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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

😋🎸Munch & Music w/Precious Byrd

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰 🙏Residents' Plea for Safety: Juniper Ridge Fire Evacuation Sparks Urgent Calls for Action

📰Pahlisch Homes Appeals Bend's New Tree Preservation Rules, Calls for Implementation Pause

✔️Voters to decide on expanding Deschutes County Commissioner Board from 3 to 5

⚾Season comes to an end for Bend North Little League Majors baseball as they lose to Washington

🔥Durkee Fire Update

Central Oregon Fire Info

Updates of Oregon Fires

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨 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

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

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

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

📲Sponsors & Partners

Which tribes historically resided in the area now known as Bend, Oregon?

A) Chinook, Nez Perce, and Shoshone

B) Wana Łama, Wasq’u, and Northern Paiute

C) Apache, Navajo, and Hopi

D) Umatilla, Yakama, and Modoc

👉Find the Answer in Tomorrow’s Newsletter👉

BEND

REDMOND

Events Sponsored By Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

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.

Residents' Plea for Safety: Juniper Ridge Fire Evacuation Sparks Urgent Calls for Action

Bend, OR - “Imagine living in fear, day and night,” Deschutes Market Road resident Linda Cook tearfully told Bend city councilors Wednesday evening, one of the many Juniper Ridge neighbors who on Friday had to flee their fire-threatened home for the second time in four years.

The homeless campers on the mostly public property next to them has been costly, in quality of life and more. The fear is palpable.

“Our fence line defines us,” Cook said. “Once I counted 99 rapid-fire shots, then I stopped counting. … My husband has had two bullets whiz by his head.”

As for Friday – when authorities say a homeless camper’s abandoned cooking fire on a nearby vacant lot sparked the Mile Marker 132 Fire - Cook described a long 25 minutes loading their RV and grabbing documents in 104-degree heat as the Mile Marker 132 Fire blew up.

“If you aren’t going to move them, please, please give us a large fire break,” Cook said. “Please, please do something. Oregon is a beautiful state, and it’s burning up.”

She talked of not eating, not sleeping: “It is extremely scary.”

Another woman who had to evacuate again said, “I was in a panic. Everything I’ve worked for my entire life is in my home. Enough is enough. ,,, Our lives and homes are at risk.”

She spoke of the homeless being less than 1% of the population, and that “it seems the Bend City Council cares more about the 1% than the 99%, the rest of us. I believe you’re negligent in allowing it to grow. We want managed, sanctioned camps. You’ve spent $40 million in two years, and it’s worse. Drug treatment, job training – whatever it takes.”

Instead, he said, they are given weekly trash and other services, “gift cards, food, clothing – everything to stay at the level they are at.”

Kebler told those who spoke, “I’m very sorry for what you went through. …. I heard the frustration, and we will continue to work on the problem and come forward with positive actions.”

Bend Fire Chief Todd Riley was already scheduled to start the council meeting with a fire season briefing. Last year, he had little to talk about. This year… a vastly different story, even before Friday's fire.

Thankfully, due to the red flag fire conditions, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office had deployed two task forces to Redmond, and they played a crucial early role in tackling the blaze, before being called three hours later to yet another fire, west of Prineville.

“The cooperation worked, communication worked, evacuation levels worked, but it was a high-profile and high-anxiety fire in our town,” Riley said, and they were “tremendously fortunate” that no structures burned or people injured.

As it turns out, city Real Estate Director Matt Stuart was on the scene Friday when the fire broke out. He told councilors he’s “out there almost once a week, checking things out for any suspicious activity, making sure the houseless are aware of the rules, complying with policies.”

On Friday, he was posting notices for no campfires, after Deschutes County imposed those rules, and visiting some 50 camps, handing out 40 fire extinguishers, when the fire broke out, leading to “a very first-hand experience” and “tremendous respect for the fire team” that tackled it.

Stuart said a 60-foot fire break was done during a sewer line installation, and “I think it helped,” and a new road was cut in from 18th Street last year to enable full apparatus access, among other recent efforts. They also over the last year worked with 911 and Bend Fire to map out the routes within Juniper Ridge.

