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💥 Bend man arrested on drugged driving, manslaughter charges in fatal SUV-motorcycle crash / 🐕‍🦺Leash your dog or face a fine, Bend Park & Rec reminds owners

💥 Bend man arrested on drugged driving, manslaughter charges in fatal SUV-motorcycle crash / 🐕‍🦺Leash your dog or face a fine, Bend Park & Rec reminds owners

Issue #126

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

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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔 Local Trivia ANSWER

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Kah-Nee-Ta Releases New Resort Maps

🏛️🛣️2024 Neighborhood Street Safety Program Projects Set to Begin Construction

🏛️Deschutes County commissioners are still split on impact of declaring 90-day fentanyl emergency

🥾Timed reservation fees on sale for Lava River Cave

🐕‍🦺Leash your dog or face a fine, Bend Park & Rec reminds owners

⛑️ Fire & Rescue News

💥 Bend man arrested on drugged driving, manslaughter charges in fatal SUV-motorcycle crash

📰 Local Government News

📰 Deschutes County seeking a volunteer for Audit Committee

📰County Commissioners seek community input as they consider allowing RVs as rental dwellings

📰🐺Rep. Bentz Supports Bill To Delist Gray Wolf

📰Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler Advocates for Housing Solutions in Washington D.C.

📰 Regional News

🏫💲Tuition to rise again at Oregon’s seven public universities

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots of Events

Camp Polk Meadow Preserve (Camp Polk Today)

Camp Polk is a historically significant site located near Sisters, Oregon.

When was it first established?

A) 1866

B) 1855

C) 1865

D) 1862

Answer: C) 1865

Military Outpost established September 1865, closed May 1866.

It was originally established in 1865 as a military outpost during the Indian Wars, named after President James K. Polk. The camp was intended to offer protection to the local settlers and to maintain peace in the area.

However, the military outpost was short-lived, and the camp was soon abandoned. Over time, the site transitioned into a community area for local settlers. One of the most notable historical remnants at Camp Polk is the Camp Polk Cemetery, where some of the area's early pioneers are buried.

Today, Camp Polk is known for its ecological importance rather than its military past. The area is part of the Deschutes Land Trust and is managed as a nature preserve. It's particularly noted for its wetlands, which provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, including migratory birds and native fish species. The Land Trust conducts restoration projects to preserve and enhance these habitats, focusing on ecological conservation and environmental education.

The site also holds cultural significance, with historical buildings and the preserved cemetery, offering a glimpse into the early settler life in Central Oregon.

Camp Polk Meadow Preserve

BEND

North Oregon Cascades

Today

Mostly sunny this morning, then mostly cloudy with a chance of rain this afternoon. Snow level 6000 feet this afternoon. Pass winds southeast 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. Rainfall amounts around a tenth of an inch.

Tonight

Rain. Snow level 7000 feet. Pass winds south 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent. Rainfall amounts a quarter to three quarters of an inch.

Saturday

Rain and snow. Snow level 5000 feet, decreasing to 3500 feet in the afternoon. Snow accumulation of 1 to 4 inches. Pass winds west 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent. Rainfall amounts a half to three quarters of an inch.

Saturday Night

Snow, rain. Snow level 4000 feet. Pass winds west 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Sunday

Snow, rain. Snow level 3500 feet. Blustery. Pass winds west 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Sunday Night

Rain and snow. Snow level 4000 feet. Breezy. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Monday

Rain and snow. Snow level 4000 feet. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Monday Night

Snow likely with pockets of rain showers and thunderstorms. Snow level 3000 feet. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Kah-Nee-Ta Releases New Resort Maps

WARM SPRINGS, OR -- Kah-Nee-Ta released a number of maps Tuesday, revealing the resort's new layout. The rebuilt facility plans to reopen this summer.

Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs first opened in 1962 and was Oregon’s first destination resort east of the Cascades. It closed in 2018, due to the economy.

When it reopens this summer, it’ll feature multiple pools surrounded by cabanas, a spa and athletic center, hotel and RV park. The resort spans both sides of the river, and provides space for launching kayaks and tubes. There’s also a tribal area reserved for Natives.

2024 Neighborhood Street Safety Program Projects Set to Begin Construction

The Bend City Council approved the construction contract for the 2024 Neighborhood Street Safety Program (NSSP) projects at the May 1, 2024, City Council meeting. The Neighborhood Street Safety Program addresses pedestrian and bicycle safety, safe routes to school, speeding, intersection control and crossings and other residential traffic safety issues.

