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🔥Man Arrested After Setting his own House on Fire and Blocking Emergency Response

🔥Man Arrested After Setting his own House on Fire and Blocking Emergency Response

Issue #100

21 Mar

🎉100th ISSUE! Thank you to our Readers! You are the reason we do this! 🎉

Be aware Gmail will sometimes ‘clip’ the newsletter, but you can always:

👇

In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

🚤 2024 Mandatory Boater Education Exams and Pre-Season Boat Inspection Opportunity

🐕‍🦺🐈🍻 VRCCO Celebrates the Opening of its Emergency & Specialty Veterinary Hospital and Food Truck Pavilion

📰 Bend Park and Rec names Michelle Healy next executive director

📰 Fire & Rescue News

💥 Fatal Head-On Collision on HWY 97 Claims Life of Prineville Resident - Sherman County, Ore.

🏍️💥Tragic Motorcycle Crash Claims Life of Redmond Resident on HWY 19 - Grant County, Ore.

📰 Crime News

🔥Man Arrested After Setting his own House on Fire and Blocking Emergency Response in Deschutes County Incident

📰Community News

🧓Redmond Senior Center hosting monthly dementia awareness class

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots of Events

Which rivers converge to form Lake Billy Chinook?

A) Deschutes, Metolius, and Crooked Rivers

B) Columbia, Snake, and Willamette Rivers

C) McKenzie, Santiam, and Clackamas Rivers

D) Rogue, Umpqua, and Klamath Rivers

👇Find the Answer at the end of the Newletter👇

And just like that no more Sun 😒

BEND

Artist rendering of the exterior of the proposed Shorty’s Taphouse from land use application

2024 Mandatory Boater Education Exams and Pre-Season Boat Inspection Opportunity

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit is pleased to announce the return of our free mandatory Boater Education card proctored examination, as well as a pre-season opportunity to have your motorized boat inspected. Oregon law requires Oregon residents 16 years of age and older who operate powered boats of more than 10 horsepower, to obtain their Mandatory Boater Education card. Failure to have a card under the above conditions might result in a $142 fine. This card is not a license to operate a boat, as there is no such requirement in Oregon. Once a boater receives their card, it never has to be renewed. There is a one-time $20 cost to receive your card and duplicate cards are available for $16.

Boat operators can also access the testing material and take the test on-line through the Oregon State Marine Board website, but there is generally a fee associated with the test and receiving a certificate. Exam participants will be shown an informational video prior to the proctored examination and will have an opportunity to ask questions. Additional exam preparation material can be found on the Oregon State Marine Board web site under “Study Guide”. A 75-question multiple choice test will be given; a minimum score of 70% is needed to pass. The tests are graded upon completion; necessary paperwork and information on how to receive their card from the Oregon State Marine Board will be given.

The following is the schedule of classes for 2024. All exams run from 9am-12pm and are held at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in Bend (63333 Hwy 20 West). There is no sign up or registration for the exam, but please arrive a few minutes prior to the start of the class to check in. For additional information, go to www.sheriff.deschutes.org, or boat-ed.com/oregon/ or contact the Sheriff’s Office at 541-388-6501.

2024 Class Dates: May 11th, June 8th, July 13th and August 24th

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will also be providing an opportunity for boaters to have their boats inspected at three different locations in Deschutes County. The inspections will be offered on April 13th, 2024, at Big Country RV in Redmond, the Main Sheriff’s Office parking lot in Bend and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office substation in La Pine. DCSO Marine Deputies and Volunteers will be present at the above locations on April 13th, between the hours of 9am-2pm.

VRCCO Celebrates the Opening of its Emergency & Specialty Veterinary Hospital and Food Truck Pavilion

BEND, OR / ACCESSWIRE / March 20, 2024 / The Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon is excited to announce that the doors to its new state-of-the-art emergency and specialty hospital are now open at 62889 NE Oxford Ct, Bend, OR 97701 . This facility supports VRCCO's vision to deliver the best experience and healthcare by delivering one-of-a-kind experiences for its community of pet parents and patient guests.

VRCCO's new hospital offers the most advanced veterinary care in Central Oregon, with 24/7 emergency services and specialties, including the Bone, Joint & Spine Center, surgery, internal medicine, oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology, neurology and rehabilitation therapy. The hospital's intentional design includes everything from advanced equipment and technology like Central Oregon's first pet-dedicated MRI to Vet Cadets, a certified childcare center for staff and community members. This facility was built to support VRCCO team members, allowing them to push the boundaries of veterinary medicine in order to achieve outcomes that may otherwise not be possible.

Accompanying its hospital is VRCCO's new food truck pavilion and beer garden, which is now open next to the main facility. Ponch's Place is a space for the community to gather for food, drinks and entertainment. This pavilion offers local craft beverages and delicious cuisine from four different food trucks - Carmelitas, Alley Dogz, Sweet Herb and God of Pizza. VRCCO hopes to exceed your expectations when you visit this location, and expects that you are met with a welcoming and supportive atmosphere both inside and outside of their main facility.

Additionally, VRCCO is excited to celebrate this achievement with Central Oregon on Saturday, April 13 from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Its grand opening party will take place at Ponch's Place and will include a ribbon cutting, tours of the hospital, musical entertainment and special food truck samplings. Also, they will be offering 1$ off all GoodLife beers on tap, plus proceeds of these beers will benefit the VRCCO Care Fund which provides financial assistance to pet-parents facing hardship in the Central Oregon community.

