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

🐕🎃Howl-O-Ween Craft Market - Ponch’s Place

🚗Classic Car Fest - River’s Place

📅Save The Date Section

💖🫴3rd Annual A Night to Remember - Bowties & Boots - Fundraiser

💓🧘‍♀️Meditation & Educational Event

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Business Developments in Central Oregon: A Look at Recent Changes

📰Additional information on the Three Rivers Break-in

📰Several parents accuse Madras cheer coach of physical, emotional abuse; coach denies their claims KTVZ

Central Oregon Fire Info

Updates of Oregon Fires

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🏠🔥Structure Fire on Aspen Drive in SW Bend Extinguished by Bend Fire & Rescue

🚨Crime News

📰Bend Man Arrested on Multiple Child Sex Abuse Charges

💊Redmond Police and Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team Arrest Local Man on Drug Charges

🏠🏠Real Estate News

🏘Central Oregon Market Report | October 16, 2024 by Reed Melton

😓Half of Americans Have a Cluttered Room They Consider ‘Unsalvageable’—but Believe It or Not, There’s Hope

📰 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 COMING SOON - A NEW EVENTS CALENDAR JUST FOR “Fun N Games” in Central Oregon! Stay tuned!

When did the earliest recorded measurable snowfall occur in Bend, Oregon?

A) September 15, 1920
B) October 1, 1945
C) September 24, 1934
D) November 10, 1950

Answer: C) September 24, 1934

Expanded Answer: The earliest recorded measurable snowfall in Bend, Oregon, occurred on September 24, 1934. This early snow was quite unusual, as snowfall in Central Oregon typically begins in October at higher elevations and November or December in lower areas like Bend​

BEND

Events Sponsored By

Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

HOWL-O-WEEN CRAFT MARKET

VRCCO is excited to announce that we will be hosting a Howl-o-ween Craft Market at Ponch’s Place on Saturday, October 19 from 11am-6pm. Enjoy all of the Halloween festivities we have planned, including:

- Local vendors displaying and selling their art. Plus trick or treating for the kids at each booth.
- Costume Contests for both pets and humans! Win great prizes and receive $1 off if you or your pet shows up in costume.
- Vet Cadets Childcare will be hosting a family fun afternoon from 11am -2pm including kids Halloween crafts and face painting.
- Plus live music from Leadbetter & Moore from 4pm-6pm.

We hope to see you there!

62889 NE Oxford Ct, Bend, OR 97701

Classic Car Fest @ River’s Place

Live music, vendors, food trucks, beer, and of course, Classic Cars!!

A benefit for Warrior Impact, a local non profit that provides support, healing and resources to Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress.

If you would like to register your car (1980s and earlier), follow this link:
REGISTER YOUR CAR

Saturday Oct. 19th

12 pm to 4pm

787 NE Purcell Blvd Bend, OR

Coming up - Save the Date

November 16th

Got an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

Business Developments in Central Oregon: A Look at Recent Changes

Central Oregon continues to experience rapid growth and development, with several businesses expanding and new opportunities emerging. Here's a closer look at some of the latest changes in the business landscape across Redmond and Bend.

BasX-Redmond Expands with New Welding Shop 

BasX Solutions, known for its custom HVAC solutions and modular cleanrooms, is set to make a significant impact in Redmond with the opening of its new welding shop. This addition will help the company boost its production capacity and is expected to add around 200 new jobs to the local economy. The expansion reflects BasX’s commitment to innovation and its role as a major employer in the area, further solidifying Redmond as a hub for manufacturing and industrial growth.

Bend's Hideaway Tavern Expands into Former Backyard Pizza and Grill Space

Bend's thriving food and drink scene continues to evolve, with one of its beloved local spots, the Hideaway Tavern, expanding into new territory. The tavern, known for its laid-back vibe and comfort food, is taking over the former location of Backyard Pizza and Grill, which closed its doors recently. This expansion will allow the Hideaway Tavern to offer more seating and space for patrons, enhancing its ability to serve the local community and visitors alike.

The former Backyard Pizza and Grill was a well-known spot in Bend, and the Hideaway Tavern’s decision to expand into this space reflects a continued commitment to growing its footprint while maintaining the cozy, neighborhood charm that regulars have come to appreciate. The move is expected to breathe new life into the area, creating a fresh destination for both old and new customers to enjoy.

This expansion is part of the broader growth in Bend’s hospitality scene, where restaurants and bars are finding ways to innovate and meet the demands of a growing population.

