From June 10 through August 15, planned road construction may impact vehicle and bicycle traffic on Empire Avenue and Boyd Acres Road in Bend, Oregon. Signal construction and work on both roads will dictate that traffic will be rerouted to bypass the work area.  Bike lanes will be closed on the affected area of Empire Avenue. [full story]

The Humane Society of Central Oregon will showcase some of their "live art masterpieces" during the June 1 First Friday Gallery Walk in downtown Bend, at the Birkenstock of Bend location, 836 NW Wall Street.  The featured ‘live art’ (adoptable dogs and cats) will be anxiously waiting to captivate your imagination from 5-9 p.m. The ‘live art’ will include dogs and cats in a variety of colors and sizes to fit any home.  Art lovers will ... [full story]

CENTRAL OREGON-As the weather begins its drying trend into the summer season, the grasses along the river corridors quickly dry out, particularly in the high desert locations. This creates an increased threat for wild land fires to occur. An annual closure order of public lands along these river recreation corridors is necessary for the protection of natural resources and the health and safety of the public. Closure orders go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on ... [full story]

 PRINEVILLE, Ore. -- The public is invited to a memorial service on Thursday, May 31, for local businessman, community leader, philanthropist, and icon Les Schwab who passed away May 18th at the age of 89. The service will be held at 2 p.m. in the Hooker Creek Events Center of the Redmond County Fairgrounds Expo Center at 3800 SW Airport Way in Redmond, Oregon, and is expected to last about one hour. Many of Schwab’s ... [full story]

COCC Groups Present “Love, Hope, and Inspiration”  “Love, Hope and Inspiration” will be presented in song by the Central Oregon Community College’s Cascade Chorale and College Choir, under the direction of James Knox, in two free concerts on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, both at 7:30 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE 9th Street in Bend. Donations will be directed to the Tyler Eklund Fund. Selections include the light-hearted “Thirty-Second Fa ... [full story]

Summer fire restrictions will begin June 1, 2007 for cities and fire districts within Deschutes and Jefferson Counties.  Commercial and backyard debris burning will close Thursday, May 31st at dusk.  State and Federal wildfire protection agencies may continue to allow burning with restrictions. Gary Marshall, Deputy Fire Chief of the Bend Fire Department, said due to warming weather conditions and the drying of wildland vegetation, fire agencies have seen an increase of uncontrolled fires, therefore Rural ... [full story]

The Bend-La Pine Schools School Board invites the community to a public hearing on Tuesday, May 22 at 6 pm to review the 2007-08 Bend-La Pine Schools budget as approved by the Schools 14 member Budget Committee. The hearing will take place during the regular School Board meeting at the Bend-La Pine Schools Education Center located at 520 NW Wall in Bend.The budget is available for review on the web at www.bend.k12.or.us or by calling 541.383.6000. [full story]

The second Central Oregon Multi Agency Traffic (MAT) Team detail has been set for Friday May 25. Officers from the Bend and Redmond Police Departments, Oregon State Troopers, and Deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will be enforcing speed violations, and other observed violations along several stretches of Highway 97 from south of Lava Butte to the Rex T. Barber Memorial Bridge north of Terrebonne. If weather conditions are conducive the Oregon State Police ... [full story]

Deschutes County is partnering with local veterinary offices to make it easier for dog owners to purchase a dog license. A new program launched last month allows veterinarians in the county to sell licenses at their clinics. Four clinics have agreed to offer the convenient service and the County is seeking additional offices to participate in the program. Dog owners can currently purchase dog licenses at the following veterinary offices. The County seeks additional offices ... [full story]

The Deschutes County Road Department has announced the gates at Lava Lakes and at Bachelor will be opened by 12:00 noon on Monday, May 21st, 2007.  This will allow access all the way through on the Cascade Lakes Highway. No parking will be allowed on the side of the roadway, and trail accesses are limited. [full story]

LA PINE, Oregon — Forest Service fuels specialists, with assistance from the Oregon Department of Forestry, will continue with controlled burn activities today on the Deschutes National north of Pringle Falls. Ignition will start around mid-morning near the junction of Forest Roads 43 & 4350 and adjacent to the Wild River Subdivision.  Firefighters have 29 acres left to burn of the 124-acre block. Weather permitting, this will be the last day of prescribed burning in ... [full story]

May 8 hearing will help shape master plan BEND, Ore. - The Department of State Lands (DSL) invites public comment on a draft master plan for developing a state-owned, 640-acre parcel bordered by 27th St. and Stevens Rd. in Bend.  A public hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 8, from 6-8 p.m. in The Commons at the High Desert Middle School, 61111 27th St.  "The Stevens Road Master Plan will guide the use and development of this ... [full story]

The Forestland Classification Steering Committee will continue its review of the system for categorizing Oregon's forest and rangelands for the purpose of wildfire protection when it meets on May 9 in Sisters. Appointed by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the 29-member panel is tasked with recommending revisions and improvements to the system, which was developed more than 40 years ago.  The committee members represent a broad cross-section of private and public organizations that share an interest ... [full story]