Cover Story
South Deschutes County Water has a Nitrate Problem. County Commissioner Candidates Offer Solutions
Southern Deschutes County has a lot going for it: postage-stamp lots tucked into expanses of Lodgepole pine, lesser-glimpsed views of the Cascades and backroads to many lakes and access points along the Deschutes River. Its unincorporated areas, where about 18,000 people live, have also long suffered high levels of nitrate in the groundwater. The shallowness…
Free Will Astrology, Week of March 12
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Can you compel acts of grace to intervene in your destiny? Can bursts of divine favor be summoned through the power of your will? Some spiritual scholars say, “Absolutely not.” They claim life’s wild benevolence arrives only through the mysterious tides of fate—impossible to solicit and impossible to predict. But other…
The Quiet Value of Maintenance
Homeownership is often talked about in emotional terms. It’s the place where holidays happen, where dogs scratch at the back door, where friends gather around a kitchen island long after dinner is finished. A home is where life unfolds. But financially speaking, a home is something else entirely. For most people, it is the single…
You Haven’t Lost It. You’ve Just Stopped Looking.
Dear Dr. Jane, My wife and I have been married for close to 10 years, together for 15. In general, we get along really well, but sex is almost non-existent at this point. I can count on one hand the number of times we were intimate in 2025. When we first met, we were both incredibly…
Redmond High Student Competes in Poetry Out Loud
Redmond High School senior Arianna Morris just returned from the state finals for the 2026 Poetry Out Loud contest. She’s the only student from Central Oregon to make it that far. Eleven high schoolers from around the state competed on Saturday, March 7. Morris read two poems: “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne…
Outdoor Liability Bill Reaches the Summit
Get smashed by a snowmobile driven by ski hill employee? That’s gross negligence — you’d have a liability lawsuit on your hands. Break your foot because a kettle bell slipped from your grip? That’s ordinary negligence — maybe the gym owner should have a glove policy — and you’re outta luck. Outdoor recreation and fitness providers, along with volunteer organizations, will enjoy a heightened protection against liability lawsuits, once Gov. Tina Kotek signs Senate Bill 1517 into law. Oregon lawmakers passed…
Central Oregon Locavore is Expanding
Central Oregon Locavore is getting ready to open a new location on the west side of Bend. Founder Nicolle Timm-Branch says it’s in direct response to surveys and listening sessions the nonprofit conducted in 2025. It wasn’t water rights, labor costs or weather that were top of mind. Timm-Branch says they heard from “farmers, ranchers…
Locals Say They Want Tourists to Pay More of Their Fair Share for City Services. A Tweak to Room Tax Rules Could Do That.
Every time a conversation about funding the streets or local cops comes up, some in the community will use it as an opportunity to ask, “How can we get tourists to pay more of their fair share?” In Bend, the City Council tried in 2016 to increase the local gas tax to make that happen.…
Letters to the Editor, Week of March 12
Why I didn’t use the VA to pay for my root canal A broken molar, and the resulting $2,000 repair, led to someone asking the question, why didn’t I go through the VA? As an eight-year veteran of the armed forces, I should be entitled. I would like to answer that question publicly, as it is…
DJ Jason Brown, Grandson of ‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown, Performs at Wildwood
DJ Jason Brown, the grandson of the famous ’60s funk and soul singer James Brown, is coming to perform at the Box Factory’s Wildwood. Jason, whose niche fits in remixing Brown’s songs with electronic sounds, modern drums, and afro-house and tech-house influences, is on a small tour making a stop in Bend. The goal of his music artistry is to match classic songs like “Sex…
Shredder Bend
Getting youngsters excited about skiing for the first time can be a challenge. It’s cold, and for some, intimidating. Morgan Schaening and his wife, Natalie, are opening Shredder Bend, an indoor, year-round ski and snowboard school for children ages one to 10. “We get them in real skis, real boots, real snowboards and we help…
Mt. Bachelor, Central Oregon Avalanche Center Officials Discuss Avalanche Prevention Procedures
Officials from Mt. Bachelor and the Central Oregon Avalanche Center are giving insight on avalanche mitigation efforts at the resort and the backcountry. Because of the inherent fatality risk present in snow sports, the last known local and fatal accident being Feb. 2025 near Broken Top Mountain, COAC and Mt. Bachelor take extensive measures to prevent avalanche accidents. “Avalanches are pretty common, even in Central Oregon. It’s definitely something that’s going to be happening frequently,” Bryce Kellogg, president of COAC, says. The…
Animal Avatars
What do you need from an animated film that’s aimed primarily at children? Is it just something for you to throw on in front of the kiddos for a few hours while you get something else done? Do you want the film to teach vital lessons to your kids while sparking nostalgia for your own…
The Comedic Side of Espionage
For over 40 years, Cascade Theatrical Company has been bringing the stage to life in Central Oregon through community theatre, having put on over 350 productions. Its latest venture is sure to leave guests rolling in the aisles. “The 39 Steps,” a play described by director Desi Thrower as a “hilarious and multi-faceted piece of…
Bend Into Balance
Perhaps drawn to the sheer natural beauty surrounding Bend and its endless trails and terrains for hiking, biking, running, rock climbing, kayaking, skiing and snowboarding (and so much more), the city has attracted many individuals who get out, play, compete and thrive in this vibrant outdoor playground. And along with them, so have a great…
COTA Adds 11.4 miles of Trail Connecting Cline Buttes to Cascade Views
The Central Oregon Trail Alliance just added 11.41 miles of new cross-country trails to the Cline Buttes trail system located between Bend and Redmond. The new trails include six new miles of trails at Cline Buttes, with trails named Chainbreak, Positive Vibrations, Return Policy, DH3 re-route, Legal Eagle, Crossfire and Cover Charge. The 5.5 miles of new trail at Cascade View include new trails Whiptail,…