Shari’s Closes in South Redmond 

Not all changes are expansions, however. Shari's, a long-time fixture in south Redmond, has closed its doors. Known for its family-friendly diner experience and iconic pies, Shari’s closure marks the end of an era for locals who have frequented the establishment for years. The reason for the closure has not yet been disclosed, but it reflects the challenges some national chains face in smaller markets as competition increases and consumer preferences shift.

New ‘Eight Hands’ Sandwich Food Truck Opens in Bend’s Old Mill District 

On a brighter note, Bend's culinary scene continues to thrive with the opening of the 'Eight Hands' sandwich food truck at Crosscut in the Old Mill District. Known for its unique, chef-driven sandwich creations, Eight Hands is quickly gaining popularity among locals and visitors alike. The addition of this food truck complements the vibrant mix of eateries in the area, offering a casual yet delicious dining option in one of Bend’s most popular districts.

As businesses expand, close, or open in the Central Oregon region, these shifts reflect the dynamic nature of the local economy. From job creation in Redmond to fresh food experiences in Bend, the area remains a place where opportunities continue to flourish.

Additional information on the Three Rivers Break-in

Several parents accuse Madras cheer coach of physical, emotional abuse; coach denies their claims

By Isabella Warren

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Multiple allegations against a Central Oregon cheer coach have some parents fearing for the safety of their children, but the coach is denying their claims.

Parents of children with Central Oregon Diamond Elite are alleging physical and emotional abuse by coach Ashley Garcia Manteiga. Several parents of the children, ages 8-12, say their daughters were left with bruises by the coach, who holds cheer camps in Madras and Prineville.

NewsChannel 21 also has received dozens of other complaints from parents, dating back to 2021 involving Manteiga, the owner of Central Oregon Cheerleading.

"These girls are scared. I mean, they're little kids," Central Oregon Elite President Kim Kibble told us.

She says the organization fired Manteiga in July following multiple incidents reported at a cheer camp in Portland.

But Manteiga says it's a different story.

"There has been bullying. There's been fighting, there's been meltdowns during practice and at events. And it was kind of making the older girls upset, and they didn't want to be part of the program any more," Manteiga said.

Kibble shared, "Ashley was very adamant that the girls were going to make her look good, no matter what. She was very, very not nice to the girls."

One of the parent coaches, who wished to remain anonymous, said she witnessed the alleged abuse: "Ashley walked up to her, put both of her hands in between her thigh and her calves, and grabbed her calves. And I could see her dig her fingertips in her legs and grit her teeth and say, 'Like this.'"

But Manteiga says the bruises came from practice, and each other: "The girls were constantly falling down, hurting each other. Even the camp instructors even gave a comment saying, 'Wow, this girl wants to die.'"

NewsChannel 21 learned a full investigation was conducted by St. Charles, law enforcement and the Oregon Department of Human Services after reports of abuse were filed. The state agency determined there was a concern for physical abuse caused by Manteiga.

A child's parent was quoted in the report as saying, "She came home with bruises from Ashley, because Ashley would segregate her from the other cheerleaders and put her hands on her, and be really mean and forceful with my child."

“This wasn't something that was a mistake or an accident," the parent continued. "She chose to take my child away from other cheerleaders and put her own hands on her and hurt her."

Manteiga says she has not been contacted by officials since the abuse investigation. But she had accusations of her own, against her accusers.

"I have been getting threats from the cheer parents. My daughter has been getting threats on social media," she said Wednesday.

We reached out to Madras Police and the Crook County Sheriff's Office for updates on whether any police reports were filed, but were told they had not received any reports.

Kibble says the accusations are all about prevention: "We want to make sure that the next generation of teams don't fall into the same pitfall that we did.”

But Manteiga calls it all "a mistake."

"This is a mistake, and we all learn from it," she said. "And hopefully, you know, this will just end and everyone can continue. Because at the end, I don't want this to hurt the girls, because it's all about the kids."

We'll hear more on the allegations and hear from a team member in the second part of our Special Report Thursday night on NewsChannel 21 First at Ten on Fox.

The post Several parents accuse Madras cheer coach of physical, emotional abuse; coach denies their claims appeared first on KTVZ .

Updates of Oregon Fires

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Another AQI Map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

Structure Fire on Aspen Drive in SW Bend Extinguished by Bend Fire & Rescue

BEND, OR — On the night of Thursday, October 17, 2024, at approximately 10:37 p.m., Deschutes County 911 received multiple calls reporting a structure fire at the intersection of Aspen Drive and Mahogany Street in southwest Bend. Initial reports indicated that the garage at 60984 Aspen Drive was fully engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading rapidly to nearby trees and vehicles.

