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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia ANSWER

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🎡2024 Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

⚠️Reminder! Wildfire hazard map Public Hearing Starts Today on July 31st - 2x and Aug. 1st Video Added

⚠️Lava Tube Collapse Causes 40-Foot Sinkhole, Shuts Down Central Oregon Canal for Emergency Repairs

📰Deschutes County Commissioners Split on Homeless Camp Solution

🔥Shooting Sparks Brush Fire, Prompting Evacuations In Crook Co.

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨 Crime News

 📰 Community News

🐏Deschutes County Fair Features Unified FFA For The First Time

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

🐕🐶Meet Chuck Norris!

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

📲Sponsors & Partners

The Deschutes County Fair began as which event in 1906?

A) The Redmond Agricultural Show
B) The Potato Show
C) The Central Oregon Harvest Festival
D) The Bend-Redmond Fair

Answer: B) The Potato Show

Expanded Answer:
The Deschutes County Fair originated as the Potato Show in 1906. This event gave farmers a chance to meet, compete, and showcase the specially developed Deschutes Netted Gem potato. Over the years, the show grew in popularity and eventually evolved into the county fair.

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!

Reminder! Wildfire hazard map Public Hearing coming up on July 31st - 2x and Aug. 1st

The Board of Forestry approved the public hearing process for the proposed rule package, Oregon Administrative Rules 629-001-0001 to 0057 and 629-044-1000 to 1041, during their June 5 meeting. The department consulted a Rulemaking Advisory Committee representing a wide variety of stakeholder interests while drafting the proposed rules.

The rules will be used by Oregon State University to address irrigated agriculture as a mitigating factor to assessing wildfire hazard in the statewide wildfire hazard map, which includes assigning one of three hazard zones to individual properties. The rules also establish the process to appeal assignment of a hazard zone or classification.

• Notice of proposed rulemaking

Comment can be made at any of the virtual public meetings below:

• July 31, 10 a.m., Zoom meeting

• July 31, 2 p.m., Zoom meeting

• Aug. 1, 6 p.m., Zoom meeting

Comments can also be sent to [email protected] until 5 p.m. on Aug. 15. Please clarify which rule your comments pertain to in your email.

Lava Tube Collapse Causes 40-Foot Sinkhole, Shuts Down Central Oregon Canal for Emergency Repairs

– The Central Oregon Irrigation District shut off its Central Oregon Canal and water deliveries to over 1,800 customers for emergency repairs Sunday after a lava tube caused a “significant breach” in the floor of the canal, creating a 40-foot sinkhole. COID officials said Tuesday those repairs could be complete by Friday, if all goes well.

COID officials at first 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.”

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

Here's Tuesday's update from COID:

Over the weekend, an unforeseen issue occurred with the Central Oregon Irrigation District infrastructure. The Central Oregon Canal, which supplies water to COID users in Bend, Alfalfa, and Powell Butte, experienced a major breach. This breach, resulting from a lava tube collapse in the canal floor between Ward Road and Gosney Road, created a 40-foot sinkhole.

As a safety and conservation measure, water flow in the Central Oregon Canal was shut off on Sunday, July 28, at 8:20 a.m. The complete shutdown is impacting over 1,800 COID patrons, representing 55% of the district's users. The water that would normally be diverted through the canal, approximately 450 cubic feet per second (cfs), is instead flowing into the river, causing an increase in river flows and subsequently affecting the Bend Whitewater Park.

This incident highlights the need for modernizing irrigation districts' infrastructure, particularly the importance of piping century-old irrigation canals. Piping not only prevents such breaches and subsequent flooding but also improves water efficiency and conservation.

COID is actively working to assess and repair the canal's damage.

 We anticipate that these repairs will take approximately 3-4 days. Water service could be restored as soon as Friday.

In the meantime, we appreciate the public's understanding as we manage this situation and work to restore normal water delivery.

Deschutes County Commissioners Split on Homeless Camp Solution

Bend, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners are divided on how to address people living on a 137-acre parcel in southeast Redmond, which is part of a land swap with the state that's been pending for about 20 years. The deal can't proceed until the area is cleared of campers and trash. The Commissioners are considering creating an alternative site on a nearby 45-acre lot owned by the county.

Deputy County Administrator Eric Kropf explained that any sanctioned camp must comply with Redmond’s code, including fencing and fire restrictions, and have on-site presence to handle calls during business hours and after-hours emergencies.