The Veterinary Referral Center is still operating in its original location as a dedicated Urgent Care Center on 1820 NW Monterey Pines Drive in Bend. This location offers VRCCO standards with same-day convenience and is open Monday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. for cases that are urgent but not in critical condition. With two locations now available, VRCCO can better serve Central Oregon pets and help you on your journey to become your pet's hero.

For general questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact:

VRCCO Emergency & Specialty Hospital: 541-209-6960, [email protected]

Urgent Care Center at VRCCO: 541-204-1261, [email protected]

For general information, please visit: www.vrcvet.com.

Contact Information

Ryan Ronan

Marketing Manager

[email protected]

541 210 9200

SOURCE: Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon

Bend Park and Rec names Michelle Healy next executive director

Bend Park and Recreation announced Wednesday that Michelle Healy will be the district's next executive director. The BPRD board approved the contract Tuesday night.

Healy will succeed Don Horton, who is set to retire Oct. 1.

“I look forward to working with the community and the district’s fantastic team in the new role,” Healy said in BPRD's announcement. “My career has prepared me for this position and I thank the board of directors for the opportunity.”

Healy has 11 years of experience at BPRD as director of planning and development and park services as well as deputy executive director, BPRD said in its announcement.

“Our goal was to find an executive director who is strategic, visionary and values partnerships and collaboration with other organizations. Michelle Healy has all these qualities and was extraordinary in our interview process and conversations,” board chair Nathan Hovekamp said in a statement. “She is a professional who is well-regarded locally and statewide in the field of park and rec, and she thoroughly understands the community dynamics and opportunities ahead.”

BPRD said Healy "is a certified parks and recreation professional (CPRP), a past-president of the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association, and is currently a judge for the National Gold Medal Award Program by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association."

Weekly Road and Traffic Report for the Week of March 18 – 24 Bend

Weekly Road Construction Update Week of March 17 to March 23 Deschutes County

Fatal Head-On Collision on HWY 97 Claims Life of Prineville Resident - Sherman County, Ore.

Sherman County, OR - On Monday, March 18, 2024, at 11:45 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy-97, near milepost 47, in Sherman County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Volkswagen Beetle, operated by Jayden Matthew Smith (23) of Prineville, crossed into the southbound lane for unknown reasons and struck a Volvo commercial motor vehicle and trailer, operated by Kashmir Singh (36) of Tacoma (WA), head-on. The collision caused both vehicles to catch fire and become fully engulfed.

The operator of the Volkswagen (Smith) was declared deceased at the scene.

The operator of the Volvo (CMV) was not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately 6.5 hours during the on-scene investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Sherman County Sheriff's Office and ODOT.

Tragic Motorcycle Crash Claims Life of Redmond Resident on HWY 19 - Grant County, Ore.

Grant County, OR - On Monday, March 18, 2024, at 2:49 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy 19, near milepost 110, in Grant County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a northbound Harley Davidson FXD motorcycle, operated by Louie Warren (81) of Redmond, failed to negotiate a corner, crossed the southbound travel lane, and left the roadway. The Harley Davidson traveled down a steep embankment and came to rest on rocks approximately 15 feet below the roadway.

The operator of the Harley Davidson (Warren) was declared deceased at the scene.

The highway was impacted for approximately .5 hours during the on-scene investigation.

Man Arrested After Setting his own House on Fire and Blocking Emergency Response in Deschutes County Incident

On March 19, 2024 at approximately 5:30pm, Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported structure fire in the 25800 block of Alfalfa Market Road east of Bend.

While in route, Deputies learned a male, later identified as David Sheridan, had called 911 to report he had set his own house on fire. Sheridan’s house is located at the end of a long driveway off of Alfalfa Market Road with fencing on either side, limiting maneuverability for responding emergency vehicles.

Upon arrival, Deputies discovered an overturned Toyota Tacoma pickup on its side blocking access to Sheridan’s property. Sheridan was observed driving a skidsteer on the property, and positioned it next to the overturned pickup, further impeding access. He climbed on top of the skidsteer and waved to deputies while they attempted contact with P.A. announcements.

At this point, the residence on the property was fully engulfed while Sheridan was refusing to approach Deputies. Alfalfa Fire was on scene, but unable to access the property due to the blocked driveway.

A decision was made to contact and detain Sheridan due to the growing danger of the fire spreading to neighboring properties. Deputies had also been unable to confirm if anyone else was on the property that needed assistance.

After approaching Sheridan, he surrendered to Deputies. The investigation confirmed Sheridan had set the fire, and had purposely blocked the driveway to impede fire response from putting out the fire. No one else was located on the property.

Sheridan was transported to the Deschutes County Adult Jail and lodged on the aforementioned charges. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office thanks Alfalfa Fire for the response and assistance.

Redmond Senior Center hosting monthly dementia awareness class

The Redmond Senior Center announced Tuesday it will hold a free, monthly dementia awareness class. The center said it's "aimed at enriching the community's understanding and capability to care for loved ones affected by the condition."

The class, which happens on the third Wednesday of every month, will include expert guidance, practical caregiving strategies, community support and emotional reassurance in dealing with the multifaceted challenges of dementia care, the center said in a statement. "The sessions aim to foster an environment where community members can learn important caregiving techniques, share their experiences, and connect with others on similar journeys."

The first class is Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. For more information and to register for the class, contact the Redmond Senior Center at (541)548-6325.