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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔 Local Trivia ANSWER

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

 🐎 Oregon High Desert Classic

🏓🥒Pacific Northwest Classic 2024

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🌡️Potential for Geothermal Energy at Newberry Crater: AltaRock Energy Advances Testing

📰Deschutes Co. Asks For State Grant To Combat Organized Retail Theft

📰New Sculpture Installed at Colorado & Columbia Roundabout

⛺🚙Commissioners to Host Community Conversation on Recreational Campground Opportunities in Deschutes County

📰Future Of The Center Remains Unclear After St. Charles Announcement

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨 Crime News

👮Madras Man Arrested for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking in Jefferson County

 📰 Community News

 🫴💖 Local Cause Spotlight

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

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

📲Sponsors & Partners

Raise your hand if you’re tired of this ‘heat wave’!

BEND

LA PINE

SISTERS

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon

Oregon High Desert Classic

July 24-28

Hayden Homes presents the Oregon High Desert Classics July 17 – 21 & 24 – 28, 2024.  The prestigious OHDC is the only event of its kind in Central Oregon. Approved by the US Hunter Jumper Association, this show attracts world class riders from all over the US and Canada. One of a small handful to receive Heritage Horse Show designation, it is also the only show of its caliber which is primarily a fundraiser for a non-profit. The Classics are held the last two weeks of July every year.

Each year, 600 horses and 3000 participants gather at J Bar J Boys Ranch to compete for $150,000 in prizes on six of the last remaining grass footing rings in the country. Thousands of family, staff, vendors, and spectators join them, celebrating the athleticism of horses and riders, and enjoying a variety of food and shopping at the vendor booths in the show village green.

The Oregon High Desert Classics serve as the primary annual fundraiser for J Bar J Youth Services, a nonprofit organization that facilitates positive change for youth. J Bar J hosts the show on its property housing The Boys Ranch, a residential program and school for adjudicated boys.

Pacific Northwest Classic 2024, sponsored by Thump Coffee and hosted by Bend Pickleball Club, begins at 8am on July 24 and will run through the evening of July 28 at Pine Nursery Park in Bend. Over 600 pro and amateur players from across the country are registered to play in the sold out, fifth annual Pacific Northwest Classic. Tournament Director Christie Gestvang says, “We are switching things up this year with a round robin format for amateur doubles and players are very enthusiastic about the change. The tournament has put up a $34k purse this year so we know the competition will be fierce but friendly. Bend Pickleball Club, our tournament title sponsor Thump Coffee, and all of our sponsors welcome this year’s players and spectators to the Northwest’s premier pickleball event!”

For those who want to start the pickleball fun early, Bend Pickleball Club and Thump Coffee will host “Pickleball Fight Night” from 6pm-8pm on July 23 at Pine Nursery Park. The High Desert Matrix will take on the Willamette Valley Winers in a MLP format with a $2,400 purse. This family-friendly event includes a no-host beer garden and food from Wagyu and is, according to Gestvang, the perfect warm-up for this year’s tournament.

In addition to Thump Coffee, Pacific Northwest Classic’s title sponsor, numerous local and national companies are sponsoring the tournament. Platinum Sponsors are Horizon Broadcasting Group, Pickleball Zone, and Selkirk. Gold Sponsors are Widgi Creek Pickleball, Mike’s Fence Center, Physik, and Garcia, Barnblatt, Foster of TSG Wealth Management. Silver Sponsors are Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys, Jigsaw Health, Vida Mate, and Dobson’s Choice.

Pacific Northwest Classic is a free, family-friendly event. Spectators are encouraged to attend but please note that event parking at Pine Nursery Park is very limited and on a first come, first served basis. Additionally, some tournament brackets may be held at Pickleball Zone, located at 63040 18^th Street in Bend. For a complete, current tournament play schedule, please visit bendpickleballclub.com/pnw2024.

Potential for Geothermal Energy at Newberry Crater: AltaRock Energy Advances Testing

A geothermal exploration company that has conducted testing at Newberry Crater south of Bend says the potential for superhot-rock energy development remains a possibility, but more testing is needed to prove project viability.

AltaRock Energy continues to explore superhot-rock energy development at Newberry Crater, south of Bend. The company plans to conduct further testing this summer, extracting rock samples from nearly 10,000 feet below the surface. The site sits above superhot rocks that can potentially generate significant renewable energy, crucial for Oregon as it moves away from coal-fired power.

