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- ⛑️Lake Billy Chinook search ends in tragedy | 🏘️Central Oregon Market Report | July 31, 2024
⛑️Lake Billy Chinook search ends in tragedy | 🏘️Central Oregon Market Report | July 31, 2024
Issue #181
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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…
🤔Local Trivia ANSWER
🌄Bend, OR Weather
📅 Lots and LOTS of Events
🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!
📰Local News - What’s a Happening?
🏫 OnPoint Community Credit Union Matching Donations to the KGW School Supply Drive
🔥Central Oregon Fire Info
🚧 Road Closures & Construction
🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News
⛑️Lake Billy Chinook search ends in tragedy, as divers find Warm Springs man’s body in 42 feet of murky water
🚨 Crime News
🚨Homicide Investigation Underway in Southeast Bend
🚨Bend Man Arrested for Multiple Counts of Child Sexual Abuse
⚖️Climbing Coach from Bend, Oregon Gets 120 days in child molestation case
📰 Community News
🍦Ice cream stand at Deschutes County Fair raising money for youth 4-H programs
Got some news or know of news for our Community News Segment - share it with C.O. Local Buzz!
🏘️ Real Estate News
ℹ️ Sleep Troubled by Light Spill? 5 Easy & Affordable Blackout Products to Help
😁 MEME of the Day
🌆 On going Events
📲Sponsors & Partners
When was Redmond designated as the official site for the Deschutes County Fair?
A) 1916
B) 1921
C) 1929
D) 1935
Answer: B) 1921
Expanded Answer:
In 1921, Redmond was officially designated as the site for the Deschutes County Fair. The community’s successful efforts to expand the fairgrounds, including building a grandstand and exhibition buildings, led to this designation. The fair continued to grow, becoming one of the largest in the state, and eventually moved to its current location off Airport Road in 1999.
BEND
REDMOND
Upcoming Events
Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate
What’s Up Central Oregon
August 3, 2024
Time 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
location Troy Field690 NW Bond Street Bend,
This is a market run entirely by kids ages 5-17 who will be selling their products and services. 90+ kids will be providing artisan craft, graphic arts, services, games, food, drinks, jewelry, and more! In addition, a nationally competing aerial silks team will be performing and there will be raffles with wonderful items from: Home Depot, Dakota's Brick Shop, DIY Cave, Trampoline Zone, Cascade Indoor Sports, Lava City Cirque, Exceptional Carpet Care, Let's Paint, Hardenbrook Hardwoods, Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese, and more!
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!
Posted by Heather Roberts KBND
PRINEVILLE, OR -- The Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to help investigate well water contamination in Crook County. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) lobbied for the EPA to get involved, "They agreed to be helpful, to offer their resources, their talents to back up the state," says Merkley, "The state said that would be great. So, it's an appreciated offer, since they don't have regulatory power- EPA doesn't. But they'll be providing assistance. So, yay. That's a win."
In June, Senator Merkley met with homeowners who say their water is contaminated with manganese from a nearby gravel mine. Since then, he's pushed the state for more testing.
The Governor's office has also agreed to continue investigating. Although, state officials say previous tests don't point to the gravel pit. Merkley says those water samples were provided by the mine. And, he believes homeowners have significant evidence pointing to the operation, "I don't see any reason why the samples couldn't have been taken just shortly after the families expressed concern. It's important to have those samples not be collected by Knife River. They need to be collected by independent geologists, so that you're really getting an appropriate, fair report that everyone can have confidence in." He says the EPA will provide an independent review of the state's water sampling plan and participate in public meetings.
Merkley tells KBND News, "I'm applying for a Community Initiated Project Grant that will help with understanding the overall dynamics of sub-surface water in the watershed. The state has asked for that; I'm advocating for that." But, he says, "That is not a reason to set aside the immediate help to these families that are experiencing these significant problems and experiencing problems, and concerned about the health of their children, their families, their livestock and also just the accumulation of clogged pipes and so forth."
