Month: July 2016

Have you wondered how your Deschutes County tax dollars are spent? Do you know what services Deschutes County provides to you? Deschutes County is accepting applications for Deschutes County College – a free and fun program that can help you learn more about County government. Deschutes County College will be held onTuesdayevenings from 5:30 to

The Environmental Center is accepting applications for the 2016 Sustainability Awards, now through September 9. Awards will be given to an individual, small business, large business, and organization (agency or nonprofit) that are leading the way to a sustainable future in Central Oregon. Application forms and information about the awards can be found on The

A $250,000 gift fromHydro Flask, a Bend-based company that designs and manufactures insulated stainless steel beverage and food flasks, will allow Oregon State University–Cascades to pursue the development of a bachelor’s degree program focused on outdoor products. The school said Monday the gift will support the hiring of an industry-experienced and senior faculty member to

Solid rock will again slow the efforts of Cascade Natural Gas crews this week on their pipeline replacement project on Bend’s west side. Northwest Broadway Street will continue to be closed most of this week, as crews work south on Broadway in the area of Florida Avenue. Motorists should continue to avoid Broadway Street during

The origin of the annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show proves that sometimes, the best things come along unintentionally. “Well you know, it’s interesting. When I started the quilt show, I wasn’t trying to do a quilt show, necessarily,” show founder Jean Wells said Saturday. More than four decades ago, a friend asked Wells to display

Many Central Oregon law enforcement officers woke up with heavy hearts Friday morning after gunshots and chaos left five officers dead and seven others wounded in a downtown Dallas ambush on Thursday night. The mass shooting has put police in Deschutes County on alert, as they are nationwide. Bend and Redmond police, and the Deschutes

Conservation at Smith Rock has been on a constant decline as visitor counts rise, which is why park managers have rolled out a new initiative. “Smith Rock State Park and a team of people from the community got together with Leave No Trace out of Boulder, Colorado, and they helped us come up with a

Linda Moskowitz found what appeared to be a special piece of history — In the dirty-plate bin of a Bend cafe. On Saturday, a veterans activist was able to get in touch with a family member, and the mystery was solved. “After we were finished, we bused our plates and put them into the tub

After the devastating shootings in Dallas Thursday night, Deschutes County Health Services had some advice on how to handle the range of emotions such violent tragedies can spark. “Oh, I think it makes me feel the same as everyone else in the community,” Mobile Crisis Team supervisor Holly McCown said Friday. “I mean, it’s devastating

Workers in the Bend-Redmond Metropolitan Area (Deschutes County had an average (mean) hourly wage of $20.60 in May 2015, about 11 percent below the nationwide average of $23.23, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Richard Holden noted that, after testing for statistical significance, wages in the local area

Zombies will soon be coming to Central Oregon. But don’t worry, they’ll be confined to your screen. Bend Studio is developing a new post-apocalyptic video game set on the High Desert. “For the people that live in this area, they’ll recognize some of the elements of the game,” said Bend Studio director Chris Reese said

On June 24 -26, 26 six county marine patrol units and the Oregon State Police from across the state participated in a nationwide program called “Operation Dry Water” to target enforcement efforts and get impaired boaters off the water. On June 25 , marine officers reported 793 hours on the water and contacted 1084 boats

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has launched a Marijuana Worker Permit application system for workers in Oregon’s recreational marijuana industry. OLCC Recreational Marijuana Licensees and anyone employed in the recreational marijuana industry, including seasonal workers, are required by law to have the permit. Information about the marijuana permit application, found online at the OLCC’s recreational

Central Oregon is in a pattern of cooler-than-normal weather and has seen rain over the last 24 hours, but wildfire danger remains high, fire managers said Friday The U.S. Drought Monitor for Oregon issued on Thursday indicates that most lands within the Central Oregon District fall into the “abnormally dry” category. That reflects what fire

The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association and the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police issued a joint statement Friday in response to the Dallas shootings of a dozen police officers: “We are saddened by the horrific events that transpired in Dallas yesterday evening resulting in the deaths of Officer Brent Thompson, Officer Patrick Zamrippa, Officer Michael

The Redmond Police Department conducted two enhanced DUII enforcement patrols in June. During this effort, Redmond police put two additional officers on the road, funded by DUII grant funds. These two officers worked a total of 10 hours, resulting in the arrest of one DUII driver, one person with a felony warrant,assisted patrol officers (due

The state health advisory issued July 1 for the Metolius arm of Lake Billy Chinook is being extended to include the Crooked River arm, the Oregon Health Authority announced Friday. An additional sample collected at Cove Palisades Marina confirmed the presence of blue-green algae and the toxins they produce. These toxin concentrations can be harmful

Three La Pine men were arrested on theft, burglary and drug charges in a pair of raids Wednesday night on homes where Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies recovered numerous items, from guns to tools, stolen from several south-county homes and outbuildings over the past several months. Deputies and detectives with the sheriff’s office Street Crime Unit

The city of Sisters said Friday it has been awarded a $150,000 Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Local Government Grant for Creekside Campground improvements and Whychus Creek riparian area enhancements. The project will include replacing the restroom and shower facility, adding a dishwashing station and making improvements to the riparian areas adjacent to Whychus Creek.

Bend fire investigators said Monday that spontaneous combustion of deck oil and its applicator sparked a fire Saturday evening that destroyed a Tumalo home and claimed the lives of two dogs. Firefighters responded around 6:30 p.m. Saturday to several callers reporting a structure fire at 20299 Swalley Road, said Battalion Chief Andy Hood. Deschutes County