Whether it's the start of flu season, food safety during family celebrations or close contact with family and friends who may be carrying germs, public health experts in the Oregon Department of Human Services say one simple action can protect your health: handwashing. Hands carry germs. It's common knowledge, right? After all, for years, mothers everywhere have drummed the message: wash your hands! But here are some important handwashing facts you may not know:  • ... [full story]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife officials announced earlier this week the agency has awarded a monitoring contract to MaxDepth Aquatics, Inc. of Bend, Oregon to oversee monitoring of Diamond Lake throughout the year. Joseph Eilers, principal scientist for this project and owner of MaxDepth Aquatics, and a team of engineers and scientists will monitor water quality and document recovery of zooplankton and bottom-dwelling organisms that will support the future trout fishery. A hydrodynamic model ... [full story]

First Bend radio station to “Stream” KPOV-LPFM, 106.7, Bend Community Radio announced Tuesday that it is broadcasting its radio signal live over the Internet.  Listeners can now log on to the KPOV website at www.kpov.org and click on the "Listen Now" button to hear Bend's only local, listener-supported, volunteer-powered community radio station. “We are thrilled to be able to expand our listening audience and provide a new way to listen to KPOV,” said Board President ... [full story]

Oregon’s Rigid Plastic Container Recycling Rate Drops Below State-Mandated 25 Percent Rate; decline partly due to increase in plastic water and juice bottle sales and decrease in soft drink sales The recycling rate for rigid plastic containers in Oregon dropped in 2005 to 24.3 percent, and the recycling rate projected for these containers in 2007 will remain below 25 percent, according to a report issued recently by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This ... [full story]

The High Desert Men’s Summit 2007 coming to the Deschutes County Expo Center March 16-17, announces contemporary Christian rock band Third Day will headline the HDMS evening concert (open to the entire family) on Saturday night, March 17, in the Hooker Creek Arena. The program also features Todd Agnew and regional band Calling Simon. Tickets are available online at www.hdmsummit.org. Concert prices (including ticketing fee) are $31 for “artists circle” seating and $23 general admission. Atlanta-based ... [full story]

The beginning of the New Year is the time to make positive changes for the coming year.  The Humane Society of Central Oregon would like to suggest resolutions that are easy to accomplish and improve the quality of life of your four-legged friend and our community. Want to give back to the community?  Volunteer your time or talents to the Humane Society of Central Oregon Animal Shelter or Thrift Store.  Walk dogs, play with the ... [full story]

Horizon Broadcasting Group recently announced LAZER 96-5 (KWLZ-FM), Central Oregon’s Seattle Seahawks radio network affiliate, will air all post-season games involving the defending NFC Champions. For the second consecutive year, KRCO-AM (690 khz) will carry the NFL Playoff in their entirety via the Westwood One radio network. The playoff schedule follows.  KWLZ-FM will also carry all games that involve Seattle Seahawks, and all airtimes are Pacific Standard Time   Date Air Time Team Station Game ... [full story]

State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo was sworn in Tuesday to her second term as Superintendent of Public Instruction in a ceremony in the Senate Chamber in the State Capitol Building in Salem.  She was introduced by Natalie Caceres of Lakeridge High School, student advisor to the State Board of Education.  Chief Justice Paul DeMuniz delivered the oath of office.  Commissioner of Labor and Industries, Dan Gardner, was also sworn in at the event.  Superintendent Castillo ... [full story]

Bachelor Butte Internal Medicine, located on Bend's Westside, is a medical practice that puts many common complaints of doctors’ appointments to rest and improves the patient-doctor relationship.  Many of the common reasons patients dislike visiting a doctor’s office are related to how they must spend their time waiting.  At Bachelor Butte Internal Medicine (BBIM), time is managed from a patient's point of view, which is difficult to achieve in a typical medical office. Currently, many ... [full story]

The Oregon Arts Commission, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, will bring the Poetry Out Loud program to fourteen high schools and more than 1,700 students across Oregon this year. The program, now in its second year in Oregon, involves the memorization and recitation of classic poetry and culminates in a statewide competition. Poetry Out Loud has grown from four schools in Oregon during the 2005-06 school year ... [full story]