A Prineville man police called a “person of interest” wanted for questioning in connection with a stabbing incident early Tuesday morning is now in custody and charged in the assault, authorities reported.   Lance Bechtel, CCJ photo Lance Bechtel, 22, of northwest Prineville, was first arrested for an unrelated arrest warrant out of Deschutes County, Prineville Police Chief Eric Bush said. Bechtel was taken into custody at NE Seventh Street near NE Belknap Street, only seven blocks from ... [full story]

Police today arrested an 18-year-old high school student in connection with the release of pepper-spray in a vacant hallway at Mountain View High School Tuesday afternoon — an event which prompted evacuation of the school and the activation of over 40 emergency responders including a hazardous materials (hazmat) team.   Ryan Thomas Fulton (inset), DCJ photo Ryan Thomas Fulton was lodged in the Deschutes County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, and will face charges of disorderly ... [full story]

Oregon Senator Gordon H. Smith is ready to filibuster a must-pass spending bill if Congress does not extend the county payments safety net, he informed Senate leaders yesterday.  A filibuster would essentially halt funding for the federal government.     Senator Gordon Smith threatens to filibuster, halting federal budget funding if Congress doesn’t extend the county payments safety net. “The Senate can fund county payments or I am going to put the brakes on this bill,” Smith said, ... [full story]

Mountain View High School was evacuated yesterday afternoon when students and staff reported a suspicious chlorine-like odor that caused some persons respiratory distress, prompting the activation of a regional hazardous materials (hazmat) team, authorities said.    Redmond’s hazardous materials team investigated the source of the chlorine-like odor which prompted evacuation of Mountain View High School in northeast Bend Tuesday afternoon. Almost 40 emergency responders were called to the scene in northeast Bend at 2:48 p.m. Tuesday, about ... [full story]

Prineville’s Pioneer Memorial Hospital may form a new partnership with Cascade Healthcare Community, parent company of St. Charles Medical Centers in Bend and Redmond The Board of Directors for Pioneer Memorial Hospital (PMH) in Prineville announced plans this week to consider signing a letter of intent to begin analyzing a possible business arrangement with Cascade Healthcare Community.  For the last year, the PMH board has been weighing a variety of options to strengthen the organization financially ... [full story]