A Culver-area man was seriously injured Sunday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 south of Madras when his car was hit after he pulled out in front of a Kenworth semi-truck and trailer, said police. John Meeker, 74, was stopped at an eastbound stop sign on southwest Iris Street at the intersection with Highway 97 about 1:20 p.m. November 19 before he pulled out into the path of a northbound 2006 Kenworth truck ... [full story]

A 75-year old Bend man died late Sunday morning from injuries he sustained when his pickup crossed a southern Oregon highway and crashed into a 50-foot pine tree, said Oregon State Police. Leroy McCaw succumbed to his injuries at Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford about 10:42 a.m. November 19, approximately 11 hours after the midnight crash. According to a news release issued by Oregon State Police (OSP), McCaw was driving a 1997 Dodge pickup ... [full story]

Two young women were killed and one man critically injured early Sunday morning when their sports utility vehicle left the highway, rolled, and ejected all occupants in a single-vehicle accident on Highway 20 east of Bend. Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies and Bend Fire personnel responded to east Highway 20 and Harmony Lane about 3:30 a.m. November 19 following a report of a single vehicle accident involving a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with four occupants. According to ... [full story]

For those of you with piles of leaves or yard debris left to burn, you have until dark on Wednesday, November 22, when burning within the city limits of Bend will officially close. Gary Marshall, City of Bend Fire Marshal said outdoor debris burning restrictions were allowed 20 days in November to accommodate the burning of small piles of yard debris by Bend residents.    Due to hazardous weather conditions, debris burning was earlier cancelled for ... [full story]

A 45-year old Prineville man was arrested Thursday afternoon when detectives found 9 ½ pounds of high grade marijuana, over $4,000 cash, drug-sales records, scales, and packaging bags during the execution of a search warrant for his vehicles and northeast Prineville residence, said authorities. According to Detective Sgt. Scott Shelton of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, over the last several months the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team received creditable information that Jerry Neal Bolin ... [full story]

As the dark clouds and shorter daylight hours of winter settle in, the safety features and all-wheel drive of the Mercury Montego sedan are as comforting as a bowl of hot soup. This Mercury twin to the Ford Five Hundred is endowed with refining features, and it is an award-winner among its owners.   MERCURY MONTEGO - The new Mercury Montego recently received AutoPacific's 2006 Ideal Vehicle Award, which recognizes the passenger vehicle that most closely meets customer ... [full story]

Nancy Scheper-Hughes opens her provocative essay entitled "Biopiracy and the Global Quest for Human Organs," with a scene taken from Stephen Frears' film "Dirty Pretty Things." Okwe, an illegal Nigerian immigrant doctor, framed in his homeland and forced into exile in London, discovers that the hotel where he works is one stop along the grisly trail of illegal body parts trafficking. In a late-January episode of the CBS television program "Numb3rs" -- a detective series ... [full story]

Oregon State Police troopers announced that a La Pine man died Thursday, November 16, from injuries sustained in the late October two-vehicle crash on Highway 58 which occurred about three miles west of Willamette Pass.  Two others died, including a La Pine man and a Cottage Grove woman, and another man was seriously injured in the crash. Kenneth Dean Babcock, 49, reportedly succumbed to his injuries Thursday at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend where ... [full story]

Three Bend residents, two men and one woman, were arrested Wednesday following execution of a search warrant at two residences where stolen property including a handgun, yard equipment, power tools, and a DVD player were allegedly found, said authorities. Bend Police officers executed the search warrant for two locations about 2 a.m. November 15 as the result of an ongoing investigation into property crimes that have been occurring in the city, said Lt. Ken Mannix.  ... [full story]

Although I prefer being outdoors, I don’t mind being spoiled indoors once in a while. When I head over to the eastern and northeastern parts of the state for some exploring, I usually stop off in Baker City. As I’ve found out over the years, the town itself can be the destination.   Geiser Grand Hotel, All Photos by Scott Staats Two places worth a stop are the Geiser Grand Hotel and the National Historic Oregon Trail ... [full story]