Central Oregon Local Buzz
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🚨BREAKING NEWS: Man Arrested for Burglary at Lucy's Taco Shop

🚨BREAKING NEWS: Man Arrested for Burglary at Lucy's Taco Shop

Issue #128

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

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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Trivia Question

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Local Nissan owners face 125-mile drive for factory service after Bend dealer closes

📰 Bend PD still looking for DUII suspect who fled after hitting light pole at SW Bend roundabout; 2,100 residents alerted

📰Redmond School District drops proposal to merge Redmond, Ridgeview high schools

🚨Crime News

🚨BREAKING NEWS: Man Arrested for Burglary at Lucy's Taco Shop

🚨Kidnapping Suspect Apprehended in Sisters Area Camp, Three Children Rescued

📰 Community News

📰An Evening with Randy and Mary Travis - Stroke Awareness Event

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

What significant infrastructure development in the 1920s helped put Redmond on the map?

A) The construction of the Redmond Hotel

B) The opening of the Redmond Airport

C) The establishment of Redmond High School

D) The creation of the Redmond Caves

👉Find the Answer in Tomorrow’s Newsletter👉

BEND

Local Nissan owners face 125-mile drive for factory service after Bend dealer closes

Colby Enebrad, Reporter Central Oregon Daily News

Nissan owners in Central Oregon will have to drive at least 125 miles for service related to factory warranty issues or recalls. This comes after Lithia Nissan of Bend permanently closed down a few days ago.

"We never would have purchased our vehicles if we had known they'd be closing down in a year and half," Nissan Owner Cari Fike said.

Fike bought her Nissan Titan just over a year ago and is leasing a Nissan Rogue.

"Our concerns are service and where we go if there's a recall on one of the vehicles," Fike said. "Currently there's a recall on our Titan that we haven't been able to get in, and now we have to go into the Valley."

Central Oregon Daily spoke to two different Lithia dealerships. Both confirmed that any Lithia location will provide basic service to Nissans, such as oil changes. Nissan owners with any issues regarding factory warranty or recalls will have to find another Nissan dealership. The closest one is in Eugene.

"There's the mileage cap on our lease vehicle and so, now, having to commute a couple hundred miles just to have a service repair done or recall done, that adds to our mileage and goes against us when we go to turn it in in a couple years," Fike said.

Fike says she wishes Lithia would’ve given a proper heads up to their customers

"When I was in a couple weeks ago to get an oil change, they were filled and I would have to make an appointment, which they were booked three weeks out. No one ever mentioned at that time they'd be closing. Maybe they didn't know, but it would have been nice to have some type of communication," Fike said. "For individuals that have leased vehicles, maybe extend the mileage for us and increase our mileage limits on the leases."

Lithia dealerships we spoke to said there is no service by which owners could drop off their vehicle to have it transported to Eugene. It is up to owners to get their cars there.

Bend PD still looking for DUII suspect who fled after hitting light pole at SW Bend roundabout; 2,100 residents alerted

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Bend Police were still searching Monday for a 46-year-old Bend man and suspected DUII driver who fled officers investigating a reported domestic dispute Sunday night, then crashed into a light pole at the Mount Washington Drive-Simpson Avenue roundabout and ran, prompting an alert to 2,100 area residents.

Officers responded around 8:15 p.m. to a possible domestic dispute in southwest Bend, but the suspect was gone when they arrived, Sergeant Whitney Dickson said.

Police later got a call that he had returned, so they went back to that location and contacted him in a vehicle, Dickson said. They had probable cause to arrest the man for a probation violation and suspicion of DUII.

Officers made verbal contact, telling the man to stop, but he fled officers, so they also have probable cause to arrest him on a felony charge of attempting to elude police.

Dickson said officers did not pursue his car, but knew the general direction he was heading.

They learned around 9:30 p.m. that he had crashed into and damaged an aluminum light pole at the northeast corner of the roundabout at SW Mt. Washington Drive and Simpson Avenue.

