📰 Deschutes Co. Begins Work On Drug Deflection Program

Issue #116

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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔 Trivia ANSWER

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

🗻👶👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Mt Bachelor To Offer Year-Round Daycare

🏞️🅿️⛔Phil’s Trailhead Parking Lot Temporarily Closed for Maintenance

📰 Deschutes Co. Begins Work On Drug Deflection Program

📰 Heart of Oregon Corps’ Youth Conservation Corps now hiring 16- to 18-year-olds for summer jobs

🚨 Crime News

⚖️Alleged drunk driver who crashed into school bus in Redmond faces misdemeanor charges

 📰 Community News

Sisters:

🎨ARTifacts Art Experience opens up creativity to community

📰Exploring the history and future of the Lazy Z Ranch

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots of Events

 

The Beaver shows up on how many official entities in Oregon?

A) 1

B) 5

C) 3

D) 5

Answer: C) 3

Nearly wiped out in much of their historic range by early fur trappers, American beavers are now restored to many state waters due to improved management, greater awareness of their benefits, and less demand for fur. 

BEND

Mt Bachelor To Offer Year-Round Daycare

Mount Bachelor will now provide year-round on-site daycare for employees, "So, not only winter and summer season, when we’re operational, but also during the shoulder seasons when we are preparing for either winter or summer operations," says President and CEO John Merriman, "It was really important for us to do it year-round.

Because if you don’t then your employees get into a bit of a bind at certain parts during the year. And daycare in town is difficult to get and extremely expensive." He adds, "They can either do a monthly rate or a daily rate. And they can just drop off their child, not worry about it. They’re professional, licensed childcare providers that we have here." 

The ski resort expanded the existing winter child care this past year to serve employees; in the past, it was primarily for guests, "We are lucky in that we already have the space. And since we provided it in the winter to both guests and employees, we’re already licensed." The rate paid by Bachelor employees will be subsidized by the company. Merriman says, "It was fairly easy to ask the manager if she could stay year-round, and ask the teachers if they could also stay year-round. So, it was certainly a benefit for them as well; now they don't have to look for a different place to work over the summer."
Merriman says it builds on other recruitment and retention efforts to address the high cost of living in Bend, "We added the employee housing earlier this season, and this is kind of another area where we feel like we can help make our employees’ lives easier." He tells KBND News one of his workers cried when she heard the news, "Because she was so stressed about what she was going to do for daycare for her less than year old child over the summer."

Daycare is available seven days a week for ages six weeks to 10 years old. For another few days, hours are 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Spring operations begin April 22nd, when child care closes at 1:30 p.m. Summer hours begin June 27th, when child care is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

 

Phil’s Trailhead Parking Lot Temporarily Closed for Maintenance

Release Date: Apr 17, 2024

Trails remain open during maintenance

Bend, Ore— Beginning Monday, April 22, the Deschutes National Forest road crew plans to conduct maintenance on the Phil’s Trailhead parking lot. Maintenance activities will include adding additional rock material and fixing potholes.

Starting Monday and continuing throughout the maintenance work, Phil’s Trailhead parking lot will be closed to all traffic, including vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. Parking will not be allowed along Forest Service Road 4604 above the green gate to allow hauling of material and passage of heavy equipment. Maintenance operations are slated to last at least a week, but could be longer if weather or conditions change. Any breaches to the closed area could delay operations and extend the closure.

Forest Service Road 4604, which provides access to Phil’s Trailhead will remain open. Parking will be available south of Phil’s Trailhead. Ben’s, Kent’s and Phil’s Trail will remain open and can be accessed via Marvin’s Garden.

For more information or questions, please contact the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District at (541)383-5300.

Deschutes Co. Begins Work On Drug Deflection Program

Following passage of HB 4002, Deschutes County is moving ahead with plans to create a deflection program for people caught with user-amounts of illicit drugs.

"It is essentially a goal to divert people who are willing to engage in some time behavioral health or substance use disorder treatment, to divert them from entering the criminal justice system and having that on their record long term," Behavioral Health Deputy Director Holly Harris told County Commissioners on Wednesday. "We would like to implement a Law Enforcement-Assisted Diversion program, otherwise known as LEAD. So, similar to what Marion County has in their community; similar to what Seattle has done in their community. These are evidence-based programs. And they really can be tailored to your community’s resources and needs, and what your community desires to do with these types of programs." She added, "When law enforcement encounters somebody out in the community that is now in possession of small amounts of drugs - deflection-eligible amounts - they can be offered deflection."

