The City of Bend Fire Department placed the first two new ambulances into service Saturday, March 29.  The new ambulances replaced units that are 13 to 15-years old and approaching 200,000 miles.  The older units provided the city with years of reliable service but are experiencing an increase in maintenance costs and time out of service for major repairs.  Parts for the older ambulances have also become difficult to secure.   The fire department's new ambulances ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – A 49-year old Bend man was arrested Saturday evening and charged with two counts of attempted murder and nine other crimes when a domestic dispute turned potentially deadly and he allegedly fired a shotgun "at or in the general direction of" his son, wife, and a 15-year-old girl.    Jeffrey Duane Stogsdill - DCJ photo The suspect’s son, Shane Stogsdill, 19, called 911 from a vehicle outside the family home at 62570 Powell Butte Highway ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – A minimum of 49 victims had been identified by Friday in a rash of vandalism to businesses, vehicles, a school and a church -- possibly damaged by ball bearings found near some of the crime scenes west of the Deschutes River in northwest Bend, police reported.   Ball bearings were found near some of the crime scenes - BPD photo  The activity began on March 26, and by Friday Bend Police Lt. Ben Gregory said ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- A Bend man who failed to secure a load he was hauling to the dump Thursday morning ended up in jail after a drug-detecting dog alerted to the smell of marijuana, deputies reported.   Ryan Patrick Palmer - DCJ photo Ryan Patrick Palmer, 30, was stopped near Highway 97 and Young Avenue for violation of the county ordinance just before 10 a.m. on March 27, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Michael Espinoza said. “Missy”, ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- Two men were arrested Wednesday morning, both for driving drunk and possessing cocaine, after allegedly attempting to elude troopers and switching positions during the pursuit.   (left) Max Alan Levitch, (right) Evan Eler Manley - DCJ photos  Oregon State Police (OSP) believe that Max Alan Levitch, 20, of Bend, was the original driver of a 1993 Honda Accord that failed to stop for Trooper Hyser and OSP Recruit Thompson about 12:10 a.m., March 26 when ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. – Hazardous ice and snow covered road conditions contributed to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 97 south of Bend Wednesday morning that led to the death of a La Pine passenger and injuries to both drivers, police reported.   One person was killed and two were injured when hazardous Spring road conditions caused by snow and ice contributed to a crash on Highway 97 south of Bend, Oregon - OSP photo  Bend resident 56-year old ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- An Oregon man who had been a woman before undergoing a sex change claims to be expecting a child.In an article in The Advocate, Thomas Beatie said he kept his female reproductive organs, although he had surgery to reconstruct his breasts and testosterone therapy. He said he decided to have a child because his wife is unable to conceive and stopped the testosterone.   Thomas Beatie - photo courtesy The Advocate Beatie formerly lived in ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- A 42-year old Bend man died in a hospital emergency room Thursday night after he lost control of his motorcycle, left the road and was thrown from his bike on O.B. Riley Road about ½ mile north of Empire Boulevard in Bend, Oregon, police reported.   Raymond Paul Triplett was transported by ground ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased, Bend Police Sgt. Clint Burleigh said. Officers were ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- The Congressional Medal of Honor Society has announced its finalists for the “Above and Beyond Citizens Honor” and Bend native Rachael Scdoris will be representing the state of Oregon. Rachael was selected from a pool of more than 500 other nominees.  The award honors her as an inspiration to her fellow citizens.    Rachael Scdoris of Bend, Oregon, has been chosen as a finalist in the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's "Above and Beyond Citizens ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- State Representative Chuck Burley (R-Bend) presented his legislative perspective on state energy solutions during a panel at the Second Annual NW Energy Summit on Wednesday.  The summit included national and state leaders, Oregon energy companies, and other experts who gathered to discuss technologies and energy proposals for the future.  Technology demonstrations were also featured including fuel cells, biomass, solar, and wave technology.  “This event was designed to address the multifaceted issue of ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- A Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputy who was responding to the Sun Mountain Estates subdivision west of Bend Tuesday afternoon to a report of three possibly aggressive dogs at large was forced to shoot one of the animals as it attacked him. According to Lt. Myrna Homan, animal control Technician David Crump got out of his vehicle about 1:50 p.m. and was immediately lunged at by a large Pit Bull terrier. “The deputy ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- Multiple alarms sounded, the downtown Bend mixed-use retail and office building was evacuated, and a nearby street was closed for more than two hours when tenants noticed the smell of Monday afternoon, fire officials reported.   The Old Penny Galleria was evacuated Monday when tenants noticed the smell of smoke caused by a burned-out furnace fan motor.- loopnet.com photo  More than two dozen firefighters responded to alarms at the Old Penny Galleria at 1012 NW Wall ... [full story]

BEND, Ore. -- Two Bend residents were injured when an SUV ran a stop sign and was struck by a pickup in northeast Bend Monday night, police reported. According to a news release prepared by Bend Police Lt. Ken Mannix, investigation showed that 20-year old Christian Alexander of Redmond failed to stop at the intersection of Neff Road and Tucson Avenue about 8:30 p.m., March 17. Alexander’s SUV, a 2001 Toyota 4-Runner, was struck broadside ... [full story]