Buena Vista Custom Homes, named the fastest growing homebuilder in the nation by Builder Magazine in 2005, announced today that it plans to enter the Central Oregon housing market for the first time after securing 455 homebuilding lots in the Bend area. The announcement will provide a major economic boost to the Bend homebuilding industry.  The current average value of a Buena Vista home is $440,006, which means the total value of the Bend area developments ... [full story]

A 19-year old Bend resident died Monday afternoon when his vehicle left Highway 126E about ten miles east of McKenzie Bridge and crashed into a tree. On April 10, 2006 at approximately 5:00 p.m., a silver 1996 Honda Civic 4 door driven by JOSH M. KEELEY, age 19, from Bend, was eastbound on Highway 126E near milepost 53 when it lost control, crossed the highway and crashed into a tree. After impact, the vehicle rolled and ... [full story]

Oregon State Police and Deschutes County Sheriff's Office are continuing the investigation of a head-on crash that occurred Tuesday afternoon on Highway 97 south of Bend. The fatal crash resulted in the death of a Coquille man and injuries to four others, including two seriously. On March 28, 2006 at approximately 2:45 p.m., a 2002 Honda four door driven by KEVIN DOUGLAS NASVALL, age 40, from Coquille, was southbound on Highway 97 near milepost 147 when, ... [full story]

United Way of Deschutes County held its annual donor and volunteer appreciation event Thursday, March 9, 2005 at the Bend Golf & Country Club. The group had plenty to celebrate as campaign leaders announced that total pledges currently stands at $1,310,000, $83,000 more than raised in 2005. This is also the first time the United Way of Deschutes County has raised over $1.3 million. The event was sponsored by Bend Memorial Clinic. "This news is wonderful ... [full story]

According to Andrea McCulloug, the Communications Manager for the City of Bend, two stop signs on the east and west legs of the intersection of NW 5th and Portland Avenue will be removed. The change will be effective Friday, March 31. (Advance warning signs were put in place March 23rd to alert drivers to the traffic change.) The stop sign removal is part of the City’s plan to detour traffic from the Newport Avenue corridor. Newport Avenue ... [full story]

DEQ Issues $14,214 Penalty to Furniture Company in Bend For Hazardous Waste Management Violations The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a $14,214 penalty against Genesis Acquisition Company, Inc. of Portland, doing business as Northland Furniture Company, for hazardous waste management violations at its furniture manufacturing facility at 681 SE Glenwood in Bend. The company generates hazardous waste that includes waste stain and stain wipes, spent lacquer thinner and cleanup residue from spills ... [full story]

DEQ Issues Penalties to Deschutes County and Bend General Contractor for Related Asbestos Management Violations. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a $1,000 penalty to Deschutes County for allowing unlicensed persons to perform an asbestos abatement project at the Deschutes County Courthouse, a facility it owns at 1100 NW Bond St. in Bend. Correspondingly, DEQ has issued a $1,200 penalty to Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co. (Nagelhout) of Bend, the general contractor for the ... [full story]

A Redmond man, who admitted he didn't learn his lesson the day before when he broke his ankle in a crash on his motorcycle, was cited for multiple offenses Sunday afternoon near Bend. The man was stopped by an OSP trooper in an unmarked Aggressive Driving Enforcement Program (ADEP) vehicle for driving in excess of 100 mph. On March 19, 2006 at approximately 1:00 p.m., OSP Senior Trooper Scott Vaughn was patrolling in an unmarked ... [full story]

A Redmond man was arrested early Saturday morning following two eludes in central Oregon that finally ended northwest of Madras after Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers used spike strips to deflate the fleeing pickup's tires. On March 10, 2006, at about 11:50 p.m., Redmond Police Department attempted to stop a white 1992 Nissan pickup for a speed violation. The driver refused to yield and increased his speed northbound on Highway 97 towards Madras. Once the pickup ... [full story]

In the second week of February of this year, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team intensified it's focus on interdicting methamphetamine shipments on Highway 97, that were destined for delivery to Deschutes County.  Over the past two weeks three separate seizures, during three separate vehicle stops have netted the seizure of just over one pound of methamphetamine with a street value of over $45,000. On February 13th at approximately 3:30 pm at the intersection of NE ... [full story]

The Deschutes County Health Department’s Downtown Health Center opened it's doors, Wednesday, March 1. Located in downtown Bend behind the Courthouse, the Center was created to support young adults in their effort to stay healthy and make responsible life decisions. The Center provides educational information and counseling, exams, testing and supplies for those young adults up to the age of 25. The Downtown Health Center is located at 1128 NW Harriman in the old Juvenile Detention ... [full story]

18-year-old Lane Community College student Cameron Joseph Sharp, of Myrtle Creek has been positively identified as the man who died in Mt. Bachelor's West Village parking lot early Friday morning (Jan. 27, 2006). According to Sgt. Kevin Dizney of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, it is unknown if Sharp was killed by snow removal equipment or if he died before being struck about 4 am while in a sleeping bag. A news release from The Deschutes County ... [full story]

This morning the investigators of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office confirmed the death of a white male found in a sleeping bag in the parking lot of Mt. Bachelor.  Deputies believe it is possible the man may have been hit by snow removal equipment, and an investigation is underway. The identity of the victim has not yet been released. [full story]