Central Oregon Community College

Public Transparency

Former Alfalfa fire chief’s texts with COCC officials expose continued authority after departure, questions over early chief recruitment

October 20, 2026

Newly obtained text messages between former Alfalfa Fire District Chief Chad LaVallee and two Central Oregon Community College (COCC) officials reveal that LaVallee claimed the district was already interviewing prospective replacements for his position weeks before its governing board formally authorized advertising the job.

Public Transparency

Alfalfa Fire’s $15K ambulance sale to COCC raises questions over auction, payments and former chief’s involvement

October 14, 2026

The Alfalfa Fire District's sale of a taxpayer-owned ambulance to Central Oregon Community College (COCC) for $15,000 is facing new scrutiny after records obtained by the Prineville Review revealed the college had apparently already paid the district before the vehicle was offered through a public auction that ultimately drew no other bidders.

State

Oregon’s rural newsrooms gathered in Bend to strengthen the future of local journalism

August 5, 2026

Editors, publishers, reporters and journalism advocates from across Oregon gathered last week at Central Oregon Community College for the Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism's (FORJ) fourth annual Rural and Small-Town Journalism Conference