PRINEVILLE, OR -- Dr. Melissa Skinner took over as Superintendent of the Crook County School District this month. She says she has a plan for her first 100 days, "Obviously building relationships, getting to know people, looking to see what’s already traditionally been very successful and holding true to those values. And then, what innovative, what areas of opportunities could I then jump into to continue that success?"

She's focused on early literacy, "I want every child reading by the end of first grade. Not only first grade, but I want all of our students to be successful readers." Skinner adds, "We’re bringing in several top-notch professional development opportunities for our teachers this summer, with writing and literacy."

She tells KBND News, "Past literacy, really looking at college and career readiness. It’s important for us to make sure we produce citizens that go out into the world workforce ready, college ready and/or military ready. So we want to be able to provide that top-notch quality education. I want to analyze all the programs we currently have and potentially add some." Skinner says the district is doing a lot of things well, but believes more could be offered to help high school students, "Right now, we have several pathways, and what pathways could we add so our kids have more opportunities; potentially vet tech is one that we’re looking at. And then strategically looking at our dual credit opportunities for our students, so they enter college already having credits and potentially an Associates Degree. We really want to make sure our kids have every opportunity possible."

At Dr. Skinner's first school board meeting, the board voted in a new Chair and Vice-Vhair. She says she needs to be a unifying force in the district office, "I knew coming in that there would be some work to be done, in terms of collaboration, bringing the board together so that we could prioritize students."

The previous superintendent, Dr. Sara Johnson, resigned in 2023 after a falling out with the school board. Johnson took over this month as head of the High Desert Education Service District.

To listen to our full conversation with Superintendent Dr. Melissa Skinner visit our Podcast Page. 
 

BEND, OR -- Preparation begins Wednesday, July 31, for major construction at the Bend Municipal Airport.

Airport Manager Tracy Williams says it will be a significant upgrade for the increasingly busy airport, "The air traffic control tower is approximately $15-million starting with design and leading up to construction".

She tells KBND News a new $3.7-million federal grant helps pay for it, "I am overjoyed! Over the last several months, we have received a number of grants from both federal and state towards four different projects. The largest one is the air traffic control tower." The other three projects are cosmetic but important. "Mostly pavement rehabilitation. Additionally, we will be installing (runway) lights with the new lighting. It will be pilot controlled, but at least medium intensity. So, it will just pop at night," Williams says.

It's set to be complete by October of 2025.

The Federal Aviation Administration is awarding $17,364,442 to the state under the Airport Improvement Program. In addition to Bend, the Redmond Airport got a little over $1.2-million for its ongoing expansion project. Eight other Oregon airports also received funding.

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County hopes to secure a state grant to help reduce the fire risk in Juniper Ridge, north of Bend. County Forester Kevin Moriarty says fire is a serious problem on the 1,350 acres of city and county land. "In 2024, there have been 14 wildfire responses, and a total of 48 wildfire responses since 2020," he told County Commissioners this week. 

Moriarty is applying for a $75,000 grant from the State Fire Marshal's Office, "To implement ladder fuel reduction on seven miles of unimproved roads within the Juniper Ridge area, and to treat approximately 55 encampment concentrations. The total project area in Juniper Ridge is approximately 305 acres." He says the work will be strategic, "Primarily going to be working on routes and treating areas around encampments. We don't really have the funding to treat all the areas." Moriarty adds, "We're looking at the area with the highest concentration of encampments, to try and focus on that area and potentially trying to keep that area intact."

If the state money comes through, Deschutes County will contribute $30,000 and the city of Bend will add $50,000.

The goal is to reduce the overall risk to nearby homeowners, railroad infrastructure and area utilities, "The project will reduce fire risk to the project area and the areas surrounding it. It will also reduce the hazard risk to first responders." Moriarty says, "The treatment will primarily be limbing and brush removal. We are proposing to treat six-inches or less trees as well. But there's not a lot of small trees out there right now. They're primarily mature, older trees."

Work on the project would begin later this year, "We generally don't try to do fuel reduction projects when we have high fire risk. We primarily try to implement our projects in fall, winter and spring time."

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners are split on what to do with people living on 137 acres in southeast Redmond. The county-owned parcel is part of a land swap with the state. But the deal, in the works for about 20 years, can't proceed until campers and trash are cleared off. 

Commissioners want to create an alternative site on a nearby 45-acre lot also owned by the county. Deputy County Administrator Erik Kropp told them Monday a sanctioned camp must adhere to Redmond's code, which includes fencing and fire restrictions, "And then there must be some on-site presence. The responsible entity must be able to accept and respond to calls during business hours, they also must designate someone to respond to after-hours emergencies. There shall be a code of conduct."

Commissioners Phil Chang and Patti Adair voted Monday to move forward with searching for an organization to operate a supported or managed camp, which would be prepared with infrastructure like gravel and fencing. But Commissioner Tony DeBone wanted a less structured approach, "I think it just got way too complicated; we're going to spend way too much money. We should start with a very simple plan, ask people to move. Getting somebody to move from one location to another is a huge, monumental task in itself. And if you practice that, you can get some momentum on this."

Redmond City Manager Keith Witcosky told Commissioners his City Council will only support a plan that provides structure, with enforcable rules, "We want to create something safe and secure for the people servicing, for the people that are going to be living out there. And, that's where the structure comes in. So that ideally we can come up with a model that can be replicated in other places, as well."

DeBone continued to push back at Monday's meeting, "I think we just stepped into the quicksand and it's going to cost us time and money." To which Chang replied, "I would say that if you look at what has actually worked in homelessness response in our region, what has actually helped reduce homelessness--" DeBone cut him off, saying, "We haven't seen anything successful anywhere." Adair disagreed, "The Veterans Village has been phenomenal; Oasis Village is working." 

DeBone went on to say, "We have wildfires starting all around us, we have unsanctioned camping all around us. We're helping 5-10% of the people at a time. Yes, it's very successful at the Veterans Village; it's exciting for the people in those cabins. Oasis Village, it's wonderful for the people that are in there. We still have 100% problem and we're going to try and take another small bit out of it. It's going to be very expensive; it's going to be quicksand." Chang responded, "Well, the only reason that homelessness has declined in the Redmond area and in the Bend area is because of those very complicated, very expensive solutions."

Once a space is set up to accommodate unhoused campers, officials estimate it will take nine to 10 months to clear the 137 acres. DeBone believes that timeframe is too long and wants a faster process to complete the state deal, which will result in more acres for the County Fairgrounds. 

Map: The county-owned 137 acres involved in the state land swap is highlighted in blue. 

PRINEVILLE, OR -- A Sunday brush fire in Crook County was caused by recreators shooting at exploding targets, according to the Sheriff's Office. Deputies and firefighters responded to the fire near SW Millican Road and found it quickly spreading. Local and state firefighting resources were able to stop the fire's forward progress while deputies evacuated dispersed campers in the area. 

During witness interviews, deputies learned a group of ATV and dirt bikers shot about a pound of Tannerite. The subsequent explosion set nearby vegetation on fire. Tannerite was not allowed on BLM land at the time of the incident.

One person was identified and cited for Reckless Burning and Criminal Mischief. 

REDMOND, OR -- When the Deschutes County Fair opens Wednesday, one of the first livestock events will feature students from Redmond High School's Unified Sports program. "Unified Sports falls under the umbrella of Special Olympics," says Redmond High's Angela Capps, "So we pair what we call partners, our mentors, with our athletes, who are kids with special needs." Capps co-teaches Unified Sports at RHS. It was created two years ago by her co-teacher Amy Nickell. About a year ago, Capps tells KBND News, they got the idea to expand the program to FFA. 

Seven special needs students are learning how to show lambs, with the help of FFA mentors like Abby Ortgies. "Last week, we had them come meet the animals, that way they can get their sensitivity up and understand what it's about, so they're not scared and nervous to do it. And they all loved it." Ortgies says, "They had a blast. It was really cute and they had a lot of fun." She adds, "We taught them how to walk slow and be calm with them, because [the sheep] can get startled sometimes when people jump up to them. So we told them to walk them around in circles." Mentors and athletes will work tegether in the ring, "Our partners will hold on to the ends of the halters and they'll hold on to the very closest part of the halter. So just in case they accidentally let go, the lamb stays with them," says Ortgies.

Recent RHS grad Brynn Capps says she's excited to work with her partner athlete in this new venue, "Showing livestock, and sheep specifically, has just a huge place in my heart. And being able to invite these kids who don't really get these opportunities every day so that they can show lambs is such an incredible opportunity."

Angela Capps says the Unified Sports program has had a big impact on the overall culture at RHS. "There's been great friendships developed. We have students going to dances now because their friends are there. It's just an amazing program. It just kind of - it warms your heart." Now, she hopes to spread that feeling to FFA and the ag community through Sheep Showmanship. "We have a really strong group of people showing. It's pretty amazing. Our Redmond FFA kids from all species of animals, they're just top notch. They're really fun to watch."

Unified FFA Sheep Showmanship is at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Sheep Ring at the fairgrounds in Redmond. While unified athletes aren't competing with other FFA livestock presenters, Capps says there will be prizes. She says the program could eventually expand to include goats, along with lambs. 

The Deschutes County Fair runs through Sunday.

SALEM, OR -- During this already devastating wildfire season, Oregon drivers are asked to take every precaution to avoid making things worse.

Oregon Emergency Management Deputy Director Patence Winningham says it's an all-too-common problem: drivers come upon a road closed due to a fire incident, and rely too heavily on GPS to get through. "We've seen people starting to take alternative routes up into the forest, which might also be putting them into harm's way," says Winningham, "So we ask you to try to avoid those areas that actually have active fire on the landscape and look for areas that don't."

She says Tripcheck is the best way to track road closures, because it's updated by the Oregon Department of Transportation faster than vehicle and phone GPS systems. Winningham notes is also good to check conditions for where you're going, to make sure you aren't driving into a high-risk area, "Some areas there may not be fire on the landscape, but there might be some severe weather patterns. Fire can move quick, depending on the wind. And it can spread pretty fast, and not always will be able to get resources into those areas to protect people and clear the road, and really make sure folks don't go into harm's way."

All of Oregon is tinder dry, and Winningham says it's important your vehicle is well-maintained, so it doesn't spark another fire. At least one driver sparked a fire by parking on dry grass, "It had come up to a road closure sign because of active wildfire, and the car actually started another fire because it had pulled off to the side of the road." She adds, "People with the chains on the bottom of their car, absolutely. Folks that are throwing cigarettes or burning debris. It's still a thing and we just need to be very cognizant and have a heightened awareness of active fire and how fast fire can spread in certain weather conditions."

If you're staying closer to home, make sure you are two weeks ready, "In the summer months, we have to prepare for living without power for a significant amount of time, because of the risk of wildfire: having enough water, having access to communications tools. Do you have an emergency alert radio?" Utilities may initiate a public safety power shutoff during wind events, to prevent transmission lines from starting a fire. Winningham says companies try to provide one to two days' notice, depending on the forecast, but it could happen in an instant if they detect a problem, "They won't turn the power back on after that, until they're able to walk the entire line to ensure it won't start a fire. And that could take hours."

Photo: The Durkee Fire (07/22/24) closed multiple highways in Baker County.

REDMOND, OR -- Fire investigators are working to determine what started a large fire in Redmond Saturday afternoon. Redmond Fire and Rescue responded to a reported structure fire on Southwest 24th, near Pumice Avenue. A large column of smoke was visible from throughout the area.

Firefighters arrived to find numerous vehicles fully engulfed in flames in the backyard, with flames spreading to the house. They were able to stop the fire’s spread and make sure everyone escaped unharmed.

SISTERS, OR -- The roundabout at Highway 20 and Locust Street in Sisters opens to all traffic Monday evening. Drivers will still see single-lane closures overnight. Between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. Tuesday, crews are finishing pavement marking operations.

Access to South Locust Street and Hood avenue is closed until September; detours are in place.

Construction began in March. The full project should be done by October third.

