Troy Kerstetter resigns after 11 years of service In the lobby of the Humane Society of Central Oregon’s shelter, Troy Kerstetter, animal welfare director announced to his staff that he will be resigning after 11 years of service to the animals and people of our community.   Kerstetter stated that he has achieved his personal goals for returning to the organization in 2000 and leaves the Humane Society of Central positioned as one of the leading ... [full story]

PRINEVILLE, Ore. -- The Prineville Police Department will be conducting a second Pedestrian Safety Operation on August 30, 2007 between 7 a.m. and noon at the intersections of NE Third and NE Court Streets, and NE Third and NW Garner Streets. A similar sting operation was held on August 16 at North Main & NE 6th Street, and North Main & NW 1st Street. Warning signs will be posted prior to entering the Pedestrian Safety ... [full story]

Company Certifies 100th Aircraft Built in 2007 Columbia Aircraft of Bend, Oregon has begun recalling a portion of the approximate 300 employees laid off earlier this month in response to a problem with faulty integrated avionics systems provided by their supplier, Garmin, that made it impossible for the company to issue a Certificate of Airworthiness to customer specifications for delivery. Last week, Columbia recalled about 75 employees when Garmin resumed deliveries of the G1000 avionics ... [full story]

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The 17-year-old son of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and a 22-year-old man have been injured in a Clearwater, Fla., car collision.Hogan's son, Nick Bollea, was behind the wheel of the Toyota Celica Supra Sunday and both young men had to be extracted from the crumpled vehicle, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times reported Monday.A spokeswoman for Bayfront Medical Center said Bollea is no longer listed as a patient at the facility, and he ... [full story]

ROME - African migrants appear to be taking greater risks to reach Europe, despite a drop in reported numbers, it was reported Monday.Italy and Spain, often the initial destination for those fleeing Africa, report a decrease of one-third or more compared with last year, the International Herald Tribune reported.But the number of deaths, especially from drowning, has remained stable, suggesting that those who try to reach Europe face a more dangerous journey, said Fortress Europe, ... [full story]

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has named one of his harshest critics to the Cabinet in a shake-up aimed at reviving his weakened administration.Abe reshuffled the Cabinet Monday in the wake of July's upper House election defeat for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Kyodo reported Monday.Abe appointed Yoichi Masuzoe minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. Masuzoe, from the House of Councilors, is a former political commentator long known for his harsh criticism of ... [full story]

BAGHDAD - The number of boys as young as 11 arrested for helping Iraqi insurgents has soared to 800 since March, the Los Angeles Times said Monday.Prior to that, there were about 100 youths in U.S. detention camps, U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Douglas Stone, the commander of detainee operations, told the newspaper.Stone said some children have told interrogators their parents encouraged them to fight, as militants typically pay $200 to $300 to plant a bomb. ... [full story]

SOFIA, Bulgaria - At least two people were killed during the weekend when fires swept southern Bulgaria, destroying tens of houses and acres of forests, media said Monday.Regional authorities declared a state of emergency Sunday near the towns of Topolovgrad and Svilendgrad, close to the borders with Greece and Turkey, the Bulgarian news agency SNA reported.Mentally ill patients at a facility in the Radovets village and residents of the nearby town of Filipovo were evacuated.A ... [full story]

BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia’s customs director Monday said more than 50 of his officers were suspended on suspicion of participating in a goods smuggling ring.Predrag Petronijevic, director of the Serbian customs administration, told reporters in Belgrade an investigation into abuse of power was still under way and he could not guess how much the alleged organized crime scheme had cost taxpayers, the Serbian news agency Beta reported.The collection of customs duties and excises at Serbian ... [full story]

WARSAW, Poland - Polish opposition parties are asking the government’s justice minister to resign immediately under growing allegations he had abused power.Leaders of Poland’s League of Polish Families, Self Defense and Democratic Left Alliance Sunday said Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro of the ruling Law and Justice party should be dismissed from his post, Polish Radio reported Monday.Former Polish Interior Minister Janusz Kaczmarek earlier this month accused Ziobro of using the state secret service for his ... [full story]