Month: November 2018

Forests in the Pacific Northwest will be less vulnerable to drought and fire over the next three decades than those in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada, computer modeling by researchers in Oregon State University’s College of Forestry shows. The findings, published Friday in Global Change Biology, represent an important tool for scientists and land

C ount the next 20 people you see in Central Oregon. That’s how many newcomers are moving to (or being born on) the High Desert every single day, according to new population estimates released Thursday. Portland State University’s Population Research Center released their July 1, 2018 population figures, and as is often the case in

Good Friday Morning, Everyone…A winter storm system coming down from Canada will bring storm activity to our east, but only an increasing cloud cover to Central Oregon. We are currently out ahead of the front, so we are looking at highs reaching the mid to upper 50’s today. Breezes will become light out of the

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department invites people to play for free Nov. 23 in celebration of “Green Friday.” The agency will waive day-use parking fees in 25 state parks the day after Thanksgiving. “We started Green Friday four years ago to encourage people to opt outside and the response has been very positive,” said Lisa

The Family Access Network (FAN) Foundation has received a generous $2,500 grant from the MDU Resources Foundation. The funds will be used to provide crucial FAN advocate services to 25 children and family members in Central Oregon who are low-income, living in poverty or experiencing homelessness. Throughout the year, FAN advocates will work to connect

The city of Redmond is actively recruiting residents interested in serving critical roles on city committees and commissions. There are a range of volunteer opportunities to support the economic and community development functions of the city, and to shape the future of the community. The city is also seeking applications for youth ex-officio positions for

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications from members of our community who are interested in becoming a Search and Rescue volunteer. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue is one of the busiest search and rescue units in the state of Oregon. In 2017, DCSO SAR completed 127 missions and over 300 training

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Court of Appeals has struck down a record $65,000 penalty imposed by the state on a petitioner backing an initiative to legalize marijuana. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that in 2012, Secretary of State Kate Brown – now Oregon’s governor – slapped that penalty on Robert Wolfe. He had hired signature

Early ski season is still up in the air, due to a continuing lack of snowfall. On average over the last 20 years, Mt Bachelor has opened on Nov. 23, but with Thanksgiving now a week away, it’s unclear if there’s any way possible for that to happen. Drew Jackson, Mt. Bachelor’s director of marketing,

Happy Thursday evening, everyone! Tonight will stay calm and mostly clear. Lows will dip into the low to mid 20s. We’ll see air quality between ‘good’ and ‘moderate’ overnight across Central Oregon. Most of the smoke is from local burning, wood stoves, and prescribed burns with little smoke coming from California. Tomorrow high pressure will

Get ready for the launch of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s new modernized licensing system on Saturday, Dec. 1–hang on to your 2018 hunting or fishing license or take a photo of it now to make verification easy, the agency said Thursday. Once the new system launches, hunters and anglers should use their

The State of Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission and Workforce and Talent Development Board announced Thursday the release of the Oregon Talent Assessment. This report is the first in a series of biennial assessments to address the talent needs of Oregon businesses, and how to best prepare Oregonians for the evolving 21st century workforce. Developed

It’s the season of giving, and the holiday season is a time when many nonprofits make their annual request for donations. But just as important is the need for volunteers, said AARP Oregon State Director Ruby Haughton-Pitts. The founder of AARP, Ethel Percy Andrus, noted that “It is only in the giving of ourselves of

The legendary leader Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Jerilee Drynan and her husband run Three Rivers Humane Society in Madras. They believe that Central Oregon’s homeless dogs need the best care we can possibly give them while waiting

On Friday, Bend-La Pine Schools will be filled with school spirit as thousands of students and staff will don the colors of their favorite college, university, trade school or other post-secondary educational institution during the annual College and Career Day celebration. “We want every student in Bend-La Pine Schools to graduate prepared for success in

(Update: Adding public announcement, comments from trail, industry officials, expected timeline) The U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday released a proposal to enact a seasonal, limited-entry permit system at dozens of trailheads leading into the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters wilderness areas, starting in 2020, to limit the impacts of overuse. The Central Cascades

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – Oregon officials have received federal approval to trap and kill California sea lions that eat protected fish at Willamette Falls. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday the permit allows them to trap and euthanize up to 93 animals a year on the lower Willamette River. Officials say sea

The Bend Fire Department has been sponsoring monthly Child Passenger Safety Seat Clinics for several years, at our West Fire Station. Because of traffic conflict with a major construction project in the area, we are moving the location of the monthly clinic to the North Fire Station, 63377 Jamison Street, from now until the end

On Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, Dutch Bros Central Oregon locations donated more than $16,000 to Honor Flight of Central Oregon, a local nonprofit that sends Korean War veterans to see their memorials in Washington, D.C. “The Honor Flight of Central Oregon is an amazing organization, we’re happy to be able to partner with them,”

Good Thursday Morning, Everyone… It has been a beautiful morning here on the High Desert. As we head into the noon hour we are already topping the 50 degree mark and we are headed for the mid to upper 50’s. With a few more thin clouds expected we will see our breezes stay light and