Stuart said he knows nearby residents want more, and they are exploring more defensible space for homes north of Northpointe Park, for example. Mayor Melanie Kebler said if it’s a matter of funding, that can happen, and Councilor Ariel Mendez asked if they need to be considering more fire breaks and defensible space, “taking this very seriously, doing what we can."

The frightening fire with close to a month at least of fire season still to come led to much discussion about steps to curb the danger.

City councilors already had a joint meeting planned Sept. 5 with county commissioners on the Juniper Ridge issues, and Stuart said close to $300,000 spent by the two governments in the past year to create a safer environment has led to a reduction in fire calls. He said a joint plan to manage the area also would help reduce the risk of crime.

Councilor Barb Campbell asked if they could use the revenue from property sales at Juniper Ridge to create fire breaks, and Stuart said it’s “something we can definitely work on.”

City Manager Eric King said they are working to refine proposals for coordinated, on-site managed camps, with issues such as access and infrastructure to work out.

Councilor Anthony Broadman said they need to look at closing areas to camping and “work together to find areas that are fire-safe, rather than be in this exact same situation next year.”

This story first appeared KTVZ

Pahlisch Homes Appeals Bend's New Tree Preservation Rules, Calls for Implementation Pause

Bend, OR - Pahlisch Homes, one of Bend's largest developers, has appealed the city's updated tree preservation rules with the state Land Use Board of Appeals. They are urging the city to pause implementation to address concerns about the "severe impacts on development in Bend." Pahlisch Homes' Chief Communications Officer, Jason Myhre, stated they would drop the appeal if the city paused the implementation and convened a public process with better representation from developers and builders. The appeal, filed on August 6, argues that the recently adopted amendments to the development code fail to consider the building industry's concerns and could hinder housing development. They request a halt to the new rules until a collaborative solution is reached. The city attorney's office is preparing a response, expected on Friday.

Voters to decide on expanding Deschutes County Commissioner Board from 3 to 5

Colby Enebrad, Reporter Central Oregon Daily News

Deschutes County voters will decide on a multitude of issues this November, but one could completely restructure the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners. If passed, the board would be expanded from three commissioners to five.

John Heylin is the co-owner of Unofficial Logging Co. in Bend. He has worked for more than a year gathering enough signatures to get approval to put the issue on November's ballot.

"Deschutes County is about 216,000 people now, and I think it's pretty ridiculous that only three people, functionally two people, are in charge. Hood River has 25,000 people and they have 5 people in charge," Heylin said.

He said there are several reasons why he thinks the board should be expanded.

"Part of it is the hostility between the commissioners. They can't meet outside of official meetings without violating public records laws. By adding two commissioners, it allows two commissioners to go have coffee together," Heylin said. "Second of all, the millions of dollars spent in lawsuits in Deschutes County regarding the different departments definitely was a consideration in making this happen."

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang is in strong support of the idea.

"I would say that people will have better access to their commissioners and probably better representation if there were more commissioners per population. When commissioners don't have individual staff assigned to us, it's a really big job to be an at-large commissioner for 210,000 people. I struggle to be in touch with 210,000 people and effectively represent them," Chang said.

Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone questions the need to expand the board.

"If it's the the right thing to do, let's go do it. But I don't know what the reason is at this point. If you want a little bit more government, if you want to take a couple hundred thousand dollars from direct services and give it to political people, some people will love that idea. I don't know why, but some people will love it," DeBone said.

The election is November 5.

After 3 weeks, 294,265-acre Durkee Fire in Eastern Oregon is 95% contained; management returns to local crews

DURKEE FIRE

Size: 294,265 acres

Containment: 95%

Location: 1 mile west of Durkee, OR

Start Date: July 17, 2024

Personnel: 337 Cause: Lightning

Current Situation

This will be the final update for the Durkee Fire unless the situation changes dramatically.

The Southern Area Gold Team will transition the Durkee Fire back to the local units at 8 p.m. PDT.

Incident Commander Paul Varnedoe would like to thank the Vale District of the Bureau of Land Management, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal.

Updates of Oregon Fires

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Another AQI Map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

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!

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!

Deschutes Public Library Events

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