Stephen Hamway
The Bulletin
Bend, OR, United States
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Past articles by Stephen:
Massive snowpack a boon for the Crooked River
Water is pouring into Prineville Reservoir at rates not seen since 2017 and pouring out of Bowman Dam nearly as quickly, as the massive snowfall from February begins to melt more rapidly.As of Monday morning, roughly 4,000 cubic feet per second of water were flowing into Prineville Reservoir, significantly more than usual for this time of year, said Kyle Gorman, region manager for the Oregon… → Read More
After lengthy legal battle, Shepherdsfield Church free to host weddings
After more than five years and multiple court dates, John Shepherd has permission to hold weddings and other church-related activities on his property in a part of rural Deschutes County designated to protect wildlife.This week, the Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed a decision from Oregon’s state’s land use board in December, approving a county permit that allows Shepherd, pastor of… → Read More
Sunday is deadline to remove studded tires
Sunday night is the deadline for Oregon drivers to remove studded tires from their vehicles.Oregon law allows drivers to use studded tires from Nov. 1 through March 31. However, drivers who still have studded tires after the spring deadline can be charged with a Class C traffic violation, according to a news release from the Oregon Department of Transportation.The state transportation agency… → Read More
Spanish tutoring center near center of Tumalo pot controversy
At the center of a battle over an application to establish a recreational marijuana dispensary in Tumalo is a Spanish expatriate trying to move her small tutoring business to a new location.“I’ve been caught in the middle of this,” said Pilar Davami, founder of Spanish Learning Center, which offers Spanish and math classes to students ranging from prekindergarten to adulthood.Davami has operated… → Read More
Some ponderosa forests may not regrow after fires, study says
Climate change is not only making fire season hotter, drier and longer across the West, but it also may be making it harder for ponderosa pine forests to regrow after devastating wildfires, according to a study.The study was published earlier this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a scientific journal, and examined the relationship between climate trends and how… → Read More
Bill would curtail Deschutes County fees on pot growing operations
A battle is brewing in Salem over whether Deschutes County should be allowed to levy the fees it uses to pay for growth on recreational marijuana growing operations. On Feb. 28, the Senate Committee On Business and General Government held a public hearing on Senate Bill 365, which would prohibit local governments from charging system development charges — the charges Deschutes County and other… → Read More
Hearing set for proposed pot shop in Tumalo
A proposal that would establish the first recreational marijuana store in Tumalo is headed to a public hearing.On Monday, the Deschutes County Commission prepared for the hearing, slated for March 14, on an application that would establish an approximately 1,500-square-foot recreational marijuana dispensary along U.S. Highway 20, near Tumalo’s commercial center. If approved, the application… → Read More
Snowmobile rider rescued near Mount Bachelor
A snowmobile rider trapped near Mount Bachelor was rescued early Friday morning.At about 1:06 a.m., Deschutes County 911 was alerted that Patrick Boni, 38, was stuck in the snow somewhere in the area of Mt. Bachelor and was possibly in distress.Boni had departed the previous afternoon, and he got stuck on his way back to his vehicle, according to a news release from the Deschutes County… → Read More
Unusual tubes give duck eggs a chance to hatch
If you’re walking along the banks of the Deschutes River between the Old Mill District and the Bend Whitewater Park, you may spot a smattering of grass-lined tubes elevated several feet above the water and surrounding plants, part of a new project to help ducks lay their eggs out of the reach of predators. Volunteers from the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited and the Mountain View High School’s… → Read More
Even after snow, Central Oregon still mired in drought
Cold, snowy storms pounded much of the Pacific Northwest, Central Oregon included, for a week, prompting winter weather warnings and canceling travel plans over the mountains.By the time those storm cells passed through, they’d dropped more than four inches of snow in Bend and more in other parts of the state.One thing the storms didn’t do, however, was make a measurable impact on Central… → Read More
Bend cougar sighting part of larger trend
Wildlife officials say cougars like the one shot and killed in southwest Bend last weekend aren’t going away any time soon. “It’s going to be a fact of life, at least in the immediate future,” said Corey Heath, wildlife biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.On Feb. 6, the state wildlife agency confirmed that tracks found in River Canyon Estates, a southwest Bend subdivision,… → Read More
Lack of communication after water line burst leaves residents boiling mad
When a distribution line burst Tuesday, Avion Water Co. was required to warn the public to boil water before using it. But many of the approximately 12,000 Avion customers in southeast Bend heard about the problem on social media or word of mouth because the utility decided not to call or email them.The warning was lifted Thursday morning after testing revealed the water was not contaminated… → Read More
Deschutes County hemp farmer says upstarts have unfair advantage
A hemp farmer who spearheaded Central Oregon’s hemp industry is now looking to prevent upstart growers from gaining an unfair financing advantage.“All I’m asking for is a level playing field, everyone follow the rules,” said Yon Olsen, founder of Cascadia Crest LLC, a hemp operation based east of Bend on U.S. Highway 20.By the standards of the new industry, Olsen is one of the more established… → Read More
Park district looks to expand trail discussion beyond bridge
After the Bend Park & Recreation District’s efforts to build a bridge across the Deschutes River stalled, the district is now looking to have a broader conversation about what the public wants from its trail system.During a meeting Tuesday evening, the park district’s board discussed its takeaways from a study, prepared by The Mary Orton Co. on behalf of Oregon Consensus, that the district… → Read More
Bridging the gap for Central Oregon wildlife
The groups behind a Central Oregon solution for keeping drivers from hitting deer and other animals on U.S. Highway 97 could provide the key for replicating the success in other parts of the state.In 2012, the Oregon Department of Transportation finalized two wildlife undercrossings — tunnels beneath busy roadways designed to allow deer, elk and other wildlife to cross — and four miles of… → Read More
Environmental groups blast ODFW over wolf plan
When the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife brought in a third-party facilitator over the summer to lead meetings on Oregon’s new gray wolf management plan, wildlife advocates looked at it as an opportunity to start fresh on the much debated issue.Four conservation groups that have led the charge on protections for wolves announced this week they would withdraw from the talks, just five… → Read More
Federal ruling another setback for proposed Ochoco trail system
Environmental groups are celebrating after a new court ruling cemented a prior decision striking down a controversial proposal to develop a network of trails for off-highway motorized vehicles through the Ochoco National Forest.On Thursday, United States District Court Judge Marco Hernandez issued a decision affirming key points of a prior decision from United States Magistrate Judge Patricia… → Read More
Imported Christmas trees bring new pest to Oregon
As Oregonians begin to get rid of their Christmas trees, state officials are warning some could house an unwelcome present.On Friday, the Oregon Department of Forestry sent out a release asking Oregonians who bought Fraser firs from big-box stores to be careful when disposing of them, as they may be carrying a non-native insect species known as the elongate hemlock scale. The tiny insects are… → Read More
Commissioners ponder the future of garbage in Deschutes County
With Knott Landfill likely just a decade away from reaching capacity, it’s looking more likely that a new, larger landfill will be built in Deschutes County.On Wednesday, Timm Schimke, director of solid waste for Deschutes County, updated the county commission on plans for life after Knott Landfill, which is expected to be full by 2029 if the county’s current growth and recycling rates hold.… → Read More
Prineville wetlands award receives national honors
A recently completed project to restore wetlands near Prineville received national acclaim in November. Prineville’s Crooked River Wetlands project was one of five projects nationwide to be named “exceptional” by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, a federal-state partnership that provides financing for local water infrastructure. During the same… → Read More