Month: May 2017

SALEM, Ore. – There will be a Free Fishing Weekend in Oregon on June 3-4 – making it the perfect weekend to take a friend or family member out fishing, crabbing or clamming. During this weekend, no fishing licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag and a Columbia River Basin Endorsement) are required to

NEHALEM, Ore. (AP) – A Western snowy plover chick has hatched on a beach at Nehalem Bay State Park, the first hatchling spotted there since the 1960s. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said Wednesday that the species is showing signs of recovery along Oregon’s southern coast, but this is the first hatchling in the

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – The University of Oregon again will ask a state commission to approve a double-digit tuition increase for in-state students. The Register-Guard reports (http://bit.ly/2qXeZxK ) the university’s proposal is on the agenda for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission’s Thursday special meeting. On May 11, the commission rejected a previous proposal by the

The Deschutes National Forest and Hoodoo Recreation plan to have more than 50 campgrounds open by Thursday, in time for Memorial Day weekend. Hoodoo employees are currently moving snow, cutting hazardous trees, clearing debris and inspecting campsites to ensure that the maximum number of campgrounds will be ready for Memorial Day weekend. Higher-elevation campgrounds remain

Between mountain bikers, hikers, runners, walkers, horses and dogs, there are many modes of transportation being used on Central Oregon trails, which means run-ins are likely to happen. “We generally get off the trail whenever we see a guy coming close to us. It’s just not worth it to mess around with it, especially with

Climate change is a controversial topic, in Central Oregon and elsewhere, and was the focus of a presentation at COCC in Bend on Tuesday evening. Kathie Dello, associate director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute at Oregon State University, said rising temperatures and changes in precipitation are among the biggest concerns. During her talk,

Here are the results of Tuesday’s KTVZ.COM Poll, in which we asked whether you believe some trails in Central Oregon should be only for biking or only for walking/running: Do you think there should be bike-only and running/walking-only trails in C. Oregon? Yes – 45% (235 votes) No – 55% (291 votes) Total Votes: 526

(Update: Corrections, additions to narrative) A Warm Springs woman speeding away from a suspected northwest Redmond drug house in a stolen car Tuesday morning crashed into an SUV and two parked cars, then ran but was caught hiding nearby, police said. She left behind two passengers in the car who suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries,

Sitting around a campfire is one of the special times we all enjoy, but campfires are also a major cause of wildfires. May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and Keep Oregon Green, the Oregon State Fire Marshal, and the Oregon Department of Forestry urge Oregonians to follow these basic outdoor safety tips: Know before you go

The city of Bend Utility Department is offering free irrigation sprinkler inspections once again this year through the Sprinkler Inspection Program. “Everyone with an irrigation system has a responsibility to ensure it is functioning properly and not wasting water through overspray or runoff onto streets and sidewalks,” said Mike Buettner, Water Conservation Program manager for

The Family Access Network (FAN) is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from The Clabough Foundation to support critical FAN advocate services in Redmond. At least 48 percent of families within the city of Redmond earn less than the basic cost of living for families in Deschutes County including unemployed, underemployed, and low wage earners.

(Update: Evacuation still in place, fire at 40 acres) LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) – Evacuation orders are still in effect in as crews battle a wildfire north of Leavenworth, Washington. Brendan Cowan, a spokesman for the Northwest Incident Management Team, says the blaze covered about 40 acres as of Wednesday morning. Cowan says there’s been no

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Authorities have suspended the search for a 25-year-old swimmer who did not resurface while swimming with friends in the Three Pools area east of Salem Monday. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says rescue teams searching Tuesday were unable to locate the man, who is presumed drowned. The sheriff’s office says because

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Authorities say a woman died after the boat she was on crashed into a pylon on the Columbia River. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and Port of Portland fire crews responded Monday night to a report of a boat sinking near the Glen Jackson Bridge. Deputies found a man

The Oregon State Parks Foundation announced Tuesday that its online silent auction of 30 campsites at the Crooked River Campground in the Cove Palisades State Park in Central Oregon raised $60,000 in support of Oregon’s state parks. Bids for the four night campground spaces averaged $500 a night. The auction attracted attention and bidders from

Following the success of the school-based outreach pilot program Be College Ready, State Treasurer Tobias Read announced that the Oregon College Savings Plan is expanding the program so that every elementary-aged student in Oregon and their families can participate in the program for the 2017-2018 school year. The Be College Ready program aims to help

(Update with vice principal comments) A fire of suspicious origin broke out in the baseball field dugouts at Madras High School early Tuesday morning, prompting an arson investigation, officials said. Crews responding to the fire, reported just after 5 a.m., found the dugout along the first-base side on fire, said Jefferson County Fire District No.

The terrorist attack at a concert that rocked Manchester on Monday night is prompting the U.S. government to consider beefing up homeland security. But representatives of venues in Central Oregon said Tuesday they are generally pleased with the security they already have in place. It seems that no one wants to consider a knee-jerk reaction

The Deschutes Land Trust announced Tuesday that it had received a gift of $30,000 for its Campaign for Whychus Creek from Deschutes Brewery. The gift represents the largest corporate contribution to the campaign, with nearly $1.7 million raised from private individual contributions. “We’re truly grateful for Deschutes Brewery’s support of the Land Trust,” said Land

As temperatures rise in advance of the Memorial Day weekend, the Oregon Health Authority is launching its 2017 beach monitoring season to keep people informed about bacteria levels along the coast that may pose a health risk. The Oregon Beach Monitoring Program, based at the OHA Public Health Division, began its annual, regular evaluation of