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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🎃DD Ranch 2024 Pumpkin Patch

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🏫🏗️Bend High School students adjusting after starting the school year in construction zone

📰⚠️State Finds Bend Senior Care Facility Dangerously Understaffed After Resident Death

✈️Avelo Airlines extends Redmond bookings to 4 destinations through April 29

📰🛤️Senators Propose Expanding Railroad Tax Credit

🔬👩‍🔬COCC's Science Program Launches Graduates into Global Careers

📰Regional News

Central Oregon Fire Info

Updates of Oregon Fires

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨 Crime News

⚖️Bend man accused of opening fire on busy street indicted on federal gun charges

⚖️Fugitive Arrested for Failing to Appear in Arson Case, Released on Bail

📰 Community News

😍🐶Man and Dog Reunited After Car Accident Near Shaniko

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

💓Monday’s Health Corner

🎣💖Fishing: A Path to Happiness and Well-being for Women

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

📲Sponsors & Partners

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TERREBONNE

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Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

DD Ranch 2024 Pumpkin Patch

Come see us this Fall at our annual Pumpkin Patch!
School Field Trips, Hay rides , Pony rides, Train rides, Paintball shooting gallery, Cowboy arcade, Petting zoo, Kids Korral, live music, food trucks and more!
Open Tuesday - Sunday, closed Mondays.

Starts September 29th

10:00 am to 5:00 pm

3836 NE Smith Rock Way, Terrebonne, OR

Bend High School students adjusting after starting the school year in construction zone

Colby Enebrad, Reporter

The new school year at Bend Senior High School has brought new challenges as construction is well underway on a complete redesign of the campus. It's the first year that students and staff will face having to navigate through their hallways as construction continues.

"I think 'frustration' is a good word for it, but it's not frustration towards anyone," senior Taj Erikson said. "It's more just our time and we're not used to it yet. Definitely getting to the front of the school from this building, it takes a long time."

The sounds of heavy construction surround the home of the Lava Bears while crews operate heavy machinery, hammer and excavate, preparing to build several new buildings.

This also comes following the recent and surprising demolition of the school's auditorium after it was deemed structurally compromised and unsafe to occupy.

"Will the auditorium be missed? You bet. But at the end of the day, we refuse- absolutely refuse to let facility define what Bend High's about," Bend High School Principal Christopher Reese said.

The project has forced the creation of new routes and choke points through the hallways of the school. This has caused heavy congestion and has made it difficult to navigate, even for students who have walked the halls for years.

"It's been more difficult because it just takes a lot longer to get places. When I first got in the building, part of the campus is gone. So it's kind of a new dynamic and it feels somewhat like a new campus even for me," senior Logan Hainisch said.

Students also have to pass under a corridor constructed out of scaffolding, connecting the main building to the new Maxwell Center, which contains classrooms.

"The scaffolding makes it very echoey, so sometimes it hurts your ears to walk through the hallways because it's just so loud," senior Carlie Shields said.

But despite the inconveniences, the students and staff are determined to make it a great year.

"I'm really excited for the school year, because it's super fun having the challenges and being able to face all this adversity," Shields said. "Through everything, we've decided our motto is 'culture over construction.' Not letting the walls define us, but the people inside the walls."

Reese says that despite the surprise demolition of the auditorium, construction is on track to finish on time in 2028. 

VIDEO

State Finds Bend Senior Care Facility Dangerously Understaffed After Resident Death

State inspectors found Aspen Ridge Memory Care in Bend dangerously understaffed on Aug. 30, when a resident died after being left unmonitored in the sun for several hours. The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) issued an "immediate jeopardy" notice, stating two caregivers called out sick, leaving only one staff member to cover resident care. The facility is now banned from accepting new residents and must have at least four caregivers on duty during the day.

This incident is part of a growing national concern over deaths in memory care facilities. DHS began investigating immediately, and conditions at Aspen Ridge have since improved. However, an investigation into the state's delayed response is ongoing.

FULL STORY HERE

Avelo Airlines extends Redmond bookings to 4 destinations through April 29

Avelo Airlines says it's extending some popular flight options from Redmond Municipal Airport well into next spring.

Passengers can book flights to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Sonoma/Santa Rosa, Calif., through April 29, 2025.

One-way fares start at $67, the airline said.

Senators Propose Expanding Railroad Tax Credit

COURTESY PHOTO: Matt Wiederholt

Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize and expand the tax credit for short line and regional railroads. The bill increases the tax credit from $3,500 to $6,100 per mile for track maintenance and expands eligibility to track owned or leased as of 2024. The tax credit is vital for maintaining Oregon's 15 short line railroads, including the City of Prineville Railway, which used the credit to rebuild a crucial bridge.

COCC's Science Program Launches Graduates into Global Careers

Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of global problem-solvers through its robust science programs. Alumni like Kelsey Harpham, now a lead water resilience consultant, trace their impactful careers back to COCC’s hands-on labs and inspiring faculty. Harpham’s work addressing global drought conditions through climate-resilient infrastructure projects is a direct result of the education and foundation she received at COCC.

