Crook County

Governor Tina Kotek has issued two more drought declarations in Central Oregon.  The emergency declarations for Deschutes and Grant counties clear the way for state coordination of resources in an area now in its fourth year of drought.  ...

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has declared drought emergencies for Crook and Jefferson counties in the central portion of the state. That now directs agencies to prioritize assistance to the region. Both counties requested the declaration in January...

Central Oregon’s Crook County remains the only place in the western United States under a D-4, or Exceptional Drought, designation.  And again, county leaders have asked for a state drought declaration.  County Judge Seth Crawford says he’s also talked with the Governor about funding a biomass plant that would use juniper trees to create power, but more studies are needed.   “Then we can go to dif

An effort to move Oregon’s border gained support in last week’s election.  Leader of the Greater Idaho Movement Mike McCarter said Morrow County voters want County Commissioners to hold meetings on the idea.  And a 2020 request in Jefferson County was met with confusion by Commissioners, since they have no power to change a state’s border.   “The citizens signed a petit...

Thanks to snow and rain this spring, the drought picture has improved noticeably in Washington. According to the latest USDA numbers, only 17% of the state is under a D-1, or Moderate Drought designation, which is roughly half of the figure reported last week ...

Additional funding is Oregon bound, as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Package. USDA Rural Development State Director Margi Hoffmann acknowledges a lot of Infrastructure attention is focused on improving airports, highways and bridges, but she noted money isn’t just flowing to urban centers. “Fo ...

With temperatures warming up across the region, six irrigation field days will take place across Central Oregon. Each will start at 9 a.m. and run through most of the day. According to Oregon State Extension officials, the main focus will be the virtues of converting to LESA/LEPA/MDI system pivots and linears, along with other irrigation technologies, to help increase water use efficiency, and r

On Monday, the Oregon Farm Bureau Women’s Advisory Council hosted a reception for lawmakers to kick off the legislative session.  According to the 2017 Census of Ag, Oregon ranks 4th in the nation for the number of farmers and ranchers who are women.  There ar...

State health officials say for the first time, a Central Oregon county has recorded West Nile virus.  West Nile was first reported in Oregon in 2003, but 16 years later, this is the first time the virus has been reported in a horse in Crook County east of Bend.  ...

State health officials say for the first time, a Central Oregon county has recorded West Nile virus.  West Nile was first reported in Oregon in 2003, but 16 years later, this is the first time the virus has been reported in a horse in Crook County east of Bend.   ...