A Prineville man police called a “person of interest” wanted for questioning in connection with a stabbing incident early Tuesday morning is now in custody and charged in the assault, authorities reported.   Lance Bechtel, CCJ photo Lance Bechtel, 22, of northwest Prineville, was first arrested for an unrelated arrest warrant out of Deschutes County, Prineville Police Chief Eric Bush said. Bechtel was taken into custody at NE Seventh Street near NE Belknap Street, only seven blocks from ... [full story]

Police today arrested an 18-year-old high school student in connection with the release of pepper-spray in a vacant hallway at Mountain View High School Tuesday afternoon — an event which prompted evacuation of the school and the activation of over 40 emergency responders including a hazardous materials (hazmat) team.   Ryan Thomas Fulton (inset), DCJ photo Ryan Thomas Fulton was lodged in the Deschutes County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, and will face charges of disorderly ... [full story]

Oregon Senator Gordon H. Smith is ready to filibuster a must-pass spending bill if Congress does not extend the county payments safety net, he informed Senate leaders yesterday.  A filibuster would essentially halt funding for the federal government.     Senator Gordon Smith threatens to filibuster, halting federal budget funding if Congress doesn’t extend the county payments safety net. “The Senate can fund county payments or I am going to put the brakes on this bill,” Smith said, ... [full story]

Mountain View High School was evacuated yesterday afternoon when students and staff reported a suspicious chlorine-like odor that caused some persons respiratory distress, prompting the activation of a regional hazardous materials (hazmat) team, authorities said.    Redmond’s hazardous materials team investigated the source of the chlorine-like odor which prompted evacuation of Mountain View High School in northeast Bend Tuesday afternoon. Almost 40 emergency responders were called to the scene in northeast Bend at 2:48 p.m. Tuesday, about ... [full story]

Prineville’s Pioneer Memorial Hospital may form a new partnership with Cascade Healthcare Community, parent company of St. Charles Medical Centers in Bend and Redmond The Board of Directors for Pioneer Memorial Hospital (PMH) in Prineville announced plans this week to consider signing a letter of intent to begin analyzing a possible business arrangement with Cascade Healthcare Community.  For the last year, the PMH board has been weighing a variety of options to strengthen the organization financially ... [full story]

Prineville Police are looking for a “person of interest” in connection with the stabbing of a 24-year old man in northwest Prineville early Tuesday morning, and another man is in custody after being subdued with a Taser following a foot chase from the scene.   Lance Bechtel is a “person of interest” wanted for questioning in connection with the stabbing of Cody Ray Flowers. CCJ photo.    Jimmy L. Robertson was arrested for escape and attempted possession of meth. ... [full story]

A Bend man was arrested Monday morning in the parking lot of a motel for an outstanding warrant on drug offenses, but additional charges in connection with the November robbery of an adult video store were added when evidence related to the crime was allegedly found in the suspect’s vehicle, Bend Police reported.   The suspect was caught on video surveillance in the Nov. 2006 robbery of Pleasure World – video provided by BPD.  Inset:  Kurt ... [full story]

This month the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) joins a national campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of radon and the need for people to test their homes if radon is present at high levels in their area.  Elevated levels of radon can be found in about one of every seven homes in the greater Portland area. While other parts of the state are not as highly affected, it is present in certain ... [full story]

Fire gutted a Canby man’s multi-purpose outbuilding Monday evening, destroying a 1970 Chevelle SS he was restoring, several limited edition collectibles, years of business records, and many other family belongings. Twenty-four firefighters from Canby, Monitor, Molalla, and Clackamas Fire District were called to the scene of a 38-foot by 50-foot two-level multi-purpose building burning in Canby's rural southwest section. The homeowner reported the fire about 5:45 p.m. January 29.     Fire gutted a multi-purpose outbuilding ... [full story]

A woman who met three men while dining at a northeast Gresham restaurant was later assaulted by one of the men who allegedly punched her in the face several times and stole her car, Gresham Police reported. Police were alerted to the incident about 2:30 a.m. January 28 when the woman flagged down a passing motorist to report the assault and vehicle theft.   Roy Clark, photo provided by Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office The victim told police she met ... [full story]