In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

👨‍🚒⛑️ Bend Fire & Rescue Launches Community Survey to Inform Five-Year Strategic Plan

🏛️Work of Art Designs on Display for Headquarters Lobby & Terrace

🏛️Bear Creek and 27th Street Improvements Project- Online Open House

👮‍♂️ Prineville Still Searching For New Police Chief

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🔥 Wildfire north of Madras

🚧 Road Closures

⛑️👨‍🚒 Fire & Rescue News

💥Reckless-driving teen causes three-car pile-up in Sandy, closure to Highway 26

🫴 Local Cause of the Month

🧒 "Building Brighter Futures: The Inspiring Work of Kids Inspired Non-Profit"

😁 MEME of the Day

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🎸🎹🎶Bend’s 4 Peaks Music Festival Announces their 2024 Schedule

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

BEND

PRINEVILLE, OR

Bend Fire & Rescue Launches Community Survey to Inform Five-Year Strategic Plan

This week Bend Fire & Rescue launched an online community survey to help guide the development of the department’s next five-year strategic plan. 

“Community input is an invaluable part of our planning process,” said Fire Chief Todd Riley, “by gaining an understanding of the priorities of those we serve, we are able to better meet the expectations held by our community.”
Bend Fire takes great responsibility in providing excellent emergency response and community-centered education programs to all who are served by the department. 

The department is primarily funded through tax dollars. In May 2023, voters approved an operating levy for Bend Fire & Rescue to maintain current service levels through June 2029. Input received in the community survey will help to prioritize the use of tax dollars and efforts to serve the community. 

“We are extremely grateful the community chose to continue funding crucial positions, equipment and training, and we want to be mindful of this trust in our department as we plan for the next five years,” said Chief Riley.

The survey is available online now at bendoregon.gov/Fire and will be open through 5 p.m. on June 28. 

Bend Fire & Rescue is the largest department in Central Oregon offering fire and emergency medical services to Bend and the surrounding rural community known as Deschutes Rural Fire Protection District #2. 

Work of Art Designs on Display for Headquarters Lobby & Terrace – City of Bend Public Works Campus

The City of Bend in partnership with Art in Public Places (AiPP) will display the design renderings of the proposed concepts for work of art for the two-story lobby and third-floor lobby and terrace in the City of Bend’s upcoming Headquarters Building on the Public Works Campus. The concept designs from two artists will be on display concurrently at the Larkspur Community Center and at the downtown Bend Deschutes Public Library from June 15-25.

Community members of all ages are invited to review and provide input on the two finalist’s art concepts from the finalists selected by representatives from the City of Bend, Bend City Council, Art in Public Places, Hennebery Eddy Architects and local community members.

The Headquarters Building will be the primary building for the new Public Works Campus for community members visiting the campus and City of Bend staff. The campus design is inspired by the central Oregon context of high desert landscape, volcanic geology, and prominent mountain peaks and will blend in with the surrounding landscape. Clad in weathering steel that will change to a deep rust color over time, the buildings complement the rich desert earth tones, volcanic rock outcroppings, and the Juniper-forested site.

The work of art will be visible in the lobbies, on the terrace, and through the exterior glazing at the Headquarters drop-off location as people enter the site from the main entrance to campus.

The two finalists are John Fleming from Seattle, WA and FreelandBuck (an artist team of David Freeland and Brennan Buck) from Los Angeles, CA.

“We are so excited to see this work of art reflect a literal or abstract interpretation of the importance of the Public Works Department, its people and the work it does to keep our city services functioning,” Romy Mortensen, Art in Public Places.

The concept selected will be refined and the final work of art will be included in the public art collection owned by the City of Bend. The selected artist will work with the City of Bend and the Design and Construction team to complete the work of art in time for the opening of the building in the winter of 2025. 

