Population growth is back

Green light for U.S. 97 stoplight

May 23, 2013 4:00 am

A bill that will allow Deschutes County to use $200,000 from the sale of county-owned lands to make safety improvements to U. S. Highway 97 in La Pine is on its way to Gov. John Kitzhaber’s desk for his signature, according to Kevin Curry from....MORE

Existing-home sales rise in April

May 23, 2013 4:00 am

Existing-home sales rose in April to hit the highest rate since November 2009, pointing to an ongoing recovery supported by low interest rates and pent-up demand, according to data released Wednesday. Existing-home sales rose 0.6 percent in April to....MORE

Permits

May 23, 2013 4:00 am

City of Bend• Robert A. Seam, 19494 Spencers Crossing, $279,847• NTC & Co., 20033 S. W. Millcrest, $197,624• Wood Hill Enterprises LLC, 2938 N. E. Dogwood, $188,062• Bridges at Shadow Glen, 61148 S. E. Ambassador $246,....MORE

House OKs foreclosure measure

May 23, 2013 4:00 am

SALEM — A measure aimed at giving homeowners facing foreclosure a chance to speak face-to-face with their lenders before losing their homes sailed through the Oregon House on Wednesday. Senate Bill 558 passed on a 45-12 vote and now heads to....MORE

Bend-La Pine school bond

'Full speed ahead' for new schools

May 22, 2013 1:06 am

Two new schools are on Bend's horizon after voters approved a $96 million Bend La-Pine Schools bond Tuesday to fund their construction.“It's a bit of a relief," said Superintendent Ron Wilkinson. “It allows us to keep moving forward, and ....MORE

CTC board delays sale of theater

May 22, 2013 1:06 am

The future of the Cascades Theatrical Company and its building, the Greenwood Playhouse, has been handed off to the members of the nonprofit. The CTC board of governors voted Tuesday to give CTC members a say in whether or not the Greenwood Playhouse,....MORE

Food cart central

May 22, 2013 4:00 am

A Bend resident's vision for a food cart pod near Galveston Avenue on Bend's west side is taking shape. Construction started last week at the 0.13-acre lot owned by Bend resident David Staley, near the intersection of Hartford Avenue and Northwest....MORE

Deeds

May 21, 2013 4:00 am

Deschutes County• Eric M., Megan S., Paul J. and Janice O. Davis to Tanya M. Parsons, Neal Addition, Lot 4, Block 1, $215,000• Michael K. and Dana N. Coffman to Kevin Rueter, Stonegate P. U. D., Phase 1, Lot 39, $425,000• Brett J.....MORE

Deeds

May 19, 2013 4:00 am

Deschutes County• Susan Backstrom to Burke W. and Kimberly L. Muggoch, West Hills, Lot 5, Block 7, $421,000• Daniel A. and Rebecca S. Christ to Dennis K. and Carrie R. Detberner, Mt. Vista First Addition, Lots 3 and 4, Block 1, $300,....MORE

Hardest Hit programs hit and miss

• Successes, troubles highlight mixed results in Oregon

May 19, 2013 4:00 am

Three years ago, Dan Patton figured losing his home to foreclosure was a matter of when, not if. The La Pine resident closed his plastering business in 2009 after the housing market went bust. With a family to feed and an increasingly delinquent....MORE

What s going up?

May 18, 2013 4:00 am

General Contractor: Ray Hayes Construction Co., BendDetails: Crews are wrapping up construction on a nine-unit hangar building at Bend Municipal Airport. Ray Hayes Construction Co. has been working on the hangar since December, contracted by Bend....MORE

Greenwood Playhouse to be sold?

