snacks of shareable information” has compiled a list of the 10 “luckliest cities in Oregon,” based on population and the number of recent big Oregon Lottery winners, and Central Oregon is represented. HomeSnacks based the report on the number of winning tickets worth over $25,000 per city over the past

A federal judge has sentenced a well-known Bend plumber to 18 months in prison for filing three years of false tax returns, after prosecutors learned he earned far more than what he reported to the IRS. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ann Aiken also sentenced Gary L. Ford, 55,to serve one year of supervised release