Thursday afternoon around 4:45 pm, Saint Charles in Bend went into lockout after a phone call threatened a shooting.  Bend Police were on the way when they attempted to pull over a man near Northeast Neff Road and 27th Street who is wanted in connection with a July 7 domestic assault. The suspect ran from the vehicle into a nearby apartment complex. Officers set up a perimeter, used drones and K9s, and the County alerted nearly 2,000 nearby homes and businesses to stay indoors. The search was unsuccessful.  Police are still looking for a white man, 6-foot-1, 155 pounds, last seen wearing a black hat, black T-shirt and gray camouflage cargo shorts, with tattoos extending onto his neck. Anyone who sees him should call 911. The shooting threat to St. Charles was unrelated and unfounded.

Central Oregon’s wildfire season is seeing a near-normal number of starts, but far fewer acres burned than usual. Forest Service spokesperson Kaitlyn Webb says summer heat is still creating concern, with vegetation drying out and becoming more likely to ignite. Crews have responded to 124 wildfires so far this year. Webb says the key difference is acreage: the 10-year average for this point in the season is about 19,000 acres burned, while this year’s total remains much lower. Public use restrictions remain in effect across Central Oregon as fire danger continues.

Evacuation levels have been lowered near the Coyner Fire north of Redmond after crews stopped the fire’s forward progress. All Level 3 “Go Now” notices are now reduced to Level 1, meaning residents should remain ready in case conditions change. The Sheriff’s Office is urging people in the area to stay alert and watch for fire crews and emergency vehicles. The fire remains at 20.5 acres and is 20 percent contained. Firefighters worked through the night July 5th, strengthening the perimeter and cooling flare-ups in unburned fuel. Crews are continuing mop-up around containment lines and nearby structures.

Redmond Fire and Rescue crews responded around 7:30 Sunday night to a reported structure fire near Northwest Fourth Street and Northwest Hemlock Court. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames coming from the front of a single-story manufactured home, with nearby homes threatened. Crews quickly stretched hose lines and kept the fire from spreading beyond the one residence. Officials say no one lives there; the home was being used for storage. Because of the volume of items inside, firefighters battled the blaze from outside for safety. Investigators say illegal fireworks ignited dry vegetation, spreading to a fence and then the home. Fireworks are banned within Redmond city limits.

Bend officials are reminding residents fireworks are banned anywhere within city limits, including sales, possession, or use, as dry summer conditions raise fire concerns. Reports of fireworks activity can be emailed to fireworks at bend oregon dot gov.

Rules vary elsewhere. Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch says only legal fireworks are allowed there on July Fourth, and police will be watching, with steep fines for violations. Fireworks are also banned in Sisters and Sunriver, while Prineville, Madras, and La Pine have no local restrictions.

The Humane Society of Central Oregon urges pet owners to prepare now, as fireworks and holiday disruptions can frighten animals.

Bend’s Fourth of July celebration brings back a longtime downtown favorite Saturday with the 99th annual Pet Parade. Julie Brown with Bend Parks and Recreation says generations of families have made the parade part of their holiday tradition.

Brown says the route starts at Harmon Park, loops through downtown, and ends at Drake Park. The walk takes about 40 minutes, and all kinds of participants are welcome.

People can begin gathering at Harmon Park at 8:30, with the parade stepping off at 9:30 Saturday morning.

Five Central Oregon trail projects are getting a boost from the Deschutes Trails Coalition’s Small Project Grant program. The funding supports tools, equipment, and on-the-ground trail work across the region.

Executive Director Jana Johnson says the grants are powered in part by visitor donations through the Dollar for Trails program, run with local hotels. Guests can contribute to help maintain the trails they use while visiting Central Oregon.

Johnson says about 30-thousand dollars was awarded, supporting Sisters-area trail work for equestrians and other recreation users, equipment for Central Oregon Trail Alliance, gravel biking tools, and Cascades Wilderness crews.

Projects are expected to begin this season, with funds available through 2027.

picture: CO Daily News

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek says Central Oregon is making measurable progress on homelessness, pointing to a 20-percent reduction through stronger coordination between local governments and nonprofits. Speaking Monday in Redmond, Kotek said continued progress will depend on lawmakers maintaining support in the 2027 legislative session, especially for addiction prevention and rehousing programs. Statewide, homelessness is down about six percent. Caroline Cruz with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs credited partnerships across Central Oregon, saying improvements in health, family and justice services, education, and transportation are helping connect people to support. Kotek was joined at Shepherd’s House by Warm Springs leaders and elected officials from Bend, Redmond, and the legislature.

Jefferson County Fair officials say next month’s fair and rodeo will go on, but without a carnival.

Fair board member Dan Comingore says their carnival operator canceled less than two weeks ago, citing a shortage of skilled workers and employees overall. Comingore says the board tried every option to secure rides and games, but couldn’t replace the operator in time.

The fair will still feature exhibits, specialty food and drinks, live music, and PRCA rodeo performances. Anyone who already purchased carnival tickets can receive a reimbursement.

The Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo runs July 22nd through the 25th.

Volunteer registration is now open for the 30th annual Deschutes River Cleanup, set for Saturday, July 11th, at six locations from La Pine to Tumalo. Organizers say they need helpers both on land and in the water. Kollen Miller with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council says paddlers must bring a PFD, whistle, throw bag, and water access permit, with some throw bags available on site. Miller says the cleanup has grown over three decades, with crews focusing each year on the river’s greatest needs and surrounding riparian areas. Signups are available through the river cleanup page online.

