Traffic Stop Turns Deadly
Cops say on June 26 at 11:32 pm, City of Bend Police officer Timothy Williams, a three-year veteran of the force, pulled over a red Toyota 4-Runner driven by 36-year-old Timothy Bret Bontrager for failure to use a turn signal. During Williams’ request for Bontrager’s license and insurance, the officer suspected Bontrager of driving impaired,…
Graham Fire Nearing Containment
Lightning strikes that came with thunderstorms that rattled windows and dropped hail and heavy rains June 20 ignited three fires in Central Oregon. The Graham Fire, first reported June 21 near the town of Culver, burned nearly 2,200 acres and was 85 percent contained as of June 26, according to the Central Oregon Fire Information.…
PAC withdraws support of local House candidate
FuturePAC, a campaign committee for Democrats in the Oregon House, has withdrawn support for Nathan Boddie, the Bend city councilor who’s running on the Democratic ticket for Bend’s House District 54. In a statement released Tuesday, FuturePAC said the decision comes in response to “serious allegations of inappropriate behavior.” Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek stated…
Rockhounding at Richardson’s Rock Ranch
For those who like beautiful day drives and laid-back outdoor activities, rockhounding may just be your new favorite pastime. Richardson’s Rock Ranch is open during the summer seven days a week, 7am to 5pm. Thundereggs—named for their spherical shapes and often colorful, agate-filled interiors—are plentiful in the volcanic ash layers common throughout the region. Guests…
McKenzie Paddle Adventure
Splashes and giggles abound on a lush, fun and flowy section of the McKenzie River. While you’re paddling, gaze below the surface to see glassy greenish-blue water and a riverbed lined with rounded igneous cobbles—a nice relief from Bend’s lacerating lava rock. A brown bag lunch never tasted so good when consuming it under giant…
Beast Mode
Want to accomplish an Instagram-able day off? Need to challenge yourself and impress your friends and loved ones? Consider taking three of your favorite Central Oregon sporting pastimes and pulling an outdoor trifecta. Beast Mode days are a great way to expand the boundaries of what a “day’s worth” of activities can include. The Intel:…
John Day River Steelhead, on a Fly
If you like fly fishing, heading out to the lower section of the John Day River during the summer steelhead run could be a fishing trip you’ll never forget. Ten-plus fish days are possible when the run is strong and the fish are in the river. Directions: An easy access point is Cottonwood Canyon State…
Hood River Bike Stop
So you live in Bend, alias, “Mountain Bike Mecca.” Props to you, big shooter—yet maybe you’re finding yourself craving a trail you haven’t ridden before, and maybe one a bit less dusty this time of year. If your recreational budget affords you a few extra hours to kill, heading to Hood River to ride Post…
The 4th is Coming
It seems like every year, someone blows off a body part—or accidentally kills themselves—with illegal fireworks. The City of Bend’s Fire Department Public Information Officer Dave Howe says in Oregon, legal—or consumer—fireworks can travel no more than 6 feet, fly no more than 12 inches and must not be designed to explode. Bend is a…
Bored with Your Summer Already?
The official start of the summer season upon us, and the days are open for all types of summer adventures. Just in case you don’t already have your summer stuffed full of activities, we’ve rounded up a whole bunch of activities happening around the area—perfect for anyone wanting to get out in the sun this…
Positive Vibes
A few tell-tale signs signify summer in Bend. One of them: The annual gathering of “Soulrockers,” with Michael Franti at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. I first saw Franti four summers ago at the Amphitheater, but the tradition started years before that. Fans converge on the grassy lawn at the Amphitheater for an evening of extreme…
Two Hand Touching
So far, 2018 has been a dismal year for comedies. “Super Troopers 2” and “Action Point” were so numbingly horrible that they made the fairly generic “Life of the Party,” with Melissa McCarthy, seem like a comedic gem. Hopefully, “Tag” is a sign of things to come, because it balances big laughs, a ton of…
Redmond Transit Hub Opening Soon
Bus passengers in Redmond will soon begin using a new transit hub. The facility, located at 777 SW Kalama Ave., is scheduled to open in mid-July, according to Derek Hofbaeur, outreach and engagement administrator for the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and Cascades East Transit. “This project creates a permanent location to better serve transit riders…
Trump-approved STATES Act could change everything for marijuana business
As Donald Trump carries on with his daily ritual of alienating world allies and embracing the world’s autocrats, some owners of marijuana businesses could be forgiven for feeling a touch of ambivalence toward the president, thanks to Trump’s recent, surprising support of the cannabis industry. A little background: Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Gardner…
Heavy Hitters
Mastodon won its first Grammy earlier this year for best heavy metal performance. The band has been lumped in with the new wave of American heavy metal that began in the 1990s with Pantera and Machine Head and the preeminent metal act of the 21st century, Metallica. But over its 18 years of existence, the…
Free Music Everywhere!
With Les Schwab taking the year off of the Free Summer Sunday concert series, some may fear a decrease in free live music in Central Oregon. Fear not! These untraditional, yet perfectly capable locations will provide free live music in Bend throughout the summer to satisfy your audiophilic cravings. On Tap The Eastside’s newest food…
4 Peaks Picks
With an incredible forecast on the horizon, there may be no better place to spend the weekend in Central Oregon than at the 4 Peaks Music Festival at Stevenson Ranch. The festival brings together local, regional and nationally touring musicians, also delivering activities for kids, yoga and an after-hours silent disco. We listened to many…
Ya Slacker!
