In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔 Local Trivia ANSWER

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🤠🍔🍉🍖 La Pine Frontier Days

🎆 Lots of July 4th Happenings

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Sen. Merkley Pushes EPA For Help With Crook Co. Water Contamination

📰Redmond School Board Proposes $97 Million Bond Measure for District Upgrades

🚲Thirty-day comment period opens for proposal to allow class 1, pedal assist e-bikes on select trails

⛑️Central Oregon Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions; Pet Evacuation Team Prepares for Emergencies

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🚧 Road Closures

⛑️🔥Fire & Rescue News

🔥Unattended Debris Burn Sparks Fire in Terrebonne: Quick Response Prevents Disaster

📰 Community News

🧑‍🌾🏡Garden Club to host garden party

😺🐶🎆Tips and Tricks to help keep your pets calm during the fireworks

🫴💖 Local Cause Spotlight

🐶😺Pawsitively Impacting Lives: The Compassionate Mission of The Humane Society of the Ochocos

Fundraisers | Pets available

😁 MEME of the Day

Which geological epoch is most associated with the formation of the Ochoco Mountains?

A) Pleistocene

B) Miocene

C) Holocene

D) Paleocene

Answer: B) Miocene

Expanded Answer

The Ochoco Mountains are primarily formed from volcanic and tectonic activities that took place during the Miocene epoch, which spanned from about 5 to 23 million years ago. This period was characterized by significant volcanic activity in the region, leading to the deposition of ancient volcanic rocks such as basalt and andesite. The geological formations from the Miocene epoch have contributed to the rugged peaks and deep canyons that define the landscape of the Ochoco Mountains today. This epoch was crucial in shaping the unique geological features that attract geologists and nature enthusiasts to the area.

BEND

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon

2024 La Pine Frontier Days

The tradition of a community gathering during the celebration of the 4^th of July is a long one.  At the start of the 20^th Century, when the locals consisted of a handful of hardy pioneering families, it became a highly valued time to gather and trade and just catch up with what had been happening in their lives.  They were ranchers and farmers mostly, so they would include activities such as a rodeo, and always with much food and drink. As the story goes, they would dig a large pit in the ground and someone would donate a large critter to become the celebratory roast beast, and everyone else would provide the rest.   It is the need to be with people of like mind with a “heart” for their community that sustained this gathering throughout the years.  Stories abound such as the year local trapper Ray Morehouse provided a bear for the pit. Some of the earliest photos of La Pine show a raucous rodeo of locals, along with music and dancing.

Lot’s of July 4th Happenings, check out Central Oregon Local Live Events Calendar for all the Details

Sen. Merkley Pushes EPA For Help With Crook Co. Water Contamination

by Heather Roberts KBND

PRINEVILLE, OR -- U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is exploring possible federal solutions to help Crook County residents impacted by contaminated well water. He tells KBND News he talked with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Regional Administrator Thursday.

Merkley said in a statement, “I’m committed to helping Crook County families who are very stressed about the safety of their well water. After visiting with two dozen impacted homeowners and hearing their stories earlier this month, I have been exploring a possible federal angle to help get to the bottom of the crisis. This morning, on a call that Senator Wyden also joined, the EPA committed to three key steps: investigating the connection of the possible contamination to surface water, exploring federal resources for folks in Crook County, and working with the State to address the contamination concerns. I will keep striving to bring federal, state, and local partners together to identify the cause of any contamination and find solutions.”

Merkley believes the heavy metal contamination comes from a nearby gravel mine and has asked state mining regulators to investigate. 

Redmond School Board Proposes $97 Million Bond Measure for District Upgrades

REDMOND, OR — This November, voters in Redmond will decide on a significant investment in the future of their schools. The Redmond School Board has unanimously approved a $97 million bond package aimed at upgrading facilities and enhancing safety across the district without increasing property taxes.

Superintendent Dr. Charan Cline emphasized the financial strategy behind the proposal: "We’ve structured this bond to ensure we make substantial improvements to our schools while keeping tax rates stable." He explained to KBND News that the new bond, if approved, would replace an expiring bond, maintaining the current property tax rate.

The previous bond, approved in 2020 for $27 million, enabled the district to leverage additional funds from the state and the Energy Trust, resulting in over $40 million worth of projects. This summer, work funded by that bond is nearing completion, including a complete HVAC system overhaul at Hugh Hartman Elementary School and preliminary "dry side" HVAC work at Redmond High School.

The proposed 2024 bond package will focus on critical maintenance and repairs throughout the district. Key projects include replacing failing pipes at Redmond High that transport hot water from the boilers to the heat exchangers. "We’re concerned about a potential catastrophic failure, so it’s crucial to replace these pipes," said Dr. Cline.

