After a decade in the ski industry, Doug LaPlaca came to Bend two years ago from Steamboat Springs to take over the local tourism bureau, Visit Bend, which was embroiled in controversy over alleged mismanagement of funds. Since that time, LaPlaca has reformed the agency's image, begun to tap private funding (Bend now has an official shoe sponsor – Merrill) and laid down a track record of bringing top-notch events to Bend, including last year's Cyclocross Nationals.
He's Our Man Source Weekly Man of the Year Doug LaPlaca on tourism, Chuck Norris and crappie fishing
Posted inOpinion
Friend Of The Devil Pat Robertson on contract law, attack of the drones and more!
The author has been sent on the road to discover a lost country formerly known as America. He is reporting from PodioBooks.
Posted inOpinion
Measures 66 & 67: Let Us Count the Lies
Oregon ballot measure campaigns – especially those that involve taxes – always bring out a tendency to bend the truth. But in the current battle over Measures 66 and 67, the anti-tax side has twisted the truth like a clown making balloon animals at a kid's birthday party.
Posted inOpinion
Bachelor's Pricing System Is Fatally Flawed
Today was my first day on the slopes with the new lift ticket policy. Some of you folks who have been skiing at Mt Bachelor since the beginning of the season may have some positive experiences with this new crazy system.
Posted inNews
Games Time: possible foreclosure and lack of snow make the upcoming Olympics interesting
It goes without saying that the Canadians have thought of everything when it comes to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. On one hand, the Vancouver Games are right in step with the times by having one of the key venues being foreclosed on by its lenders.
Posted inNews
How're Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Server Farm?
Everybody is shouting hallelujahs and hosannas over Facebook’s decision to build its new “data center” in Prineville.
The Bulletin had a big bold banner headline on the front page this morning: “Enterprise zone lured Facebook to Prineville.
Posted inNews
“Reforming” Oregon to Death
Oregon conservatives who oppose the tax increases under Measures 66 and 67 say that what this state really needs is a fundamental reform of its tax system. No argument here – but what reforms would Oregon conservatives support?
Well, certainly not doing away with Oregon’s archaic and ridiculous “kicker” law, which prevents the state from accumulating sufficient reserves to see it through tough times like the present Great Recession.
Posted inNews
What's With The Bulletin's Anti-Tax Obsession?
The Bulletin’s opposition to Measures 66 and 67 seems to have turned into an obsession. Bend’s Only Daily Newspaper has yet another lengthy tirade against the tax measures on its editorial page this morning – the fourth, according to my recollection, plus a column a couple of weeks ago by Editor John Costa, numerous “In My View” pieces and countless letters to the editor.
Posted inNews
Former Chamber Chief To Run For City Council
If you don’t know Mike Schmidt, it’s worth pointing out that whatever assumptions that you might have about his former career as a “chamber guy” are probably off the mark. In fact it’s probably more telling that Schmidt is no longer with the Bend Chamber than the fact that he was –since he’s spent a good deal of his post-Bend Chamber career working on behalf of causes that the chamber has either actively opposed (a local business tax) or at least remained totally ambivalent about (Bend Transit and disabled access).
Posted inNews
Tonight in Music: Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Once again, the rural Indiana country blues rockers of Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band are stopping off at the Domino Room tonight (Monday), making that — by my count — the band’s third appearance in just over a year.