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It's been a tough year.; But even in the midst of hardships, Central Oregonians are finding reasons to be thankful. Here are four of their stories.
Cheri Rausch doesn't remember last Thanksgiving. But today will be different. It will mark her 60th day of being drug- and alcohol-free. For the first time since she started using methamphetamines 12 years ago, the 38-year-old will spend the holiday with her family as a recovering addict.Her eyes well up when she mentions she will also be allowed two overnight visits with her 3-year-old son, who is in her mother's custody.
2 kids put the ?giving? in Thanksgiving dinner
Keaton Neilsen, 12, and his sister, Kira, 8, have always been encouraged to give back to the community.When they lived in Arizona, they were challenged by their mother, Deanna Neilsen, to perform one community service project per quarter. Keaton and Kira stepped up without a problem.Since moving to Bend during the summer, Deanna Neilsen decided to raise the stakes. She asked her children to do one community service project per month. Again, Keaton and Kira stepped up.
Wine savvy; Bend may not be home to many vintners, but with a dozen grocery store wine stewards and a handful of small shops, some consider it a bona fide wine town
With so many breweries, it?s easy to call Bend a beer town.But Bend likes its wine, too, says Scott Ratcliff, owner of Volcano Vineyards in Bend.If you need proof, consider the number of wine shops, tasting rooms and wine-centric restaurants that have sprouted up in the city. Just on the two blocks of downtown Bend?s Minnesota Avenue, there are two wine shops as well as the Volcano Vineyards tasting room, which recently relocated from its former home on Brooks Street to 126 N.W. Minnesota Ave.
Stuffed?; Holiday weight gain is not as bad as you think, as long as you don't sleep on it
Around this time of year, you'll often hear that Americans will gain 7 to 10 pounds of weight over the holiday season. It turns out that statistic might be as fictitious as your host's claim that the pumpkin pie is totally fat-free.But as sure as there is football on Thanksgiving and tins of Christmas cookies at the office, Americans will feast to excess and emerge from the holiday season in January heavier than they entered in November. And while studies show the average weight gain is nowhere near double-digits, there is concern that the weight stays with you year after year. Sort of like that Christmas sweater from Grandma.
Let's talk turkey; Answering the call to see a wild turkey in the Ochocos
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, two Central Oregon girls traveled on roads they had never traversed before ? from Prineville to Post to Paulina to Rager Ranger Station in the Ochoco National Forest ? in search of a wild turkey.?Where are you taking me?? colleague Jenny Harada asked from the passenger seat as I drove deeper into the increasingly sparse Eastern Oregon landscape.
Ground attack; A couple of talented Cougar running backs have led Mountain View back to the Class 5A state quarterfinals
Mountain View tailback Solomon Helms feels for Austin Sears, his backup on offense. He really does.When Helms was hurt during the final two games of the regular season, Sears stepped in admirably, rushing for combined totals of 212 yards and six touchdowns against Crook County and Century.But after three weeks of rest, Helms returned to the Cougars? backfield last Friday, helping Mountain View roll past Madison of Portland 39-14 in the second round of the Class 5A state football playoffs. Helms, who has rushed for 1,183 yards and 19 touchdowns in just eight games this season, went for 76 yards and a score against the Senators last week.
