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Julianna LaFollette

Julianna earned her Masters in Journalism at NYU in 2024. She loves writing local stories about interesting people and events. When she’s not reporting, you can find her cooking, participating in outdoor activities or attempting to keep up with her 90 pound dog, Finn.

1reporter@bendsource.com
Posted inNews

Local Nonprofit Director Arrested on Drug Charges

The Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul was charged with selling commercial amounts of methamphetamine
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Gary Lee Hewitt, the Executive Director of local nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul was arrested on Aug. 15 for the distribution of commercial quantities of Methamphetamine. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office determined 58-year-old Hewitt was selling commercial amounts of the drug from his residence in Redmond, Oregon. Sheriff’s Office detectives, along with detectives from the […]

Posted inNews

St. Charles Tech Workers on the Picket Line

Over 150 health care workers campaign for a new union contract
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Several technical workers at St. Charles Health System walked the picket line on Aug. 15, campaigning for a new union contract aimed at securing safe staffing and living wages for healthcare workers. The workers, who include surgical techs, respiratory therapists and sonographers, have been in negotiations over their next union contract for several months. St. […]

Posted inNews

Local Homebuilder Opposes Bend’s Tree Regulations

Pahlisch Homes aims to pause a code that clarifies how and when trees can be removed in developments
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On Aug. 6, Pahlisch Homes, a local homebuilding company, submitted an appeal of the City of Bend’s recently approved tree code regulations. In a letter, Pahlisch Homes requested that the City pause the implementation of the code and address concerns between the City and the development community. On June 20, the Bend City Council approved […]

Posted inBest Of Central Oregon

Best TV Personality

Emily Kirk
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Emily Kirk, known to many for her great attitude and upbeat personality, has been on Central Oregonians’ TVs for nearly nine years. Kirk grew up in Portland and started her journalism career in college at the University of Oregon. While her dream was always to go into sports reporting, she eventually tried her hand at […]

Posted inBest Of Central Oregon

Best Margarita

Hola!
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As soon as I arrived at Hola’s downtown Bend location, I was met with two gigantic margaritas, the Mexican Martini and the Desert Cactus, one of which the staff promptly put into our giant Best of Central Oregon goblet for sampling. The lively staff was there to tell me all about the many margaritas that […]

Posted inBest Of Central Oregon

Best Dog training

Dancin’ Woofs
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Since 1999, Dancin’ Woofs has offered a friendly place for doggy day care and training. The business has ongoing doggy day care and a mixture of different training classes, from group puppy classes and basic skills classes to one-on-one training. Kristin Kerner, the current owner, went from a client to an employee in 2004 and […]

Posted inNews

Central Oregon Assesses the Future of Fire Reduction

Local leaders address resident concerns following a fire on the north side of Bend
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We got lucky. Following a fire that broke out on Aug. 2 in Juniper Ridge, which threatened homes and structures in north Bend, that was the sentiment echoed through recent meetings, as officials described the response to contain this potentially catastrophic fire. The Mile Marker 132 Fire was first reported around 3pm and progressed quickly. […]

Posted inNews

City of Bend Chooses Hawthorne Bridge Design

Councilors choose “single cable tower stay” for pedestrian and bicycle bridge on Hawthorne Avenue
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An initiative to increase connectivity and create safer parkway crossings for bikers and pedestrians is coming along as the Bend City Council moves forward with a design concept for the overcrossing on Hawthorne Avenue. On Aug. 9, the majority of Bend City councilors voiced their preference for a “single tower cable stay” bridge design. This […]

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