Search 340 scholarships, Apply for up to 20 with only 1 application - for free! Be sure to pick up one of the 50,000 Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) Scholarship Application booklets that have been distributed to Oregon high school counseling and college financial aid offices or surf on over to the “eApp,” or the electronic version at www.GetCollegeFunds.org.  Either way, make sure you don’t miss out on the opportunity to compete for money for ... [full story]

A recent study by Harvard researchers (Psychological Science, February 2007) found that people who believe their daily activities are giving them a good workout gain more benefits from those activities. Study participants who were informed that their work was exercise and enough to maintain a healthy lifestyle were in better shape after four weeks than their peers who were not given the same information. The informed group lost weight, lowered blood pressure, and reduced body ... [full story]

More than 38 million women in the US—about 64% of women of childbearing age—practice some form of contraception.  All women should know what their contraceptive options are, how they work, and how they meet different lifestyle needs.   Dr. Laube is President of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Birth control falls into five main categories—hormonal contraception, barrier methods, intrauterine device (IUD), sterilization, and natural family planning.  For maxium effectiveness, hormonal, barrier, and natural family planning ... [full story]

The Deschutes County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) is seeking nominations of businesses that make the extra effort to keep their sidewalks clear of snow and ice. The Safe Sidewalk Awards will be decided on and distributed this spring. Business and property winners will receive a certificate from the County and acknowledgment from their area Chamber of Commerce.  Though the urbanized portions of the County have experienced light snowfall this year, the winter season ... [full story]

Citing “a number of factors”, this morning Deschutes County Sheriff Les Stiles resigned his position to become effective April 15.  Sheriff Stiles said he will be on vacation for the next few weeks, and in the interim has temporarily appointed Undersheriff Larry Blanton to fill the position.  “He is clearly the most qualified person in Deschutes County”, Stiles said of Blanton, recommending that the Board of County Commissioners permanently appoint Blanton to the position to ... [full story]

Mortgage rates showed little movement this week, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate inching higher to 6.32 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large lenders, the 30-year fixed rate mortgages had an average of 0.33 discount and origination points.   30-year fixed rate mortgages held fairly steady this week, increasing from 6.31 to 6.32 percent. The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage popular for refinancing nosed up to 6.09 percent. On larger loans, the average ... [full story]

A Portland-area couple, both admitted heroin users, are being held without bail after being charged in connection with four recent robberies at Subway, Denny’s, and Shari’s restaurants in the region, Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies reported. Steven Michael Stroud, 38, and Heather Nicole Pruitt, 25, were arrested Thursday about 1 p.m. and lodged in the Clackamas County Jail, Sheriff’s detective Jim Strovink said.   Steven Michael Stroud, Heather Nicole Pruitt – CCSO photos A joint investigation by the ... [full story]

Q: My mother passed away in December, 2005. She willed her commercial property to me and my three siblings. Her will contains a directive to sell the property. I'm the executrix and have power to decide when the property is sold. Do you have any advice on how I should handle this situation?  A: Why did your mother want you to sell the property? Did she believe it would be too much of a burden? Did ... [full story]

The sensation of Jeep tires biting through a crust of earth on a wind-whipped dune telegraphs a message to an off-road driver. And then feeling those tires lose traction in the talcum below the crust sends another, more-urgent message. Spinning tires, steep incline, sideways movement. Hmmm, this could be an inopportune time to stop, I thought. That thought occurred just after I had thought, "I wonder how far we can go up this hill."   JEEP WRANGLER - ... [full story]

NEW YORK - When New York fashion week rolls around twice a year, you never know what's going to come down the runway - but you do know that you can count on the whole scene being so very glamorous, right? Wrong. Betty, it can get ugly. Even though the fashion business is portrayed as "tres chic" on reality shows and movies, covering New York's semiannual event is becoming tougher and tougher as thousands of ... [full story]