BURNS, OR -- (2 p.m. UPDATE)  BLM officials confirm the missing airtanker was found Friday morning by a Grant County Search and Rescue team. The pilot, whose identity has not been released, was found deceased in the wreckage.

The plane was based out of Burns, contracted seasonally by the BLM.

(9:30 a.m.) A Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) went missing Thursday, while working on a new lightning start near the Falls Fire. The plane was contracted by the Bureau of Land Management. Authorities say search efforts began immediately and continue Friday, but have released no other details.

SEATs are the smallest airtankers used for wildland fires. They can deliver up to 800 gallons of retardant or water. Previous reports indicate SEAT planes hold just one person; the pilot.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a statement Friday morning saying, "The dangers of fighting fires are constant and this developing news story from Eastern Oregon is a painful reminder of that fact. Let's all take a moment to think about the people in this air tanker and hope for a positive outcome."

The Falls Fire is estimated to be 55% contained, at 140,422 acres, as of Friday morning. It started July 10th and has destroyed more than a dozen homes. Over 1,800 others are threatened. Officials say it was human caused.

file photo courtesy of the National Interagency Fire Center

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners host a community conversation Tuesday, to discuss the potential for a recreational campground on Fort Thompson Lane, north of Bend. "It's on the west side of Highway 97, approximately 500 acres," says Board Chair Patti Adair. The county-owned property is the most likely option for a tent and RV park out of three identified in a feasibility study. 

Adair tells KBND News, "I've been talking to the neighbors in that community and they're just incredibly concerned. It's good that we're going to meet with them." Tuesday's meeting is 5:30 - 8 p.m. at the County Services building at 1300 NW Wall in Bend. There's also an option to attend virtually.

Some have suggested it could generate revenue for the county. But Adair worries it'll cost too much to get started, "From the feasibility study, was $21 million. And I feel like, as County Commissioners, we have some other issues that are way more demanding and seriously needed in our county." She wants more focus on developing a managed camp for the houseless community, "I definitely wouldn't be voting for it. I have been really clear the whole time. I am not lukewarm; I am ice cold about this project. Because I want some managed camp for the homeless, so they get out of the forest."

Commissioners are again asking the Governor to allow one outside Bend's Urban Growth Boundary, "We've done so many things within the city of Bend. We have people that don't want to go within the city of Bend. So my theory is, we have to offer them something that's close but not that close, but yet it's completely managed." And, Adair says, "We're working Monday on the 45 acres that we own within the city of Redmond for a managed camp. Not using the whole 45, but just a spot where they can move to, we will have service, water, dumpsters, etc." That location, she says, would be for people living on a county-owned parcel involved in a state land deal. 

REDMOND, OR -- Investigators now believe recreators sparked the McCaffery Fire, which scorched more than 450 acres of BLM land east of the Redmond Airport. It started July sixth and prompted the evacuation of West Powell Butte Estates.

Initial reports indicated it was human caused. The Bureau of Land Management tells KBND News it likely started with recreational shooting. Officials say it highlights how just a spark can start a wildfire in these extremely dry conditions.

By July 10, the McCaffery Fire was considered 100% contained at 458 acres and all evacuation orders were dropped. The area reopened to the public July 11th. 

BEND, OR -- Two people were arrested Wednesday on Arson and other charges, following an investigation into a weekend car fire. Bend Police responded to the report of a vehicle fire near SE Fourth and Roosevelt Saturday night. Officers and fire crews extinguished the flames.

Investigators later determined the owner of the car was sleeping when Nathaniel Tatom and Cindiy Kusmider arrived, smashed the driver's side window with a baseball bat and poured a clear liquid inside. The victim reported the car ignited in flames but they escaped unhurt. 

Tatom and Kusmider left before emergency crews arrived but were taken into custody Wednesday after officers served a search warrant at Tatom's home on Forum Drive. 

Kusmider, who also had two outstanding warrants, told police she had ingested drugs, so she was taken to St. Charles Bend. She walked out of the hospital early Thursday and was found by police nearby. She will join Tatom at the Deschutes County Jail once she's medically cleared. 

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Emergency Manager Sgt. Nathan Garibay says he's preparing for a long and intense fire season, "We're seeing fire activity that typically we don't see until a little later in the summer. There's a lot of acres burning right now in Oregon, and we have a long season left ahead of us. We probably have two months left before a likely season-ending event."

Fires in Central Oregon have already led to more than half a dozen local evacuation orders; statewide, evacuations have impacted more than 100 communities. Sgt. Garibay says he's issued numerous fire evacuations this season, "The Darlene 3 Fire, McCaffrey Road Fire, which was up in Redmond. And then, we've had some small areas evacuated around both the Wickiup Fire, down near Wickiup Reservoir, as well as the Jackpine Fire, right on the Deschutes-Klamath County line."

He wants people to have a good understanding of the state's standardized evacuation levels: Level One - Be Ready, Level Two - Be Set and Level Three - Go Now, "Go Now is really just, there's imminent risk to your community, and fire managers can't guarantee that they can keep the fire out of your community. So we really do that as a preventative measure to keep life safety intact. And that's our primary- at that point, we want to make sure people are safe."

Garibay encourages families to think about how they would evacuate long before it's needed, including packing an emergency kit, deciding on a meeting place for extended family and keeping gas in your car, "If you have kids home from school during the summer and you work, do you have a plan in place for your kids to evacuate if they're not quite yet driving? Do you have a trusted neighbor or friend in the area that can pick up your kids if your neighborhood gets evacuated? Because it might be a challenge to get back home to get your kids." Similar plans should be made for pets left home alone during the day. 

He tells KBND News ordering an evacuation is never an easy decision, "I think some of the challenge we have is making sure that we get the right information out to the people and that people can make good, timely decisions for their own safety." Garibay says the community can help by signing up for local emergency alerts. He notes the houseless community faces additional challenges when it comes to evacuation notices, "Dealing with encampments that are scattered in undeveloped areas, it's making sure we can find them, notify them, get them out of the way. It just requires some different communication strategies."

BEND, OR -- The Central Oregon Civic Action Project needs more people to respond to their invitation to join the region’s first civic assembly, which will focus on how to address youth homelessness.

More than 12,000 notices were mailed to random Deschutes County households, but so far, just about 200 have returned. That's only a little more than half what the group hoped for.

The deadline to respond is Sunday, July 28. The lottery to determine the 30 assembly members will be held August first. 

file photo

BEND, OR -- A brush fire broke out along the Deschutes River Wednesday afternoon, just downstream from the First Street Rapids. Bend Police helped firefighters find the best access to the fire, which was at the bottom of a cliff behind homes on NW Rivermist Drive.

Crews held it to just a small area near the river, and determined it was human-caused, but say the specific cause couldn’t be determined. There were no signs of encampments in the area. Bend Fire says the trail through the fire area is heavily used by hikers and swimmers, and a carelessly discarded cigarette or hot ashes can't be ruled out. 

Photo courtesy Bend Fire & Rescue

BEND, OR -- The Bend Park and Recreation District is getting more reports of people camping in its natural areas, like Shevlin Park. "This time of year - I think it's more of a seasonal type of situation - that is several times a week, if not a daily occurrence that we're getting those reports," says the district's Julie Brown. "We do not allow any camping on Bend Park and Recreation District property."

Brown says all parks have hours of operation, "Typically, that's from dawn to dusk. Some of them, it's from a specific time, maybe it's 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. And, therefore, when our park properties are closed, they're closed to everyone."

Like many agencies, Bend Parks and Rec has studied the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing camping bans on public property. Brown says, "For us, it's not really changing our approach to how we are trying to respond to use of our property or the support or connections that we try to make for houseless individuals with resources that are available to them." She tells KBND News, "Our staff members do our very best to respectfully contact individuals and/or inform them of the rules." She adds, "They may see them on a very regular basis and have somewhat of a basis of a relationship that we may be able to help make some of those contacts that some of those others - maybe law enforcement might not be able to have quite the same success."

Brown says parks visitors should not attempt to deal with campers on their own. Reports can be made by calling the district office at 541-389-7275. 

Photo: A camper is discovered in Shevlin Park; July 2024.

PAULINA, OR -- Central Oregon Firefighters responded to 25 new starts Monday following Sunday's thunder storm.

"Firefighters had a great success in keeping most of these fires at under an acre. However, a few did grow larger under hot and dry conditions," Jaimie Olle with Central Oregon Fire Management Service tells KBND News many of the fires were determined to be lightning caused while others are under investigation.

"We will likely see new starts from this lightning activity throughout the next week or so. The potential is still there that we will continue to see lightning fires pop up over the next couple of days and even into the next week for what we call holdover fires, which are those that may be creeping and smoldering along the ground or in root systems and they don't necessarily present themselves until a few days later," Olle says, adding fires in the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests prompted the deployment of more equipment and firefighters in the area, "We do have a lot of fire activity on the landscape. And so, we are bringing in external resources where possible to ensure that firefighters are getting sufficient rest, when we're able to do so."

The Durgan Fire, burning 8 miles northeast of Paulina, is now estimated at over 3,000 acres with 65% containment. The Crazy Creek Fire, 16 miles north of Paulina, is over 5,000 acres with 0% containment as of Wednesday morning. Both started Monday on the Ochocos.

PHOTO: Crazy Creek Fire courtesy Central OR Fire Info

BAKER CITY, OR -- With more than three dozen large wildfires burning in the Pacific Northwest, the region and the country are at Preparedness Level Five. "That’s the highest level of preparedness," says Lauren Maloney, with the Northwest Coordination Center, "The Pacific Northwest is the Number One priority in the nation and we’re getting as many resources as we can."

NWCC tracks fires and provides logistical support for incidents in Oregon and Washington. "We currently have 38 large wildfires on the landscape in Oregon and Washington. That’s 29 in Oregon and nine in Washington." Maloney says a "large fire" is an incident over 100 acres in timber or 300 acres of rangeland. "In addition to that, we have literally hundreds of other wildfires on the landscape in both states that are just small little acres, that are initially attacked by local resources and many of them are getting put out. And then there are a number of others that are small and growing," says Maloney.

As of Wednesday morning, Oregon’s largest is the Durkee Fire, estimated at almost 245,000 acres. Crews from 22 states are assigned to that incident southeast of Baker City. It's one of four "mega fires" in the state, defined as those over 100,000 acres. The Falls Fire, outside of Burns, is more than 140,000 acres; the Lone Rock Fire, near Spray, is nearly 135,000 acres; and the Cow Valley Fire, also near Baker City, is now over 133,000 acres. But Maloney says there is certainly potential for others to grow into a mega fire, "The east winds are fanning fires and making them large. Some of those larger rangeland fires are growing quite rapidly when there’s thunderstorm down-drafts that are creating significant wind events."

It means resources are stretched, despite receiving firefighters from all over the U.S. "We’re tapping additional resources, like the National Guard is helping to support us," says Maloney, "And we have firefighters that are going to be coming in the next couple of weeks from Australia and New Zealand, that’ll help us out." She adds, "They’re going to start traveling here this week. We’ll put them through some local training and then hopefully they’ll be able to help us increase our capacity, to really address some of these wide landscape-level-acreage fires."

Fire managers are preparing for the long haul, "These fires are likely going to be on the landscape for a long time, really until we get a season-ending event, like a heavy rain or snow." She says that makes it even more important to prevent new fires from starting.  

Photo: The Durkee Fire makes a run up to Interstate 84, between Baker City and Ontario, 07/22/24. Courtesy Oregon Department of Transportation.

BEND, OR -- Bend Police arrested a 41-year-old man Tuesday afternoon, following an armed robbery at a marijuana dispensary. Officers responded to Top Shelf Medicine on Greenwood just after 4:30 p.m., after an employee reported she was struck in the face and threatened with a handgun. She also told 911 dispatchers the man took a bag of marijuana and walked out the door. He allegedly tried to fire two shots at the employee, but the gun malfunctioned.

Two other employees were hurt when they put the suspect in a headlock as he tried to leave, holding him until officers arrived about a minute later. 

