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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia T&TH

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🥕🥔🫘Fill Your Pantry - November 9th

📅Save The Date Section

🍲Think Wild Hosting a Wild Chili Cook-Off -November 16th

 💓🧘‍♀️Meditation & Educational Event -November 16th

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

⚖️AG: Oregonians may receive compensation from $49 million partial settlement of generic drug price-fixing lawsuits

🌨️City of Bend dusts off its winter equipment, getting ready for snowy streets; Les Schwab Tires offers advice

📰Miller’s Landing project to improve Deschutes River access beginning soon

📰Regional News

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🚧Deschutes County Road Department plans to close Cascade Lakes Highway, Paulina Lake Road for the winter on Nov. 19

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

💥Philomath man killed in weekend crash on SW Belmont Lane west of Madras

💥Highway 97 reopens north of La Pine after head-on crash that injured three, one seriously

🚨Crime News

📰 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 Fun N Games in Central Oregon has LAUNCHED 🚀

🤔TRIVIA ANSWER

Which presidential candidate visited Bend, Oregon in 1968?

👇Find the answer at the end of the Newsletter👇

 BEND

Events Sponsored By

Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

The 9th Annual Central Oregon ​​​Fill Your Pantry is a community bulk-buying farmers market created so YOU can fill up your pantry, freezer, and root cellar with great local products for the winter. Say bye-bye to busy holiday lines and produce that has traveled farther than you during holiday vacations, and say hello to a kitchen full of local meats, grains, vegetables, ferments, and more.

The Central Oregon Fill Your Pantry will allow you to stock up on items like potatoes, onions, leeks, beets, winter squash, garlic, honey, flours, apples, pears, dried beans, krauts, baked goods, and more.

This is a bulk-focused farmers market, so bring your muscles! Farmers, ranchers, orchardists, and producers will be selling large quantities of items. For example, 20lb bags of onions, 50lb bags of potatoes, 25lb boxes of ground beef, etc. This is a great opportunity for vendors to move product before the harsh Central Oregon winter and a great opportunity for you to save money and eat well all winter long.

Saturday 
November 9th

11am to 3pm

OSU Extension parking lot Deschutes County Fairgrounds

Coming up - Save the Date

November 16th

November 16th

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Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

AG: Oregonians may receive compensation from $49 million partial settlement of generic drug price-fixing lawsuits

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced Monday two significant cooperation agreements and antitrust settlements with two generic prescription drug-makers, expected to total $49.1 million, and said Oregonians who used their drugs could be eligible for future compensation as a result.

The settlements resolve allegations that both Heritage Pharmaceuticals and Apotex engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies. These conspiracies allegedly violated both federal and Oregon antitrust laws. Specifically, Rosenblum and others alleged the companies artificially inflated and manipulated prices, reduced competition, and unreasonably restrained trade for numerous generic prescription drugs.

“This is anti-competitiveness plain and simple and it hurts the tens of millions of Americans every day who count on their generic drugs to be accessible and affordable,” said Rosenblum.

As part of their settlement agreements, both companies have agreed to cooperate in the ongoing multi-state litigations led by Connecticut against 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. Both companies have further agreed to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.

The $10 million settlement with Heritage was filed Monday in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford. A settlement with Apotex for $39.1 million is contingent upon obtaining signatures from all necessary states and territories and will be finalized and filed in the U.S. District Court in the near future, the attorney general said.

City of Bend dusts off its winter equipment, getting ready for snowy streets; Les Schwab Tires offers advice

ODOT isn't the only agency keeping busy preparing for snowy winter roads. The city of Bend is also starting its winter preparations. 

 "The shop is actually getting our equipment all fitted," Streets Division Manager Chuck Swann said Monday. "We're almost complete getting all the plow mounts on the center boxes and the mag tanks put in our trucks."

The Transportation and Mobility Department staff is currently undergoing winter operations training. The city has 18 snowplow operators per shift and 30 pieces of equipment, including a mini-sweeper the city purchased last year. 

"As the snow melts off, we'll come in with these sweepers and will pick up the sand that was - migrates over into the bike lanes," Swann said.

While the city is making sure to keep the roads clear, Les Schwab Tire Centers is urging drivers to get the right tires for the winter season. 

Bend store manager Steve Curtiss said, "We have many options. We have a studless snow tire, winter traction tire available. We also have studded, but kind of depends on the driving you do and how you drive."