The project involves "enhanced geothermal energy," where cool water is injected into deep underground fissures, heating up to create steam that powers turbines. Initial tests show temperatures of 644 degrees Fahrenheit at the well’s bottom. Unlike traditional geothermal systems, this project requires water to be pumped in, which will be drawn from local wells and reused in a closed-loop system.

AltaRock's president, Susan Petty, states that the project's goal is to supply local power. Their leases could potentially generate up to 2,500 megawatts, enough to power 1,000 homes per megawatt. However, initial production would start with one well, scaling up based on demand. The entire Newberry Crater area could produce 6,000 megawatts, though much of it lies within protected lands.

Despite concerns about fracking, Petty assures that the technology is safe, having conducted tests without groundwater contamination or significant seismic activity. The project operates with U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management permissions and collaborates with the Klamath Tribes to protect cultural resources.

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang sees the project as a step towards energy independence for Central Oregon, reducing reliance on imported coal-fired electricity. If viable, a power station could be established within the next decade, though costs remain confidential.

Future plans involve drilling deeper to access more uniform rock layers and conducting circulation tests to assess energy potential. AltaRock's data will need Department of Energy approval. While the project shows promise, Chang urges a cautious approach, seeking more information before fully endorsing it.

Deschutes Co. Asks For State Grant To Combat Organized Retail Theft

Posted by Heather Roberts KBND

BEND, OR -- Organized retail theft is a growing problem in Central Oregon. Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels says it happens in every corner of the county and it costs retailers tens of thousands of dollars. "Ten people go into a store, through the front door, they spread out, they each get a cart. They start loading items, merchandise into carts and then they push them out the door," Gunnels told County Commissioners this week, "They get out of the store and then they go to the next store and they do the same thing." He says the transient nature of the crime makes it difficult to catch the thieves, "Going from store to store, stealing literally thousands of dollars at each store.

And then, eventually either getting caught or having some parts of the organization getting caught and some fleeing the area to go to other countries or to go to the other side of this country."

Gunnels office is now asking for a state grant to create a 10-month program, This would be a partnership between the DA’s office and Bend Police Department, to gain a stronger understanding of the organized retail theft issue here in Deschutes County," says D.A. Management Analyst Kathleen Meehan Coop.

She says it would allow for officers, prosecutors and retail employees to participate in training," And hosting a variety of meetings for local retailers, to understand exactly what they are experiencing; with the ultimate goals for us to establish agreements with some of our local retailers, and to develop a long-term plan for addressing the problem."

Gunnels says as long as this extreme form of shoplifting is so successful for the thieves, they will continue, "Stores more and more have a policy of not intervening physically to stop theft and that’s part of- I don’t want to say it’s part of the problem, but it increases the profitability for organized retail theft rings." He told Commissioners, "This kind of crime can be interrupted and if the profitability is taken out of it, it will stop."

Oregon’s Criminal Justice Commission is making $5 million available statewide to combat organized retail theft. Deschutes County Commissioners agreed to allow the D.A. to ask for $50,000. 

New Sculpture Installed at Colorado & Columbia Roundabout

A new sculpture was added to Bend’s public art collection earlier this week at the Colorado Avenue & Columbia Street Roundabout.

The sculpture, titled Crossroads, is made of Corten and stainless steel by artist Karen Yank from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Crossroads serves as a monument to the innovative individuals that transformed Bend from a historic lumber mill town into the enchanting artistic and cultural place one can live in and visit today,” Karen Yank said. “My design embraces Bend’s history in the timber industry with a set of crossing logs, which create a beautiful waterfall along the rocky cliffs of the Deschutes River.”

The sculpture was selected by the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Committee and a representative from the City of Bend’s engineering department after a public input process (online and in-person) where the design renderings were on display on the Art in Public Places website and at the Downtown Public Library and the Larkspur Community Center in Spring 2023.

“Karen’s sculpture is a lovely addition to the City’s roundabout art collection and represents important icons of Bend; the historic mills and the beloved Deschutes River,” said Romy Mortensen, Art in Public Places president.

The Colorado and Columbia roundabout opened in August 2021 and is a high-traffic route providing direct access to the OSU-Cascades campus, Mt. Bachelor ski resort, Century Drive/14^th Street (shops and restaurants), The Pavilion (Bend Park & Recreation District ice skating rink), and the Old Mill District. Approximately 15,000 cars pass through this area daily.