Harris says unlike in Marion County, where efforts are driven by the Sheriff's Office, the Behavioral Health division would lead Deschutes County's program. She told Commissioners Best Care and Ideal Options have already signed on to help provide staff when someone is caught with drugs, "So, those two partners will be able to respond 24/7 to the scene with law enforcement, if that’s what’s appropriate, to really make that initial connection - which is what the legislation was all about: making that point of contact, starting to build rapport and engagement, and offer follow-up services." Harris says, "If the individual is willing to accept that and they do the follow-up requirements, that are still yet to be developed as part of the program, then their charges can be dismissed and their record expunged."

Deschutes County was one of the first to notify the state of plans to create a deflection program under the new law.

Because of that early adoption, Harris expects the county to receive more than $756,000 in state funding, with the first half allocated for development and roll-out of the program.

Heart of Oregon Corps’ Youth Conservation Corps now hiring 16- to 18-year-olds for summer jobs

Long summer days are ahead, and Heart of Oregon Corps’ (HOC) Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (COYCC) program has summer jobs for young people!

This is a great opportunity for youth ages 16- to 18-years-old to gain job skills and learn more about natural resources while improving public lands and reducing the threat of wildfires in our community.

Sixty-five local youth will be selected for this competitive summer program and earn $15 an hour, working 36 hours a week. Hands-on projects in Central Oregon’s beautiful forests and high deserts include building trails, maintaining fences, piling hazardous fuels, restoring campgrounds and improving wildlife habitat on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland.

“We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Heart of Oregon Corps to provide local jobs for Central Oregon youth,” said Shane Jeffries, forest supervisor, Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland.

“The work they do not only provides job skills and training, but it also makes a significant difference on our public lands.

That’s not all! This year we are establishing the program’s first LGBTQ and Tribal Youth affinity crews to break historical barriers in conservation. These crews aim to increase accessibility and representation on public lands while fostering transformative community experiences outdoors. Led by mentors who reflect the youths’ identities, the crews connect with queer and indigenous mentors from the USFS, BLM and other organizations. Weekly topics, such as Queer History Outdoors or Tribal Practices on the land, will foster cultural celebration and a sense of belonging, building a supportive network. This approach enables both collective and individual growth and empowerment for queer and indigenous youth.

The program runs from June 24 through August 15. Members will work nine hours a day Monday through Thursday. Youth crews meet daily in Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Prineville, La Pine, Crescent, Madras and Warm Springs. In this program, youth will gain work experience, leadership skills and guided professional development, all while earning money and making friends!

Heart of Oregon Corps operates the Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps program in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council.

“The COYCC program not only helps the U.S. Forest Service accomplish mission critical work but also stimulates the regional economy by providing jobs and increases community involvement in public land management by engaging local youth, ” said Christine Meyers, Deschutes National Forest partnership program manager. “This program exemplifies the powerful impact organizations can have when working together.”

Applications must be received by May 1 and are available online at heartoforegon.org. For more information, contact Summer Programs Manager at [email protected] or Forest Service YCC Coordinator Nick Swagger at 541-480-0915.

About Heart of Oregon Corps:
Heart of Oregon Corps is a nonprofit organization that empowers youth and young adults through employment, job training, education and service to Central Oregon communities. Youth and young adults transform their own lives while improving their communities. All HOC programs apply a “work-earn-learn” model that invests in local young people, many of whom come from underserved backgrounds, to prepare them for the workforce and to develop their leadership. HOC is accredited by the Corps Center for Excellence. Heart of Oregon Corps trains tomorrow’s workforce today — and they are accepting youth applications now!

About Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland:
Located near the geographic center of Oregon, the Ochoco National Forest consists of 845,498 acres of land divided into three ranger districts: Crooked River National Grassland, Lookout Mountain and Paulina. The Forest is headquartered in Prineville.

The Forest administers land in the Maury and Ochoco mountains, which are southward extensions of the Blue Mountains physiographic province. Most of the Forest is drained by the Crooked and Deschutes rivers. Part of the north slope of the Ochoco Mountains drains into the John Day River. The forest is lush and beautiful with miles of roads and trails to enjoy, including three Congressionally designated wilderness areas.

