Excitement is building for Bend’s annual Pet Parade.  It’s expected to draw thousands to downtown again this year.  

Sheriff Kent van der Kamp’s resignation became official at 5 p.m. Thursday, launching Deschutes County’s search for an interim sheriff to serve until the 2026 election.  

A wildfire broke out northeast of La Pine Community Cemetery near Darlene Way Thursday afternoon .

The blaze threatened nearby structures, prompting Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation notices for areas north and east of La Pine, including Newberry Estates and public lands.

Evacuation orders were dropped at 8:23 p.m.

Fire crews, including three engines, a dozer, and a water tender, managed to stop the fire’s spread at 1.4 acres by 4:30 p.m.

Law enforcement and investigators remain on scene... cause is under investigation.

Deschutes County Commissioners are actively working through next steps for appointing an interim Sheriff… after Kent van der Kamp’s resignation becomes effective at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz says he does not support a plan by fellow Republican, Senator Mike Lee, to sell off large amounts of federal land… calling it a mandated sell-off of an arbitrary amount, for the sole purpose of removing it from federal ownership. Bentz says he doesn’t oppose selling or exchanging federal land when there is a clear economic or social demand and after appropriate procedures that take into account those affected… including Native tribes, ranchers with grazing rights and recreators. Lee’s plan to sell more than three-million acres hit a snag this week, when the Senate parliamentarian ruled it could not be included in the GOP spending bill. 

Deschutes County commissioners are deliberating how to appoint an interim sheriff following Sheriff Kent van der Kamp's resignation, effective July 31st.  

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz is addressing community concerns following what he says is misinformation being spread online.

In his statement… Krantz says Bend officers are not involved in immigration enforcement and urges residents not to confuse police detectives, who may be seen in unmarked vehicles or out of traditional uniform, with federal agents.

He says officers were wrongly identified on Social Media Monday afternoon in the Old Mill District while conducting their Community Enhancement Program which aims to proactively and positively interact with community members.

Krantz emphasizes Bend PD’s role is to enforce state law… not federal immigration rules, and explains they only assist in immigration cases with a judge’s warrant.

The chief encourages everyone to verify social media information before sharing, saying false reports are creating unnecessary fear and stress in the community.

BEND, OR – Following months of controversy, the Sheriff of Deschutes County says he will step down at the end of July.  The subject line of Sheriff Kent van der Kamp’s Monday morning email to Deschutes County leadership read, “retirement announcement,” but the body of the email announced his resignation. Twenty minutes later, he sent an email to agency staff that read in part, “My last day serving as your Sheriff will be July 31, 2025.” That message went out 30 minutes after an effort to recall van der Kamp was made public.

Sgt. Thomas Lilienthal is part of the recall committee. He says that work will continue until they’re sure he’s really leaving, “There were talks of 90-days. Internally, he was saying to people that he was going to stay for two years, he was going to stay the whole term, that he was going to leave in May. And it was a moving target.” Lilienthal added, “If we do learn that it’s final, that he cannot remove the July 31st date that he announced 30 minutes after we did our press release, then the recall effort is a success.”

The Sheriff has been embroiled in scandal since taking office in January, after evidence surfaced, he repeatedly lied about his resume – on his employment application for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and a subsequent internal investigation, and on the stand while testifying in criminal cases. The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is on track to revoke van der Kamp’s law enforcement certifications, he was ruled an unreliable court witness by the Deschutes County District Attorney and the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association permanently revoked his membership. “I want to offer my sincere apology for the events of the past few months,” van der Kamp said in his email to staff, “It has been a deeply disappointing time, especially in not meeting the expectations you rightly had of me as your leader.”

The DCSO employee’s union recently voted to pull support, asking him to return a $20,000 campaign donation used on his legal fees. Sgt. Lilienthal says, “I don’t think that money’s coming back. I think he is setting up his future endeavors right now, while he still occupies the position of Sheriff and is collecting taxpayer dollars on that.” A mortgage and real estate business owned by van der Kamp is now running social media ads, and he has been seen in recent real estate-related webinars. Lilienthal says it’s all taking a toll on the agency and staff, “We have no idea what’s going on right now. So, ultimately, we need someone at the head of our office, who’s the face of the agency that can stand as the model for what the entire agency represents.” He doesn’t have an opinion on who should take over, but he knows van der Kamp shouldn’t be in charge, “We cannot have a Sheriff that represents the highest level of law enforcement in Deschutes County, that is using and responsible for taxpayer dollars, that has shown a consistent pattern of lying and can’t even be trusted in court; he can’t even testify in court.”

