Local News Archives for 2014-06

St Charles New Cancer Center Opens to Patients on Tuesday

Construction has been underway for a little more than a year.

 

The new 13 million dollar facility will have all cancer services under one roof -- and not in several locations anymore.

 

Allison McCormick is the Director of the St. Charles Cancer Center and is proud of what they accomplished.

 

"It's amazing.  I get a little emotional when I think about what this will be able to do. Patients here come here for extended periods of time.  Some we see for months.  And we hear from them that our environment is very calming.  And all our services will be under one roorf.  Many of our patients won't have to go back and forth.  Everything wil  be fully integrated."

 

Caregivers and patients had a great deal of input on the design to make sure it will be user friendly for everyone.

 

Dr. Linyee Chang is the Medical Director of St. Charles Cancer Center.

 

"It's historic right?  For the first time all our cancer services will be under one roof.  And not just mecdcal therapy  -- chemotherapy and radiation, but labs and also our integrated oncology services like accupuncture or say you're feeling nauseated from chemotherapy, you can do reiki to relax.  It's all right under one roof."

 

The new center has a huge, light and airy "infusion room" for patients undergoing chemotherapy.  It has panoramic views of the moutains and Pilot Butte.

 

The center also has a healing garden built in honor of Sister Catherine Hellman, a long time former CEO of St. Charles.

Resident Reaction on Putting a Roundabout at Alfalfa Market Road and Powell Butte Highwy

Deschutes County held a public meeting last week to get some input from residents on what to do to make it safer.

 

The county is leaning toward putting in a roundabout there -- to help slow down traffic on Powell Butte Highway.

 

Long time Alfalfa resident Andy Andrews doesn't think that's a good idea.

 

"It's a dangerous intersection.  Coming from my home on Alfalfa Market Raod it is hard to see.  There's mention of a roundabout.  I don't think that is ever going to stop the speed on Powell Butte.  It's like putting in a roundabout on a freeway."

 

Currently there is a flashing yellow light on Powell Butte and stop signs on Neff and Alfalfa Market Roads that cross Powell Butte.

 

Other options being considered are a standard traffic light at the intersection.

Local Soccer Fans Cheer on Team USA at McMenamins

America is catching soccer and World Cup fever and McMenamin's Theater was packed with USA fans watching the important game.

 

Though they would have liked a win, instead of the 1-nil result against Germany, soccer players with Bend FC Timbers are happy.

 

"I'm super stoked that they made it to the knock out round.  If we can tie anytime then we're good out there.  I'm really excited USA beat the group of death, which are really good teams.  They played well and they just fought and fought.  They made it through.  It was a great game today even though Gemany got a goal.  It was cool."

 

"We did really well.  I'm stoked.  But we needed better possession.  We could have won if we had had better possession.  I'm stoked.  We have a great goal keeper and if it wasn't for his saves, we wouldn't be here."

 

"I think they can beat Belgium and go on to the quarter finals or semi finals. Go USA!  USA fought to be there and they deserve to be there. Go USA! Go USA! America!"

 

USA will play Belgium Tueday afternoon in the next round.

Oregon's U.S. Senators Want More Done to Protect the State from Increasing Oil Trains

Senators Wyden and Merkley want first responders to have more timely and detailed information about these trains hauling crude and other flammable liquids.

 

Several serious oil train accidents have raised concerns about this increasing mode of transportation.

 

The Senators want the National Transportation Safety Board to expand the emregency order issued in May that requires railroads to notify states of bakken shale oil transported in quantities exceeding one million gallons.

 

Both Wyden and Merkley want more real-time information for first responders, more oil spill planning requirements for railroads and additional training to help assist local emergency crews.

Bend Woman Doing Better Following a Serious Car Accident Near Sisters

60 year old Jill Beamn was initially in critical conditon when taken to St. Charles on Wednesday morning following the accident, but she is now in serious condition.

 

Police say Beaman was traveling westbound on Highway 20 when she collided with a truck traveling eastbound.

Bend Woman in Critical Condition Following Accident Near Sisters

A Honda driven by 60 year old Jill Beaman of Bend was traveling westbound and collided with the side of an eastbound box truck.

 

Beaman was extricated by firefighters and was life flighted to St. Charles in Bend where she remains in critical condition.

 

The truck driver and his passenger suffered only minor injuries.

 

The accident blocked the highway for an hour.

Veterans Now Have a New Provider for Orthopedic Care in Central Oregon

The Center here in Bend is the first provider in central Oregon to participate in patient-centered community care, known as PC3.

 

The program is geared at offering specialized health care to eligible veterans and lessening the burden on an overburdened V-A system.

 

Mike Gonsalves is the CEO of The Center.

 

"And frankly we're here to help just becuase there is such a wait for qualified specialists through the V.A. We are part of their team."

 

To be eligible, veterans must be referred to the specialists from the V-A primary care doctor.

 

The Center offers such specialty services as orthopedics, neurosurgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Central Oregon's Coordinated Care Organization Gets a Good Report Card on Lowering Medical Costs

Pacific Source runs the coordinated care organization for central Oregon.  They met most of the benchmarks required to get a bonus.  

 

The CCO lowered emergency room visits by 17 pecent and did a good job pairing up those on the Oregon Heltlh Plan with primary care doctors.

 

Kate Wells with Pacific Source says they're changing bad behaviors and lowering medical costs.

 

"The idea of visiting a primary care provider is not just physical primary care, but it now includes behavioral health and mental health and even integrated dental care.  We are lifting up preventive care rather than a traditionally medical care mode."

 

Because central Oregon's CCO met so many of its benchmarks, it will receieve a bonus of 2.7 million. 

 

Most of the funds will go back into the CCO's budget to pay for local Oregon Health Plan patients.

Mark Capell Running for a Third Term on the Bend City Council

Capell has been on the council since 2006.

 

He says we are in another growth spurt in Bend and it needs to be managed corectly so our quality of life continues to improve.

 

Capell believes the key issues facing the council include infrastructure, public safety and economic development.

 

Capell owns and runs a computer training, repair and consulting business in Bend.

 

He is a graduate of Bend High and Southern Oregon University and is a fourth generation resident of Bend.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Works to Reduce Student Debt

And one area Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wants to tackle is tax credits for higher education.

 

Wyden believes much can be done to simplify the tax code to help students avoid huge debt after they graduate.

 

"We understand that some student loan debt may be unavoidable.  But leaving students with less debt is possible.  Simplifying the tax code and making education incentives more user-friendly is not just possible, it's essential.  I've outlined some common-sense steps I believe this committee can take on a bi-partisan basis to help students avoid taking on paralyzing amounts of debt."

 

Wyden who is Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee says education tax benefits need to be simplified and more accessible.

 

In Oregon, the average four year grad leaves school 27 thousand in debt.

Powell Butte Rancher Wins 50-Thousand Playing Powerball

Tony Newbill won 50-thousand dollars when he recently bought a ticket at Bandits in Redmond.

 

He says he usaully play the same numbers and this time it hit big.

 

"I have won before a couple thousand in Megabucks when I lived in Arizona.  But it's still a long ways between wins (laugh)."

 

Newbill will clear 34 thousand after taxes.

 

He plans to put the money into some infrastructure upgrades on his ranch.

 

"I'm going to put it into the farm, you know.  Let it be absorbed into the black hole (laugh)."

 

Newbill plans to put in more irrigation on his 160 acre ranch and some power line work.

E-R Visits are Down Across Oregon

E-R  visits are down 17 percent in 2013 from two years earlier.  Hospitalizations for heart and lung problems were also down.

 

But there were lower scores on cervical cancer screenings and diabetes complications.

 

These results were revealed to the Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday.

 

It's improtant that E-R visits in Oregon show a dramatic drop since Governor Kitzhaber secured almost 2 billion from the federal government on the promise that these CCO's would lower costs for medicaid patients.

House Fire in NE Bend Causes 100-Thousand in Damage

The fire broke out just after 4 P.M. on Monday in northeast Bend on Shetland Loop.

 

Investigators say the occupants at the house had smoked on the back deck earlier that afternoon and their cigarette butts were improperly disposed of into a plastic flower pot that caught fire.  The fire spread to the attic.

 

The fire threatened neighboring homes, but luckily firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before that happened.

Strong Seasonal Hiring in All Three Central Oregon Counties in May

And although employers are hiring, it wasn't enough to change the unemployment rate.

 

Regional Economist Damon Runberg says seasonal industries did the best.

 

"Construction is definitely up across the region and we expect that to rise over the next couple months with a lot of new building permits going out.  It's  a good figure, but we expect it to get bigger as summer rolls along."

 

Deschutes County added just over one thosuand jobs in May, while Jefferson County added 220 jobs and Crook County added 170 jobs.

 

These gains are all higher than what is typical  this time of year.

Merkley Campaign Attacks Monica Wehby's Tax Plan

The campaign claims Wehby's plan to cut the top tax rate on personal and corporate income taxes to 25 percent would add trillions to the federal deficit.

 

Reed College Economics Professor Kimberly Clausing say the plan would make bad policies, worse.

 

"So we already have a system that encourages multinational companies to move overseas.  I have research that this income shifting alone adds up to 60 to 90 billion in 2008 and it's probably even more today.  It's a big revenue cost for the U.S. government  -- that kind of income shifting behavior."

 

Michael Antonopoulous is Republcian Senate nominee Monica Wehby's new campaign manager.  He answered that criticism by sayng he's not surprised Merkley is trying to shift the blame from his own failed record of backing policies that have hurt Oregonians.

Transient Arrested for Stealing and Crashing a Ford Model A Near Prineville

Police say Erik Halpin crashed the classic car into the Crooked River along Highway 27 south of Prineville.

 

It happened around 3 P.M.  Sunday and by the time OSP and local emergency responders got to the scene, Halpin had swum from the car to the shore.

 

Halpin was taken to St. Charles and treated for his injuries.

 

He is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving under the influence of intoxicants and criminal mischief.

Bend Police ask for public's help in ID theft case

Bend Police News Release:

 

 

Victim Information:

 

Tara Kealoha Bell
39 years of age
Bend Resident

 

Suspect Information:

 

White male adult, 20-30 years of age, approximately 6’00” tall.

Possible tattoo on the front of his neck.

 

Narrative:

On the night of 06/19/14 an unknown suspect unlawfully entered into Tara Bell’s vehicle in Northeast Bend, and stole numerous items.  The items stolen included her credit card and other personal identification.

Since this theft the unknown suspect has fraudulently used Bell’s credit card at multiple different locations in Bend.  A photograph of the suspect using the stolen credit card was obtained from one of the locations.  This picture has been attached to this media release.

The Bend Police Department is asking for help from the community in identifying this suspect.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Wes Murphy through dispatch at 541-693-6911.  Crime Stoppers is offering a reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest.

Additionally, the Bend Police Department would like to remind citizens not to leave valuables in vehicles and secure vehicles to avoid victimization.  Unfortunately, numerous cars are broken to each year in Bend.  This year the Bend Police Department has already investigated over 200 thefts from vehicles. 

 

Crimes:

Identity Theft, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Theft

Bend Police: suspect arrested in armed robbery

NEWS RELEASE FROM BEND POLICE DEPARTMENT:

 

On June 22nd, 2014, at about 2138 hours, Bram Jacobson called 911 and reported he had been robbed at knife point by an unknown suspect.  The suspect fled in a vehicle prior to the report.

Officers determined Jacobson had just met the suspect on this same date.  The suspect provided Jacobson a ride home.   During this ride, the suspect stopped the vehicle near the intersection of NW Idaho Avenue and NW Broadway Street. The suspect demanded Jacobson’s wallet.  Jacobson initially refused to give it to him.  The suspect then assaulted Jacobson, held a knife to his throat, and continued demanding the wallet.  Jacobson ultimately gave the suspect his wallet.  Jacobson was left on the side of the street as the suspect drove away.

Jacobson sustained non-life threatening injuries to multiple areas of his body.

Investigators were able to identify the suspect as William Joseph Baker out of Dufur, Oregon.  Additionally, they identified Baker’s vehicle and suspected he would attempt to return to his home.  Investigators provided the information to surrounding police agencies in an attempt to locate Baker. 

On June 23rd, 2014, at about 1900 hours, members of the Oregon State Police located and arrested Baker at his residence in Dufur, Oregon.  Baker was transported back to Deschutes County where he was lodged on charges of Robbery I, Assault IV, and Theft III.  The arrest occurred without incident.

Bend PD would like to thank the Oregon State Police for assisting in locating and arresting Baker.  Additionally, we would like to thank NORCOR Adult Facility for temporarily detaining Baker until BPD investigators could pick him up.

 

Charges:

Robbery I
Theft III
Assault IV

Transient Arrested Near Prineville for Stealing and Crashing a Ford Model A

Police say Erik Halpin crashed the classic car into the Crooked River along Highway 27 south of Prineville.

 

It happened around 3 P.M. Sunday and by the time OSP and local emergency responders got to the scene, Halpin had swum from the car to the shore.

 

Halpin was taken by air ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend and treated for his injuries.

 

Halpin is charged with unauthorized use of a motorcycle vehicle, driving under the influence of intoxicants and criminal mischief.

 

He is currently lodged in the Crook County jail.

Deschutes County Plans to Fix the County's Most Dangerous Intersection in the Next Year

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS -- THERE HAVE BEEN TWENTY CRASHES AT THE INTERSECTION OF POWELL BUTTE HIGHWAY AND NEFF/ALFALFA MARKET ROAD.

 

THE COUNTY HAS TRIED SEVERAL LOW COST MEASURES TO IMPROVE SAFETY -- LIKE ADDING FLASHING LIGHTS AND SIGNS.

