In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📷 Photo Trivia

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

🚨Prineville man killed, Bend woman injured in a crash on Hwy 20 in Malheur County

🚒 🚨La Pine Man Arrested After Setting Fire and Prompting Shelter in Place Alert

🚨🚘 Bend Police Arrest Ten Drivers for DUII in 48 Hours

🚒 Bend Businesses Saved by Fire Sprinkler System

📅 Lots of Events

😆 Meme of the Day

Prineville man killed, Bend woman injured in a crash on Hwy 20 in Malheur County

Malheur County, OR – A serious car crash occurred on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 7:04 a.m. on Highway 20 near milepost 267 in Malheur County, Oregon. The Oregon State Police (OSP) responded to the scene of the two-vehicle collision.

The incident involved a Toyota Tundra, driven by Tad Stringam, 48, from Prineville, and a commercial motor vehicle operated by Jose Ambriz, 64, of Heyburn, Idaho. The Toyota was traveling east on the Nyssa Snake River Bridge when it slid into the opposite lane, colliding with the commercial vehicle.

Tad Stringam was ejected from the Toyota and was found dead at the scene. A passenger in the Toyota, Tami Stringam, 48, from Bend, was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital.

The crash disrupted traffic on Highway 20 for about three hours. Several agencies, including the Nyssa Police Department, Ontario Rescue 1, Idaho State Police, and others, assisted OSP in managing the incident.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing to determine the exact cause.

La Pine Man Arrested After Setting Fire and Prompting Shelter in Place Alert

Chaos erupted in La Pine late Tuesday afternoon when a reportedly mentally ill man set a shed on fire and was seen with a gun, leading to a shelter-in-place warning for nearby residents. Deschutes County sheriff's deputies and La Pine Rural Fire District crews were called to the scene around 3:40 p.m. in the 52000 block of Wayside Loop.

Lieutenant Doug Sullivan of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reported that the situation began when the man informed a neighbor of his intention to burn down the shed. As deputies were en route, multiple 911 calls confirmed that a shed was indeed ablaze. The fire, which was dangerously close to vehicles and trash, took firefighters about thirty minutes to extinguish.

Adding to the tension, the man was observed with a firearm. Witnesses reported hearing what sounded like gunshots. However, Lieutenant Sullivan later clarified that the sounds were likely caused by exploding propane bottles or tanks, not gunfire.

In response to the unfolding situation, the sheriff's office activated its Emergency Phone Network (EPN) system, advising residents within a half-mile radius to remain indoors. This shelter-in-place alert was lifted approximately 15 minutes later.

One neighbor recounted receiving a text message instructing them to "secure in place" and being told to go back inside by an officer at the scene. The neighbor noted that the officers had their guns drawn.

After a standoff, deputies successfully negotiated with the man, leading to his surrender about thirty minutes after the initial call. He was subsequently taken to St. Charles Bend for evaluation and may face charges of disorderly conduct. Lieutenant Sullivan mentioned that the authorities have had frequent interactions with the man in the past.

The incident, which caused significant alarm among residents, was resolved without further harm. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the situation.

Bend Police Arrest Ten Drivers for DUII in 48 Hours; Incidents Include Near-Misses with Police Car and School Bus

Bend Police say ten drivers were arrested for DUII in a 48-hour span over the weekend. They stretch from 1 a.m. Friday through just before 7 p.m. Saturday.

In one case, a suspected impaired driver nearly hit a Bend Police car head-on near 8th and Bennington Way, just before midnight Friday. Another driver almost hit a school bus, Friday afternoon, ending up on the sidewalk.

One of the suspects pulled over early Saturday is just 17 years old. An 18-year-old from Sunriver was arrested early Friday for driving the wrong way on Bond St.

BPD has logged nearly 600 DUII arrests in 2023. Bend officers are working grant-funded overtime patrols, in an effort to combat impaired driving over the holidays.

