Deschutes County
Posted inNews

Coronavirus Comes to Oregon

Central Oregon agencies mobilize in anticipation of the arrival of COVID-19 in the region—and in hopes of preventing its spread
Avatar photo Nicole Vulcan

This story has been updated from the print version. It’s not lost on me that as I write this, the information contained herein could be outdated by the time the press delivers the print version to our newsroom. As representatives from the Deschutes County public health team said Monday, the situation is “changing hourly.” So […]

Posted inNews

Tiny Homes for Vets

A project offering transitional shelters for veterans gets off the ground
Laurel Brauns

Central Oregon Veterans Outreach estimates that there are between 80 and 100 veterans living in the region without homes. But the exact number is hard to find. The 2019 Point In Time Count published by the Homeless Leadership Coalition reported 62 veterans. Hundreds of homeless camps dot the landscape on the outskirts of Bend and […]

Posted inOpinion

Look Up and Beyond

Growth and access cost money
The Source Staff

Last week, the Bend City Council initially voted in favor of putting the smaller of two proposed transportation bond packages before voters during the May election, aiming to tackle some of the most pressing and overdue transportation-related problems in Bend. While the Council still has another vote before them before voters would see that bond […]

Posted inNews

From Vapegate to LUBA

2019 wasn’t short on marijuana drama
Jeremy Dickman

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 […]

Posted inNews

YAC buffers and Sex Offenders

Attorneys spar at county hearing
Jeremy Dickman

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 […]

Posted inNews

Impartial Judgement

A chat with Alycia Sykora, Deschutes County Circuit Court’s new judge
Laurel Brauns

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. […]

Posted inNews

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
Laurel Brauns

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.”
The Source Staff

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 […]

Posted inNews

Hunting Near Homes Rattles Residents

Group seeks Deschutes County change to hunting carve-outs
Hilary Corrigan

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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