 

County Road Department Director Chris Doty tells KBND, it hasn't helped.

 

"Kelly Bleyer:  How long has that been in place?  Chris Doty:  Three to five years,  yet we've seen the crash rate increase.  It's clear more robust measures have to be done to address the safety issue."

 

Concerned residents are invited to come out for a public meeting on how to improve this dangerous intersection Monday.  It will be held at the Deschutes County Road Department on SE 27th Street and it starts at 6 P.M.

 

One of the possibilties the county is considering is putting in a roundabout there.

 

"The study comes out in favor of a roundabout because they slow traffic down.  Roundabouts have a fairly safe record because you take conflicting turns and turn them into right turns.  So that appears to be our best option at this point."

 

The county has already approved funding for this project and is expected to be done in 2015.

 

Task Forces Tackle How to Meet OSU Cascade's Need for Student Housing

They believe inadequate housing will result in increased traffic and eight students to a rental home in residential areas.

 

A housing task force of community residents and city and university leaders is recommending forty percent of the students should live on campus.

 

And with our rental vacancy rate below one percent, that means we'll have to build.

 

Bill Bernardy served on the task force.

 

"You know the real message we crunched the numbers and what we need is housing to be what we need.  You can't just hope it happens.  It has to be a priority."

 

Bernardy had concerns about the influx of students moving in on the westside, but feels it can be accommodated with minimal problems, if the university builds adequate housing with sufficent amenities to attract students.

Teacher at Oregon's Most Recent School Shooting Pushes for Reasonable Gun Control

Seth Needler was teaching biology when gunshots rang out on June 10th at Reynolds High School in Troutdale.

 

He believes a lot of people support reasonable gun control, but don't tell their politicians.

 

"I've heard of read that politicians get a lot more calls from pro gun advocates than gun control advocates.  And so they feel that gun control supporters don't care as much about it.  If there are more people bombarding their representatives, then I think maybe something will happen."

 

It was revealed last week that the shooter at Reynolds High School. Jared Padgett got the AR-15 from his older brother who he shared a room with.  His 24 year old brother is a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and stored the gun in their bedroom.

Oregon Seed Company Provided All the Grass On World Cup Fields in Brazil

DLF Pickseed in Halsay, Oreogn is the World Cup's major grass seed provider.

 

Vice President Richard Myers says they shipped 300-thousand pounds of seeds in April to Brazil.

 

"This process was started four years ago and we worked through a number of years to develop the best grass seed. We did extensive testing with many different organizations and many fields and a lot of different grasses were tried out."

 

DLF Pickseed seeded specific fields during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but this time is the only grass seed distributor.

 

They are already on board to provide grass for the upcoming World Cups in Russia and Quatar.

Jim Porter Named Bend's New Police Chief

Porter had been Interim Police Chief since January and City Manager Eric King has just appointed him to the permanent position.

 

He's been with the department for 23 years.

 

King says upon meeting with community leaders and members of the police department it became clear Porter was the right man for the job.

 

Porter replaces Jeff Sale who was fired in January after ethical problems and low morale were discovered at the department.

Update on Highway 126 Accident

It happened around 4:30 Thursday when a Suburban driven by 66 year old Karen Murray of Redmond lost control of the SUV and hit a power pole.

 

The SUV was carrying one other adult, 32 year old Paula Caldwell from Redmond and six children -- ranging from 6 months to 12.

 

Passenger Caldwell and a 12 year old boy were injured and transported to St. Charles Redmond with non life threatening injuries.

 

The group was returning from a Boy Scout outing when the crash occurred.

Highway 126 Accident

The accident happened around 4:30 just east of Redmond.

 

A Suburban occupied by two adults and six children was traveling westbound on the highway when the driver lost control.

 

The vehicle went off the highway and struck a power pole.

 

Several occupants were transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries.

Owens Fire Acreage

The blaze was reported early Wednesday morning.  Full containment is expected Thursday night.

 

The fire spread rapidly because of the area's dry conditions and steep, rugged terrain that made it difficult for firefighters to build a line around it.

Civil Air Patrol Will Be Conducting Exercises Over Bend this Weekend

The Oregon Wing of the Civil Air Patrol will be conducting a statewide emergency services training exercise that involves members and aircraft in Aurora, Medford and Bend.

 

They will be practicing for such natural disasters as floods, earthquakes and windstorms.

 

They will be training for a variety of search and rescue incidents.

 

Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.  It's a non-profit organization with 61-thousand members nationwide.

 

It performs 90 percent of the country's land search and rescue missions.

Scott Ramsay Running Again for Bend City Council

Ramsay is completing the fourth year of his first term.

 

He says his goal first time running for council was to bring practical business experience to the budget and spending process in the city of Bend.  He feels his voice has been heard, but there is more work to be done.

 

He believes the most important issues facing the city are infrastructure planning for the growth in our future, development of family wage jobs and expansion of the urban growth boundary.

Bend City Council Shows Its Support for Piping More of the City's Canals

The Deschutes County Commissioners will be deciding in a couple weeks whether to allow the Central Oregon Irrigation District to pipe a section of canal in northeast Bend.

 

City Councilor Mark Capell made a point during this week's city council to show the commissioner's the council's support on this issue.

 

"So what I'm asking the council to do is to give support at the meeting on July 2nd.  If there are any councilors who want to go with me.  But I think a vote of support would be an advantage for the irrigation district to be able to do this.  If we really want to stand behind our intention to increase river flows, then we have to support this. Because if it fails, it is going to hurt piping projects up and down the basin."

 

Councilor Sally Russell agrees.  

 

"We have to make a decision on the greater good of the community to pipe these canals.  The long term health of our river and community depend on it and water conservation is going to be all the more improtant as we move forward.  So it's something we have to support."

 

The Deschutes County Commissioners will be deciding at their meeting on July 2nd whether COID can pipe the canal near Juniper Ridge.

Bend's Water and Sewer Rates Will Be Going Up Later This Fall

The council had originally planned to have the increases kick in this July, but instead decided to wait until later in the fall.

 

Bend City Manager Eric King talked about it on the KBND Morning News Thursday morning.

 

"Last night the council passed a 5 percent water increase and a 9 percent sewer increase.  But they decided to defer the increase until after the irrigation season.  Initially we planned for it to start on July 1st and now we are moving it back to October 1st.  So it won't take effect until November."

 

The current monthly residential sewer charge in Bend is around $45 dollars.

 

The sewer rate increase is expected to add four dollars to monthly sewer bills and a dollar and a half to water bills.

 

The increases will help pay for major sewer and water projects.

Reaction to President Obama's Decision to Send Military Advisers to Iraq

The President says these advisors will assist in training and advising Iraqi forces as the country deals with the Islamic militants marching toward Baghdad.

 

Middle East Author David Rubin says we have to be very careful to not get dragged into a civil war.

 

"It is very important the U.S. learns from its past mistakes.  We should not get invovled in Sunni Shiite battles.  We should just give support to the Kurds. They are the only group that supports the west.  They control the area where most of the oil fields are and they need to be supported."

 

The President says the U.S. is taking steps to be prepared for targeted military action if and when the situation on the ground requires it.

 

Earlier in the week, the President deployed 275 military personnel to provide support and security for the embassy in Baghdad.

Teacher at Reynolds High School Says He's Fighting for More Gun Control in the State

Seth Needler teaches biology at the high school and was holed up in his classroom with his students when freshman Jared Padgett opened fire and killed fellow student Emilio Hoffman last week.

 

Needler says he's had enough.

 

KBND : "Did you know the student, Padgett?"  NEEDLER: Actually I did. I had him in my class.  I knew he liked guns.  He talked about his guns.  Obviously they were his Dad's guns, but he clearly had access to them.  He liked to go hutning.  I didn't think there was anything wrong with that.  No one can understand, including his family, why this happened."

 

Needler plans to lobby for more gun control.

 

"People say it's not guns, but mental health.  But trying to solve mental health seems like a huge problem.  It seems like it would be quicker to solve the access to guns.  So when you have someone who is concealing suicidal thoughts and depression and doesn't have access to guns, this kind of thing wouldn't happen."

 

Following the Troutdale school shooting, Needler posted on Facebook a description of the shooting that's been shared more than 14-hundred times.

Senior Games Kick Off Thursday in Bend

Different sporting events like golf, pickleball, bowling and tennis will be part of the competition.

 

Phil McCage of Surniver is competing in golf and tennis are so are a lot of other active seniors.

 

"For seniors 50 and older, it's an opportunity to compete in Olympic style events like tennis, golf,  racketball, pickleball, track and field and bicyclling -- a  variety of sports.  And If you qualify, you can compete in the national games next year."

 

It's been ten years since Oregon has participated in the Senior Games.

 

Visit Bend decided to pick up the games again for the state.

 

The games will start Thursday and will run through Sunday at noon.

Bend Sewer Plan Open House Thursday

The Sewer Infrastructure Advisory Group is inviting the public to come out Thursday to the Brooks Street Riverfront Plaza on Brooks St. from 4 to 6 P.M.

 

This advisory group is a citizen panel appointed by the city council to find an affordable solution for Bend's pressing sewer problems.

 

Up unti lthe 1980's,  the only sewer pipes Bend owned were lcacted in the downtown area.

 

Now the city's sewer system is a hodgepodge of undersized pipes and hundreds of pumps.

 

The open house hopes to teach people about the city's sewer system and what it will take to fix it.

Almost Half of Oregon's Job Openings are Difficult to Fill

The most common reasons were lack of qualified candidates, lack of applicants, low wages or unfavorable working conditions.

 

Economist Jessica Nelson says these openings are harder to fill now than during the recession.

 

"A couple years ago employers found they had a lot more employees to chose from.  And now that the employment is tightening up, they are not seeing as many applicants and the ones that are applying are not the quality they are trying to attract."

 

The report found employers were having a harder time filling positions requiring post secondary training, but not a college degree.

 

Also, smaller employers, those with 2 to 19 employees, had the most difficulty filling positions.

Latest on Hood River Wildfire

The Owens Fire is burning 12 miles south of Hood River on forest lands owned by Hood River County.

 

The fire was reported just before 4 A.M. Wednesday morning and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Crook County Metal Theft Arrest

Arrested was 48 year old Virgil Redding of Bend.

 

Deputies say they observed Redding rummaging through items belonging to the ranch and then saw him leave the area on a four wheeler pulling a small trailer.

 

Redding faces charges of theft, meth and criminal trespassing.

 

He was taken to the Crook County jail and arrested, but was released because the jail was full.

More Positive News in the State's Latest Unemployment Numbers

Job growth continues to be strong in Oregon.

 

State Economist Nick Bielichicks.

 

"Oregon has been adding jobs strongly and consistently the past eleven months.  In May, we added 4200 jobs and that's following gains of 6200 jobs in April."

 

In the past year, job growth has accelerated.

 

"Nearly all sectors are adding jobs, but construction is particularly strong.  It added 7800 jobs over the last year for a job growth rate of 10 and a half percent."

 

Financial activities was the only major sector without a jobs recovery.

Deschutes County Offers Discounted Shingles Vaccine Clinic Wednesday

The walk-in clinic will be held Wednesday from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. at the Deschutes County Health Services Building on N-E Courtney off of 27th.

 

Heather Kaisner, the Immunization Director for the county, tells us who should get the shot.

 

"So really anyone who is 50 years or older and wants to protect themselves against shingles.  As far as our clinic goes, anybody without health insurance or whose health insurance doesn't cover the shingles vaccine."

 

Kaisner advises people to check if their insurance covers the shingles vaccine.  People with Medicare Part D are not eligible.

 

The vaccine will cost $22 dollars, but normally it would cost aound $150 dollars without insurance.

 

Shingles is a viral infection that comes from the same virus that causes chickenpox.  It causes a painful rash and the older the person, the greater the odds of getting it.

Sisters Man Arrested for Reckless Burning in the Sisters Area

29 year old Joshua Sarles allegedly started three small fires in the Tollgate area off of Highway 20 west Monday morning.

 

He was involved in a domestic dispute before that and said he was leaving to start a fire in the woods.

 

Firefighters were able to put out all the fires before they caused any damage.

 

There was another fire off of Spur Raod 500 near mile post 97 on Highway 20 West.  That fire burned two acres and is believed to be human caused, but there is no evidence linking Sarles to that fire.

Semi Carrying Cows Crashes Into a Railroad Bridge in Southern Bend

Just after 2:30 Tuesday, the semi struck the bridge at SE Brosterhous Road at the railroad overpass.  The bridge allows for a clearance of 12 feet 10 inches.  There were no other vehicles invovled in the crash.

 

The driver had been diverted onto Brosterhous due to another crash that was blocking Knott Road.

 

The semi driver wasn't hurt, but a local emergency veternarian was assessing the injured cattle.

 

The accident closed down Brosterhous Road for several hours.

Sisters Changes Mind on Building Paved Path Near High School

The district was planning on creating a one mile, 12 feet wide multi-use path between Sisters High School and the Crossroads Subdivision, but has decided against it.

 

The decision was made after it was discovered through public meetings that a majority of the community did not support the plan.

Two Redmond Police Cars Involved in Crash

It happened around 3 P.M. Monday on SW Salmon Avenue near 24th Street.

 

The officers in two different cars hit each other when one car was attempting to make a u-turn and hit the other.  And then the police car that was hit, hit another car.

 

Two people suffered minor injuries in the crash and were treated and released from St. Charles Medical Center in Redmond.

