Central Oregon

As wildland fire season ramps up across Central Oregon, a familiar Prineville business is once again stepping in to help make sure firefighters on the line are fed.

The Alfalfa Fire District Board of Directors adopted the district's 2026-27 budget on June 30th, following a Budget Committee meeting one week earlier in which a committee member raised concerns that the proposal may not comply with Oregon's Local Budget Law

Tyler James Blaylock, a 33-year-old Prineville resident and Door Dash driver, was arrested Friday, June 26, after allegedly firing multiple shots following a verbal argument.

A Central Oregon homeowner says he paid thousands in a deposit for a new roof, but after the charge went through, communication with the contractor stopped — prompting a credit card dispute and raising broader concerns about consumer protection. 

A dispute involving a Central Oregon contractor has progressed from complaints to state agencies and a mediated settlement agreement before the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) to court proceedings after a homeowner alleged the agreement was breached.

Last week, a federal courtroom became the latest venue for examining the conduct of the Alfalfa Fire District and several of its officials and their efforts to silence the press.

Crook County High School’s Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) cadets have arrived in Washington, D.C., where they will represent Oregon in the National Memorial Day Parade this Monday.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has voted to move forward with a formal investigation into Alfalfa Fire District Chief Chad LaVallee, adding another layer to what has become a growing list of legal controversies and governance concerns surrounding the rural fire district and its leadership.

A 65-year-old Prineville man, Rocky Lee Klein, was arrested Tuesday, May 12, 2026, on SE Juniper Canyon Road on suspicion of selling methamphetamine.

The Alfalfa Fire District was not among the agencies selected for Oregon’s 2026 wildfire season staffing grants, with state officials confirming the decision was tied to ongoing inquiries by multiple state agencies into the district.