Monday marked the first anniversary of the grass-roots organization “Dignity & Dining” program, founded by Jerry Atlansky in Estacada, Oregon.  The program feeds the needy in restaurants, seeking to fill the unmet needs of the community.  Organizers are proud that after a very successful one year in operation at three restaurants -- two in Estacada and one in Sandy, Oregon -- they are now prepared to expand the service throughout the United States. The first ... [full story]

Chlorine discharge violations from drinking water treatment plant occurred December 2005 through September 2006, harming aquatic environment The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has fined the city of Newport $61,533 for repeated illegal discharges of wastewater containing excessive amounts of the toxic chemical chlorine into Anderson Creek, which is a tributary of Big Creek and the Pacific Ocean. The discharges, which occurred on 108 separate days between Dec. 22, 2005 and Sept. 12, 2006, ... [full story]

Professional Advice on how to help Minimize Damage from Harsh Weather The storm devastation that has spread across the U.S. over the past few years has brought with it an alarming reminder: preparation is key to minimizing damage from harsh weather. While severe storms can wreak havoc on a home, even routine storms may cause damage if a home is not properly protected. The smart homeowner is one who takes extra measures to protect a ... [full story]

In Central Oregon we have approximately 44,000 children growing up under our protection.  According to national statistics, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are being, have been, or will be sexually abused before they reach their 18th birthday.  This means approximately 8,800 children in Central Oregon will potentially fall victim to this crime.    The KIDS Center (Kids Intervention and Diagnostic Service Center), a non-profit child abuse intervention center serving Central Oregon, ... [full story]

The green building movement is starting to make serious progress, reports E – The Environmental Magazine in its January/February 2007 cover story (now posted at www.emagazine.com). Eco-friendly construction is on the rise, from single-family houses and planned communities to schools, hospitals and other large built environments. Today, five percent of new commercial construction meets standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (LEED), a voluntary, consensus-based standard for developing ... [full story]

For most of its 200-plus years, the Congress of the United States could have been mistaken for a gathering of undertakers or certified public accountants. Mostly men in dark suits, they were presided over by such gray eminents as Speakers Dennis Hastert and Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill. A few years back, the somewhat scrawny John McCormack was likened by Time magazine to "an exhausted monk." This order of things is changing before our very eyes. ... [full story]

Fishing experiences can range from both the pleasure that comes from catching a fish to the pain and frustration that comes when "the big one" gets away. For every successful fish story you might hear at the boat ramp, there are probably many more tales anglers left in disbelief as the fish of their dreams breaks their line -- never to be seen again.For those of you fishing for fun, the heartbreak is usually temporary. ... [full story]

As January gets under way, public health officials in the Oregon Department of Human Services are encouraging people to make emergency planning one of their New Year resolutions. "The end of this year has shown us the disruption that severe weather can bring to daily life," said Susan Allan, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) public health director. "Are you ready to confront an emergency that could last more than several days?" ... [full story]

The 6th annual Shop with a Cop program, sponsored by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, was bigger and better than ever. This year, 110 children -- from kindergarten through 12th grade -- went shopping, purchasing gifts for 518 family members. Including the students getting something for themselves, 628 people had a little brighter Christmas this year. This was an increase from 2005, when 94 students went shopping and 576 family members were positively impacted. The ... [full story]

Deschutes County is requesting proposals for the monthly production of a video news magazine. Firms and individuals submitting proposals will be screened and may be selected from the written proposals.  The selection committee may conduct interviews with the most qualified candidates, who will need to be prepared to make oral and visual presentations to the selection committee.  Selection committee members shall not be contacted nor solicited by any firm or individual submitting proposals.  Any such ... [full story]