A hiker rescue unfolded on South Sister Wednesday evening when two young men encountered trouble during their descent. After beginning to experience a medical issue, one hiker became mildly hypothermic and called for help. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue responded, deploying thirteen skilled volunteers from medical and mountain rescue units. The team reached the hikers at 8:25 p.m., assisting one to walk out and transporting the other by rescue sled after administering warming treatments. Challenging snow conditions stretched the rescue into early morning hours. Authorities emphasize the importance of preparation and awareness of rapidly changing conditions at higher elevations.

May marks National Wildfire Awareness Month, reminding residents that readiness can make all the difference during fire season.  Mike Thomas reports: 

 

 

UPDATE:

The administrative appeal filed by ex-Sheriff’s Captain William Bailey over his firing will be reviewed by an advisory arbitrator, as decided by Deschutes County Commissioners. The arbitrator will be chosen by both Bailey’s representative and county staff. Bailey was dismissed after making statements in the media during his unsuccessful run for Sheriff against Kent van Der Kamp. His team maintains that Bailey’s public remarks were truthful and addressed legitimate community concerns.

 

The Deschutes County Commissioners will have a hearing Wednesday on the Grievance of Termination filed by William Bailey, a former Deschutes County Sheriff’s office Captain.

Bailey, who unsuccessfully ran for Sheriff in 2024 against now-former Sheriff Kent van Der Kamp, is filing the administrative appeal against the county’s decision to fire him over comments made in the media by Bailey about Van der Kamp during a 2025 radio interview.

The commissioners have the hearing schedule for 1:30 this afternoon as part of the regular board meeting agenda.

The Commissioners could make a decision whether to uphold Bailey’s termination at the hearing.

picture credit: Central Oregon Daily News

U-S Education Secretary Linda McMahon was in Oregon Monday. As part of her 50-state “returning education to the states” tour, she stopped at Crook County High School and Crooked River Elementary in Prineville. Congressman Cliff Bentz says his team facilitated the visits, which were not open to the press, along with County Commissioner Seth Crawford. Secretary McMahon toured Crook County’s Career and Technical Education Facilities. She discussed early literacy at the elementary school.

photo credit: Evan Vucci / AP

Former Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned as President Trump’s Labor Secretary. According to a statement from the White House, Chavez-DeRemer is stepping down to take a job in the private sector. Although, her tenure in Trump’s cabinet was marred in recent months by an internal investigation into allegations of day-drinking and taxpayer-funded vacations. Her husband was also banned from Labor Department headquarters amid sexual assault allegations, although he was cleared of criminal wrongdoing. 

Deschutes County health authorities are alerting residents after six overdoses related to possible fentanyl-laced cocaine or ketamine in the past week.

Naloxone was used to revive those affected.

Officials urge the public to assume any street drug could contain opioids, recognize overdose signs, and keep naloxone accessible.

Help is available at deschutes.org / harm reduction.

A brush fire erupted along NE Studio Rd just after 10 Thursday morning, igniting a 40-foot strip of ornamental juniper bushes in front of a home. The resident tried to douse the flames with a hose, but gusty winds fueled the blaze. Bend Fire & Rescue crews arrived swiftly, extinguishing the fire before it could threaten the house or additional bushes. No damage was reported beyond the scorched landscaping, and Studio Rd was briefly shut down during the response. Investigators say the fire started while the occupant used a weed burner, which is prohibited in Bend city limits. All debris burning will be closed throughout Central Oregon at the end of the day on April 30th.

 

Bend Fire & Rescue, working with the Central Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, will end outdoor debris burning in the Bend area a month earlier than usual. The closure begins at midnight, April 30, as regional drought increases fire risk. While rural areas near Bend can continue burning debris until that date, it remains banned inside city limits. Authorities remind residents to follow safety rules, use caution… and prepare for an early fire season.  
 

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports of scammers impersonating deputies and demanding payment for fake fines or missed court dates.

These callers often use real employee names and spoof phone numbers, but real deputies will never ask for money over the phone. Community members are advised to verify suspicious calls by contacting dispatch at 541-693-6911 and report any scam attempts to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3 dot gov.

The Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project closure south of Bend will remain in effect until at least April 30, 2027—extending restrictions by another year.

Access is prohibited throughout the more than 32-thousand-acre project area while crews conduct hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed burns, and habitat restoration.