OnPoint Community Credit Union Matching Donations to the KGW School Supply Drive
To support local students heading back to school in the fall, OnPoint Community Credit Union announced it will be accepting school supply donations to help local teachers and students, and distributed with the help of Schoolhouse Supplies. The credit union will also give an additional $5 for every $1 donated to the KGW School Supply Drive at OnPoint branches between August 12-17, 2024*.
The KGW School Supply Drive, which runs from today through August 31, 2024, aims to send 15,000 students across Oregon and Southwest Washington back to school with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. All donations will stay in the community in which they are made.
“Having the necessary school supplies is critical for students to start the year confident and engaged, but so many families in our community still struggle with the resources to provide them,” said Rob Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, OnPoint Community Credit Union. “Today’s students are our future leaders, and the School Supply Drive helps give them what they need to keep learning, growing and succeeding. We encourage everyone in our community to join us in supporting these deserving students.”
As part of this year’s drive, OnPoint will host collection events where the community can drop off new school supplies and cash donations at its Lloyd Center Branch (1100 NE Weidler St., Portland, OR 97232) and at the Washington Square shopping center, below the food court.
To learn more or review other drop-off locations, please visit KGW.com/School.
School Supply Collection Event:
Saturday, August 17, 2024
12-4:00pm
Drop off location:
Washington Square: Look for the KGW/OnPoint table in the central gathering area under the food court.
School Supply Collection Event:
Friday, August 23, 2024
11am-2pm
Drop off location:
OnPoint Lloyd Center Branch: 1100 NE Weidler St., Portland, OR 97232
“The back-to-school season can be stressful for students, families and teachers. Schoolhouse Supplies aims to alleviate some of that stress by providing supplies and creating education equality for all students across Oregon and SW Washington,” said Alice Forbes, executive director, Schoolhouse Supplies. “We are grateful to have a partner like OnPoint that believes in our mission and helps us provide under-resourced children with the supplies necessary to succeed in school.”
Click here to learn more about Schoolhouse Supplies and its mission to equip as many local families as possible with the school supplies they need to succeed.
*OnPoint donation not to exceed $25,000.
About OnPoint Community Credit Union:
OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving over 563,000 members and with assets of $9.2 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union’s membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 28 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932. OnPoint Community Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA.
Microwave Tower Fire Update
Link to: Air Quality Index map
Another AQI Map
BendRedmond | Deschutes County |
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.
Our schedules may change, please visit TripCheck.com for the most up to date information on road closures and traffic impacts. |
Lake Billy Chinook search ends in tragedy, as divers find Warm Springs man’s body in 42 feet of murky water
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Searchers, divers spent days looking for a Warm Springs man who jumped from bridge into the Crooked River at Lake Billy Chinook, slipped underwater and didn't resurface.
CULVER, Ore. (KTVZ) – The search for a 31-year-old Warm Springs man who jumped into the Crooked River at Lake Billy Chinook with a friend late Sunday night and soon slipped underwater ended in tragedy late Wednesday afternoon when divers helped by sonar found Triston Boise’s body in 42 feet of water, Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollock said.
The two men had stopped their car and dove into the water late Sunday night from the Crooked River Bridge just south of the Crooked River Day-Use Area at The Cove Palisades State Park, Pollock said earlier in the week.
One of the men swam to shore before a responding deputy arrived on scene, checking on a report of their vehicle being in the middle of the two-lane bridge, blocking both lanes, the sheriff said.
“As the deputy arrived, the second subject disappeared under the water,” Pollock told NewsChannel 21. Both men were intoxicated, he added.
Sheriff’s deputies searched the water and shoreline for several hours overnight, but Boise could not be found. Search crews were back in the area on Monday, assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, Pollock said.
The sheriff said the search was suspended early Monday evening because a large algae bloom made visibility in the water difficult.
The sheriff’s office continued the search Tuesday with its own sonar equipment “in an attempt to locate anomalies on the bottom of the lake that would give an indication on where divers could search,” Pollock said Thursday.
