Month: May 2019

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A Salem wildland-firefighting and roofing company has been hit with a hefty fine after violating overtime and record-keeping laws and hiring underage workers. The Statesman Journal reports West Coast Reforestation Inc. will have to pay over $73,000 to 26 employees for overtime violations and another $7,200 in civil penalties for disobeying

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled that dwellings on farmland can only be replaced if they were subject to property taxes within the past five years. The Capital Press reports the ruling reverses the current interpretation of Oregon’s replacement dwelling statute, which doesn’t impose such a limit on demolished homes. While

(Update: Mayor improves to fair condition; all urged to learn hands-only CPR) Madras Mayor Richard Ladeby, who collapsed on the city-owned golf course on Wednesday, “made great strides in his recovery” by late Thursday, city officials said in an update Friday morning. “I spoke with the mayor this morning and he was in good spirits.

A fire late Wednesday night destroyed an unoccupied rental cabin near the Metolius River in Camp Sherman, but firefighters stopped it from spreading farther into the surrounding woods, officials said Thursday. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District crews were dispatched just after 11 p.m. to the reported fire after a citizen reported seeing a fire in the

Good Friday Morning, Everyone… With sunny skies we are expecting the warm up to begin today. The influence of cold Arctic air will weaken and the early surge of warmer air from the Pacific will pull our highs into the low 70’s. NW breezes are expected to stay pretty gentle at 5-10 mph. Light northerly

As high school seniors participate in “signing day” celebrations nationwide, Central Oregon’s High Desert Education Service District is reaching beyond the traditional college and athletic signing ceremonies to include students embarking on careers and trade school journeys after high school. This week, 13 Central Oregon high school seniors from Crook County, La Pine, Madras, Mountain

Bethlehem Inn is excited to announce its transition into the new Adult Residence building the week of May 6. For the safety of community members, the Inn is asking the community to postpone the delivery of in-kind donations until Monday, May 13. We will gratefully accept financial donations, which may be securely made by visiting

Visit Central Oregon, in collaboration with Travel Oregon, will host 38 visitors from over nine countries on a road trip around the state of Oregon. Central Oregon’s leg of the Oregon Road Rally will take place Monday and Tuesdasy, May 6 and 7, just in time for National Travel and Tourism Week happening May 5-11,

Lava Lands Visitor Center, Lava Butte and Lava River Cave will open to visitors this Friday, the Deschutes National Forest reported. The visitor center and cave will be open Thursday through Monday. Lava Lands Visitor Center will be open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Lava River Cave will be open from 10:00 am to

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Thursday called on Attorney General William Barr to resign. “Attorney General William Barr yesterday continued his campaign of misinformation. I have warned for months that AG Barr was hired to protect Trump’s presidency at all costs and erode constitutional checks on the

(Update: No growth in fire, 75 percent containment) Firefighters held the lines on the 405-acre, day-old Bray Mill Fire near Chiloquin and brought it to 75 percent containment by late Thursday. They expect to complete the task by midday Friday, Fremont-Winema National Forest officials said. Originally, the goal was full containment of the Bray Mill

BendFilm announced this week the purchase of the 28-seat Tin Pan Theater in downtown Bend “to expand its rich tradition of programming the best independent, foreign and leading-edge films.” BendFilm said in an announcement Wednesday it “has been steadily increasing its year-round offerings in response to community demand for more independent cinema.” “In addition to

Firefighters are planning prescribed burns about three miles east of La Pine on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Deschutes National Forest officials said Thursday. On Friday, ignitions are planned for 10 a.m. on Odin units 5 and 6 for a total of 175 acres east of La Pine and north of Forest Road 22. Firefighters will

President Donald Trump declared Thursday that a major disaster exists in the State of Oregon and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides from Feb. 23-26. Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Authorities say a Portland van fire that killed two people Monday was caused by a propane barbecue that was being used as a heat source. Portland Fire & Rescue says authorities responded to the fire at North Vancouver Way and Northeast Middlefield Road shortly before 6:30 a.m. and found a woman

Happy Thursday evening, everyone! A ridge of high pressure is building into the region giving us clearer skies and will allow our temperatures to warm. Cooler air is heading east along with the gusty winds. The extended forecast is looking dry and mild. This evening winds will gust around 15 miles per hour, but will

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., on Thursday welcomed 25 World War II and Korean War veterans from Central Oregon — and surprised one vet with the Purple Heart he earned in combat more than 60 years ago. The group is in Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials on the National Mall as part of the latest

(Update: Adding mugshot, more charges, bail) The driver of a stolen car hit a police car in southeast Bend Wednesday evening, fled south and ditched the car near 15th Street and Tekampe Road, prompting an extensive manhunt that led to his capture more than two hours later, hiding in the backyard of a nearby home,

Supporters of OSU-Cascades united Tuesday to raise approximately $79,000 for scholarships, student research and innovation during Oregon State University’s inaugural giving day. Of 68 funds across the university that participated in Dam Proud Day, spanning colleges and several scholarship funds, donors gave the most to OSU-Cascades. “The generosity we experienced during Dam Proud Day from

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A lawsuit alleges that during a 2017 light rail construction project, idling TriMet buses used to shuttle passengers between stations parked outside an apartment complex and emitted “enormous quantities of toxic diesel fumes” into the building for nearly a month. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Joanne Denzer and Thom Gambaro filed a lawsuit