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County officials get a raise
The 2024-2025 Salary Schedule was adopted by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners at their regular meeting June 26. The salary schedule is effective July 2024 through June 2025. All elected officials received a 7% increase effective July 2024. For the county commissioners, it means their new annual salaries are $49,709. For comparison to other nearby counties with part-time commissioners: adjusted for PERS, Crook equivalent is $45,270 and Wasco is...
Walking trail closed for maintenance
Starting Monday, July 8, a portion of the city walking trail between the C Street Bridge and the Buff Street Bridge will be closed for a special cleanup operation. In an effort to reduce fire risks along city trails, the city of Madras, Jefferson County Fire & EMS, and the Jefferson County School District have partnered in a special program that uses goats to clear the overgrowth naturally. This was...
Fires spark across county, two homes destroyed
On Monday, June 8 in the afternoon, multiple plumes of smoke erupted from the areas around Culver and Madras. It began at about 12:45 p.m. with a fire that eventually destroyed a home and took over a field and vehicle near Jericho Lane east of U.S. Highway 97. No serious injuries occurred, but two people were transported for smoke inhalation. The house is reportedly a complete total loss. While crews...
Heat wave persists
The upper-level ridge is moving very slowly eastward which means we will have to bear a few more days in the triple digits; I’m not expecting us to break the trend and drop below 100 until Wednesday or Thursday. Tuesday will be our hottest day with temperatures at or above 105 in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, and throughout Jefferson County. I am expecting us to continue to break records into this work week. Relief during the nighttime hours is not expected, as we’ll be in the upper 50s and into the mid 60s for much of the region. Normal highs this time of year are in the low 80s, so we are well above average during this extended heat wave.
LIST: Cooling centers in Central Oregon during potential record-breaking heat wave
With temperatures expected in the upper 90s and triple digits for the next few days, several cooling centers are opening up around Central Oregon. Bend: Blue Dog RV (Shepherd's House), 181 NE Franklin, 7 days a week, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. 541-318-0729. Bend: The Lighthouse Navigation Center, 275 NE...
CENTRAL OREGON HISTORY: May Benson Johnson led a prolific life in Jefferson County
Rose May Benson was born on Sept. 19, 1878, in Bardstown, Kentucky. She grew up in Eaton County, Michigan, and attended local school. She graduated from Michigan State Normal School. She had an adventurous spirit and moved to Montana to begin her teaching career. She met William Johnson while teaching in Montana. William was born on Aug. 10, 1875, in Clifford, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Nebraska and moved to Montana as a young man. May, as she was commonly known, began a romantic relationship with William, and they were married in Forsythe, Montana, on Jan. 14, 1904. They had...
KWSO Calendar for Sat., Jul. 6, 2024
KWSO is broadcasting the Waterfront Blues Festival, live from Portland – courtesy of KBOO radio and Oregon Community Media – today and tomorrow. KWSO will be sharing the live music starting at noon and going to 10pm. You can listen on your radio at 91.9FM, on our stream at kwso.org and on your phone with the KWSO App.
String of dangerously hot days has begun, high fire danger as well
The mercury in the thermometer will push over the century mark today as a ridge of high pressure dominates the west coast. Today we are likely to see another record high temperature in Bend as the old record of 99 set in 2007 will fall as I am forecasting a high of 101.
What does OSU Extension do?
Many in our community have had experience with one or more of the Oregon State University Extension agencies but may not realize the depth of the programs they support. Nicole Strong, OSU Central Regional Director recently gave an overview at the Jefferson County Commissioners meeting. It included: 4-H Youth Development Horse Showmanship Clinics in fall...
Simmelink appointed to CO Regional Solutions Advisory Committee
Jefferson County Commissioner Kelly Simmelink Appointed by Governor Tina Kotek to the Central Oregon Regional Solutions Advisory Committee. Commissioner Kelly Simmelink has been appointed to the Central Oregon Regional Solutions Advisory Committee to be the County representative. The Association of Oregon Counties Board of Directors recommended his appointment to Governor Kotek. The appointment runs through June 30, 2026. “I am honored to be selected to represent the three counties in...
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