A hiker rescue unfolded on South Sister Wednesday evening when two young men encountered trouble during their descent. After beginning to experience a medical issue, one hiker became mildly hypothermic and called for help. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue responded, deploying thirteen skilled volunteers from medical and mountain rescue units. The team reached the hikers at 8:25 p.m., assisting one to walk out and transporting the other by rescue sled after administering warming treatments. Challenging snow conditions stretched the rescue into early morning hours. Authorities emphasize the importance of preparation and awareness of rapidly changing conditions at higher elevations.

May marks National Wildfire Awareness Month, reminding residents that readiness can make all the difference during fire season.  Mike Thomas reports: 

 

 

UPDATE:

The administrative appeal filed by ex-Sheriff’s Captain William Bailey over his firing will be reviewed by an advisory arbitrator, as decided by Deschutes County Commissioners. The arbitrator will be chosen by both Bailey’s representative and county staff. Bailey was dismissed after making statements in the media during his unsuccessful run for Sheriff against Kent van Der Kamp. His team maintains that Bailey’s public remarks were truthful and addressed legitimate community concerns.

 

The Deschutes County Commissioners will have a hearing Wednesday on the Grievance of Termination filed by William Bailey, a former Deschutes County Sheriff’s office Captain.

Bailey, who unsuccessfully ran for Sheriff in 2024 against now-former Sheriff Kent van Der Kamp, is filing the administrative appeal against the county’s decision to fire him over comments made in the media by Bailey about Van der Kamp during a 2025 radio interview.

The commissioners have the hearing schedule for 1:30 this afternoon as part of the regular board meeting agenda.

The Commissioners could make a decision whether to uphold Bailey’s termination at the hearing.

picture credit: Central Oregon Daily News

U-S Education Secretary Linda McMahon was in Oregon Monday. As part of her 50-state “returning education to the states” tour, she stopped at Crook County High School and Crooked River Elementary in Prineville. Congressman Cliff Bentz says his team facilitated the visits, which were not open to the press, along with County Commissioner Seth Crawford. Secretary McMahon toured Crook County’s Career and Technical Education Facilities. She discussed early literacy at the elementary school.

photo credit: Evan Vucci / AP

Former Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned as President Trump’s Labor Secretary. According to a statement from the White House, Chavez-DeRemer is stepping down to take a job in the private sector. Although, her tenure in Trump’s cabinet was marred in recent months by an internal investigation into allegations of day-drinking and taxpayer-funded vacations. Her husband was also banned from Labor Department headquarters amid sexual assault allegations, although he was cleared of criminal wrongdoing.