Some forest service roads are open, but all major recreation sites and most trails are closed.

Violators risk significant fines or jail time.

Find details and maps on the Deschutes National Forest website.

 

photo courtesy Central Oregon Daily News
The U.S. Forest Service is hosting its annual helicopter rappel recertification event west of Bend, along Forest Service Road 41, Monday April 13 to Tuesday April 21.

Up to six helicopters may be seen in the area between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.

Although no closures are expected, those in the area should observe posted warnings and avoid restricted zones.

Rappellers are firefighters who descend from helicopters to address wildfires in hard-to-reach locations.

 

Mt. Bachelor will end its winter season sooner than usual, with the last day set for Sunday, April 19.
The early closing is due to a year of very little snow.
Resort managers say it’s been a challenging time and thank everyone for sticking with them despite the short season.
The closing weekend features the resort's Rendez-van event.

Bend’s annual Pole, Pedal, Paddle sporting event, which starts on Bachelor in May, announced Thursday it would drop both the alpine and cross-country skiing portions of the five-sport race… Instead, athletes will participate in two running legs, still beginning on the mountain. 

Mt. Hood Meadows also plans to end their winter season on April 19th.

Hoodoo and Mt. Hood Ski Bowl are already closed. 

Central Oregon State Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson is celebrating the passage of a new bipartisan law aimed at expanding Oregon’s agri-tourism. At a Sauvie Island event, Breese-Iverson, a fifth-generation rancher, stressed that farming’s future relies on diversification and innovation. The new law allows for more on-farm stores and events, including farm-to-table meals and corn mazes, directly on land zoned for agriculture. Barb Iverson of Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm praised the clarity the legislation brings to operations, while Senator Suzanne Weber highlighted the economic impact that agri-tourism has in areas like Tillamook, with thousands of visitors flocking to local farms each weekend.

 

 

Sherman Bloomer has been removed as chancellor and dean of OSU-Cascades after information surfaced during an ongoing university investigation.

The probe began March 18 following a complaint and is being conducted by OSU’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Access with outside assistance. University officials have not disclosed details about the investigation, citing privacy concerns.

OSU students and staff were notified of Bloomer’s dismissal Tuesday.

Dr. Becky Johnson will serve as interim chancellor and dean.

Bloomer became chancellor and dean at the Bend campus in 2023.

With Oregon’s May Primary fast approaching, Republican candidates for Governor are ramping up their campaigns and releasing new ads. Former Portland Trail Blazer Chris Dudley is focusing on his basketball roots, promising a political “rebound” for Oregon. Canby Senator Christine Drazan pledges to hold state government accountable and return power to citizens. In the fundraising race, Dudley and Drazan each have over two million dollars, while Scio Representative Ed Diehl and Marion County Commissioner Danielle Bethell trail with significantly less. Meanwhile, Governor Tina Kotek’s campaign fund stands at just under three-and-a-half million dollars.

 

 

Significant enhancements are on the way for Cascades East Transit riders beginning May 4. Bend’s busiest bus routes will run more often, with some offering 15-minute intervals during peak times.
Service is also expanding with a new Jefferson County route, connecting Warm Springs and Madras to more destinations.
Updates include a stop at the new Central Library and improved reliability and customer service system-wide. For route info and schedules, visit cascades east transit dot com.
 

Bend’s east side is set for significant growth as the City Council has approved the master plan for Legacy Village. The development will bring new homes, parks, commercial zones, and trails to the area near 27th Street, just east of the new library. Mayor Melanie Kebler highlights that funds from the land sale will benefit Oregon’s common school fund. The project reserves roughly 24 acres for affordable housing, with some homes designated specifically for educators. Shaped by public input, Legacy Village aims to provide diverse housing options, recreation spaces, and local amenities, further transforming the Stevens Road tract added to the city’s urban growth boundary.

 

 

The Oregon National Guard helped rescue an injured snowboarder for the base of Broken Top.  The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office sent 22 volunteers to the Tam McArthur Rim area Monday afternoon.  The 44-year-old Bend woman was found on steep, snow-covered terrain, at more than 73-hundred feet elevation. After search and rescue arrived and provided immediate medical attention, an Oregon Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter responded with a paramedic to help evacuate the patient.  She was flown to St. Charles Bend for further care.