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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia ANSWER

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🛠️🐄🍳School of Ranch Tips & Tricks @Sisters Farmers Market

😋🎸Munch & Music w/Precious Byrd

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🚦Why weren't Bend traffic lights working after squirrel-caused power outage was fixed?

🔥🧑‍🌾Elk Lane Fire creates unease for farmers in busy harvest season while facing evacuation

🚧Businesses react to city of Bend’s Greenwood Avenue safety project now underway

Central Oregon Fire Info

Updates of Oregon Fires

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

📰MP132 Fire update release 8/7/24

⛑️Teens returning from a day on the lake get trapped by Elk Lane Fire

🚨 Crime News

 📰 Community News

🪖🚘Vet in a 'vette drives through Bend, raising awareness about veteran suicides

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

🐶🐕Pets of the Week

🐶🐕Meet the Little Bug Family!

🫴💖 Local Cause Spotlight

🏫🧑‍🌾Cultivating Growth and Connection: The School of Ranch

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

📲Sponsors & Partners

What was the original name of the ranch where Bend's first permanent settlement was established?

A) Deschutes Bend Ranch

B) Farewell Bend Ranch

C) Oregon Bend Ranch

D) River Bend Ranch

Answer: B) Farewell Bend Ranch

Expanded Answer: The first permanent settlement in what is now Bend, Oregon, was established in the 1870s at the Farewell Bend Ranch, located at the dramatic 90-degree bend in the Deschutes River just south of present-day downtown Bend. The name reflects the location's distinctive geographical feature.

BEND

MADRAS

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

School of Ranch Tips & Tricks @Sisters Farmers Market

*Sunday - August 10th

10 am - 2 pm

*Every Sunday

Get a taste of many of our best workshops, and come away with practical tips and tricks. We're running a rotating schedule of four 30 minute sessions starting at 10am at the Sisters Farmers Market - Carpentry, Electric, Engine Repair and...yes...rockhounding! Sponsored by the Sisters Farmers Market. Contribute what you want to attend!

Munch and Music August 8th - Precious Byrd

Drake Park

5:30 - 9:00pm

Along with Dad Bods and Hella Shy

In the vibrant music scene of the Pacific Northwest, a group of friends came together to jam and have fun, a decade later they are still known for it – Precious Byrd. Renowned for their electrifying performances and a playlist that spans across both covers and originals, this group has become one of the most sought-after rock bands in the region. Whether it's a lively wedding celebration, an energetic festival, or a corporate event, Precious Byrd brings an unmatched energy that captivates audiences and leaves a lasting impression. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres, including rock, funk, and soul, Precious Byrd crafted a unique musical identity that transcends traditional boundaries.

The journey of Precious Byrd began in the musical hub of Oregon, where a group of talented musicians came together to create a sound that would soon resonate far beyond the local scene. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres, including rock, funk, and soul, Precious Byrd crafted a unique musical identity that transcends traditional boundaries.

What sets Precious Byrd apart is not only their exceptional musical prowess but also their genuine love for their fans, affectionately known as "the flock." This close connection with their audience has created a loyal and enthusiastic following that eagerly anticipates each performance. The band's dedication to delivering a memorable experience for their fans has solidified their reputation as a crowd favorite, making them the go-to choice for various events.

Why weren't Bend traffic lights working after squirrel-caused power outage was fixed?

Thousands of Pacific Power customers in Bend lost power Tuesday morning, an outage blamed on a wayward squirrel in a substation.

Although power was restored by 10:30 a.m, according to Pacific Power, several traffic signals were not functioning properly for hours afterward. They were flashing red lights.

The City of Bend said that after an outage, traffic signals typically start running again automatically. But in some cases, the power may impact electrical equipment. That requires the Oregon Department of Transportation to make repairs.

“The City contracts with ODOT for traffic signal maintenance. It’s a great benefit to be able to utilize their full resources of specialized traffic signal electricians, operators, and equipment to maintain our signals,” City of Bend Community Relations Manager Jacob Larsen said in an email.

Larsen told Central Oregon Daily just after 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, that all the signals should be working shortly.

Elk Lane Fire creates unease for farmers in busy harvest season while facing evacuation

Video Here

Steele Haugen, Reporter

In two days, a fire started by lightning has grown to more than 5,600 acres, threatening the Madras community. Fire crews said the Elk Lane Fire was still 0% contained Tuesday and high winds are on the way.