Bend Fire & Rescue responded swiftly, deploying multiple engine companies to the scene. Firefighters worked diligently to bring the blaze under control. While the garage and several vehicles were completely destroyed, the team managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the home itself. The house sustained only minor heat damage to its vinyl siding, and it remains habitable. Red Cross assistance was not needed.

Crews remained on-site until just before 3 a.m., conducting extensive overhaul operations due to the large quantity of combustibles stored in the garage. The total losses are estimated at $120,000.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and further details will be released as the investigation progresses.

Bend Fire & Rescue's quick response played a key role in limiting the fire’s damage and ensuring the safety of nearby residents.

###

Bend Man Arrested on Multiple Child Sex Abuse Charges

BEND, OR – A 55-year-old resident of Bend, Christian Robert Kas, has been arrested and charged with serious offenses including two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and three counts of encouraging child sex abuse. The arrest follows a lengthy investigation initiated by the Bend Police Department after a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in November 2020 suggested that Kas may possess child sex abuse material. Although initial efforts to investigate the claims were hindered by a lack of information, a breakthrough came in February 2024 when an 8-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted by Kas. Detectives reopened the investigation and executed a search warrant at Kas's home in March, uncovering digital devices, CDs and DVDs containing illicit material, along with methamphetamine and children's clothing. Following this, Kas was taken into custody on October 4 at the Bend Police Department. Authorities have expressed concerns that there may be additional victims and are urging anyone with relevant information to contact the nonemergency dispatch line at 541-693-6911.

Redmond Police and Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team Arrest Local Man on Drug Charges

Redmond, OR – On Tuesday, October 15, Redmond resident Christopher Lee Hughes, 39, was arrested on multiple drug-related charges after a coordinated effort between Redmond Street Crimes detectives, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team, and Redmond Patrol officers.

Hughes was apprehended on the 100 block of W. Antler Avenue after initially attempting to flee from law enforcement. Officers quickly pursued Hughes on foot and successfully arrested him. He was later booked into Deschutes County Jail.

A search warrant for Hughes’ backpack led to the discovery of 397 grams of methamphetamine, three grams of cocaine, and several items associated with drug trafficking, including scales and baggies.

In addition to charges of unlawful delivery and possession of methamphetamine and cocaine, Hughes was also arrested for an outstanding parole board warrant, a restraining order violation, escape, resisting arrest, and an outstanding sex abuse case.

The Redmond Police Department acknowledged the teamwork between CODE and Redmond Patrol officers, praising their efforts in bringing Hughes into custody.

Central Oregon Market Report | October 16, 2024

by Reed Melton

One drawback to a Federal annual deficit of two trillion dollars is the need to monetize the debt through government bonds. Bonds sell in an auction format, and investors will only purchase the bonds if the yield makes sense in our inflationary economy. As the auctions wind down, bond yields rise if investors don't step up, and that rise in yields trickles down to financing costs in the form of car loans, credit card interest, and mortgage interest, to name a few. Mortgage interest rates closely follow the 10-year Treasury, which is at 4.009% this morning, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.62%. With mortgage rates at 6.14% just several days ago, home buyers feel today's rate sharply. As expected, home sales slowed with higher rates, and inventory decline is sluggish. Add in our typical seasonal taper towards the winter months, and the stats for this week in Central Oregon make perfect sense.

This morning, there are 1173 single-family homes for sale in Deschutes County, just one less than last week. A modest sixty-one pending sales at an average of $934,272 and sixty-one days on the market indicate less buyer activity than the previous several weeks. Fifty-four homes closed this week at an average of $1,040,460 and fifty-four days on the market. The sold-to-original price ratio was 93.81%, another indicator that sellers are taking steps to attract buyers.

Inventory in Crook County has shown resistance to decline, increasing by one from last week to 181. Five pending sales, at an average of $796,780, and nine closed transactions, at an average of $767,866, are consistent with the last several weeks. The average days the pending and closed sales were listed were seventy-three and twenty-five, respectively. Crook County's sold-to-original list ratio remains steady at 97.06% for the week, indicating a resilient housing market in the county.

In Jefferson County, inventory is flat from the previous week at 118. Five pending sales, at an average of $549,240 and 103 days listed, are typical for a week in the county. Three closed transactions, averaging $353,233 and 120 days listed, were also in line with the previous several weeks.

