Unlikely Bond Between Cat and Mouse Teaches Scandinavian Culture, Friendship and Problem Solving WARRENTON, Ore. – Author Joanne S. Hellberg and illustrator Marilyn Floyd bring children the endearing tale of a Norwegian mouse’s friendship with a Finnish cat in Thomas S. Tucker, Norwegian Mouse (now available through AuthorHouse). Thomas the mouse lives in Miss Dea’s beautiful yard and loves to play with his friend, Keisa Kitty. When the Sons and Daughters of Scandinavia have their ... [full story]

Sunriver Resort is giving you five different ways to say goodbye to 2006 and celebrate the New Year, as a family, a couple or solo. New Year’s Eve Dinner – go out big before your diet “resolution” starts on January 1st.  Enjoy an unforgettable culinary experience in the award-winning Meadows at the Lodge.  Call 541-593-3740 for reservations (required). Fort Funnigan New Year’s Eve “Mardi Gras Party” – send the kids to Mardi Gras at Fort ... [full story]

Q: My client has an existing $434,000 mortgage and wants to keep it. But she needs money for her renovation and wants to get a second mortgage of $300,000 to knock down the mortgaged property.She insists that this can be done, even though her first mortgage has a "due clause" should this happen. Do banks give this kind of permission? What secures the existing first mortgage?My client does not want to refinance and include the ... [full story]

However, Seniors Unsatisfied With 2007 Plan Can Switch Into Comprehensive Medicare Advantage Plans Through March 31, 2007 The Problem: With only a little more than one week left in the 2007 Medicare Part D enrollment period, seniors who have not yet enrolled in a plan are at risk of missing their once a year opportunity to enroll in Part D. Seniors with Medicare Part D who do not to select a Medicare drug plan by ... [full story]

Small, battery-operated wireless cameras are handy for monitoring areas around the house where access to electricity may be limited -- such as driveways, attics and near entry doors -- but with an average battery life span of just 10 hours, they can run out of power too quickly to be of use.   POWER-SAVING RANGER - With a range of more than 300 feet and a battery life of several months, KwikPeek wireless cameras allow you to ... [full story]

A Salem murder suspect with family ties in the Redmond area was arrested Wednesday evening in Portland, said authorities. Jason Donald Johnson was apprehended at a Portland bus depot Dec. 27, and was taken into custody by Portland Police without incident.  He was transported by Salem Police detectives back to Salem and lodged in the Marion County Jail. Johnson was wanted in connection with the Dec. 23 shooting death of Jose Luis Estrada in Salem.  ... [full story]

Horizon Family Solutions, nationally-recognized as one of the most effective family-focused educational consulting and child rights advocacy firms in the United States, welcomes Deb Carstens as the Bend, Oregon Regional Director. Deb has been working behind the scenes for several months and will now be joining HFS full time as of January 1, 2007. HFS is an Educational Consulting organization with over 10 years experience in educational consulting and preparing intervention plans with families for ... [full story]

Q: I was horrified last evening when my husband gave our schnauzer one of his prescription antihistamine tablets in an effort to stop our dog's scratching due to allergies. My husband told me that the drugs humans take are the same as those prescribed for animals and that I was overreacting. Our dog lived through the night; however, he is still scratching and chewing on his feet this morning. Was I overly concerned about the ... [full story]

Trout will benefit from trees that burned in the 2005 Park Fire, in La Pine State Park, with some help from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.  A $7,700 grant from the OWEB Small Grant Program has funded a log salvage project taking place on Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and US Forest Service lands. Working with the US Forest Service (USFS) and La Pine State Park, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) biologists collected ... [full story]

Governor Ted Kulongoski issued the following statement on the recent passing of former President Gerald R. Ford, 93: "We have lost an outstanding American citizen and American president. President Ford was a man of dignity and honor. He always did in his public life what he thought was best for America, even at tremendous cost to his own personal career. Gerald Ford led this nation through a difficult period and will long be remembered for ... [full story]