Police say they used a "wrap device" on Russell Boggess to restrain him, while transporting him to St. Charles Bend. Once he's medically cleared, he'll be booked on charges including Attempted Murder, Robbery, Assault, Interference with a 911 Call and Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County leaders are asking the state Legislature to ban flavored tobacco products, to protect kids from taking up smoking or vaping. In Oregon, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease. "Nine out of ten adults who smoke reported that they started smoking before the age of 18," Deschutes County Tobacco Prevention Specialist Jasmine Gerraty told Commissioners Monday. She believes stopping those kids from accessing products flavored like bubblegum or root beer could lead to fewer adult addicts, "Here in Deschutes County, amongst our 11th grade students that use tobacco products, they report vaping as the method of choice for nicotine consumption - So that's most common here in Deschutes County - And 85% of which have used a flavored vaping product."

Commissioner Phil Chang read part of a proclamation he approved Monday, saying, "Whereas 'Big tobacco's' use of candy flavors like bubblegum, blue raspberry, root beer and minty menthol have an increased likelihood of attracting new and existing consumers - especially students and other targeted groups - on the massive hits of nicotine their tobacco products can deliver." Commission Chair Patti Adair also approved of the proclamation, reading in part, "Be it resolved that Deschutes County strongly encourages the Oregon Legislature to pass legislation ending the sale of flavored tobacco products. This action is necessary to protect our children, students and other targeted groups from starting or continuing the use of candy-flavored and minty-menthol tobacco products."

Commissioner Tony DeBone was the lone 'No' vote, saying he doesn't believe the county has much authority on the matter, "There's a lot of good information here. There's a legislative choice at the Legislature." In 2020 and '23, with the approval of Commissioners, Deschutes County public health officials testified in Salem in support of statewide bans that later failed. 

REDMOND, OR -- A 19-year-old Redmond man suffered life-threatening injuries when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a Jeep Monday night. Redmond Police responded to the intersection of NW 22nd and Maple Avenue just before 10:15 p.m. and found the SUV's 59-year-old driver still on-scene, unhurt. RPD says he called 911 to report the crash. 

The motorcycle rider was taken to St. Charles Bend. His condition is unknown. Oregon State Police assisted with crash scene reconstruction and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. 

BEND, OR -- More changes are coming for people driving through the Bend North Corridor Improvement project. Starting Friday, southbound traffic on Highway 97 will permanently shift to the newly built parkway. The southbound 97 onramp at Robal Lane will also open.

Drivers on southbound 97 needing to access retail businesses on the north end of Bend, including the Cascade Village Shopping Center, should take exit 134 at Grandview Avenue. Northbound highway drivers can access shopping by using exit 135-A. Visit ODOT's Project Page for more maps and information on traffic flows.

ODOT again urges drivers not to perform U-turns on the highway. If you miss your exit, continue to the next one.

PRINEVILLE, OR -- More lightning Sunday night led to over two-dozen new fire starts in Central Oregon Monday, many on the Ochoco National Forest. 

The Durgan Fire is burning eight miles northeast of Paulina. It quickly grew Monday to around 3,000 acres. There are also smaller incidents, like the 500-acre Crazy Creek Fire and the 11-acre Pulley Creek Fire. All are 0% contained. 

North of Burns, the Falls Fire grew after the lightning storm. It’s now almost 140,000 acres and has destroyed more than a dozen homes.

Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a tree and brush fire Monday afternoon on Skyline Ranch Road (pictured), believed to have been sparked by Sunday's lightning. It likely smoldered in a tree overnight, before winds increased Monday afternoon. A neighbor spotted the tree on fire in the middle of a grass field at about 4 p.m. and called 911. It spread quickly but fire crews stopped it at about an acre.

Another smoldering fire was extinguished earlier in the day, near Caldera High School. That blaze was held at about 100 square feet; its cause is unknown.

BEND, OR -- Bend Councilors are considering how to accommodate future development needs as the city grows. "We're supposed to be at about 150,000 by the year 2040," says City Manager Eric King.

He tells KBND News Council hopes to get permission to expand the UGB to allow for more affordable housing development, "We are doing what is called a one-time expansion of our Urban Growth Boundary; about 100 acres. There was a law that was recently passed in the legislature that allowed cities a quicker process to add more land to their inventory." The specific location for the expansion has not been determined, "We're going to solicit property owners and developers over the next couple of months, so we'll open it up and see who brings the best proposal. Our focus is affordable housing, so we hope to get multiple proposals from developers and then we will have to pick one."

King says, "The next step is a more traditional Urban Growth Boundary that'll look more comprehensively at where we might want to grow." He adds, "Not just out, but change what the land is used for inside our current Urban Growth Boundary, to accommodate that population forecast. And then long-term, what's a process called 'urban reserves.' Looking at a 50-year plan of land that we might need to accommodate growth and really protecting some of that land around the city, so that as we grow, we can urbanize; we don't have these barriers."
While the Legislature's one-time UGB expansion tool is supposed to allow for  quick approval of proposals focused on affordable housing, King says the larger plan won't happen quickly, "It's really a four to five-year process to put all of that together with the short, medium and long-term milestones." 

BEND, OR -- Bend-La Pine Schools officials have announced the Bend Senior High auditorium will be torn down as soon as possible. Last month, a subcontractor discovered damage while responding to a leak in the sprinkler system. A subsequent inspection determined the building is unsafe to occupy. Demolition may begin this week. 

Initially, it was thought the sprinkler system might have caused the west wall to bow outward. But the district's Scott Maben now says it could be the other way around, "The stresses on the structure may have actually been pulling on the fire suppression piping up in the ceiling area of the auditorium. And that's perhaps what led to those pipes coming loose and leaking."

Maben tells KBND News structural engineers found stress fractures in the roof trusses, "They've looked at four of the six trusses and they've seen these fractures. They've seen the west wall of the auditorium bowing out and essentially starting to fail." Officials believe the damage occurred in the past year. The building was fully inspected in April 2023 and no issues were found. 

"We recognize this is an abrupt turn of events and a cause of concern for our staff, students and families," Superintendent Steve Cook said in a statement Monday. "The Lava Bear auditorium has served as an essential and beloved venue for our community. As part of the ongoing modernization of Bend Senior High, we had planned to renovate this space for future generations to use and enjoy. Unfortunately, it's no longer safe to maintain the auditorium, and it needs to come down as soon as possible."

The auditorium was built in 1955. It was scheduled to be renovated in a future phase of the modernization and expansion project now underway at the campus. It is not near the area where crews are currently working on construction of the new classroom wing. Planning for a new auditorium will now begin and district leaders are working to develop a plan to relocate auditorium functions until the new building is complete. 

BEND, OR -- Oregon’s Department of Forestry is trying to identify two people who climbed up a fire-detection tower northwest of Bend. ODF-Central Oregon District’s Ben Duda says an operator was checking the camera on the Three Creek Butte tower at about 8 p.m. last Sunday, looking for a nice shot of the sunset, "She noticed a bare leg with Converse shoe attached to it, dangling in front of one of the cameras. And those cameras are - that particular tower is 60-feet."

Duda says authorized personnel are outfitted with helmets, gloves and cables to prevent falling, so going up without any of that gear is incredibly dangerous. "I cringe thinking that - That’s the first thing we did, when we noticed that people were on the camera. Our operators have the ability to go live and move the camera where they need to look at things. And the first thing we do is look down to see if, God forbid, there’s somebody laying at the bottom of the tower," he tells KBND News, "Fortunately, there was not in this case, but we definitely want to avoid that kind of tragedy at one of our sites."

It’s also trespassing, and the men could face criminal charges, "There’s a 6’-high chain link fence enclosure that those towers are in the middle of, with three strands of barbed wire running around the top. Our concern as well is, that’s such a critical piece of infrastructure for us; those cameras are used to detect new fire starts."

Duda says none of the equipment appears to have been damaged, "Apparently they were just looking for the sunset themselves and a nice view, and didn’t cause any damage other than some bent barbed wire. We’d really like to make sure they’re okay and they don’t have any cuts and bruises from their adventure."

The cameras are pre-programmed to constantly scan the area, taking a series of photos ODF uses to detect new wildfires, "They can be programmed to look down at the ground occasionally, so now we’re upping our security up there. Unfortunately, we’re taking some time away from the scanning for fires and now looking for our own safety and security of the site."

Duda says the sunset view from Three Creek Butte is just as good from the ground as it is on top of the tower.

UPDATE (7/23/24) -- The two people caught on camera climbing a fire detection tower outside of Bend came forward this week and turned themselves in. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the two appeared sincere in their apology to the agency. Authorities decided not to charge them with a crime, although they have been formally "trespassed," meaning if they appear at the site again, they can be arrested. They also received a warning about the danger they put themselves in, climbing a 60-foot tower without any safety equipment.

MADRAS, OR -- A Madras man accused of drug trafficking was arrested Friday afternoon at a store where he worked, while detectives executed a search warrant at his home. Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team agents identified 34-year-old Christopher Crawford after a long-term investigation and surveillance operation.

They believe Crawford sold a large amount of meth and fentanyl pills from his home on Southwest C Street. During a search of the house and his car, CODE found a commercial quantity of meth and counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, powdered fentanyl, a large amount of cash and several knives he’s prohibited from carrying.

LA PINE, OR -- A La Pine man arrested in early July on several drug charges, now faces 20 counts of Encouraging Child Sex Abuse. Detectives from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) received a tip in late June about a social media account allegedly distributing explicit material involving children. The account was traced back to 61-year-old Richard Jay Jackson.

A separate drug investigation by the Street Crimes Unit led to a search of Jackson's home on July 8th. They say they seized drugs, pakaging material and Jackson's phone. 

Four days later, ICAC detectives executed a search warrant on Jackson's phone, still in police custody. They uncovered "a sizable number of videos depicting Child Sex Abuse Material." Jackson was still in custody and additional charges were added. 

Friday, they executed another search of his home and seized additiona electronic devices. More charges may be added. 

BEND, OR -- The Center and St. Charles Health System announced this week the two healthcare organizations would "expand" their relationship. But what exactly that means for The Center is unclear. CEO Brett Hazlett says the full legal transaction hasn't yet been defined, "Whatever form that takes, the end result is that the majority of the employees will become employees of St. Charles." The Center is the region's main provider of orthopedic and neurosurgical services, as well as offering physical and rehabilitation medicine. Its doctors already provide services at St. Charles Medical Center.

Hazlett tells KBND News the driving force to strengthen that relationship is a struggle to recruit and retain, especially over the last year, "This is a trend nationally. It's been in Central Oregon and now it's kind of gotten to The Center, as well. We're all kind of dealing with the same market forces." It results, he says, in financial hardships for The Center and a more difficulty for patients trying to see a doctor, "People have experienced the challenges. Patients have had trouble getting in; it's been really long wait times."

The Center operates three clinics in Bend and one in Redmond, with outreach clinics in other Central Oregon communities. "The intention is to keep all the services we have, all the providers, same location," says Hazlett. "The goal for the community is that that is 100% transparent. Same providers they have always been able to see, ideally with the investment and financial support that has caused some of the struggles, we actually build on that and provide better access and care for the community. But certainly the folks that they're used to seeing they continue to see, in the same locations that they see them today."

He also expects other programs to continue, "The student athlete piece, which we provide trainers in the high schools and all those pieces, St. Charles, as a nonprofit, they're a perfect partner for that. They're really excited all the way to the top over there to maintain that program." 

"St. Charles and The Center are both local organizations that are committed to providing the best possible care for Central Oregonians," St. Charles CEO Dr. Steve Gordon said in a statement. "St. Charles has the ability to step in and help shore up these services for our patients and community, which is not only the right thing to do it's critical to ensuring continued access to a wide variety of services throughout the region."

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, OR -- A fast-moving brush fire threatened several homes in Crooked River Ranch, Thursday evening. Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue, as well as crews from Redmond, Sisters, Bend, Cloverdale, Crook County and Jefferson County responded to the SW Quail Road area just after 5:30 p.m.