About that time, a nonprofit dive team, Oregon Rescue Divers, arrived on the scene and offered to help look for Boise’s body, Pollock said. The deputies and divers spent several hours on Tuesday trying to locate his body, but were unsuccessful due to poor visibility under the water’s surface.
The divers returned to the lake around 2 p.m. Wednesday and spent 2 ½ hours scanning the lake with their own sonar equipment, searching for viable locations to dive, the sheriff said.
“At about 4:35 p.m., divers dove the lake while family watched and prayed from the bridge,” Pollock said. “At 4:41 p.m., divers located the body of Triston, submerged in 42 feet of water.”
"We would like to thank the efforts of the Jefferson County Fire & EMS, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team as well as the Oregon Rescue Divers for their assistance in this search and recovery," Pollock added.
Homicide Investigation Underway in Southeast Bend
Bend,OR - Bend Police are investigating a homicide following the discovery of a deceased man in the backyard of a residence on the 60800 block of Raintree Drive. The incident was reported at approximately 8:36 p.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
Upon arrival, officers found 57-year-old Bend resident Matthew Kenneth Hallberg dead at the scene. His roommate and acquaintance, Robert Carter Lawrence, a 50-year-old Bend resident, was also present at the residence and was subsequently arrested in connection with Hallberg's death.
The Oregon State Crime Lab is assisting with the investigation, and an autopsy will be performed on Hallberg to determine the exact cause of death. Robert Carter Lawrence has been charged with Assault 1, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Criminal Homicide. He is currently lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail.
Authorities have assured the public that there are no ongoing threats to the community or residents in the area. Further updates on the case will be provided by the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing, and Bend Police Detectives continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Bend Man Arrested for Multiple Counts of Child Sexual Abuse
Bend, OR - In a significant development, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit arrested 30-year-old Jesus Andres Quintana Maybe from Bend, OR. The arrest follows an intensive investigation that began in February 2024 after ICAC detectives received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
The Cybertip indicated that an online account was distributing Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM). Over the subsequent months, ICAC detectives served multiple search warrants and subpoenas to online service providers. These efforts led to the identification of Jesus Andres Quintana Maybe as the person operating the suspect account.
On July 18, 2024, ICAC detectives, assisted by a Bend Police Department detective for translations, contacted and interviewed Quintana Maybe. During the interview, a digital device was seized from Quintana Maybe pursuant to a search warrant. Following the interview and seizure of the device, Quintana Maybe was arrested and initially charged with two counts each of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (ORS 163.684) and Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (ORS 163.686).
The investigation progressed when ICAC detectives obtained a search warrant for the analysis of Quintana Maybe's cellular phone. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Digital Forensics Unit conducted an analysis of the device over the past week. This analysis uncovered additional evidence of the consumption and duplication of CSAM.
As a result, on July 30, 2024, ICAC detectives filed three additional counts of each of the aforementioned child sexual abuse charges against Quintana Maybe while he was still lodged at the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Adult Jail.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office remains committed to protecting children from online exploitation and will continue to work diligently with the NCMEC and other agencies to bring perpetrators to justice.
Climbing Coach from Bend, Oregon Gets 120 days in child molestation case
Chelan County, WA - A rock-climbing instructor from Bend, Oregon accused of molesting a 15-year-old female climbing student in Leavenworth will serve a 120-day sentence.
A plea deal reduced assault charges against 37-year-old Brady Wayne Kendrick, who is being allowed to serve his sentence through a work release program in Oregon.
The sentence was issued by Chelan County Superior Court Judge Kristin Ferrera this week.
Kendrick was accused of inappropriately touching the teenage girl while camping at the Bridge Creek Campground in Leavenworth on July 3, 2022.
In the case affidavit, Kendrick is accused of grooming female students throughout his career, with former students and parents of students detailing similar instances where he made female climbers uncomfortable in the past.
