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  • 🚨 Bend Resident Arrested for DUII After Crashing into Apartment Complex and Fleeing the Scene

🚨 Bend Resident Arrested for DUII After Crashing into Apartment Complex and Fleeing the Scene

Issue #091

08 Mar

This issue’s Sponsor is

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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

🎖️ ‘Constant champion’: Oregon Senate adopts resolution honoring Bend veterans activist Dick Tobiason for years of service

🤝 One thousand new child care spots — and counting — thanks to Central Oregon partnership

🗳️ Redmond School Board Chair Michael Summers files to run for state Senate

⛸️ Repair or replace? Redmond considers options for ice rink

🚨 Crime News

🚨 Bend Resident Arrested for DUII After Crashing into Apartment Complex and Fleeing the Scene

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots of Events

 

In May 2009 Highway 97 was renamed

Which historical event led to the renaming of US 97 in Oregon?

A) Civil War Commemoration

B) Lewis and Clark Expedition Anniversary

C) World War II

D) Gold Rush Celebration

 

👇Find the Answer at the end of the Newletter👇

BEND

‘Constant champion’: Oregon Senate adopts resolution honoring Bend veterans activist Dick Tobiason for years of service

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to join the House in adopting HCR 202 A , a resolution recognizing retired Lieutenant Colonel Dick Tobiason for his lifetime of service honoring Oregon veterans, Medal of Honor recipients and Gold Star families.

“For years, Dick Tobiason has been a constant champion and driving force for Oregon veterans. He is the truest embodiment of selflessness and humility; the proof isn’t hard to find if you look up and down major highways throughout the U.S.,” said Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp (R-Bend), who carried the resolution on the Senate floor.

“I am so grateful to have partnered with Dick, the Oregon veteran community, and many legislators to honor so many veterans in so many ways. Today, I’m glad we could finally recognize Dick for his selfless service.”

Dick Tobiason served 20 years in the United States Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel and Army Master Aviator. He is a Purple Heart recipient and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Upon retirement from the Army, Tobiason worked as a manager at the NASA Flight Research Program in Washington, D.C.

Tobiason has been a veterans’ advocate in the federal, state, and local legislative process since 2003. His nonprofit organization, “The Bend Heroes Foundation,” helped Oregon adopt laws honoring nearly half a million Oregon veterans serving from World War I to the Iraq War.

Tobiason led efforts through this foundation to open Central Oregon Veterans Village, a safe rest village that helps homeless veterans move into permanent housing.

Tobiason also contributed significantly to the passage of House Bill 2010 (2017), designating a portion of United States Highway 20 as the Medal of Honor Highway. Since the passage of House Bill 2010, 12 other states, in partnership with Tobiason, have adopted similar frameworks, collectively creating a memorial highway network that spans the nation and honors Medal of Honor recipients from coast to coast.

Tobiason led efforts for the passage of House Bill 3452 (2020), designating United States Highway 26 as the POW/MIA Memorial Highway and House Bill 2146 (2023), creating Oregon’s Gold Star Families Memorial Highway, which honors service members who fell in the line of duty and creates places of remembrance for their surviving family members.

He also helped to establish the Purple Heart Trail in 2015 and the Oregon Nisei Veterans World War II Memorial Highway in 2022.

 

One thousand new child care spots — and counting — thanks to Central Oregon partnership

COCC and NeighborImpact’s innovative child care business-training program has been so successful, the impact is being felt statewide

  • By Mark Russell Johnson Redmond Spokesman

An irresistible idea for a ranch-centric child care — where children engage in the care of goats, calves and rabbits, among other hands-on activities — is what encouraged Kaitlin Bachelor to pursue a new career. When she discovered a free community resource designed to launch child care businesses, her dream quickly became a reality.

“I have big plans for my once-little preschool and child care,” says Bachelor, who opened her 10-spot child care in Powell Butte in 2022 with a strong assist from a program at Central Oregon Community College (COCC). “I highly recommend the training to anyone in child care or just starting out. I went in there not knowing much and walked out confident and excited. They set you up for success and turned my ‘what’s ifs’ into ‘you got this.’”

The “you got this” came from the Early Child Care Business Accelerator, a COCC initiative that launched in the fall of 2021 in response to a severe shortage of child care in the state. Spelled out by a 2020 report by researchers at Oregon State University, all of Oregon’s 36 counties were found to be “child care deserts” — meaning just a single spot was open for every three children. In Deschutes County, the desert was deemed particularly dire: Fewer than 25% of children under the age of 5 had access to child care, the report found.

Working closely with the nonprofit NeighborImpact’s Child Care Resources department, COCC’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) set out to design a free training that features financial assistance in grant dollars, with crucial funding coming from the city of Bend, the city of Sisters, Deschutes County and others. Structured as a close-knit, cohort-style program, the course is staged over three months and combines weekly evening class sessions (dinners included) with individual business advising. It’s taught by SBDC staff and incorporates guest presenters from NeighborImpact.

Available in both English and Spanish, the program’s curriculum covers best business practices in managing finances, marketing, licensure, and setting policies and procedures. Completers become licensed-and-ready “home-based” business owners, each receiving a $5,000 grant, plus continued wraparound services, to orient themselves for success. The experience can also be considered as “credit for prior learning” at COCC (totaling four college credits), should the person choose to seek out a degree or certificate in early childhood education.

To date, the program has disbursed some $250,000 in grant support to over 50 newly licensed home-based businesses— from Bend to Redmond to Terrebonne — which translates to more than 500 spots for children in Central Oregon.

The fast results of the fledgling program, which soon garnered statewide media coverage, led to the launch of training for larger child care operations: those that accommodate between 30 and 150 children. This “center accelerator” is offered as a six-month program.