They held the fire at just over eight acres. No homes were lost and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office briefly issued a Level 3 "GO NOW" evacuation for the immediate area; evacuees were sent to the CRR Fire Station. By nightfall, orders were reduced to Level 1 "BE READY."

CRR Fire & Rescue officials say it's a good reminder to have an evacuation plan for your family and pets.

BEND, OR -- Organized retail theft is a growing problem in Central Oregon. Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels says it happens in every corner of the county and it costs retailers tens of thousands of dollars. "Ten people go into a store, through the front door, they spread out, they each get a cart. They start loading items, merchandise into carts and then they push them out the door," Gunnels told County Commissioners this week, "They get out of the store and then they go to the next store and they do the same thing." He says the transient nature of the crime makes it difficult to catch the thieves, "Going from store to store, stealing literally thousands of dollars at each store. And then, eventually either getting caught or having some parts of the organization getting caught and some fleeing the area to go to other countries or to go to the other side of this country."

Gunnels office is now asking for a state grant to create a 10-month program, This would be a partnership between the DA's office and Bend Police Department, to gain a stronger understanding of the organized retail theft issue here in Deschutes County," says D.A. Management Analyst Kathleen Meehan Coop. She says it would allow for officers, prosecutors and retail employees to participate in training," And hosting a variety of meetings for local retailers, to understand exactly what they are experiencing; with the ultimate goals for us to establish agreements with some of our local retailers, and to develop a long-term plan for addressing the problem."

Gunnels says as long as this extreme form of shoplifting is so successful for the thieves, they will continue, "Stores more and more have a policy of not intervening physically to stop theft and that's part of- I don't want to say it's part of the problem, but it increases the profitability for organized retail theft rings." He told Commissioners, "This kind of crime can be interrupted and if the profitability is taken out of it, it will stop."

Oregon's Criminal Justice Commission is making $5 million available statewide to combat organized retail theft. Deschutes County Commissioners agreed to allow the D.A. to ask for $50,000. 

Photo: Redmond Police identified two men suspected of stealing numerous items from a local shoe store in 2023.

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS -- Nearly six years after it closed, Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort reopened to the public Thursday and it's already drawing a lot of attention. Kah-Nee-Ta's website crashed Wednesday, after online reservations went live. "The pent up desire by everybody just to come out and re-experience it is just tremendous," says CEO Jim Souers, "So we know it's going to be very high-demand coming into this weekend and through the rest of the summer."

Restoring the resort came with a $13.1 million dollar price tag. But Souers says it also created 85 jobs for tribal members, and is expected to be an economic boon to Warm Springs. It's also a cultural benefit to the Confederated Tribes, "To allow their culture to be felt, seen and experienced. It's a native hot springs. It's been around for centuries."

Souers tells KBND News, "This was one of the first resort destinations in all of Central Oregon." It operated for about 40 years before it closed in 2018. At the time, the Tribal Council said it was financially unsustainable. Souers says after Indian Head Casino moved to its current location on Highway 26, the 150-room lodge and conference space added to Kah-Nee-Ta in the 1970s became a financial drain on the rest of the resort. Now, the hotel has just 30 rooms, 20 new teepees and an RV Park, all in the footprint of the original Kah-Nee-Ta Village, "This Village, itself, has been and will continue to be profitable," says Souers, "So that's where we started. How we expand from here, we'll see."

Kah-Nee-Ta has 30 pools, "We now, I believe, have the largest resort-class hot springs soaking experience in all of the Northwest, if not the greater region. A third of the large pool areas are hot springs water." They have to vary the temperature because the water comes out of the ground at 130-degrees, "The hot springs are known for adding a wellness component to humanity, not just ours but just in general. So how do we bring this hot springs water to everybody in a large format?" 

There's also a lazy river, a full restaurant and bar, and other family-oriented outdoor activities. "We just didn't bring it back to, if you will, spruce up what was there. We really thought about what do we need for the next 20 to 30 years to bring it back. We refer to it as reimagining." 

Reservations can be made year-round for day-use or overnight stays.

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County is imposing public use fire restrictions, due to the ongoing risk of wildfire. County Forester Kevin Moriarty says the emergency declaration is for county-owned property and lands outside a fire protection district. "Smoking would be prohibited, open fires are prohibited, chainsaw use would be prohibited between the hours of 1 and 8 pm, including a one-hour fire watch and including firefighting equipment. Cutting, grinding, welding would also be prohibited between the hours of 1 and 8 p.m. Use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles would be prohibited, except on improved roads." 

Restrictions remain in place until October 15, 2024.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Wall says even parking on dry brush can spark a fire, "Obviously it’s very hot, very dry, humidity is very low. A hot vehicle sitting on top of some dry grass could cause some problems." He tells KBND News the danger is especially high on undeveloped lands outside Bend, where DCSO has increased patrols, "We’ve tried to alleviate some of the pressures in some of these other areas, namely China Hat and Juniper Ridge." He adds, We have equipped those vehicles with portable water, pressurized pumps, so that if in the event a fire were to start and we’re able to get there quicker than fire personnel, we might have a fighting chance of knocking it down before it gets too out of control." Wall adds, "Now granted, it’s a small amount of water when you’re talking about a wildfire, but sometimes if we can get it put out quickly with water, or maybe a shovel - sometimes just shoveling a line around something can help out fire personnel who show up with all the big tools."

County Forester Moriarty says imposing local restrictions should help, "Considering that the Oregon Department of Forestry has imposed their order and federal lands, including the Forest Service and BLM, has moved their IFPL rating to two, which is a very similar restriction, it seems proper that we do so, as well." The Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland and Prineville District of the BLM announced Thursday they would move into Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) III on Monday, and increase public use restrictions to Stage Two. See below for details. 

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners continue to look at how private property made available by its owners could be used as a sanctioned location for the homeless moved from other areas in the county.

"I'd sent an email to our governor's office on June 27th asking for a re-evaluation of property right outside the UGB in Bend," Commission Chair Patti Adair said Wednesday, "When I had Matt's call from the Housing and Homelessness Initiative Director on Monday, I felt like, 'Oh my gosh. I think she's finally heard us.' He's asked for more information." Adair wants the Governor to grant permission to use the site for a managed camp.

Commissioners say the Gales family wants its parcel east of Bend used for a county benefit. But under current state guidelines, it is not in the right location to be used as a managed camp, "The property is 1400', approximately, from the UGB line; of course, that was another problem. And it's EFU," says Adair. Governor Tina Kotek has previously denied the county's request. 

Commissioners Adair and Tony DeBone want to send a letter to Kotek asking her to reconsider. DeBone said Wednesday it could include, "'Dear Governor Kotek, we would like to seek your, I don't know, blessing or approval or guidance - add to an executive order to rezone this property for emergency purposes' or something." Adair says funding is available for amenities, "The good news is now that there is $1.1 million from the Governor's office for pods. $1.1 million, of which $65,000 has been allocated to spend at the Oasis Village. So there is funding available for pods to be put at this property. It's located between two churches." She says those churches are supportive of the project. 

Wednesday's County Commissioners meeting got heated when Commissioner Phil Chang said a quicker solution would be to use the Gales property for safe parking, "In order for their property to be eligible to do safe parking, there isn't really any state involvement; that's a local land-use decision on our part to do that rezone so that we can make use of the safe parking ordinance." When his proposal failed to gain traction, he told Adair and DeBone, "All of this discussion about land use at the Gales property is a distraction, when what we need to be doing is coordinating on and investing in case management, to be able to match the facilities coming on line in our community to move people out of homelessness."

SALEM, OR -- Central Oregon's county fair season kicks off next weekend. The Jefferson County Fair runs July 24-27 in Madras. The Deschutes County Fair is July 31-August 4 in Redmond. And, the Crook County Fair is August 7-10 in Prineville. Visitors to livestock exhibits are encouraged to take health precautions, to prevent spreading bacteria and viruses to other animals or humans. 

State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Emilio DeBess has spent a lot of time at county fairs, "They're really amazing. I love them, I think they're a great showcase for what we do in agriculture in this state. But, I think you need to take basic precautions to protect yourself." Those include not eating or drinking inside animal exhibits, "So that's really, really important. Mostly because you can touch areas that may be contaminated, then bring that to your mouth. And at that point, then you may be exposed to whatever may be different conditions, whether it's a bacteria or a virus."

Parents also need to keep strollers out of barns, "We ask people if they have children, to make sure that they hold on to them, that they don't bring any toys into those areas because they may drop on the ground and get contaminated."

Dr. DeBess says the primary risk right now is for Avian Influenza, which has been found in dairy cows elsewhere in the country, "Oregon, at this point, has not had any. We do not have any positive animals; we do not have any positive humans. So, it's just a precaution." And bird flu isn't the only risk, "Wash your hands regularly, if you happen to handle them, to make sure that you don't get bacteria like salmonella."

Children under five, adults 65 and older, pregnant people and those with certain chronic medical conditions should limit contact with pigs, poultry and cattle.

2023 Photo courtesy of the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center

MADRAS, OR -- Jefferson County is at odds with the former manager of its animal shelter, and County Commissioners want the public to come tour the facility. Earlier this year, Rockn EZ Rescue Ranch announced it would end its county contract on June 30th, after financial talks broke down. Jefferson County Commissioners have been heavily criticized over the last several months for their handling of negotiations with the nonprofit. Commissioners are now trying to defend themselves. 

Commissioner Kelly Simmelink believes most people don't realize Rockn EZ was asking for a $120,000 increase to the annual contract, which he says the county couldn't afford. Simmelink says the group refused to take less money and he tells KBND News they failed to appropriately fundraise, as other Central Oregon shelters do. Rockn EZ issued a statement in February saying the county refused to pay for the care of its own animals, and the additional funding was necessary to keep the shelter operational.

Due the impasse, the Madras animal shelter closed July first, after all of the dogs were either adopted or released to other local agencies. Commissioner Simmelink says the nonprofit took nearly all of the indoor kennels out of the shelter when it left, claiming it purchased the fixtures from the Three Rivers Humane Society, the previous shelter operator. "There's obviously a discrepancy in what the ownership of the kennels are. We believe they belong to the community and the shelter itself. They disagreed. And we told them not to take the kennels, and here we sit; our community has no kennels." He claims they also took other fixtures and supplies, "I was out there the other day and, I mean, the cameras are still there but the recording equipment is all gone, as an instance." Simmelink says "all options are on the table" to deal with what Commissioners consider theft of county property. 

The county now invites the community to an open house Monday, to see what's left at the facility, "We can clear the air. We can finally start talking about what it is that we provide and how others - whether it be a nonprofit - that comes in and takes over a facility like this." He adds, "I think it's important that the Commissioners are observed in their element at this facility, showing that they do care. Because we've had the bus run over us and backed up on us by the public quite a bit, over this whole thing." Tours are July 22 from 5 to 7 p.m., at the shelter on McTaggart Road in Madras. 

For now, Jefferson County is contracting with Brightside Animal Center in Redmond for emergency animal services. 

BEND, OR -- The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is finding success using high-tech tools to track suspects. As reported earlier this week, deputies recently arrested a Redmond man and recovered a stolen pickup with the help of the StarChase System. Sgt. Josh Spano says the Sheriff's Office started using StarChase a couple of years ago, as a way to avoid dangerous high-speed pursuits, "And a much less expensive alternative than chasing people through the city or through the county or on the highways." 

He says the Sheriff's Office tries not to engage in a high-speed pursuit, "I try to imagine, if my wife and kids were on the highway, would I want a couple of police cars chasing somebody 100 miles an hour down the highway to catch this person that's either wanted or has expired tags on a car, or even a stolen car? Because property's all replaceable, family members aren't."

StarChase is used only in certain circumstances, "If we have the ability to pre-plan a traffic stop, like on a wanted subject or a fugitive, or if we have the ability to not be in a pursuit." And only a handful of patrol cars are outfitted with the system, "It has an aiming laser on there and once it's deployed, a dart - like, a sticky dart about the size of a Coke can - comes out [pictured]. Once it heats up, it sticks to the object or the vehicle and it's got a GPS device in there so we can pull back, not have to go get in a crazy pursuit with anybody, which is what we're trying to avoid these days."

