H ere on the light side of the sun again, we can stop and reflect for a moment about what just happened. Some people got stuck in some traffic. An RV toppled over near Madras. A few cars broke down. Some restaurants may have over-prepared. In the grand scheme of things, the apoc-ecliptic predictions for […]
Editorial
Posted inOpinion
Fraught with ongoing issues, we’re making progress, Central Oregon
O n regular weeks, this section of our publication is reserved for commentary and inquiry, and often, constructive criticism about the things going on in Central Oregon. It’s an important facet of a vibrant newspaper that aims not only to report on the news and happenings of the region, but also to get people thinking […]
Posted inOpinion
We’ve hit peak “us vs. them” ire. Is this who we want to be?
W hen someone vandalizes a beloved landmark, the reaction is usually disgust, mixed with a dose of “Oh, that was just kids being dumb kids.” Vandalism, as a whole, is not something people who care about their town and their quality of life typically condone. That is, unless that vandalism contains a message against tourists. […]
Posted inOpinion
Local media should have access to police radio traffic, in real time
This week, the Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District made the move from an analog-based radio system to a more modern, digital trunked system. Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson told the Source Weekly Tuesday that the old system had reached the “end of its life.” The upside to the switch: the gaps in coverage that sometimes […]
Posted inOpinion
Bad Timing
Clearing out a homeless camp one week before the eclipse adds insult to injury
During last week’s forum on human trafficking and the eclipse held at St. Charles Medical Center, representatives from J Bar J Youth Services and Saving Grace discussed how the upcoming influx of eclipse tourists will create an additional burden on the homeless population of Central Oregon. When spots fill up at the youth shelter run […]
Posted inOpinion
Oh, Dam. It’s Back.
Deschutes River dredgers want your taxes
Like us, you’ve probably grown tired of the endless history lessons surrounding the bend in the Deschutes River affectionately known as “Mirror Pond.” The Pacific Power “dam,” which has created an abnormal and unhealthy part of the river now full of silt, continues to attract the attention of folks who put the idea of a […]
Posted inOpinion
What is ecotourism, anyway, and can Bend accomplish it?
We discuss the fallout from being ranked #1, again.
Like any story that delves into the complexity of living in a tourist town that gets a lot of attention—and many subsequent transplants—last week’s story, “Unsolicited Accolades” elicited a lot of commentary. Following “Outside” magazine’s designation of Bend as the “Best Multisport Town” in the United States, we sought to ask locals what they thought. […]
Posted inOpinion
Rural Counties are Where Jobs are Needed Most—and That Includes Jobs Pumping Gas
Pull up to a gas station in Oregon and it’s easy to determine whether someone lives in the state or not. If the driver moves to start pumping their own gas, it’s a sure tell that they’re from out of state. Oregonians don’t have to pump their own gas and haven’t done so since 1951. […]
Posted inOpinion
Parking Study: More of Bend’s residents should think twice about a car commute
…and new programs can foster that.
Want to invoke a string of anguished cries of outrage in Bend? Feel like stripping citizens of their hard-earned birthright to drive and park their cars wherever they want, whenever they want? Then endeavor to switch some of Bend’s downtown parking spaces to a paid system. As reported in the Source Weekly last week, a […]
Posted inOpinion
Cell Tower: When in doubt, err on the side of protecting kids.
Last week’s article, “Tower Tussle,” has ignited a lot of debate in the comments section of our website. The story discussed the debate over a proposed 5G cell tower at Trinity Episcopal Church, located adjacent to Amity Creek Magnet School in downtown Bend. Church leaders have not made a final decision about whether to allow […]