The artist will also have a gallery show at Peterson Contemporary Art (PCA) on Franklin Avenue in downtown Bend where her smaller-scale works of art will be on view through July 29. The gallery will host an opening reception and an artist talk on Friday, July 19 between 5-7pm.

The sculpture will be included in the public art collection for the City of Bend.

Funding for public art in Bend is from the Bend Foundation, a non-profit founded and funded by Brooks Scanlon and Brooks Resources Corporation and its shareholders, and numerous community donations. Art in Public Places is a nonprofit organization that gifts art to various locations throughout the City of Bend.

Commissioners to Host Community Conversation on Recreational Campground Opportunities in Deschutes County

The Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to participate in a Community Conversation on Tuesday, July 30, to discuss potential opportunities for recreational campgrounds in the county.

Last year, the Board authorized a Camping Feasibility Study to explore the development of private or public recreational campgrounds within Deschutes County. The study evaluated three areas, including County-owned land at Fort Thompson Lane north of Bend, which will be the focus of the conversation on July 30.

Community members will have an opportunity to learn more about the study findings, as well as participate in one of four, 30-minute group discussions with the Board of County Commissioners.

The Community Conversation is scheduled to occur from 5:30-8pm in the Barnes Sawyer Room of the Deschutes Services Building, 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend. Residents can attend the meeting in person or participate virtually. The meeting agenda and virtual log in information can be found at deschutes.org/meetings.

Written comments about the study can be emailed to [email protected].

deschutes.org

Future Of The Center Remains Unclear After St. Charles Announcement

Posted by Heather Roberts KBND

BEND, OR -- The Center and St. Charles Health System announced this week the two healthcare organizations would "expand" their relationship. But what exactly that means for The Center is unclear. CEO Brett Hazlett says the full legal transaction hasn't yet been defined, "Whatever form that takes, the end result is that the majority of the employees will become employees of St. Charles." The Center is the region's main provider of orthopedic and neurosurgical services, as well as offering physical and rehabilitation medicine. Its doctors already provide services at St. Charles Medical Center.

Hazlett tells KBND News the driving force to strengthen that relationship is a struggle to recruit and retain, especially over the last year, "This is a trend nationally. It's been in Central Oregon and now it's kind of gotten to The Center, as well. We're all kind of dealing with the same market forces." It results, he says, in financial hardships for The Center and a more difficulty for patients trying to see a doctor, "People have experienced the challenges. Patients have had trouble getting in; it's been really long wait times."

The Center operates three clinics in Bend and one in Redmond, with outreach clinics in other Central Oregon communities. "The intention is to keep all the services we have, all the providers, same location," says Hazlett. "The goal for the community is that that is 100% transparent. Same providers they have always been able to see, ideally with the investment and financial support that has caused some of the struggles, we actually build on that and provide better access and care for the community. But certainly the folks that they're used to seeing they continue to see, in the same locations that they see them today."

He also expects other programs to continue, "The student athlete piece, which we provide trainers in the high schools and all those pieces, St. Charles, as a nonprofit, they're a perfect partner for that. They're really excited all the way to the top over there to maintain that program." 

"St. Charles and The Center are both local organizations that are committed to providing the best possible care for Central Oregonians," St. Charles CEO Dr. Steve Gordon said in a statement. "St. Charles has the ability to step in and help shore up these services for our patients and community, which is not only the right thing to do it's critical to ensuring continued access to a wide variety of services throughout the region."

Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Update – July 21, 2024

Central Oregon — Yesterday firefighters on the Jackpine Fire burning on Prineville District Bureau of Land Management lands approximately one and a half miles southwest of La Pine, south of Masten Road and west of Highway 97 kept the fire within its existing footprint. Today they will continue to strengthen lines around the perimeter of the fire and start working their way interior extinguishing hot spots. The Jackpine Fire remains 180 acres and is 15% contained.

Resources currently assigned to the Jackpine Fire include 2 Type 2 initial attack crews, 1 Type 2 crew, 11 engines, 2 dozers, 1 water tender and overhead resources. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 2 (Get Set) evacuation notices west of Highway 97 and south of Masten Road to the county line. Stay up-to-date with Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office evacuations using their interactive map available here. Klamath County Sheriff’s Office issued a Level 1 (Be Ready) for both sides of Highway 97 south of the Deschutes County line including Long Prairie. Visit Oregon Department of Transportation’s TripCheck.com for current information on Highway 97.

Firefighters continue to make good progress on the Wickiup and Round Mountain Fires burning on the Deschutes National Forest. The Round Mountain and Wickiup Fires are burning approximately seven miles northwest of La Pine and just north of Wickiup Reservoir. A Central Oregon Type 3 Team is managing both incidents.

Yesterday firefighters on the Wickiup Fire spent the day mopping up and securing lines around the perimeter of the fire. Today resources will continue to use equipment and water to secure and strengthen lines to keep the fire in its current footprint. The Wickiup Fire has been more accurately mapped at 168 acres and is 20% contained.

Firefighters on the Round Mountain Fire worked through the night to bring fire to places where indirect line had been constructed. Bringing fire to the edge of the control line removes vegetation between the fire’s edge and the line decreasing the chance that fire behavior will increase and potentially spot over control lines. Today firefighters will use water and equipment to secure the perimeter of the fire and mop-up hot spots. The Round Mountain Fire is estimated at 108 acres due to fire progression and burnout operations and is 5% contained.

Resources on the Wickiup and Round Mountain fires include 5 handcrews, 6 engines, 3 dozers, 4 skidgeons, 2 water tenders, 4 fallers, and overhead resources. Both fires are under investigation.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has issued Level 3 (Go Now), Level 2 (Get Set) and Level 1 (Be Ready) evacuation notices north of Wickiup Reservoir. An interactive map of evacuations is available here:

• Level 3 (Go Now): National Forest area north of Wickiup, Forest Service Road 4262 and Forest Service Road 4380 and south of Forest Service Road 42 (South Century Drive)

• Level 2 (Be Set): National Forest area between Road 4380 and the Deschutes River including Bull Bend and Wyeth Campgrounds and private inholdings along the west side of the river at Haner Park

• Level 1 (Be Ready): Haner Park subdivision east of the Deschutes River

The Deschutes National Forest has issued area emergency closures for both the Wickiup Fire and the Round Mountain Fire. Bull Bend and Wyeth Campgrounds and Tenino Boat Launch are currently closed. North Twin Lake Campground remains closed and is being used to support firefighting operations.

A red flag warning is in effect for much of Central Oregon today for abundant lightning and gusty outflow winds.

Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.

Lone Rock Fire Update

Larch Creek Fire Update

Red Fire Update

Falls Fire Update

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Madras Man Arrested for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking in Jefferson County

Madras, OR – On July 19, 2024, Christopher Crawford, a 34-year-old resident of Madras, Oregon, was arrested by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team on charges related to the trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Jefferson County.

The arrest followed a long-term investigation and surveillance operation conducted by CODE Detectives. Around 4:30 PM, Mr. Crawford was apprehended at his workplace, a retail store in Madras, after detectives intercepted him and executed a search warrant at his home on the 200 block of SW “C” Street.

The investigation revealed that Mr. Crawford was allegedly selling large quantities of fentanyl pills and methamphetamine from his residence. With the assistance of the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team and Jefferson County Sheriff deputies, CODE Detectives and K9 "Bonnie" located Mr. Crawford's vehicle, which contained controlled substances. A subsequent search of his home and vehicle uncovered a significant amount of methamphetamine, counterfeit Oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl, powdered fentanyl, a large sum of cash, and several knives he was prohibited from carrying.

Mr. Crawford is currently held at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Jail, facing multiple charges, including:

- Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine - Substantial Quantity

- Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine - Substantial Quantity

- Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine - Substantial Quantity

- Unlawful Possession of Fentanyl

- Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon

- Unlawful Possession and Attempted Distribution of Methamphetamine

It is important to note that criminal complaints contain only charges, and Mr. Crawford is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

For additional information, please contact Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp at 541-550-4869 or [email protected].

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.

PJ goes to Smith Rock! Our fabulous volunteer Steven took PJ on an adventure up Smith Rock. She had a blast and of course, had to stop for ice cream. PJ is still looking for a home to call her own, she is a high-energy dog needing an active lifestyle. She is a 2-year-old husky mix, she does not like cats, does like other dogs but prefers males around the same age, and loves puppies!

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

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