Five projects are scheduled to be constructed in 2024:

NE Boyds Acres Road – The installation of sidewalk from just south of Fred Meyers Road up to the intersection of NE Boyd Acres Road and NE Morningstar Drive
SW Larkwood Drive – The installation of sidewalk from the Murphy Road/Brookswood Boulevard Roundabout to Hollygrape Street.
NW Lolo Drive – Curb extensions at the intersection of NW Lolo Drive and Discovery Trail.
NW Mt Washington Drive – The installation of sidewalk on the Deschutes River Trail along Mt Washington Drive.
NE Providence Drive – Raised Crossings at Providence Park and a pedestrian island at the intersection of providence and Locksley. This project will require a temporary road closure and detour during construction.

Construction is estimated to begin in spring and be completed in fall 2024.

The Neighborhood Street Safety Program is funded by the voter-approved 2020 Transportation General Obligation Bond. Projects are identified by evaluating crash data and known network connectivity issues. The City also works with neighborhood board members to identify locations that would benefit from Neighborhood Street Safety Projects. The projects taking place in 2025 will complete the original list of projects from 2019. For more information on the Neighborhood Street Safety Program visit bendoregon.gov/NSSP.

Deschutes County commissioners are still split on impact of declaring 90-day fentanyl emergency

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Back in early February, Deschutes County commissioners declared a 90-day state of emergency to bring awareness to the fentanyl crisis locally . Although it didn't provide any extra funding, it was declared by two of three commissioners to bring more awareness to the issue.

Commissioner Patti Adair brought forward the proposed order after Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland-area leaders declared such an emergency a week earlier. Commissioner Tony DeBone voted in favor after the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team's Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp painted a frightening picture of the current situation.

Commissioner Phil Chang said Thursday he agreed on the serious crisis that needs more attention and addressing in multiple ways. But he abstained on the order, saying it did not bring any new policies, initiatives or resources to the table.

Adair said, "We had to do something. And I'm really relieved."

But Chang disagreed.

"(It) was an empty declaration that has accomplished nothing besides pointing to a problem that we already knew was there," he said,

Adair maintains it was intended to get legislative attention for Measure 110 reform.

"I felt like by doing that emergency order that helped send a message to the legislators that, 'No, you can't ignore this. This problem needs to be addressed now.' And the good news is they did address it," she said.

House Bill 4002, reforming Measure 110, was signed into law on April 1st, nearly two months after the county declared the fentanyl emergency.

Chang still believes it was not an appropriate use of a declaration.

"We need to do more than draw attention to a problem. We need to identify what the strategies are to tackle that problem," he said.

The declaration authorizes the county to tap into emergency federal and state resources and receive goods and services, but Chang said, "We didn't do that."

According to Vander Kamp, there were three nearly simultaneous overdose emergencies in Bend the same week of the declaration involving people who took drugs laced with fentanyl.

Adair said, "We were already working on the problem. We didn't stop, but we just put the emphasis where it needed to go."

Multnomah County also declared a fentanyl emergency a week before Deschutes County and did make use of state resources allocated during a declaration, like the Oregon Health Authority. Chang wanted the county to follow suit.

"I would have loved to have seen us express the intention to do an emergency declaration, and then do the work to plan new initiatives and responses to line up resources, to partner with the state, to partner with our cities, and then do an emergency declaration," he said. "But we didn't do any of that."

The post Deschutes County commissioners are still split on impact of declaring 90-day fentanyl emergency appeared first on KTVZ .

Timed reservation fees on sale for Lava River Cave

Timed entry permits are now on sale for Lava River Cave, a subterranean hike into a mile-long lava tube outside of Bend. The hike opens for the season on Friday.

For the permits, 50% are available in a rolling seven-day booking window, while the other 50% can open in a 24-hour booking window. Permits cost a $2 processing fee and can be obtained at Recreation.gov.

Timed reservations are for a two-hour entry block each day Lava River Cave is open. Every day there will be six daily entry blocks with a new entry block opening every hour, on the hour. A timed reservation covers everyone in a vehicle. There is no per-person charge. A parking fee of $5 or a federal recreation pass is also required per vehicle. Bikers or hikers do not need a permit.

Reservations also can be made by calling Recreation.gov at 1-877-444-6777. The Recreation.gov call center is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. People can either print the timed reservation ticket or download it to their mobile device to show to the attendant at the site.