In Madras, farmers and ranchers are in a scary and frustrating position. They are in the midst of the busiest harvest time of the year and are now facing evacuation orders.

The flames were so intense that Gov. Tina Kotek approved outside resources, including federal help, which are now necessary. Kotek issued the conflagration act to assist all the local firefighters with additional resources from outside the county. It's the 11th time Kotek has felt the need to mobilize extra resources for a wildfire this year.

The fire has left the community in a position many have never experienced. 

"First time in many, many years, if not first, for this area to reach out and have a confirmation to the state and use the state and federal resources to help us out," said long-time Jefferson County Rancher and new County Commissioner Mark Wunsch.

Wunsch says he has been in touch with his farming and ranching community, and they are uneasy.

"The impacts are not only with the smoke but all the traffic and the potential of evacuating," said Wunsch. "I have been in contact with quite a few farmers nearby that are closer to the fire and have a plan with them and their concerns."

While residents have been watching this fire, worried about their property, animals, and crops, visitors are in limbo.

"We were just driving up from Vancouver to visit my cousins, who live one more road down on Belmont, to pick up a couple of kittens. And yeah, then we got here, and they shut down," Madeline Williams of Vancouver said. "Hard no' to drive on the road. So we were just waiting for them to get here and see if we have just to turn around and go home."

As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 1,119 homes in evacuation levels with 222 extra fire personnel to help.

Wunsch says the county communicates about potential financial aid and assistance to these farmers and ranchers.

"We're trying to get everyone on the same page and doing the best for what this community needs and protecting not only the farm assets but our citizens, the firefighters and all the crew and the structures that have been threatened," said Wunsch.

The county said there has been confusion and misinformation about this fire It says the most reliable source is the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

Multiple Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations were in effect for the fire Tuesday night. A map of the evacuations can be found at this link.

• LEVEL THREE: SW 17, SW 16, NW 5, NW 10, NW 9

• LEVEL TWO: NW 13, NW 4

• LEVEL ONE: NW 7, SW 23, SW 21

The evacuation center is at Madras High School and the fire command is at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Large Animals can also remain at the fairgrounds.

The public is encouraged not to call non-emergency 911 for updates or reports but to call Elk Lane Fire Information at (458) 206-1745.

Businesses react to city of Bend’s Greenwood Avenue safety project now underway

By Kelsey McGee

Video Here

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The city of Bend is making safety improvements on Greenwood Avenue, and part of the project led to this week's two-day closure of the busy road. 

"I'm excited for the changes, because there'll be more pedestrian access, and it's going to be easier to cross," Lone Pine Coffee Roasters owner Scott Witham said Tuesday.

Construction on Greenwood Avenue between Wall Street and Second Street is underway, a "quick build" part of the Midtown Crossings project that required a full closure of the stretch for Monday and Tuesday, reopening Wednesday morning.

Despite the several changes happening to Greenwood Avenue, including a lane reduction, bike lanes and some parking removal that have sparked debate before City Council approval, some businesses along the busy route into downtown are in favor, due to safety improvements.

Unofficial Logging Company co-owner John Heylin said, "I'm really looking forward to having a more pedestrian-friendly area. The safety of walking around downtown, I'm looking forward to expanding that down to Greenwood."

Witham said, "Our employees have a hard time parking on the other side of Greenwood crossing. They feel like it's dangerous."

Silver Moon Brewing co-owner James Watts said, "I think the possibility of increased traffic, both foot traffic, bike traffic obviously from the east side of Third Avenue could increase, making it a little bit easier to pass by our place as people head into downtown."

City of Bend Chief Operations Officer Russell Grayson told us about the $800,000 project. 

"We're going to be taking the road down from four lanes and parking on either side, with no bike facilities, to a three-lane section. So one lane to travel in each direction."

The project also includes: improved crosswalks and bike lanes. 

Grayson added, "What we're doing is we're putting in pedestrian refuges in the middle. So as you cross, you'll only be looking at one lane of traffic. You can get to the middle and then you can look at traffic on the other way, so you feel safe crossing that."

At Silver Moon Brewing, they say construction isn't hurting business. 

Watts said, "From a business standpoint, it doesn't affect us all that much."

Others believe the improvements will have positive impacts. 

Heylin said, "I think it's going to really help business on Greenwood."

 The city recommends finding alternative routes when you can, as you can experience delays and full closures with detours. The project is expected to be completed by Wednesday, August 14.

Updates of Oregon Fires

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.