Additional projects outlined in the bond include expanding Tumalo Community School to a K-8 campus and implementing security upgrades at Ridgeview High School. The bond will also fund energy efficiency improvements, update various systems district-wide, and remodel spaces for vocational training and extracurricular activities.

Initially, the district considered merging Redmond and Ridgeview high schools to facilitate the necessary repairs at Redmond High. However, after receiving community feedback, the district committed to keeping Redmond High open post-repairs, with the bond ensuring the school remains operational.

With the school board's approval, the $97 million bond measure will appear on the November 5th general election ballot, giving voters the opportunity to support the continued investment in their local schools without an increase in property taxes.

Thirty-day comment period opens for proposal to allow class 1, pedal assist e-bikes on select trails

 Bend, Ore. –  The Deschutes National Forest is seeking input on the E-bikes on Select Trails project draft environmental assessment (EA). The proposed project would allow class 1, pedal assist e-bikes on select, existing, natural surface trails and paved paths located near Bend, Sisters, and Sunriver, Oregon.

There are multiple reasons to consider the need to allow the use of class 1, pedal assist e-bikes on select trails. The first reason to consider e-bikes on select trails is to create equitable opportunities for use. Second, there is a need to reduce potential conflict between user groups. User conflict would be minimized by selecting trails that are designed for bike use and already have a high volume of mountain bike use. Trails that are designed for pedestrian or equestrian uses are not included in the proposal. Lastly, there is a need to respond to changing technology in outdoor recreation.

Class 1, pedal assist e-bikes provide assistance only when the rider pedals. Assistance stops when the bike reaches 20 miles per hour. This proposal would not authorize e-bikes that are modified and no longer fit this criterion for use on trails.

The project includes 67 existing trails totaling 161.4 miles across the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts. Areas with proposed trails include Peterson Ridge, Phil’s, Sunriver, Wanoga, and paved paths. No new trail construction is being proposed. This project also proposes to update the Motor Vehicle Use Map to show where e-bikes would be allowed.

To view an online project map, visit: https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=5080ef7e7f2d45ac96788cf1a2447a86.

The draft EA can be viewed on the Deschutes National Forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/deschutes/?project=66475.

 For questions about this project, contact Cristina Peterson, Environmental Coordinator, at [email protected].

The 30-day comment period begins Tuesday, July 2, 2024, and closes Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Comments received after the close of the comment period will be considered. However, late comments will not have standing for objection.

Comments may be submitted electronically using CARA (Comment Analysis and Response Application). CARA is the preferred method for receiving comments because it allows for efficient analysis. Submit electronic comments using CARA at: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=66475.

Comments may also be submitted by mail to Holly Jewkes, Forest Supervisor, c/o Cristina Peterson, Deschutes National Forest, 63095 Deschutes Market Road, Bend, OR 97701. Hand-delivered comments may be delivered to the above address during normal business hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST, excluding holidays.

To stay informed on this project and future project proposals, subscribe to the Deschutes National Forest’s project mailing list. Visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/deschutes/landmanagement/projects and enter your email address in the “Email Updates” field under the “Current & Recent Forest NEPA Projects” header.

-USFS-

Central Oregon Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions; Pet Evacuation Team Prepares for Emergencies

Due to a hot and dry start to July, Central Oregon is now under Stage 1 fire restrictions, which means no campfires, wood stoves, charcoal grills, or fireworks on most public lands.

To prepare for potential emergencies, the Pet Evacuation Team (PET) held a mock deployment at Harmony Farm Sanctuary near Sisters. This 10-acre sanctuary is home to a variety of rescued farm animals, including horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, alpacas, a llama, a cat, pigs, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens, and turkeys.

During the drill, PET volunteers learned essential skills like building a dog yard, placing animals in crates, and using "pig boards" to direct animals away from danger. Volunteers were divided into groups focused on different types of animals and tasks such as intake/release and triage. Dr. Stephanie Austin, a Bend-based veterinarian, provided a mini-clinic on checking vital signs in horses, emphasizing the importance of recognizing emergency signs.

PET is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that partners with local fire departments across three Central Oregon counties. They rely entirely on donations and offer training sessions for new volunteers twice a year. During emergencies, PET helps evacuate and care for pets and large animals, ensuring their safety.

For more information on volunteering or donating, visit PET Evacuation Team and Harmony Farm Sanctuary.

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Unattended Debris Burn Sparks Fire in Terrebonne: Quick Response Prevents Disaster

On June 30th, 2024, at 5:30 pm the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to assist the Redmond Fire & Rescue, Crooked River Ranch Fire Department, and the Jefferson County Fire Department with a debris burn pile which was no longer contained and was now spreading through a property in the 1500 block of NW Ice Ave in Terrebonne, Oregon.

