In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

🔥🚒 Fire destroys Redmond home Friday

 🚧 Weekly Road Construction update + closed winter hwys

🚌 Crook County Schools hiring Bus Drivers

⛑️ Search and Rescue get ready for winter

🎄 Christmas Trees Available from the Boy Scouts

🔦 Local Cause Spotlight - Heart of Oregon Corps

 📅 Lots of Events

😆 Meme of the day

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Redmond Home Destroyed By Fire Caused By Unattended Cooking

On Friday November 24 at approximately 9am, Redmond Fire & Rescue was notified of a possible structure fire in the 6200 block of SW Harvest Ave. First arriving fire crews arrived to a manufactured home with heavy fire through the roof. Due to the amount of fire, fire crews aggressively fought the fire from the exterior. Because the home was located in an area where fire hydrants are not available, water tenders shuttled in water.

There was no one home at the time of the fire and no pets were inside. The homeowners were assisted by the Red Cross.

Fire investigators determined that the cause of the fire was due to unattended cooking. The estimated loss to the structure is approximately $500,000.  

Never leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove. Move items that can burn away from the stove. This includes dishtowels, bags, boxes, paper and curtains. Also keep children and pets at least three feet away.

Redmond Fire & Rescue was assisted by Bend Fire & Rescue and Cloverdale RFPD. 

Weekly Road Construction Update Week of November 26 to December 2

 Winter Road Closures

• Cascade Lakes Highway is closed west of Mt. Bachelor between the snow gates at Dutchman Flat and Deschutes Bridge at the intersection with Forest Service Road 4270.

• Paulina Lake Road is closed at the ten-mile snow park gate.

***Both facilities will remain closed through the winter and are anticipated to reopen prior to Memorial Day, weather permitting.***

Hunnell Road: Loco Road to Tumalo Road Improvement (Bend Area) – Signing work will be occurring along Hunnell Road. Work will include installation of sign support footings and permanent signs.

Traffic Information – Shoulder closures will be occurring on Hunnell Road from Monday through Wednesday. Road users should expect delays. Hunnell Road also remains closed to through traffic between Loco Road and Rogers Road. Local residents should access Bowery Lane from U.S. Highway 97. 

Powell Butte Highway & Butler Market Road Utility Work (Bend Area) – Underground utility work will be occurring near the intersection of Powell Butte Highway with Butler Market Road. 

Traffic Information – Single-lane closures facilitated by flaggers will be occurring along Powell Butte Highway and Butler Market Road. Road users should expect delays of up to 20 minutes during work hours. 

U.S. Highway 20: Tumalo - Cooley Project (Bend Area) –Miscellaneous trimming and cleanup work will be occurring near the Cook Avenue-O.B. Riley Road intersection and the U.S. 20-Old Bend Redmond Hwy intersection.

Traffic Information – The U.S. 20/Old Bend-Redmond Hwy and U.S. 20/Cook Avenue roundabouts are both open to traffic. Intermittent road work will continue near both roundabouts through early December.

***Note that work hours are subject to change based on weather conditions. Work hours may also be affected by holidays.***

Crook County Schools hiring Bus Drivers

Crook County Schools in anticipation of a potential bus driver shortage are proactively seeking new recruits. Although the district presently has sufficient drivers, they anticipate retirements in the future, prompting the need for substitutes to cover absences.

Jason Carr from CCSD highlighted the rewarding aspect of building connections with students and families, stating that bus drivers often emphasize the relationships fostered in small communities like Prineville.

The starting pay for bus drivers ranges between $20 and $25 per hour, with weekends and holidays off. Carr explained the split schedule, mentioning that elementary students start around 8 a.m. and finish by 2 p.m., while middle and high school students follow a schedule starting around 9 a.m. and ending between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. Bus drivers manage two routes in the morning and two in the afternoon, sometimes facilitating field trips or transporting sports teams.

The district offers full benefits for drivers working around 30 hours a week, covering training expenses. Carr emphasized that becoming a bus driver requires certification and training before starting the job.

For more details on bus driver and other job openings within the district, interested individuals can find further information available. HERE

Search and Rescue get ready for winter

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up for the upcoming winter season, preparing its Search and Rescue teams to assist those who may find themselves lost or stranded in the backcountry. Lieutenant Ty Rupert, the Search and Rescue Supervisor, indicated that with the approaching snowfall season, their 133 volunteers are fully equipped and ready to respond promptly to emergency calls.

Rupert emphasized the importance of reaching out for help if one gets stuck, injured, or disoriented, urging individuals not to hesitate to call 911. He highlighted the enthusiasm of the volunteers to assist on missions but stressed the priority of ensuring everyone's safety and their return home. He encouraged people to "know before you go," advising them to prepare for winter weather conditions, even if heading out for activities like finding a Christmas tree. He cautioned against relying solely on GPS, warning that it might lead individuals down unfamiliar or unprepared routes.

The Sheriff's Office has identified certain trouble spots where they anticipate deployment, such as areas frequented by snowmobilers, including the Bend watershed, and locations for backcountry skiing and snowboarding.

Rupert emphasized the importance of prompt communication in emergencies, stating that calling for help sooner increases the chances of a positive outcome. He reassured the public that Search and Rescue services from the sheriff's office do not incur charges and encouraged people to contact 911 if they require assistance.

