Believe it or not, there was some news in 2019 not totally related to the Oval Office. The U.S. Congress (excluding the do-nothing Senate), the Deschutes County Commission and the Oregon state legislature had a busy 364.5 days when it came to crafting, fighting or violating marijuana policy. Federal activity The House Judiciary Committee made history […]
Deschutes County
Posted inNews
YAC buffers and Sex Offenders
Attorneys spar at county hearing
In October, the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals decided that the Deschutes County Commissioners’ definition of a “youth activity center” amounted to an unreasonable restriction on marijuana farms. Since then, I have to admit I’ve been anxiously awaiting another Deschutes County Board meeting to put marijuana land-use on their agenda. On Dec. 11, I […]
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Impartial Judgement
A chat with Alycia Sykora, Deschutes County
Circuit Court’s new judge
Some may wish they never had to be in the same room with her. For others, her decisions may set their lives on a better course. Alycia Sykora—a civil lawyer in Bend since 2002—was sworn in as Deschutes County’s newest circuit court judge in November, replacing Judge A. Michael Adler, who had served since 1997. […]
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Decriminalizing Mental Illness
Deschutes County is set to open a stabilization center this spring. With a 17-fold increase in mental health calls over the past decade, it’s a welcome addition
Calls to the Bend Police Department involving people who were “allegedly mentally ill” increased by 172% from 2010 to 2017. People affected by mental illness end up in prisons and jail at a much higher rate than people without a diagnosis. In response to the increase in calls, Deschutes County has created a number of […]
Posted inOpinion
Citizen Involvement is the Oregon way. Local officials should remember that when voting on plans
Citizen committees are a vital part of local government—and not everyone has to be an “expert.”
For the past 16 months, members of the Deschutes County Solid Waste Advisory Committee have been meeting with the goal of making recommendations for a waste plan that would serve the region into the future. With Knott Landfill set to be full within 10 years, the committee has worked to develop recommendations that would help […]
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Source Weekly Update Podcast 9/19/19
A Bend man is a Leadville finisher, county zoning concerns and an end to sand volleyball at the Old Mill.
In this week’s podcast: A Bend man becomes a Leadville Race Series finisher, the sand volleyball courts at the Old Mill are set to close, and concerns over zoning for religious groups in Deschutes County.
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Hunting Near Homes Rattles Residents
Group seeks Deschutes County change to hunting carve-outs
A stretch of the Deschutes River between Sunriver and La Pine State Park has long had shooting restrictions in place, closing hunting along the waterway that zig-zags through federal lands and housing communities. Except for two little spots. The segments, each less than 1 mile but close to each other on the river just south of […]
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Ward Road Work Ahead
Deschutes County also plans to repave side streets
Deschutes County will close Ward Road starting Monday as work begins on a project to rebuild a 1.27-mile stretch east of SE 27th Street. The project involves reconstructing Ward Road between U.S. Highway 20 and Stevens Road, plus paving adjacent local roads. Temperature changes over time have caused expansion and contraction of the structure of […]
Posted inOpinion
If Residents Want an Opt-Out on Marijuana, Let Residents Put It on the Ballot Themselves
An opt-out measure is looming, costing taxpayers money on a question they’ve already answered
Ahead of the November 2018 election, then-candidate Patti Adair ran for Deschutes County Commissioner on two key platforms: Fiscal conservativism and being anti-marijuana. Since winning that election—by a narrow margin—and serving on the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners, she’s held true to being against marijuana growing in the county. On being a fiscal conservative, however, […]
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Opt Out Afoot
Deschutes County plans to add a measure to the 2020 ballot, asking residents to weigh in on future marijuana growing operations
In making a decision during their Aug. 8 Deschutes County Board meeting to “opt out” of allowing further marijuana business applications, commissioners have ensured that the country mouse/city mouse fight over cannabis farms will go through the 2020 election. And perhaps beyond. If you haven’t been closely following the county’s marijuana soap opera, here’s a […]