NHRA 75th Anniversary Challenge Roars Into Madras Dragstrip This Weekend

A dry winter and a hot, fast summer have pushed Central Oregon into serious drought conditions this season, and Jefferson County farmers are feeling it. With irrigation water curtailments spreading across the region and reservoir levels dropping, local growers face difficult decisions about crops, livestock, and their land.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs issued a statement this week after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made a stop at a rest area on tribal lands July 23. Tribal police confirmed no tribal members were detained, and the tribal government emphasized it does not participate in federal immigration enforcement.

The Jefferson County Fair & Rodeo wrapped up its four-day run at the Event Complex in Madras this weekend, drawing enthusiastic crowds despite nearby wildfires and a last-minute swap that replaced the carnival with a popular Bend-based entertainment company.

The Ten Mile Fire continues to burn in rugged terrain northeast of Madras as firefighters work to strengthen control lines. Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation orders remain in place across portions of Jefferson and Wasco counties, and a red flag warning is in effect Sunday for gusty winds and critically low humidity.

The Jefferson County Historical Society has received a $20,000 Diamond in the Rough grant from Oregon Parks and Recreation to restore the exterior of the former Methodist Church on SE D Street in Madras — the building being converted into the Jefferson County Museum.