Leash your dog or face a fine, Bend Park & Rec reminds owners

Bend Park and Recreation District sent out a reminder Thursday that dogs must be on a leash at parks and on trails when not in designated off-leash areas. Violators could be temporarily banned from parks, face a $250 fine and face criminal or civil penalties for the dog's actions.

Here is a release from BPRD:

Bend, Ore. – (May 2, 2024) – Parks and trails are already busy this spring and Bend Park and Recreation District is reminding pet owners about leash requirements and the safety benefits of keeping dogs on leash.

Instances of off-leash dogs in BPRD parks and on trails that are not designated off-leash areas are one of the most frequent issues raised by park and trail users.

The BPRD park stewardship team has been busy this spring with reminders about the important safety reasons for leashing furry best friends. The team aims for positive reinforcement while also reminding community members about the rules.

“While it’s tempting to view all open grass areas as off-leash dog play areas, it’s not safe for other park users,” said Jeff Hagler, BPRD park stewardship manager. “Off-leash dogs can easily get in another user’s way on a trail and cause an accident or injuries. Off-leash dogs can instigate aggression problems or fights with leashed dogs and encounters with children or adults who are allergic or fearful can be terrifying even with ‘friendly’ dogs.”

Dogs are required by city ordinance to be on leash in any public area in the city of Bend except in designated off-leash areas. The spring engagement campaign aims to inform community members about the possible enforcement actions that can include a 30-day exclusion from park district property and/or a $250 fine and being held responsible for a dog’s actions in civil or criminal cases.

Leash rules also apply while walking to a dog park from the entrance or a parking lot. Unleashed dogs running from a vehicle can create safety concerns for the dog as well as for others, especially in busy parks such as Ponderosa, Big Sky and Pine Nursery parks.

Additionally, dog owners are to clean up after their dog. To help out, dog waste bags and trash receptacles are available at many Bend parks and trails.

BPRD has nine dog off-leash areas in local parks, including:

Alpenglow Community Park (61049 SE 15th St.) 3.9 acres, fenced with small dog area and agility amenities.
Big Sky Park (21690 Neff Rd) 5 acres, fenced.
Discovery Park (1315 NW Discovery Park Drive) 1.6 acres, fenced.
Riverbend Park (799 SW Columbia St) 1.1 acres, fenced with river access and small dog area.
Ponderosa Park (225 SE 15th St) 2.9 acres, fenced with small dog area.
Bob Wenger Memorial Off-Leash Area at Pine Nursery Park (NE Purcell Rd) 18.8 acres, fenced with seasonal splash pad and small dog park.
Hollinshead Park (1235 NE Jones Rd) 3.7 acres, unfenced.
Overturf Butte Reservoir (Skyliner Summit Loop) 4.6 acres, fenced.
Awbrey Reservoir (NW 10th and Trenton) 5 acres, partially fenced (not fully enclosed). Note: acreage is approximate.

Off-leash area etiquette includes only visiting with vaccinated, non-aggressive pets. Also, please don’t allow children to ride bikes or play on agility course equipment located in the dog parks.

Learn more on the Dogs in Parks webpage.

Weekly Road and Traffic Report for the Week of April April 29 – May 5 Bend

Weekly Road Construction Update Week of April April 28 to May 4 Deschutes County

ODOT - Region 4 Weekly Construction Update April 26, 2024 - May 3, 2024

Bend man arrested on drugged driving, manslaughter charges in fatal SUV-motorcycle crash

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 46-year-old Bend man was arrested on drugged and reckless driving and manslaughter charges Thursday after police said he made an illegal left turn out of a northeast Bend apartment complex and collided with a motorcycle on Highway 20, killing the rider.

The victim of the crash reported around 1 p.m. was identified as Chad Jeremy Bernhardt, 48, of Bend, Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

A preliminary crash investigation determined that the driver of a green GMC Envoy attempted to make an illegal left turn out of the Stonebriar Apartments to turn westbound onto Highway 20 when he collided with Bernhardt’s eastbound motorcycle. He died at the scene.

Miller said the driver was arrested on suspicion of DUII–drugs, second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving and reckless endangering and was booked into the Deschutes County Jail. The investigation is continuing.

NewsChannel 21 policy is to not name arrested individuals until and unless formal charges are filed.

The highway was closed in both directions during the investigation, reopening around 4:20 p.m.

ODOT assisted Bend Police with road closures and detours.

When officers arrived, they found the motorcycle rider trapped under the vehicle. Bernhardt died at the scene, Miller said.

She said the driver remained on scene and cooperated with officers.