“Between home-based and day care centers, this means a total of $1.1 million in funding that’s supported our tri-county child care economy,” explains Kathryn Brown, program manager. Brown, who recently received national “Trailblazer” recognition from America’s Small Business Development Center Network for her key part in developing the program, is excited for the accelerator’s latest chapter: statewide rollout.

Beginning last September, and with significant investment from the JTMF Foundation, the program was replicated by Small Business Development Centers and child care resource centers around the state. Brown conducted “train-the-trainer” sessions at Columbia Gorge, Linn-Benton and Lane community colleges to help those places begin offering the curriculum. In all, 32 students completed the first wave of that three-month training, received start-up grants, and ultimately brought 300 new child care spaces to communities like Albany and The Dalles.

The evolution of the program continues — including a recent partnership with Oregon Child Care Alliance that’s adapting the training for Spanish-, Russian- and Somali-speaking business owners in areas like Marion and Multnomah counties. NeighborImpact is channeling more than $8 million in Legislative-created funds into the joint effort with COCC.

Here on the High Desert, COCC offers the three-month Early Child Care Business Accelerator four times a year. Interested individuals can visit cocc.edu/sbdc or call 541-383-7290 to apply. The impact of the program continues to radiate across the region: helping families locate quality child care, allowing parents to return to the workforce, and bringing new businesses and jobs to the economy. And it’s even changing perspectives.

“What I love most about what I do is what these little kids have taught me,” says Kaitlin Bachelor from her ranch-based child care. “They have taught me patience and to slow down. They have taught me to not sweat the small stuff, to fully enjoy life.”

This story appears in The Redmond Spokesman

 

Repair or replace? Redmond considers options for ice rink

REDMOND, OR --After another malfunction caused the downtown Redmond ice skating rink to end its season early, city officials are considering replacing it with a new and permanent multi-use facility. The city-owned and Redmond Area Parks and Recreation District-managed rink had to be shut down early on Jan. 12.

Redmond School Board Chair Michael Summers files to run for state Senate

 

Redmond School Board Chairman and businessman Michael Summers has filed to run for the Oregon Senate District 27 seat currently held by fellow Republican Tim Knopp in the wake of Knopp’s chosen candidate Shannon Monihan’s disqualification from the May 21 primary.

In his Tuesday filing with the Secretary of State’s Office – one week before the filing deadline – Summers listed that he’s the third generation at Summers Flooring & Design, as well as a musician with Precious Byrd and High Street.

Summers was elected to the Redmond School Board in May of 2021 and his biography on their website says he is “a native Central Oregonian with a deep love and appreciation for the region,” and the father of four school-aged daughters.

Weekly Road & Traffic Report Week of March 2nd - March 8th Redmond

Weekly Road Construction Update Week of March 3 to March 9 Deschutes County

 

Bend Resident Arrested for DUII After Crashing into Apartment Complex and Fleeing the Scene

In a shocking incident on Wednesday, March 6, at 11:51 p.m., the Bend Police Department responded to reports of a vehicle crashing into a residential building in the 1500 block of NW Newport Avenue in Bend. The aftermath of the crash revealed significant damage to the apartment complex, including a broken gas line, as well as multiple counts of reckless endangerment.

The driver, identified as 41-year-old Bend resident Christopher Edward Kobernick, was apprehended by officers after fleeing the scene. Kobernick admitted ownership of the orange Mitsubishi Lancer involved in the crash and disclosed that he had abandoned the vehicle near the intersection of NW Newport and NW Harmon Boulevard before walking away.

The impact of the crash was especially harrowing as there were eight individuals inside the building at the time, with one child sleeping just inches away from the wall that Kobernick's vehicle struck. The collision resulted in severe damage to the northwest wall of the apartment complex, including the shearing off of four natural gas meters and severing of the main gas line. As a precautionary measure, officers evacuated the building while emergency services ensured its safety.

Kobernick now faces a slew of charges, including Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII), Reckless Endangering x8, Hit & Run - Property Damage, Reckless Driving, and Criminal Mischief I. He was promptly taken into custody and transported to Deschutes County Jail following his arrest.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by impaired driving and reckless behavior on the roads. The prompt response and actions of law enforcement officers and emergency personnel helped mitigate further damage and ensure the safety of those affected by this reckless act.

As this case unfolds, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and address any further legal implications. The community is urged to remain vigilant on the roads and report any suspicious or dangerous behavior to prevent such incidents from reoccurring in the future.

 

KTVZ's John Carroll has a fun time during a visit to the Cascades of Bend - KTVZ

NewsChannel of 21 Chief Meteorologist John Carroll visited with the fine folks at the Cascades of Bend retirement community Wednesday morning to talk about the weather, climate the recent snowy winter.

ktvz.com/videos/local-videos/2024/03/07/ktvzs-john-carroll-has-a-fun-time-during-a-visit-to-the-cascades-of-bend

 

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Upcoming Events

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MARCH 7 – 10, 2024

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Enjoy local pubs around Bend and support HSCO's programs and services that serve people and animals in our community. Visit 14 local brew pubs with your friends and canine companion(s) and enjoy good vibes throughout March on the weekends.

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In May 2009 Highway 97 was renamed

Which historical event led to the renaming of US 97 in Oregon?

A) Civil War Commemoration

B) Lewis and Clark Expedition Anniversary

C) World War II

D) Gold Rush Celebration

Correct Answer: C) World War II

The Oregon Senate passed a bill in May 2009 to rename US 97 as the "World War II Veterans Historic Highway" in honor of the veterans who served during World War II. This renaming recognizes the historical significance of the highway and its connection to important military training facilities.

 

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