📰Proposal to remove Deschutes River access in one part of Bend fires up neighbors

Issue #108

09 Apr

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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

 🤔Tuesday Local Trivia

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

🗑️ Public Land Stewards to host volunteer clean-up event on Saturday south of Bend, help block unauthorized routes

😒Graffiti Reports on the rise in Bend

📰1,800 homeless in Central Oregon count. Temporary shelters are getting some off the streets

📰Proposal to remove Deschutes River access in one part of Bend fires up neighbors

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots of Events

 

How many Brewers/Breweries were there in Central Oregon in 2005?

A) 5

B) 10

C) 2

D) 20

👉Find the Answer in Tomorrow’s Newsletter👉

BEND

Public Land Stewards to host volunteer clean-up event on Saturday south of Bend, help block unauthorized routes

The Public Land Stewards of Bend (PLS) is hosting a volunteer cleanup event this Saturday on the Deschutes National Forest south of Bend.

The public is invited to participate in the cleanup event, which will focus on the Cabin Butte, Horse Butte and Coyote Butte areas. The event will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m.

Interested individuals can register on PLS’s website at www.plsbend.org . Participants will play a crucial role in restoring the integrity of the area by addressing litter and misuse.

"Preserving our natural landscapes requires a collective effort, and we are grateful for our partnership with Public Land Stewards of Bend and the dedication of volunteers," said Christine Meyers, Partnership Program Manager of Deschutes National Forest. "Together, we can make a meaningful impact in restoring these iconic areas.”

Following the clean-up, PLS will work with the Deschutes National Forest to block unauthorized, user-created routes along Forest Service Road 1815. Natural barriers will be strategically placed along the road to prevent future damage and facilitate the regeneration of forest and wildlife habitats that have been adversely affected by misuse.

Recreators are encouraged to avoid the general area on April 13 during the cleanup event.

"Our mission at Public Land Stewards of Bend is to foster a culture of responsible land use and conservation," said Kevin Hopper, Co-Founder of PLS Bend. "Through our corporate partnerships and with community volunteers, we can enact positive change and preserve the natural beauty of our public lands to help keep them accessible for years to come."

April marks National Volunteer Month, a time to spotlight the impact volunteers have on our communities and recognize the incredible contributions they make. The partnership between the Deschutes National Forest and PLS underscores a proactive commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement in safeguarding the natural beauty and accessibility of Central Oregon’s public lands for generations to come.

Public Land Stewards of Bend is a non-profit organization committed to promoting responsible land use and preserving public land accessibility for all user groups in Central Oregon. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, PLS strives to protect and enhance the region's most precious natural resources.

For more information about the clean-up event, please visit www.plsbend.org .

Discover Your Forest/Discover Your Northwest is the Fiscal Sponsor of Public Land Stewards

Graffiti Reports on the rise in Bend

Graffiti reports on the rise in Bend

The City of Bend has received nearly 40 reports related to graffiti this year, which is more than normal. Crews are often taken away from prioritized maintenance projects to address

www.centraloregondaily.com/graffiti-reports-on-the-rise-in-bend/video_83f49bad-e93d-5d66-b26c-f6d69c5035d4.html

1,800 homeless in Central Oregon count. Temporary shelters are getting some off the streets

Brooke Snavely, Reporter Central Oregon Daily News

This year’s Homeless Point In Time count in Central Oregon is a mixed bag. The number of homeless keeps rising, but there is more shelter capacity that is helping some people get off the streets.

There are 1.811 homeless people in Central Oregon according to the preliminary findings. That’s about 165 more people living homeless than last year.

However, some progress is being noted on the number of homeless who are finding shelter in emergency shelters and transitional housing.

"We have more people entering homelessness in the region than are exiting homelessness," said Eliza Wilson, Homeless Leadership Coalition Chair. "We believe that has to do with affordable housing. We are seeing in the preliminary data more folks in shelter in Deschutes county than we did last year."

The Homeless Leadership Coalition believes the rising number of homeless people finding temporary shelter in Deschutes County is a result of increased state and local funding, which has increased shelter capacity. But the homeless count in January found more people living unsheltered in Crook County, Warm Springs and Jefferson County.