Press Release from Bend Fire & Rescue:

MP132 Fire update release 8/7/24

At 2:28 pm on Friday, August 2 2024, Deschutes County 911 Dispatch began receiving calls reporting smoke coming from a property near Milepost 132 on the east side of Highway 97. First responding units from Bend Fire & Rescue noted a visible column of smoke and added additional resources due to the risk of extreme fire behavior during a prolonged period of hot and dry weather. 

The fire ultimately charred 78 acres before it could be contained, with resources from throughout Deschutes County and Jefferson County assisting in suppression efforts.  In addition, air and ground resources from US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon Department of Forestry also were instrumental in stopping the progress of the fire.  Two structural task forces from Lincoln County and Polk County that had been pre-positioned in the Redmond area by Office of State Fire Marshal were also dispatched to assist.  Bend Police, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and Oregon Department of Transportation were also instrumental in this incident.

The origin of the fire was found to be on a vacant, privately owned 13 acre lot addressed as 64010 N. Hwy 97.  There are no structures on the property other than wood and wire fencing.  Upon investigation the cause of the fire was found to be a cooking fire at a camp on the property.  The resident of the camp is not known and was not located. 

Bend Fire & Rescue would like to remind the community that our fire danger is currently in the extreme category.  While natural causes of wildfire such as lightning cannot be prevented, human caused wildfires can.  According to the National Interagency Fire Center, human caused wildfires comprise 87 percent of all wildfires nationally.  Escaped debris burns and equipment use are the two leading causes of human-caused wildfires across Oregon.  Help protect your home and property from the threat of wildfire by taking simple actions to create defensible space around your home.  More information on the Own Your Zone program in Bend can be found at https://www.bendoregon.gov/government/departments/fire-rescue/emergency-preparedness/own-your-zone.  Bend Fire & Rescue offers free consultations on how you can help make your property better prepared against the threat of wildfire. 

Vet in a 'vette drives through Bend, raising awareness about veteran suicides

Video Here

Brooke Snavely, Reporter

A veteran on a cross-country journey in a Corvette drove through Central Oregon Tuesday in support of veterans. It’s a road trip on the Medal of Honor Highway from Oregon to Massachusetts.

Retired Army Colonel Robert Hess is raising awareness about the high rate of veteran suicides — about 20 per day on average.

The car he’s driving, a 2007 Chevy Corvette C6 with 400 horsepower, racing suspension and a six speed manual transmission, is an attention getter.

"The goal behind this is suicide prevention," Hess said. "All we can hope is someone will see the message and, at some point in time, they will speak with a veteran who is on the verge and they will take the step and they will save that life."

Hess is driving the Corvette across the country so it can race at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia in the Top Dog Motor Sports Competition. That’s a race between the branches of the military. 

"There’s American Legion posts all along the way and it reminds you what a special group of people America’s veterans are. For me its really an honor to do this. It’s a gift to spend three weeks on the road," Hess said. 

Hess is driving the 3,365-mile long Medal of Honor highway through 15 states. He swears, with a twinkle in his eye, he is not breaking the speed limit.

In Bend, he met with Dick Tobiason, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel,  who championed establishment of the cross-country highway that honors veterans who went above and beyond the call of duty.

"I’ve known several (veterans) who’ve attempted suicide," Tobiason said. "They’ve always found that if they can be with other veterans who are like minded and who care for each other it’s no longer self focused. It’s focused on the group. It works." 

This the second time veterans have used the Medal of Honor highway to raise awareness. A couple of years ago, three veterans walked the highway from east to west in support of 80,000 service members who went missing in action during World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.

You can track Hess's travels here.

If you, or someone you know, is in crisis or struggling with thoughts of suicide you can dial 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Meet the Little Bug Family!

These little cuties are newer arrivals, chi mixes, and we are currently accepting applications for the pups and mama.

Breed: Chihuahua Mix
Gender: Males and Females
Age: Momma Cricket is around 5 years old. Baby bugs were born around mid-June.
Kids: Yes, gentle
Cats: Unknown, but probably
Dogs: TBD

Location: They are in a foster home. Contact us to meet them!

Cultivating Growth and Connection: The School of Ranch

In a world where technology often distances us from our roots, the School of Ranch stands as a pillar of connection—connecting individuals with nature, animals, and each other. This remarkable non-profit organization offers transformative experiences, fostering personal growth and community engagement through hands-on learning in ranching and agriculture.

If you're interested in learning more about how you can contribute or participate in the programs offered by the School of Ranch, visit their website today!

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