Christmas Trees Available from the Boy Scouts

The Boy Scouts are selling Christmas trees at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Bend. The parking lot at ReStore was filled to the brim Saturday with Noble Fir trees. Troop 90 has been selling those trees for more than a decade. The Scouts sell 300 to 400 trees each year. Troop 90 consists of 35 Scouts and 2 new Eagle Scouts. 

Today’s Local Cause Spotlight is Heart of Oregon Corps

Heart of Oregon Corps: Empowering Youth and Building Communities

In Central Oregon, Heart of Oregon Corps (HOC) has been a driving force for over 20 years, empowering young adults through job training, education, and community service.

The nonprofit's goal is simple: to help disconnected youth aged 16-24, primarily from low-to-moderate income backgrounds, find their footing. HOC's six programs engage around 225 young individuals each year, offering them practical workforce development opportunities in areas like conservation, construction, childcare, and customer service.

HOC's approach, called WORK, EARN, LEARN, is straightforward:

- WORK: Youth work on hands-on projects that benefit the community, gaining job skills and positive role models.

- EARN: Participants receive wages, stipends, and scholarships, enhancing their financial literacy and boosting the local economy as they reinvest their earnings.

- LEARN: The programs teach essential soft skills, leadership qualities, and provide opportunities to earn educational credentials, opening doors to diverse career paths.

Founded by Dennis, Dave, and Dan, HOC's roots lie in a desire to offer alternatives to disadvantaged youth, providing them with opportunities for growth. Over the years, they've expanded their reach to Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and northern Klamath counties, including the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

The impact is tangible: 4,750 HOC participants have contributed to building 36 affordable homes, improving 48,000 acres of public lands, and earning $2 million+ in AmeriCorps scholarships.

Heart of Oregon Corps remains dedicated to its mission, supported by funders, donors, and community volunteers. Their commitment to offering a chance at success to young adults facing obstacles continues to shape a more hopeful future for Central Oregon.

For More information visit Hearts of Oregon Corp

To Donate

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Do you have a favorite Local Cause or are you a Local Non-Profit? We would love to do a “Local Cause Spotlight” about your Non-Profit. Give us a shout and we’ll be in contact.

What’s Up Central Oregon?

❄️Winter Wonderland Downtown Bend

Starting Nov. 15th, Bend downtown stores will be decorating their windows and stores for the 2023 Winter Wonderland contest.  Sponsored by Downtown Bend Association, contest winners will be announced Jan 15th.  In the meantime, wander the streets of downtown seeing the magic that store owners have created for the holidays. 

November 28th (Tuesday)

•  Hoodoo’s Wintervention

  @ General Duffy’s Waterhole 404 SW Forest Ave Redmond, OR

  6 pm -8pm

Songwriter in the Round with Jeshua Marshall, John Shipe, Lilly Worona and Mark Ransom.

Silver Moon Brewery 24 NW Greenwood Ave Bend

6 pm

November 29th (Wednesday)

• Senior Day at High Desert Museum Free

  59800 US-97 Bend

  10 am - 4pm

• Bevel Puttin Mayhem

  Bevel Craft Brewing 911 SE Armour Rd Bend

  5:30 pm -8:30 pm

November 30th (Thursday)

• 2023 Annual Northwest Crossing Christmas Tree Lighting Tree location is on the east side of the Harcourts The Garner Group Real Estate office at 2762 NW Crossing Dr.

  5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

• Dance Lessons at The Cricket

  20565 NE Brinson Blvd Bend

  7 pm - 10 pm

December 1st (Friday)

• Bend Moonlight Market: Naughty or Nice

  Open Space Event Studios 40 NW Greenwood Ave Bend

  3 pm - 11pm

• Journey to Bethlehem

  Bend Adventist Fellowship 21610 NE Butler Market Rd Bend

  6 pm - 9 pm

December 2nd (Saturday)

• Bend Christmas Parade

  Start time 12 pm

• Reindeer Rush Downtown Bend

  11 am

• Schilling’s 2023 Holiday Makers Market

  64640 Old Bend Redmond Highway Bend

  10 am - 4pm Tickets

• Holiday Bazaar

  Redmond Senior Center 499 NW 3rd St, Redmond

  9 am -3 pm

• Holiday Sip & Shop

  Wild Ride Brewing 332 SW 5th St Redmond

  11 am - 4 pm

• Grand Reopening Party

  American Legion Ray Johnson Post 44 704 SW 8th St Redmond

  2pm

December 3rd (Sunday)

• 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

  Luckey’s Woodsman Off-Grid Provisions

  352 E Hood Ave unit B Sisters, OR 97759

  5 pm

• Schilling’s 2023 Holiday Makers Market

  64640 Old Bend Redmond Highway Bend

  10 am - 4pm Tickets

Upcoming Event Highlight

The Redmond Community Choir presents their Sounds of the Season holiday concert. The concert is free to the public (donations are appreciated). The Redmond Community Choir is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, and is a COCC Community Education program.

Sunday December 10th 4pm at Redmond High School 675 SW Rimrock Way Redmond

Deschutes Public Library Calendar

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