November 1 was the first day Oregonians could legally start putting on studded tires. 

But Curtis said safe driving in the snow requires more than just tires. 

"Biggest thing I have is just being confident in the snow," he said. "And of course, having the right tires is probably the key benefit to being confident - in having the right tires. We'll help you choose those tires, whether it's studless winter snow tire, a studded snow tire or a tracked all-weather tire."

To see which routes will get plowed first, the city's winter street priority map can be found at bendoregon.gov/snow.

Here's the city's recent news release on this year's summer street work and winter preparation:

BEND - The City of Bend’s 2024 Street Preservation Program has wrapped up after City street crews and contractors improved 59 lane miles (about 6%) of Bend’s approximately 936 lane miles of roads for about $4.7 million. 

With the City’s ‘keep good roads good’ philosophy, work focused on using the right treatment at the right time to provide the most cost-effective way to maintain public Final striping and painting will be taking place over the next week.

In a Friday news release, the city said Bend's street preservation this season included:

• Paving contract with Knife River Corporation - Northwest (16 lane miles) – Old asphalt is ground out and replaced on the existing roadway. Paving occurred on some busy streets including Division Street, Butler Market Road, Reed Market Road, Bear Creek Road, NW 12^th Street.

• Slurry seal contract with Doolittle Construction, LLC (22 lane miles) – A treatment for low-volume residential streets.

• Chip seal contract with One Way Trigger, LLC (21 lane miles) – An asphalt emulsion and rock are applied to streets.

“This work helps extend the life of our roads that are vital to our community. We thank everyone for their patience this construction season,” said Streets & Operations Project Manager Paul Neiswonger.

As seasons shift, the Transportation and Mobility Department is getting ready for winter operations and is asking everyone to do their part to prepare for winter. Learn what to expect during the winter in Bend at bendoregon.gov/winter.

The City’s resources are set for the average winter, but the occasional extreme storms can be challenging. The City has 18 snow plow operators per shift and 30 pieces of equipment.  The equipment ranges from light-duty pickups to medium-duty dump trucks to heavy-duty (two motor graders) with snowplows.

The City prioritizes plowing and sanding on the highest-use streets that accommodate the most drivers, major employment areas, schools and transit routes. The City’s winter street priority map at bendoregon.gov/snow illustrates which routes get plowed first.

Crews prioritize plowing main arterials as “Priority One” for emergency vehicle access and the traveling public, also focusing on routes to the Hospital, transit routes, employment centers, government facilities, and schools (if class is in session). 

“Priority Two” streets are typically main collector streets connecting to the arterials and include business centers, medical facilities, safe routes to school, transit routes, connecting neighborhoods, etc.  Residential streets are typically done last and may be supported with contracted crews.

With 165 lane miles of main arterials, 80 lane miles of collectors and 691 lane miles of local residential streets, crews cannot plow and sand all roads at the same time and must follow this prioritized plan.

This story first appeared KTVZ

Miller’s Landing project to improve Deschutes River access beginning soon

The Bend Park and Recreation District is set to begin a project at Miller’s Landing Park to enhance river access and restore habitats, aiming for completion by summer 2025, the district announced Monday.

Here is the full release from BPRD:

Bend, Ore. – (Nov. 4, 2024) – The Bend Park and Recreation District is getting started on its latest river access improvement project, capitalizing on lower water level conditions this fall and winter. The Miller’s Landing Park project will begin in early November and is expected to be completed summer 2025.

Miller’s Landing Park is a 4.5-acre community park and one of 16 district-owned or managed parks along the Deschutes River. The district’s 2021 Deschutes River Access and Habitat Restoration Plan identified a high priority project at Miller’s Landing Park to improve the existing access points and restore habitat. 

The new design at Miller’s Landing focuses on improved river access for boaters and river users of all abilities by redeveloping the boardwalk. Additionally, the access point at the north end of the park will be improved for swimming, wading and slower-current water recreation.

“We are very excited to bring a first-of-its-kind accessible boat launch area to help all Deschutes River boaters to enjoy the river,” said Ian Isaacson, BPRD project manager. “This project will also add riverbank fencing to help restore damage from overuse and will follow other successful projects like at Riverbend South where new hardened access points and riparian restoration are thriving.”

Access to the river has been identified by the community as a high priority for both residents and visitors. After opening Miller’s Landing Park in 2014, the years of use and increased demand on the park caused the access points to no longer serve the population as well as intended.

