Public Transparency

A Crook County water district is facing severe financial and governance issues following allegations of misappropriating thousands of dollars, general mismanagement, and potential ethics violations by its elected board—nearly half of which has now resigned.

The Crook County School District has finally released an unredacted version of its written meeting minutes to the Prineville Review from its December 2024 illegal executive session over discussions of a complaint against Athletic Director Rob Bonner.

The Crook County School District Board appears ready to take action related to a potential separation agreement with Superintendent Dr. Melissa Skinner during a special meeting that will take place virtually this evening (Jan 27th, 2025).

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted unanimously on Friday to initiate a full and formal investigation following a preliminary review into two Crook County Cemetery District officials over reported violations of public meetings laws last summer.

Following a multi-month and ongoing investigation by the Prineville Review, an appointed member of the Crook County Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC) is facing questions related to Oregon ethics laws after his private contracts with the U.S.

Just before tonight's Crook County School District Board's public meeting, the board released a statement reaffirming that the board's restriction on comments regarding individual staff members is not a violation of the First Amendment, at least within Oregon.

Amid several issues of controversy surrounding the Crook County School District, its' superintendent, as well as the district's elected board, Board Member Cheyenne Edgerly resigned effective yesterday, according to a statement provided to the Prineville Review this afternoon.

A battalion chief with Crook County Fire & Rescue (CCFR) made a surprise announcement of his resignation directly to the organization's elected board on Thursday morning, while primarily raising issues related to confidence in the fire district's leadership and turnover in frontline staff.

Superintendent Melissa Skinner makes first public statement amid calls for her resignation

The Prineville Review has released audio of a December 9th, 2024, executive session held by the Crook County School Board. This decision follows the results of yesterday's meeting (December 16th), where the school board avoided substantive discussion during the open meeting after previously holding an illegal executive session behind closed doors.