About Deschutes National Forest:
Deschutes National Forest, bordered to the west by the Central Oregon Cascade mountains, encompasses nearly 1.6 million acres and offers year-around recreation opportunities. It is home to five Congressionally designated wilderness areas, several wild and scenic rivers and the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, boasting more than 54,000 acres of lakes, lava flows and spectacular geologic features.

 

 

Alleged drunk driver who crashed into school bus in Redmond faces misdemeanor charges

A Central Oregon woman was scheduled to be arraigned in Deschutes County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 17 on 26 misdemeanor charges from a March 22 incident in which

www.redmondspokesman.com/news/alleged-drunk-driver-who-crashed-into-school-bus-in-redmond-faces-misdemeanor-charges/article_90a11bec-1446-5f76-9ab3-f84f13d0071a.html

ARTifacts Art Experience opens up creativity to community

Sisters, OR - The 25th annual ARTifacts Art Experience will be held in the Sisters High School commons Friday, April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is designed for all ages, with much to see, hear, and do - all centered around student art.

The event is a showcase of students' efforts in various art disciplines. Students will host observational art booths and hands-on art stations for community members to try. Potter's wheels, face painting, and sculpting stations are a few fun activities available for participants.

Sisters High School Visual Arts Teacher Bethany Gunnarson has made it a goal to honor senior art students, with each having their own display to share with family, friends, and the community.

Performing arts students will provide music during the evening including sets by the jazz band, jazz choir, and Americana Project students.

In addition to giving art students an opportunity to showcase the fruits of their artistic endeavors with the community, ARTifacts seeks to raise money for the visual arts programs and the Sisters High School Art Scholarship. In addition to the entry fee, there will be a silent auction, and visitors can peruse a variety of student-created pottery pieces, stickers, and T-shirts that will be for sale - cash or check are the preferred form of payment.

Entry fee for ARTifacts 2024 an Interactive Art Experience is $7 per person or $25 for a family.

If you would like to donate items to the silent auction, provide funds for the SHS visual arts fund, or volunteer, email Gunnarson at [email protected].

Exploring the history and future of the Lazy Z Ranch

Everybody who drives through Sisters has seen the iconic Lazy Z Ranch.

In their next Fireside Chat, the Three Sisters Historical Society will explore the story of "Lazy Z Ranch...Then and Now."

Attendees will hear from a local panel of knowledgeable speakers who will share personal stories, documented early 1900s history, and historic photos depicting what this special property has meant to travelers, farmers, ranchers, and families through the years.

The story will begin with the early settlement by 1800s homesteaders and how it grew into a 1,400-acre ranch eventually owned by Lloyd Brogan in the early 1960s through the mid-'80s. Speakers will then talk about the transition that moved it into a "development" phase - but kept the land from becoming tract housing - then moving into the regenerative farming, beekeeping, and mead-producing enterprise the Lazy Z is today. There may be a peak at its future from current owner John Herman.

On Sunday, April 21, the doors will open at 1 p.m. at the Sisters Fire Hall's Community Room at 301 S. Elm St. Tickets are $10, available at the door, and free to Historical Society members. Seating is first come, first served. The presentation will begin at 2 p.m.

Organizers anticipate that the event will fill up.

 

 

Upcoming Events

What’s Up Central Oregon 

Beaver Natural History Walk & Restoration Site Tour - 4-5 pm.  Followed by a screening of The Beaver Believers and Q &A Hosted by Maureen Thompson, Beaver Works Program Manager, and Kolleen Miller, Education Director for The Upper Deschutes Watershed Council.  Event held at Lake Creek Lodge in Camp Sherman.

Contact [email protected] (541) 699-1606 with questions about this event

Visit Central Oregon Calendar

Sisters

Sunriver

Redmond

Prineville

Bend

 

Friday April 19th

Saturday April 20th

The Little Fry Run @ Downtown Bend 12PM

An Evening With La Diva @ 4 Tokatee Lane, Sunriver, OR 6:30PM

Sunday April 21st

Springtime In Paris - Sunriver - La Pine Rotary Club Foundation Annual Fundraiser for Community Grants & Scholarships @ Great Hall at Sunriver Resort 5PM - 9PM

Got an upcoming event you want us to share?

Please visit this Week’s Sponsors & Partners ⬇️

 

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