This alligator lizard shown at right was serious about living up to its name as it tried to eat Caleb’s finger. They met while we were exploring the Lava Beds National Monument back in the 1980s when my wife Sue and our kids were pursuing and tagging Monarch butterflies on the northern part of the […]
Central Oregon
Go Here 8/3-8/10
Haulin’ Aspen Twenty-six-point-two miles seem too far to run? Start off with 13.1 miles—just half the distance a the regular marathon. Thanks to the Oregon Half Marathon Series, there are plenty of opportunities afoot for both experienced and beginner runners. In fact, one of the most popular races in the series, Haulin’ Aspen, is Saturday, […]
Keeping the Machine Running
Serena Gordon was coming up to the halfway point of the Cascades High 100 bike race when she crashed. “I was on pace to beat my time from last year,” she said. “I don’t remember crashing at all, but from what I can piece together, I probably washed my tire out in a loose corner […]
Side Notes 8/3-8/10
“Safe” Passageway Reopens for Floaters at Bend Whitewater Park Bend river floaters might not be sure what to call the former Colorado Dam “Safe” Passage yet (Whitewater Park Passageway?), but they sure know how to take advantage of it. An estimated 5,000 visitors and locals alike negotiated the passageway channel at the Bend Whitewater Park […]
When Things Go Terribly Wrong
As friends and family of 23-year old Kaylee Sawyer try to make sense of her death, allegedly by 31-year-old Central Oregon Community College security guard Edwin Lara, a forensic psychologist says many questions may never be fully answered. Questions linger as the investigation into last week’s bizarre crime unfolds. Why would Lara—who is married to […]
“Hell Week” in Paradise
The Oregon State University football team will be packing up its gear and bussing out to spend a week in Bend. For the Beavers, the first week of August practice, “Hell Week,” as it is commonly referred to, will be spent in paradise. With their home field undergoing significant renovations, a new, temporary practice location […]
Letters 8/3-8/10
Bulletin Editorial In an editorial written several weeks ago, the Bulletin wrote that if individuals wanted to save Troy Field, they should raise the money and pay the school district for it, the rational being that school district had an obligation to raise funds for more schools. More recently, the Bulletin wrote that the Bend […]
Don’t Have the Cash for a Traditional Loan?
The housing crisis provided many opportunities for investors to purchase distressed properties at bargain prices and hold them as rentals or flip them at a higher price to a buyer unable to qualify for a loan at the time. This was evident with the increase in rent-to-buy homes and other seller financing options. In a […]
Experience Mid-Century Camping Firsthand
No one can argue that camping isn’t what it used to be. Today’s RVs and travel trailers come equipped with the same conveniences found in a small home, and outings often consist of listening to the wild animals howl just outside the window while watching Netflix from the comfort of a cozy couch. This August, […]
Keeping it Real
Sister Carol has been making reggae music longer than I have been alive, and her message is only getting stronger. Born in Denham Town in West Kingston, Jamaica, she immigrated to Brooklyn when she was 14. Her father was an engineer with Radio Jamaica, so music was in her blood for as long as she […]

