In a news conference held Tuesday afternoon, the City of Redmond announced they have selected Ron Roberts of Eugene as the city’s new Police Chief. Since September of 2006 when Chief Lane Roberts (no relation) announced his resignation to lead Deschutes County 911 operations, the city has undergone an extensive search to find a new police chief. Roberts currently commands the Special Investigations section of the Eugene Police Department. In this capacity he oversees the ... [full story]

Two men were taken into custody Tuesday night after crashing their vehicle through a fence and fleeing on foot, suspected of burglarizing and vandalizing the well-known tourist attraction and surrounding grounds of Petersen Rock Garden between Bend and Redmond, authorities reported.  The driver is also accused of drunk driving and auto theft.   Petersen Rock Garden    Donald J. Bowling (left), and Robert Wayne Caward (right) – DCJ photos Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the popular attraction at ... [full story]

Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Sherman, Wasco and Wheeler counties and their 32 cities received $214,481 in February in the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s (OLCC's) statewide liquor revenue allocation. Here’s the distribution by county: Crook Co., pop. 24,525, $6,458 - Prineville, $7,560; Deschutes Co., Pop. 103,815, $40,190 - Bend, $57,249; Redmond, $17,869; Sisters, $1,327; Gilliam Co., pop. 1,885, $496 - Arlington, $445; Condon, $585; Lonerock, $15; Hood River Co., pop. 21,335, $5,618 - ... [full story]

A 33-year old Prineville man who allegedly bid on jobs and dug wells in Central Oregon without a contractor’s license, and who also allegedly failed to complete two wells after receiving payment in advance was arrested Friday, police reported. Daniel R. Davis’s license had been suspended by the Oregon Water Resources Board while he was actively bidding on jobs and digging wells throughout the area, said Crook County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Travis Jurgens. In two known ... [full story]

A 17-year old Prineville boy was arrested Monday in connection with a sexual assault that occurred near Crook County High School in December of last year, authorities reported.  The teen was initially identified as a suspect, police said, which was later confirmed through DNA evidence. Prineville Police responded to a report of sexual assault at 1220 SE Sixth Street in Prineville shortly before 6 a.m. December 14, 2006, Chief Eric Bush wrote in a news ... [full story]

According to a report released by the Oregon Employment Department Thursday, all three counties in Central Oregon saw their unemployment rates increase from January to February. Both Crook and Jefferson counties’ rates increased more than expected. Deschutes County (the Bend Metropolitan Statistical Area) had the lowest rate at 5.8 percent, while Jefferson County had the highest at 8.3 percent.  Deschutes County (Bend MSA): The county’s unemployment rate increased slightly in February to 5.8 percent, and ... [full story]

A bomb threat found written on the wall of the boys’ bathroom at Elton Gregory Middle School in Redmond prompted an immediate evacuation of students and staff Thursday afternoon, police reported.   Elton Gregory Middle School, Redmond, Oregon Redmond Police Officers responded to the school at 1220 NW Upas after a message was found indicating an impending detonation at 2:15 p.m. A thorough search was conducted, Lt. Jason Rogers reported.  “No explosive devices or suspicion items were found”, ... [full story]

JTS Animal Bedding will receive a portion of the $6.2 million granted to more than two dozen small businesses nationwide Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns this week announced the award of $6.2 million in grants to more than two dozen small businesses and community groups to develop innovative uses for woody biomass, including renewable energy and new products, from national forests.   JTS Animal Bedding, also known as JT Shavings, of Redmond, Oregon will receive $250,000 to ... [full story]

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has awarded Wasco County a $23,084 solid waste grant to assist the StRUT (Students Recycling Used Technology) Program.  StRUT is a statewide, education-based program managed and operated by the Region 9 Education Service District. The program provides donated computers, parts and peripherals to K-12 schools and community colleges throughout Oregon. Through the program, students expand their knowledge of computers and have the opportunity to repair, upgrade and refurbish ... [full story]

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has awarded a $15,000 household hazardous waste grant to Crook County to develop a comprehensive, countywide plan which will determine how to best deal with household hazardous waste and other related hazardous waste collection, storage, recycling and disposal needs.  The county will use the funds to evaluate options for dealing with all aspects of household hazardous waste and conditionally exempt small quantity generators of hazardous waste, including wastes ... [full story]

(Salem) – Secretary of State Bill Bradbury announced today that the 2007-08 Oregon Blue Book will be released on Wednesday, March 21. Secretary Bradbury will honor the amateur photographers who won the contest for the book’s cover at a morning event in his office, to be followed by a book signing at the Capitol Gift Shop from noon to 1:00 p.m.  “The Oregon Blue Book is really a unique publication – and one that I’m ... [full story]

Two Prineville residents were found safe and sound Friday evening after they spent the night in the Ochoco Mountains when their vehicle became stuck in a snow drift and had mechanical problems, deputies reported. Crook County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an “overdue” motorist about 10:15 p.m. Thursday, March 15, said Detective Sergeant Travis Jurgens.  Ryan Bertini, 18, and an unidentified juvenile female left the Prineville area about 3:40 p.m. that afternoon to ... [full story]

Detectives arrested a Terrebonne man suspected of selling methamphetamine in the Redmond and Terrebonne areas after he was observed allegedly making a drug sale in northwest Redmond Tuesday evening, authorities reported.   Ramon Arreola Rodriguez – DCJ photo According to Deschutes County Sheriff’s detective Sgt. Scott Shelton – working with the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team, detectives received credible information during a month-long investigation that indicated Ramon Arreola Rodriguez, 28, was involved in drug sales.  CODE detectives ... [full story]