Month: June 2016

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, plenty of legal fireworks stands are popping up. But even with sparklers and fountains readily available, firefighters are already seeing their illegal counterparts, and the threat to people and property they can cause. Last weekend, a bottle rocket started Bend’s first fireworks-caused fire of the year,

A Bend police officer pulled over a car for running a stop sign and failing to signal a lane change Tuesday afternoon – and that led to a search of the car, the seizure of a variety of drugs, as well as a hidden, loaded handgun, and the arrest of three Medford residents. The officer

With recent heat drying out fuels and boosting the danger of fast-spreading wildfires, lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District will be placed under a Regulated Use Closure beginning Friday at 12:01a.m. The Regulated Use Closure applies to private, county, and state owned lands protected by COD in Deschutes, Grant, Hood

Because of the July 4 th Fireworks Display on Pilot Butte, the road to the top will be closed to vehicles from Saturday, July 2 until early afternoon on Tuesday, July 5, to give the crews time to clean up the area. Walkers will be able to walk up the road and the trail Saturday

La Pine student firefighters, in uniform and in a fire district vehicle, will be visiting homes and properties within the fire district this summer. The purpose is to pre-plan and collect critical data (from the outside only) for firefighters to use when protecting homes from a wildfire. This is a continuation of a multi-year project

The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission voted to remove the Metolius Loops Scenic Bikeway designation at thei r public meeting Wednesday in Lebanon. The change resolves a conflict with the pre-existing federal Wild and Scenic River Management Plan that preserves the natural qualities of Camp Sherman area by limiting promotions, among other things. The

A fast-moving brushfire put out by La Pine firefighters on Wednesday was a holdover from pile burning early last month,, officials said. La Pine Rural Fire Protection District and Oregon Department of Forestry crews responded around 11:40 a.m. to the fire, being pushed by light winds and warm temperatures at 51638 Dorrance Meadow Road, said

As the Senate considers Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations legislation, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and 22 other Democratic senators are urging Senate leadership to remove from appropriations legislation any anti-gun violence prevention research riders, including a rider that is commonly known as the “Dickey amendment.” A 1996 Republican appropriations rider authored by former Rep. Jay Dickey,

Bend police reported a success story this week a 60 percent drop in bike thefts this year after a nearly 50 percent increase last year, thanks to a variety of coordinated efforts and some “bait bike” sting operations that led to 16 felony bike theft arrests. The police department said during these summer months bike

State and local officials this week marked the beginning of the 2016 wildfire season Wednesday by reminding the public of the dangers associated with flying recreational drones near wildfires. Leaders also reminded drone flyers that operating an unmanned aerial vehicle in a Temporary Flight Restriction zone, such as an area where there is an active

Mt. Bachelor will open for the summer season on Friday,with scenic lift rides, lunch at Pine Marten Lodge, disc golf and downhill mountain biking off the Sunshine Accelerator Lift. resort officials said Wednesday. Sunset dinners and sled dog rides will be offered starting the following week on Friday, July 8, and mountain officials are optimistic

Bend’s Community Center announced this week it will suspend its free senior lunch program, at least until September. But the organization it has worked with gave assurances Wednesday it will seek a new partner and find other means to provide the needed service. BCC officials said Tuesday they’re ending the program because of a shortage

Bank of the Cascades Foundation has established a needs-based scholarship fund for incoming freshmen at Oregon State University-Cascades. The foundation recently gave $50,000 to OSU’s growing campus in Bend to assist first-year students who might not otherwise be able to afford college. “The foundation serves to support Bank of the Cascades’ commitment to making a

A sixth day of searching Wednesday appeared to be the last at full strength for a 75-year-old man who went for a day hike in the Marion Lakes area of Linn County and never returned. Undersheriff Jim Yon reports search and rescue efforts continued Wednesday in the search for missing hiker Sanford David Rice, from

An online mapping tool used by emergency managers across Oregon is now available to the public, officials said Wednesday, The Real Time Assessment and Planning Tool for Oregon (RAPTOR) is now available for the public to view incident data about wildfires, areas impacted by flooding, live weather radar, contact information for county emergency managers and

Nowthat summer has arrived, Oregonians are likely to do a lot more outdoor cookingand eating. But the potential for food-borne illness increases in July and August. Proper food handling andpreparation is never more important as families flockto picnics, barbecues and camp-outs. The Oregon Department of Agriculture’sFood Safety Program is offering seasonal advice on how to

As we approach the July 4th weekend, Central Oregon federal land managers are asking for the public’s help in keeping your public lands safe. Leave fireworks and exploding targets at home, and be sure to properly extinguish all campfires. Federal land managers also will raise the Industrial Fire Protection Level to level 2 beginning next

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., on Tuesday attacked congressional leaders over partisan legislation that that would prohibit Planned Parenthood from aiding in the fight against the Zika virus. Here’s his statement:: “Last week I met with doctors and medical professionals in Oregon who underscored the serious nature of the Zika virus and its effect on babies.

The Older Americans Act requires each designated Area Agency on Aging to develop an area plan. Currently, active four-year AAA Area Plans and updates expire on 12/31/16. The local AAA is the Central Oregon Council on Aging, located in Bend. COCOA is seeking public comment on its Draft Area Plan for the next four years.

The Family Access Network (FAN) is the recipient of a $5,000 donation to be used to help address basic-needs for children and their families in Deschutes County. The funds from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation will help provide essential services such as food, clothing, shelter, medical and dental care (includes health insurance) and more