First 3-legged Dog to Qualify for World Frisbee® Championship Maty, an Australian Shepherd mix is the first three-legged dog to qualify for the Skyhoundz Canine Disc World Championship.  The tri-pawed will compete paw-to-paw with four legged competitors from the United States and other countries. Maty, the Humane Society of Central Oregon’s humane education dog, will be competing in honor of the organization and the community that saved her life.  This six year old mutt had ... [full story]

It was time for a real, live, actual two-day weekend. I had been working too hard and, as remarkably, grumbling in answer to questions. “We need an adventure,” said my wife. And what made more sense than overnight camping, just the two of us alone in the woods without a drip of experience between us. Yahaira had never touched a tent, and I had camped only as a teenager when I was condemned, like Christ, ... [full story]

Quick, name the nine planets.If you're like most people, you ran through the list with ease: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. You probably even know the mnemonic to help you remember: My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.But if you're one of those smarmy, self-righteous planet purists, like the scientists of the International Astronomical Union, you scoffed at the notion of nine planets."Pluto?! That's not a proper planet. ... [full story]

Anyone who has ever slammed the hood of an old Chevy truck will realize how far GM truck construction has improved with the 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. Body panel gaps are so tight now that owners need a lesson in how to close the hood: gently. Slamming could have an impact on the grille, so GM engineers added a strut under the hood for a little downforce resistance. Now, just lower the hood and give a little push ... [full story]

Movie Review of "Little Miss Sunshine" Not just any middle-of-the-road trip, "Little Miss Sunshine" is smooth cruising on the diamond lane all the way.  Burn rubber, pop a wheelie, put the pedal to the metal--just get there.  Even with the price of gas, this is one road trip pic you can't afford to miss.   (left to right): Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Paul Dano, Toni Collette, and Abigail Breslin. Photo © Multimedia In an opening montage, we ... [full story]

A Bend man, apparently intoxicated, suffered serious and potentially life-threatening injuries when he ran across southeast Third Street into the path of a sport utility vehicle. Shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday, August 30, Bend Police officers responded to the accident on southeast Third Street near McKinley Avenue and found Scott E. Thomas, age 50, lying in the street near the curb.  Thomas sustained multiple fractures and was transported to St. Charles Medical Center by Bend ... [full story]

Firefighters contained a fire Monday afternoon that burned about one acre on the Deschutes National Forest four miles southeast of Bend, Oregon off China Hat Road. The Lava Butte Lookout reported smoke from the fire about noon.  Firefighters completed a containment line and placed hoses around the blaze an hour later.  They also contained another small fire that started when afternoon winds blew embers from the main fire across the road. China Hat Road or Forest ... [full story]

Three fast-moving brush fires between Redmond and Bend on Highway 97 broke out within minutes of each other on Sunday about 1:30 p.m., and Deschutes County officials have determined that they were intentionally set.     Three fires on Highway 97 which began within minutes of each other on Sunday are believed to be arson. Photos by Richard Burton.The fires were quickly controlled and there were no injuries or damage to any structures, according to Fire Inspector Dan ... [full story]

Homeowners were awakened early Monday morning by a smoke detector and were able to quickly escape a fire that caused over $1.6 million in damage to their northwest Bend home, fire officials said. The cause of the fire is undetermined, but built-in natural gas appliances located on the exterior deck of the home will be further examined as a possible source.  ... [full story]

Bend-La Pine Schools students have exceeded the statewide, and national, averages for SAT scores for the sixth year in a row. Students in the district scored an average of 546 on the math section, 529 on the critical reading section, and 510 on the new writing section. Since 2000, students in the Bend-La Pine School system have continually scored higher on the SAT tests than their peers nation- and state-wide. This year, on average, Bend-La ... [full story]