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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🎤Subaru of Bend Summer Kickin' Concert Series: Trace Adkins

🎈Balloons Over Bend!

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

⚠️Greenwood Avenue Quick-Build CONSTRUCTION STARTING MONDAY!
Jul. 29 – Aug. 14, 2024

📰🌊Lava tube causes ‘significant breach’ in C.O. Irrigation District canal

📰Firearm Discharge Incident in Sunriver Residence Resolved Peacefully

📰ODOT urges drivers to plan ahead as wildfires continue to disrupt travel

📰Redmond Airport will hold TSA Precheck events

🎦Driving the new southbound U.S. 97 on Bend's north end

📰Wreckage Of Missing Air Tanker Found Near Falls Fire | UPDATE: Veteran pilot identified in fatal eastern Oregon tanker crash

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🚧Full OR 126 road closures near Belknap Springs starts in August

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🔥Backyard Blaze Engulfs Vehicles, Threatens Redmond Residence

🚨 Crime News

 📰 Community News

Got some news or know of news for our Community News Segment - share it with C.O. Local Buzz!

 🫴💖 Local Cause Spotlight

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

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

📲Sponsors & Partners

BEND

REDMOND

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

2024 Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo

July 31st - August 4th

Join us at the 2024 Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo from July 31st - August 4! We've got five days of action-packed fun FREE with admission. Enjoy the Kendall Toyota FREE Summer Concert Series featuring artists like Billy Currington, Yung Gravy, Lil Kim with Bow Wow, and The Fray. Get western at the rodeo and enjoy the high-octane excitement of the demolition derby. Be sure to grab your carnival wristbands and enjoy delicious bites, shopping and more at this year's Fair & Rodeo. We will see you here!

Greenwood Avenue Quick-Build 
CONSTRUCTION STARTING MONDAY!
Jul. 29 – Aug. 14, 2024

Lava tube causes ‘significant breach’ in C.O. Irrigation District canal, forcing shutoff for emergency repairs

The Central Oregon Irrigation District said Sunday it has turned off its Central Oregon Canal for emergency repairs after a lava tube caused a “significant breach” in the floor of the canal.

COID officials advised users Sunday morning that the canal, which delivers waters to users in Bend, Alfalfa and Powell Butte, would experience “a drop in flows” due to an emergency repair that would be completed “as quickly as possible.”

 They said they expected to return to the current delivery flow rates once repairs were complete.

However, in an update late Sunday afternoon, COID said the repair “will require the assistance of additional resources,’ so for now, “The Central Oregon Canal has been completely turned off.” They said updates regarding the timeframe would be posted to the irrigation district’s website “as they become available.”

The breach between Ward and Gosney roads "is a significant hole," COID Managing Director Craig Horrell said.

Firearm Discharge Incident in Sunriver Residence Resolved Peacefully

Sunriver, OR - July 26, 2024

On the evening of July 25, 2024, at approximately 8:30 PM, the Sunriver Police Department responded to a report of a firearm being discharged inside a residence on Acer Lane. Witnesses reported that the lone occupant of the residence, a female subject, was potentially experiencing a mental health crisis, and they heard a gunshot from within the home.

Sunriver Police, along with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, promptly arrived at the scene. They secured the area, informed nearby residents, and attempted to establish contact with the occupant. Despite their efforts, the subject refused to engage with law enforcement.

After confirming that the subject was alone and posed no immediate threat to others, officers opted to de-escalate the situation by withdrawing and monitoring the residence from a safe distance. The Sunriver Police maintained surveillance overnight.

By the morning of July 26, law enforcement re-established contact with the subject. The individual agreed to exit the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

The Sunriver Police Department expressed gratitude to the community for their patience during the incident and extended thanks to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for their crucial assistance in ensuring a peaceful resolution.

ODOT urges drivers to plan ahead as wildfires continue to disrupt travel

After a week of wildfire-related road closures, travelers across Oregon should continue to carefully plan their routes. Fires are still actively burning near many highways, causing them to close and reopen with little notice, ODOT advised.

With several more weeks of a long, hot summer ahead, wildfire-related disruptions are likely to continue throughout the state, making some routes unreliable, the agency said in its Friday update.

For those who must travel, ODOT urged you to try to plan a route that is far away from wildfires. Visit TripCheck.com for the latest road conditions before you start your journey. TripCheck provides live updates from our dispatch centers 24 hours a day. It is updated immediately as road conditions change.

Here are some essential tips for traveling during wildfire season:

• Use Designated Detours: Follow official detour signs and routes provided by transportation authorities. Do not follow GPS directions onto local or forest roads. These roads are often unsuitable for interstate traffic. If a highway is closed, nearby local roads are likely closed as well.

