For most Americans, their home is their biggest investment and their most valuable asset. Home equity, or the value of your home after all loans have been paid off, can be a source of value and long-term wealth. In fact, according to SMR Research, Americans have more than $11.2 trillion in home equity.  More and more homeowners are choosing to use the equity in their home instead of waiting to reap the profits when they ... [full story]

Some blame it on El Nino, others on La Nina.  No matter what the cause, the majority of the states in our Union are likely to experience the driest summer on record. The National Weather Service is predicting record high temperatures and drought conditions will prevail across parts of the Midwest, the Southwest, the Mid-Atlantic and the South. With conditions so dry, it's important for everyone to practice good water management practices.  Among the things ... [full story]

As the United States' population grows and ages, nursing homes and assisted living facilities will become a reality for many.  And, with the baby-boomer generation - one of the largest segments of our population - next in line to receive senior citizenship, the healthcare industry must prepare to provide medical and nursing assistance in the face of a major obstacle: a shortage of well-trained practical nurses.  "Practical Nurses are important individuals in our country's healthcare ... [full story]

With the national unemployment rate hovering around 5 percent, many Americans are seeking new career opportunities. Career experts point to several fields where employment and compensation opportunities are set to boom. It's no surprise that financial services, information technology, and medical careers make everyone's list - from FastCompany.com to CareerBuilder. There's a new entry, however, to lists of fastest-growing professions in 2006 - landscape architect. For increasingly environmentally conscious job seekers, the profession can be the ... [full story]

My first visit to your web site (www.BendWeekly.com).  I like the layout AND the content.  Easy to navigate and the information I was looking for contains everything I hoped to find!!!Saving your URL in my favorites!!!Kudos!!! [full story]

West Coast Collegiate Baseball League Kelowna Falcons at Bend Elks - Play-by-Play Jul 03, 2006 at Bend, OR (Vince Genna Stadium) Score by Innings R H E -------------------------------------------------- Kelowna Falcons..... 010 014 100 001 00 - 8 11 1 Bend Elks........... 200 500 000 001 01 - 9 19 ... [full story]

EMERGENCY ADVISORY A bat has tested positive for rabies in Bend, Oregon.  The rabid bat was found at Pioneer Park (1525 NW Wall and NW Portland Avenue ) on Sunday, July 9th between 11 am and 12:00 noon. Anyone who touched the bat in that location on that date should immediately go to an emergency room for treatment.  It has been reported that a woman and child touched the bat, but left the park before they ... [full story]

MCMINNVILLE - The Fish and Wildlife Commission today approved $127,079 in funding for eight Fish Restoration and Enhancement projects benefiting fish and angling throughout Oregon . Created by the Oregon legislature in 1989, the R&E program funds projects that restore or enhance fisheries and habitat, educate the public, support fish stocking or research efforts to improve or sustain fisheries. Its seven-member citizen board reviews project proposals and makes funding recommendations to the state Fish and ... [full story]

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is asking the assistance of anyone who may have witnessed a possible intentional vehicular assault at TJ’s Quick Stop on Highway 97 in Lapine. The incident occurred at about 12:15 pm on Tuesday, July 11th, in the parking lot, and sent one man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. According to Sgt. Kevin Dizney, officers who responded to the scene found that a 1983 Ford F-250 pickup driven by Joe ... [full story]

On July 10, only one day after the most recent drowning of Young-Sook Kuga on the Deschutes River in Bend, an Oregon Army National Guard Soldier rescued a young girl from the same fate. Four Oregon Army National Guard soldiers were participating in recruiting activities on Newport Avenue near the river about 5 pm when they saw three children on inner-tubes, with no life jackets, floating downstream dangerously near a spillway.   Newport Ave. Bridge -- ... [full story]