A deputy or technician then tracks the vehicle's location in near real-time, until it stops, "And then, [they] help direct units, set up a perimeter, if there's a partner agency because a vehicle decided to go to a different jurisdiction, will help coordinate with them, and then eventually lock it down and try to go track where the person went or where the vehicle's at. And in the case of a stolen vehicle, try to recover the vehicle for the owner."

He notes there is a margin of error and not every dart hits its mark. But overall, Spano says the Sheriff's Office is pleased with its success rate.

Photo courtesy of StarChase LLC

PORTLAND, OR -- Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S. According to Travel Oregon, you can swing paddles in every corner of the state. "People are getting outside. They're looking for a reason to get outside and pickleball is a blast; it's really fun," says Dr. Ryan Golden, "But, sometimes accidents happen." Americans are expected to spend between $250 and $500 million treating pickleball-related injuries this year. 

Dr. Golden is the Assistant Chief of Urgent Care for Kaiser Permanente Northwest. He says he's seen a large increase in pickleball-related injuries in the past year, "The most common injuries that we're going to see come in from pickleball players are musculo-skeletal injuries. So, fractures, strains, sprains." There are also repetitive-motion injuries, like tennis elbow. But eye injuries are also possible, "With pickleball, the courts are small, the ball's moving fast, players are up toward the net so if that ball catches you in the wrong spot it can lead to more serious eye injuries."

There are ways to prevent getting hurt. Dr. Golden suggests wearing eye protection, similar to other sports, like squash or racquetball. To avoide sprains and strains, Golden says, ?"A lot of common sense things: Making sure that you take the time to warm up. Making sure that you have good equipment, good footwear. Making sure that you're taking the time to cool down afterwards." He adds, "Making sure that you're taking enough time to rest and recover between play sessions. I think those are all helpful things that can help prevent someone from developing some of those more sub-acute problems."

While soreness and minor injuries can be treated with ice or aspirin, he says some symptoms require medical attention, "If you have physical deformity, you have visible discoloration, if you're not able to bear weight on the extremity, if pain is severe, absolutely, we want to see you. That needs to be evaluated."

He says people with pre-existing conditions like osteoporosis or arthritis and young people new to the sport are most at risk of getting hurt.

File photo, courtesy of Bend Parks and Recreation District

REDMOND, OR -- The second annual FairWell Festival is this weekend at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch says the city is ready for the influx of people. "Last year, there were tens of thousands of people each day at the FairWell Festival. We anticipate a high number again this year." 

Organizers called last year's inaugural event a huge success, but attendees complained about long lines to exit the fairgrounds each evening. Fitch says they're making changes, "We've had much better coordination with all affected agencies, regarding traffic issues at the fairgrounds and security and directions. So, I think this year will go a lot better than last year."

Fitch tells KBND News, "There will be shuttles from the two high schools and another location, back and forth, so that people can get out much easier than they could last year. We're also talking about having a shuttle to downtown so people can get out of the festival for a few hours and visit downtown Redmond. "

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office is in charge of law enforcement at the fairgrounds. Sgt. Jason Wall says deputies will be on patrol, "As a matter of practice, we offer overtime shifts to our deputies, which fall outside of their normal working hours, to supplement the law enforcement presence out there." 

The FairWell Festival runs Friday through Sunday and boasts more than 30 musical performances.

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County is entering into negotiations with Hooker Creek to buy the company's Moon Pit gravel mine east of Bend and convert it to a landfill. The process of finding a new location began five years ago, when officials thought the Knott Landfill in Bend would reach capacity by 2029. Solid Waste Director Tim Brownell says that has changed, "Right now, based on our fill rates and estimates and how densely we can compact material, that's now looking more like 2030 - the middle to the end of 2030. So, we've bought a year." But he believes contract negotiations for the purchase of a new location could take five or six years, which means the clock is ticking, "We are going to be looking at 'how can we really improve our recovery of waste?' Diverting it out of the landfill. And we're going to be very intentional about that. How do we manage construction demolition debris, organic debris for composting? That sort of thing." Brownell says they're asking, "Can we get to diverting materials and extend that timeframe even further?"

Commissioners last week agreed to start talks with Hooker Creek, but they raised several concerns about the Moon Pit site, including whether the county will have access to water necessary for landfill operations. Brownell tells KBND News there is water at the existing mine, "It actually has an industrial water permit, so they can pull close to a thousand gallons per minute. It's a significant water right. The question is whether any of that will be transferred to the county in the purchase." He adds, "That's why it's in the interest of the county and certainly, that's what we heard from the Commissioners that we want to have a portion of that water right, ideally, for our uses." And, there are state and federal permits and land use changes required to operate a landfill at the site. 

Commissioners have said if water and other permits can't be secured, they will back out of the estimated $15 million deal. "We do have some other sites that were considered," says Brownell, "In the long run, if we're not able to site a landfill here in the county, there are landfills up at the border of Oregon and Washington that we could transport it to. But that has its own impacts, environmental and otherwise. So, ideally, we want it here, but there are other options if we have to follow them." 

To listen to our full conversation with Solid Waste Director Tim Brownell about the Moon Pit site, visit our Podcast Page. 

REDMOND, OR -- Central Oregon Women in Law Enforcement (COWIL) hosted its first ever "Junior Women's Law Enforcement Academy" in Redmond this week. The one-day event offered teens, ages 13-18, an opportunity to learn about the variety of law enforcement roles available. 

Participants took part in a physical agility test, mock trial, traffic stops, dispatching, handcuffing, crime scene processing and other activities. “As a law enforcement professional, it is important to share the career opportunities within the field for young women as well as take the time to mentor future law enforcement generations,” Redmond Police Lt. April Huey said in a statement. “These camps are an interactive way to start that process.”  

Redmond Police, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Bend Police, Sunriver Police, Redmond Fire & Rescue, Central Oregon Chaplaincy and a host of other local and state agencies helped with the event. 

Photos courtesy of Redmond Police

BEND, OR -- A Bend man was arrested this week, accused of harassing several women in Central Oregon and outside the area. Bend Police say there may be more victims.

In January, Nathan Sprague allegedly reported his credit card was used fraudulently to purchase a trash can and have it shipped to a home in Vancouver, WA. At about the same time, a Vancouver woman reported Sprague offered to buy her a trash can, then threatened to report the purchase as fraud. He then allegedly sent her threatening messages. 

Bend Police say Sprague called the Deschutes County Stabilization Center in March and threatened to shoot up a local grocery store. 

This month, a woman reported that over four days, Sprague called her dozens of times and sent hundreds of unwanted messages over text and social media. Another woman reported meeting him online and tried to block him after learning of the stalking allegations. He's accused of then using another app to repeatedly send her disturbing messages. 

The 37-year-old faces five counts of telephonic harassment, two counts of stalking, two counts of coercion and two counts of initiating a false report, as well as menacing, disorderly conduct and an out-of-county warrant. 

Anyone who believes they may also be a victim is urged to contact Bend Police through non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS -- Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs is getting closer to reopening. The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs hosted a blessing ceremony at the resort Thursday morning.

From now until July 16, it’s open only to tribal members and their immediate household for free. Tribal ID is required for entry. An opening date for the general public has not been announced. Updates are posted regularly on the resort's Facebook page.

The newly renovated resort features a put-put golf course, outdoor soaking pools and a lazy river, along with teepees and other hotel amenities. Kah-Nee-Ta closed in 2018, due to what the Tribal Council said was unsustainable finances.

Photo courtesy Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs resort

BEND, OR -- This is an incredibly busy weekend on the High Desert. Bend Summer Festival kicks off at 4 p.m. Friday in downtown Bend, featuring art, food, live music and kid-friendly activities.

The 49th Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is Saturday, drawing visitors from all over the world. Sgt. Jason Wall says the Deschutes County Sheriff's office will increase patrols, "We have a number of deputies who work out in the city of Sisters, but we also realize that traffic is going to be increased, pedestrian traffic will be increased. So we offer overtime to overtime to other deputies who want to work out there during high traffic times, if you will."

Also this weekend, the Crooked River Roundup Horse Races continue in Prineville. Nightly events began Wednesday and run through Saturday.

BEND, OR -- The Bend Police Chief's Advisory Council (PCAP) is accepting applications for new members. The department's Sheila Miller says the group advises the chief and the agency on various issues and acts as a communications conduit between community networks and Bend Police. "The goal is kind of just to build trust and keep trust between community members and the police department. Most people, I think it's fair to say, don't encounter police on a daily basis, and they don't necessarily know how the police work or why they do what they do." 

Chief Mike Krantz restarted the 20-member PCAC in 2022, after a pandemic hiatus. "Those people, for the most part, served their two-year terms and so we've got quite a lot of people coming up," says Miller, "We need to fill some spots, and so we've opened up the application process."

She says the department wants a diverse group of applicants from all corners of the city. "I know that often you see committees and everybody is the same because it's sort of a self-selecting thing. We want people who are from different walks of life, who have had different experiences, maybe in Bend or in other parts of the country with police, who are open to sharing their experiences or sharing their opinions; and then also who have connections to the greater community who can share out what we want people to know about us."

Committee members participate in monthly meetings. "It runs about 90 minutes to two hours. And we want them to participate in Community Academy, as well as go on ride-alongs with officers," Miller tells KBND News. "This allows community members to connect with officers and command staff at the police department, learn more about what the police department is doing, and then push back or share their opinions and then also share what they learn at the police department with their community."

Applications are available on Bend PD's website and are due by 5 p.m. July 22nd. 

BEND, OR -- Bend Senior High’s Auditorium is now off limits. A subcontractor discovered damage to the building earlier this week, while responding to a leak in the sprinkler system. Engineers are now evaluating the structural integrity of the building.

Bend-La Pine Schools released a photo of the building Thursday, showing a slight outward bow of one wall (on the right side in the image) and a stretching of the roof's waterproof membrane, indicating movement.

A previous sprinkler system leak was found in May and repaired. It’s unclear if that incident is related. Caution tape and fencing now surround the area. “Right now our priority is to isolate the auditorium area until we can have structural engineers determine the extent of this issue and advise us on a safe course of action,” Doug Pigman, Executive Director of Facilities, said in a statement.

The auditorium was built in 1955. It's slated to be renovated during the school’s ongoing modernization project, but that’s not expected until "phase three," in 2026. Demolition crews working on phase one are not in the vicinity of the auditorium and district officials say this new damage does not appear to be related to the school’s overhaul.

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners are cautiously moving forward with a plan to purchase an aggregate mine east of Bend from Hooker Creek, and convert it to a landfill. "It's a decision we're making not likely. It's a hundred-year decision, so we really want to do it right," Board Chair Patti Adair said during Wednesday's deliberations. She told county staff the negotiations for the site known as "Moon Pit" should be slow and deliberate, "This is one time where I think government needs to be incredibly careful. We're talking about a major million, million dollar project that we desperately need but, you know what? We have to be incredibly careful."

There are a lot of unanswered questions, including whether the existing crushed rock can be sold to produce revenue for the project. Commissioner Phil Chang said, "I view these things - particularly, the value of the mineral resource and the availability of the water as potentially fatal flaws for this negotiation. And if we're not able to negotiate something that works for the county, I would see those as reasons to stop negotiating this site and explore others." For Chang, securing water rights is perhaps the biggest question at the 400-acre site east of Bend. Commissioner Adair agrees, "It makes me very nervous. And you're right, I think water is critical. It [the agreement] says, 'if a partial water transfer cannot be secured, then the county will need to explore other options, as applying for a new groundwater permit.' And it's like, 'No. I don't want the county to have to apply for a new groundwater permit.' I want Hooker Creek to know that we need 10% or whatever of the existing permit."

All three Commissioners agreed the "Moon Pit" site is the preferred location for the county's next landfill, and voted to authorize staff to work to negotiate a purchase agreement, secure permits and establish a mitigation strategy to minimize impacts on wildlife and recreation. County Solid Waste Director Tim Brownell told Commissioners the process will be lengthy, with opportunities to back out if answers to their questions aren't sufficient, "There's the permitting and everything else on the procurement. It's going to take us several years before we actually get to the point of writing a final check for this site. So all of that will be worked through, through the due-diligence process."

Wednesday's deliberations followed a June public hearing on the site. Brownell estimates the Knott Landfill, the county's current facility, will reach capacity in 2029.

TERREBONNE, OR -- A car fire led a large brush fire north of Terrebonne, near Juniper Butte, Wednesday afternoon. Fire crews were dispatched to Highway 97 at milepost 107, near the top of the butte, just before 3:30 p.m. While units responded, more calls to 911 indicated the fire had spread from the car to nearby brush and grass. The two men in the vehicle escaped unharmed. 

The brush fire was later named the Juniper Fire. It quickly grew to several hundred acres, prompting evacuations and closing Highway 97. Crews from the BLM, Crooked River Ranch Fire, Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch and two structural task forces from Crook and Deschutes counties responded, along with air units. Planes dipped into Lake Billy Chinook for water to drop on the fire. 

By Wednesday night, the Juniper Fire was estimated at 700 acres. But more accurate mapping Thursday morning put the size at 628 acres. It's now fully lined; as of noon Thursday, authorities say it's 50% contained. Evacuation orders were reduced Wednesday evening to Level 1 "Be Ready" and Highway 97 reopened. 

Photo courtesy of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. 

REDMOND, OR -- Redmond voters will decide two measures in November that could legalize the sale of substances still illegal at the federal level. Mayor Ed Fitch says the City Council agreed this week to ask voters whether Psilocybin treatment centers should be allowed in Redmond. "The arguments ‘for’ are that studies show that clinical treatment with psilocybin can be effective dealing with PTSD, dealing with anxiety and depression." Fitch tells KBND News, "The con is, ‘why do we want more drugs in Redmond? We don’t want drugs, we don’t want psilocybin.’ But, on the flip side," he says, "These aren’t taken out of the clinic. They can only be utilized within the clinical setting."

Oregon voters legalized the use of psilocybin in licensed facilities in 2020. The first patients received treatment in Bend last year. In 2022, Redmond voters approved a two-year ban on psilocybin services. In November 2024, voters will be asked again, "It’s going to be a peculiar one because a vote ‘yes’ means the ban will continue," says Fitch, "A vote ‘no’ will mean clinical centers can be located in Redmond."

Also on Redmond’s November ballot, another request to allow marijuana dispensaries in the city. "Last year, the Council made a commitment to propose to voters a ballot measure that - either we’re going to allow dispensaries in Redmond or we’re not," says Mayor Fitch, "There’s been people pro-marijuana dispensaries; there’s people against it." If approved, the measure would end the nine-year moratorium on cannabis businesses in Redmond. Fitch says the city would then impose a sales tax, "The 3% tax will only come into effect if there’s an affirmative vote to have dispensaries. And then we would change the code to allow them, we would employ time, place and manner restrictions, so we would only have two or three. They’re located in areas that are not going to be close to schools, residences or downtown."

TERREBONNE, OR -- A wildfire burning north of Terrebonne closed Highway 97 Wednesday afternoon. The Juniper Fire was first reported after 3:30 p.m. near Juniper Butte.  It grew quickly to 100 acres in the first couple of hours. 

Resources are working the fire from the ground and air. 

Oregon's Department of Transportation shut down the highway and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office ordered Level 3 "GO NOW" evacuations for homes west of the highway, between Park Lane and Monroe Lane. Click HERE for a real-time map of the evacuation zone, and those elsewhere in the state. 

7 p.m. UPDATE: New estimates put the Juniper Fire at 700 acres. 

BEND, OR -- A new study from OSU-Cascades in Bend reveals how a sense of belonging is connected to a person's overall health and well-being. While "belonging" is a pretty subjective concept, Associate Professor Brianne Kothari says her team was able to define it as, "A fundamental human experience. It's a feeling of acceptance and value that comes through sharing experiences or characteristics with others."

They surveyed more than a thousand Central Oregonians over the past two years to measure belonging and resilience. Kothari tells KBND News, "One of the lower scoring items across the board was the item 'I feel like I belong in the community.'" She says they found people with a greater sense of belonging also reported better physical and mental health, "When they're lacking a sense of belonging, they tended to rate their health as not as good."

Kothari is excited about the results, "What we know is that belonging and connectedness are important antidotes for key critical social problems of our time: things like loneliness and social isolation. And what we found from these survey results is that authentic relationships and meaningful social connections facilitate belonging and connectedness."

The report, available HERE, also outlines recommendations for community groups, employers and policymakers. "Discrimination and exclusionary practices and behaviors are also barriers to people feeling a sense of belonging," says Kothari, "So, figuring out how we remove and eliminate those barriers is going to be key to making sure that everyone, no matter their identities or the place and spaces they show up, can be included."

She says increasing access to hobbies and recreation could also help, "We heard a lot about pickleball and we heard a lot about hiking and all the other things that people choose to do with the people that they enjoy and love in this community. And I think that those things really matter when we're thinking about health and mental health and overall well-being."

The study was conducted through a partnership with OHSU and funded by the Central Oregon Health Council and United Way.

BEND, OR -- Teens from Campfire Central Oregon planted native shrubs and grasses Tuesday at Woodhaven Estates, an affordable housing development in southeast Bend, with assistance from High Desert Horticultural Center.

Quinn Kitchen is participating in the Teen Service Challenge Week. She tells KBND News it's been a fun learning experience, "Like what native plants are and like how to deal with them and which ones are not native species. And then I've learned a lot about how we can help out in our community."

Another of the teen volunteers, Astor Bavuso, says the work is hard but rewarding, "It depends... like right now in the heat, it's not as fun, but like earlier during the day and yesterday was a lot more fun."

She thinks the effort will be worth it, "I think it's really nice to be able to help out the community, especially in this housing development."

"The kids were so excited. They are doing this community service. It's very interesting how happy they are knowing they're serving the community. It was wonderful to see them in action and so excited about learning," Thistle & Nest's Stephany Davila says it's the first time the affordable housing developer has worked with the two non-profits, "This has been wonderful because it has allowed each of us to focus on our expertise."

13 Campfire Central Oregon volunteers helped with the transplant process from another Bend property under development on Bachelor View Road. "The result of this will be a common space in our Woodhaven Estates community. That will be wonderful for the enjoyment of all the residents," Davila says.

Woodhaven Estates will eventually be 133 units.

Some of the townhomes are already occupied, more open later this summer and in December.

BEND, OR -- The excessive heat warning for much of our area is supposed to expire Wednesday night, and highs are starting to come down. But the prolonged heatwave is keeping Bend Police busy, as officers respond to vulnerable people, "Who might be unhoused or they don't have air conditioning, and are really suffering in this heat," says the department's Sheila Miller. "If they see someone who's in distress, obviously they're going to call medics. All of our officers are trained in first aid, so they're able to render some aid before medics get there."

Miller tells KBND News, "With the heat, we definitely do see a lot of calls for service of people who are concerned about community members they might see out and about." And she asks people to continue calling for help, "We encourage our community members, if they see someone in distress, call 911. We'll get medics out there. Officers might be the first ones on the scene and they can assist. And check on your neighbors; check in with people in your community to make sure they're doing okay."

But, she notes, officers are also dealing with more fights and similar types of calls, "You know, people get real mad when it's hot out. So we encourage everyone to take a deep breath and hopefully the heat will pass soon and life will go back to being a little more bearable."

If you need to escape the heat, local libraries also serve as daytime cooling shelters. You can also call 211 for other locations and resources.

Firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry's Central Oregon District, U.S. Forest Service, local fire districts and landowners are helping battle the fire, near the rural community of Friend. It was first reported at around 3 p.m. Tuesday, when temperatures reached 107-degrees. Gusty winds are expected to continue Wednesday.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has mobilized task forces to protect buildings. No structures have been reported lost, so far. 

Evacuations: 

Level 3 - GO NOW: From Friend Rd, East to Elliott Rd and Hwy 197, South to Badger Creek Rd, West to Mc Corkle Grade Rd.

Level 2 - BE SET: From McCorkle Rd south to Happy Ridge Rd, East to J Hix Rd, West to FS Rd 2700.

Level 1 - BE READY: Tygh Valley, Pine Hollow, and Wamic.

Click HERE for the latest evacuation information.

A temporary shelter is set up at Maupin High School. Livestock are sheltered at the Wasco County Fairgrounds. 

photo courtesy of the Wasco County Sheriff's Office 07/09/24.

CULVER, OR -- Jefferson County Fire & EMS responded to five fires in a short amount of time Monday afternoon. The string of incidents started with a house fire on Irving Lane, in Culver. With flames spreading from the building to nearby brush and trees, crews on scene requested BLM resources to help. 

While working the Irving Lane fire, crews noticed a smoke column near Culver Highway and Ford Lane. As additional firefighters responded to that scene, another smoke column was spotted on the north side of Juniper Butte, just south of their location. While on-scene, those crews then noticed another smoke column nearby. That brush fire was found near Green Drive and Monroe Lane. All three brush fires were contained at between .5 and 2.5 acres, according to the Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS).

As wildland and structural crews worked the brush fires, firefighters were dispatched to a house fire in Madras, on Madison Street. 

Investigators believe all three brush fires were caused by a passing train. All were found directly against the railroad tracks. The causes of the two structure fires have not been determined and the estimated losses are being calculated.

Additional resources were provided by numerous agencies, including Warm Springs Fire & Safety, Redmond and Crooked River Ranch Fire and Rescue, Cloverdale Fire, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire, Bend Fire and Pacific Power. 

photo courtesy of Crooked River Ranch Fire & Rescue

BEND, OR -- Enrollment is now open for after school programs at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bend. New options are available for the upcoming school year, including full-time: five days a week, part-time: Monday and Wednesday, or part-time: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. Programs are for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. Visit the BGCB website for more information and to enroll. 

The organization hopes to also launch a pilot program to provide van transportation from select elementary schools to the downtown Bend clubhouse. 

file photo

REDMOND, OR -- Renovations are complete at Redmond High’s School-based Health Center, thanks to a large donation from the Oregon Community Credit Union Foundation.

When students return in the fall, they’ll have access to an on-site clinic with new flooring and furniture and fresh paint. Signage and artwork were also upgraded.

Mosaic Community Health manages seven School-Based Health Centers (SBHC) in the tri-county area for anyone from birth through age 18. Patients do not need to attend the school where the SBHC is located. 

BEND, OR -- Central Oregon is in for another very hot and dry day, Tuesday. Stephen Piercey, with Shepherd’s House Ministries, says it’s especially tough on people living unsheltered, "You can see the wear and tear on their body, like posturing and body language. And just seeing the impact on what this heat is doing to some very at-risk individuals." After several days in the triple-digits, KBND News asked Piercey what he’s seeing at the men’s shelter on Division Street in Bend. "You see a lot of lethargy, you see severe sunburns, and unfortunately, dehydration being a major daily issue, the actual threat of loss of life." Piercey says, "Definitely, with these heat spikes and everything and just lack of shade and cooling, and just with the number of houseless individuals that we have in our community, the biggest desperate need right now is water." 

Shepherd’s House serves around 250 meals a day at its various locations. Its mobile outreach team also provides showers and distributes essentials. The nonprofit tries to distribute water to each person, "Our hope is to be able to supply them with something that could be the difference between life and death." He adds, "We would love to be able to hand out at least four or five, just due to the heat being as much as it is right now. So, four or five regular water bottles. But it’s also contingent on what someone is able to carry."

As of Monay afternoon, Shepherd's House was down to just a few cases of bottled water and is asking for the community to help by donating cases or pallets. Those donations can be dropped off at the Division Street Shelter in Bend (1854 NE Division) or the Redmond center (1350 S Hwy 97). Monetary donations are also accepted. 

BEND, OR -- A new self-guided walking tour offers a glimpse into Bend’s stormwater system, water history and infrastructure.

