BEND, Ore. -- The Bend City Council has appointed Brian Hemphill as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Bend.  Hemphill replaces Lisa Bertalan who served as Municipal Court Judge for the past 14 years.  Bertalan was appointed a Pro-Tem Judge by Council. Brian Hemphill has been appointed as Municipal Court Judge for Bend, Oregon - photo by hemphill-attorney.com Hemphill was recommended to Council for appointment by a search committee which included Judge Bertalan, Court Supervisor ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- On Saturday, May 3, the Deschutes County Mental Health Department sent certified letters to 50 individuals who received services from the Department during 2005-06. The letters inform the clients that the location of their copied service documents, mailed through the U.S. Postal Service to the State, is unknown. The letter also offers assistance from Department staff and a free credit monitoring service to each person for the next 12 months.  The Department ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – A 20-year-old Bend driver, his passenger, and the driver and passenger of a second vehicle involved in a head-on collision in the Tumalo area north of Bend last Friday evening were injured and transported to the hospital, two with reportedly serious injuries, police reported.   Four people were injured in a head-on crash on Highway 20 north of Bend in the Tumalo area - OSP photo According to Oregon State Police (OSP) Sgt. Don ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – Today, April 14, at 6 p.m., the Obama presidential campaign will open an office in Bend, Oregon, bringing the total number of Obama offices in the state to eight.   “We are excited about the growing support for Senator Obama across this state. This office in Bend will give local residents an opportunity to play a more personal role in building the Obama campaign and reaching out to their friends, families and neighbors ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – A 3-year-old girl died in what appears to be a tragic accident Sunday afternoon while she was playing in the yard of her family’s northwest Bend home and apparently drowned in an unfenced pond, deputies reported. Synde Jensen was playing with her nine-year-old sister about 1:30 p.m., April 13, and was unattended for only 3-5 minutes before her sister found her in the pond at 64357 Schibel Road, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Detective Lt. ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- A 56-year old man was arrested Friday night in connection with the alleged baseball bat beating of a transient reportedly trespassing in the laundry room of an apartment complex in northeast Bend, Oregon, police reported.   Lyell William Cox - DCJ photo  According to Bend Police Sgt. Chris Carney, Lyell William Cox, 51, a resident of Fox Hollow Apartments at 2600 NE Forum Drive and apparently associated in some way with the manager of ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – A five-year-old boy died Tuesday evening from injuries sustained in a tragic accident while playing at a rock quarry in the Tumalo area north of Bend, deputies reported. Gabriel “Gabe” Brisbine of Sisters, Oregon, 5, and his 10-year-old brother were playing near the rock quarry at 65316 NW 93rd Street about 6:10 p.m., April 8, when the accident occurred. The boys’ parents, Lori Osborn and Sean Brisbine, were conducting business as the ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – Police and park rangers closed Pilot Butte Saturday afternoon to facilitate a search for a severely diabetic 61-year old Bend man who has been missing since Thursday.   Louis Turner - photo provided by BPD  Louis Alfred Turner was last seen at his apartment about 1 p.m., April 3, and requires regular medication for his illness, Bend Police Detective Brian Beekman reported. Police received information that Turner may have walked to the Butte, and on ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – Excellent detective work and the cooperation of several businesses and concerned citizens led to the arrest of three people in connection with a rash of criminal mischief late last month described as one of the largest vandalism sprees in Bend’s history. Nearly 75 victims’ homes, businesses or vehicles were damaged by ball-bearings shot from a sling-shot.   Isaiah C. Harris (left), and  Christopher D. Hartzell (right) - DCJ photos. Not pictured is 17-year-old suspect ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- The Humane Society of Central Oregon is often asked, “What can I do to help the animals?”  An eleven-year-old from Bend, Oregon, Mimi Ausland, has made it as simple as a ‘click of the finger’ for anyone to help homeless animals. Through the creation of her web site, www.freekibble.com, Mimi hopes to feed the dogs in the shelter so the Humane Society of Central Oregon has one less thing to spend valuable ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – A new x-ray inspection system was installed today and is now operational at the Deschutes County courthouse.   The added security measure is designed to enhance the current courthouse security that provides a safe environment for elected officials, court employees, case participants, and the visiting public.   Per the state mandate, the Sheriff of each Oregon County is required to provide security for the county courthouse. “You will be required to walk through a ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – Two drivers were injured in a collision Monday afternoon on Reed Market Road after one driver allegedly disobeyed a traffic control device and was broadsided after pulling out in front of an SUV, police reported. Bend Police officers and Bend Fire paramedics were called to the intersection of SW Reed Market Road and SE Division Street about 1:30 p.m., March 31, to a reported injury motor vehicle crash, Police Lt. Ken Mannix ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- Five teenaged boys from Bend, Eugene, Elmira and Fall Creek were arrested early Sunday morning in connection with a spree of criminal mischief crimes which caused thousands of dollars in damage to vehicles and houses in the southern part of Bend over the weekend. Police believe the majority of the damage was caused by rocks thrown through windows, and while there is no evidence to suggest the teens may have been involved in ... [full story]