Copley News Service Clothes racks in many areas are taking on a more natural bent. Spurred by the widening acceptance of all things organic, many boutique retailers and some mainstream chains are adding new lines of apparel stitched together using cotton that has been grown without genetic modification and without chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. "Just about everybody is going organic, especially upscale consumers," said Kurt Barnard, president of Barnard's Retail Consulting Group in Nutley, N.J. Organic cotton ... [full story]

With future Oregon State Police career opportunities on the horizon, the initial application process field test is coming to central Oregon for those interested in working as an Oregon State Police Trooper. This will be the first of several local testing opportunities conducted by the Oregon State Police during the coming weeks. Following Governor Kulongoski's call for more state police troopers as one of his goals for the 2007 – 2009 biennium, the Oregon State ... [full story]

expressDeposit Makes Depositing Checks as Easy as Sending an Email Umpqua Bank, a regional independent community bank in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, introduces expressDeposit, a powerful new payment solution product that allows business customers to scan, submit and deposit checks electronically from their desktops without having to visit a bank or ATM. expressDeposit uses state-of-the-art technology to convert checks into digital image files, which are transmitted to the bank and electronically deposited into ... [full story]

Columbia Bancorp, parent company of Columbia River Bank, today announced its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program for up to $1.5 million of its common stock. Since August 23, 2003, the company has invested approximately $614,000 to repurchase and retire 35,570 shares of its common stock. This repurchase program will be used to regulate capital and neutralize the effects from exercised stock options. The company intends to finance the purchases using its available ... [full story]

Umpqua Holdings Corporation, parent company of Umpqua Bank and Strand, Atkinson, Williams & York, Inc., announced today the completion of its acquisition of California-based Western Sierra Bancorp by merger on June 2, 2006. Western Sierra shareholders will receive 1.61 shares of Umpqua common stock for each share of Western Sierra common stock, giving the transaction a total value of approximately $352 million. As of June 5th, all Western Sierra Bancorp branches, including those of Western Sierra ... [full story]

Three people were critically injured following a single vehicle rollover on Highway 20E about 62 miles east of Bend. Two of the occupants were not using safety restraints and were ejected. On June 5, 2006 at approximately 3:20 p.m., a 2002 Buick four door with Tennessee license plates was westbound on Highway 20E near milepost 62 when it drifted off onto the north shoulder. The driver, Betty Ashlock, age unknown, from Pine Circle, Tennessee, over-corrected ... [full story]

Defendant John Henry Ross Pryor, age 58, was sentenced on May 30, 2006 in the United States District Court in Eugene, Oregon, by United States District Court Judge Michael R. Hogan for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm under the Armed Career Criminal Act and for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Pryor pled guilty on March 28, 2006, at which time he admitted to being a convicted felon in possession of a ... [full story]

Singer/Songwriter, guitar phenom, Janet Robin will be appearing at The Grove, July 7th at 7 pm, for a special evening of acoustic power pop.Ms. Robin is touring in support of her release “After The Flood…” on Little Sister Records and introducing new material to her fans.   Ms. Robin has been performing with the likes of Meredith Brooks and Michelle Shocked.  After last year’s engagements, Ms. Shocked said, “Janet is one of the best guitarists [she] ... [full story]

ANTELOPE FLAT RESERVOIR: Reservoir is full. Opportunities for carryover rainbow trout from 10-18 inches are good. Anglers are reporting success near the dam. Reservoir was also recently stocked with legal size rainbow trout. BIG LAVA LAKE: Reports are that fishing was pretty good late last week though the catch slowed over the weekend. The rainbow trout are running 13 to 22 inches in length and in very good condition. CLEAR LAKE: Clear Lake, located about 20 ... [full story]

Roller coasters have always struck me as a preventable trauma. I mean, if life ain’t hard enough. And while in our youth we jump off buildings just to see, we come to feel secure on the ground and view thrill rides as far-off things like outer space or pterodactyls. I actually blacked out on my last coaster, so who else would be chosen to ride Magic Mountain’s newest addition, Tatsu: Flying at the Speed of ... [full story]