Month: February 2018

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a plumber to do work around Central Oregon. And now, even companies are having trouble finding quality plumbers to hire. The biggest issue is that there are not enough people getting into the trades anymore. Garry Bespflug is a plumber with Central Oregon Heating and Cooling, and the

At just 22 years old, Kent Callister just finished competing in his second Winter Olympics. He competes for Team Australia, but he’s never forgotten where it all started: Bend. Growing up in Australia, Callister’s sport of choice was skateboarding. When he was 9 years old, he and his family moved to Central Oregon, and that’s

A Central Oregon veteran is fighting for his life after he was attacked with a hammer by his roommate while he was asleep. According to Deschutes County sheriff’s investigators, Terry Trask, 63, was hit with a hammer while sleeping at 3:30 a.m. Sunday at home on the Old Bend-Redmond Highway. They said the alleged attacker

The Oregon House has passed a bill proposing to make affordable health care a constitutional right. If the bill passes the Senate and voters approve this fall, Oregon will be the first state in the country to make health care a constitutional right. But there are still quite a few hoops to jump through. First,

Bend-La Pine Schools Superintendent Shay Mikalson announced Wednesday that Summit High School Assistant Principal Michael McDonald has been selected to become the school’s next principal. McDonald, chosen from among four finalists, has served as the assistant principal at Summit since 2004. He will be the school’s fourth principal since it opened in 2001. Mikalson called

A Warm Springs man was critically injured early Wednesday when he was struck by a car while crossing Highway 26 near Sandy, east of Portland, Oregon State Police reported. Around 12:35 a.m., OSP troopers and first responders were dispatched to a crash involving a pedestrian on Highway 26 at milepost 22. A preliminary investigation determined

Happy Valentines Day, Oregon’s 159th Birthday, and Ash Wednesday, everyone! What a day! We saw just a little bit of everything today with gusty winds, average temperatures, some sunshine, and some snow showers. Overnight expect the slight chance for a few lingering snow flurries with cold overnight lows. Temperatures will fall into the upper teens

Two people were injured in a La Pine crash late Tuesday afternoon when a Tigard resident said he looked down to grab his glasses and ran a stop sign, cut a corner and collided nearly head-on with a large SUV, Oregon State Police said. The crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Highway 97 at

The USDA Forest Service will waive fees at day-use recreation sites in Oregon and Washington on Monday, Feb. 19 in honor of Presidents’ Day. “Public lands in the Pacific Northwest offer nearly unlimited opportunities for year-round recreation,” said Jim Peña, Pacific Northwest Regional Forester. “We hope this fee-free day encourages new and repeat visitors to

(Updating: Ga. prison inmate pleads guilty to federal charge) A Georgia state prison inmate has pleaded guilty to a federal charge for his role in a cross-country scam that called Deschutes County residents, falsely claiming to be sheriff’s deputies and demanding payment for failure to report to jury duty, U.S. Attorney Beth Drake said Jay

The 2018 SELCO Kid’s Mini Pole Pedal Paddle online registration is now open. This year’s race is Sunday, May 20 th in the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend. Teams of 6 kids, K-5 th grade are invited to compete. All team members will begin their heat with two fun team challenges followed by an obstacle

Lutheran Community Services Northwest announced Wednesday the selection of Laura Placek to fill the position of Crook County Mental Health director. Placek brings over 20 years of experience in direct service delivery, investigation, assessment, and case management for offenders and consumers with severe and persistent mental health issues, alcohol and drug abuse addictions, and cognitive

GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. (AP) – A fatality and an hours-long rescue effort to bring other climbers off Oregon’s tallest peak as a storm approached underscore the dangers of a mountain that’s soared in popularity due to its proximity to Portland. More than 10,000 people attempt to summit Mt. Hood each season, but more than 130

Here are the results of Tuesday’s KTVZ.COM poll, asking if you’ll stop at Santiam Pass Ski Lodge once it opens: Will you stop at Santiam Pass Ski Lodge once it opens?Yes – 47% (259 votes)No – 53% (288 votes)Total Votes: 547

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Senate’s health committee will assess a bill passed by the House that would enshrine a right to health care in the state Constitution. Senate President Peter Courtney assigned the measure, which aims to put the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot for Oregon voters in the November election, on

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – An investigative report says former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber allegedly violated state ethics laws 11 times during his third and fourth terms as governor. The Statesman Journal reports that the Oregon Government Ethics Commission will vote Friday on whether it agrees with its staff’s findings. The report released Wednesday says Kitzhaber,

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Lawmakers effectively withdrew a proposal to allow autonomous vehicles on Oregon roads. The House Transportation Policy committee voted 8-0 Wednesday to substitute an amendment that replaced proposed rules for the vehicles with a study group. That group would report to the Legislature in the fall. Legislators questioned the safety of fully

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – The Bethel School Board in Eugene had to call off its meeting after angry parents yelled repeatedly at board members. The reason for Monday’s outrage: No more school parties for Valentine’s Day. In the past, students celebrated Feb. 14 with the traditional exchange of cards and candy. But The Register-Guard reports

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A Medford woman was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after authorities say she struck garbage cans and drove into a ditch during a Taco Bell run. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports 39-year-old Diane Wilcox left her home Tuesday morning to travel to a Taco Bell about six miles (10 kilometers) away. The

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A bill allowing water transfers among Oregon storage reservoirs has been shelved during this short legislative session. The Capital Press reports that water transfers among reservoirs stopped being permitted by state regulators because of a changed legal interpretation. That’s a problem for water managers such as the Tumalo Irrigation District in