Suspect arrested in Columbia State Bank theft

Police have arrested a suspect in the case of the Columbia State Bank theft.  46 year old Gary Peterson of Mitchell was arrested without incident in Stayton, Oregon yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock.  Allegedly, Peterson walked into the  Northeast Third Street branch Monday morning, demanded money and got away with it.  Lt. Nick Parker says they are characterizing the crime as a "theft" and not a "robbery" since the suspect didn't show a weapon and didn't threaten anyone.  Efforts are underway to get Peterson back to Deschutes county.
 

Bend Police Look For Man Whole Stole Cash From Columbia State Bank

He did not display a weapon or threaten anyone, but apparently did escape with some cash.

 

Lt. Nick Parker with Bend Police says they're not calling it a robbery, but a theft.

 

"There are three different degrees of robbery and normally most involve threatening use of a gun or weapon or threatening serious harm to others and in this unfortunate incident, we had none of those elements.  We had someone taking money that wasn't theirs."

 

The theft occurred just after 9:30 Monday morning.

 

Officers spent several hours with canines looking for the suspect, with no luck.

 

The suspect is described as a white male adult, 40 to 50 years of age between 6 ' and 6'4" in height with brown and gray hair and a long graying goatee.

U.S. Senator Merkley Applauds Executive Order to Ban Federal Contractors from Discriminating Against the LGBT Community

The White House is moving forward with an executive order to ban federal contractors from discriminating in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

 

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkely of Oregon was the lead Congressional Advocate to get the legislation passed in the Senate last November.

 

"We had a vote and it passed two to one, 64 -32 on November 7, 2013 with ten Republicans joining us in that effort. Sometimes the gears of government turn slowly, but I'm glad they have turned."

 

Though the Senate passed the legislation in November, the House has shown no inclination to take up the matter.

Push is Underway To Have Voters Vote on More Open Primaries in Oregon

Mark Frohnmayer, the son of former Attorney General Dave Frohnmayer wants Oregon to have more open  political primaries.

 

It would utilize a "top two" system and is being called a "unified primary."

 

There would be one ballot in the primary for everyone and voters could vote for as many candidates as they want.  The top two candidates in the primary would move on to the general election.

 

Frohmayer says it would give 31 percent of Oregon's voters who are independents, more of a voice.

 

"The primary would in effect become much more important election.  Instead of a super partisan election, it would actually be the first pass filter for the whole electorate."
 

 

Frohnmayer believes Oregon's closed primaries basically marginalizes voters who aren't affiliated with the major parties.

 

He must gather 87-thosuand signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

Both Houses of Congress Pass Bills to Decrease Wait Times at VA Hospitals

Now committees will try to reconcile the two bills for final passage.

 

The bill would allow more contracting with private health providers to reduce the long waits for veterans.

 

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley says Congress failed to pass similar measures last year, but these scandals got many politicians on board.

 

"One thing the V-A is doing a good job on is reducing the backlog of veterans applying for benefits.  Because if veterans are waiting for approval for several years, that's several years they are not getting the benefits they should.  So we need to keep pushing forward on that.  And once they are approved for benefits, they need to get through the door to see appropriate health care professionals to get their appointments."

 

It's estimated, allowing veterans access to private medical care could increase spending for V-A care by 35 billion over the next ten years.

Oregon's Rate Review Process is Helping Keep Health Insurance Rates Down

Oregon happens to be one of those states.

 

Jessie Ellis O'Brien is a Health Care Advocate with OSPIRG and says our rate review process is saving Oregonians money.

 

"This transparency along with strong scrutiny of the rate review process is really starting to show results.  We estimate we have saved 155 million in waste from Oregon premiums since 2010.  We've saved over 169 million cut from premiums in 2014 alone in the last year's rate review period."

 

Oregonians can check out proposed health insurance rates at www.oregonhealthrates.org

Bend Police Investigating Bank Robbery at Bend's Columbia State Bank

The hold up occurred around 9:45 Monday morning at the bank on NE Third Street near Revere.

 

Police reacted quickly and were searching for the suspect in the vicinity of the Bend parkway and downtown region.

 

The suspect is tall -- estimated around 6'4" and was wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt.  He had dark hair with grey at the temples.

 

Officers and canine units are out searching for the suspect.

 

We'll have more information as it becomes available.

Final evacuation levels lifted

All Two Bulls Fire Evacuation Levels Lifted

 

Location: Tumalo Reservoir Area, west of Bend, OR

Date:  June 13, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.

 

By Sergeant Nathan Garibay, Emergency Services Manager

 

After consultation with the Two Bulls incident management team, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has lifted all pre-evacuation orders for the Skyliners Road area and surrounding homes.  There are still US Forest Service Road Closures in place.  Refer to the Two Bulls Blog for information on these closures:  www.centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com  

 

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Oregon Department of Forestry, Deschutes National Forest, and all of the other agencies involved in the response and management of the Two Bulls fire.  We would further like to thank the citizens and visitors of Deschutes County for their overwhelming support and patience throughout this incident.

Two Bulls Fire, morning update, 70 percent contained.

As firefighters expand the mop-up zone around the fire, the current Incident Management Team prepares to  transition command of the Two Bulls Fire back to local control forces. This transition time is an organized  process to account for equipment, package documentation, and send excess resources home for needed rest and preparation for future events.
 
The “hand-off” to local forces should occur on Saturday, June 14. Many local residents reported smoke plumes yesterday. Gusty winds created swirls of ash which mimicked
smoke columns. Residents can be assured that firefighters are patrolling in these areas and continue mopping up to create a 300-500 foot buffer zone around the fire perimeter.
 
State Forester Doug Decker and Fire Protection Division Chief Nancy Hirsch visited firefighters at camp today.  They also made a visit to the Joint Information Center (JIC) which coordinated fire information among allinvolved agencies and kept the local community informed. Decker commented, “I was pleased to see and impressed by the immediate and direct action on the fire, both during initial attack and in the days that followed. Those combined efforts, in the face of some very challenging fuels and burning conditions, stopped
the fire. I was also struck by the amazing outpouring of community support. It really made a difference for the team and was an expression of the high level of cooperation that has occurred throughout this incident.”
 
The Two Bulls Fire is 70 percent contained and has reached $4.9 million.
Resources Assigned to the #TwoBullsFire
• 27 Crews and support personnel
• 2 helicopters
• 36 engines
• 3 dozers
• 13 water tenders
Evacuation Levels: The Skyliners Rd. area remains at a Level I evacuation alert. No other evacuation levels remain in effect.
Closures: Forest Service Roads 4601, 4602, 4603, and 4606 remain closed. The Phil’s Trail Mountain bike area is open.
Donations
On behalf of the firefighters, the Incident Management Team and all the cooperators want to thank the public for their generosity. The Two Bulls Fire incident has been asked by Bend residents and surrounding communities what donations can be offered to the firefighters to demonstrate their appreciation. If you would like to make a monetary donation, we encourage you to consider the local Red Cross Chapter
www.redcross.org/or/bend/ways-to-donate or 541-382-2142, or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation at www.wffoundation.org, which contributes to injured or fallen firefighters and their families. Helping the foundation helps the firefighter community.
 

Small Business Owner and Lifelong Bend Resident Announces for Bend City Council

Casey Roats is a lifelong Bend resident and has served on the city of Bend Infrastructre Advisory Group and Sewer Infrastructure Advisory Group.

 

Roats will be running for the seat being vacated by Jodie Barram, who is running for Deschutes County Commissioner.

 

"Bend has a lot of issues in front of us and they are going to require a lot of tough decisions.  And my experience growing up here and running a local utility will lend itself to this job and firming up our sewer system and its millions in costs we have to work through."

 

Roats say he is running to assure Bend maintains its livability and affordability.

 

The only other candidate running for this seat is Ron Bozell.

Cover Oregon Picks a New Executive Director

His name is Aaron Patnode and he is currently the Director of Business Development for Kaiser Permanente.

 

The search committee had 70 candidates for the position and interviewed 19 of them.

 

They recommended Patnode for the job.

 

The full board agreed with the recommendation.

 

"We have a motion and a second on the table to start taking action to begin negotiations with Aaron Patnode.  Barring any further discussion, all in favor -- yah.  Any opposed (silence)  Thank you and we will keep you udpated on the process as it moves forward."

 

Cover Oregon will begin negotiations to get Patnode on board.

 

They hope to have him in the position by early July.

New Poll Out on Oregon's Governor 's Race

The poll conducted for KATU News in Portland found that though 55 percent of the people polled would like a new Governor -- in a match up with Richardson, Kitzhaber got 48 percent compared to Richardson's 35 percent.

 

Jason Williams with the Taxpayer Association of Oregon PAC, thinks these numbers are encouraging for the Republicans.

 

He says the last 100 days have been tough on the Governor.

 

"You had closing the Cover Oregon website and moving to the federal website.  In May we were one of the top food stamp states in the country and our vetearns have long wait times at the VA.  We also have the lowest labor participation rate on record.  And this is starting to show up in polling and it's killing Kitzhaber and  Dennis Richardson has a great chance to win."

 

The poll also looked at the Jeff Merkley-Monica Wehby Senate race.

 

Merkley had the support of 50 percent of likely voters compared to Wehby's 32 percent.

OSU Site Application in Hands of Independent Hearings Officer

Ken Helm is from Beaverton, but he actually graduated from Bend High School.

 

He will be deciding whether the traffic and parking concerns of some neighbors will prevent the college from going forward.

 

The college presented its case with traffic engineer, Joe Bessman.

 

"The morning peak is most pronounced on Mt. Washignton.  Colleges typically start their classes at 8 A.M.  Collrge peak times are usually between 11 and 3 and we can narrow it down even more, more like 2:50 to 3:10."

 

Bessman says the nearby roundabouts were built to handle much more traffic than they currently do.

 

He says even factoring in maximum usage, thse roundabouts should be able to handle the college's increased traffic.

 

A decision is expected by the end of July.

Senate Republicans Defeat a Tuition Bill That Would Have Allowed Students to Refinance Loans

Senate Republicans filibustered the legislation.

 

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon supported the bill and feels something needs to be done to help our students afford college.

 

"There's 500-thosuand students in Oregon who have debt loans who should be able to refinance to a fair interest rate.  That would be very helpful.  And looking forward, we have to control the cost of tuition and increase pell grants and keep interest rates low."

 

Earlier this week, President Obama used his executive pen to help expand a student loan program, that limits payments to ten percent of student's incomes.

Reward grows in Arson suspected Fires

Two Bulls Fire Evacuation Levels Reduced

 

Location: Tumalo Reservoir Area, west of Bend, OR

Date:  June 12, 2014 at 8:00 a.m.

 

By Captain Shane Nelson

 

Evacuations Levels

 

Deschutes County I. T. has produced a link to a map that shows the current Evacuation Notice Levels, Interactive Map: https://maps.deschutes.org/custom/simple/index.html

 

*This map will be updated with any change in Evacuation Notice Levels.

 

The Skyliners Road area outside the City of Bend, is now a Level I

·  This is now the only Evacuation Level Notice in effect.

 

Evacuation Notices in effect are lifted for the following areas:

·    The Saddleback Subdivision area

·    The area located south of Shevlin Park Road, west of Mt. Washington Drive, and north of Century Drive.

·    The remainder of Northwest Crossing (east of Mt. Washington Drive), and the area that includes residents north of Shevlin Park and west of Mt. Washington Drive.

 

There will be additional Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement patrols working this week and through the weekend.

 

Reward Increased

 

The reward for any information on this fire that leads to the successful conviction of the person or persons responsible, has increased to $31, 500 after a recent donation.  Eric and Robin Coats, of Shevlin Sand and Gravel, have contributed $5,000.

 

There are still US Forest Service Road Closures in place.  Refer to the Two Bulls Blog for information on these closures:  www.centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com  

 

FIRE INFO LINE/THE JOINT INFORMATION CENTER:  541-550-4888 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)

 

For SHERIFF’S OFFICE FIRE INFORMATION call 541-550-4850

Gunman in Troutdale School Shooting Identified

15 year old Jared Padgett brought an AR-15 assalt rifle in a guitar case as well as a handgun.

 

Police also found plenty of ammunition.

 

"Investigators have also uncovered 9 loaded magazines."

 

Police say Padgett walked into the boys locker room and shot and killed 14 year old Emilio Hoffman.  Both the gunman and victim were freshmen at the school.

 

Padgett then went to the main school hallway where he ran into school officers who fired at him.

 

He then went into the school bathroom and shot himself.

Arson Suspected

A team of fire investigators says the Two Bulls Fire and now a third fire that popped up on Tuesday are all suspicious and a reward has increased to $26,500.00.  Both the County and City added $5,000.00 each to the reward fund.  Capt. Shane Nelson with the Deschutes County says they consider all three fires not just human caused, but possibly arson.  The tip line is 1-877-876-8477.

Three fires, possible arson, Reward details and more statements from County and City

The Multi-Agency Investigation Team wants any information citizens can provide.  Please call with any information about activity, individuals, or vehicles seen on Cascade Timberlands property in the days leading up to the fire.

 

After learning that the most recent fire from yesterday was determined to be suspicious, Sheriff Larry Blanton and Deschutes County have added to the reward.  The Sheriff and Deschutes County have added $5000 to the reward and the City of Bend also contributed $5000.  Taylor Northwest contributed $2500 to the effort last night.  With Cascade Timberlands $2000 contribution, this brings the total reward to $14,500 to anyone with information that leads to a successful conviction of the person or persons responsible.   

 

Anyone with information that could help identify the suspects is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-877-876-8477 (TIPS).

