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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔 Local Trivia - Deschutes River

🌄 Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🏘️🏡The 37th Annual COBA Tour of Homes begins Friday July 12th 2024

🎶Ozomatli with special guest The Rumpeppers

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰 Local News - What’s a Happening?

🏗️ Bend Municipal Airport Receives Federal Funds for Safety Upgrades

📈💲Costco Raises Membership Fees for the First Time in Seven Years

🏛️Redmond council approves marijuana tax code changes, if voters say yes to dispensaries

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

📰Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update – July 10, 2024 | Juniper Fire

📰Larch Creek Fire Update | July 10, 2024

📰Industrial Fire Precaution Level to Elevate to Level II on Saturday

📰Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update – July 10, 2024 | McCaffery Fire

Social Media Posts

🚧 Road Closures

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

 🚨 Crime News

 📰 Community News

 🫴💖 Local Cause Spotlight

🐶😺Changing Lives, One Paw at a Time: Humane Society of the Ochocos

💲Fundraising Event - BINGO @The Patio Tap House in Prineville

😁 MEME of the Day

What is the highest Class Rapids on the Deschutes River?

A) Class III
B) Class II
C) Class V
D) Class IV

👉Find the Answer in Tomorrow’s Newsletter👉

BEND

PRINEVILLE

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon

The 37^th Annual COBA Tour of Homes begins Friday July 12^th 2024.

Free Admission

July 12-14 & 19-21, 2024

Fridays: 12PM – 6PM, Saturdays & Sundays: 10AM – 5PM

Munch & Music

Thursday July 11th

Ozomatli with special guest The Rumpeppers

Summit Health & PacificSource Munch & Music FREE concert series in Drake Park presented by The Source Weekly and Hayden Homes will be celebrating its 33rd season! The weekly series provides the community of Central Oregon with free live music, outstanding food vendors at Restaurant Row, family fun in the Kids Zone, local vendors down Artisan Row, and beer, wine, and spirits. Music starts at 5:30pm on the Boss Mortgage stage and ends around 9pm.

Bend Municipal Airport Receives Federal Funds for Safety Upgrades

The Bend Municipal Airport is set to receive nearly $183,000 in federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for safety upgrades. This grant is part of a larger investment of over $2.3 million aimed at enhancing eight rural airports throughout Oregon.

The funds allocated to Bend Municipal Airport will be directed towards the initial design phase of this year’s rehabilitation project, which includes significant improvements to taxiways Alpha and Bravo. According to Airport Manager Tracy Williams, these upgrades will involve the installation of medium-intensity taxiway lights, replacing the current reflective lights that are not highly visible at night.

“The paved surfaces are showing signs of aging, and currently there are no lights on the taxiways,” Williams explained. “This project will extend the pavement's useful life and enhance safety with the addition of lights.” The taxiways will also be resurfaced, and their numbers will change from 16 and 34 to 17 and 35 due to magnetic compass adjustments.

In preparation for the larger project, workers have already started crack sealing and joint repair work, temporarily closing portions of the airport. The construction phase for the rehabilitation project is scheduled to begin next summer or fall.

In addition to these improvements, the airport is gearing up for the construction of a long-awaited air traffic control tower, with groundbreaking expected by the end of July. This new development is seen as a crucial step in enhancing the overall safety and efficiency of the airport operations.

The recent McCaffery Fire, which burned about three miles east of the Redmond Airport, has also underscored the importance of robust emergency plans. Although the Redmond Airport's terminal remained open, its airfield was closed for several hours to allocate air space for aerial firefighting efforts. This incident highlighted the airport’s reliance on emergency services and the US Forest Service during fire season.

Williams emphasized the importance of quick coordination in emergencies, stating, “We call 9-1-1, and the county sheriff’s dispatch will send the appropriate resource.” The airport’s readiness to handle such situations is critical for ensuring the safety of its operations and the surrounding community.

The design phase for the Bend Municipal Airport’s rehabilitation project will commence this month, marking the beginning of a series of significant improvements aimed at enhancing safety and extending the lifespan of the airport’s infrastructure.