Sheriff van der Kamp is in Florida this week, attending the National Sheriff’s Association Conference. 

A ‘Discussion of Potential Sheriff Transition’ is now on the agenda for Wednesday's Deschutes County Commissioner meeting.

The City Club of Central Oregon is organizing a forum this week to talk about food insecurity in the region.  

A major animal neglect case from south of La Pine has resulted in the arrest of William Griffiths by detectives with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Griffiths faces 25 counts of Animal Neglect in the First Degree after a grand jury indictment last week.

The investigation began in October, when deputies responding to a welfare check found more than 100 decomposing animal carcasses—including snakes, lizards, turtles, rodents, and tarantulas—at a residence on Deer Street.

No live animals or people were found.

Griffiths was taken into custody at a residence east of Bend.

picture courtesy of Central Oregon daily News

Governor Tina Kotek met in Bend yesterday with rural healthcare providers from Central and Eastern Oregon … to discuss how the region would be impacted by proposed federal cuts. Heather Roberts reports. 

picture courtesy of Central Oregon Daily News

Crews are actively working in the hard-to-access canyons of the Alder Springs Fire, mopping up and securing perimeters.  At last word the fire had grown to more than 3,400 acres and is zero percent contained.

Tuesday, air resources provided water and retardant drops stopping fire progress in many areas around the fire.

Mandatory and warning-level evacuations remain in place… with shelters for residents and animals set up in Redmond.

The Alder Springs Fire is confirmed to be human caused.

OSU Cascades is preparing to recognize 340 graduates, with about 260 set to walk at Sunday’s commencement ceremony on the campus’s Oval Green.

Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch

Fire-danger awareness is ramping up across Central Oregon as the Department of Forestry introduces new fire precautions beginning Monday.  Redmond had a reminder last week of the dry conditions.

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz

In light of protests over immigration enforcement in Los Angeles and elsewhere, KBND News asked Bend Police how they handle demonstrations here. 

A Bend man faces multiple charges after a Friday morning gas station burglary escalated dangerously.

According to police, 55-year old Steven Ramsey was spotted on surveillance cameras damaging property and assembling Molotov cocktails inside the Space Age Fuel station on Grandview Drive.

When law enforcement arrived, Ramsey allegedly hurled a flaming device at deputies, briefly igniting a store rug and attempting to start further fires.

Deschute County Sheriff's K9 Vinnie was deployed and assisted in subduing Ramsey, who was then arrested.

The blaze caused up to 15-thousand dollars in damage.

Both Ramsey and K9 Vinnie were treated for minor injuries before Ramsey was booked at Deschutes County Jail.

A federal judge has temporarily stopped new federal conditions from being attached to specific grant funds after Bend and other cities filed a lawsuit.  KBND's Mike Thomas reports:

OSU–Cascades generated nearly 90-million dollars in economic impact in 2024… throughout Central Oregon according to results from a study on revenues from Oregon State University.  

Forward progress on the Euston Fire between Redmond and Terrebonne was stopped last night (Tu) with approximately 20-percent containment achieved on the more than 20-acre blaze.

Central Oregon Fire Info reported just after 9 P-M that some resources would stay on scene overnight, and evacuation orders dropped to Level 1 – or Be Ready.

It started Tuesday afternoon after 4 pm burning through grass and brush…quickly growing to threaten nearby structures.

9 engines, 2 helicopters, 1 Large Air Tanker, Air Attack, and a hotshot crew were deployed.

Power outages in the area extended into Crook and Jefferson counties as Central Electric Cooperative reported a transmission line out of service. The Co-op said crews restored service after 9 P-M to the approximately 10-thousand-500 members affected.

Authorities report the blaze may have originated from an escaped outdoor burn… but the cause remains under investigation.

A 36-year-old Bend resident, Nathaniel Wright, was arrested Friday after allegedly threatening to carry out a mass shooting.

Police responded to the 3000 block of NE Waller Avenue after Wright reportedly told a family member about his plans during an argument. Officers observed Wright leaving his home armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a ballistic vest, and a duffel bag.

He was stopped in his driveway and taken into custody without resistance…then transported to St Charles Bend.

Authorities searched his vehicle and home, and an Extreme Risk Protection Order was granted, restricting Wright’s access to firearms.

No injuries were reported during the incident.