Elk Lake Resort will be under new ownership when it opens this summer.  Mike Thomas reports:

photo by Central Oregon Daily News

The Bureau of Land Management has announced a ban on campfires for lands it manages in the La Pine area, effective from tomorrow, May 1st through October 31^st.

This measure is designed to reduce the threat of wildfires…which have increasingly endangered lives, property, and critical infrastructure.

Officials say escaped campfires are a leading cause of these dangerous blazes, with recent seasons seeing fires that have damaged previous restoration work.

Visitors and residents are urged to follow all fire restrictions and use alternatives such as camp stoves to help protect the area during the high-risk months.

Next month Bend Parks and Rec staff will make efforts to head-off a growing park problem.  Mike Thomas reports:

Credit Bend Fire

Bend Fire responded to a fire in the crawl space of a manufactured home at Rock Arbor Mobile Home Park on East Hwy 20 in Bend. Crews arrived to find black smoke coming from under the house. The fire had not spread to the interior and was extinguished quickly. The homeowner and neighbors were clear of the house when crews arrived.
 

The investigation determined that the owner and a neighbor were using a rodent smoke bomb to drive away rock chucks from under the house, but it caught the plastic vapor barrier on fire.

Damage is estimated at $10,000.

Dozens of Heart of Oregon Corps members along with Redmond officials…including Redmond mayor Ed Fitch marked Global Youth Services Day last week. Work crews cleaned around the Dry Canyon Friday afternoon.  KBND's Mike Thomas was there.

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang was a speaker at yesterday’s (Th) Oregon Prescribed Fire Council annual meeting in Sisters.  Mike Thomas has the story:

Jeremy Austin - Central Oregon Land Watch

A major milestone in fundraising boosts a plan to build wildlife crossing structures along the 35-miles between Bend and Suttle Lake on Highway 20.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s K9 officers regularly respond to an array of calls.  A K9 Handler and her partner visited the studio. 

State assessment tests for Oregon 3^rd through 8^th, and high school Juniors is on now.  Redmond Schools Superintendent Dr. Charan Cline says these are important to take.

Central Oregon’s outdoor industry is the subject for this month’s EDCO Pub Talk. Mike Thomas reports:

Central Oregon Community College’s 75^th Anniversary Celebration is set for Friday, May 2^nd.  Mike Thomas has details:

The City of Bend has laid out its summer road maintenance plan. KBND's Mike Thomas talks to the long-time supervisor for the city’s streets preservation work about the what’s in store the next few months.

District Attorney Steve Gunnels

(Bend) -- The Deschutes County District Attorney’s office released more information Friday regarding D. A. Steve Gunnels placing Sheriff Kent Van der Kamp on the Brady List…a group of law enforcement officers who won’t be called to testify by prosecutors.

The D-A’s office report says Van Der Camp swore under oath he received degrees from universities he never actually attended.

Possession of the degrees would have shown qualifications to be called as an expert witness for Driving while Under The Influence cases.

Sheriff Van der Kamp has not commented publicly since a press release April 14^th saying he respectfully disputes the decision.  Reports suggest he’ll release a statement as early as Tuesday.

At approximately 6:30 last night, Bend Police responded to a report of a shooting that had just occurred near Team Kia of Bend on NE Purcell Blvd in Bend. It was reported that someone driving a gray Audi station wagon had shot at the occupants of a Honda passenger car and fled the scene.

Contact was made with the occupants of the Honda and found that no one had been injured in the shooting. However, the car was damaged by gunfire.

Officers determined that 29-year-old Tyler Mendoza was the driver of the Audi station wagon. Mendoza was found to be at an apartment complex on SE Tempest Drive. Police responded to the location along with Sheriff’s deputies. The Central Oregon Emergency Response (CERT) team arrived and eventually took Mendoza into custody at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Mendoza was arrested on suspicion of attempted Assault and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was lodged at the Deschutes County Jail. The handgun used in the shooting was later recovered.

picture courtesy of Central Oregon Daily

There was heavy police activity in Northeast Bend yesterday (Th) following a pursuit of suspects linked to a weapons offense.

Law Enforcement presence was centered around the intersection of Yeoman Road and Deschutes Market Road.

Central Oregon Daily News talked to residents in the neighborhood about the morning’s dramatic events.

That was Steel Haugen for Central Oregon Daily News.

Law enforcement presence is expected in northeast Bend as the search continues for 46-year old David Alan Mills of Bend and an unidentified male.

NeighborImpact had a record-breaking 13.7 percent spike in demand for food in the first three months of this year.  

The high-school graduating class of 2038 begins kindergarten this fall. Saturday those future students and their families can meet teachers and school officials for the district’s annual ‘On the Road to Kindergarten’ tour.

Deschutes County law enforcement is partnering with local retailers to crack down on shoplifting teams hitting their stores.

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels last week placed Sheriff Kent Van Der Kamp on a list of law enforcement officers who can’t be called to the witness stand due to ethical concern over the sheriff’s truthfulness in more than one case he was involved in.

51 percent of Bend’s workforce commutes.  Initiatives to create more housing in the city are underway.

Rebecca Robinson - OSU Cascades

The Future Innovation district on the OSU Cascades is a 24-acre site that could have up to 11 buildings.

Rules for marijuana dispensaries operating in Redmond should be finalized next month…city leaders approved new ordinance this week.

Public health officials from Deschutes, Jefferson, and Klamath Counties, along with the U.S. Forest Service, advise you to limit exposure to smoke from upcoming prescribed burns.

The Deschutes National Forest is inviting public input on its Fuels Maintenance Treatments Project.  KBND's Mike Thomas has the story:

Bend Police are making progress with their automated traffic-safety enforcement…cameras for speeding and running red-lights.  KBND's Mike Thomas reports:

Bend Police responded to a house fire on Waterfall Lane early Sunday morning.

When officers arrived, they found the two occupants and a dog safely outside.

An investigation determined that 65-year-old Wendi Thornton, one of the occupants, had intentionally started the fire in the kitchen.

The other occupant called 911.

Thornton was taken into custody and transported to St. Charles Bend for evaluation.

She will be booked into the Deschutes County Jail on charges of first-degree arson and two counts of first-degree animal abuse.

Sadly, two cats died in the fire.

The incident remains under investigation.

Crook County residents have an opportunity today (Monday April 7th) to weigh in on the final draft of the area’s natural hazard management-plan.  KBND's Mike Thomas has the story:

Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler

A new study points to healthcare and bio-science fields as future growth opportunities in Bend.  KBND's Mike Thomas reports:

Federal Funds could be going back to the Deschutes River Conservancy.  KBND's Mike Thomas has the story:

Financial Literacy month is a good time to be aware of the growing complexity of scam communications.   KBND's Mike Thomas has the story:

The Forest Service and Central Oregon Trail Alliance begin Friday on construction on a trail west of Bend.  Mike Thomas reports:

Cowboys…Cowgirls…and thousands of rodeo fans are in Redmond this week.

Wednesday is the start of the High Desert Stampede.  KBND’s Mike Thomas has the story: