Month: February 2018

(Update: Two students cited for fire alarm, shooting threat; sgt., parent comments) A 13-year-old High Desert Middle School student who threatened a shooting at the school has been charged with first-degree disorderly conduct and harassment, while a second student who pulled a fire alarm minutes earlier also has been charged with disorderly conduct, Deschutes County

Community members are invited to meet the four finalists for the High Desert Middle School principal position during a forum Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. in the library at High Desert. Visitors will get a chance to meet the candidates, ask questions and offer feedback. The four finalists: Lisa Birk is currently assistant principal

Fire managers on the Crooked River National Grassland plan to burn downed juniper on about 537 acres next week, as weather and conditions allow. The burning will take place just east of Highway 26 about 7 miles south of Madras, in the Juniper Springs area, officials said Friday. This type of prescribed fire, known as

Happy Friday evening, everyone! A busy weekend is in store for Central Oregon! Tonight will be some of the more calm conditions we will see over the next few days. Winds will be blustery to breezy out of the southwest around 15 to 20 miles per hour. Clouds will be between partly cloudy to mostly

The Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory announced Friday another increase in the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for illegally shooting the well-known trumpeter swan, Chuck, last Thanksgiving Day. The nature center said Trumpeter Swan Society has doubled their contribution by adding $500 to the reward and an

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A report from Oregon’s state economists released Friday warned the federal tax overhaul could cost the state more than $200 million in revenue in the short term, amid an overall bright outlook for state businesses and workers. The report, released by the Oregon office of Economic Analysis, predicted that state tax

— OSU news release: Oregon State University announced Thursday a new policy that will require all new and continuing students to self-report past felony convictions and registered sex offender status before enrolling in fall 2018 classes. CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) – Oregon State University says it will begin to require all students to self-report past felony

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted unanimously Friday to find former Gov. John Kitzhaber guilty of 10 ethics violations. The preliminary finding means that Kitzhaber can appeal. The former governor resigned in 2015 amid accusations of influence peddling involving his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes of Bend. Kitzhaber has admitted allegations he failed

Here are the results of Thursday’s KTVZ.COM poll, asking if you think there should be standardized federal security measures for all schools: Do you think there should be standardized federal security measures for all schools?Yes – 59% (343 votes)No – 41% (241 votes)Total Votes: 584

Good Friday Morning, Everyone… Storm activity pressing in from the NW will keep Central Oregon skies pretty cloudy today. This will bring heavy rain to the valley and much needed snow to the Cascades. Areas north of Bend have a chance of mixed showers this afternoon. Highs will be in the mid 40’s, fairly average

The Sunriver Service District formed a committee on Thursday to look for permanent new police and fire chiefs. It’s been a week since former Sunriver police chief Marc Mills announced his resignation as he faces a misdemeanor harassment charge for striking a sergeant and also was under an internal investigation on allegations of inappropriate behavior,

The Oregon State Police reminds students and families to learn more about SafeOregon, the statewide school safety tip line. The tip line is a safe, confidential and anonymous way for students to alert authorities to information that may be useful in preventing school attacks, bullying and suicidal behaviors. SafeOregon can be accessed through a phone

Ben Ferguson, a 23-year-old Bend native, came within 2 points of the podium at Tuesday night’s men’s snowboard halfpipe final, finishing fourth. He’s no stranger to being close — he narrowly missed qualifying for the Sochi games four years ago. Since then, he and his brother Gabe, who joined him this year in PyeongChang after

(Update: Police say incident involved mental health matter) Bend police and fire medics responded Thursday afternoon to an incident on a northeast Bend street that prompted area street closures for a time until the situation was resolved, authorities said. Police tweeted around 3 p.m. the “active incident” in the 2000 block of Northeast Full Moon

For veterinarians, it’s not all cute puppies and kittens. There’s a tragic statistic that’s affecting the profession. Several studies have found that veterinarians have higher rates of suicide than the general population, as well as higher rates than people in other health care professions. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control surveyed 10,000 veterinarians. It

In the wake of the most recent school shooting, safety is no doubt on every parent’s mind. When they send their kids to schools, they’re expecting it to be a safe place. But more and more, we’re seeing that anything can happen. Central Oregon school districts have safety measures in place and are working to

(Update: Absentism at 25 percent; update letter sent to parents) Bend’s Summit High School operated fairly normally Thursday, except for a higher number of absent students and an increased police presence due to bathroom vandalism that included a presumed threat toward the school — a threat that officials said does not appear to be credible.

The public is invited to attend open houses March 5 and 6 in Sunriver, Bend and Madras to learn more about a three-year study focused on meeting water needs for rivers, irrigated agriculture and communities in the Deschutes Basin. The Upper Deschutes Basin Study, anticipated to be completed this year, aims to develop a comprehensive

(Update: Wyden issues comments) Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., released the following statement after a Senate vote on the Rounds-King immigration proposal failed: “After President Trump ripped away the legal status of our nation’s DACA recipients, we have been working for months to find a bipartisan compromise that would protect Dreamers – young Americans who know

Happy Thursday evening, everyone! We will see increasing clouds for Central Oregon tonight as the next system pushes inland. Overnight lows will be in the 20s. Winds will be out of the northwest around 10 miles per hour. Tomorrow morning will start on a cold, crisp note. Daytime highs for Friday will be in the