Month: July 2016

A Redmond man accused of murder in the killing of Kaylee Sawyer made his first court appearance Friday afternoon in Yreka, Calif., and pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, discharge of a weapon and criminal threats. Lara’s planned extradition to Bend to face one count of murder was not mentioned in Friday’s

A 45-year-old Bend woman who admitted smothering her 92-year-old grandmother with a pillow on New Year’s Eve was sentenced Thursday to more than six years in prison under a plea deal she accepted to avoid a murder trial. Angela Judd, arrested in February in the killing of Nada Bodholdt, was given the mandatory minimum sentence

The Hunger Prevention Coalition of Central Oregon last week accepted a check for $41,120 from Go Golf!, Central Oregon’s largest charitable golf tournament committed to providing nutritious meals for community members in need. On July 20, some 120 golfers, which included community as well as influential leaders from the grocery and retail industry, teed off

A 36-year-old Prineville man arrested earlier this year on two-dozen rape and abuse charges received a 20-year prison sentence on Friday, Crook County authorities said. Warren Doescher Jr. was arrested in mid-March during a Redmond traffic stop after a now 16-year-old girl reported being the victim of abuse over a period of years, Chief Deputy

Advocacy groups, lawmakers and the governor are calling for reform of Oregon’s gun laws. The group Ceasefire Oregon, along with its sister organization in Washington, are joining with others to help create a “West Coast Wall,” an assault-weapons ban stretching from Washington to California. Penny Okamoto, the executive director of Ceasefire Oregon, said the wall

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon has created a three-year plan to improve mental health care access after a federal investigation found problems with the system. The Statesman Journal reports (http://stjr.nl/2aPsDLs ) that officials hope the Oregon Performance Plan will decrease hospitalization and jail time. The Oregon Health Authority plan would bolster efforts in 10 areas,

The new roundabout at Powell Butte Highway, Alfalfa Market Road and Neff Road east of Bend will open Friday at 4 p.m., Deschutes County officials said Thursday. “This roundabout is an important improvement that will increase safety for the close to 6,000 drivers who travel through the intersection each day,” said Alan Unger, Deschutes County

Fall means football, and the Bend Park and Recreation District has immediate need for adult volunteers as coaches for youth tackle football teams. Several teams are filled with students ready to play but do not have a coach at this time. Program participants are students entering grades 4 and 5. The season begins in mid-August

Authorities confirmed Thursday that the body of missing Bend woman Kaylee Sawyer was found earlier this week in a canyon off Highway 126 about 10 miles west of Redmond and said an autopsy had determined she died of “blunt force trauma.” As the Central Oregon Major Incident Team spent Tuesday following up leads, they developed

A health advisory due to high levels of blue-green algae was issued Thursday by state health officials for Odell Lake, located 75 miles southeast of Eugene off Highway 58 in Lane County. Water monitoring has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae and the toxins they produce, officials said. These toxin concentrations can be harmful to

A Deschutes County grand jury has indicted two people on several charges in connection with significant mortgage and rental fraud schemes, District Attorney John Hummel said Wednesday. Mark Franklin Broeg, 59, was arrested Tuesday in Lane County on seven felony counts including racketeering, mortgage fraud, and other theft-related charges, Hummel said in a news release.

Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers came to the aid Wednesday night of a hiker who became lost after summiting South Sister and sought assistance getting back to the trail, deputies said. Around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Quincy Sigona, 30, of Bend, called Deschutes County 911 to report her brother, Nole Sigona, 32,

The Forest Service plans a pre-bid meeting next week for real estate brokers who are interested in bidding on the opportunity to market and sell about 66 acres of the current Sisters Ranger District administrative site. The pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday at the Sisters Ranger District Office on Highway 20 in Sister.

Two Bend 18-year-olds – one under investigation for alleged major drug trafficking – were stopped on Highway 20 west of Sisters and arrested last week. A search of their SUV turned up a wide variety of drugs, with more found later at their northeast Bend apartment, authorities said Wednesday. The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team

A whole community is feeling the loss of 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer. Many who knew her said she was beautiful, both inside and out. “The best way I can describe her is magical,” Teresa Findley said Wednesday. “She was just vibrant, and that carried through everything she did, the words she said, the smile on her

Aundreah Maes, 19, of Salem, was back home Wednesday. Police said Maes was abducted and taken on a crime spree from Salem to Northern California by Bend murder suspect Edwin Lara. Maes arrived home Wednesday morning after her family drove through the night to pick her up. Police said Maes was abducted as she was

On Wednesday, with gratitude and sadness, the Board of Directors for Deschutes Children’s Foundation announced the resignation of Executive Director Kim McNamer. Board Chair Amanda Miko has formed a transition committee to guide the search for her replacement. McNamer will remain with DCF until mid-October to support a stable transition. During McNamer’s seven year tenure

In mid-August, the Forest Service will be installing a new culvert under Forest Service Road 2058 on the Sisters Ranger District, which will require the road to be closed during construction. The culvert will improve the passage of fish and other aquatic species in Indian Ford Creek. The closure of the road will begin on

A new survey of Oregon voters released Wednesday by Clout Research shows Democrat Gov. Kate Brown and Republican challenger Bud Pierce locked in a statistical dead heat, with Brown holding what’s termed an “insignificant” 43.4% to 42% lead. Another 7 percent were undecided in the race. Independent Party candidate Cliff Thomason wins 5 percent support

Weather forecasts call for temperatures to reach or exceed 90 degrees this week in Central Oregon. In response, the city of Bend is encouraging all residents to use water wisely as temperatures increase in coming days and weeks and water use increases. Residents are urged to focus their attention on outdoor water use this time