When Violence Comes Close to Home
There are moments when the world we thought we understood suddenly fractures. A school shooting is one of those moments. Schools are places where children are supposed to learn, grow, and imagine their futures. They are places where parents entrust their most precious beings to the care of others, believing they will return home safely…
Savage in Bend: The History of DRW
This month, Ben G. asks, “My family recently moved to Deschutes River Woods. I’ve heard lots of stories but was hoping to get a more detailed history. Can you help?” Absolutely! This question hits home, literally, because my family lives in DRW. Technically, we are on the outskirts of Bend but have a Bend address. Anyone…
The McDonagh Masterworks
You can’t trust this review. At the end of the day, I mean everything that follows, but you should know up front that I’m a devotee of the work of writer/director Martin McDonagh from the marrow in my bones to the metabolic waste in my brain, so nothing here is objective. I think McDonagh and…
Thaddeus Betz Leads Race for Deschutes County Circuit Judge
In what was perhaps the staidest, if opaquest race in Deschutes County’s General Election, it appears that Thaddeus Betz has charged ahead of three challengers for the recently vacated Judge of the Circuit Court, 11th District, Position 3, with more than more than 32,730 votes, or about 38%, after the second batch of votes dropped…
Ty Rupert Leads the Deschutes County Sheriff Race
The race for Deschutes County sheriff appeared to be decided Wednesday morning for Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert, who pulled more than 62,000 votes, surpassing opponent James “Mac” McLaughlin’s approximate 27,000 votes. This sheriff race was nothing if not reminiscent of recent sheriff races that were tarnished with investigations and accusations of politicking and theatrics. Both…
Central Oregon Votes: Tuesday Night Election Results
The 2026 midterm elections are behind us, and while Democrats’ decisive control of both chambers of Congress is the story on the national stage, the stories in Central Oregon include the apparent defeat of a controversial district map, the return of both mayors in Bend and Redmond, and the shift on the Deschutes County Board…
Where Are Bend’s ‘Gun Free Zones’ and How Do They Work?
Schools and some local governments in Bend have banned the concealed carry of handguns in recent years. That’s been the subject of discussion and criticism in the wake of the deadly Oct. 15 shooting tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary, when a 16-year-old gunman killed three students and a teacher before being wrestled by another staffer…
Harmony Farm Sanctuary Benefits Humans as Well as Animals
There’s no doubt that the Harmony Farm Sanctuary is a godsend for rescued farm animals — but what’s in it for us humans? As soon as a visitor arrives at the Harmony Farm Sanctuary outside of Sisters, four-legged creatures of all shapes and sizes are eager to meet the new face. (“Maybe he has something…
Assistance League of Bend Helps Clothe Local Kids, Support Seniors
Plenty of people are thinking about the welfare of children in Bend right about now, in the wake of a tragedy that directly affected the young people of the city. At Assistance League of Bend, its members have had a similar mission in mind for decades. As part of a larger national network of Assistance…
School Attendance, Community Supports and Oregon’s Educational Outcomes are All Intertwined
Last week, Reporter Clayton Franke’s story on the Silver Rail shooter started with the basic premise of, ‘why wasn’t this kid in school?’ We wanted to know when the student attended Bend-La Pine Schools, when he did not and what happened in between, in some attempt to understand more about the 16-year-old and why he…
NAMI Central Oregon Supports People Dealing with Mental-Health Challenges
Casey Munck says being the regional director for the NAMI Central Oregon chapter is an honor, not a job. There are approximately 650 branches of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI Central Oregon serves residents of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, led by Munck and Devon Nelson-Harmon, the community and program manager, and a…
Central Oregon Boys and Girls Club Provides Youth Programs Year-Round — And in Times of Tragedy
In the days following the Oct. 15 shooting tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary, Michael Baker got a call from Bend-La Pine Schools. The district needed help from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Oregon, for which Baker is the CEO. The schools were preparing hundreds of teaching staff to welcome students back. But with…
From Harvest to Table: A Mexican Family Feast Brings Culture and Community Together
Food has a way of bringing people together. A familiar aroma can transport us to a grandparent’s kitchen, a favorite dish can evoke memories of family gatherings and the simple act of cooking alongside someone else can turn strangers into friends. School of Ranch is inviting Central Oregonians to explore those connections through a decidedly…
Wine Doesn’t Need More Drinkers. It Needs More Curious Ones.
Wine has a younger-consumer problem. But I don’t believe the solution is convincing people to drink more of it. I believe we need to give people more reasons to be curious about it. According to Gallup, 62% of adults under the age of 35 say they drink, down from 72% two decades ago. In Oregon, the challenges…
A Wild Time at the Chili Cookoff
An upcoming event promises full bellies and a chance to care for and protect local wildlife. Back for a third year, Think Wild’s Get Wild Chili Cook-Off takes place Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon. The event invites cooks — both professional and otherwise — to bring a boatload of…
Local Teen Chases His Dream of Elite World-Cup Bike Racing
Chase Riggs didn’t see the massive crash coming during the 2026 Fox U.S. Open. Thanks to the vitality of youth, the 16-year-old from Bend bounced but didn’t break. He spent several hours in the hospital, undergoing tests and x-rays before getting the all-clear to race in the men’s 15-16 divisional qualifiers for the Monster Energy…
Silver Rail Educator Makes More Progress After Surgery on Oct. 27
Becky Drury, 54, of Bend, is recovering in hospital after a fourth, and “hopefully final,” surgery Oct. 27 to reconstruct the left arm that was injured during the Oct. 15 shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School. Post-surgery, her husband reported she can move her fingers “a small amount” and blood flow to her hand “looks…
Shop, Stroll and Enjoy Halloween Trick-or-Treating and Festivities
Looking to score oodles of candy, maybe do a little shopping and enjoy a family-friendly, fun fall day? There’ll be candy galore at Bend shopping areas on Saturday, Oct. 31, aka Halloween, including in the downtown Bend business core, the Old Mill District and at the Bend Factory Stores. In downtown Bend, from 3-6pm, look…
Bend-La Pine Says Silver Rail Will Reopen, But Exact Timing Unknown
Bend-La Pine Schools announced Tuesday it plans to reopen Silver Rail Elementary following the Oct. 15 shooting tragedy that left three students and a teacher dead, after an “overwhelming” 86% of parents said they wanted their children to return to the school. A letter to families posted to the district’s website didn’t specify a date…