May 18, 2013 4:00 am

The board of the Cascades Theatrical Company has arranged a tentative deal to sell the Greenwood Playhouse, which has housed the company since the 1980s. Several board members believe selling the building, located on Northwest Greenwood Avenue, is....MORE

Redmond

Pavement done early on 3-block section of Sixth Street

May 18, 2013 4:00 am

Crews took down the barricades in downtown Redmond this week, opening up three blocks of Sixth Street that had been closed for complete replacement. The stretch between Deschutes and Antler was completed nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.“It....MORE

Deschutes plans cost cutting in 2014

May 18, 2013 4:00 am

Deschutes County is expected to pay $4.5 million more into the Public Employees Retirement System and $1.5 million more in employee health care costs in fiscal year 2014, according to the proposed budget released last week by County Administrator....MORE

Ex-loan officer pleads guilty to bank fraud

May 17, 2013 4:00 am

A former Bend loan officer who faked loan applications for Desert Sun Development pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and conspiracy to make false statements to a financial institution. Jeffrey Sprague, 50, was a loan....MORE

Redmond debates utility billing policy

May 17, 2013 4:00 am

With nearly $500,000 in default accounts on the books, the city of Redmond is considering changing its utility billing policies for what would be the second time in five years.“The current policy really affects our staff workload," said....MORE

Dispatches

May 17, 2013 4:00 am

• GoBend Realty has joined the national franchise network of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and will now do business under the name Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Northwest Living. To learn more, visit www. betternwliving. com.....MORE

Redmond train depot to lose a tenant

May 16, 2013 4:00 am

The city of Redmond will be losing another tenant at its historic train depot when Red Dog Depot moves out in the coming weeks. The restaurant and bar — owned by Cascade Lakes Brewing Co. — has leased the 1912 stone building from the city ....MORE

Bend council OKs sewer fixes

• Bigger pump station would accommodate future development

May 16, 2013 4:00 am

The city of Bend is moving ahead with short-term projects to fix bottlenecks in the sewer system, but will also look at options to expand one of the projects into a long-term solution. City Manager Eric King said a larger sewer pump station at....MORE

OSU space estimate: 41 to 65 acres

May 16, 2013 4:00 am

An expanded Oregon State University-Cascades Campus would need between 41 and 65 acres by 2025, depending on whether officials choose to build an urban campus integrated into the city or one more self-contained, consultants said Wednesday.....MORE

Homebuilders more confident

May 16, 2013 4:00 am

After declining for three months, a gauge of confidence among residential builders rose in May, thanks to rosier views on sales, according to a report released Wednesday. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing-market index....MORE

Permits

May 16, 2013 4:00 am

City of Bend• Hayden Homes LLC, 20567 S. E. Goldenrod, $219,851• Brookswood Bend LLC, 61141 Teton, $199,275• Wade Rogers, 21362 Livingston, $164,867• Long Term Bend Investors LLC, 61182 S. E. Geary, $211,689• James A.....MORE

Old Mill Brew Wërks moves

May 15, 2013 4:00 am

Old Mill Brew Wërks will begin serving today at the new location for its brewpub, 803 S. W. Industrial Way, the former home of the Brickhouse restaurant. Nate Chamber — co-owner of Brew Wërks, which operates the pub and a brewery — said....MORE

Median home prices dip

May 15, 2013 4:00 am

Median home prices in Bend and Redmond dropped a little last month, compared with March, according to a report released Tuesday by the Bratton Appraisal Group. The median price in April for a single-family home in Bend dipped to $261,000, about $9,....MORE

Bend plans to hire 15 for safety, other jobs

May 14, 2013 4:00 am

The city of Bend plans to hire at least 15 workers during the next biennium, adding police, firefighters, an engineer and other employees. City officials expect to bring in more revenue from property taxes and sewer and water rate increases for the....MORE

Deeds

May 14, 2013 4:00 am

Deschutes County• VRE Crescent LLC to Tim Horvath and Gloria D. Lester, Tetherow, Phase 1, Lot 269, $199,000• Steven E. and Lori L. Nichols to Walter G. and Reah L. Trest, Caldera Springs, Phase 2, Lot 228, $218,000• Cousins....MORE

2nd chance for backers of Madras pool levy

May 12, 2013 4:00 am

On the eve of the November election six months ago, Anita Goodwin, vice chairwoman of the Madras Aquatic Center, was optimistic voters would say yes to an operations levy to help keep the pool running. Today, with voters considering a levy nearly....MORE

Deeds

May 12, 2013 4:00 am

Deschutes County• Robert P. and Peggy M. Debrum, trustees for Robert P. Debrum and Peggy M. Debrum Family Trust, to Duane T. and Donna V. Wright, RiverRim P. U. D., Phase 1, Lot 60, $260,000• David D. Gilmore and Scott D. Woods to Lawrence ....MORE

What's Going Up?

