Investigations

In recent months, the Prineville Review has faced multiple waves of communications as part of an unsettling campaign of intimidation. From anonymous death threats to unfounded accusations of personal lawsuits, other things that are just simply inappropriate to be repeated here in publication, and now claims that our reporting amounts to “harassing volunteers”, it’s clear that some would rather silence difficult questions than face them.

Crook County, Ore. - The Ochoco West Water & Sanitary Authority (OWWSA) briefly placed a “media screening policy” on the agenda for its...

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a fresh wave of scam calls from individuals posing as local law enforcement officers in an attempt to extort money.

The Ochoco West Water & Sanitary Authority (OWWSA) is again poised to violate Oregon’s public meetings law, this time by giving just one day’s notice for its upcoming Aug 12th regular meeting — well below both statutory expectations and state guidance

The City of Prineville appears to have significantly sanitized its official meeting minutes from a contentious July discussion about adding video access to public meetings — omitting any reference to the controversial remarks by several city councilors who previously argued against adding video for remote access unless the public was required to give testimony in person — a position which also violates a provision of the State's public meetings law.

Earlier this year, Grant School District Superintendent Mark Witty faced a $900,000 hike in what his district needs to pay this coming year to the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund.

The majority of the Prineville City Council signaled resistance last week during its latest public meeting to allowing the public to testify remotely at council meetings, even as it weighs whether to expand video access—something already selectively offered to some individuals, including members of the council.

The board of the Ochoco West Water & Sanitary Authority (OWWSA) held an illegal special meeting Tuesday night, July 29th, after issuing just four hours’ notice to the public and media—far short of the 24-hour bare minimum required by Oregon law.

Mike Smetzer, the owner of the now-defunct Central Oregon Motors, was arrested Wednesday, July 2nd, by the Crook County Sheriff’s Office following a grand jury indictment that returned on June 27th, according to court records.

The Prineville Review filed a formal grievance Wednesday morning against the Crook County Board of Commissioners, alleging the county failed to provide timely and specific notice of a public hearing concerning a controversial expansion of the TSR North Solar Facility near Powell Butte.