Highway 20 was closed between Northeast 27 ^thStreet and the Ward/Hamby Road roundabout.

The post Bend man arrested on drugged driving, manslaughter charges in fatal SUV-motorcycle crash; victim identified appeared first on KTVZ .

Central Oregon Daily video of the Accident

Police: SUV driver arrested after collision that killed motorcycle rider in east Bend

A motorcycle rider was killed in a collision with an SUV on Highway 20 on Bend's east side Thursday afternoon, Bend Police said. The SUV driver has been arrested, facing possible manslaughter and DUII charges.

www.centraloregondaily.com/news/local/bend-motorcycle-car-collision-fatal/article_ef1788b6-08c5-11ef-a06b-472f64c9dc18.html

Deschutes County seeking a volunteer for Audit Committee

Deschutes County is accepting applications from residents who are interested in serving as a volunteer member of the County’s Audit Committee. This is an opportunity for a community member to get involved with local government in a role dedicated to continuous improvement, accountability, transparency, and trust.

While some County committees are dedicated to a specific function, the Audit Committee gets involved in programs across the board including health services, criminal justice, roads, development, and finance. Committee members learn about and evaluate programs throughout county government.

“The Audit Committee is about more than just checking boxes to give the appearance of accountability,” said County Internal Auditor Elizabeth Pape. “The Committee is a cornerstone of the County’s commitment to transparency, integrity, and improvement. Please consider joining us to work in support of sustaining trust and fiscal responsibility in Deschutes County.”

The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The committee plays a role in overseeing the audit activities performed for the County. Committee tasks include:

Reviewing and commenting on the County Internal Auditor’s list of future audit topics
Commenting on audit findings and recommendations, including whether to highlight issues for further consideration by the BOCC
Assisting with the selection of contracted external auditors who review and certify official County financial statements annually
Providing oversight of both internal and external auditors

The Audit Committee meets quarterly. In the coming year, committee members will have an opportunity to comment on important audit activities that are scheduled in the County Internal Auditor’s Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 Plan. Some planned audits include the courthouse construction project, evaluating alcohol sales for 2024 County Fair, assessing the effectiveness of coordinated houselessness response, and evaluating Sheriff auto and body cameras.

This is an appointed, un-paid volunteer position and there are no county benefits available from this position. Anyone passionate about improving Deschutes County programs is encouraged to apply at deschutes.org/volunteer. Applicants must be registered to vote in Deschutes County and experience with local government or business could be beneficial.

More information about the Audit Committee is available at Deschutes.org/administration/page/audit-committee-information.

County Commissioners seek community input as they consider allowing RVs as rental dwellings

On Wednesday, May 8, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) will hold a public hearing where residents can provide their input on allowing recreational vehicles (RVs) to be used as rental dwellings.

Following the adoption of Oregon Senate Bill (SB) 1013, which became law in January 2024, the BOCC is considering whether to amend Deschutes County zoning code and permit property owners in rural residential areas to rent out a location for an RV on their property subject to certain conditions.

Conditions Outlined in SB 1013

The baseline criteria for RVs as rental dwellings include:

A single-family dwelling that is occupied as the primary residence of the property owner must be sited on the property
The RV must be owned or leased by the tenant
The property owner must provide essential services to the RV space, which are defined as sewage disposal, water supply, electrical supply and, if required by applicable law, any drainage system

SB 1013 prohibits the following:

The RV cannot be utilized as a short-term rental
RVs as rental dwellings are not allowed in urban reserves
There are no other dwelling units on the property besides the primary single-family dwelling and no portion of the single-family dwelling is rented as a dwelling

The public hearing is scheduled to occur during the 9 a.m. BOCC meeting at the Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend. Residents can attend the meeting in person or participate virtually. Participants will have three minutes to provide testimony. The meeting agenda and virtual log in information can be found at www.deschutes.org/meetings.

For additional information, please visit www.deschutes.org/rvamendments.

Written testimony may be emailed to [email protected].

Media Contact: Tanya Saltzman, Senior Planner, Community Development, (541) 388-6528

Rep. Bentz Supports Bill To Delist Gray Wolf

by Heather Roberts KBND

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz supports a bill to remove the gray wolf from the federal Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 states. Rep. Cliff Bentz represents much of Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon and says urban lawmakers don’t know what ranchers in his district have to do to keep their livestock safe from wolves.

