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]

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]

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]

“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]

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]

A southwest Bend manufactured home was severely damaged by a fire that may have started by candles left burning while the occupant napped, said officials. Twelve firefighters were called to the home at 19835 Fox Hill Drive about 9:45 p.m. on Friday September 1 and found smoke and flames coming from the front and back windows. Quickly making an interior attack, crews were able to contain the fire to the living room and kitchen areas. ... [full story]

Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a Sisters man in connection with an argument over money that sent another man to the hospital with a potentially life-threatening stab wound. About 8:15 p.m. Sunday, deputies were called to 154 East Washington Avenue in Sisters to investigate three unwanted intoxicated men at the location.  The suspects had left the area before officers arrived, said Sergeant Kevin Dizney, and the residents did not request any further assistance. ... [full story]

Suspect claimed to have gun, made threats Police are looking for a teenager who stole a half-case of beer, claiming he had a gun, about 11:45 p.m. on Monday from Albertsons supermarket in south Bend. A store employee said he approached the suspect on September 4 as he was leaving the store with beer he hadn’t paid for, said Lt. Ken Mannix with Bend Police.  The worker said the teen claimed to have a gun, ... [full story]

A Bend man operating a masonry saw to cut a concrete slab ignited a rapidly spreading brush fire which grew to nearly seven acres Friday. Fire crews from the Cloverdale Fire Department, Oregon Department of Forest, and the US Forest Service responded to 66965 Gist Road just before 3 p.m. to find the fire had already spread to neighboring property and was only 65 yards from a home.  They were able to extinguish the fire ... [full story]

A North Plains-area man died Monday afternoon when he lost control of his motorcycle on Highway 20W about twenty-five miles west of Sisters.  The victim was thrown from his motorcycle and struck by a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.  Efforts to revive the victim by an Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper and a cardiologist traveling in the area were unsuccessful. At 12:30 p.m. September 4, Kouman Ly, a 29-year-old resident of North Plains lost ... [full story]