The tour begins at Pageant Park on Drake Road and travels down Nashville Ave and Newport Ave, then back again. Along the way, there are exhibits explaining what’s above and below ground. Student groups are already taking the tour as part of the city’s youth education partnership with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council.  

“We're thrilled to offer a tour allowing community members and visitors a special look at the Newport Avenue corridor and the Deschutes River. The tour includes information and exhibits that offer insights into the past and present, and illustrates the important role of new infrastructure in protecting the future of our beautiful river,” Stormwater Program Manager Elisabeth Okeefe said in a statement. “We encourage community members to explore what is above and below ground and find out what you can do to help keep the Deschutes River clean.”  

A downloadable map is available on the city’s website.

BEND, OR -- Central Oregon's first Civic Assembly meets this fall to discuss solutions for youth homelessness. The Central Oregon Civic Action Project (COCAP) is recruiting 30 people to take part.  

"We're trying to reach as broad a swath of the community as possible, of Deschutes County, so we sent out 12,500 invitation letters," says COCAP Director Josh Burgess. He tells KBND News they were sent to random addresses, "We don't want there to be any perception that we are taking a hand in choosing who's involved. And then, once those people receive these mailings, anyone in the household who's 16 years and older can respond." The invitations also request demographic information, to make sure the assembly represents a cross-section of the county. An additional 250 invitations were sent to shelters, for members of the houseless community to take part. 

Burgess says this first assembly is a pilot project to see who chooses to participate and how local governments utilize the recommendations that come from the group. The topic was carefully selected, "It's probably no mystery to people in the local area that this is a challenge across the region and the state. But what many people might not know is we actually have some of the highest rates of youth homelessness in the state and even in the country."

Assembly members are compensated for their time, transportation and childcare needs. "Some people don't want to participate in this, and that's fine," says Burgess, "But, too many times, those who have access to government are the same folks all the time - the ones who have the resources and the time, or maybe periodically are angry enough to show up at a city council meeting. We want to give more people that opportunity."

In August, 30 people will be selected from among the responses. They'll hear from experts over two days in September, then they'll meet again in October to create recommendations, "Their task will shift to becoming like a decision-making body. They will actually deliberate on what they believe the priorities should be." He adds, "It will be facilitated by professional moderators, but it's really like a small legislature or like a small council." 

At least 75% of the group must agree on the recommendations. Burgess says local officials have agreed to consider what's published by the assembly.

MADRAS, OR -- An 88-year-old Madras man was killed in a weekend crash that closed Highway 26 for several hours Saturday morning. According to Oregon State Police, Robert Towler pulled out onto the highway from NW Columbia Drive, northwest of Madras, and drove into the path of an SUV, driven by a West Linn man.

The SUV struck Towler’s driver’s door; he died at the scene. The other driver was not hurt but two passengers went to the hospital with minor injuries. 

Highway 26 was closed for more than three hours Saturday for the investigation. 

BEND, OR -- Design work will soon get underway on the new Hawthorne Overcrossing in Bend’s Midtown. Principal Engineer Garrett Sabourin says it’ll carry bikes and pedestrians over the Parkway and railroad, "We don’t have a really good, safe crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists to connect back and forth; they’re very constrained due to the older infrastructure of the BNSF rail."

The city of Bend is now looking for input on what the bridge will look like. Sabourin says it’s the focus of a Wednesday open house, "There’s a lot going on in Midtown; it’s not just this Hawthorne Bridge. We’re also doing work on Franklin, Greenwood, Second and Hawthorne. This open house kind of gives an overview of all the Midtown projects that are active right now." Sabourin adds, "Hawthorne and Franklin are probably going to be two of the most involved and complex projects. They’re both pretty significant capital investments. Hawthorne, we’re probably looking at a $30-35 million project." The Hawthorne bridge will be paid for through state and federal sources and is expected to open by 2028.

He tells KBND News they'll ask three primary questions at Wednesday's meeting, "What’s the preferred bridge structure type that the community would like to see? And, there’s some safety issues that are identified around the existing Hawthorne exit, knowing that we’re introducing this new bridge; so trying to get some input on that. And lastly, after this effort, we’re moving into design so we want to start getting input on some specific design features." Those design features will impact the price tag for the project, "A pretty significant cost differential between the high and low end, and a lot of that is for those added features that you can consider if you have the budget to fund them: lighting levels, considerations around maintenance, different access locations and then overall aesthetic, you know, what you want to see here," says Sabourin. 

The in-person open house is Wednesday at the Campfire Hotel’s Outpost Meeting room, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. An online version is also available through July 17th.

REDMOND, OR -- Evacuation orders were reduced Sunday night for the McCaffery Fire, burning southeast of the Redmond Airport. Fire managers say it's now 25% contained at 458 acres. 

The McCaffery Fire broke out Saturday afternoon, quickly growing to more than 450 acres in the first 18 hours. Initially, evacuations were ordered for areas east of the airport, including Powell Butte Estates. Some people were allowed to return home the next day. Roberts Field also closed to commercial air traffic for about three hours Saturday evening, to dedicate its airspace to the firefight.

By Monday morning, Level Two "Be Set" evacuation orders remained for Sunny Sage Road, off McCaffery Road and for the area west of Powell Butte Estates. View the latest evacuation map HERE. The Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management has also implemented temporary area closures around the fire (pictured). Click HERE for more information. 

REDMOND, OR -- Evacuation orders remain for neighborhoods immediately to the east of the Redmond Airport, Sunday morning, due to the McCaffery Fire, which grew to more than 450 acres Saturday night. It's considered 10% contained, as of Sunday morning. A Central Oregon "Type 3" incident management team took command of the incident at 6 a.m.
The McCaffery Fire was first reported Saturday afternoon, south of Highway 126. The Redmond Airport closed for about 2.5 hours Saturday night, to dedicate its airspace to the firefight. Level Three "GO NOW" evacuations were issued for a portion of eastern Deschutes County and western Crook County, including Powell Butte Estates. Sunday morning, the Crook County order was reduced to Level Two "BE SET." Level Three remains in place for Sunny Sage Road, off McCaffery Road. The latest evacuation map is HERE. 

A temporary evacuation point was established at the Powell Butte Church; animals can be sheltered at the Crook County Fairgrounds.

A second Central Oregon fire was reported Saturday about two miles south of Skyliners sno-park, west of Bend. The Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) reports it was contained at .25 acre, thanks to work by multiple engines and a dozer. 

Aerial photo of the McCaffery Fire 07/06/24, courtesy of COFMS

SUNRIVER, OR -- A single engine aircraft crashed as it was landing at the Sunriver airport Saturday afternoon. Emergency crews responded just after 1:30 p.m. According to Sunriver Police, the 1957 Piper had landed - with all three wheels on the ground - when a strong gust of wind pushed its left wing at an angle tht caused it to make contact with the runway. 

The plane's nose and propeller also hit the runway. The one person aboard was able to exit the aircraft uninjured. The plane was removed from the runway about an hour later and the area reopened to air traffic.

Sunriver PD notified the NTSB and FAA of the incident. 

What is now called the McCaffery Fire is burning south of Highway 126, between the Airport and Powell Butte Estates. It was first reported just before 2 p.m. Saturday. As of 4:30 p.m., DCSO estimates it's grown to more than 20 acres, with winds pushing it to the south-southeast. Redmond Fire and Rescue, a task force has been ordered for structural protection, and ground and air resources are on scene. 

5 p.m. UPDATE: Size updated to 100 acres.

5:30 p.m. UPDATE: Size updated to 150 acres. Level Three GO NOW evacuation orders are now in place  for SE Sunny Sage Way off McCaffery Road, West Powell Butte Estates and south to Powell Butte Highway. A temporary evacuation point has been established at the Powell Butte Church; animals can be sheltered at the Crook County Fairgrounds. Click HERE for the latest evacuation map.

6:45 p.m. UPDATE: The Redmond Airport is closed until further notice, to dedicate air space to the firefighting effort. Passengers should check with their airline for flight status updates. The Crook County Sheriff's Office is updating the public on its Facebook Page, Deschutes County updates are HERE and the latest from the Central Oregon Fire Management Service (COFMS) is available HERE. 

9:15 p.m. UPDATE: The Redmond Airport has reopened. Crook County evacuation notices have reduced to Level Two. Size of the McCaffrey Fire is now estimated at 250 acres. 

Photo courtesy of Redmond Fire & Rescue

REDMOND, OR -- Redmond Fire and Rescue crews were busy Thursday, responding to multiple incidents in Redmond and Terrebonne; two were related to Fourth of July celebrations. 

Just after 5 p.m. Thursday, a brush fire was reported near SW 39th and Obsidian Place, on the western edge of Redmond (pictured below). Firefighters held it at about an acre, and later determined it was caused by the "illegal use  of fireworks." 

Redmond Fire responded twice to a Terrebonne property, in the 5900 block of NW 10th Street. The first incident was just after 2 p.m., when Deschutes County deputies saw a large tree and grass on fire near a home. They advised neighbors they may need to evacuate; although, firefighters quickly contained the blaze to 1.5 acres. It damaged the outside of a house and deck, as well as a neighboring field. Crews were back out at the same location three hours later, when the fire re-ignited. Clinton Decker was cited for reckless burning, for allegedly burning weeds on his property, which sparked the grass fire. Debris burning, including weeds, has been banned in the area since June first. 

At about 1:30 a.m. Friday, firefighters were called to the 2100 block of NW Redwood Ave. in Redmond. When crews arrived, they found two houses heavily involved (pictured above). With help from Bend Fire & Rescue and Cloverdale RFPD, they brought the blaze under control. Everyone escaped the homes safely and no injuries were reported. Investigators determined the fire started with the improper disposal of fireworks. 

Photos courtesy of Redmond Fire & Rescue

REDMOND, OR -- A 26-year-old Redmond woman was arrested early Wednesday morning on drug charges, after an investigation spanning several months and jurisdictions. 

Detectives with the Redmond Police Street Crimes Unit worked with the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team and the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Street Crimes Unit on the surveillance operation. The suspect was taken into custody during a traffic stop, charged with Unlawful Possession of Fentanyl. Investigators later executed a search warrant at a local apartment, seizing cash, fentanyl pills, meth and a digital scale. 

BEND, OR -- Independence Day celebrations in Bend start at 7 am Thursday, with the Bend Heroes Foundation installing 275 flags downtown. 

The Bend Pet Parade starts at 10 am at Harmon Park.

Bend Parks and Rec’s Julie Brown says with warm weather forecasted they’re trying to keep animals comfortable. “We’re going to be looking out for those things and we want everybody who is planning to come to the parade to do the same. ...Making sure that they’re hydrated, and being careful of their paws and not having them too hot on the asphalt. Certainly, we will keep an eye on that and make sure that we have all the precautions in there for pets in particular.”

This is the 100^th anniversary of the Pet Parade, but is not the 100^th edition; it’s been cancelled three times. “Once during WW2 and twice during the COVID pandemic years,” Brown says.

Line-up at Harmon Park starts at 9 am.

Precautions are also taken on Pilot Butte, to fight fires sparked by the fireworks display.

“We have extra crews helping us out from the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the U.S. Forest Service. We will be up there providing firefighting services if anything catches on fire,” Bend Fire and Rescue’s Dan Derlacki tells KBND News a local construction contractor also pitches in, “We’re having Taylor Northwest come in and they’re going to spray the top of the butte with water leading right up to the fireworks show.”

The road and trail up the butte are closed to the public on the Fourth and will re-open Friday afternoon, once clean-up is finished.

Other Central Oregon Independence Day events:

Redmond 4th of July Parade 10 am - Noon Downtown Redmond.

La Pine Frontier Days festival through Saturday 

Madras 4th of July breakfast at 7 am, parade at 10 am followed by a celebration and flag ceremony in Sahalee Park.  Live music till 2 pm. 

Prineville 4th of July events in Pioneer Park: 10 am -2 pm. Parade, Splash n Dash, music, local vendors, kids’ activities!

