(Prineville) -- A Prineville woman faces second-degree manslaughter charges and DUII… after a fatal crash on NW Lamonta Road Sunday afternoon. The Crook County Sheriff’s Office says Ladonna Erickson was driving when the vehicle left the road and collided with a building. 
Passenger Rodney Stephens was ejected and died at the scene.  Erickson sustained minor injuries and was taken to St. Charles Medical Center before being booked into the Crook County Jail.  Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

picture courtesy of KATU

(Clarno, OR) -- Wildland fire crews responded to a 300-acre fire in North-Central Oregon on Sunday attacking the flames from both the ground and air. Wheeler County Fire and Rescue and interagency fire crews are in the area nine miles north of Clarno. Helicopters pulled water from the John Day River as the Butte Creek Fire grew to around two-thousand acres. The cause is under investigation.

Mike Thomas has local reaction from Deschutes County Commissioners on what they think should be next steps for the Sheriff's Department.

A state law enforcement committee, the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, unanimously voted to strip Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp of his certification - for life.  As Heather Roberts reports, it comes just days after he was expelled from the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association. 

The City of Bend joined 30 other cities across the country in a lawsuit to keep federal grant money from being cut.

As graduation ceremonies begin across the region…many educators are noting the significance for the class of 2025 that began as freshman during the pandemic in the Fall of 2021.  Mike Thomas has the story:

Maintenance crews for the State Transportation Department are chipping away at spring tasks ahead of the summer season.  Mike Thomas reports:

The City of Bend can now…if necessary… join lawsuits against the federal government to make sure grant money keeps coming for improvement projects.

The City of Redmond is hoping the state transportation department will begin work on what has been identified as ODOT’s number one project for the Region. 

Last week Bend Police were able to announce a suspect was in custody in Canada for the 2023 Evelyn Weaver murder.  We’re learning a little more on the investigators efforts to solve the crime.  Mike Thomas reports:

Amazon is building an 83-thousand square-foot ‘last mile’ facility in Redmond.  KBND's Mike thomas has more details.

Steve Gunnels, Deschutes County’s Top Prosecutor, is sharing concerns over a rising crime rate.

Fratzke Commercial Real Estate Advisors, Inc., is proud to announce the sale of 13.81 acres of Industrial Land to Amazon.com Services, LLC. Tom Tapia, CCIM and Pursuit Team Leader, along with Brian Fratzke, CCIM and Principal Broker, represented the Sellers, Maynard Alves Land & Livestock, Redmond, LLC., with the sale of the M-2 industrial land located on the Northwest corner of 9th Street and Antler Avenue.

The sale represents more than two years and thousands of hours of effort working directly with the lead developer, to overcome obstacles and challenges in providing one tax lot with access for the construction of a new ground up tilt wall concrete last mile logistics facility.

Tom Tapia led the solutions team tackling the relocation of more than thirteen hundred feet of federally regulated Central Oregon Irrigation District canal, seven tax lot line adjustments, removal of multiple encumbrances, setbacks, easements, relocation of utility services, dedication of land for future street improvements, and countless hours working with civil, environmental, and land use engineers and consultants.

This is an exciting new chapter for expansion of global employers located in Central Oregon. The new development represents a last mile logistics facility with upwards of two hundred new career opportunities. Customers of Amazon can now expect to receive products more quickly due to the new location in Redmond, Oregon.

Fratzke Commercial would like to thank Amazon, BH Devco, Western Title, Chicago Title, H.A. McCoy Engineering & Surveying, K & E Excavating, Central Oregon Irrigation District, Osprey Environmental, EDCO, Debbie Butler and Jacolyn Alves, the City of Redmond, and Deschutes County for their help and support on this exciting project.

This week, beginning Monday, Bend Parks and Recreation and the Bend Police Department will be reminding dog-owners about on…and off-leash designated areas.  Mike Thomas reports:

A Canadian man awaits extradition to Bend to face murder charges for the death of Evelyn Weaver.

The 28-year-old woman was found dead in her Northeast Bend home in July 2023.  

A 21-year-old Bend man was arrested for a shooting Tuesday night in Southwest Bend.  

Oregon’s law enforcement certification agency will discuss the future of the Deschutes County Sheriff, who just took office in January.  Heather Roberts reports. 

A 111-acre prescribed burn is set for today a mile west of Bend… near Aspen and Dillon Falls Day Use areas.  

 Jay Lyons - Compass Commercial

The first quarter of 2025 shows commercial Real Estate in Bend and Redmond is maintaining a slow but steady pace.

Deschutes County’s Fire Free days began over the weekend at Knott Landfill in Bend.  Meanwhile, Friday afternoon south of La Pine … a 2.4-acre wildfire was quickly contained by firefighters…highlighting the need for the annual event.

The wildfire fuels reduction project south of Bend has now closed off public access to over 34-thousand acres of National Forest land. 

The Deschutes National Forest closing the Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project area south of Bend Thursday for at least one year.  This will force out illegal campers in the China Hat Road area.