 

Sheriff Larry Blanton stated, “We are concerned about our citizens and given the fact this latest fire is suspicious and human caused we need the persons responsible located and held accountable.  Our community has endured trauma as a result of this fire and the taxpayers have been burdened by its cost.  Their lives have been disrupted, community services have been disrupted, government agency employees have been exposed to dangerous conditions while working this fire and I truly hope this reward encourages anyone with information to come forward. The public are the eyes and ears to provide information for a successful investigation and effective public safety.  Report suspicious activity because if it doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t.”

 

Sheriff Blanton added, “The fires are suspicious in nature and the ongoing investigation indicates suspicion of potential arson.”

 

“The consequences from these fires could have been catastrophic for the city,” said City Manager Eric King.  “It’s important that we find the cause and who’s responsible for starting these fires and a reward contribution from the city is the responsible thing to do.”

 

If Citizens see suspicious activity or something that doesn’t look right, we encourage them to report it to Deschutes County 9-1-1.

Fire Level on High for Central Oregon

Fire conditions around Central Oregon have also prompted the Bend Fire Department,  Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District 2, AND OTHER AGENCIES to increase the Fire Danger Rating level to HIGH.
 
 This is due to the projected weather patterns, low fuel moisture and current fire behavior as seen on the Two Bulls Fire. 
 
Open debris burning has been closed for the Bend Fire Dept. and THE RURAL FIRE DISTRICT  with the increase in fire danger level. 
 
 Under HIGH conditions, smaller dead vegetation ignites easily and unattended campfires or debris fires are likely to escape. Any fire that starts could be difficult to control if not caught while small.
 
 
*The "other agencies" referred to are:Oregon Department of Forestry-Prineville/Sisters Unit and Deschutes National Forest. 
 

NW Bend Power Outage details

A POWER OUTAGE THIS MORNING IMPACTED ABOUT 5 THOUSAND CUSTOMERS IN THE NORTHWEST BEND AREA -
 
SEVERAL TRAFFIC LIGHTS WERE SHUT DOWN- AND MOST BEND F-M RADIO STATIONS WERE KNOCKED OFF THE AIR.
 
TOM GAUNT WITH PACIFIC POWER EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED:
 
 "UNFORTUNATELY A SQUIRREL GOT INTO THE SUB-STATION NEAR MIRROR POND DAM- RESULTED IN A FLASH AND A LOUD NOISE-AND POWER OUTAGE FOR ABOUT 5100 CUSTOMERS."
 
THE OUTAGE HIT AROUND 8A AND ONLY LASTED ABOUT 45 MINUTES FOR MOST CUSTOMERS.
SINCE POWER OUTAGES ARE PRETTY COMMON -GAUNT REMINDS YOU TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY KIT AT YOUR HOME AND KEEP YOUR CELL PHONE FULLY CHARGED SO YOU CAN USE IT IN AN EMERGENCY OUTAGE.  
 

Fire Reward increases to $14,500

After learning that the most recent fire from yesterday was determined to be suspicious, Sheriff Larry Blanton and Deschutes County have added to the reward. 

 

The Sheriff and Deschutes County have added $5000 to the reward and the City of Bend also contributed $5000. 

 

Taylor Northwest contributed $2500 to the effort last night.  With Cascade Timberlands $2000 contribution, this brings the total reward to $14,500 to anyone with information that leads to a successful conviction of the person or persons responsible.

 

The Hotline for leads is:  1-877-876-TIPS.  

 

Wednesday morning Two Bulls update from Fire agencies

Current Fire Information
Firefighters spent a "chilly but productive" night on the Two Bulls Fire, said Mike Carlson, the night operations supervisor. The overnight temperature plummeted into the 30s while crews hunted down and extinguished smokes and embers 100-300 feet inside the fireline.
The Two Bulls Fire broke out midday Saturday near Tumalo, 10 miles northwest of Bend. By early Sunday the fire had burned more than 6,000 acres of private forestland and federal lands on the Deschutes National Forest.
Today, crews continue mop-up operations while being vigilant for flare-ups of fire, inside and outside the fireline. Yesterday, a 1/4-acre fire suddenly appeared outside of the Two Bulls Fire's fireline and south of Skyliners Rd. Helicopters and engines from the Two Bulls Fire quickly attacked the little fire and brought it under control. Fire-fighting resources from the Two Bulls Fire area are available again today to assist local firefighters with any new wildfires that may break out.
The Two Bulls Fire remains at 6,906 acres and is 40 percent contained. Resources Assigned to the Two Bulls Fire.
• 1,163 personnel
• 6 helicopters
• 45 crews
• 77 engines
• 11 dozers
• 15 water tenders
 
Fire Investigation
The Investigation Team wants any information citizens can provide. Please call with any information about activity, individuals, or vehicles seen on Cascade Timberlands property in the days leading up to the fire.
Taylor Northwest contributed $2500 to the existing reward, making the reward total $4500 to anyone with information that leads to a successful conviction. Anyone with information that could help identify the suspects is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-877-876-8477 (TIPS). If citizens see suspicious activity or something that doesn’t look right, we encourage them to report it to Deschutes County 9-1-1. 
 
Evacuation Information
The Sheriff’s Office lowered the Skyliners Road Evacuation Notice to Level II last night at 8:00 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office WILL ONLY ALLOW RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA. Residents returning to their homes should be aware of possible additional fire activity. Residents should be cautious if they return home as there is only one main exit out of the Skyliners Road residential area.
There are no Level III Evacuation Notices in effect. Level I Evacuation Notices are in effect for:
· The Saddleback Subdivision area to include some evacuated homes on Johnson Road, Tyler Road and Kuhlman Road. 
· The area located south of Shevlin Park Road, west of Mt. Washington Drive, and north of Century Drive.
· The remainder of Northwest Crossing (east of Mt. Washington Drive), and the area that includes residents north of Shevlin Park and west of Mt. Washington Drive.
Deschutes County I. T. has produced a link to a map that shows the current Evacuation Notice Levels, Interactive Map: https://maps.deschutes.org/custom/simple/index.html (This map will be updated with any change in Evacuation Notice Levels). For current evacuation updates, please contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office information line at 541-550-4850.
Sheriff’s Office units are patrolling the areas affected by the Evacuation Notices. There will be additional Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement patrols working this week and through the weekend. 
School Closures
William E. Miller Elementary, Cascade Middle and Summit High schools are open on today and all other District schools will be open as scheduled. Cascade Middle and Summit High school students are encouraged to check their school websites for information about finals, final projects, and materials return.
 
Fire Danger
Due to hot and dry weather conditions and the low fuel moistures we are experiencing, Bend Fire Department, ODF and Deschutes National Forest have increased the level of fire danger to High as of this morning. Fires under High conditions begin and spread quickly and burn with greater intensity. All fires have the potential of becoming disastrous. Human activity is one of the leading cause of wild land fires throughout the summer, both accidental and intentional in nature. Here are some tips to help decrease the chances of a wildfire starting:
· ​Properly dispose of cigarettes and smoking materials.
· Follow all burning restrictions in place in Bend and any areas you recreate, live or work.
· Keep matches and lighters away from children.
· If you are operating equipment, including lawn and garden equipment, ensure you watch for sparks or malfunctioning equipment. 
USFS Closures
The Deschutes National Forest has instituted an area closure as a result of the Two Bulls Fire west of Bend. The area encompasses Forest Roads 4601 West of Tumalo Creek, 4606, 1612, 590, 480, 113, 110, 377, 900, 1620, 1628 and 370 North of Todd Lake. This area closure is bordered on the south by Cascade Lakes Highway, which remains open at this time.This closure includes all roads and trails within the area including the popular Phil's Trailhead system and much of the West Bend project area that's part of the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project. 
The following county road closures remain in place: Tumalo Reservoir Road is closed to westbound traffic at Rock Springs Road, Bull Springs Road is closed to westbound traffic at Johnson Road, Skyliners Road is closed to westbound traffic at FS 4604 (Phil’s Trailhead). 
Donations
The Two Bulls Fire incident has been asked by Bend residents and surrounding communities what donations can be offered to the firefighters. On behalf of the firefighters, the teams managing the fire and Deschutes National Forest, we want to thank the public for their generosity. At this point, all of the needs of the firefighters are being met. If you would like to make a monetary donation, we encourage you to consider the local Red Cross Chapter www.redcross.org/or/bend/ways-to-donate or 541-382-2142, or the Wildland Firefighter Foundation at www.wffoundation.org, which contributes to injured or fallen firefighters and their families. Helping the foundation, helps the firefighter community.
 
Upcoming Community Event on Wildfire
Deschutes County, City of Bend Fire Department and the Deschutes National Forest invite Central Oregon residents to a panel discussion and film on wildfire in our community in mid-June. The goal is to help people understand more about Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) wildfires, wildfire risks to our community and reducing those risks to their personal property.
“The Fire Line: Wildfire in Colorado”, will be showing on Thursday, June 19 at 7 pm at Hitchcock auditorium, Pioneer Building 201 on the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Campus at 2600 NW College Way in Bend. Following the 30 minute film will be a short evaluation of the film by local law enforcement, county officials, structural and wildland firefighters on living and working in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) boundary between public land and local communities. Panelists include Ed Keith, Deschutes County Forester, Bob Madden, Battalion Chief with the Bend Fire Department, Nathan Garibay, Sergeant with Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, George Ponte, District Forester, Oregon Department of Forestry and Craig Letz, Fire Staff Officer for Central Oregon Fire Management Service. There will be a question and answer period following the panels’ statements. Residents are encouraged to ask questions of the panel of fire prevention and firefighting experts. Gary Marshall, former Bend Fire Marshal and current Fire Safety Manager at Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire, will emcee the event.
“The Fire Line”, is a documentary produced by The Denver Post that examines the effects of catastrophic wildfires in the west and their impacts on community members, firefighters, and natural resources. While the focus of the film is on wildfires in Colorado, there are many lessons that Central Oregon communities can derive from their losses. The film discusses the challenges that homeowners face while living in a fire prone environment and how homeowners can better mitigate the risks to personal property, local firefighters and the beautiful Central Oregon landscape. 
 

Officials: Two Bulls Fire 40-percent Contained

(Bend, OR)  --  Officials say the Two Bulls wildfire west of Bend is now 40-percent contained.  The fire, which is a combination of two smaller fires that broke out last Saturday, has burned about 69-hundred acres.  No structures have been damaged, but two firefighters have sustained minor injuries.  Schools that were closed are reopened today.  All residents have been allowed back into their homes; although the Sheriff's Office will allow residents only into the Skyliners Road area.  A $4,500.00 reward has been offered for information leading to a conviction related to the fires, which authorities say were human-caused.  
 

Packed Public Hearing on OSU Cascades Site Plan

Hundreds of people turned out to voice their opinions on putting the new expanded campus on Bend's west side.

 

Former Bend Mayor and OSU Board President Oran Teater was among more than 25 people who spoke in support of the proposed location at the corner of Chandler and Mt. Washington.

 

"I question our opponents who believe the college will impact their quality of life.  I have lived on Awbrey Butte for 15 years within a couple blocks of COCC and I have never had any incident near our property."

 

The public hearings officer listened to more than two hours of proponents of the OSU site.

 

He just started listening to opponents when time ran out.   Westside resident Fred Gemkey spoke against the site.

 

"As shown in this aerial photo, you can see this land is commercially exploited and environmentally ravaged as any property in Bend.  As a result, the area adjacent to it is hostile and toxic to the campus and it should be avoided."

 

Opponents will continue their testimony Wednesday morning.

 

The public hearings officer is expected to take all the testimony under consideration and will make a recommendation in three weeks on whether to approve or deny the site application, possibly with conditions. 

14 Year Old Killed in Shooting at Troutdale's Reynolds High School

The student killed was 14 year old Emilio Hoffman.

 

The shooting happened around 8 A.M. Tuesday morning at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, east of Portland.

 

Students heard the gunfire, but weren't sure what it was.

 

"We thought it was firecrackers.  We went to the weight room and barricaded the door."

 

After SWAT teams searched the school and evacuated students, they found another student with a gun.

 

"Not related to the incident, but during evacuation,  a gun was found on one person and that person was taken into custody.

 

President Obama weighed in on the fatal school shooting. 

 

He said these shootings are becoming a weekly occurrence in this country -- and it has to stop.

 

"Most members of congress and it's bi-partisan, are terrifeid of the NRA."

 

Despite numerous horrific school shootings in recent years, congress has failed to pass any gun control legislation.

 

The incident of these shootings has definitely increased in the last couple years.

 

In recent weeks, there have been shootings in Santa Barbara, Seattle and Las Vegas.

School Closures Lifted

Some Evacuation Levels Revised, All Schools Open Wednesday

 

At 1:45 PM this afternoon, the Two Bulls Fire incident commander confirmed with Bend-La Pine Schools that the evacuation orders have been revised to Level One for the areas around
William E. Miller Elementary, Cascade Middle and Summit High schools. These schools will reopen on Wednesday, June 11.  All other District schools will be open as scheduled.

 

Cascade Middle and Summit High school students are encouraged to check their school websites for information about finals, final projects, and materials return.

 

Superintendent Ron Wilkinson said Bend-La Pine Schools is fortunate to have one of the longest student-contact school years in Oregon, so the loss of recent school days will not result in an extension of the school year.

 

“We believe that we have already met the state minimum guidelines for instructional hours this year, so we will not be adding make-up days,” said Wilkinson.

 

He added, “On behalf of our staff, students and families, I want to thank the hundreds of firefighters and emergency responders who are working hard to contain the Two Bulls Fire – thank you.”