COCC’s science programs offer small class sizes, personalized instruction, and cutting-edge facilities, like the modern Middleton Science Center. Graduates like Heaven Le Roberts, now a scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Kasey Ziegler, a chemistry student at the University of Oregon, credit COCC’s diverse coursework and supportive environment for their successful transition into advanced scientific careers.

Updates of Oregon Fires

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Another AQI Map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Bend man accused of opening fire on busy street indicted on federal gun charges

A Bend man accused of shooting at another man on a busy northeast Bend street last month has been indicted on federal charges of felon in possession of a firearm, a prosecutor said Friday as a Deschutes County judge agreed to dismiss three similar local charges.

Aaron Polit, 41, still faces three charges in Deschutes County, one of first-degree attempted assault and two of unlawful use of a weapon, in the August 28^th incident.

Police said he parked on NE Emerson Avenue, got out of his Jeep holding a handgun, called out to a nearby man and fired at least one shot. They said a bystander with a concealed weapons permit drew his gun and confronted Polit, who dropped his gun.

Responding officers found a 9 mm handgun on the street, and police said a search of the Jeep turned up body armor, a 12-guage shotgun and ammunition. He initially was accused at arrest of second-degree attempted murder, but first-degree attempted assault was the most serious charge in the subsequent grand jury indictment.

Polit was scheduled to enter a plea to the state charges on Friday, but a representative of Polit’s public defender, Angela Lee-Mandlin, said she was unavailable and requested a 30-day delay to review a large volume of evidence in the case. Instead, Miller rescheduled the plea hearing for next Friday.

Fugitive Arrested for Failing to Appear in Arson Case, Released on Bail

Jefferson County deputies arrested Christopher Mennealy, 51, wanted for failing to appear in court on an arson charge related to the Larch Creek Fire, which burned over 18,000 acres in July. Mennealy was taken into custody and later released after posting $2,000 bail. He had also pleaded guilty to a separate 2019 charge of attempting to elude a police officer in Deschutes County, receiving a two-day jail sentence and a license suspension. A hearing date for the Wasco County arson case has not yet been set.

Jefferson County deputies arrested Christopher Mennealy, 51, wanted for failing to appear in court on an arson charge related to the Larch Creek Fire, which burned over 18,000 acres in July. Mennealy was taken into custody and later released after posting $2,000 bail. He had also pleaded guilty to a separate 2019 charge of attempting to elude a police officer in Deschutes County, receiving a two-day jail sentence and a license suspension. A hearing date for the Wasco County arson case has not yet been set.

Man and Dog Reunited After Car Accident Near Shaniko

In early September, Angel Maldonado from Bend was reunited with his dog Lucy, after the two were separated following a car accident near Cow Canyon. Lucy, a Pitbull, ran off into the sagebrush, leaving Maldonado devastated. After days of searching and losing hope, a local set bait traps and spotted Lucy. Maldonado rushed to the scene, called her, and she ran back to him. Lucy was unharmed but scared and hungry. Maldonado now plans to help Lucy become a certified therapy dog.

Fishing: A Path to Happiness and Well-being for Women

Fishing has long been celebrated as a relaxing and rewarding pastime, but recent research shows it offers unique benefits for women, particularly when it comes to mental well-being. A study conducted by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) in partnership with IPSOS uncovered some compelling reasons why more women are taking to the water with a rod and reel.

According to the study, women who fish experience a wide range of mental health benefits. One in four female anglers reported that fishing significantly improves their mood, bringing a sense of peace and helping them manage stress. Many participants also noted that the patience required while fishing allows them to clear their minds and focus on the present, contributing to greater mindfulness.

Beyond stress relief, fishing has also been shown to foster perseverance and confidence. The study found that women who fish are more likely to maintain a positive outlook, even in the face of setbacks. Fishing teaches resilience and determination, traits that can carry over into other areas of life. Almost half of the women surveyed said the activity boosts their confidence, helping them to face challenges with a clearer, more determined mindset.

These insights reveal the profound impact fishing can have on mental wellness, encouraging women to tap into their potential by spending more time outdoors and engaging with nature. Whether it's finding peace on a quiet riverbank or building grit through the challenges of the sport, fishing is more than just a hobby—it’s a pathway to personal growth and happiness.

So next time you’re looking for a way to unwind or challenge yourself, consider heading to your local fishing spot. The water awaits, ready to help you discover your best self.

Sources:

- Take Me Fishing™ Research

- RBFF & Ipsos Study Highlights

I enjoyed this information as I used to fish when I was a kid and haven’t done it enough as an adult. It’s inspired me to get out there and get my fishing on. I found this great local book to get started, I find it helpful since we have SO many places to fish and this book helps to find out the best places, the ‘rules’ - fly fishing vs bait fishing, shore fishing vs boat fishing, etc.

The book was easy to read and well laid out. It does actually have ads through out, but they are all related to fishing in some way from local businesses, so actually could be helpful.

Couple of other books for fishing in Central Oregon:

Found a few other things while I was ‘shopping’ 😊

2024 Fishing Regulations

Whose ready to go FISHING?!

Deschutes Public Library Events

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