• Prepare for Power Outages: In areas affected by wildfires, power outages are common. Treat non-working traffic lights as four-way stops and be aware that roadside message boards and TripCheck cameras may be out of service.

• Carry an emergency kit: Oregon Emergency Management suggests you pack these supplies in your car before hitting the road.

• Drive Safely in Smoke: Driving in smoky conditions is like driving in heavy fog. Reduce your speed, maintain a steady pace, and stay alert. Use your headlights to improve visibility.

• Stay Home if Possible: The safest place to wait for a road to reopen is at home. Do not travel to closure points to wait because closures could last for hours or days.

For pictures and videos of wildfires burning near state highways, visit ODOT's Flickr album.

For more information on current fires, visit the National Interagency Fire Center's website.

Wreckage Of Missing Air Tanker Found Near Falls Fire

BURNS, OR --  BLM officials confirm the missing airtanker was found Friday morning by a Grant County Search and Rescue team.

The pilot, whose identity has not been released, was found deceased in the wreckage.

The plane was based out of Burns, contracted seasonally by the BLM.

(9:30 a.m.) A Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) went missing Thursday, while working on a new lightning start near the Falls Fire.

The plane was contracted by the Bureau of Land Management. Authorities say search efforts began immediately and continue Friday, but have released no other details.

SEATs are the smallest airtankers used for wildland fires. They can deliver up to 800 gallons of retardant or water. Previous reports indicate SEAT planes hold just one person; the pilot.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a statement Friday morning saying, "The dangers of fighting fires are constant and this developing news story from Eastern Oregon is a painful reminder of that fact. Let's all take a moment to think about the people in this air tanker and hope for a positive outcome."

The Falls Fire is estimated to be 55% contained, at 140,422 acres, as of Friday morning. It started July 10th and has destroyed more than a dozen homes. Over 1,800 others are threatened. Officials say it was human caused.

UPDATE: Veteran pilot identified in fatal eastern Oregon tanker crash

Officials have identified the pilot who was flying the single-engine air tanker that crashed on Thursday, July 25, in eastern Oregon.

74-year-old James Bailey Maxwell was flying a Bureau of Land Management contracted aircraft when it went down near the Falls Fire.

“James was an experienced pilot who had spent 54 years of his life flying and who had logged approximately 24,000 hours of flight time,” The U.S. Forest Service – Malheur National Forest said in a post on Facebook. “He is survived by and will be missed by family members in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.”

The single-engine air tankers are the smallest tankers in the fleet and can deliver up to 800 gallons of water or fire retardant.

“The Maxwell Family and firefighters are grateful for the support being expressed throughout the community and online,” the post stated.

Services have not been announced at this time.

Lone Rock Fire Update

Crazy Creek Fire & Kitty Creek Fire Update

Red Fire Update

Red Fire Quick Facts
Size: 433 acres Origin: 5 miles west of Crescent Lake Junction, Oregon County: Klamath
Start Date: July 17, 2024 Cause: Lightning Containment: 0% Total Personnel: 246

Falls Fire Update

Microwave Tower Fire Update

Court Rock Fire

Battle Mountain Complex

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Another AQI Map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Full OR 126 road closures near Belknap Springs starts in August

You may have seen our crews while we work on repaving a section of OR 126 that is in poor condition. This work will help preserve the road and give you a smoother ride.

Our next phase of work requires several full road closures – plan ahead and use an alternate route if you're traveling these days in August.

Upcoming full OR 126 road closures:

• Nighttime half day closures August 1 through August 8.

  • Sunday through Thursday, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

  • No closure Friday and Saturday night, August 2 and August 3.

• Full 48-hour road closure planned for August 20 through August 22.

Backyard Blaze Engulfs Vehicles, Threatens Redmond Residence

Redmond, OR - July 27, 2024

At approximately 12:34 PM on July 27, Redmond Fire & Rescue responded to a reported structure fire at 1617 SW 24th St. As firefighters departed the station, a large column of smoke was visible, prompting the call for additional resources.

Upon arrival, fire crews discovered a backyard fully engulfed in flames, with numerous vehicles ablaze. The fire was rapidly advancing toward a nearby residence. Firefighters swiftly took action to contain the fire and ensure the safety of the occupants. Fortunately, all residents were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

The fire's cause is currently under investigation.

Redmond Fire & Rescue received crucial support from Bend Fire & Rescue, Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District, and the Redmond Police Department in managing the situation.

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.

Deschutes Public Library Events

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