Alright #YOLO, we get it—living in Bend is exhausting. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure Ironman spiked with craft sours at every hour. With a deceiving plethora of sunshine, meaning you can do the rock/lake/mountain biking/skiing/hiking/running/tubing all in one day, we know it’s tough to be cool and do all them thangs. If you rose at 4…
Think It, Make It
Bend offers lots of places to check out art and grab a bite to eat—but the only place where you can do that after you learned to weld, build a tiny home or make drinking glasses out of wine bottles is at 9th Street Village. When Dave Danek and Tim Willis first started throwing business…
Street Beat
The Source Weekly asks locals: What’s your favorite summer event in Central Oregon? Justus Vega “I’ve always wanted to go to the Folk Fest that happens in Sisters.” Zach Filkins “The Bite of Bend, because of all the food, or the Brew Fest for sure.” Anne Williams “I like the Brew Fest and all of…
Issues Currently Impacting Real Estate
A recent report issued by the Counselors of Real Estate listing issues impacting the national real estate market is very similar to the issues facing our local market. Among the issues: Rising interest rates and the economy: Rising interest rates impact home affordability, particularly with income-sensitive, first-time buyers. Politics and political uncertainty: The upcoming midterm elections…
Letters to the Editor
Mirror Pond Yes Mr. Taylor, Mirror Pond has been “an iconic piece of property in Central Oregon for many years” (Source Opinion 6/14/18), and that is one of its biggest negative features. It was a choice recreational environment back when ladies in long, puffy dresses holding parasols picnicked with bow-tie clad gentlemen in bowler hats.…
Prance Charming and Fort Noxious
My friend is obsessed with dating models. Of course, because he’s dating mostly based on looks, these relationships rarely last. He says that he’s trying to move up in the business world and that being seen with a beautiful woman makes a difference in how he’s perceived. Wouldn’t businesspeople be more impressed if he could…
Scout’s Mobile Refresher Hits the Streets
Bend’s favorite food cart (and the Food Cart of the Year in our 2018 Restaurant Guide), Scoutpost, has opened its second cart—and this one is oh so sweet. Scout’s Mobile Refresher is serving up ice cream, fresh donut holes and dipping sauces. You won’t be able to miss the ballet-slipper-pink cart covered with huge, hand-painted…
Juniper Tree Invasion Redmond Art Reveal
Over the past few years, leaders in Redmond have been building up their city with an influx of art in public spaces. Earlier this year, the city made a call to artists for their “Juniper Tree Invasion” asking artists to create a piece that showcases the unique nature of juniper trees. This Thursday, pieces from…
Party It Up at the Brewery
It’s not exactly a surprise that every summer in Bend is packed with beer-oriented events. It’s an outdoors kind of town, and there’s something enticing about knocking off a pale ale or two while enjoying the scenery by the river. (It’s arguably just as much fun to curl up by the fire and enjoy a…
Free Will Astrology—Week of June 21
CANCER (June 21-July 22): I suggest you ignore the temptation to shop around for new heroes and champions. It would only distract you from your main assignment in the coming weeks, which is to be more of a hero and champion yourself. Here are some tips to guide you as you slip beyond your overly…
A New Alliance
Before the last recession, the City of Bend staffed an Office of Neighborhood Associations to support the 13 neighborhood associations around Bend. The economic downturn saw budget and staff cuts, and the City eliminated the staff person that supported the neighborhood associations. However, since this past fall, the City Council has been working with the…
From Romance Writer to Farm-to-Table Author
Dating weird guys in Alaska led Sara Rishforth to write “Bend Food: Stories of Local Farms and Kitchens.” Rishforth grew up in South Carolina but lived in Alaska for eight years before moving to Central Oregon. While in the 49th state, she had dating experiences so interesting that they inspired her to write a series…
Applaud Oregon Senators for Leading the Charge on Immigration Policy Changes That Separate Parents, Children
This past weekend, families gathered en masse to celebrate Father’s Day. It should come as no small irony to contrast those happy Father’s Day scenes with the hundreds of fathers and mothers, detained on criminal charges, separated from their children, for the crime of crossing the U.S. border illegally. Whatever your personal position on the…
From Shakespeare to Superstar
“Jesus Christ, Superstar,” a dramatized, musical version of the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, is coming to Drake Park this summer, on stage Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24 and 25. It’s a brand new venture for presenter Lay It Out Events, which…
Call Her Big Red
Located about 150 feet from the Deschutes River in La Pine State Park, it rises higher to the sky than all other big ponderosa trees on the nearby landscape. Many of its branches are bigger than the other, younger ponderosa trees that populate the Deschutes National Forest. It’s known as a Pacific ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa),…
Summer Events
(Looking for music events? See our comprehensive guide of summer music at BendSource.com. Bike and other outdoor events? Those are on our website and our calendar, too….) SATURDAY 6/23 CENTRAL OREGON PRIDE An annual celebration of LGBTQ equality, diversity, education, social justice, community and family. This family-friendly event features Dykes on Bikes, live music and…
Wildlife and Diseases
“Never let a mouse live in your house; they will steal the breath of your children.” That’s a saying I’ve heard came from the people of the Hopi Nation—and also an accurate description of the symptoms of Hantavirus. The Hopi people apparently recognized the role wild rodents play in the spreading of diseases among the…
Scarred McKenzie Pass Reopens
Update: McKenzie Pass is closed at least through Thursday at milepost 70 eastbound and milepost 81 westbound due to mud over the highway after Wednesday’s storms. Check ODOT’s website for up to date information on when the pass will reopen. Peter Murphy at the Oregon Department of Transportation loves McKenzie Pass. “You can’t get this…
The Ayn-Credibles
I know it’s somewhat insane to search for philosophical meaning in cartoons, but something about “The Incredibles 2” rubbed me the wrong way. The movie is beautifully designed with several jaw-dropping action sequences and deeply immersive 3D, so the kids will probably love it, as will those who grew up with the original film. If you’re…
