Government

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.

It is 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning, and customers are already waiting outside for the Prineville DMV office to open.

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.

Six towering cedar trees surrounding the historic Crook County Courthouse are slated for removal this Friday, June 20, in what county officials describe as a necessary step to preserve the building’s structural integrity and safeguard public safety.

The Prineville City Council will hold its previously postponed public hearing on a proposed 10% rate increase for Republic Services at its regular public meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10 at City Hall.

A 36-year-old motorcyclist from Madras was killed Thursday morning in a collision on U.S. Highway 26 south of the city, after attempting to pass a pickup truck that was turning left onto SW Dover Lane, according to the Oregon State Police.

Republic Services is once again asking the Prineville City Council to approve a rate increase for solid waste collection services. A public hearing on the request is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 387 NE Third Street.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) voted unanimously Friday to launch a formal investigation into Crook County High School Principal Jake Huffman, finding there is “a substantial objective basis” to believe he may have violated state ethics laws by using his public position and school district facilities to benefit a private wrestling business he owns.

A proposal to grant Crook County Fire & Rescue Chief Matt Smith an approximate 8% raise was rejected by the majority of the district’s elected board during its public meeting on Friday