Crook County Archives

Conservation group seeks endangered species protection for rare flower found only near the Crooked River

March 20, 2025 6:02 pm Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore.—The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Thursday to protect the Ochoco lomatium under the Endangered Species Act. These rare flowers in the carrot family are limited to only four populations in central Oregon. Ochoco lomatium (pronounced low-MAY-shum) lives on rocky scablands near the North Fork of the Crooked River, where cattle

Prineville partners gather youth priorities

Family Access Network hosts service partners at first Prineville Meet & Greet to discuss youth priorities

March 20, 2025 2:03 pm Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Family Access Network hosted its first Prineville Meet & Greet for service partners at the Crook County Public Library on Monday. The event, opened by Dr. Joel Hoff, Crook County Schools’ interim superintendent, provided an opportunity for community partners who don’t often get to meet face-to-face to network and discuss

Crook County HS Culinary Team captures second state title in three years; now it’s on to Nationals

March 19, 2025 10:56 am Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Crook County High School Culinary Team has once again demonstrated their culinary prowess, capturing their second state title in just three years, the school district said Wednesday. This remarkable achievement secures their place in the upcoming national competition in Baltimore, Maryland. The team impressed judges with an exquisite, restaurant-quality menu

U.S. county population 2023-24 change map Census Bureau

Central Oregon has been state’s growth pace-setter this pandemic-challenged decade, Census Bureau estimates show

March 14, 2025 4:58 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Central Oregon has been the state’s growth engine so far this pandemic-challenged decade, accounting for nearly half of the state’s population increase, according to July 2024 estimates released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Bend Metropolitan Statistical Area – which as of a year ago includes all of Deschutes,

Oregon House passes Rep. Breese Iverson bill to recognize Oregon Farmer and Rancher Day each March

March 11, 2025 5:12 pm Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon House of Representatives passed House Bill 3141-A Tuesday by a vote of 57-1. Rep. Vikki Breese Iverson, R-Prineville, is the chief sponsor of the bill, which sets aside the third Tuesday in March of each year, recognizing it as Oregon Farmer and Rancher Day. “Border to border and corner to corner,

Merkley chooses fired Ochoco National Forest worker as his guest at President Trump’s address to joint session of Congress

March 3, 2025 1:53 pm Barney Lerten

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, announced Monday that his guest to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening will be Isabella Isaksen, a U.S. Army veteran and Olympian who recently served as the public affairs officer for Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland in Central Oregon. “Isaksen was

Seized horse Crook County Sheriff's Office

Crook County community steps up with hay donations for horse seized by sheriff’s deputies

February 27, 2025 6:45 pm Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Crook County Sheriff’s Office asked for hay donations Thursday after it took possession of a horse during an investigation of reported lack of care for the animal. Hours later, it ran out of room to store any more hay and offered thanks for the community’s support. The sheriff’s office received

Crook County HS graduate creates SNL 50 music montage

Crook County HS graduate helps create Saturday Night Live’s ’50 Years of Music’ montage

February 17, 2025 2:41 pm Jillian Fortner

One of the people who created that special seven-minute montage that opened the NBC special about 50 years of Saturday Night Live Music was Crook County High graduate John MacDonald, who happens to be the son-in-law of longtime NewsChannel 21 chief meteorologist Bob Shaw.

KTVZ announces launch of KTVZ+, now available for streaming on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku devices

February 17, 2025 4:42 pm Gregory Deffenbaugh

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – KTVZ is excited to announce the launch of KTVZ+, bringing 24/7 streaming access from Central Oregon’s News Leader. Now, viewers can stream KTVZ content for free – anytime, anywhere, with ease, on popular platforms like Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku devices.With KTVZ+, you’ll have the ability to watch breaking

Crook County school Superintendent Melissa Skinner

Departing Crook County schools superintendent makes her case – explains, defends actions that sparked outcry

January 30, 2025 2:14 pm Barney Lerten

(Update: adding video) PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Dr. Melissa Skinner, who agreed to step down as Crook County schools superintendent after a tumultuous few weeks of community turmoil, has issued a statement explaining and defending her actions and claiming the accusations against her were “based on innuendo” and not the facts. Here’s Skinner’s full statement,

Crook County schools need a new superintendent and 2 school board members – how did they get here?