Art in Public Places (AIPP) has created a page on its website offering the community the opportunity to contribute their public input online as well. The City of Bend and AiPP welcome public comments online increasing the community engagement with new public art in Bend. Images of the two designs can be found at: artinpublicplaces.org/headquarters-lobby-terrace

About Art in Public Places: Art in Public Places is a non-profit organization that has donated public art throughout Bend, Oregon since 1973. For over 40 years Art in Public Places has created an enhanced visual environment for Bend residents and promoted tourism and economic vitality through the artistic design of public spaces.

Bear Creek and 27th Street Improvements Project

ONLINE INFORMATIONAL OPEN HOUSE
JUNE 14 - 28, 2024

This online open house offers an opportunity for community members to gain insights into the estimated schedule and designs for a safer and more accessible bike and pedestrian key route on Bear Creek Road and 27th Street and a new single lane roundabout to make the intersection at Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road and Purcell Boulevard safer and more efficient for all modes of travel.

Prineville Still Searching For New Police Chief

Posted Friday Morning by Mike Thomas KBND

Prineville is still looking for a chief of police, despite recent interviews with three finalists. Former chief Larry Seymour resigned in January following an investigation on a personnel matter. 

In response for a request for comment the city released this statement to KBND News: "In March, the city enlisted the services of a third-party firm to conduct a nationwide search for its next police chief. The city is working closely with the firm to make sure we find the best candidate for Prineville. The decision to extend the search was made after gathering feedback from community members, city department heads, police staff, public safety leaders, and city councilors.

We are committed to finding a candidate with the right qualifications and experience who aligns with Prineville's values and culture. Community members will have the opportunity to meet future candidates, who will participate in panel meetings with regional public safety professionals, community leaders, and Prineville Police Department members. We are excited to continue our search and are confident we will find the right person to serve and strengthen our community."

In an earlier press release, City Manager Steve Forrester said the decision to continue searching came after careful consideration, "We are committed to finding both a well-qualified chief of police and one who will be a good fit for the community and the Prineville Police Department."

Prineville will continue accepting applications and initiate a second round of evaluations in July.

"Given the chief’s pivotal role, we will continue our search until we find the right leader to serve and strengthen our community," Forrester added.

Central Oregon – A new fire, north of Madras and roughly six miles northwest of Willowdale, Ore, began June 15th around 2:30 p.m.

The Trout Creek Fire is approximately 700 acres. The fire started on Bureau of Land Management land and is burning in grass, brush, and juniper. The cause remains under investigation.

Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and Jefferson County resources have been responding to the fire throughout the afternoon. Five engines, one hotshot crew, one helicopter, three air tankers, and various other resources have been working on the fire.

Firefighters will remain on scene overnight.

Smoke may be visible from Madras, Highway 97, and surrounding areas.

For current wildland fire information, the public can visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X (Twitter) @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Reckless-driving teen causes three-car pile-up in Sandy, closure to Highway 26

A reckless-driving, 18-year-old from Bend caused a major crash Friday evening, June 14, in Sandy.

At 6:08 p.m. Sandy Police officers responded to the crash at the intersection of Highway 26 and 362nd Avenue. Clackamas Fire and American Medical Response were also at the scene to provide aid.

The crash, which involved three cars, closed the highway as medical personnel tended to an injured driver and law enforcement investigated. According to police, the male driver from Bend, who was later transported to a nearby hospital, caused the crash with dangerous, erratic driving. He was later issued a criminal citation for reckless driving. Police say impairment was not a factor.

The roadway was closed for about 40 minutes as the intersection was cleared.

"Building Brighter Futures: The Inspiring Work of Kids Inspired Non-Profit"

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Bend’s 4 Peaks Music Festival Announces their 2024 Schedule

4 Peaks Music Festival brings its musical summer solstice celebration back to Bend for their 16th family-friendly event June 20-23. 4 Peaks proudly announces their daily schedule on two stages from Thursday through Sunday. Each day includes having fun with your friends & family, shopping the vendors, access to reasonably-priced food and drinks. Full weekend passes and single day tickets are on sale now.

Deschutes Public Library Events

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