Crook County Archives

Prineville home to C.O.’s only ferret shelter

November 26, 2019 7:08 pm KTVZ

There’s only one animal shelter in Central Oregon focused on rehoming ferrets, and it’s located in Prineville.

Crook County Sheriff Gautney posts letter, defends jail staff

November 19, 2019 9:44 pm Barney Lerten

Crook County Sheriff John Gautney posted a three-page letter Tuesday on Facebook, refuting and responding in detail to complaints and rumors about jail operations and treatment of inmates.

Driver injured in O’Neil Highway crash

November 17, 2019 1:05 am KTVZ

An injured driver was flown to the hospital Saturday after a pickup truck left the O’Neil Highway near Redmond and crashed into a tree, authorities said.

Nevada pair injured in Geo. Millican Road truck crash

November 15, 2019 9:08 am Barney Lerten

Two Nevada residents were taken to the hospital with injuries early Friday after their rental box truck overturned on Southwest George Millican Road, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said.

Prescribed burns planned near Big Summit Prairie

November 10, 2019 6:45 pm KTVZ

Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest plan to take advantage of recent warm, dry weather to implement two prescribed burn projects north of Big Summit Prairie beginning Tuesday and continuing through the week.

Powell Butte Korean War MIA soldier’s remains recovered

October 30, 2019 9:43 pm KTVZ

The U.S. Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced this week that Army Cpl. Norvin Dale Brockett, a Powell Butte resident who died in a Korean War battle nearly 70 years ago at age 18, was officially accounted for this summer, a year after North Korea returned dozens of boxes of remains to U.S. officials.

OSP seeks tips on mule deer left to waste near Powell Butte

October 28, 2019 1:58 pm KTVZ

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division asked for the public’s help Monday for information regarding the unlawful take and waste of a doe mule deer east of Powell Butte on Valley View Road. The doe mule deer was shot last Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6:44 a.m. Anyone with information regarding this case is

BLM Prineville District outlines fall/winter prescribed burns

October 24, 2019 2:09 pm KTVZ

As fall weather brings shorter days and cooler temperatures, fuels specialists with the Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office are preparing for the fall/winter prescribed burn program. As early as Friday, and continuing through the next few months, depending on conditions, specialists will treat a variety of areas with prescribed fire across Central Oregon.

St. Charles Health System names Crook County advocate

October 22, 2019 8:20 pm KTVZ

St. Charles Health System announced Tuesday it’s hired Jody Britton as community and philanthropy advocate for Crook County. Britton, a resident of Prineville, brings a deep professional background in marketing and community engagement. She owned Northwest Marketing Strategies and previously worked for Zolo Media. She also volunteers in the community, most recently creating and organizing

Authorities raid 5 Juniper Acres illegal marijuana grows

October 17, 2019 6:37 am KTVZ

Central Oregon drug agents, assisted by the region’s SWAT team, raided five sophisticated, illegal marijuana grow operations in the off-the-grid Juniper Acres area east of Alfalfa last week, seizing more than 1,000 plants, nine guns and a butane honey oil lab while making three arrests, officials said Wednesday. The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team

Crook County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy coming up

October 16, 2019 5:33 am KTVZ

On Feb. 5, 2020, the Crook County Sheriff’s Office will begin its seventh session of the Citizen’s Academy. Members of the public are encouraged to apply for the 13-week academy and learn more about “your” Sheriff’s Office. Members will learn everything from the history of policing, criminal investigations, use of force, drug teams, and SWAT

Oregon’s temporary ban on flavored vaping products begins

October 15, 2019 8:52 pm KTVZ

Gov. Kate Brown’s Executive Order to enact a temporary ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and cannabis vaping products took effect Tuesday. All retailers must stop selling these products. The Oregon Health Authority urges anyone who uses vaping products to stop immediately. The Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Liquor Control Commission and local public health

Crook County reports first horse case of West Nile virus

October 15, 2019 5:31 pm KTVZ

(Update: Adding comments from Crook County health officials, Vector Control manager; horse survived disease) West Nile virus, a disease spread by mosquitoes, has been detected in a horse in Crook County, the first case in 15 years of testing, according to Oregon Public Health officials and the Crook County Health Department. The horse, which became

Dozens of pets rescued, 3 perish in Hwy. 26 trailer crash

October 12, 2019 10:14 pm KTVZ

(Update: Revised tally of cats) Three people and dozens of cats, dogs and a rabbit survived, but three cats perished Thursday afternoon when a pickup and travel trailer left U.S. Highway 26 near Ochoco Reservoir east of Prineville and plummeted down an embankment, according to Oregon State Police and responding animal rescue agencies. The crash

Facebook grants $200K for Crook County CTE classes

October 11, 2019 4:37 am KTVZ

Crook County School District on Thursday announced a $200,000 Facebook grant funding the launch of expanded Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs for high school students Facebook provided the grant to the district to help fund a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab and seven CTE/STEM programs (Agriculture Science, Graphic Design, Business Management, Culinary

Prineville theft leads to raids on 2 homes, 9 arrests

October 10, 2019 7:24 pm KTVZ

(Update: Adding what item was shown in FB post) A reported burglary and theft at a northeast Prineville home led police to a Facebook post of one suspect holding the stolen property, followed by raids on two homes Tuesday and the arrests of nine people in total, police said. Police received a report Sunday of

Rimrock Trails expands outpatient mental health treatment

October 8, 2019 9:22 pm KTVZ

For nearly 30 years, Rimrock Trails has been recognized as Central Oregon’s only specialty adolescent substance use disorder treatment provider with outpatient treatment programs in Bend, Redmond and Prineville and one of only five adolescent residential treatment centers in the state of Oregon. Rimrock Trails Treatment Services is pleased to announce that as of Oct.

Rimrock Trails receives $1,500 from Cascade Car Show

October 8, 2019 9:18 pm KTVZ

Rimrock Trails Treatment Center is thrilled to receive $1,500 from the September Cascade Car Show held at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. The planning committee chose Rimrock Trails Treatment Center to be the beneficiary of their “Mad Max” Car Raffle. The funds will be used to expand outpatient mental health treatment services to individuals 5 through

Two thrown, hurt in rollover crash N. of Prineville

October 8, 2019 3:48 pm KTVZ

Two Prineville men were seriously injured Monday night when their Jeep crashed through a power pole and rolled several times, throwing both men into a field, Crook County sheriff’s deputies said. Deputies were dispatched around 8:20 p.m. to the reported crash on Northwest Gerke Road, near Country Loop, about six miles north of Prineville, Sgt.

Prineville killer, 79, dies in state prison

October 7, 2019 6:58 am KTVZ

A 79-year-old Prineville man convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of his roommate nearly a decade ago died Sunday morning at a state prison in northeast Oregon, the state Department of Corrections reported. Richard Lynn Breneman, an inmate at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla, entered state custody on July 29, 2011, with an