Once again, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Department is offering a Free Fishing Weekend June 10-11. Observed in Oregon each June, Free Fishing Weekend invites Oregon residents and visitors to enjoy a full weekend to fish, crab and clam without a license. All fishing and shell harvest regulations continue to apply. The celebration began in 1988 as a way to encourage more people to become involved in angling and the outdoors. ODFW encourages experienced anglers ... [full story]

Theresa Maureen Jones of Redmond, age 48, was arrested and jailed in the Deschutes County Jail on charges of Assault #1 on June 3rd.  Officers from the Bend City Police Department were dispatched to a location near Denny's Restaurant at 805 NE 3rd Street where they found Thomas Dean Ricketts, a 53 year old Bend resident on the sidewalk with a stab wound to his head. Paramedics from the Bend Fire Deparment dressed the severely bleeding wound and ... [full story]

Defendant John Henry Ross Pryor, age 58, was sentenced on May 30, 2006 in the United States District Court in Eugene, Oregon, by United States District Court Judge Michael R. Hogan for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm under the Armed Career Criminal Act and for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Pryor pled guilty on March 28, 2006, at which time he admitted to being a convicted felon in possession of a ... [full story]

U.S. Congressman Greg Walden of Oregon announced earlier this week that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has committed to adding additional staff and equipment to Roberts Field in Redmond, to help improve the efficiency of passenger and luggage security screening.  This fall, TSA will hire six more part-time screeners for the airport and will purchase two Reveal CTX-80 baggage scanners to help reduce delays due to security screening for individuals flying out of Redmond.  TSA also ... [full story]

Due to uncertain road funding, The Board of County Commissioners will consider adopting a policy placing a moratorium on the establishment of any new roads in Deschutes County at their June 7 Board meeting.Today, Deschutes County is responsible for the maintenance of nearly 900 miles of roads in the County. A portion of the funding to maintain these roads comes from federal forest lands revenue in the County.Deschutes County currently receives approximately $3.0 million per ... [full story]

The City has been working toward the adoption of a new Development Code since early 2002.  The process started with the formation of a Citizens Code Advisory Committee.  This committee met regularly with a contract consultant to develop a draft proposal. The Draft Development Code was made available to the public in October 2003.  At that time, staff began a series of public workshops to review the highlights of the proposed Draft Code and receive ... [full story]

Residents of Bend may take advantage of a free collection event for household hazardous waste on Saturday, June 17.  The event will be held from 9 am to 3 pm at the County Public Works Complex at 1150 SE 27th Street (next to the Central Oregon Humane Society). You may dispose of aerosols, batteries, cleaners, fuels, motor oil, paint, poisons, pesticides, thermometers, fluorescent lights, solvents, and more. Keep products in original containers if possible.  Keep wastes away ... [full story]

A joint Deschutes County Planning Commission & Redmond Urban Area Planning Commission Hearing will be held June 8th at 6 pm.  Location: Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, 3800 Airport Way, South Sister Main Hall Conference Center. The hearing will cover comprehensive plan amendments for the proposed Redmond Urban Growth Boundary Expansion. Anyone needing accommodation to participate in the meeting must notify Sharon Harris, ADA Coordination, at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting at 923-7738. [full story]

After conducting a request for proposal search (RFP) to find an alcohol and drug treatment provider for the recently funded Deschutes County Drug Court program, BestCare Treatment Services has been chosen to fulfill those services. Deschutes County’s Mental Health Department will recommend BestCare for approval on June 5 to the Board of County Commissioners. Through the RFP process, Mental Health received two proposals, had a review team rate the proposals and prepare a recommendation. Pfeiffer and ... [full story]

A California man luckily avoided serious injury Friday evening when his commercial truck drove off Highway 97 and struck several large trees. Following the investigation, an Oregon State Police trooper cited the driver for Careless Driving. On June 2, 2006 at approximately 8:10 p.m., Sarjeet Rather, age 35, from Tracy, California, was southbound on U.S. Highway 97 near milepost 144 when he drove across both lanes of oncoming traffic and plowed into several large trees ... [full story]