The Parr Company announced this week the results of a company efficiency review aimed at measuring the effectiveness of each store location. The results of this review recommend the closing of three retail lumberyard locations in Madras and Redmond, Oregon and Woodland, Washington.   Parr Lumber in Madras and Redmond, Oregon will close for business on March 16, 2009. Parr will continue to provide products and services to customers of Central Oregon through their Bend, Prineville, ... [full story]

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued a $5,580 penalty to Redmond Quick Stop LLC for violating state regulations for underground storage tank systems. As permittee of the underground storage tank system at 1846 S. Highway 97 in Redmond, Redmond Quick Stop is responsible for maintaining the facility. Specifically, Redmond Quick Stop failed to conduct the past two 3-year inspections of the facility’s corrosion protection system and failed to maintain records for the three ... [full story]

LA PINE, Ore. – Drug agents today announced that marijuana plants and cash were seized last Thursday from a La Pine manufactured home in the Lazy River South neighborhood.   Detectives discovered 67 marijuana plants – CODE photo    A marijuana growing operation was discovered at 52900 Bridge Dr. in La Pine – CODE photo  Bend Police Lt. John Gautney, working in consort with the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team, said detectives aided by Oregon State Police troopers ... [full story]

REDMOND, Ore. – A 19-year-old Redmond man who allegedly hit another teenager over the shoulder and head with a large wooden post during an altercation at an area park was arrested and jailed Friday afternoon, police said.   John M. Mistal – DCJ photo  John M. Mistal was taken into custody a short time after the incident just before 3 p.m. near American Legion Community Park at 850 SW Rimrock Way where the altercation took place, Redmond ... [full story]

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – A 44-year old Prineville man was arrested on outstanding warrants and more than a dozen new charges after he led officers on a lengthy and at times high-speed pursuit before the stolen vehicle he was driving became stuck in the snow, deputies reported.   Shawn Robert Lee, CCJ photo  Crook County Sheriff’s deputies went to 113 SE Willowdale about 1:30 p.m. to arrest Shawn Robert Lee, 44, for outstanding warrants including fourth-degree assault, menacing, ... [full story]

Influenza has arrived in full force in Oregon and state health officials are urging anyone who wants to avoid the illness to get vaccinated. According to a news release issued by the Oregon Department of Health Services, Oregon medical laboratories have reported marked increases over the last few weeks in the number of positive flu specimens they’ve identified. Medical offices around the state that routinely report the level of influenza activity in their practices first ... [full story]

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Police believe that excessive speed and alcohol contributed to an all terrain vehicle (ATV) accident about 30 miles north of Prineville on Friday evening that led to the death of the 22-year-old Madras driver after he crashed into a large boulder. According to a news release prepared by Crook County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Chapman and Deputy Brian Bottoms, Travis Tolman suffered severe head trauma and other injuries and died Friday night after ... [full story]

LA PINE, Ore. – A two-year-old boy suffered non-life threatening injuries and was flown to the hospital after he fell out of a second-story window to a cement driveway below at his family’s home in La Pine, Oregon Sunday afternoon, deputies reported. La Pine Fire paramedics and Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the home of Mason Perryman, 36, at 16418 Heath Drive #A in La Pine about 4:45 p.m., August 24.  Deschutes County Sheriff's Sgt. Bryan ... [full story]

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – A convicted rapist wanted by the Portland Police Bureau for an alleged sexual assault on Tuesday, and sought by Prineville Police for an alleged rape Thursday, was arrested after running from a crashed stolen car following two attempts to elude in a high-speed pursuit, police reported.   Weeks was taken into custody following a police pursuit and crash near Corbett in an allegedly stolen car - OSP photo  Jackie Eugene Weeks, 47, of Portland, ... [full story]

MADRAS, Ore. – Police say the pickup driven by a 45-year old Redmond man collided with a van on Highway 26 near Madras, Oregon on Sunday night in a crash that killed the other driver, injured two passengers, and closed the highway for more than five hours. Oregon State Police (OSP) Sgt. Chris Seber reported that Todd A. Rhoden, 45, was driving east on Highway 26 near NW Boise Drive in a 2001 Ford F150 ... [full story]

MADRAS, Ore. --  The Madras Aquatic Center invites all athletes from ages 14 and older to participate in the 2008 inaugural MAC Dash Sprint Triathlon on Saturday, September 6, 2008.  Mountain View Hospital is proud to be the presenting sponsor for the MAC Dash, a brand-new event in Madras promoting healthy lifestyles.  The MAC Dash is a fun and safe athletic event that will help support the Madras Aquatic Center and further promote youth swim ... [full story]

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Both drivers involved in a head-on collision in the Prineville, Oregon, area Monday morning had to be extricated from their vehicles before they were transported to the hospital – one by helicopter and the other by ambulance. Police don’t yet know what caused a delivery truck to cross the centerline and strike an oncoming pickup.   The drivers of the pickup and delivery truck involved in a head-on collision were both injured and ... [full story]

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Prineville Police will be utilizing a plain-clothed decoy during a pedestrian safety sting operation scheduled this weekend. Weather permitting, the operation will take place between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, at the intersections of NE Third Street and Meadowlakes Drive, and NE Third and NW Maple Streets, Chief Eric Bush said. Warning signs will be posted in the area, but the decoy will be in plain clothes, Bush ... [full story]