Month: June 2016

The Bend Cultural Tourism Commission is pleased to announce the funding of seven Bend projects at itsJune 10, 2016 meeting, awarding $185,316. The funds will help organizations leverage marketing resources toattract more cultural tourists during the shoulder seasons and winter months – a time of year when the city’s tourism industry is down yet the

The Oregon Health Authority released Thursday its fourth annual Coordinated Care Organization Metrics Report. The report details CCO performance on a variety of quality measures, and shows the incentive payments the 16 health plans will receive based on each plan’s results in serving Oregon Health Plan members. For 2015, CCOs received a combined total of

The War Canyon Fire was reported around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday burning in grass and brush on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands two miles east of Long Creek. ODF firefighting resources from the Central Oregon District’s John Day Unit were assisted by firefighters from the Long Creek Rural Fire Department. Firefighters stopped the fire spread at

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho issued the following joint statement during a hearing Thursday before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on a draft wildfire funding bill: As prepared for delivery “The issue of fixing fire borrowing has been a bipartisan issue for as long as we all have been

The U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture announced Thursday more than $47 million in investments to help water districts and producers on private working lands better conserve water resources, including $1 million to the Tumalo Irrigation District. The funds include $15 million in USDA funds and $32.6 million from the Bureau of Reclamation for local

Next week, Deschutes County Health Services will offer free HIV testing in Bend and Redmond. The free testing is being offered in recognition of National HIV Testing Day, which is Monday, June 27. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),around 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and

The portage path being used by some Deschutes River floaters around the Colorado Avenue Bridge was changed Wednesday “to protect public safety” and move them away from heavy construction equipment at McKay Park, the city announced. “Floaters, and other pedestrians and cyclists need to avoid the area near large construction equipment in use in McKay

Every day, nearly 10,000 people turn 65 years old in the United States. While the senior population continues to grow, less than 2 percent of funding from the nation’s largest grant makers focuses specifically on seniors (Foundation Center). But with the generous support of the Central Oregon community, Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA) is

Following the completion of a $10 million renovation, Riverhouse on the Deschutes hotel, in partnership with Executive Producer G2 Strategic, announced Thursday they are launching a new jazz series, Mt. Bachelor Riverhouse Jazz. The new series will feature a combination of international touring and NW-based artists. There will be two shows on one weekend each

Central Oregon drug agents said Wednesday they raided a southeast Bend drywall company last week, seizing drugs allegedly being sold out of the business, located near Bend High School, and arresting three Bend residents. Detectives assigned to the CODE Team executed a search warrant around 4 p.m. last Wednesday at the business operated by CCI

Sunday night, tragedy struck south of La Pine when a head-on collision killed Alan James Eutsler of Bend and seriously injured Donald Adams and his wife, Barbara, from Rathdrum, Idaho. Their 10-year-old daughter also died and 8-year-old son was injured. “You know, we feel what happens on the highway. We’re people and so there’s just

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore.) welcomed Congressional Art Competition Winner Sage Hassell, a recent graduate of Mountain View High School in Bend, to the U.S. Capitol to see her winning painting unveiled in the national student art exhibit. Walden presented Sage with a special congressional certificate in recognition of her artistic talent. Sage’s painting, entitledFlaunt It,was

The Wild, Wild West got a little more wild Wednesday night in Prineville. The Crooked River Roundup kicked off its 71 st year. The rodeo officially starts Friday night, but Wednesday was about the community coming together to get ready for the next two weeks of rodeo and horse races taking place in Prineville. The

A five day celebration of all things Central Oregon kicked off Wednesday. Kayaking, paddleboard races, slack-lining and rock climbing are just some of the activities offered in the fifth annual Outside Games. Marketing Director Bart Platt said the festival is special because the audience doesn’t just spectate — it participates. “All the Outside Games is

On the eve of Thursday’s opening of legal fireworks stands in Bend, the city’s Fire Department offered reminders on how to have a safe, fire- and injury-free Fourth of July holiday. Here’s their news release: Each year, we celebrate the fourth of July with community parades, picnics, barbecues and fireworks. But sadly, Independence Day also

As of May 30, the Oregon Department of Revenue has processed $14.9 million in marijuana tax payments this year, the agency said Wednesday. Medical marijuana dispensaries started collecting a 25 percent tax on their recreational marijuana sales in January. The department also reminded dispensaries that their first-quarter marijuana tax returns were due on May 2.

On Sunday, the Powell Butte Highway will reopen to through traffic through the roundabout construction zone, Deschutes County officials said Wednesday. Both Neff Road and Alfalfa Market Road will remain closed during the construction of the roundabout. Drivers are urged to use caution and obey work zone speed limits on Powell Butte Highway, as they

ALL ABOARD for an old-fashioned, all American 4th of July in Prineville! This Independence Day, the Oregon Historical Society and the city of Prineville will run the Mt. Emily Shay #1 on a series of excursion trips beginning at 8 am, with runs occurring every hour on the hour until the last train departs at

New drone rules from the Federal Aviation Administration were released Tuesday after being in the works for about a year. Central Oregon drone experts said the new rules will make it easier and less costly for drone users to operate commercially. They also said the regulations will likely lead to more jobs and more business

The Oregon Audits Division in the Office of the Secretary of State released its annual report on the Government Waste Hotline Wednesday, showing a 35 percent jump in complaints over the previous year. “The increase in complaints from 2014 is in large part a reflection of the public’s increasing awareness about the Government Waste Hotline