January 29, 2025 12:35 pm Harley Coldiron

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Controversy has swirled in Crook County for over a year now, and it’s appeared to reach its pinnacle. The district is now need of a new superintendent and two school board members, after all three resigned. But the district hopes new hires could help usher in a new era. “I am

Crook County School Board OKs $265K Melissa Skinner departure agreement, appoints panel to review board applicants

January 27, 2025 6:41 pm Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Crook County School Board voted 3-0 at a special meeting Monday evening to enter into a separation agreement the district had negotiated with departing superintendent Dr, Melissa Skinner. The $265,000 agreement basically provides 12 months of salary and benefits. District staff said Skinner has not yet signed the agreement but

Crook County Sheriff's Search and Rescue

Crook County sheriff’s deputies, Search and Rescue help four people whose vehicles got stuck on snowy FS roads

January 27, 2025 9:58 am Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County sheriff’s deputies and Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers came to the aid of four motorists, including a young child, whose two vehicles became stuck on snowy Forest Service roads Sunday afternoon. On Sunday at around 3:45 pm, deputies responded to a report of a stuck motorist in the Ochoco

Oregon Dept. of Revenue volunteers to help taxpayers use Direct File to e-file their taxes at Crook County Library

January 20, 2025 5:26 pm KTVZ News Partners

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregonians looking for assistance in electronically filing their taxes for free, could find help as close as their local library this tax season. Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be traveling to libraries in 17 communities across the state in February, March, and April to assist taxpayers in using

Latest Crook County School Board meeting confirms 2 resignations and an investigation

January 14, 2025 12:58 am Tracee Tuesday

At the latest Crook County School Board meeting Monday evening, board member Cheyenne Edgerly joined Superintendent Melissa Skinner in submitting their resignation. How does the school board move forward?

Watch Live: Crook County School Board meeting tonight to discuss path forward amid community outrage

January 13, 2025 5:47 pm Tracee Tuesday

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Crook County School Board meets Monday night to discuss two recent board resignations and the next steps to fill the open board seats. The meeting is being live-streamed, click here to watch. Just weeks after Crook County superintendent Dr. Melissa Skinner resigned, board member Cheyenne Edgerly also resigned. Edgerly told

Crook County School Board member Cheyenne Edgerly resigns seat, accuses critics of threats and ‘slander campaign’

January 10, 2025 9:50 am Barney Lerten

Crook County School Board member Cheyenne Edgerly, under fire by some in the community amid the uproar over departing Superintendent Melissa Skinner, submitted her resignation on Thursday, accusing her critics of “a slander campaign.”

Crook County School Board member Cheyenne Edgerly speaks out after fiery meeting, Skinner’s planned departure

January 6, 2025 6:48 pm KTVZ - News Team, Gregory Deffenbaugh, Tracee Tuesday

(update: Cheyenne Edgerly issues statement ) PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) –Crook County School Board member Cheyenne Edgerly, who voted against moving forward with negotiations for embattled Superintendent Melissa Skinner’s departure , issued a statement Tuesday. Here it is, in full: “We all enjoy the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, freedom of association and assembly

Watch Live: Crook County School Board expected to decide Superintendent Melissa Skinner’s fate tonight

January 6, 2025 6:22 pm KTVZ - News Team

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Tensions are running high in Prineville Monday evening as the Crook County School Board holds a special meeting about the employment status of embattled Superintendent Melissa Skinner. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes Butte Elementary, held there to accommodate another large crowd. You can watch the meeting live at

Crook County holds swearing-in ceremony for newly elected officials

January 6, 2025 5:03 pm KTVZ News Partners

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Monday morning, newly elected officials of Crook County were sworn into office in a formal ceremony held at the Crook County Annex Meeting Room, located at 320 NE Court Street, Prineville. The ceremony was officiated by Cheryl Seely, Crook County Clerk, marking a significant commencement for these community leaders, according

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