This story first appeared on KTVZ

Costco Raises Membership Fees for the First Time in Seven Years

It’s soon going to cost more money to get your foot in the door at Costco.

The retailer is raising membership fees by $5 to $65 a year in the US and Canada, Costco announced Wednesday. This marks the first time in seven years Costco is raising membership fees.

Additionally, Costco’s premium “Executive Membership” is going up by $10 to $130 a year. But those members will soon be able to earn a maximum of $1,250 in rewards annually versus $1,000 currently.

The company estimated that 52 million memberships will be impacted, a little over half of which are Executive members, Costco said.

Annual fees have been one of the biggest profit-generating areas for Costco, helping it offset expenses to keep its prices down. Last year, Costco earned $4.6 billion in revenue from membership fees, an 8% increase from 2022.

The fee hikes are also occurring as Costco, like streaming companies, has been taking more measures to ensure fewer people are hitching a ride on other customers’ memberships.

Costco’s hikes, which go into effect on September 1, come more than two years after key rivals Sam’s Club and Amazon raised their membership fees.

On Wednesday, Costco also announced that net sales were up 7.4% for the five weeks ended on July 7 compared to last year.

Shares of Costco jumped over 2% in after-hours trading following the news.

Redmond council approves marijuana tax code changes, if voters say yes to dispensaries

Steele Haugen, Reporter Central Oregon Daily News

Jul 9, 2024

The Redmond city council approved a marijuana tax and code changes Tuesday to allow dispensaries within the city. But first, voters must approve the legislation in the November election.

The council approved a 3% tax on marijuana sales and code changes to allow the sale in the city.

"We don't want them downtown," said Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch. "We don't want them near schools. We don't want them near residential neighborhoods. So it's going to be very limited where they would be placed if they are approved."

Councilor Cat Zwicker is hesitant when it comes to weed sales and business.

"I understand the need for medical marijuana, the ease of access for people that driving to Bend might be a burden," said Zwicker. "I also understand that there are several people, myself included, that are uncomfortable in promoting something that we wouldn't want our children to have easy access to."

During Tuesday's public comment portion of the meeting, a few people decided to share their thoughts on the matter.

"We have a responsibility to our community to really think carefully before we make ... decisions regarding marijuana use easily in our city," said one commenter.

The Redmond School Board also cited concerns after sending a letter to the city council last year about how easily accessible the drug might become.

"It does make it accessible. I think that the marijuana today is not the marijuana of my youth," Zwicker said.

"You want it available for adults who use it wisely," Fitch said. "You don't want it for teenagers and people who don't use it wisely."

The time, place and manner discussions also included limiting the total number of dispensaries in the city to around five.

The City of Bend received $1,262,947.20 from tax sales for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The Oregon Department of Revenue collects marijuana taxes on the city's behalf.

With limited dispensaries, the City of Redmond knows it will only see something that large if voters pass the measure in November. Still, it would likely go towards things like transportation and park systems.

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update – July 10, 2024 | Juniper Fire

Central Oregon — Around 3:30 p.m., firefighters responded to the Juniper Fire, burning on the west side of Highway 97 near Mile Post 107 between Terrebonne and Madras on private and county land and the Crooked River National Grassland. The fire is estimated at 700 acres and 0% contained. Using dozer lines and existing features, firefighters have constructed line around the fire perimeter. Firefighters are continuing to strengthen and secure lines around the perimeter of the fire.

Responding resources included engines, hand crews, dozers, scoopers, helicopters, an air tanker and air attack.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office initially issued Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation notices. Levels have all been decreased to a Level One “Be Ready.” You can find an interactive map of evacuation zones here. For updates on Highway 97 visit Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck.

The Juniper Fire was caused by a vehicle fire that spread to the wildland.

For current wildfire information, the public can visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X (Twitter) @CentralORFire.