During this event it was approximately 80 degrees with strong winds pushing north to south. As the fire continued to spread to the south quickly, it approached another property which resulted in numerous structures being threatened. Several fire resources were able to contain the fire from spreading as the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office assisted with evacuations of nearby properties. Due to the quick response of the fire fighters on scene, the structures were saved from complete destruction. Fire resources remained on scene for several hours to assure the once aggressive fire was fully extinguished. 

During the investigation, it was determined the cause of the fire was a debris burn which was left unattended. Debris burns such as these have been banned since June 1st. The fire consumed approximately four acres of dry weeds, bushes, and trees, and the fire threatened numerous structures but did not cause any serious damage. The owner of the residence who started the debris burn pile was issued a citation.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office would like to remind residents that debris burns are banned and prohibited as of June 1st. Debris burning is described as: burning with burn barrels, weed burners, field, ditch, and open pile burning. It is always recommended to consult with the fire station in your jurisdiction when considering burning. 

Garden Club to host garden party

The Sisters Garden Club will hold a free garden party in two yards in Cascade Meadow Ranch on July 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The neighboring gardens of Pete and Judy Kershaw at 15375 Windigo Trail and Larry and Nikki Spires at 15355 Windigo Trail will be available to tour. Local artisans who will have their wares for sale in the gardens include: Bella's Baskets, pantry baskets handmade of paper rush; Jane Burkholder, hand-sewn table buckets and bucket hats from linen, cotton, and vintage fabrics; Cline Farms, hand-poured soy candles, soaps, and lotions; Karen Mueller Art, art prints, totes, and mugs from her original art; Rustic Garden, metal garden art and stakes; Edie Shelton, fused glass art; Three Friends Quilting, small quilts and table runners; and Sisters Garden Club, garden journals and puzzles.

A vintage truck belonging to Gordon Kershaw will be parked in front of the Kershaw's property.

Quilts belonging to members and friends of the Sisters Garden Club will be on display in the gardens.

Although admission to the gardens is free, donations are welcome. Funds raised by the club during the year are donated to other local nonprofits like Harmony Farm Sanctuary, Seed to Table, and the Kiwanis Food Bank.

For more information and a map to the properties visit http://www.sistersgardenclub.com.

Tips and Tricks to help keep your pets calm during the fireworks

Hey there pet parents! If your furry friend gets anxious during fireworks, you're not alone. Many dogs are scared of the loud bangs and bright lights that come with firework displays. To help keep your pup calm and relaxed during these stressful times, try creating a safe space for them to retreat to, such as a cozy corner with their favorite blanket and toys. You can also play calming music or white noise to drown out the sound of fireworks. Remember to stay calm yourself, as dogs can pick up on our emotions. And most importantly, never force your dog to confront their fears - give them space and comfort until the fireworks are over. Let's make sure our four-legged family members feel safe and secure this firework season!

Bend Pet Express have some additional remedies that may help:

My personal experience with the thundershirt, it works pretty well. We had a husky mix who was a ‘silent stressor’ and we used this on her quite often. She did well with it and liked wearing it.

I’ve used Quiet Moments as well for years. I have had to use more than the recommended dose depending on the dog. Make sure you give them before whatever the expected induced stress is, and then continue during that stress period.

These are just a sampling of products, go online or visit one of their locations to see more.

Pawsitively Impacting Lives: The Compassionate Mission of The Humane Society of the Ochocos

Are you an animal lover looking to make a positive impact on the lives of our furry friends in need? If so, you're in luck! Let me introduce you to a wonderful non-profit organization that is doing incredible work for animals in our community - The Humane Society of the Ochocos (HSO).

Visit their website at https://www.thehso.org/ to learn more about their programs, upcoming events, and how you can get involved. Together, we can make the world a better place for animals in need.

A few of the pets HSO has available:

Thank you to Pahlisch Homes Inc. for their sponsorship of the 10th annual golf tournament & benefit auction. Teams are half sold! Sponsorships start at just $150 and go for a great cause HSO.

Come on out to our Back to the 80's Fundraiser!

This event will be open to the public of all ages!
There will be a $15 admittance charge to cover the cost of food that will be included with your ticket.
Be sure to dress in your 80's best! There will be costume contests, games with prizes, door prizes, glamour shots by Photography By Arielle, face painting, as well as a silent auction with lots of fun 80's themed items!
A HUGE thank you to all that have reached out to donate and are continuing to do so!
All proceeds will go towards the shelter's new build!
You won't want to miss this one!!

Starting at 5:00 PM on July 6th at the Carey Foster Hall

To purchase tickets online, go to https://thehso.kindful.com/e/back-to-the-80s or you can come up to the shelter and grab yours there!

Made by the amazing Itzcoatl Xipil & Justina Price

Deschutes Public Library Events

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