Munch & Music starts in Drake Park July 4th 5:30-9pm:  Free Concert with Ron Artis II

The Deschutes Historical Museum offers free admission on 4th of July 10 am - 4 pm to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the museum, which opened on July 4, 1980.

KBND File Photo: Pilot Butte Fireworks Show

BEND, OR -- The National Weather Service predicts highs Thursday to reach the low- to mid-90s in Bend and Redmond, with temperatures potentially hitting 100 degrees on Friday and through the weekend. Shepherd's House Ministries will open two facilities for people needing to escape the heat: The Lighthouse Navigation Center, at 181 NE Franklin Ave. in Bend, and the Redmond Center at 1350 S Hwy 97."Extreme heat presents serious health hazards, particularly for those lacking proper shelter," says Curt Floski, Shepherd's House Executive Director. The nonprofit's mobile outreach program will also provide showers at site locations and distribute water bottles and other essentials around Bend.

The Oregon Health Authority also encourages people to take steps to avoid heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Older adults, infants, children, people with chronic medical conditions and those who live or work outdoors are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. People are urged to stay in air-conditioned places, if possible and limiting sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Open windows to allow air to circulate in the morning and evening. Stay hydrated, regardless of your level of activity. And call 211 for help finding a place to take shelter from the heat.

Pacific Power issued a request Wednesday for customers to prepare for the heat. "More electricity is used by our customers during the summer season than at any other time of the year," Pacific Power VP of Power Delivery Curt Mansfield said in a statement. "We encourage customers to take steps now to manage their energy use." The utility notes demand for electricity typically reachers its highest point on hot weekday afternoons, generally 3-7 p.m., when power is needed to operate summer irrigation systems and air conditioners. Customers can help decrease teh strain on the electrical grid and save on power bills:

• Limit energy usage between 5 and 9 p.m. whenever possible.
• Set the thermostat on central air conditioning at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting.
• Turn off lights, computers, televisions, and appliances when you are not using them.
• Open windows in the cool of the evening and again in early morning to let in cool air. Use the intake setting on window fans to help bring in even more cool air.
• Keep air moving inside your home with ceiling, window, attic and portable fans.

BEND, OR -- Bend received a very large check Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)."It’s going to identify and remove barriers to housing production and preservation," says Mayor Pro Tem Megan Perkins. The $5 million grant is from HUD’s new Pathways to Removing Obstacles (PRO) Housing program. "We are the only city in Oregon to receive this grant," Perkins tells KBND News, "There were 21 awards for the country and we were one of the larger awards."

HUD distributed a total of $85 million nationwide. Perkins says, "They prioritized communities that have an acute need for affordable housing. And, the city of Bend is 6,000 units under where we need to be for affordable housing, right now." But, she notes, the city also had to show it has tried to address the crisis, "We had to be doing things. You can’t just sit back and say, ‘we don’t know what to do about affordable housing.’ So, we demonstrated that we’re doing a lot of the right things. But we also have these barriers in place still." 

The money will be used to complete a 12-month analysis of how the city can reduce barriers,"What are the barriers at the city level that are slowing down or impeding affordable housing? So, that could be anything from the permitting process or availability of subsidies." Perkins says there also be a five-year housing implementation plan. And the bulk of the funding will be used to provide more financial incentives, "That’s basically going to be a revolving loan fund, to really help affordable housing projects - give them that extra boost to make sure that they pencil."

Perkins says it's very early in the planning process, but the goal is to increase overall housing production, "As a city, we don’t build housing ourselves. People think that we do, but we don’t. We don’t have public housing, we don’t build housing. But I think we are seeing every level we can pull to make sure that we see some significant changes."

A Deputy Assistant HUD Secretary was in Bend Tuesday to present the city's award.

BEND, OR -- Bend Police are searching for a 75-year-old man who did not return from a Tuesday morning walk. James Wilson is visiting from Michigan and may not be familiar with the area. Authorities worry he may be experiencing a medical issue. 

Wilson left the 600 block of SE Gleneden Place at about 7 a.m. Tuesday. He's white, about 5'6", bald and has a thin build. He was last seen wearing a green baseball cap, gray t-shirt (pictured) and gray running shorts. 

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Non-emergency Dispatch at 541-693-6911.

UPDATE: Bend Police say Mr. Wilson was found safe at about 11:45 a.m. Tuesday. 

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners will hold another public hearing later this month on a destination resort's request to open a psilocybin service center. The application for Juniper Preserve - formerly Pronghorn - was initially denied in April.

Associate County Planner Audrey Stuart told Commissioners Monday the proposed parking lot is too visible to nearby homes, "The hearings officer found that there are adjacent residences, so immediately to the south, and that there wasn’t sufficient screening." She added, "There are some shrubs and landscaping proposed. But the hearings officer essentially said it wasn’t sufficient." Under county code, parking for psilocybin centers must not be visible from neighboring residences.

There were also problems with line-of sight for a service driveway. And then, there’s the question of transportation, "This third issue area is the one that received quite a number of public comments and likely will be addressed in detail at the public hearing, and this is whether there is adequate transportation access," Stuart told Commissioners. The federal government still considers Psilocybin, also known as psychedelic mushrooms, a Schedule I drug. Stuart notes, the only way to access Juniper Preserve is through an area overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. "The proposal requires transporting psilocybin across federal land; and the hearings officer found the transportation access is not sufficient because it requires the applicant to transport psilocybin across this right of way."

Stuart says the county received more than 170 public comments on the application, many from people confused why the resort doesn't need to change its master plan, "Back when the county adopted regulations for service centers for psilocybin, it was decided that within an existing destination resort, if you have an area that’s already approved for commercial use then you can establish a service center without modifying the conceptual master plan or final master plan."

Deschutes County Commissioners will hear Juniper Preserve’s appeal on July 17th.

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Search and Rescue is staffed up and ready for the busy Fourth of July holiday. "We get the visitors who come to see us - we live in a beautiful area. We’ll have the people on the lakes, people on the motorcycles, mountain biking, you name it," says Lt. Ty Rupert. He tells KBND News holiday periods are typically busy for his SAR teams. But summer weather and activities take it up a notch, "I believe over the last holiday weekend we had, I think we had six calls for service that weekend alone."

DCSO SAR frequently responds to missions at popular spots like Smith Rock and local reservoirs, "Unfortunately, we’ll get the drowning calls. That’s where we want to make sure to encourage folks to always wear life jackets, have their water safety. I know that one of the causes we see is alcohol or impairment in drownings. So we want to encourage people not to mix the two." But they’re also ready if they need to deploy outside Deschutes County, "On the east side of the mountains, we’re the largest search and rescue in the state. We also are a fully-equipped search and rescue. We have our own dive teams, our mountain rescue teams, and such, K9s, medical. And so, we’re often times called upon by other counties."

Lt. Rupert says visitors often don't realize how the weather can change very quickly and he urges everyone to be prepared for anything, "We had a person, I believe it was last year, that was visiting from another country, and they went hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail. Weather here in Bend was hot and nice, and they weren’t prepared. They were in sandals when they were hiking and they woke up the next morning to a fair amount of snow on the ground. And they called Search and Rescue for us to come rescue them and come get them out of that situation." He says packing appropriate gear and wearing the right shoes are critical to avoid needing rescue. 

file photo

BEND, OR -- Friday’s Supreme Court decision upholding a ban on homeless camping in Grants Pass is sure to have implications around the state. But it may not be the effect many expected. 

"We got clarity - not in the sense that it was a unanimous opinion, but the majority was I think fairly clear about what they were trying to say," says Ian Leitheiser, an Assistant City Attorney for Bend. He tells KBND News the Justices determined the case known as Martin v. Boise imposed unrealistic restrictions on cities, like requiring individual assessments and tracking available shelter beds. "When Bend adopted its camping code a couple of years ago, it didn’t include some of those elements the court said aren’t really workable and things that going forward a city will necessarily have to consider. So, in that regard, I think Bend is in a fairly good place."

In the ruling, the High Court says camping bans are not unconstitutional. Leitheiser notes, "It essentially says, ‘while we’re changing the judicial view of what the Eighth Amendment means, in terms of cruel and unusual punishment, with regard to people sleeping outside and are effectively setting aside Martin v. Boise and the lower court’s decision in the Grants Pass case. We’re not weighing in on other things that might govern how cities do this, including state laws.’"

Leitheiser helped write Bend’s code and says it was based on state law, which allows time, place and manner restrictions on public camping if they are "objectively reasonable." He says, "Even though we have what is undeniably a big case from the Supreme Court, and a lot of people, a lot of cities across the country and especially in the west were waiting to hear what the court would do, it doesn’t change state law." But, Leitheiser says, "An interesting question that may come out of this is not really, ‘what is Bend or another city going to do?’ But, ‘is the state legislature going to do anything differently?’"

He believes more cities will approve camping bans following Friday's decision, "It can’t be a free-for-all. But we also have to acknowledge that there are people that don’t have any place to go and we need to work with that. And I say that because a lot of cities, in the run-up to the court’s decision in this case, seemed to be taking a position that they didn’t know what to do."

Bend’s camping code took effect last year. Leitheiser says campers are rarely ticketed, but it’s not uncommon for belongings to be removed and stored for the owner to retrieve later. 

State lawmakers also responded to Friday’s Supreme Court decision on homeless camping bans. The Democratic chairs of Oregon’s House and Senate Housing Committees released a joint statement saying their goal is to make sure Oregonains have access to safe and affordable housing. They went on to say the decision does nothing to solve Oregon’s housing and homelessness crisis. State House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich praised the ruling, saying cities can finally begin restoring community public spaces. 

CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF WARM SPRINGS -- Governor Tina Kotek met with leaders of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, as part of her tour of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribal nations.

Kotek attended last week’s ceremony designating Jefferson Greene as the newly elected Wasco Chief and toured the newly renovated Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, expected to open this summer.

She also met with the Tribal Council and toured the Pelton-Round Butte hydroelectric project, co-owned by the tribes. It’s the largest hydro project in the state.

Photos courtesy of the Governor's office.

LA PINE, OR -- Many of the state resources deployed to the Darlene 3 Fire have been released, and evacuation warnings in La Pine were reduced over the weekend. As of Monday morning, the fire remains 3,889 acres and containment has increased to 75%. But controversy is brewing in La Pine over the fire's cause. 

The Darlene 3 Fire started a week ago on Bureau of Land Management land, southeast of La Pine. At a community meeting Friday, the BLM’s Lisa Clark said investigators have determined it was human caused, "We haven’t had lightning in the area, so we can eliminate that. And our investigators are at the scene, working with evidence that they’ve collecting, working with interviews, working with the community to narrow that down, specifically."

A social media video went viral late last week, purportedly showing the origin of the fire; flames surround a large, well-established campsite. Clark confirmed to KBND News the footage is from Darlene 3, but says investigators don’t yet know if that camper is responsible, "We actually do appreciate the presence of this video. We appreciate if anybody else has information that they can share with us about what they know or what they’ve heard in the community."

Clark says, "We are aware of the location of the start of this fire. But knowing the location is only one part of a fire investigation." She adds, "We do know that the fire is human caused. But even if we know the camp, we still don’t know the statistical reason for this fire. It could be any number of reasons: it could be somebody driving by, it could be campfire; there’s any number of reasons there and that’s what our investigators are taking a look at." Clark says investigators remain in the area, "They’re coordinating with local, county, state and federal law enforcement officers to continue with the investigation. We can’t give a lot more information than that because it is still actively ongoing."

Comments made by the public throughout Friday's virtual meeting expressed anger and frustration with the possibility a homeless camp might be responsible for a fire that threatened hundreds of homes. Clark tells KBND News, "I know people are frustrated sometimes with the presence of long-term campers on public lands. But there are- nine out of 10 fires in the United States are started by humans, and long-term campers are not the sole reason." She also notes camping and campfires were allowed in the area on the day the fire started.

Anyone with information about the Darlene 3 Fire is urged to call the Central Oregon Fire Information line at 541-316-7711. 

Image taken from the Instagram video posted by user @tommy_thehun.