Many Central Oregonians will spend time during the summer at Lake Billy Chinook enjoying the houseboats and recreational opportunities available at The Cove Palisades State Park. However, hiking during the summer can be very uncomfortable with high temperatures in the area the norm. But in mid December, the cool temperatures can make for a nice hiking experience when a lot of exertion is needed.Balancing Rocks is a Geological Formation to View Overlooking the Metolius Arm of Lake Billy ChinookNot really a hike (1/2 a mile round trip), the Balancing Rocks (called hoodoos) can be located by driving all the way through the park past the airport toward the Perry South Campground. When forest service road 64 turns into a dirt road, travel just a short distance until you find the parking lot ... 12/17/2020

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Central Oregon five weeks ago, we have been looking for places to hike which are still fairly easy to access yet not subject to closure restrictions. This weekend we found Gray Butte.  Every Central Oregonian knows iconic Smith Rock with its fabulous rock formations and the destination of many rock climbers from around the world. We have often hiked in this state park and enjoyed watching those climbing and rappelling down Monkey Face or the other cliffs many times. We have climbed Misery Ridge and enjoyed hiking many of the trails as well. One path we have never hiked before, however, is the looming Gray Butte immediately to the east of Smith Rock - although we have noticed people walking up the trail. On Saturday we drove east around Smith Rock to the ... 04/20/2020

  Hood River Warming Shelter Open Now Through March   Hood River's warming center is now open nightly, through March, from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Guests receive a warm bed, a light dinner and breakfast for free by showing up between 6 and 8 p.m. If there are no guests by 8 p.m. the shelter will be closed for the night. Location changes weekly, rotating among local churches... see schedule below. The shelter is staffed entirely by volunteers and coordinated by HRWS, a coalition of community members who came together to offer the homeless a safe shelter for the winter. It is open to anyone, with or without an appointment, referred by an agency or organization or not. Guest will be asked to provide basic identification, to follow rules and staff requests. For more information or to donate, see t... 12/10/2011

I have had several people interested in obtaining a USDA home loan for property in Jefferson County.  I've put together a map of part of the county that should help in identifying areas that qualify for this program.  As you might know - it's one of the last TRUE 100% home loans available - and it doesn't have PMI!  The rates are comparable to FHA, so it's a very affordable payment!  You do not have to have PRESTINE credit, but we generally want to see scores above 580, and 12 months of "clean credit." USDA does require that the property be located in a less populated area.  It does not need to be a farm - but it can't be located downtown either.   The "darker" area does NOT qualify.  However, as you can see - that is basically the Bend urban growth boundary and anywhere else in the cou... 10/14/2008

It is funny how we do not know how many lives we touch.  Warren Fitzgerarld passed away this week while working in California.  Warren was the driver of #711 in the Sportsman class of Madras Speed Way.  This summer our family spent a lot of time there.Although our family had sportsman drivers too, we were rookies.  Warren always went out of his way to help anyone he could.  When we would run into Warren around town he always had a smile and a helpful heart.  He will be missed by our family.I do not know if he ever knew how much he touched us, our hearts are heavy as Warren leaves a wife and at least one step child.  Clint his step son must be a wreck, Clint also raced, he was a Junior Racer - although only 15 he placed 2nd in the Junior class.  Not only has Clint lost his hero but the m... 09/25/2007

Most Saturday nights you will find me about 60 miles north of La Pine is the great city of Madras. I love cars, and Madras has a Quarter Mile Dirt Track... known as the Fastest Dirt Track in the West. The key word here is Dirt... you do get a little dust (ok a lot, but who cares). This weekend was a special event for the Chambers' family - our nephew Cliff raced for the very first time. He and his dad have worked hard to put together car #18 and last night was our debut event.Yep he is racing a 70 Mustang. This if you can believe it or not was a yard sale find... $1500 and a lot of hard work and you are on the track.We have a family friend that races in Madras also, he drives the orange car in the back ground... #88.Cliff did great, this first time racer is only 19 years and us up again... 07/22/2007

Madras, Oregon is getting a huge boost to their local economy. The addition of Deer Ridge Correctional Institution is expected to produce between 400-500 new jobs for this Central Oregon area with an estimated annual payroll of $22 million dollars. The new Jefferson County facility is situated on 200 acres three miles east of Madras  and will house both minimum and medium security inmates. The new men's prison will contain 644 minimum security beds and 1240 medium security beds. Construction is almost complete and the new prison will begin taking inmates in September of 2007.        Applications for all positions at DRCI are currently being accepted. Click here for more information on the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution. For more information on what's happening in Central Oregon, pl... 03/27/2007