Larch Creek Fire Update | July 10, 2024

 Dufur, Ore. – Initial attack crews worked through the night putting in dozer line and burnouts along the east and west flanks from the north down to the unsecured south. The Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency Fire Management Team as well as the Green Incident Management Team from the Oregon State Fire Marshal are in place at the Dufur High School.
Today, resources from state, local, and federal agencies will work on transitioning night shift crews to day shift while slowing progression towards Highway 197 and nearby Shadybrook community to the south. Some spot fires have been identified in the southern Oak Creek area. Air attack remains a primary resource for day operations. The fire is burning mostly in open grass fuel types.
The Emergency Conflagration Act was invoked Tuesday night around 8:00 PM, which allows the State Fire Marshal to mobilize structural fire resources to protect life and property. Many arrived this morning to assist with structure protection. Three task forces from Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties arrived this morning at 7 am and three additional task forces are arriving later this afternoon.
Unified Incident Commanders Cason McCain and Lance Lighty, among other officials gave gratitude to the crews on initial attack, as well as local landowners who worked in extreme conditions to set the day shift crews up for success. Red flag warnings remain in place throughout Wednesday from 2-11 pm.
Local fire danger levels are now set to “extreme” with expected wind. Stay informed on updated evacuation alerts here:
https://www.facebook.com/WascoCountySheriff?ref=embed_page
A Red Cross shelter is open at Maupin High School for anyone evacuated.
The Larch Creek Fire is located 5 miles southwest of Dufur, OR and was first reported on Tue, July 9, just after 2 p.m. The cause was human activity and is under investigation.

FIRE AT A GLANCE
Estimated Size: 7,100 acres
Containment: 0%
Cause: Under investigation, human caused
Estimated Cost: TBD
Evacuations:
Level 3 GO NOW – Remains in place for residences from Friend Rd, East to Elliott Rd and Hwy 197, South to Badger Creek Rd, West to Mc Corkle Grade Rd.
Level 2 GET SET – Remains from Fairgrounds Rd, East to Hwy 197, North to Shadybrook Rd, South to Fairgrounds Rd. Areas east of Hwy 197, east to the Deschutes River, north to Hulse Rd and south to Hwy 216
Level 1 GET READY – Remains from Badger Creek Rd/Fairgrounds Rd, South to Rock Creek Dam Rd/Wamic Market Rd, West to Threemile Rd, East to Hwy 197. NEW AREA Elliott Rd, East to Kingsley Rd./Dufur Gap Rd., North to Friend Rd. and South to Level 3 border.

Unified Command:
Cason McCain & Lance Lighty Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency IMT

Industrial Fire Precaution Level to Elevate to Level II on Saturday

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update – July 10, 2024 | McCaffery Fire

Central Oregon — Yesterday firefighters on the McCaffery Fire east of Redmond spent a successful day further securing the fire and addressing hot spots. The McCaffery Fire remains 458 acres and is now 100% contained. This will be the last update unless significant changes occur.

Yesterday at 7 p.m., the Central Oregon Type 3 incident management team transferred command to a local Type 4 incident commander as the Type 3 team received reassignment to an emerging incident. Several resources will remain on the incident following the transition to ensure the fire stays within its current footprint. Resources assigned include 14 engines, 1 Type 2 crew, 4 water tenders, 1 skidgeon, 1 dozer and overhead resources.

The fire is burning on Prineville District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. The BLM has implemented a temporary area closure for the safety of the public and the firefighters working to contain the McCaffery Fire. To read the closure order in its entirety, visit: Prineville District BLM Temporary Area Closure.

Yesterday Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office lowered the evacuation notice for the areas on Sunny Sage Road off of McCaffery Road to a Level 1 “Be Ready”. The Crook County Sheriff’s Office reduced the evacuation level for the area of west Powell Butte Estates and the area to the south of Powell Butte Highway in Crook County to a Level 1 “Be Ready”. Stay up to date on Crook County Emergency Alerts by visiting: alertcrookcounty.org/ To sign-up for Deschutes County Emergency Alerts visit: deschutes.org/911/page/sign-deschutes-alerts.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For current wildfire information, the public can visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X (Twitter) @CentralORFire.

Social Media Posts:

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Changing Lives, One Paw at a Time: The Heartwarming Work 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.

WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT, WE WOULD NOT EXIST TO SERVE YOU SINCE 1995

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