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The Madras Pioneer
COCC Foundation lecture explores intersection of Indigenous wisdom, science
Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) Chandler Lecture Series, a program of the COCC Foundation, presents “Why We Need Indigenous Ingenuity — Indigenuity — Now” with Daniel Wildcat, Ph.D., at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Madras Performing Arts Center, 412 SE Bluff St. Tickets are offered on a self-selecting, sliding-scale basis, from free to $15; a livestream option is available free or for $5. Visit cocc.edu/foundation/cls to register and learn more. Wildcat, an author and professor with Haskell Indian Nations University, will discuss...
Madras Human Bean raises $6,754 for breast cancer research
The Human Bean in Madras spent Friday hosting friendly competition between the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Jefferson County Fire & EMS, raising money to support breast cancer research. The event supports Real Men Wear Pink, a campaign led by local emergency responders and law enforcement, as well as Sara’s Project, which benefits breast cancer survivors at St. Charles. One hundred percent of the food and drink sales that day...
Giant Pumpkin takes fifth at regional regatta
Central Oregon is known for growing many things – carrot seed, potatoes, peppermint, hay, etc. One thing that’s new to the region thanks to one man? Giant pumpkins. Ed Pugh has for the last three years grown a giant pumpkin in his Madras backyard. The pumpkins have all reached over 1,000 pounds and involve lots of tending to get their gigantic size. Ed’s pumpkins have placed highly in the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta in Tualatin in years past. ...
Central Oregon cheer coach faces allegations of physcial abuse
Allegations of physical abuse by Central Oregon Diamond Elite cheer coach Ashley Garcia Manteiga have arisen after parents reported the abuse to state police, St. Charles Hospital, and the Department of Human Services. Parents told KTVZ News that the coach used physical force while training the girls, with many alleging bruises, and some reporting more significant injuries, including a hip dislocation that will require surgery. Manteiga holds cheer camps in...
Smith Rock to receive upgrades in the next year
Smith Rock State Park is slated to break ground on a new welcome center, restroom, trail connections and improved day-use parking in late 2025 or early 2026. Last year, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department updated Smith Rock State Park’s master plan, a guiding document for future improvements. The current work represents the highest priorities for enhancing visitor experience, managing congestion and improving accessibility. The work at Smith Rock was made...
Where did the COVID money go?
Jefferson County received over $10.8 million in direct funds from the state and federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic, through programs like the American Rescue Plan Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed by the federal government in 2020 and 2021. ARPA funds represented $6.7 million of that total. For comparison, Deschutes County received $43 million, and Crook County received $4.7 million in ARPA funds. For...
Madras close early but falls to Cottage Grove
Madras stayed with first-place Cottage Grove early, but faltered in the second half to fall 41-14 Friday, Oct. 18. Madras led at one point 8-6, then 14-6, but the Lions took control in the second quarter to go up 20-14 at the break then dominated the second half on their homecoming night. The loss dropped the Buffs to 2-3 in league and was their third straight league loss after a...
Buffs look to finish .500 in league
Madras hosts Estacada to finish league play Tuesday, Oct. 22, hoping to tie the Rangers for third place with 5-5 records. The Rangers are far enough head of the Buffalos to capture the tie-breakers, which goes to the team with the highest OSAA power ranking. Estacada, at 14-10 overall this season, is ranked 12th while Madras, 6-11, are 21st. But both teams would be 5-5 in Tri-Valley play if Madras can get the win Tuesday on their senior night. ...
Buff girls soccer team push for win
The Madras White Buffalo girls soccer program is powering through a, so far, second consecutive winless season. They have two more chances to get a win, at home against Crook County Monday and on the road Thursday, Oct. 24 at Estacada. On Monday, Oct. 14, first-place The Dalles came to town and dominated throughout to post an 8-0 win. The victory put the Riverhawks at 7-0-1 in Tri-Valley Conference play and kept their third overall OSAA power ranking intact. ...
Culver wins showdown with Enterprise
The Culver Bulldogs took their No. 1 ranking on the road Friday and handed Enterprise their first loss of the season, 24-12. The score could have been a much larger Bulldog blowout. Culver endured five turnovers, two inside the Enterprise five-yard line, after the six-plus-hour bus trip to northeastern Oregon. The victory solidified the 7-0 Bulldogs’ hold on the top ranking in Oregon’s 2A nine-man football and left the previously...