Redmond tech center work begins

Construction starts on COCC's $8.3 million two-story building

May 11, 2013 4:00 am

Address: 2324 S. E. College Loop, RedmondOwner: Central Oregon Community CollegeGeneral Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout Construction Co. Details: Construction crews have started preparing the site for the 37,618 square-foot Central Oregon Community....MORE

Eugene bankruptcy hits local investors

May 11, 2013 4:00 am

Ronald and Peggy Coffman thought they'd stumbled on a solid, low-risk investment opportunity when they met Michael Holcomb in the early 1980s. The Bend couple, living in Eugene at the time, met Holcomb while playing cards with their neighbors. They....MORE

Welcome to the Redmond Art Deco Renaissance

Many cities' architectural personalities reflect the tastes prevalent during boom eras of construction. For Redmond, that was the period from the 1920s through the 1940s, when art deco and its machine-age styles dominated new buildings.

May 11, 2013 4:00 am

It took the poster for things to click, an illustrated history highlighting the wealth of art deco architecture in Redmond. City Development Director Heather Richards knew Redmond had some special buildings because she fielded the occasional phone....MORE

Late-payment rate tumbles in 1st quarter

May 11, 2013 4:00 am

LOS ANGELES — A resurgent housing market, rising home values and steady job gains are helping more U. S. homeowners stay on top of their mortgage payments. The percentage of mortgage holders at least two months behind on their payments fell by....MORE

Almost ready to walk

• Crane places 160-foot bridge at First Street park; opens early June

May 10, 2013 4:00 am

Installation of a footbridge spanning the Deschutes River at First Street Rapids Park began Thursday, and the bridge is expected to open in early June, said Pat Erwert, Bend Park & Recreation District services director.“We were able to get ....MORE

Reed Market overhaul to begin

May 10, 2013 4:00 am

Construction crews are set to begin work on the rebuilding of Reed Market Road next week. The City of Bend hosted an open house Thursday night to brief local residents on the project. Funded under the $30 million 2011 bond approved by Bend voters,....MORE

Deschutes County

Builders’ fees may be falling

May 10, 2013 4:00 am

Homebuilders in Deschutes County may soon pay 20 percent lower fees in the form of system development charges on new construction due to lower-than-expected population growth. SDCs are fees designed to pay for the infrastructure required by new....MORE

Dispatches

May 10, 2013 4:00 am

• Bend Pilates has moved to a new location at 155 S. W. Century Drive, Suite 104. The larger space has an area for group classes and a private room for individual sessions. To learn more, call 541-647-0876 or visit www. bendpilates. net.•....MORE

Double the brew tanks

May 9, 2013 4:00 am

A crane lowers a fermentation tank as R&H Construction workers guide it into place Wednesday at the Deschutes Brewery production facility in Bend. Five fermentation tanks are being added to complete a new, 10-tank system at the brewery. The new....MORE

Foreclosure settlement still coming up short

May 9, 2013 4:00 am

When homeowners discovered that an account that was supposed to compensate them for foreclosure abuses lacked sufficient money to cash their checks, the consulting firm at the center of the mishap promised that the problem was fixed and that the....MORE

Permits

May 9, 2013 4:00 am

City of Bend• Hayden Homes LLC, 61128 S. E. Brown Trout, $230,035• Hayden Homes LLC, 2788 N. E. Springwater, $199,275• Greg Welch Construction Inc., 2192 N. W. Lemhi Pass, $158,724• FC Fund LLC, 619 S. E. Gleneden, $153,....MORE

Central Oregon rentals tight; 1 percent vacant

May 9, 2013 4:00 am

Austin Property Management received 21 messages last weekend from people looking for rentals. Company officials had to give them the bad news.“We had to call them back Monday and tell them we had nothing," said David Furlan, Austin Property....MORE