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Local News
Local News
Madras City Council Seeks Two Volunteers for Temporary Appointments — Interviews Set for September 1
With two council seats vacant following a recent resignation, Madras residents have until the end of August 23rd to apply. Public interviews and potential appointments are scheduled for September 1st.
Local News
Free K9 Training for Veterans and First Responders: Valor Dog Club Meets Weekly in Madras
After a punishing fire season that has pushed Central Oregon's first responders to their limits, a quiet weekly gathering at a local training ground is offering veterans and first responders something valuable — community, purpose, and a dog by their side.
Local News
Jefferson County's Drought Emergency Deepens: Ranchers and Farmers Face a Brutal Season
With 94% of Jefferson County covered by severe drought and a state drought emergency declaration in place since April, local ranchers and farmers are navigating one of the driest summers in recent memory — making difficult decisions about livestock, hay, and water.
Local News
Warm Springs Focuses on Long Road to Recovery After Bench Fire Scorches 67,000 Acres
With the Bench Fire now largely contained after burning more than 67,000 acres across the Warm Springs Reservation, tribal leaders are pivoting from emergency response to the harder, longer work of rebuilding — and a community fundraiser has already surpassed its goal.
Local News
Jefferson County Schools Gear Up for Fall — 509J, Warm Springs Academy Preview the New Year
After a summer marked by wildfire, drought, and community stress, Jefferson County's schools are preparing to open their doors for a new academic year. Jefferson County School District 509J and the Warm Springs K-8 Academy are getting ready to welcome students back.
Local News
Warm Springs Wildfire Recovery Fund Surpasses $324,000 as Tribe Lifts Water Restrictions
With the Bench Fire now largely contained after scorching more than 67,000 acres on the Warm Springs Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs say the long work of rebuilding has only just begun — but community generosity has given them a strong start.
Local News
OSU Extension Brings Culturally Responsive Food Preservation Program to Warm Springs
A new curriculum co-developed with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs blends generations of traditional food knowledge with modern food safety standards, honoring Indigenous practices rather than replacing them.
Local News
Warm Springs Water Restored, Recovery Fund Tops $324,000 as Rebuilding Effort Shifts Long-Term
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have lifted a boil water notice and ended a water conservation order following the Bench Fire, while a community recovery fund has raised 130 percent of its original goal — but tribal leaders warn the hardest work lies ahead.
Local News
JCSD 509J Schools Gear Up for New Year as Madras High Graduates Earn Record Biliteracy Honors
Jefferson County School District 509J is preparing to welcome students back for the 2026-2027 school year, with Madras High School celebrating a record-setting number of Oregon State Seals of Biliteracy earned by the Class of 2026 — a milestone reflecting the district's diverse and multilingual student body.
Local News
Drought Squeezes Jefferson County Farmers as Harvest Season Looms
With Jefferson County under a state drought emergency since April, reduced irrigation allotments from the North Unit Irrigation District, and wildfire smoke complicating fieldwork, area farmers are heading into harvest facing one of the toughest growing seasons in years.
Local News
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Launch Tomahawk Newsletter, Unveil New Leadership Team
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have released the inaugural issue of the Tomahawk Newsletter, spotlighting a new executive leadership team and laying out ambitious plans including a Youth and Elder Center, a Highway 26 rest area, and a warming and cooling shelter for tribal members.