Deschutes County is rolling out a new rural recycling service, with a six-dollar monthly fee applied broadly rather than through individual subscriptions. Commissioner Tony DeBone tells KBND News the state required the county to offer the service universally if it chose to move forward.

DeBone says the program will accept most common recyclables, including plastic and cardboard, but not glass. He says it also ties into Oregon’s recycling modernization efforts and the county’s work on a new landfill site with material processing.

The change gives residents in distant rural service areas recycling access more similar to what’s already available inside city limits.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is adding a wellness coordinator to support deputies and staff facing the long-term stress of difficult calls.

Sheriff Ty Rupert says caring for employees is essential to serving the public.

“The best way that we can serve our community is making sure that the men and women that I work with are taken care of first…”

Rupert says the coordinator will work directly with personnel, joining ride-alongs, visiting jail floors, and offering private meetings when needed.

The goal is to keep first responders healthy and ready to serve. The county hopes to have the position filled by this fall.

Bend Fire and Rescue is investigating a fire and reported explosion near the entrance of the Deschutes County Knott Landfill last (Tuesday) evening. Crews were called around 6:40 to the landfill area at 27th Avenue and Knott Road. Firefighters arrived within minutes and found two front loaders engulfed in flames, with fire spreading to a third machine and nearby mulch piles in the recycling area. Crews put out the equipment fires, then spent about an hour dousing the burning mulch. Deschutes County Solid Waste and Republic Services staff assisted on scene. No injuries were reported. Damage is estimated at $150,000.

Ring camera footage shows Deschutes County Sheriff's Office employees outside a home in the Sunriver area discussing Lorena Akhurst. Akhurst filed a complaint in April against a deputy and James McLaughlin, who is running for Deschutes County Sheriff against Ty Rupert. She says the deputy made her feel targeted and threatened because of her race. In June, Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert placed three sheriff's office employees on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation. McLaughlin said he believes in transparency and will apologize for anything he has done to hurt someone.

Bend-La Pine’s School Board has approved a nearly 260-million-dollar budget, as district leaders work to manage long-term funding pressure.

Superintendent Dr. Steven Cook says the district used about 9-million dollars in reserves last year to help finance education on a roughly 250-million-dollar budget. He says the new plan brings spending closer in line with available funding, while avoiding deeper staffing cuts.

Cook says the district trimmed 7-million dollars without eliminating jobs.

Bend-La Pine Schools employs about 2,000 people across 33 schools and departments, making it Deschutes County’s second-largest employer.

Bend Fire & Rescue says an unattended candle sparked an apartment fire at the Stonebriar Apartment Complex on Bend’s east side just before 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Crews arrived to find sprinklers activated in a third-floor unit, with management already working to evacuate the building. Firefighters shut off the sprinklers and began removing water from the burned apartment and two units below. Residents will be displaced from a few days to a few weeks because the automated sprinklers kept the fire from spreading. Damages are limited to about $40,000 between the three affected apartments. Residents are reminded never to leave candles unattended.

Bend Police arrested a 48-year-old Bend man Monday morning after reported assaults and robbery incidents on Southeast Third Street.

Officers say José García Chávez was identified as the suspect in incidents at Eco Laundry Mat and Ace Market.

Two victims had minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

Police say no officers were injured.

García Chávez was treated at St. Charles, then lodged at the Deschutes County Jail.

Witnesses are asked to contact Bend Police.

A Prineville man has died after a motorcycle crash east of Prineville.

Crook County deputies say 56-year-old Jason Fall was riding on Ochoco Ranger Station Road Saturday evening when his motorcycle hit a guardrail, sending him over it.

He was taken to hospitals in Prineville and Bend, but later died due to injuries from the crash.

Oregon State University Cascades will hold its twenty-fifth commencement celebration this Sunday, June fourteenth, at ten in the morning. A record class of three hundred seventy-seven students will receive three hundred eighty degrees across twenty-six programs. About three thousand family members and friends are expected to attend, with tickets required and a clear bag policy in place. The graduating class represents twenty-seven Oregon counties, twenty-four other states, and one other country. Retiring faculty member Dennis Lynn will deliver the commencement address, marking his final lecture at the campus.

Deschutes County is demonstrating fiscal strength as officials report some revenue streams outperforming projections. Commissioner Patty Adair notes the lodging tax is particularly strong, coming in higher than anticipated. A focus on building reserves is also paying off: the county’s health benefit fund, which dropped sharply during the pandemic, has rebounded—from just $1 million at its lowest to an expected $15 million by year’s end. These robust reserves give county leaders more security in their long-term planning. The county’s new budget awaits final certification in the coming weeks, with officials expressing optimism for continued financial health.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is implementing new vehicles to enhance safety on local trails and roadways. Thanks to funding from the State Parks’ ATV program, deputies are now equipped with Dual Sport Honda motorcycles, improving access to hard-to-reach areas and significantly reducing emergency response times. Sheriff Ty Rupert explains the motorcycles enable faster patient care and enhanced patrol capabilities. In addition, an unmarked Dodge Durango is being deployed to monitor traffic and encourage safe driving across the county. The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that the goal is safety and driver compliance, not issuing citations. These upgrades aim to protect residents and visitors alike.

We’re learning more details about the heartbreaking incident at Suttle Lake’s Link Creek Campground involving a local family this past weekend. Investigators say a six-year-old from the Redmond area was struck by a slowly moving vehicle and trailer after running to retrieve a toy.

Despite immediate efforts, the child did not survive.

Officials emphasize no signs of impairment or criminal behavior and say the driver is cooperating.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office continues to support the family and requests privacy as they grieve.