"I think the cities and counties have done a lot of work to increase shelter capacity locally in having to remove people from public right of ways and having places for people to go," Wilson said.

"Obviously, as a region, we need to work on housing solutions because people can’t move out of shelters into housing. That’s why we are seeing there’s less people leaving homelessness than are entering."

According to the latest Point in Time Count, more than 600 homeless people found their way to emergency shelters and transitional housing last year.

By far, the majority of those shelters are in the Bend and Redmond area, which could explain why there appears to be fewer homeless people living on the streets.

Here are the results from the past few years of the Central Oregon Point In Time count. Again, the 2024 number is preliminary.

  • 2021: 1116

  • 2022: 1359

  • 2023: 1647

  • 2024: 1811

Proposal to remove Deschutes River access in one part of Bend fires up neighbors

Brooke Snavely, Reporter Central Oregon Daily News

A proposal to remove a footbridge over the Deschutes River that most people don’t know exists is drawing opposition from neighbors closest to the site.

The Firerock Bridge, named after the nearest street, is a short distance downstream from Archie Briggs Road. It spans the river between the Rimrock West and Rimrock Village subdivisions.

It’s original purpose was to support a waterline connecting the two neighborhoods. The waterline was rendered obsolete years ago and the bridge has been closed since 2015 due to concerns of its structural integrity.

Now the city wants to remove it and the associated staircases neighbors use to access the river.

"If they proceed with the project, they would remove the bridge and the stairways. This bridge, they agreed to maintain it by the liability that they stated when they annexed it into the city. It would be nice for them to hold up their end of the bargain," said Jarred Baker, a Rimrock Village resident.

The City of Bend’s Engineering and Infrastructure Planning Department plans to remove the bridge, the wooden staircase on the east side of the river and restore the stream banks.

Neighbors I spoke with say they oppose the plan as currently presented.

"The fact that my son enjoyed it growing up and the neighbor kid over here wouldn’t be able to kind of breaks my heart," said Linda Merker, a long time Rimrock Village resident.

As of Monday, I’m told the city will delay presentation of the bridge removal plans to consider documents presented by the neighbors, but continue accepting public comment.

Those documents include copies of Bend City Council meeting minutes from 1992 that indicate the city agreed to maintain the bridge and staircases when the area was annexed.

"I’d love to see them put in new stairs. It would be awesome if they put a new bridge in. I understand that would be difficult to achieve," Baker said. 

The next Planning Commission meeting on the Firerock Bridge removal proposal is scheduled for April 22, 5:30 p.m. in the Bend City Council Chambers.

 

One Arrested After Altercation Results in Burned Trailer, Stolen Dog

In the early hours of April 4, 2024, a series of events unfolded at the Scandia Village RV Park in Bend, Oregon, resulting in significant property damage, a stolen dog, and two arrests.

At 3:05 a.m., Bend Police responded to a hazardous situation at NE Third Street and Franklin Avenue. They found 54-year-old Edward Rene Bales obstructing traffic in a gray Dodge Ram 1500. Further investigation revealed that Bales and 26-year-old Austin Jordan Stapleton had been drinking together, leading to a physical altercation during their drive back to Bales' residence on NE Ross Road.

Stapleton reportedly punched Bales, took his house keys, and fled on foot. Bales was arrested on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII), while officers began searching for Stapleton.

Meanwhile, at approximately 4:47 a.m., Bend Police and Bend Fire were called to the Scandia Village RV Park regarding a blazing RV. Bales' fifth-wheel trailer was discovered fully engulfed, posing a threat to nearby structures. Thanks to the swift response of Bend Fire, the fire was contained, and neighboring properties were spared from damage. Authorities initiated an arson investigation into the incident.

Approximately thirty minutes later, Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a DUII report on U.S. Highway 97 in La Pine. They apprehended Stapleton, who was driving a green GMC Yukon. Notably, Bales' dog, Mojo, was found in Stapleton's vehicle during the traffic stop.

Stapleton was subsequently arrested by Bend Police on charges including DUII, assault, arson, robbery, theft, and burglary. He was booked into the Deschutes County Jail, marking the culmination of a tumultuous night that left property destroyed and a pet temporarily missing.

The investigation into these events continues as authorities work to piece together the sequence of events and ensure accountability for the damages incurred.