This project was prioritized from the Deschutes River Access and Habitat Restoration Plan and the preferred concept design was completed under the McKay, Miller’s Landing and Columbia Park River Access and Restoration project.

Funding for the construction of the Miller’s Landing project includes grant funds from the Bend Sustainability Fund, which invests in projects that protect, steward and create sustainable recreational resources and outdoor experiences in Bend’s backyard; from the Oregon State Marine Board Waterway Access Grant Program, which invests 10-foot and longer nonmotorized boat permit fees for boating facility improvements; Oregon’s Local Government Grant Program; and from a donation from the Joseph & Elizabeth Hoffart Charitable Foundation.

Learn more at the Miller’s Landing project webpage.

Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint to be closed for a day for staff training November 6th

Deschutes County Road Department plans to close Cascade Lakes Highway, Paulina Lake Road for the winter on Nov. 19

Philomath man killed in weekend crash on SW Belmont Lane west of Madras

A Philomath man was killed west of Madras late Saturday night when he failed to negotiate a sharp turn at about 90 mph and his pickup crashed into a rock wall, Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollock said Monday.

Deputies were dispatched shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday to the reported single-vehicle crash on Southwest Belmont Lane, on the west side of Dry Canyon, Pollock said.

An investigation determined that Caleb Rowland-Barnes, 27, was alone in the Ford F-250 diesel pickup and heading west out of the canyon when he failed to make the sharp corner and hit a rock wall, causing him to be thrown from the truck and succumb to his injuries.

“Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash,” Pollock added.

Highway 97 reopens north of La Pine after head-on crash that injured three, one seriously

A two-vehicle head-on crash closed Highway 97 north of La Pine for about two hours Monday afternoon, ODOT reported.

The crash was reported around 2:20 p.m. near Burgess Road and milepost 163, about six miles north of La Pine. Traffic soon backed up, as ODOT advised motorists to “expect delays or use an alternate route.”

Oregon State Police said one person was flown by Air Link helicopter to St. Charles Bend with serious injuries, while two others were taken there by ambulance with reportedly minor injuries.

The roadway reopened around 4:30 p.m.

 😎Just Sayin

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Which presidential candidate visited Bend, Oregon in 1968?

Robert F. Kennedy visited Oregon in May 1968 as part of his presidential campaign, connecting with voters across the state.

Below is an article from the Bend Bulletin on May 26, 1968

Vice President Humphrey, Vietnam war main targets of RFK’s speech in Bend

With articulate statements and carefully chosen campaign rhetoric, Senator Robert Kennedy held a crowd of some 2,000 persons under his sway for more than 30 minutes last night.

Kennedy stepped to the lectern amid cheers from a capacity audience at the Bend High School auditorium.

Commenting on the lack of other presidential campaign visits to Bend, he told the crowd, “well someone cared enough to come to Bend,” and drew prolonged applause.

Making little attempt to disguise attacks on Vice-President Hubert Humphrey’s “politics of joy,” Kennedy said, “We can’t have such politics with the grave problems we face.”

“We can’t be content with a politics of joy when we have to bring in 12,000 troops to quell disorder in the nation’s capital. We can’t have politics of joy when nine of our major cities erupted in violence recently. And we can’t be contented and joyful until the slaughter of Americans in Vietnam has ended.

“I will continue to criticize and refuse to be content as long as young Americans are being killed in Vietnam yet South Vietnamese young men can buy their way out of the draft.

“This is their country and their conflict, and it is their war. Why should American casualties be continually on the increase while the casualty rate for the Vietnamese has steadily dropped?

“There are three million Vietnamese refugees on the conscience of every American, yet the aid money we send ends up in the pockets of political leaders and corrupt generals. I cannot be content as long as this continues.”

During the return trip to Redmond, Senator Kennedy spoke with a Bulletin reporter, outlining his position on gun control legislation.

“The only gun legislation I have sponsored in the Senate,” he remarked, “was to keep guns from falling into the hands of the mentally demented, and those too young to handle guns responsibly.”

He stressed that his efforts would not remove guns from those who are responsible for their actions.

Speaking on his primary hopes he named Oregon as a “key race” in his bid for the Democratic nomination.

Praising the recent CORE statement on “black capitalism,” the Senator expressed his belief that everyone wants the feeling of controlling their own lives.

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