 

 

###END###


 

ODOT postphones project due to Troutdale shooting

I-84 Sandy River Bridge project event postponed

The event is canceled out of respect for the Troutdale community after the high school shootings

 

ODOT has postponed the Wednesday event for the completion of the Interstate 84 Sandy River Bridge project out of respect for the community of Troutdale after the shootings at Reynolds High School.

 

The project marks the last bridge replacement in the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program, which is coming to a close after more than a decade.

 

The event will be rescheduled at a later date.

NEW fire spotted today

This is according to local emergency and fire officials:
 
A new fire has started adjacent to the Two Bulls Fire in the west Bend Planning area.  It is within the Area Closure.  Initial Attack and Air resources from the Two Bulls Fire have been diverted to assist.  There is a column visible.
 
 Deschutes Emergency Manager Nathan Garibay is on scene at the new fire.  He says the US Forest Service is on scene and doing well. two  helicopters and 2 Forest Service engines are working hard. 
.
 
 

Latest Evacuation Levels from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office

Change in Two Bulls Fire Evacuation Notice Levels

 

Location: Tumalo Reservoir Area, west of Bend, OR

Date:  June 10, 2014 at 10 a.m.

 

Deschutes County I. T. has produced a link to a map that shows the current Evacuation Notice Levels, Interactive Map: https://maps.deschutes.org/custom/simple/index.html

 

*This map will be updated with any change in Evacuation Notice Levels.

 

After meeting with Two Bulls Fire Officials this morning, the Sheriff’s Office lowered some Evacuation Notice Levels.

 

Later this afternoon we will evaluate the Evacuation Notice for Skyliners Road residents outside the City of Bend and release information on any change.  The Level III Evacuation Notice is still in effect. 

 

Level I Evacuation Notices are in effect for:

·    The Saddleback Subdivision area to include some evacuated homes on Johnson Road, Tyler Road and Kuhlman Road. 

·    The area located south of Shevlin Park Road, west of Mt. Washington Drive, and north of Century Drive.

·    The remainder of Northwest Crossing (east of Mt. Washington Drive), and the area that includes residents north of Shevlin Park and west of Mt. Washington Drive.

 

FIRE INFORMATION HOTLINE/THE JOINT INFORMATION CENTER:  541-550-4888 (9 a.m. – 9 p.m.)

 

For SHERIFF’S OFFICE FIRE INFORMATION call 541-550-4850.

TUESDAY MORNING, Fire update

CENTRAL OREGON

FIRE INFORMATION CENTER

6/10/14 9:00 am Morning Update

www.centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 

Current Fire Information                                          

Information Phone: 541-550-4888                                                                                                                                             

 

Progress on the fire went very well yesterday and last night, and fire managers are happy to report that the only remaining unsecured portion of the fire had line completed around it last night.  Due to the aggressive mop up operations on the eastern and southern portions of the fire yesterday, firelines were able to hold during the late afternoon winds that developed and lasted throughout the evening.  Day shift crews will continue mop up operations deeper interior along the eastern flank of the fire today. On the western flank, line reinforcement and deploying hose lines will be the main focus throughout the day.  Smoke conditions should be less than it has been over the last few days, as fuels within containment lines are being consumed and mop up operations are reaching further interior.  Although temperatures are forecasted to be a little lower than yesterday, the concern for today will be for increasing winds from the north-northwest this afternoon with gusts up to 20 mph. 

With the good progress being made on the fire, structure protection task forces mobilized under the Conflagration Act have been reduced from three to two, and the need for the remaining two task forces will be evaluated throughout the afternoon. 

 

•      6,837 acres consisting of heavy brush and timber

•      250 homes threatened with 50 remaining under Level III Evacuation

•      No structures lost or damaged

•      1 Firefighter with a minor leg laceration

•      Cause under investigation

•      25% containment

•      6 helicopters, 77 engines, 11 dozers, and 1018 personnel assigned to the fire

•      Estimated costs to date- $2.4 million

 

Evacuation Information

EVACUATION NOTICE LEVELS REMAIN THE SAME AT THIS TIME. They will be reevaluated this morning.

 

Deschutes County I. T. has produced a link to a map that shows the current Evacuation Notice Levels, Interactive Map: https://maps.deschutes.org/custom/simple/index.html

                   *This map will be updated with any change in Evacuation Notice Levels. 

 

Fire Cause

On Saturday, June 7th, 2014, two fires which ultimately burned together to form the Two Bulls Fire were reported on Oregon Department of Forestry protected private timber lands west of Bend, and continued to burn through the weekend, forcing the evacuation of several homes.

 

A joint investigation to locate the origin and cause of the fires is being conducted by a team of investigators from the Oregon State Police, U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Walker Range Fire Protection Association, and Oregon Department of Forestry.

 

Investigators located the origin of both fires, collected evidence, and have determined that the fires were human caused.

 

The investigation team is interested in any information members of the public can provide.  Please call with any information about activity, individuals, or vehicles seen on Cascade Timberlands in the days leading up to the fire. Cascade Timberlands has added $2,000 for information that leads to a successful conviction.

 

Anyone with information that could help identify the suspects is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-877-876-TIPS. You can remain anonymous, and you could be eligible for a cash reward

 

School Closures

At 5:30 PM last night, the Two Bulls Fire incident commander confirmed with Bend-La Pine Schools that the established Level Two evacuation orders - west of Mt. Washington Drive and north of Century Drive – will continue through the night, due to the fire burning in the area.

 

As a result of these orders, William E. Miller Elementary, Cascade Middle and Summit High schools will remain closed on today as the schools are situated within the Level Two evacuation area.

 

All other schools will be open as scheduled, including High Desert Middle School. High Desert Middle School is the designated Red Cross shelter site, though at last report there are no residents currently using the shelter. The school will operate in partnership with the shelter tomorrow and into the week, if necessary.

 

Finals will be rescheduled; students can visit their school’s website for more information.

 

Schools in Bend, La Pine and Sunriver may have indoor recess this week, as smoke is expected to move back into the area tonight. We will be monitoring outdoor air quality regularly in the days to come and will be consulting with the Air Quality Specialist from the US Forest Service.
 

Fire Danger

Bend Fire Department, Deschutes County Rural Fire Protection District #2, Oregon Department of Forestry – Prineville/Sisters Unit and Deschutes National Forest are moving to the fire danger level of High officially on Wednesday, June 11th.  Deschutes National Forest will be at Industrial Fire Protection Level 2 at the same time. This is due to the projected weather patterns, low fuel moistures and current fire behavior seen on the Two Bulls Fire.  Open debris burning has been closed for Bend Fire Dept. and DCRFPD#2 with this increase in fire danger level.

 

Red Cross Information

As of 5:30 p.m. last night, the Red Cross shelter at High Desert Middle School has closed. Those in need of immediate assistance should call 888-680-1455. The Red Cross is working in collaboration with local and state agencies to remain ready to reopen the shelter should additional evacuations occur, and volunteers will be on standby to respond if the shelter reopens.

Red Cross volunteers will be conducting outreach in and around the Bend today, providing wildfire preparedness information and assistance in downloading the Red Cross Wildfire App.
 

Area & road closures

The area closure remains in place.  Please see the blog for a map. The following road closures remain in place: 

· Forest Road 370 North of Todd Lake

· Forest Road 1628

· Forest Roads 590, 605, 480, 113, 110, 377, 900, 1620

· Forest Road 1612

· Forest Road 4606

· Forest Road 4601 W. of Tumalo Creek.

Air Quality Information

Smoke Conditions

Last night between the hours of 10 pm and 1 am smoke levels increased slightly, while remaining in the good air quality category. As of 6 am today smoke conditions are GOOD with very low levels of particulate matter at monitors located in Bend and Sisters.  The entire state of Oregon currently has very GOOD air quality.

 

 

Weather related to smoke

Today transport winds will veer from NW across the northern zones to northerly across the southern zones.  Another upper-level disturbance is forecast to slide across Washington and northern Oregon; increasing the onshore flow and cooling temperatures several degrees.  Expect more extensive morning marine clouds across NW Oregon with areas of drizzle along the north coast and possibly the north interior.  Otherwise, skies will continue to be mostly sunny.  Ventilation conditions will remain good, but brisk NW winds across central Oregon may hamper wildfire fighting efforts and increase smoke levels.

 

Safety information to protect impacts to you and your health

Drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby roads.  If smoke drifts onto roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care.  Due to the Two Bulls wildfire, smoky conditions are expected to persist throughout Deschutes County for an indefinite amount of time.  Deschutes County Health Services will continue to communicate to the public the health impact of wildfire smoke inhalation on an ongoing basis until the fires reside. 

 

WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE? People with chronic lung or heart conditions, the elderly, children, and pregnant women have a higher risk of health problems from breathing dense wildfire smoke.  People in these risk groups should minimize the impacts of wildfire smoke when it appears or smells the strongest or when DEQ indicates “unhealthy” air conditions by:

·         Staying indoors

·         Avoiding outdoor activities until air quality improves

·         Closing windows and doors, and

·         Using air conditioners and filters.

Those suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions should follow their breathing management plans; keep medications on hand, and contact healthcare providers if necessary. Remember-the longer poor smoke conditions linger, the more likely a person’s health may be affected.  Please be prepared and think ahead regarding ordering medications.

 

Animal Care

The livestock shelter is open at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, OR as of this morning. As soon as the 3 horses there at this time & a few other animals leave today, that shelter will be closing

 

Local events

The Sister’s Rodeo will not be affected by the fire.  The rodeo is still planned to start Wednesday
 

Media

Interested media should report to the Incident Command Post located in the field across from 63685 Johnson Road.  Public Information Officers will be available for interviews; media is required to check in with Information immediately upon arrival.  Media personnel that would like a guided tour of the fire need to arrive with full Nomex, hard hat, and fire shelter; the fire camp does not have enough equipment to accommodate those that do not have this.  A media update will be given at 10:00 followed by a media fire tour at 1:00 pm. 

 

Sites for Fire Information

Information Phone at Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center541-416-6811
Note: Media please call this number
Information Phone at Joint Information Center: 541-550-4888

Note: This is interagency information for the public related to the fire. Open 9-9
Sheriff’s Emergency Information phone :541-550-4850

Note: This is a recorded line

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/TwoBullsFire, facebook.com/Deschutes.County,
TWITTER: @twobullsfire, @desnatlforest, @deschutescounty, @OchocoNatForest, @CentralORFire, #twobullsfire
INCIWEB: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3889/

BLOG: www.CentralORfireinfo.blogspot.com
 

Monday Night Update on Two Bulls Fire

The fire west of the Tumalo Reservoir remains about 6800 acres after burning for three days.

 

Kevin Larkin with the U.S . Forest Service says things are going well so far.

 

"We anticipate continued success. The fire is pretty well in check and we're on the way to mopping up the fire in the next several days."

 

50 homes remain evacuated in the Skyliners road area, but no structures have been lost or damaged.

 

Larkin thinks this is going to be a long fire season.

 

"A common refrain heard around the fire camp is the experience people had when they saw the column of smoke going up.  Wait !  This is June 7th.  That makes me nervous that we're up for a hefty fire season."

 

The fire remains 25 percent continued and firefighters have made good progress on the east side of the fire and hope to mop up in the coming days.

Two Bulls Fire Human Caused

Sheriff Larry Blanton told those at Monday night's public information meeting at Bend High, it was human caused.

 

"We're working two points of origin, but it was human caused.  It's too early to say, but we've got resources on it and we'll figure it out.  We'll probably be requesting help on our tip line and we will track it down as fast as we can."

 

The Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police and the U.S.Forest Service are investigating the cause of the Bend area fire.

 

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-876-TIPS.

Two Bulls Fire Not in Bend's Watershed

But city officials say the fire is not in the city of Bend's Bridge Creek Watershed.

 

The city's outback drinking water facilities are not even in the path of the fire.

 

This is the area where the city treats and distributes water from Bridge Creek.

 

Currently the city has shut off its surface water.  They hope to turn it back on in a few days, depending on the quality, which can be affected by fire behavior and spring runoff.

 

The city is encouraging water conservation and wants people to minimize or eliminate irrigation if possible while the city is using groundwater wells only.

Westside Bend Schools Closed Tuesday

Because the stand-by evacuation orders remain in place for that area, Miller Elementary, Cascade Middle School and Summit High School will remain closed Tuesday.

 

All other schools will remain open as scheduled, including High Desert Middle School, which was used as  a Red Cross Shelter for those who were evacuated, but was closed Monday night.

A Public Hearings Officer Will Hear Pros and Cons on OSU Cascades Proposed Location on Bend's Westside

A Public Hearings Officer will hear the college, city and citizens who are for and against the proposed location at Chandler and Century.

 

Because it's anticipated a lot of people will want to speak, people are encouraged to prepare written statements, as time to speak will be limited.

 

OSU Cascades V-P Becky Johnson is hopeful they will get the green light .. and any concerns about parking and traffic will be adequately addressed, but ...

 

"This is something that is time sensitive.  We have state bonds that don't last forever.  There's a lot of competition in Salem for these.  I'm worried if this drags on too long, Salem will think central Oregon doesn't want to have a four year university."

 

The public hearing on the site plan will be Tuesday morning at 9 A.M. at the city of Bend Municipal Court Room on 15th Street.

 

The public hearings officer is expected to offer a recommendation in three weeks. That decision can be apppealed.

Inmate Who Escaped From the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution is Back in Custody

Clinton Swearingen escaped on May 4th and was seen in Mill City a couple days later, but never arrested.

 

Law enforcement arrested him Friday evening after he was seen sitting near the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland with a backpack and other gear.

 

Officers thought he looked suspicious and asked for I.D. and he took off.  