About 2,100 southwest Bend residents received the alert from Bend Police around 10 p.m. Sunday, informing them of the search for a man who fled from a crash and seeking any tips to his whereabouts, while saying “there is no known threat to the public.”

The subject was described as a white male about 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. He last was seen wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, with blue tennis shoes.

“If you have received this Deschutes Alert and are in the southwest area of Bend and witness suspicious behavior or a subject matching the above description, please call 9-1-1 right away,” the alert concluded.

An update alert sent around 11:30 p.m. said the search for the man was continuing.

Dickson told NewsChannel 21 Monday morning that the public alerts had not led to tips regarding the man's whereabouts, though she added, "We have some good investigative follow-up and should be able to locate him at a later time."

The post Bend PD still looking for DUII suspect who fled after hitting light pole at SW Bend roundabout; 2,100 residents alerted appeared first on KTVZ

Redmond School District drops proposal to merge Redmond, Ridgeview high schools

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- As a result of staff, parent, and community feedback - much of it critical - the Redmond School District announced Tuesday that it has chosen to proceed with pursuing options to maintain and keep Redmond High School open, rather than combine it with Ridgeview High School, as was suggested.

While project planning in 2023, the district said it discovered a critical issue with the HVAC system piping at Redmond High School. The 50-year-old HVAC hydronic pipes and fittings are failing, leaking, and must be replaced.

This piping is difficult to access and is sectioned in an area of the school that contains asbestos. While the asbestos is currently contained away from students and staff, a major failure of the pipes that heat the building would be catastrophic and could cause issues with flooding and interior damage.

After multiple assessments, it was determined that it will take a year to abate the asbestos and replace the HVAC piping, requiring students and staff to be out of the school for the duration of the work.The district and the Community Bond Task Force, composed of parents, staff, and community members, have been exploring ways to address the failing HVAC system issue at RHS. Two viable options surfaced, including:

Closing the building for one year while temporarily locating students in an alternate space for the duration of the HVAC renovation and instructional space upgrades.
Combine the district’s two high schools to provide operational efficiencies and increased course offerings in career and technical education.

After proposing the high school merger late last year, the district recently held two staff listening sessions at each high school; two community listening sessions at each high school; and conducted a parent survey of all district parents.

Numerous students, parents and staff made themselves heard at the listening sessions, many opposing the idea and voicing criticism they had not been involved in or asked about advancing it."As a result of these multiple engagements, the district and Community Bond Task Force have chosen to keep Redmond High School open and will identify ways to best support the continuation of school operations during the renovation," Tuesday's announcement said.

"We know that it is a matter of when, not if, these pipes are going to fail,” shared Dr. Charan Cline, Redmond School District Superintendent. “As we strive to preserve our community’s investment in Redmond High School, it is the district’s priority to urgently address this issue.”

The timing of this decision is crucial, the district said, as it has an opportunity to ask voters to support a "no tax increase" bond measure in November, as old bonds are paid off. This unique opportunity is critical to help pay for the repairs at Redmond High School and improve other district schools without an increase in property taxes.

“It is very important that we make a decision based on what we have learned from the community. We learned that combining the two high schools is not a popular opinion,” shared Mason Rodby, Community Task Force ,member. “We need to look at the bigger picture here for our kids, teachers, and our schools, which is that we have many projects to be completed to make our schools better and more efficient.”

For questions or more information, contact Gina Blanchette, Executive Secretary, at 541-923-5437.

Weekly Road and Traffic Report for the Week of April May 6th to May 12th Bend

Weekly Road Construction Update Week of April May 5th to May 11th Deschutes County

ODOT - Region 4 Weekly Construction Update May 3, 2024 to May 10th, 2024

BREAKING NEWS: Man Arrested for Burglary at Lucy's Taco Shop

In a shocking turn of events this morning, a 41-year-old Bend resident, Aaron L. Mikesell, was arrested for burglary and criminal mischief at Lucy's Taco Shop on NE Third Street.