At this point, it is impossible to predict what the Fed might do with rates at the November meeting. The economic situation is complex, and it is becoming increasingly evident that the last aggressive rate decrease was politically motivated. And please spare me the narrative about the Fed not being political! With inflation picking up steam and recessionary, stagnant economic indicators flashing red, the Fed is between a rock and a hard place.

When steady rate decreases from the Fed seemed likely, it was reasonable to expect a flood of buyers to enter the housing market, excess inventory to decline, and home prices to remain firm. Unfortunately, even with Fed decreases, the bond markets can derail some mortgage interest rate "good times". Overall, the Central Oregon housing market is stable. But predictions about what comes next depend on expected market conditions to come to fruition. As data comes in and economic policies unfold, I will continue reporting on our housing market in real-time. 

Active Listings

 Half of Americans Have a Cluttered Room They Consider ‘Unsalvageable’—but Believe It or Not, There’s Hope

 By Julie Taylor

Sep 6, 2024

Do you feel like you’ve got way too much stuff and are buried under clutter?

I certainly do. Over the years, I’ve spent thousands of dollars on professional organizers, read countless organizing books, rented dumpsters, and even taken everything out of my rooms and started over. Even so, clutter control continues to be a challenge.

I’m not alone.

According to a new study by Talker Research for The Container Store, half of all Americans have at least one room in their home that they believe is “unsalvageable” with clutter.

The respondents provide their reason: 30% say they’ve outgrown their space, and 48% admit having this feeling within a year of moving in. The study also found that people have the hardest time getting rid of clothes (29%), kitchen equipment (21%), and hobby items (16%).

But there’s no such thing as “unsalvageable,” according to organizing experts.

“Don’t criticize yourself for having too much stuff,” advises Jill Yesko Diana, a certified professional organizer and founder of Discover Organizing in Pittsburgh. “Remember: Decluttering is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Here’s how to start chipping away at these excess items and carve out more space.

How to let go

“I work with people for whom organizing is a true challenge,” says Diane N. Quintana, a certified professional organizer in Atlanta. “First, I ask my clients to define and identify how they want to use the room. What is the purpose of that space?”

A room or area can serve multiple purposes, she says, as long as these uses are identified.

“Then, go through everything in the room and only keep the things in the room which support the use of the room,” Quintana advises.

Also, don’t hold on to something just because it cost you big bucks, advises Libby Wood, a certified senior move manager and owner of Senior Settlers.

“Don’t let the original purchase price of an item become an obstacle,” she says. “If the item was purchased 10 years ago for $1,000, then the price of having it was $100 per year. That money is gone, and the item has served its purpose.”

The things you keep should be the things you need, use, and love, according to Quintana. “If something doesn’t fall into one or more of those categories, then it should leave the home because it’s taking up valuable real estate.”

If the item is particularly hard for you to let go of, take a picture of it and write down the origin story of the item.

“Then let that thing go so you have space in your home for you,” advises Quintana.

How to tackle more intimidating projects

Organizing the kitchen and garage are the toughest tasks, according to the survey.

For these big jobs, the key is starting small.

“Instead of tackling the entire garage or kitchen, break it down by area,” says Yesko Diana. “In the garage, start in one of the four corners and move on to the next.”

In the kitchen, take it one drawer or area at a time.

“For the kitchen, start by organizing the pantry, then move on to the refrigerator and then perhaps the pots and pans cabinet,” advises Yesko Diana.

Regularly scheduled maintenance of these spaces keeps them clear of clutter.

“I believe people work best in short spurts of time,” says Quintana.

If something comes in that you’re undecided about, set it aside and schedule time to weigh the pros and cons.

“Leaving decisions unmade is what causes clutter to accumulate,” she cautions.

How to get motivated and stay that way

When you’re trying to curb clutter, motivation is half the battle.

First, blast some music to get you moving and change the energy of the space.

“Take before and after pictures at each stage for motivation later in the project,” Wood advises.

Calling in reinforcements is always a good idea, according to Yesko Diana. “Get help by calling a professional, family member, or friend—it forces you to focus and make decisions you wouldn’t normally make.”

Remind yourself of the mental benefits, since decluttering your space can also declutter your mind.

“Developing an organization system that simplifies your life can lead to happiness and better mental health,” Yesko Diana says.

Lastly, keep your eye on the prize.

“Remember that most people only use 20% of what they have, the other 80% just takes up space,” says Wood.

Julie Taylor is a writer, producer, and editor. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, and other publications.

Just Sayin’ 😎

Deschutes Public Library Events

Follow us on facebook