Jefferson County Issues Notice of Supplemental Budget Hearing for FY 2025-26

As Oregon communities scramble for a piece of the data center development wave, Madras's interim city administrator is pumping the brakes on speculation. But the city's name keeps appearing in statewide planning documents alongside Prineville and Boardman.

Mayor Mike Lepin announced he will not run for re-election this fall, citing bandwidth concerns as his dual role at Jefferson County Fire & EMS intensifies. City Hall is simultaneously navigating a budget process with no permanent city administrator, police chief, or finance director.

With the May 19 primary results certified by the Oregon Secretary of State on June 8, incumbents Mark Wunsch and Kelly Simmelink have dominant leads in the Jefferson County Commissioner races — but both still face challengers in November.

The Oregon DPSST Police Policy Committee has recommended that Jefferson County sheriff candidate Tyler Anderson be stripped of his law enforcement certifications, following his placement on the Brady List last year. The sheriff's race goes to November as a two-candidate general election.

ODOT and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are in the final stretch of a major hazard tree removal project on Highway 26. Drivers should expect delays of 20 minutes or more through June 15, with flaggers stopping traffic in both directions.