Related Story -

RV fire in Bend

Bend Fire and Rescue was dispatched to the Scandia Village RV Park, 725 NE Ross Road, at 04:48 in the morning of April 4th, 2024 for a reported structure fire. Neighbors were awoken to a loud noise and went outside to find their neighbors recreational vehicle fully engulfed with flames. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire and no one was injured. Bend Fire and Rescue crews arrived on the scene to find the 5th wheel RV fully involved with fire. The crews were able to extinguish the fire and prevented damage to the neighboring structures. The owner’s recreational vehicle and trailer were both damaged in the fire. The RV, storage trailer and contents are considered a complete loss, with a value of $75,000. 

Redmond Police Arrest Redmond Resident for Child Pornography

REDMOND, OR – On, Thursday, March 28, 2024, the Redmond Police Department (RPD) arrested 40-year-old Redmond resident Justin Copeland on charges of Online Sexual Corruption of a Child and Encouraging Child Sex Abuse.  

Acting on information received from an out of state law enforcement agency, detectives and officers executed a search warrant on Copeland’s residence and took him into custody without incident.  

Evidence collected during the investigation and search of Copeland’s residence has raised concern regarding Copeland having contact or attempted contacts with children in the Redmond area. Anyone with information about Copeland or the investigation is urged to contact Detective Ben Halsey at RPD at 541-504-3475. The case is active and has been referred to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. No further information will be released. 

The Redmond Police Department would like to thank the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) for their work to keep children safe.  

NE Bend tent fire leads to transient’s arrest; railroad traffic briefly stopped to put it out

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A man was arrested on a misdemeanor reckless burning charge after a tent fire in northeast Bend Friday morning. It prompted a brief closure of the BNSF Railway tracks so Bend Fire crews could cross the tracks with their hose.

The fire was reported around 9:15 a.m. near the northbound Bend Parkway offramp, off NE First Street and Olney Avenue. Fire crews were on scene for about 40 minutes.

There were no injuries, structures damaged or road closures or detours due to the fire, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

 

Upcoming Events

What’s Up Central Oregon

Unity Event Jazz Concert Series with Tom Bergeron April 2024

April 12, 2024 - April 13, 2024

This is the 2nd concert in our Jazz series. The first one sold out in record time, so grab your tickets for this one ASAP!     We are truly blessed to have this quality of jazz music to hear in Central Oregon. The Metolius flows through Bend on Friday, April 12th at 7pm – Doors open at 6:15pm. Beverages and snacks will be available for sale. Come early to get a good seat.     Go to: https://unitycentraloregon.org/jazz-concert-series-tom-bergeron/   Register: https://bendticket.com/events/tom-bergeron-and-metolius-jazz-concert-4-12-2024     Tom Bergeron and Metolius Jazz   A splendid band of gifted jazz musicians, each academically endowed, and deeply rooted in many facets of jazz music. Tom Bergeron brings his vast background of American and Brazilian jazz saxophone studies to the bandstand in perfect style and taste. With… Don Latarski’s guitar mastery is unsurpassed. Andrew Lion’s bass roars with tenderness. Ryan Biesak’s inspired lightness on drums. Rosi Bergeron swings her authentic Brazilian voice. For more info contact Robert Sposato @ [email protected] or 541-513-1997

Tuesday April 9th

April Tarot Tuesday @ 185 SE E St The bohemian peddler’s Black Bird Magical Tea & Tales 4:00PM - 7:00PM

Wednesday April 10th

Thursday April 11th

Friday April 12th

HDCM Concert Series: SAKURA CELLO QUINTET By High Desert Chamber Music 

Saturday April 13th

@ Scalehouse Gallery 10:00AM - 12:30PM

Alex Winters @ On Tap 6:00PM - 8:00PM

Sunday April 14th

Deschutes Theater Company presents the hilarious comedy "Women In Jeopardy" at Hollinshead Barn and performances at Open Space Event Studios.  Chicago Tribune calls this show "Purely delightful....".  There will be 5 performances:

HOLLINSHEAD BARN:
April 12th at 7:30pm
April 13th at 2pm and 7:30pm 

OPEN SPACE EVENT STUDIOS:
April 19th at 7:30pm 
April 20th at 2pm

Tickets are $25

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

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