The Durkee Fire is on a rampage over eastern Oregon rangeland, covering more than 270 square miles of ground.
By Les Zaitz - Malheur Enterprise
AROUND OREGON: Firefighters brace for lightning as wildfires grow, taxing crews
AROUND OREGON: Firefighters are working to contain wildfires around Oregon as a weather system is forecast to bring in lightning through the weekend. The state already has two megafires of more than 100,000 acres.
A veteran police chief’s fall – how Ray Rau ended up in jail
Ray Rau left the job as Nyssa police chief with a reputation for innovation and strong policing. His new job in Tillamook left him convicted of criminal conduct, spending days in jail and giving up his badge.
History of Oregon Trail comes to life at reopened Baker City center
AROUND OREGON: Closed for renovations since 2020, the Oregon Trail Interpretative Center is once again hosting visitors. The center includes exhibits, artwork and hiking trails on 500 acres just outside Baker City.
Disturbance at Ontario’s state prison prompts warning shots, lockdown for 700
AROUND OREGON: Snake River Correctional Institution’s Complex 2 remained in lockdown on ?Sunday, May 26, as officials investigate a disturbance the day before involving about 70 inmates. Corrections officers fired warning shots to restore order on a recreation yard.
Missing no more – behind the effort to solve the mystery of Gwen Brunelle
AROUND OREGON: Searchers for months covered hundreds of miles of range, trails and roads in southeast Oregon trying to find Gwen Brunelle. A drone photograph taken in October 2023 finally gave authorities what they needed to find the missing Boise woman’s remains in April.
Remains of long-missing Idaho woman found in eastern Oregon
OREGON NEWS: The Malheur County Sheriff’s Office has recovered the remains of Gwen Brunelle, a Boise woman who disappeared on a remote area near the Oregon-Idaho border in June 2023.
Tillamook police chief convicted for misconduct, sent to jail for 10 days
AROUND OREGON: A state judge sentenced Ray Rau, Tillamook police chief on leave since last May, to 10 days in jail after convicting him of official misconduct in his duty as Tillamook police chief. Rau also had to surrender his police certification during a court proceeding on Wednesday, April 3, in Tillamook County Circuit Court.
Heppner legislator reports $1 million income – but some sources aren’t clear
AROUND OREGON: Greg Smith formed a consulting business at the same time he entered the Oregon House. The Republican state representative recently reported his annual household income has topped $1 million. A new ethics disclosure requirement may reveal more about where that money comes from.
Oregon’s new prison director views housing, jobs after release as essential
OREGON NEWS: A retired sheriff is called to take over the Oregon Department of Corrections. Mike Reese started Nov. 13 and is touring prisons to get immersed in agency issues.
