BEND, OR -- The Great Thaw began in Central Oregon Thursday, making most streets passable and sending Central Oregon students back to school Friday after four days of closures. Sisters Schools opened two hours late, Friday, and Culver school buses are running on snow routes. Trash pick-up in Deschutes County is expected to return to normal Monday. Unfortunately, the snow isn't quite done with us yet, with another system expected next week. 

The city of Bend called off contract plows working in neighborhoods, Thursday night, in response to complaints they were creating ice berms across driveways. Redmond Public Works asks residents to shovel snow and ice away from storm drains to prevent localized flooding, and to clear hydrants for firefighters. Visit the Public Works website for the latest on Redmond's snow clearing efforts, and to view a map of storm drain and hydrant locations. Cascades East Transit offers free rides on Bend Fixed Route and Community Connector buses Friday to celebrate the end of the massive storm. Buses will operate on snow routes. Click HERE for details. 

Governor Kate Brown has declared a State of Emergency in Deschutes. Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Linn and Marion counties, due to near-record snowfall. It allows state resources, like police the National Guard and ODOT to help the counties recover from the storm. State Senator Tim Knoop (R-Bend) issued a statement expressing appreciation for the declaration and improved coordination, saying, "It's about safety. Given the record-breaking amount of snow fall, we need to ensure that our community is equipped to handl the conditions." The Oregon Office of Emergency Management will coordinate the response.

Photo: courtesy Katie Reece of Redmond