Hey there! Ever wished you could stay in the loop with all the exciting local events happening in Central Oregon without the hassle of constantly searching for them? Look no further! With Central Oregon Local Live, you can receive convenient event reminders straight to your phone. Signing up is easy – just visit centraloregonlocalbuzz.com and opt-in for Event Reminders with a simple YES reply. You'll receive a curated list of current events once a week, typically on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Plus, rest assured that your privacy is our priority – we will never share your information or bombard you with unwanted messages. Stay informed and connected with Central Oregon Local Live!

In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🎃DD Ranch 2024 Pumpkin Patch

🍺🛍️Fresh Hops and Pop Up Shops @ River’s Place

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🌠🎦Fireball in the Sky - cumulative footage -

💥Bend hit-and-run driver knocks down power lines, closes intersection for hours

🪵🏕️Oregon Campers Reminded Not To Transport Firewood

📰Regional News

Central Oregon Fire Info

Updates of Oregon Fires

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

 🚨 Crime News

⚠️Redmond Police Alerts Public to Scam Attempt

👨‍⚖️Central Oregon Fraudster Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison

🐶😺Pet of the Week

🐶Meet Baily 💖

📰 Community News

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

📲Sponsors & Partners

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

Why is the Pacific Northwest a major hub for fresh hop beer production?

A) The region has ideal conditions for growing high-quality hops.
B) The climate is perfect for growing barley, not hops.
C) Fresh hop beer requires the use of fresh hops from this region.
D) The Pacific Northwest has the largest breweries in the U.S.

Answer: A) The region has ideal conditions for growing high-quality hops.

Expanded Answer: The Pacific Northwest, particularly Oregon and Washington, is renowned for its hop-growing regions, like the Willamette Valley and Yakima Valley. The combination of fertile soil, a temperate climate, and long growing seasons makes this area one of the top producers of hops in the world. These regions supply the fresh hops needed for brewing, allowing local breweries to create fresh hop beers during the harvest season. The proximity of hop farms to breweries ensures that hops are used within hours of being picked, resulting in the signature flavors and aromas of fresh hop beers.

BEND

TERREBONNE

Events Sponsored By

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

Fresh Hops and Pop Up Shops

Saturday September 28th

Got an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

Fireball in the Sky - cumulative footage -

Bend hit-and-run driver knocks down power lines, closes intersection for hours

A hit-and-run driver knocked over a utility pole, knocking power lines onto O.B. Riley Road near Mervin Samples Road on Bend's north side Tuesday morning.

It happened around 5:00 a.m., closing that intersection for hours as crews worked to clear downed power lines.

Bend Police said it does not have a description of the driver or the vehicle that caused the crash. Police say another vehicle ended up getting tangled in the aftermath.

No injuries were reported.

Oregon Campers Reminded Not To Transport Firewood

Posted by Heather Roberts News Radio 610KONA

Emerald Ash Borer was recently found in additional Oregon counties, and could devastate the state’s native ash trees.  Stefanie Knowlton, with Oregon State Parks, says campers can help slow the spread of the invasive species; by not transporting firewood.

“On its own, the adult beetle can only travel in about a 10-mile radius. But you can imagine, if somebody puts firewood in the back of their truck and they haul it a couple hundred miles away to a campsite, they’ve brought it to a whole new area of the state.”

Instead, Knowlton asks campers to “buy where you burn” this fall.

“They can either buy it within 10 miles of their destination, or buy heat-treated wood. And that way it’s to reduce the risk of bringing emerald ash borer into the park.”

EAB has not yet been detected in a state park.  But it was recently found in Woodburn, which is not far from ash stands in Champoeg and Willamette Mission State Parks.

Updates of Oregon Fires

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Another AQI Map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Redmond Police Alerts Public to Scam Attempt

Redmond, OR – The Redmond Police Department (RPD) would like to alert the public to a scam in which a person is representing themselves as a Redmond police officer.  Specifically, claiming to be Sergeant Gautney, and is contacting individuals regarding, “An urgent legal matter.” The contact has been in the form of voice messages and has been sent to multiple people in the Central Oregon area.  Please do not call this phone number back.  

If you do receive one of these scam calls or messages, please report it to RPD’s non-emergency dispatch number 541-693-6911. 

RPD would like to remind our citizens to never provide sensitive information or send anyone money without verifying their identity and the purpose of the request. RPD will never request you send money in any form to any employee.  RPD will not ask anyone to disclose personal identification information without first properly identifying ourselves, explaining the reason for the request and allowing anyone to verify our credentials.

Central Oregon Fraudster Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison

Darla Kay Byus, a 55-year-old resident of Prineville, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane to four years in federal prison and ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution for orchestrating a Medicaid fraud scheme that spanned multiple counties in Central Oregon, including Crook and Grant counties.

Fraud Fueled by Gambling Addiction

Byus committed her fraud over a two-year period, filing false tax returns to conceal the ill-gotten profits from her business, Choices Recovery Services, which was based in Prineville. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh emphasized that her actions were driven by greed and a gambling addiction. In an elaborate scheme, she submitted over $1.5 million in fraudulent claims to the Oregon Health Authority’s Medicaid program for substance abuse services that were never performed. The payments were wired directly to her business account.

Victims and Stolen Identities

In addition to filing false claims, Byus exploited the identities of at least 45 individuals, 15 of whom she obtained through online jail roster searches. These fake identities were used to create patient records for services that were never provided. The fraudulent activity spanned from January 2019 to August 2021.

Ties to Crook and Grant Counties

Byus funneled much of the stolen money into real estate, purchasing four properties—three in Prineville, Crook County, and one in John Day, Grant County. The federal government is expected to seize and sell these properties in an effort to recover the stolen funds.

Defense Claims and Sentencing

During the sentencing in Eugene, Byus’ attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Kurt David Hermansen, argued for leniency, claiming another individual involved in Choices Recovery Services led her astray. He also pointed to her mental health struggles, including post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, as mitigating factors. Despite these arguments, Judge McShane handed down the four-year sentence, stating that her prolonged fraud and use of stolen identities showed a clear pattern of deception.

Byus admitted in court that she knew her actions were wrong but claimed she didn’t know how to stop. In addition to gambling, she had used the funds to invest in real estate in Central Oregon.

The case highlights the impact of fraud not only on state resources but also on the local communities of Crook and Grant counties, where Byus’ fraudulent activities left a lasting imprint.

Deschutes Public Library Events

Follow us on facebook