The fourth annual LibertyBank Balloons Over Bend launches this weekend, but not without some questions over how taxpayer funds were allocated for the popular event. The high-flying event takes place June 10 and 11 at Summit High School at 6:30 a.m. If that sounds too early, there is an evening alternative.  Night Glow, presented by Kirby Nagelhout Construction, will be held at Pilot Butte State Park starting at 6 p.m. on June 10 with live ... [full story]

Car without headlights on could have contributed to the crash.  At approximately 9:30 P.M. on Tuesday, June 6th, Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Highway 26 at the intersection of Fir Lane, which is five miles west of Madras. A black Mitsubishi 3000GT driven by Edward Winishut, a 21 year old from Warm Springs, was westbound on Highway 26 when an oncoming Buick 4-door attempted to turn left onto Fir Lane. The ... [full story]

A former site superintendent for Monticello Homes accused of forging over 20 city building permits and inspection documents in a subdivision of Bend has been arrested after he returned to the area to sign paperwork for his own Monticello Home that he was selling. Christopher Duval, a 31-year-old Redding, California resident, was taken into custody on June 6 without incident and charged with 23 counts of first-degree forgery. On May 1, Bend Police Department opened ... [full story]

They sweep on the scene in heavily armored vehicles; an unassailable swarm of officers emerge clad in camouflage, helmets, facemasks, armor shields and weapons.  They all move as one with stealth precision.   What sounds like a scene straight from a primetime police drama is reality and happening right here on the streets of Bend.   Everyday police officers, fire emergency medical service personnel and an emergency room physician, all specially trained, are on standby and ready ... [full story]

Katie C. Tank, a shareholder in the Bend office of law firm Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, was recently named to serve on the board of directors of the Central Oregon Employer Council (COEC).  COEC is one of 20 statewide chapters of the Oregon Employer Council (OEC).  Members of the 30-year-old nonprofit are the link between businesses, the workforce, and the government.  OEC gives a voice to local businesses and citizens by serving as an advisory ... [full story]

Law Enforcement Torch Run Relay Raises Funds and Awareness for Special Olympics Oregon Oregon law enforcement officers and Special Olympics Oregon athletes strapped on their running shoes and teamed up to launch the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg, a cross-state relay raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics Oregon on a rainy June 2nd morning. The Bend, Redmond, and Prineville Police Departments and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will carry the Special Olympics Oregon Flame of ... [full story]

The Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) has selected the 2006  “Big Chainring” Award recipients. Since 1996, the Big Chainring Awards have been awarded annually to honor individuals, businesses and public agencies that have made significant contributions in the support of better bicycling in Central Oregon. The awards were presented by BPAC Chair Bill Hilton June 4th, 2006 at 1:30pm during the Commute Options Fair at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. New this year ... [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]

Three people were critically injured following a single vehicle rollover on Highway 20E about 62 miles east of Bend. Two of the occupants were not using safety restraints and were ejected. On June 5, 2006 at approximately 3:20 p.m., a 2002 Buick four door with Tennessee license plates was westbound on Highway 20E near milepost 62 when it drifted off onto the north shoulder. The driver, Betty Ashlock, age unknown, from Pine Circle, Tennessee, over-corrected ... [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]

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]