New mobile clinic at Jefferson County Public Health
Jefferson County Public Health has a new set of wheels, one they hope will allow them to access more remote areas of the county to provide health services. The new mobile clinic is grant funded, and costs over $300,000 fully stocked. It comes in the form of a new Ford E450 Turtle Top Transit and was recently received by the Jefferson County Public Health Department. The value is $246,984, and includes supplies and essentials valued at $48,016. ...
Buffs rebound from soccer loss with win at home
After a 2-0 loss at The Dalles on Oct. 14, Madras got back on the winning track Thursday, Oct. 17 with a 4-0 dominating win over Molalla at home. Steve Gonzalez scored three goals for a hat trick, Cruz Chavez had a clean sheet in the box, and the Buffalos' depth across the board dominated play all night. The win put Madras at 5-1-2 in league with two Tri-Valley Conference...
Oregon attorney general candidates spar for last time in televised debate
The two candidates running for Oregon attorney sparred in their final debate Wednesday evening over abortion, gun violence and election safety, giving voters one last chance to weigh their differences before the November election. Democrat Dan Rayfield, former House speaker and an attorney, and Republican Will Lathrop, a former Oregon prosecutor in Marion and Yamhill counties, are vying to replace Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, a Democrat who is not running for reelection. ...
Culver High School students receive an education in elections
Jefferson County Clerk Kate Zemke recently presented a course on voting to Culver High School students. On Thursday, Oct. 10, three classes assembled at the high school: senior government, college political science, and controversial leaders throughout history, taught by Brad Woolledge. Zemke distributed sample ballots, stamped with “Culver HS Sample,” and signature envelopes. She encouraged the students to review the voter pamphlet and vote via the sample ballots so they...
Week 7 scoreboard: 2024 Oregon high school football
The 2024 Oregon high school football season is in full swing for 2024 as week seven continues league play with a few nonleague matchups here and there. Another week means teams across the state will be in getting in on the action between Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and we've got you covered on final scores. Bookmark this tab and stay tuned for final scores throughout the three nights from across...
Picard wins pre-district race in Estacada
Emily Picard of Madras ran a huge personal record to take first place as an individual in the girls race at the Estacada Invitational Wednesday, Oct. 16. Picard edged a collection of Tri-Valley Conference rivals to win in 18:56.61. She edged Annalyse Jenson of Molalla for the individual title. Jenson finished second with a time of 18:58.59. Alaina Casady of The Dalles finished in third place in 18:59.25, while Molalla's Anika Jenson, who has the fastest time in Class 4A coming in, finished fourth in...
Oregon’s employment situation sees little change in September
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.0% in August and September and has been in a tight range between 4.0% and 4.2% since October 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was little changed at 4.1% in September from 4.2% in August. Other labor force indicators also reflected stability. Oregon’s labor force participation rate was 63.0% in September, the same as in each of the prior four months. Prior to that, it generally rose slowly during the past four years, from 62.0% in September 2020, indicating a larger share...
Looking Back: The average Oregonian transplant in 1974 - young Californians
70 YEARS AGO October 14, 1924 An ordinance which will provide methods of handling what has been termed “parent delinquency” will be prepared by Boyd Overhulse, city attorney, and presented at the next regular meeting of the Madras city council, it was decided by that body at their regular monthly meeting Tuesday night. Overhulse was...
Culver volleyball drops Oakridge 3-1
Outside of set two, Culver handled their business Tuesday with a 3-1 volleyball victory over Oakridge in a East Cascades Conference battle. The Bulldogs got big shots from essentially every hitter on the team, and won the vast majority of long-rally points thanks to a hustling floor game. They won the match 25-15, 23-25, 25-9 and 25-13. The win put the Bulldogs at 5-2 in league, behind only 7-0 Trinity...
COCC’s Prison Education Program is a Pioneer for Pell Grant Approval
Central Oregon Community College recently received Pell Grant certification from the U.S. Department of Education for its newly designed associate degree prison education program at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras — one of just several such programs in the entire country, and the first in Oregon, to earn that distinction. The certification will allow adults in custody pursuing an associate of arts Oregon transfer degree at COCC, which received accreditation last December, to apply for Pell Grant support. Congress last year lifted a 26-year...
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