Football season is just around the corner. That means it is also time for fantasy football. Participants develop teams with NFL players and receive points based on their players' field performance. According to an estimate by a global outplacement agency, Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., fantasy footballers could spend up to two hours a day working on their teams, meaning workplace efficiency will probably suffer. John A. Challenger, the agency's chief executive officer, says the ... [full story]

Love is in the air. That is in the workplace. Due to longer hours in the office and less time to go out and meet potential dates, professional men and women may seek relationships with co-workers. Although both might have similar interests and see each other on a daily basis, it can be challenging to be co-workers as well as lovers. Office dating isn't highly encouraged by companies, especially if the relationship ends sour. Careerbuilder.com ... [full story]

It might be hard to think about getting geared up for the winter ski season when the heat of the summer is still blistering, but if planning ahead meant skiing for free, you might be interested right? The beautiful mountainous region of Gunnison-Crested Butte in Colorado is encouraging visitors to try out their snowy slopes by offering free lift tickets from Nov. 25 - Dec. 15.   HEADWALL - Skiers and snowboarders on the Headwall, one ... [full story]

Q: The "Mr. Ed" puppet seen in this photo is in the original box and has never been opened. Pulling a string makes him move his mouth and talk. He says 10 phrases and has a mane made of yarn.   MR. ED - This Mr. Ed puppet is in the original box and has never been opened. It is probably worth between $200 to $250. CNS Photo.    PEARL CHINA CO. MARK - Pearl China Co. located ... [full story]

Debra Ginsberg describes herself as "a very omnivorous reader." And while it's true that she ricochets from fiction to nonfiction, from serious literature to flat-out fluff, her reading is at the same time constrained by her work.   NEW AUTHOR - Author Debra Ginsberg likes to read in the genre she's writing in. She's just finished her second novel, 'The Grift,' a psychological thriller. CNS Photo by Sean DuFrene. Which is, for the most part, writing: Ginsberg ... [full story]

In August, the City of Bend Community Development Department began enforcing the placement of unauthorized signs within public street right of ways. The City has noticed that compliance with the sign code has increased over the past few weeks. Approximately 116 signs have been removed in September; the removals are due to garage sale signs and other signs not associated with properties for sale. In July, the City met with the Realtors Association to discuss ... [full story]

The Rainier School District in Oregon announced this morning that two teachers failed to return from a hike in the Mt. St. Helen’s region.  The pair were expected to return by noon Sunday, and deputies have been informed. The families of Kim Wilson, a science and wellness program middle-school teacher, and Dave Bahr, a health/wellness and PE high school teacher, have also been notified, officials reported. Wilson has been with the district since the fall ... [full story]

The driver of a sport utility vehicle involved in a head-on crash Sunday evening on Highway 6 near Banks reportedly died Monday morning from her injuries. Four others were injured in the crash that resulted in the highway being closed about five hours. On September 16, 2007 at approximately 7:15 p.m. a silver 2002 GMC Yukon driven by Stacie Ann Boyer, age 39, from Canby, was eastbound on Highway 6 near milepost 51 when it ... [full story]

Oregon State Police detectives, with the assistance of Polk County Sheriff's Office and Marion County Medical Examiner, are completing the death investigation of a man found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday afternoon at Holman Wayside State Park along Highway 22. On September 25, about 5:45 p.m. a bicyclist found the body of a 56-year old Keizer man in the parking lot of Holman Wayside State Park. Polk County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State ... [full story]

Over 1,000 marijuana plants have been pulled after being found by a hunter a week ago on private property about 14 miles southeast of Scotts Mills in Marion County, Oregon State Police (OSP) reported. There are no suspects identified in this case. On September 8, a hunter came upon a marijuana grow site on Longview Timberlands LLC property southeast of Scotts Mills. The hunter originally thought there were about two dozen plants and contacted an ... [full story]