Seven dogs from Bend are among those participating in the “10,000 Second Chances” Program. How many second chances in life are there? At the Oregon Humane Society, a lucky Beagle from Bend received the society’s 10,000th second chance. Lollipop, a four-year-old Beagle found as a stray and first taken in by a shelter in Bend, will now be looking to OHS for a second chance at finding a home.For Lollipop and thousands of dogs like ... [full story]

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” A famous phrase from The Wizard of Oz echoed through the minds of Topeka residents after reading a published letter from Mark Phelps, son of Pastor Fred Phelps, who broke away from the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka thirty-two years ago. In an attempt to dispel any illusions and in an effort to educate the public on his father’s fanatical point of view, he instructed the ... [full story]

In college, Fire Chief Larry Langston had dreams of becoming a teacher.  He attended Colorado State University as an undergraduate and graduate student where he earned his degree in biology. Just as he planned, he taught high school biology and coached the wrestling and baseball teams.  However, at the age of 21, a new interest began to take root, an interest in fire fighting. “I spent five summers in Montana fighting wild-land fires while I ... [full story]

Three fires that spanned from Redmond to Bend along Hwy. 97 on Sunday, August 27, are being investigated as potential arson, according to officials. “We had three fires,” said Dan Derlacki, a fire inspector with the City of Bend Fire Department. “The first one started in Redmond on the west side of the highway.” That fire burned about an acre or so, according to Derlacki. Several minutes later, Bend received a call about another blaze down the highway also on the ... [full story]

More than 2,000 people gathered to pay tribute to Marine Lance Cpl. Randy Lee Newman, a 21-year-old Bend native who lost his life while serving his country in Iraq on August 20. Family, friends, public figures and local citizens attended the public memorial at the Hooker Creek building at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond on August 29 to remember the fallen hero.   More than 2,000 people honored Marine Lance Cpl. Randy Lee ... [full story]

More areas accessible for holiday recreation Just in time for the Labor Day holiday, the closure area around the Black Crater and Lake George fires have been reduced, fire officials announced, making more areas accessible for recreational activities. The closure area around the Black Crater Fire is now bounded on the north by Highway 242 (the McKenzie Pass Highway), on the east by Forest Road 15 to its junction with the 1015 Road (Road 15 ... [full story]

8th Street Signal Provides More Efficient Signal Timing and 27th Street Improvements Provide Safe AccessSometimes, the benefits to the community from the City of Bend’s Engineering Division may seem invisible to the average citizen. However, two recently completed projects are providing visible benefits to Bend residents:NEW SIGNAL PHASING ON NE 8TH & OLNEY LEFT TURN LANESOn August 16th, the City of Bend added left turn lanes on Olney Avenue at 8th Street. Previously left turns ... [full story]

Bend-La Pine Schools students have exceeded the statewide, and national, averages for SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) 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, ... [full story]

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]