Kendrick's plea deal lowered his charges from Child Molestation in the Third Degree to Assault in the Fourth Degree (Sexual Motivation).
The victim's mother, father and brother gave impact statements in court and requested the maximum sentence.
Prosecutors asked for 90 days confinement. Kendrick's defense attorney asked for 20 days.
Kendrick submitted an Alford Plea under his plea deal. In an Alford Plea, the defendant does not plead guilty but admits the evidence is sufficient for a likely finding of guilt
The girl's mother submitted a victim statement document to the court, which included the passage below:
"Brady sexually preyed on my daughter for years and then assaulted her at a critical time when she was coming of age, developing confidence, and learning about herself and relationships. He destroyed her high school years and has left an emotional mark on something she truly loves - the sport of climbing. I beg the court to do what it is intended to do, and sentence Brady Kendrick to the maximum sentence under the law."
The victim filed a victim statement, which read in part, "What happened in Leavenworth was just more of what had been happening, but it was scarier. I didn't know how far he would go, and I don't know how far he would've gone had I not pushed him off me...The next day I felt awful, I felt gross, and I felt violated. I could barely look at or speak to Brady, and I never wanted to again."
Photo by Reed Melton
by Reed Melton
This morning, the national average for a fixed-rate 30-year conventional mortgage is 6.8%, the lowest rate by a slim margin in the last six months. The Fed meets today, but the chances of a rate pivot are slim. However, the talk of what might come in September could set the tone for mortgage markets over the next few weeks. Whether the Fed decreases the overnight rate in September is anyone's guess, but a pivot of more than 25 basis points is extremely unlikely. Even with a pivot, if the mortgage market's price in an anticipated decrease, actual mortgage interest rates won't see a significant change. Still, lower rates today will help buyers, with rates down .6% since late April.
Deschutes County inventory growth slowed again this week, with 1295 single-family listings, up eight from last week. The median price of active listings is 820k, with an average of $1,178,448, both increases from last week. This week, there were sixty-five pending sales at an average of 697k and eighty-two closed sales at an average of 945k. The average price reduction for closed sales was -3.75%. Pending sales were down slightly this week, but still in the volume range, we have seen for the last several weeks. Active listings in Deschutes County are at a median of fifty-six days.
Crook County inventory also slowed this week, at 169 single-family listings, up four from last week. The median days listed for the active inventory is fifty-four, with an average list price of 934k. This week, there were nine pending sales at an average of 515k, with five closed transactions at an average of 757k, consistent with the last several weeks. The average price reduction of the five closed homes this week was 2.06%.
In Jefferson County, inventory decreased by five to 108 due to a solid ten pending sales. The active listings in the county show a median days listed of 68 and an average price of 619k. The average price of the ten pending sales is 401k, with two closed transactions at 160k and $411,309.
As the inventory of actively listed homes begins the seasonal decline, many properties that have lingered on the market will sell as summer winds down. Price reductions will prompt some sales, and slightly lower mortgage interest rates won't hurt either. Late summer and early fall are excellent times for buyers as prices decrease, and sellers are generally more willing to negotiate. For buyers knowledgeable about the market, attractive new listings are another great option, as the sellers at this time of year benefit from the season's sales to help them price appropriately. Supply may dwindle over the next several months, but the best deals of any year happen in the off-season. Start your research today so you can be ready to jump on the opportunities bound to come up in the coming months.
Active Listings
Sleep Troubled by Light Spill? 5 Easy & Affordable Blackout Products to Help
Some (lucky) people can fall asleep with the lights on and the TV roaring, but others live on the “super sensitive to everything” spectrum (here’s looking at you, toddler). Sunlight, street lamps, LEDs from electronics—it’s all fair game when it comes to possibly disturbing that sweet slumber. But you don’t have to suffer for much longer because there are lots of options on the market to help. Read on for five great light blocking products, from a $5 stick-on solution to a fully customizable 100% blackout window cover.
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