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Local News
Local News
Gambler 500 Hauls 250,000 Pounds of Trash from Jefferson County Grasslands
The annual Madras Gambler 500 event this week removed an estimated 250,000 pounds of debris — including 14 cars, 8 RVs, 4 boats, and over 1,000 tires — from roughly 80,000 acres of public grasslands near Crooked River Ranch.
Local News
Jefferson County Schools Cut $2 Million from Budget — But No Layoffs
The Jefferson County School District is trimming roughly 18 positions for the 2026-27 school year due to declining statewide enrollment and funding formula changes. District officials say they avoided layoffs through attrition and restructuring.
Local News
Jefferson County Fair Returns July 8 — But the Carnival Rides Are Gone
The carnival vendor that has served the Jefferson County Fair for years is canceling due to a worker shortage — part of a nationwide staffing crisis that has forced 14 event cancellations this year. Fair organizers say all other attractions remain in place.
Local News
Madras Gets a New City Administrator: Brenda Fahey Starts July 20
After months of interim leadership, the City of Madras has officially hired Brenda Fahey as its new city administrator. She comes from The Dalles, where she served as assistant city manager, and has set her sights on economic development, community engagement, and filling key vacant positions.
Local News
Warm Springs Celebrates July 4th with Unique Tribal Theme: '250 Years of America, Time Immemorial'
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs mark Independence Day with a full day of tribal events honoring both the nation's 250th anniversary and the Tribes' timeless presence on the land.
Local News
New $22 Million COCC Madras Campus Building Brings Healthcare Training to Jefferson County
Central Oregon Community College's transformed Madras campus is now six months into serving students in five new programs — including nursing, certified nursing assistant, medical assistant, and early childhood education — inside a brand-new 24,000-square-foot facility built on donated land.
Local News
Warm Springs Tribal Chairman Demands Transparency After Longview Chemical Disaster
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Chairman Dennis White III has called for strict environmental accountability and full public transparency following the deadly May 26 rupture of a chemical storage tank at a Longview, Washington paper mill that killed 11 workers and raised concerns about contamination reaching the Columbia River.
Local News
From Madras Fields to World Cup Pitches: Jefferson County Grass Seed Takes Global Stage
Kentucky Bluegrass grown by farmers in Madras and Culver is being played on by the world's best soccer players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Oregon produces 70% of the world's Kentucky Bluegrass seed supply — and Jefferson County is a major part of that story.
Local News
Brenda Fahey Named Madras City Administrator, Starts July 20
After months of interim leadership and a months-long search, Madras has officially hired Brenda Fahey as its new city administrator. Fahey, currently with the City of The Dalles, takes over July 20 with an agenda that includes hiring a police chief, a finance director, and engaging the public.
Local News
Seven Jefferson County Restaurants and Food Vendors Earn Perfect Health Scores in June
Jefferson County Public Health conducted its latest round of unannounced food safety inspections in June, with seven local establishments earning perfect scores — including Burger King, Harmodius Pizza, KFC–A&W, and a pair of newer businesses building strong track records.
Local News
St. Charles Madras to Share in $37 Million State Maternity Care Lifeline
St. Charles Medical Center–Madras is among 21 rural Oregon hospitals set to receive a share of $37 million in new state funding aimed at preventing labor and delivery closures. The Madras hospital loses roughly $1 million annually on its maternity services but has committed to keeping them open.
Local News
Warm Springs Celebrates 171 Years Since Treaty Signing with Pi-Ume-Sha Festivities
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs wrapped up five days of Pi-Ume-Sha Treaty Days celebrations Sunday, marking the 171st anniversary of the 1855 treaty that established the Warm Springs Reservation and secured tribal rights to fish, hunt, and gather on ancestral lands.