Bend Businesses Saved by Fire Sprinkler System

A fire at a commercial building on NE 18th Street in Bend was swiftly extinguished by the fire sprinkler system last night, preventing major damage. The fire, reported at 9:34 PM on Monday, December 18th, started in an upstairs bathroom and was quickly controlled by the activated sprinkler system.

Fire crews, initially alerted by a fire alarm company and later by the business owners who saw smoke on their security cameras, arrived to find the situation under control. The fire's cause is under investigation but is not believed to be intentional.

The incident resulted in limited damage, estimated at $10,000, allowing the businesses to resume operations by the next afternoon. This event highlights the efficacy of fire sprinklers in reducing damage and downtime, emphasizing their importance in commercial safety.

What’s Up Central Oregon?

 December 21st (Thursday)

•  Winter Nights @ High Desert Museum High Desert Museum Oregon  TICKETS $10 adults, $6 child (3-12)      

  4:00 PM - 7:30 PM

• Winter Solstice Gathering And S'more Cook Out The Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room 550 SW Industrial Way, #194 Bend Celebrate the Solstice next to the fire with a hot mug of spiced Gluhwein and make some gourmet S'mores. An evening of great wines and new friends. Cheers! 

  5:00 PM - 9:00 PM 

•  Starfest@Eagle Crest Eagle Crest Oregon The Last Night 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. 

• Third Thursday At The Grove The Grove 921 NW Mt. Washington Drive Bend

  5:00 PM - 08:00 PM 

• Live Music With Beverly Anderson Cascade Lakes Pub on Reed Market 21175 SE Reed Market Road, Lot #2 Bend

  5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

December 22nd (Friday)

•  4th Friday Artwalk in Sisters, OR

  By Sisters Arts Association   Downtown Sisters Oregon 222 West Hood Avenue Sisters 10:00 AM - 07:00 PM 

• The Grinch's Cave Adventure @ Juniper Preserve

  TICKETS $25

  3:00 PM - 04:00 PM 

• Grimes Christmas Scene Crook County Fairgrounds 1280 Main Street Prineville 5:00 PM - 08:00 PM 

•  Christmas In The Pines Crook County Fairgrounds 1280 Main St. Prineville 5:30 PM - 09:00 PM Christmas in the Pines has become a Prineville tradition.  Located at the Crook County Fairgrounds, this is a beautiful drive thru Winter Wonderland. Christmas in the Pines is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 5:30-9:00 now through New Year’s. Live Nativity is on Saturday nights only, from 5:30-8:00. No entry fees but we welcome donations of non-perishable food or pet food.

• Never Come Down With Skillethead - Solstice Celebration 

  The Belfry 302 E. Main Avenue Sisters TICKETS $25

  6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

• Ursids Meteor Shower Snowshoe Tour

  By Wanderlust Tours 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Swingin' Tower Christmas! Tower Theatre 835 NW Wall Street Bend TICKETS

  $36 - $46 (plus $4 Historic Preservation fee) Friday, Saturday & Sunday

  

   

December 23rd (Saturday)

• Subaru Stoke Weekend #1 @ Mt Bachelor 7:00 AM Mt Bachelor is teaming up with Subaru to spread the stoke on Saturday, Dec.23 and Sunday, Dec. 24th.  Grab some buddies and head to the mountain in your Subaru for a day of shredding Subarus with 3 or more passengers will be given priority parking in the West Village Lot until all spots are filled. Once you pull in, you'll be redirected to one of our Stoke Patrollers who will hook you up with a preferred parking spot for the day and give you a Subaru swag bag. Hit the road early in your trusty Subaru and get rewarded! Coffee vouchers will be redeemed at Cocoa's Cafe which opens at 8:00 a.m.   

• Snowshoe With A Ranger-FREE Mt Bachelor Oregon

  10:00 AM - 2:30 PM

•  Adam Carlson Jazz Trio River's Place 787 Northeast Purcell Boulevard Bend 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM 

December 24th (Sunday)

Deschutes Public Library Calendar

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