 

They eventually caught him and took him into custody where they discovered he was an prison escapee.

 

Swearingen is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

 

He was originally serving time for theft and burglary charges.

Latest on Two Bulls Fire Burning West of Tumalo Reservoir

So far the fires have burned more than 68-hundred acres.

 

Good progress was made Sunday and overnight to contain the fire and mother nature is cooperating with calmer weather conditions.

 

50 homeowners are still under an evacuation order for the area near Skyliners Road.

Homeowners south of Shevlin Park road and west of Mt Washington Drive and north of Century Drive are on notice they may be asked to leave in the future.

 

So far no structures have been lost or damaged and there have been no injuries.

 

Governor Kitzhaber has invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act that allows more resources to be mobilized state wide.  Kitzhaber has directed all available state resources to help contain the fires and ensure that nearby communities have the necessary resources to protect their citizens.

 

And the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA is also stepping in to help fight the fires near Bend.  The state had requested FEMA help.

 

The funds can be used by local officials for equipment and supplies, emergency work, firefighters safety and mobilization costs.

 

Currently two thousand homes near Bend are under threat.  The first also presents a major threat to the city's surface water supply due to its proximity to a city watershed.

Senator Merkely Holds Hearings on the Effects of Climate Change on Several Industries

The Environment and Public Works Subcommittee looked at how carbon pollution is harming the state's natural resources.

 

"Our oyster industry on the coast, baby oysters are having trouble fixing their shells because the ocean is more acidic.  It's really a canary in the coal mine.  If these oysters can't form shells, what else is going on in the ocean  with the acidity so much higher from carbon pollution."

 

Merkley says we're also seeing climate change affecting our forests and farming.

 

"On  our farming, look to the Klamath Basin, three of the worst drought years have occurred recently in 2001, 2010, 2013 and 2014 has no snowpack and may be among the top group of drought years and all these have occurred within a few years of each other."

 

The senate hearing looked at their impact of climate chagne on farming, fishing, forestry and hunting.

 

A Senator from Montana told the hearing the Fish and Wildlife Service in his state now must spend 40 percent of its budget fighting forest fires.  That's up 13 percent from several decades ago.

State Health Officials Hopeful a New Law Will Improve Our Poor Vaccination Rate

We've had three cases of measles recently and Jefferson County is seeing about six cases of whooping cough.

 

Earlier this year, the Oregon legislature passed a law that would make it more difficult for parents to seek vaccination exemptions.  

 

In order to get these exemptions, for anything besides a medical reason, parents need to hear from a health professional, the risks of doing so.

 

Dr. Paul Cieslak with the Oregon Public Health Division says he feels it will address some of parents concerns.

 

"It's going to be another hoop they have to jump through.  We're hopeful parents who are opposed to vaccines, but just have questions, will find this information helpful and will be reassured about the safety and values of vaccines."

 

Dr. Ciselak says it will be a year from now before we really know whether this law will make a difference in our vaccination rates.

 

Currently 6 percent of kindergartners in Oregon don't get the required vaccinations.

Deschutes County Commissioners Plan To Make Decision Next Month on Redmond Resort

Developers for the Thornburgh Resort have been trying for nearly ten years to get the green light for the project, but have hit snags with filing for bankruptcy and fighting appeals to stop the project.

 

The Deschutes County Commissioners last week heard from Attorney David Petersen, who represents the Thornburg Resort.

 

"This project has ween under relentless pursuit of development over eight years at a cost of 10 milion dolaras to the developer.  And we've tried to meet every single condiion except one, number 38.  So if we've met almost 100 percent of the conditions, how could you say there wans't substantial excercise?"

 

Land Use Attorney Paul Dewey represents thsoe who oppose the development and argued his case.

 

"A number of issues raised here have already been determiend by LUBA and the court of appeals.  And there's been a thorough hearings officer below.  They did not initate to get five year extension.  And even though they've spent a lot of money on this, it doens't mean they're not at fault."

 

The commissioners plan to make a decision on this long legal battle next month.

Two Bulls Fire, morning update

Note: The info line number is expected to change today, please monitor social media for this

update.

 

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has ordered Level III Evacuation Notices for the following

areas:

• Skyliners Road area outside of the City of Bend (approximately 50 residences.)

Level II Evacuation Notices are in effect for the following areas:

• Area south of Shevlin Park, west of Mt. Washington, and north of Century Drive.

• Saddleback Subdivision on both sides of Johnson Road (lowered from Level III yesterday evening.)

Level I Evacuation Notices have been issued for the following areas:

• Remainder of Northwest Crossing (the area east of Mt. Washington Drive).

• Residents in the area north of Shevlin Park, west of Mt. Washington Drive.

Displaced residents in need of a place to stay or other resources are encouraged to report to the American Red Cross shelter located at High Desert Middle School located at 61111 27th Street. Red

Cross information can also be obtained by calling 541-382-2142.

A livestock shelter has been opened at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond, OR.

The following road closures remain in place: All of 4606, 1610, Skyline Forest, 4601, 4603, and

Tumalo Falls.

Current Fire Information

Good progress was made both yesterday during the day and night with firefighters taking advantage of some calmer weather conditions. The priority of securing fireline around the eastern and

southern portions of the fire was met and it is anticipated that hoselines will be put into place along that line by the end of today with some mop-up activities commencing there. Some of the available crews from the east flank divisions were reassigned to the western flank of the fire today to help in securing fireline on that portion. Structure protection task forces mobilized under the Oregon State Conflagration Act continue to work around the threatened structures and have contingency plans in place to help protect the watershed facilities if the fire jumps containment lines.

Dry weather conditions will continue to keep temperatures in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s and relative humidity dipping below 20%. The main concern for today will be hold the lines on the

southern portion of the fire and out of the City of Bend’s watershed, as winds are forecasted to get gusty from the northwest at 10-18 mph in the afternoon as a weak upper level disturbance moves

over the area.

• 6,800 acres consisting of heavy brush and timber

• 250 homes threatened with 50 remaining under Level III Evacuation

• No structures lost or damaged

• No injuries

• Cause under investigation

• 5% containment

• 11 helicopters, 46 engines, 11 dozers, and 708 personnel assigned to the fire

• Estimated costs to date- $1.23 million

Public Information Meeting

An informational meeting open to all public and media will be held Monday evening at 6:00 pm at

Bend High School, located at 230 NE 6th St in Bend. Fire representatives will give a current and expected fire briefing and will be available to address questions and concerns.

Additional Information

The fire is being managed under a unified command of Oregon Department of Forestry Incident

Management Team 2 (Incident Commander, Chris Cline) and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Green Team

(Incident Commander, John Ingrao).

Cooperators working the incidents include Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon State Fire

Marshal’s Office, US Forest Service, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, City of Bend, American Red

Cross, Bend-La Pine School District, and Cascade Timberlands LLC.

 

Evacuation Levels Explained

Level I (Ready)-

Residents should be aware of the danger that exists in their area, and monitor local media outlets for

information. Residents with special needs, such as those susceptible to breathing problems in

wildfires or those with animals and pets, should take note and begin making arrangements to

evacuate. For wildfires, smoke can often cause the most problems for residents, especially those sensitive to smoke. Evacuations at this time are voluntary.

Level II (Set)-

This level indicates there is significant danger to your area, and residents should either voluntarily

relocate to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area. For those that choose to

remain, they should be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Access into the area is typically

controlled by law enforcement. Law enforcement may also decide to not allow residents back into the area once they leave.

Level III (Go)-

This level means to leave immediately! Danger to your area is current or imminent, and your life

safety cannot be guaranteed. Residents should listen to local media, and watch for emergency

personnel who may be coming by to give further instructions regarding the evacuation

WILDFIRE SMOKE, HEALTH TIPS AND INFORMATION

WILDFIRE SMOKE POSES HEALTH CONCERN FOR SOME RESIDENTS

 

Due to the Two Bulls wildfire, smoky conditions are expected to persist throughout Deschutes County for an indefinite amount of time.  Deschutes County Health Services will continue to communicate to the public the health impact of wildfire smoke inhalation on an ongoing basis until the fires reside.  Residents can check the current local air quality conditions on DEQ’s website (http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx) or call
(503) 229-6397.

 

WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK FROM WILDIFRE SMOKE? People with chronic lung or heart conditions, the elderly, children, and pregnant women have a higher risk of health problems from breathing dense wildfire smoke.  People in these risk groups should minimize the impacts of wildfire smoke when it appears or smells the strongest or when DEQ indicates “unhealthy” air conditions by:

·         Staying indoors

·         Avoiding outdoor activities until air quality improves

·         Closing windows and doors, and

·         Using air conditioners and filters.

 

Those suffering from asthma or other respiratory conditions should follow their breathing management plans; keep medications on hand, and contact healthcare providers if necessary. Remember-the longer poor smoke conditions linger, the more likely a person’s health may be affected.  Please be prepared and think ahead regarding ordering medications.

 

Deschutes County Health Services will provide more detailed health recommendations as conditions change and updated information regarding air quality becomes available.

 

HELPFUL WEBSITE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION:

 

Centers for Disease Control fact sheet about the health threats from wildfire smoke: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/facts.asp

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s health effects information for particulate matter (the most harmful component of wildfire smoke for most people): http://www.epa.gov/pm/health.html

 

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality website about wildfire smoke: http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/burning/wildfires/index.htm .

 

OHA wildfire preparedness web page: http://public.health.oregon.gov/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareForWildfire.aspx

 

EVACUATION DETAILS FROM DESCHUTES COUNTY SHERIFF

Evacuation for Tumalo Reservoir Area Fire

 

Location: Tumalo Reservoir Area, west of Bend, OR

Date:  June 7, 2014 at 5:15 p.m.

 

 

**LATEST UPDATE:  June 8, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

 

The Sheriff’s Office has issued Level II and Level I Evacuation notices.   THESE NOTICES ARE STILL IN EFFECT.  The Level II notice was for residents in the area located south of Shevlin Park Road, west of Mt. Washington Drive, and north of Century Drive.

 

The Level I notice was for residents in the remainder of Northwest Crossing (east of Mt. Washington Drive), and the area that includes residents north of Shevlin Park and west of Mt. Washington Drive.

 

The Level III Evacuation Notice is still in place for the Saddleback Subdivision (both sides of Johnson Road), and the Skyliners Road residents outside the City of Bend.  Approximately 150 homes were given evacuation notices in the Saddleback Subdivision area and 40 homes in the Skyliners Road area.

 

The Red Cross Emergency Shelter has been moved to the High Desert Middle School located at 61111 SE 27th Street in Bend.

 

For FIRE INFORMATION call 541-550-4850.

______________________________________________________________________

*

Two Bulls fire now at 6,180 acres

Bend, Oregon – More than 300 firefighters worked overnight on the Two Bulls Wildfire burning west of Bend. Active fire continued throughout the night, prompting an additional evacuation of the Johnson Ridge subdivision. Approximately 250 homes have now been evacuated. The Red Cross has established a shelter at High Desert Middle School in Bend (this is a new location).

Approximately 2,000 additional homes are in an area considered threatened. Deschutes County Sheriff Department has notified residents in areas south of Shevlin Park Road, west of Mt. Washington Drive and north of Century Drive to be prepared to evacuate if the fire continues to grow in their direction. Suppression efforts will focus on structural protection in these areas, establishing containment lines, and keeping the fire from moving south and east. Additional suppression efforts will focus on the west flank of the fire, located closest to the City of Bend watershed.

Heavy smoke prevented aerial resources from getting an accurate view of the fire yesterday, and an overnight infrared flight provided a better estimate of size. The fire is now 6,180 acres and remains uncontained with no estimate of containment at this time.

The two fires were reported by Black Butte Lookout at 12:48 yesterday afternoon. The fires are burning in a mix of Deschutes National Forest and private lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. Although the fires haven’t burned completely together, they are being managed as one incident, the Two Bulls Wildfire. The fires are staffed with 12 20-person handcrews, including the several Hotshot crews, 13 engines, 2 air tankers, 2 helicopters, 7 dozers, and several watertenders, along with miscellaneous additional overhead personnel.

The fire is burning in a mix of ponderosa pine, brush and grass. Increasing temperatures and afternoon winds are expected to challenge firefighters and potentially cause an escalation in fire behavior.

The fire is currently under command of a Type III Incident Management Team, and an Oregon Department of Forestry Type II Incident Management Team will assume command of the fires later this morning.  
 

Two Bulls Fire **UPDATE: June 8, 2014 at 6:45 a.m.

Two Bulls Fire at 300 to 400 acres in size.  190 homes have been evacuated in the Saddleback Subdivions and Skyliners Road area.  Additionally residents in the ares of Shevlin Park Road and Northwest Crossing are under a pre-evacuation advisory to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

 

The Red Cross has setup an emergency shelter at High Desert Middle school on 27th Street in Bend.

 

Officials are meeting now. We will provide updates as they become available. Stay tuned throughout the day. 

 

 

Two Bulls Fire **UPDATE: June 7, 2014 at 7:04 p.m.

On June 7, 2014 at approximately 12:48 p.m., Deschutes County 9-1-1 received reports of two separate fires in the forested area northwest of Tumalo Reservoir.  Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene.

The fire is approximately 300 acres in size.  The Saddleback Subdivision area evacuation started at approximately 4:00 p.m.  Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office deputies and members of Search and Rescue are conducting the evacuation notification.   

Residents in the Saddleback area on the WEST side of Johnson Road are to evacuate SOUTHBOUND toward Shevlin Park.   Residents on the EAST side of Johnson Road are to evacuate NORTHBOUND on Johnson Road.  This is requested to ensure a smooth and efficient evacuation.  There are several road closures in the area of the fire, as well as the areas being evacuated.

Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers are currently evacuating residents on Skyliner’s Road, west of the City of Bend.

The Cascade Middle School has been designated as an emergency shelter coordinated by the local Red Cross.  The Deschutes County Fairgrounds has been designated as a livestock shelter for those needing a place to keep livestock.

FOR FIRE INFORMATION call 541-550-4850
 

Wildfires Break Out Near the Tumalo Reservoir

The fires broke out just before 1 p.m.   There are two fires involved out by the Bull Springs area,  west of the Tumalo Resevoir.   They are sending firefighters out to both sides.

 

Deschutes County officials say so far no structures are threatened at this point.

 

Officials are asking people to stay away from the area.

 

Lisa Clark with the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch says the two fires are within seven miles of each other and they are treating them as one fire.

 

Right now their main concern is campers and other people recreating in the area. 

 

Clark says many agencies are responding to the fires including Redmond and Prineville hot shot firefighters as well as  two helicopters.

 

We will have more information as it becomes available. 

 

This picture is taken in the Tumalo Area by Highway 20 and Innes Market Road.

Bend's Father Radloff Starts His New Catholic Church This Weekend

It will be affiliated with the Evangelical Catholic Church out of Illinois.

 

Radloff used to be the priest at St. Franics, but was removed by the Baker Diocese with little explanation.  He was still a priest in good standing, yet the Diocese refused to place him with a new church.

 

After monhs of waiting for a parish, Father Radloff decided to start his own church.

 

The first service will be this Sunday at the Riverhosue in Bend.

 

Ron Wimer used to be a member of St. Francis, but left after Father Radloff was removed.

 

He's happy Father Radloff is starting anew in Bend and so are a lot of people.

 

"After he made his decision and announcement, friends and family flooded him with messages on Facebook and emails.  I would say 600 between those two media.  He spends a couple hours every day answering his messages and he has a hard time keeping up with them."

 

The first service will be this Sunday, June 8th at the Riverhouse at 9 A.M.  Starting next week, Holy Communion Church will hold services at the conference room in the Bend Senior  Center.

Sisters Closes an 800-Thousand Dollar Budget Deficit Without Going to a Four Day School Week

The district had considered doing that earlier this year when they were trying to reconcile an 800-thousand dolllar budget hole.

 

Sisters School Boad member Don Hedrick says they were able to close the hole -- other ways.

 

"Well, between several grants that we have received recently and money from the Lundgren Mill Fund, which is money the district got from selling some property, we've been able to fill the hole for the budget for the next year."

 

The district is still negotiating contracts with teachers and other district workers, so that part of the equation remains up in the air.

 

Hedrick says they may have to cut some school days next year to balance the budget.

Redmond Mother is Arrested for Supplying Two Students with Marijuana Brownies

A 14 year old Redmonf student was taken to the hospital for an unknown medical problem Thursday and it was discovered she and another 16 year old male had consumed brownies with marijuana earlier in the day.

 

37 year old Anne Marie Springer, who is the mother of one of the students, was arrested and charged with the delivery and manufacture of marijuana near a school and endangering the welfare of minors.

 

Springer does have a medical marijuana card, but Oregon law prohibits the delivery of marijuana to minors.  Her home is less than a thousand feet from Obsidian Middle School.

 

The student was released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

 

The student and three other minor children at the Springer home were released to other family members by social services.

COCC President Selected To Be Oregon's Community College Commissioner

Beginning this October, Dr. Jim Middleton will serve in the statewide post secondary leadership position.

 

As  commissioner, he will work on budget, funding, support and coordinating issues for Oregon's 17 community colleges.

 

Middleton has served more than 30 years as a community college administrator and ten years teaching in high schools and community colleges.  He is officially retiring in September.

 

He will serve as commissioner on a part-time basis starting this October and running through June of 2015.

Washington Post Article Focuses on the Merkley-Wehby Senate Race in Oregon

Republicans feel incubment Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley is vulnerable since his support is under 50 percent, but his Republican challenger, Monica Wehby, has had a rough start with reports on domestic incidents with an ex-husband and ex-boyfriend.

 

Republicans are looking to expand their base in their attempt to win the Senate in November.

 

But Senator Jeff Merkley feels Oregon voters won't support a candidate that doesn't make herself accessible to the media.

 

"I think Oregonians need to hear from candidates for office about how they feel on a range of issues.  Candidates should not get away with not offfering specifics and taking any questions."

 

Republicans are looking to do better in seven states Obama won in 2012 -- Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon and Virginia.

Supreme Court Refuses to Stop Gay Marriages in Oregon

The high court rejected the appeal for a stay to stop the marriages.  

 

The justices declined to get involved in the Oregon case.

 

Gay rights advocate Ron Berry of Bend says views on gay marriage have changed dramatically in recent years.

 

"The other people who are with us.  A minority can't do it on thier own.  They have to have the help of the majority . It says a lot about our culture and how it's changed in the last ten years."

 

Berry says its his understanding , organizers have decided not to go forward with plans to put gay marriage on the November ballot.

 

"Oregon United for Marriage is kind of closing up shop.  I'ts a subgroup of Basic Rights Oregon - BRO.  Bro sounded like it was going back to other issues in the LGBT community like gender issues, what not."

 

The National Organization for Marriage plans to continue its effort to intervene in the state's gay rights case through the appeals courts.

Senator Merkley Supports New Bill Being Introduced to Cut Down on Long V-A Wait Times

The bill was introduced earlier this week to help get more veterans in to see V-A doctors sooner.

 

"This is Bernie Sander's bill, who is the Chair of Veterans.  It essentially is saying the head of the V-A needs more management capacity to get rid of high officials who are not performing.  And we also need to address the core of the problem which is the under provision of facilities and resources for the health of our veterans."

 

Part of the legislation would hire additional doctors and nurses to cut down on the current long wait times for so many veterans.

 

"We have an increasing numbers of veterans coming home from Afghanistan.  And they are facing significant health issues like PTSD and traumatic brain injury and a lot of support is needed to address demand."

 

The bill is scheduled to go before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Thursday.

Oregonians Who Signed Up On Cover Oregon Will Have to Re-enroll This November

Tina Edlund, the head of the Cover Oregon Transition Project says it will be similar to annual sign ups employees have to do for health insurance through their employer.

 

"There are 80-thousand enrolled in qualifeid health plans that will have to re-enroll.  We were hoping to do a block file transfer to the federal website, but there are identity management issues , because you have to set up separate accounts in the federal system.  We are working closely with CMS to make it as easy as possible."

 

More than 400-thousand Oregonians have enrolled in new health care this year.

 

That ranks Oregon 7th out of 15 states that started their own health exchanges.

 

The next enrollment period will be November 15th.

Members of Oregon's National Guard's Second Battalion Are Heading to Afghanistan

A mobilization ceremony will be held this Saturday June 7th at the Salem Armory Auditorium.

 

400 soldiers from the 162 Infantry, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat team headquartered in Springfield will complete mobilization processing and training  at Fort Bliss and Fort Hood in Texas before going to Afghanistan.

 

U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader, Oregon's Secretary of State Kate Brown and Oregon State Representative Julie Parish will be attending the ceremony.

Bend PD Takes First Place in Motorcycle contest

News Release from Bend Police  

 

 

BPD Traffic Team takes first place!

 

On May 15th through May18th, the City of Bend Police Department Traffic Team attended the North American Motor Officer's Association Annual Training Conference in Clackamas, Oregon.  This is a conference put on every year for Motor Officers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Canada.  The conference consists of three days of intense training in regards to operating a police motorcycle.  The training is intended to improve the officer’s ability in operating a police motorcycle by receiving expert instruction.  During this year’s training conference, 40 teams attended and competed.  

 

An obstacle course was the final competitive event.  This course was designed to add stress to the motor officers with the intent of replicating emergency responses in critical situations.  Time is kept for teams competing in this course.  The City of Bend Police Traffic Team took first place!

 

The Bend Police Department Traffic Team has competed in past events with great success.  Over the last three training conferences they have finished in the top three.  

Oregon US Senators push bill to fix Veterans Administration problems

Wyden, Merkley and Sanders Introduce New Bill to Bring Accountability to the VA

Bill Would Boost VA Accountability, Streamline Hiring Process and Shorten Wait Times for Medical Care

 

Washington, D.C. – Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and several of their Senate colleagues in introducing a bill late yesterday to bring accountability to the Department of Veterans Affairs and to cut through the red tape that keeps veterans waiting far too long for care, following the release of reports revealing systematic problems in meeting the health care needs of our nation’s veterans.

“The Inspector General’s report shows that VA officials need to be held accountable for their job performance. It’s high time that Congress said, ‘Do your job or we’ll find somebody else who can,’” Wyden said. “It is imperative that our veterans get the care and benefits they have earned, and I’m going to be working with my colleagues to ensure we make that happen.”

“What happened at the VA is outrageous,” Merkley said. “Those responsible should lose their jobs, and swiftly. Moving forward, we need to work together to ensure we have the doctors and resources to get our veterans the care they've earned. I'll be working with my colleagues to make sure we do just that.”

The bill, the Ensuring Veterans Access to Care Act, would allow the VA to quickly remove and replace officials found to have been involved in any mishandling of veteran medical care or exhibiting poor job performance, hire additional doctors and nurses to cut down on wait times, standardize the process for sending veterans into the community when the VA is unable to provide timely care and update the VA’s scheduling system to improve access to health services.

A report from the VA’s Office of Inspector General made public on May 28 detailed longer-than-reported wait times for veterans seeking doctor’s appointments and showed systematic use of inappropriate scheduling practices, including efforts to hide wait times.

Wyden and Merkley also co-sponsored a broader bill that Sanders and 11 of their Senate colleagues introduced Monday, the Restoring Veterans’ Trust Act of 2014. In addition to the provisions in the new bill, the Restoring Veterans’ Trust Act would also expand dental and other medical benefits, provide in-state tuition for veterans seeking new educational opportunities and improve access to resources for victims of military sexual assault. The bill is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Thursday.

###

Pups for Oregon Wolf Confirmed by Fish and Wildlife Department

News release from ODFW - 
 
June 4, 2014
Pups for Wolf OR7
PORTLAND, Ore.— Wolf OR7 and a mate have produced offspring in southwest Oregon’s Cascade  Mountains, wildlife biologists confirmed this week. In early May, biologists suspected that OR7, originally from northeast Oregon, had a mate in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest when remote cameras captured several images of what appeared to be a black female wolf in the same area.
 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) biologists returned to the area Monday and observed two pups. Scat samples from the area have been collected and submitted to a laboratory for DNA analysis, which will take several weeks. 
 
An image of the two pups can be seen at ODFW’s wolf photo gallery (see image). It is likely there are more pups as wolf litters typically number four to six pups.
 
It would be the first known wolves to breed in the Oregon Cascades since the mid-1940s. “This is very exciting news,” said Paul Henson, State Supervisor of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office. “It continues to illustrate that gray wolves are being recovered.”
Wolves throughout Oregon are protected by the state Endangered Species Act. Wolves west of Oregon Highways 395, 78 and 95 are also protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, with the Service as the lead management agency.
 
At the end of last year, there were 64 known wolves in Oregon. Most known wolves are in the northeast corner of the state.
 
About OR7:  OR7 was born into northeast Oregon’s Imnaha wolf pack in April 2009 and collared by ODFW on Feb. 25,  2011. He left the pack in September 2011, travelled across Oregon and into California on Dec. 28, 2011, becoming the first known wolf in that state since 1924.
Other wolves have travelled further, and other uncollared wolves may have made it to California. But OR7’s GPS collar, which transmits his location data several times a day, enabled wildlife managers to track him closely.
Since March 2013, OR7 has spent the majority of his time in the southwest Cascades in an area mapped on ODFW’s website.
###

Redmond's New Airport Manager on the Job

Jeff Tripp comes to Redmond from Arizona where he spent twenty years in different airport administrative positions.

 

He most recently was the Director of the Prescott Municipal Airport.

 

Tripp is originally from Massachusetts and is looking forwad to what Oregon offers both personally and professionally.

 

"Professionally the Redmond Airport is a phenomenal airport that the community has made an impressive investment in the last decade or so.  The opportunity to manage a quality facility and to have the outdoor activities really drew me to the area."

 

All of Tripp's experience is with municipal airports, so his dealings with commercial carriers is more limited.

 

But he is meeting with Redmond's interim Airport Manager, Bob Noble, who was brought in after former Airport Director Kim Dickie was demoted, and being brought up to speed.

Update on Getting the Former Cover Oregon Website Up and Running for Medicaid Patients

Tina Edlund, the head of the Oregon Health Authority was appointed by the Governor to make sure the website is totally working by the next enrollment in November.  

 

She gave the Oregon Health Policy Board an update Tuesday.

 

"When the Governor asked me to oversee the transition, I asked him what he expected from me.  And he said he wanted a working website by November 15th.  So it was pretty straight forward and pretty clear.  So I will make sure its ready by November 15th 2014, the beginning of open enrollment."

 

Edlund says they are on track to name a system integrator by the end of June.

 

Testing of the system will start by August 15th, so there will be three months of testing before enrollment begins.

Rescue Crews Help Save Three Kayakers Who Got in Trouble on the Deschutes River Tuesday

It happened near the steep canyon by the Bill Healy Bridge.

 

Bend Fire Battallion Chief Bob Madden says this is a popular and dangerous part of the river.