The incident unfolded at 6:01 AM when employees arrived to open the popular taco shop for the day. To their surprise, they discovered an unauthorized individual inside the premises. Bend Police Officers swiftly responded to the scene and found Mikesell fast asleep inside the business.

Further investigation revealed that Mikesell had forcibly entered the closed establishment by breaking a window. This brazen act of breaking and entering led to his arrest on charges of Burglary II and Criminal Mischief I. Mikesell was promptly taken into custody and is currently lodged at the local jail.

The community is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities. As the investigation continues, more details may emerge regarding this incident at Lucy's Taco Shop.

Kidnapping Suspect Apprehended in Sisters Area Camp, Three Children Rescued

In a harrowing turn of events, a 37-year-old transient female, Leah Marie Sharp, was arrested in the Sisters area on charges of Custodial Interference and Kidnapping. The arrest led to the safe recovery of three minor children who were reunited with their family.

The dramatic rescue unfolded on May 5th, 2024, at 7:30 am when a deputy from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office discovered a camp believed to be occupied by Sharp near Highway 20 and USFS Road 4606. Sharp was wanted for three counts of Custodial Interference and three counts of Kidnapping from Caldwell, Idaho, where her children were listed as missing and endangered.

After confirming Sharp's presence at the camp along with her three children, law enforcement officials swiftly moved in to apprehend her. Sharp was taken into custody without resistance, and the children, who appeared unharmed, were safely recovered.

The Department of Human Services-Child Welfare Division intervened to take custody of the missing children and arranged for their transport back to Idaho. Meanwhile, Sharp was transported to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Adult jail and lodged on the out-of-state warrant.

This successful operation highlights the swift response and collaboration between law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of the children involved. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office commends its personnel for their dedication to serving and protecting the community.

Stroke Awareness Special Event

Stroke Awareness Oregon is honored to present an uplifting evening with Country Music and Grammy Awards winner Randy Travis and his wife, Mary on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Westside Church in Bend. After Randy's life-changing stroke in 2013, the couple will share their powerful story of loss, hope, faith, and resilience to raise funds for Stroke Awareness Oregon.

This is not a concert, but rather an inspirational experience hearing directly from Randy and Mary Travis about their personal journey. The event will begin at 7:00pm with opening music from local rock band Soul Benders led by Steve Boatwright, who has toured with renowned acts like Santana, Stevie Nicks, and Chuck Berry.

A special highlight of the evening will be a live auction of a Breedlove guitar autographed by the Travis'. Stroke Awareness Oregon is thrilled to be hosting this event at the Westside Church on Newport Avenue in Bend. Their state of the art facility has modern technology and lighting for this incredible event and lots of seating to accommodate all who wish to attend. The spacious atrium will make checking in comfortable and hassle free. There is ample parking with easy access, handicapped facilities and wheelchair accommodations. We appreciate the sponsorship of Westside Church for this important event.

🎟️ Get Your Tickets: 🎟️Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to hear from Randy and Mary Travis in person. Reserve your seat today and be part of an evening filled with music, inspiration, and heartfelt conversation.
Location: 2051 NW Shevlin Park Rd. Bend, Oregon 97703
Date: Monday, May 13th, 2024
Time: 7:00-9:00 pm Pacific Time | Admission will begin at 6:00pm Pacific Time
Ticket Sales are tax deductible - All proceeds benefiting Stroke Awareness Oregon 501(c)(3)

Date

May 13, 2024

Time

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Upcoming Events

What’s Up Central Oregon

In addition top performing at over 500 theaters and faith based events, Amy Barnes has numerous national TV appearances from Comedy Central to National Lampoon. This engineer turned comedian was selected as one of the new faces of comedy at the Montreal International Comedy Festival and from that point on she has entertained sold out shows all across America. Her stand-up connects with a cross generational relevance, her audience interaction tethers strangers with that one of a kind experience and her singing takes her shows to the next level of live performance. A quick witted stand-up comic with an amazing voice will leave you feeling like you reconnected with an old friend.
Join us on May 10th at 6:30 pm for a fun night of comedy and dessert.