Commissioners Phil Chang and Patti Adair voted to look for an organization to operate a managed camp with infrastructure like gravel and fencing. Commissioner Tony DeBone preferred a less structured approach, arguing that a simpler plan would be less costly and more practical.

Redmond City Manager Keith Witcosky emphasized the need for structure to ensure safety and replicability. The debate continued with DeBone expressing concerns about costs and efficiency, while Chang highlighted the success of structured solutions like Veterans Village and Oasis Village in reducing homelessness.

Officials estimate it will take nine to ten months to clear the 137 acres once a new space is set up, but DeBone wants a faster process to complete the state deal and expand the County Fairgrounds.

Shooting Sparks Brush Fire, Prompting Evacuations In Crook Co.

PRINEVILLE, OR -- A Sunday brush fire in Crook County was caused by recreators shooting at exploding targets, according to the Sheriff's Office. Deputies and firefighters responded to the fire near SW Millican Road and found it quickly spreading. Local and state firefighting resources were able to stop the fire's forward progress while deputies evacuated dispersed campers in the area. 

During witness interviews, deputies learned a group of ATV and dirt bikers shot about a pound of Tannerite. The subsequent explosion set nearby vegetation on fire. Tannerite was not allowed on BLM land at the time of the incident.

One person was identified and cited for Reckless Burning and Criminal Mischief. 

Lone Rock Fire Update

Crazy Creek Fire & Kitty Creek Fire Update

Red Fire Update

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.

Deschutes County Fair Features Unified FFA For The First Time

Posted by Heather Roberts KBND

REDMOND, OR -- When the Deschutes County Fair opens Wednesday, one of the first livestock events will feature students from Redmond High School's Unified Sports program. "Unified Sports falls under the umbrella of Special Olympics," says Redmond High's Angela Capps, "So we pair what we call partners, our mentors, with our athletes, who are kids with special needs." Capps co-teaches Unified Sports at RHS. It was created two years ago by her co-teacher Amy Nickell. About a year ago, Capps tells KBND News, they got the idea to expand the program to FFA. 

Seven special needs students are learning how to show lambs, with the help of FFA mentors like Abby Ortgies. "Last week, we had them come meet the animals, that way they can get their sensitivity up and understand what it's about, so they're not scared and nervous to do it. And they all loved it." Ortgies says, "They had a blast. It was really cute and they had a lot of fun." She adds, "We taught them how to walk slow and be calm with them, because [the sheep] can get startled sometimes when people jump up to them. So we told them to walk them around in circles." Mentors and athletes will work tegether in the ring, "Our partners will hold on to the ends of the halters and they'll hold on to the very closest part of the halter. So just in case they accidentally let go, the lamb stays with them," says Ortgies.

Recent RHS grad Brynn Capps says she's excited to work with her partner athlete in this new venue, "Showing livestock, and sheep specifically, has just a huge place in my heart. And being able to invite these kids who don't really get these opportunities every day so that they can show lambs is such an incredible opportunity."

Angela Capps says the Unified Sports program has had a big impact on the overall culture at RHS. "There's been great friendships developed. We have students going to dances now because their friends are there. It's just an amazing program. It just kind of - it warms your heart." Now, she hopes to spread that feeling to FFA and the ag community through Sheep Showmanship. "We have a really strong group of people showing. It's pretty amazing. Our Redmond FFA kids from all species of animals, they're just top notch. They're really fun to watch."

Unified FFA Sheep Showmanship is at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Sheep Ring at the fairgrounds in Redmond. While unified athletes aren't competing with other FFA livestock presenters, Capps says there will be prizes. She says the program could eventually expand to include goats, along with lambs. 

The Deschutes County Fair runs through Sunday.

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.

Meet Chuck Norris!

Hello, fellow animal enthusiasts! Let's talk about Chuck-Norris, the dashing cattle mix who's ready to find his forever home. This 2 and a half-year-old pup is a true gem - good with other dogs, loves playtime, and adores a good outdoor romp. Chuck may take a bit of time to warm up, but once he does, get ready for some serious heart-stealing moments. He thrives in a calm setting with patient companions who appreciate his sweet and playful nature. If you're searching for a loyal companion who enjoys ball games, leisurely walks, and plenty of cuddles, Chuck-Norris could be the perfect match for you! Visit the shelter Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm or give them a call to arrange a meet-and-greet with this lovable fella. Let's help Chuck-Norris find his special someone and the forever home he deserves!

Deschutes Public Library Events

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