 

"A lot of local experiened kayakers do a lot of kayaking there, but someone inexperienced or ill equipped would have a tough time.  We've had fatalities there.  Know what's below you .. don't take anything for granted.  There is some real tricky water on the Deschutes."

 

Three kayakers were involved.  One got to shore and alerted authorities about the two others.

 

They were eventually rescued, but crews warn kayakers to be aware of the difficulty of the terrain you're traveling.

Bend High Students Win First Place in a Statewide Special Olympics Competition

The girls participated in a statewide Special Olympics competition in softball in Hillsboro.

 

Bend High life skills teacher Robert Tadijiki says these kids learn so much through this experience.

 

"Well, they learn amazing things about themselves like patience, humility and communication and they get to win championships around the state of Oregon (laughing).

 

The team consisted of seven intellectually disabled students along with seven students who are not.

 

The Bend High group won the championship game, but also won best sportsmanship as well.

Deschutes River Water Rescue

Deschutes County 9-1-1 confirms that local crews are responding to a "water rescue" on possibly the Deschutes River in Bend this afternoon.

 

  No other details are available at this time.  Crews are working at the scene and will provide more information later.

Prineville Breaks Ground On Its New Elementary School

Voters approved the 33 million bond last May.  It will allow the district to build a new elementary school and refurbish some other schools.

 

The new elementary school will be called Barnes Butte Elementary.

 

School Board member Patti Norris says it will be a great addition to the community.

 

"It is scheduled about 700 students.  A two story building, a full size building, library and classrooms arranged in a pod configuration.  There will be four or five classrooms that will face a shared area and create an area for specialized interaction with kids in different grades."

 

Groundbreaking on the  new elementary school was Monday and will be finished by the fall of 2015.

 

It will replace two existing elementary schools.

Oregon Sees Five Cases of Measles in the Latest Measles Outbreak

Ohio has the most cases, but Oregon has five.

 

Dr. Paul Cieslak is the head of Infectious Disease at the Oregon Public Health Division.

 

"It's on the high side.  Last year we had six cases for the year. But going back to 1996, we had five to six cases, so it's a fairly high number. That said, I don't lie awake at night worrying about five cases of measles."

 

All the cases have been traced to foreign countries.

 

Oregon's five cases involved four members of a Marion County family who were exposed to someone who traveled to Asia.  There's also an infant in Multnomah County who got measles after traveling to Asia unvaccianted.

 

What concerns him is our high vaccination exemption rate, that makes him nervous.

 

"We actually have the highest rate of religious exemptions for schools  at 6 percent.  I'm concerned because since 2006, it's been climbing.  Some schools have over 60 percent of unvaccinated kids.  You put a case of measles in a school with a high school vaccination exemption rate, you're going to get an outbreak.  Fortunately we've dodged that bullet so far, but that's the  one thought that makes me nervous."

 

 

Redmond Kiwanis Extend Fundraising for Sam Johnson Park Improvement Project

They are still 55-thousand short of  their goal of 700-thousand dollars to build a new playground.  They are giving themselves until July first to raise it.

 

In May, an anonymous local donor agreed to match up to $112-thousand dollars of what the community gives.

 

Since then,  they have raised 55-thousand and are only 55 thousand away from their goal.

 

The city of Redmond is also contributing 120-thousand to the project.

 

The group hopes to break ground on the new playground in February of 2015 and open it to the public in May of 2015.

Bend High Will Get a New School Health Clinic Next Spring

Deschutes County has just received a grant to pay for the clinic for two years.

 

The grants are for $60-thousand the first year and $53 thousand the second year.

 

Deschutes County School Health Clinic Supervisor Linda Webb says Bend High was picked to be the beneficiary.

 

"Well, the poverty rate is a little higher there than at other schools and also there's a teen parent program there, so we  can also see the babies.  And this keeps the teens in school when they have a medial need because they miss so much."

 

Bend High plans to convert existing space at the high school for the new clinic that will be staffed by Mosiac Medical personnel.

 

The clinic should be operating by next spring.

Oregon Looks to Increase Its Veterans Seeking Services

Currently Oregon is one of the top states for veterans receiving benefits, but less than half our veterans seek services.

 

Eric Belt, the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs, talked about it last week at a meeting of the Senate committee on veterans.

 

"Oregon has been a top ten states in terms of compensation and pensions received by veterans.  Only 3 in 10 veterans receive services from the V-A.  So this is a great opportunity for use to reach out to the other 7 in 10 eligible for benefits."

 

The Veterans Committee is going to try to get more veterans to seek services.

 

In recent years, Oregon has slightly increased its veterans using services and has greatly increased its compensation from the federal government.

Prescribed Burned planned today for Central Oregon

 

Prescribed fire planned north of Wickiup Reservoir

 

CENTRAL OREGON– Given favorable conditions, fuels specialists plan to implement a prescribed fire north of Wickiup Reservoir on Lookout Mountain, beginning Monday, June 2.   Ignitions are expected to last 1 to 4 days as specialists burn approximately 730 acres within the Pringle Falls Experimental Forest. 

 

This prescribed fire was planned in collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Research Station of the Forest Service, which manages the Pringle Falls Experimental Forest for research and education in ecosystem structure and function and for demonstration of forest management techniques.

 

The main objectives of this prescribed fire are to promote large fire-dependent ponderosa pine and reduce the potential for tree mortality that could occur during a wildfire. 

 

Forest Roads 4250-500, 4245-400, and 4245-500 on Lookout Mountain will be closed during operations and until deemed safe to reopen. 

 

Due to the location of this project, smoke may be visible from the greater La Pine, Sunriver, and Bend areas.  Drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby roads.  If smoke drifts onto roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care. 

 

Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.

 

For more information, please visit the “Prescribed Fires” link on the Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests website, http://www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon and follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire

 

Governor Kitzhaber reacts to Obama Administration's Proposal to Cut Carbon Pollution

News Release from the Governor's office:

 

Governor Kitzhaber Applauds Obama Administration Proposal to Cut Carbon Pollution

Strong federal action is needed to curb effects of global warming



(Tillamook, OR) — Governor Kitzhaber today applauded the Obama administration’s new proposal to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants, calling it a welcome sign that the federal government is stepping up in the fight against climate change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will administer the new rule under Section 111(d) of the federal Clean Air Act.
 
"President Obama and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy are to be congratulated for accelerating a national response to the costs and risks of climate change," said Governor Kitzhaber. "Oregon is already experiencing the impacts of climate change, from ocean acidification and dead zones offshore to rampant wildfires last summer that cost more than $120 million. This bold step will protect the health of citizens across the country while supporting the growing energy efficiency and renewable energy economy on the West Coast."
 
The Governor praised the proposal’s emphasis on giving states flexibility to build on programs and partnerships that are already protecting public health, saving consumers money, and spurring innovation in cleaner, safer energy. "I am particularly pleased to see the Administration recognize the important role of regional partnerships, such as the Pacific Coast Collaborative, in meeting the objectives of this new effort to curb carbon pollution," he said. Last year, Oregon joined with Washington, California, and British Columbia to sign the Pacific Coast Collaborative Plan on Climate and Energy, which aligns regional carbon reduction policies while supporting the growth of clean energy. 

The Obama Administration announcement comes just over a week after EPA Administrator McCarthy met with Governor Kitzhaber and other elected officials at a roundtable in Portland. At the meeting, the Governor discussed state and local efforts to develop strategies to conserve energy, improve appliance standards, and promote renewable energy. In the last year, Oregon has passed legislation supporting the state’s 10-Year Energy Action Plan and moved to fully implement the Clean Fuels Program, which reduces the carbon content of transportation fuels. 
 
 
Related Link:
Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy
 

Oregon Banks Celebrate American Housing Month, News Release (tips for potential home owners)


 
Oregon Banks Celebrate American Housing Month
OBA Offers Five Important Things to Consider When Choosing First Home

 

SALEM, Ore.,  June 2, 2014 - In recognition of June being American Housing Month, the Oregon Bankers Association (OBA) and OBA Education Foundation are providing consumers with five important things to consider when choosing a home.

“As the housing market gets into the swing of summer, we remind Oregonians that choosing the housing option that is best suited for their current lifestyle and financial situation is critical,” said Linda Navarro, president and CEO of the Oregon Bankers Association. “Oregon banks recognize the importance of reliable, quality housing and are there to support their customers, whether they choose to rent or buy.”

The OBA offers the following questions for consideration when choosing a home, especially a first home:

1. How much money do you have saved up?
Start with an evaluation of your financial health. Figure out how much money you have for a down payment or deposit on a rental. Down payments are typically 5 to 20 percent of the price of the home. Security deposits on rentals are usually about one month of rent and more if you have a pet. But be sure to keep enough in savings for an emergency fund. It’s a good idea to have three to six months of living expenses saved to cover unexpected costs.

2. How much debt do you have?
Consider all of your current and expected financial obligations like your car payment and insurance, credit card debt and student loans. Make sure you will be able to make all the payments in addition to the cost of your new home. Aim to keep total rent or mortgage payments plus utilities to less than 25 to 30 percent of your gross monthly income. Recent regulatory changes limit debt to income (DTI) ratio on most loans to 43 percent.

3. What is your credit score?
A high credit score indicates strong creditworthiness. Both renters and homebuyers can expect to have their credit history examined. A low credit score can keep you from qualifying for the rental you want or a low interest rate on your mortgage loan. If your credit score is low, you may want to delay moving into a new home and take steps to raise your score.

4. Have you factored in all the costs?
Create a hypothetical budget for your new home. Find the average cost of utilities in your area, factor in gas, electricity, water, cable and internet. Find out if you will have to pay for parking or trash pickup. Consider the cost of yard maintenance and other basic maintenance costs like replacing the air filter every three months. If you are planning to buy a home, factor in real estate taxes, mortgage insurance and possibly a home owner association fee. Renters should consider the cost of rental insurance.

5. How long will you stay?
Generally, the longer you plan to live someplace, the more it makes sense to buy. Over time, you can build equity in your home. On the other hand, renters have greater flexibility to move and fewer maintenance costs. Carefully consider your current life and work situation and think about how long you want to stay in your new home.

For more financial education resources, including understanding credit and homebuying 101, visit the OBA Education Foundation’s Financial Education Resource Guide at www.oregonbankers.com/financial_education.

About The Oregon Bankers Association
Established in 1905, the Oregon Bankers Association is Oregon's only full-service trade association representing state and national commercial and savings banks chartered to do business in Oregon.  More information is available at www.oregonbankers.com.

About the OBA Education Foundation
The Foundation's overall mission is education.  The Foundation envisions a vibrant banking and business community that attracts the best talent and empowers all Oregonians to be financially educated and secure.  For more information or to support the Foundation, please visit www.OBAEdFoundation.org.  

Archives:

2024-03 | 2024-02 | 2024-01 | 2023-12 | 2023-11 | 2023-10 | 2023-09 | 2023-08 | 2023-07 | 2023-06 | 2023-05 | 2023-04 | 2023-03 | 2023-02 | 2023-01 | 2022-12 | 2022-11 | 2022-10 | 2022-09 | 2022-08 | 2022-07 | 2022-06 | 2022-05 | 2022-04 | 2022-03 | 2022-02 | 2022-01 | 2021-12 | 2021-11 | 2021-10 | 2021-09 | 2021-08 | 2021-07 | 2021-06 | 2021-05 | 2021-04 | 2021-03 | 2021-02 | 2021-01 | 2020-12 | 2020-11 | 2020-10 | 2020-09 | 2020-08 | 2020-07 | 2020-06 | 2020-05 | 2020-04 | 2020-03 | 2020-02 | 2020-01 | 2019-12 | 2019-11 | 2019-10 | 2019-09 | 2019-08 | 2019-07 | 2019-06 | 2019-05 | 2019-04 | 2019-03 | 2019-02 | 2019-01 | 2018-12 | 2018-11 | 2018-10 | 2018-09 | 2018-08 | 2018-07 | 2018-06 | 2018-05 | 2018-04 | 2018-03 | 2018-02 | 2018-01 | 2017-12 | 2017-11 | 2017-10 | 2017-09 | 2017-08 | 2017-07 | 2017-06 | 2017-05 | 2017-04 | 2017-03 | 2017-02 | 2017-01 | 2016-12 | 2016-11 | 2016-10 | 2016-09 | 2016-08 | 2016-07 | 2016-06 | 2016-05 | 2016-04 | 2016-03 | 2016-02 | 2016-01 | 2015-12 | 2015-11 | 2015-10 | 2015-09 | 2015-08 | 2015-07 | 2015-06 | 2015-05 | 2015-04 | 2015-03 | 2015-02 | 2015-01 | 2014-12 | 2014-11 | 2014-10 | 2014-09 | 2014-08 | 2014-07 | 2014-06 | 2014-05 | 2014-04 | 2014-03 | 2014-02 | 2014-01 | 2013-12 | 2013-11 | 2013-10 | 2013-09 | 2013-08 | 2013-07 | 2013-06 | 2013-05 | 2013-04 | 2013-03 | 2013-02 | 2013-01 | 2012-12 | 2012-11 | 2012-10 | 2012-09 | 2012-08 | 2012-07 | 2012-06 | 2012-05 | 2012-04 | 2012-03 | 2012-02 | 2012-01 | 2011-12 | 2011-11 | 2011-10 | 2011-09 | 2011-08 | 2011-07 | 2011-06 | 2011-05 | 2011-04 | 2011-03 | 2011-02 | 2011-01 | 2010-12 | 2010-11 | 0000-00

On Air Now

Lars Larson
Lars Larson
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Lars Larson

FlashAlert

KBND ON FACEBOOK

News Disclaimers