"I don’t think I’ve encountered such an amazing display of ignorance regarding the nature of a wolf, until this afternoon. A wolf is not a pet dog. It’s not some schnauzer or golden retriever, or dachshund. It is a natural born killer." He spoke on the House floor Tuesday, during debate over a bill dubbed the Trust the Science Act.

Bentz told lawmakers, "It’s obvious to me that those who have suggested that ranchers are apparently not to be concerned about, haven’t grown up on a ranch, as did I. They don’t have a clue about what it’s like to have to get up in the middle of the night to try to go out and protect your livelihood from nocturnal killers like wolves." He added, "The people I represent do have to deal with wolves, back in Oregon. And in some of the most awkward situations." Under current law, the protection line in Oregon is Highway 395, which goes through Bentz’s district, "It is bisected by this highway. And on one side, the wolves are listed. On the other, they are not. In some places, this highway runs right through the middle of a single-ownership ranch."

He also cited a recent report from U.S. Fish and Wildlife showing there is no risk of wolves going extinct in the next 100 years. "The Endangered Species Act doesn’t require an abundance of these natural born killers. It requires enough that we still have them around," said Bentz, "No one’s disputing that."

The bill passed the U.S. House Tuesday, on a 209-205 vote, and goes to the Senate.

Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler Advocates for Housing Solutions in Washington D.C.

Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler joined nearly 50 other mayors in Washington D.C. this week as part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Homelessness Task Force, led by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The bipartisan group met with Biden Administration officials and members of Congress to push for increased federal support to address homelessness. Key proposals include more housing choice vouchers and project-based vouchers for supportive housing, with a focus on reducing barriers for homeless veterans. Kebler highlighted Bend's leadership in building housing, such as the Cleveland Commons project for those with mental health disorders. The mayors received commitments for a comprehensive federal housing package aimed for the 2025 legislative session.

Oregon State University

Tuition to rise again at Oregon’s seven public universities

Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle

Incoming freshmen at Oregon’s public universities will pay record tuition for the upcoming school year, with all seven of the state’s public universities hiking the cost again.

Nearly every one of the schools has increased tuition every year for the past 10 years, making average tuition at Oregon’s public universities today about 26% higher than it was a decade ago, according to the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

The hikes have drawn the ire of students and the commission leaders, who point to the lack of state funding for higher education as a key reason tuition continues to rise. Oregon ranks 32nd among states for public investment in higher education, according to the Colorado-based policy group State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Nearly every public university in the state has approved tuition increases of 3% to 5% for the 2024-25 school year, while the board of Eastern Oregon University in La Grande is preparing to vote on a tuition increase within that range by May 15. Any tuition increases above 5% require that the universities’ boards get approval from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

“Oregon public universities have some of the highest tuition and fee rates among Western states,” said Ben Cannon, executive director of the commission, in an email. “We are very concerned about increased tuition and rising college costs as a whole (including tuition, housing, books, etc.), particularly as they affect low-income populations who are struggling most.”

The tuition hikes means that in-state freshmen at the University of Oregon will pay more than $16,100 per year, while in-state full-time students at Portland State University will pay about $11,800 compared with $14,400 for Oregon State University. The three universities have the highest enrollment in the state, and the University of Oregon and Oregon State are the most expensive public universities in the state.

The schools say rising inflation and higher staff costs, including contributions to the state’s Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS, along with the cost of materials and capital investment also are behind the tuition hikes. Despite dramatic rises in tuition during the last decade, full-time enrollment in Oregon’s four-year universities has declined by about 3,000 students since 2014, and the number of students enrolled in classes has fallen by about 4,000 over that time period. Last fall, nearly 80,000 students were enrolled at Oregon’s public universities, and more than 98,000 were taking classes.

At every university, student tuition and fees make up more than half of revenue, one of the highest proportions in the nation, according to a recent report commissioned by lawmakers from the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, a nonprofit think tank in Colorado. About 25 years ago, public funding accounted for up to 75% of the cost of each full-time employee at an Oregon university. Now, it pays for about 50% or less, researchers found. Oregon’s per-pupil funding for full-time college students is about $5,600 annually, around $3,000 less than what California and Washington provide.

“When the Oregon state Legislature and our governor fail to prioritize meaningful state investment in our college and universities, Oregon’s students’ foot the bill via yearly tuition increases,” Nick Keough, legislative director for the nonprofit student advocacy group Oregon Student Association, wrote in an email. “Continual tuition increases are undoubtedly pricing Oregonians and students out of higher education every day, while contributing to the exasperation of the student debt crisis here in Oregon.”

Here’s a look at the tuition hikes at Oregon’s public universities: