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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?

📰More stats and insight: City of Bend launches transportation, housing data hubs

📰Bend commits $400,000 to Juniper Ridge homeless counseling

🐟Record Steelhead Return Signals Success in Deschutes River Restoration Efforts

🪖Veterans Day Celebrated Throughout Bend-La Pine Schools

⚠️More than a half-million space heaters have been recalled due to a fire risk.

📰Regional News

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨Crime News

💊Bend Man Arrested for Alleged Drug Distribution Near School, Variety of Narcotics Seized

⚖️Madras man sentenced to nearly 7 years in federal prison for dealing meth on Warm Springs Reservation

📰 Community News

👩‍🌾Applications for the 2025 OSU Master Gardener Program in Central Oregon are Now Available

🎦VIDEO: Good Morning Central Oregon's Megan Sinclair sat down with Leah Thompson with Stumpmunk Farms to learn how to make a Fall-themed wreath.

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

🏘️Real Estate News

🏘️Central Oregon Market Report | November 6, 2024 by Reed Melton

👉Your Moving Checklist: 15 Things To Do Before Moving Into a New Home

📲Sponsors & Partners

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events Fun N Games in Central Oregon has LAUNCHED 🚀

Name this Street. Bonus for Year it was taken.

This is Greenwood Ave at 3rd St., looking east. Best estimate for the pic is 1910 - 1912

 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

Got an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

More stats and insight: City of Bend launches transportation, housing data hubs

The City of Bend is launching two new data hubs for community members to view information on the Transportation Fee and Housing data. Both dashboards were presented to the Bend City Council at Wednesday night's meeting.

The City of Bend is launching a Transportation Data Hub which contains data and budget information about the Transportation & Mobility Department, as called for in the ordinance that created the new Transportation Fee.

The Transportation Data Hub was created following the development of the transportation fee, to help build public trust and increase financial transparency. It will highlight key operational metrics and illustrate some of what the Transportation & Mobility Department does to maintain and repair Bend’s transportation system.

It includes information on funding for the Streets & Operations Division, and revenue generated by the Transportation Fee. The dashboard also illustrates street preservation work, winter operations, street sweeping efforts and service request data. The dashboard overviews assets managed by the department, including streets, sidewalks, bike facilities and curb ramps. Lastly, it includes information about initiatives such as the Neighborhood Speed Radar Program, the 2020 GO Bond, Bikeways and more.

The City of Bend is also launching a Housing Data Hub for community members to access information about the development of citywide housing policies, increasing the amount of affordable housing available to everyone, implementing middle-income housing programs and creating housing or facilities to house homeless individuals on a temporary or permanent basis.

Bend commits $400,000 to Juniper Ridge homeless counseling

The Bend City Council on Wednesday committed $400,000 in American Rescue Plan to help counsel those who are homeless in the Juniper Ridge area off Highway 97.

Over the last couple of weeks, the City and Deschutes County have agreed to a plan for those in Juniper Ridge to be moved to a 40-acre temporary safe stay area during fire season. That safe stay area is expected to be ready by May of next year.

The money approved Wednesday will go toward counseling the homeless while they are there.

"The dollars that we're talking about tonight are just for that case management piece to help people move into more permanent housing," said Amy Fraley, Senior Program Manager of Houselessness Services for the city.

Deschutes County will provide another $400,000 for the same purpose. 

The City of Bend still has some $2.6 million in ARPA funds to spend on projects like this. 

Last summer's Mile Marker 132 fire placed even more urgency on finding a way to prevent future fires at Juniper Ridge.

Record Steelhead Return Signals Success in Deschutes River Restoration Efforts

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Portland General Electric report a record steelhead return of over 250 adult fish at the Pelton-Round Butte project, the highest since the 1960s. The success is credited to improved ocean conditions and adaptive fish management practices, including acclimation and stress relief ponds. This effort is part of a long-term program to restore steelhead and salmon migration in the Deschutes River Basin, fulfilling treaty rights and enhancing local ecosystems. Biologists will monitor these fish, hoping their offspring continue the cycle in future years.

Veterans Day Celebrated Throughout Bend-La Pine Schools

Friday, November 8, 8:45am

Three Rivers K-8 School (56900 Enterprise Drive, Sunriver)
Three Rivers K-8 hosts the Annual Veterans Day Assembly, an opportunity for students and staff to honor those who have served our country. Breakfast will be served to veterans, compliments of the Wallow Bar & Grill and Sunriver Country Store, immediately following the assembly. Veterans are asked to bring their IDs and check in at 8:30am.

Friday, November 8, 10am-12:30pm

Bend Senior High School Main Gym (230 NE Sixth Street, Bend)
The annual student assembly will feature the U.S. Navy Band and four sailors from the U.S.S. McFaul. The Navy destroyer is named for Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Donald McFaul, a 1975 graduate of Bend Senior High School who was killed in action in Panama in 1989 and awarded the Navy Cross. McFaul’s sister, Debra McFaul, will be in attendance.
NOTE: Veterans and other guests arrive at 10am for a private social gathering in the mini gym. Ceremony in the main gym begins at 11am.

Tuesday, November 12, 8:45-10am

High Lakes Elementary School (2500 NE High Lakes Loop, Bend)
The all-school assembly and recognition begins at 9:20am in the school gym and will allow the school community an opportunity to thank their community veterans in person. Veterans and family members are asked to register for the event at bls.fyi/HLEVeteransDay.

Tuesday, November 12, 8:45am-12pm

La Pine High School (51633 Coach Road, La Pine)
The La Pine High School community is hosting a Veterans Recognition Assembly and Brunch beginning with a meet-and-greet in the cafeteria at 8:45 am. Guests are asked to bring their ID and sign in at the main school entrance. The meet-and-greet will be followed by an assembly and recognition in the gym at 10am and catered lunch in the cafeteria at 10:45am. At 11:40am, student lunch begins, and veterans are invited to stay and interact with students.

bend.k12.or.us

Deschutes National Forest

Forest Service Road 4603, which provides driving access to Tumalo Falls will close on Tuesday, November 12 for the winter season. The last day to drive to Tumalo Falls will be Monday, November 11.

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

Bend Man Arrested for Alleged Drug Distribution Near School, Variety of Narcotics Seized

Authorities arrested Bend resident North O’Connor, 42, on October 24, 2024, after an investigation led by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team revealed evidence of illegal drug distribution near a school. O’Connor now faces charges for the unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, unlawful possession of cocaine, and attempted delivery of marijuana.

The CODE Team, working with the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Bend Police Department, had been investigating O’Connor on suspicion of selling illegal narcotics, commonly referred to as “party drugs,” from his home on the 1300 block of NW Lexington Ave. in Bend. This location’s proximity to Westside Village Magnet at Kingston School elevated the investigation’s urgency.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on October 24, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle O’Connor was driving near NE 4th Street and Greenwood Avenue in Bend, where officers took him into custody. Shortly afterward, CODE detectives obtained a search warrant for O’Connor, his vehicle, and his residence.

At around 8:30 p.m., investigators executed the search warrant on his NW Lexington Ave. residence, uncovering a substantial cache of drugs, including cocaine, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), ketamine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and steroids. Detectives also found cash, packaging materials, scales, and paraphernalia consistent with the distribution of illegal drugs.

O’Connor was subsequently transported and lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail. Authorities noted that the investigation remains active, and additional charges or arrests may follow.

Officials remind the public that criminal complaints contain only charges, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Madras man sentenced to nearly 7 years in federal prison for dealing meth on Warm Springs Reservation

A Madras man was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison Wednesday for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

Wyatt Franklin Powell, 61, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

According to court documents, on October 28, 2023, a Warm Springs Police Department officer responded to a report of erratic driving. During the traffic stop, the officer smelled a strong chemical odor consistent with narcotics.

A second WSPD officer with a drug-detection dog arrived to assist, and the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Officers located methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, a BB gun, drug paraphernalia and a digital scale in Powell’s vehicle.  

On February 22, 2024, Powell was charged by criminal information with one-count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. He pleaded guilty on July 2, 2024. 

Applications for the 2025 OSU Master Gardener Program in Central Oregon are Now Available

Applications for the OSU Master Gardener Program in Central Oregon are now available. The program targets individuals interested in becoming a trained VOLUNTEER who wants to learn and share research-based gardening information.

Program will be a hybrid training with both online and in-person learning. Once you apply and have been accepted, you will be considered an OSU Master Gardener trainee. As a volunteer in training, you will participate in weekly hybrid (both in person and online combined) training conducted by qualified OSU Extension faculty, specialists, and certified OSU Master Gardeners.

Training days occur once a week for eight weeks. Please consider these dates when applying, keeping in mind that you are required to attend a minimum of seven classes in person.

For 2025, these are the training dates:

Dates: In person classes will be held on Wednesdays, January 29-April 9, with no class on February 26 and March 26.
Time: 9:30am-2:30pm
Location: OSU/Deschutes County Extension Service, 3800 SW Airport Way, Bldg. 3, Redmond
Cost: $280, includes tuition and supplies. Partial scholarships are available.
Applications: Due by January 10, 2025.
Information at: extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/central/how-join

extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes

Central Oregon Market Report | November 6, 2024

by Reed Melton

The next significant news that could impact the housing market will be the Fed meeting and whether the overnight rate drops. Many predict another rate decrease, likely at no more than 25 basis points. However, while a decline in the overnight rate may impact credit card rates or car loans, it does not directly correlate to mortgage interest rates. Leading up to the aggressive 50 basis points rate decrease at the last Fed meeting, mortgage rates reached a low of 6.2%, but rates this morning are 7.04%. Last week, I touched on the activity in the bond market to explain this counter-intuitive move, with mortgage interest tied closely to the 10-year Treasury Note, which sits at 4.472% this morning. The 10-year Treasury needs to get closer to 4% or less to see an appreciable decline in mortgage interest rates. The Fed's limited tools and decreasing effect on our economy is a concern for bond investors as we wait to see where mortgage rates will trend in 2025. 

Inventory levels in Deschutes County for single-family homes dropped 58 this week to 1067. Fifty-five pending sales and sixty-six closed transactions are one less than last week's numbers and lower than the previous several weeks.Home prices have remained stable, with median price reductions ranging from -4.88% in the active inventory to -6.06% for the closed transactions. This range of price reductions is consistent with trends over the past year. This week, the median active list price is $770,000, the pending price is $679,900, and the closed price is $670,950. 

Crook County also experienced a drop in available inventory, now at 165 single-family homes for sale. Unlike Deschutes County, Crook County's activity remains consistent and strong, with seven pending sales and six closed transactions. The median active listing price of $599,900, pending price of $415,900, and closed price of $407,000 are all very close to trends over the last several weeks. Remember that the smaller transaction volume in Crook County and the median sale price can be impacted by Brasada Ranch sales, typically between $1.5M-$3M. 

Not to be left out of the decrease in seasonal inventory, Jefferson County also saw a decline this week, with 115 single-family homes available for sale. Three pending sales for the week are lower than a typical week in the county, but a solid eight closings are up over previous weeks. This week, the median active list price is $494,000, the pending price is $358,400, and the closed sale price is $378,625. 

Whether home sales pick up for the remainder of 2024 remains to be seen, and mortgage interest rates will heavily impact them. As we close out the year and head into 2025, inventory levels will drive the spring market. However, even this year's increased availability of homes for sale was considerably less than in years past. With roughly 5,000 new residents per year relocating to Deschutes County and more throughout Central Oregon, it is unlikely that conditions will change significantly. More often than not, the home you can afford that suits your needs deserves a close look. In my experience, waiting for conditions to change rarely produces better results.  

Active Listings

Your Moving Checklist: 15 Things To Do Before Moving Into a New Home

By Daniel Bortz

Welcome to the ultimate moving checklist—a list of everything you should do before moving into your new home.

Let’s face it: With all the excitement of new digs, it’s easy to forget some important tasks. Plus, certain things are best done while the house is still vacant, long before your boxes and furniture are parked there. Put these things off, and it becomes all the harder to tackle them later.

So before you move—or if you have moved and are wondering how many of these you hit—check out this moving checklist to know what should be done long before you settle in.

1. Turn on utilities

Electric, gas, water—don’t assume they’ll be on and operational when you arrive. Instead, get all your utilities set up ahead of time.

“Chances are the seller will be turning them off as of the closing date,” says Greg Beckman, an Annapolis, MD, real estate agent.

2. Set up internet and cable service

Plan on having a “Property Brothers” marathon while you’re unpacking? Have your home wired for service before you arrive, advises Julie McDonough, a real estate agent in Southern California.

3. Order an energy audit

One of the best ways to cut your energy bill is to order a home energy audit, says Rachel Foy, a real estate agent in Newton, MA.

An energy audit is a professional assessment of your new home’s overall energy performance. This will show you how to make your house more energy-efficient (think insulating the attic, weatherstripping windows, sealing air leaks in crawl spaces), so it’s best to have one done and make related repairs before moving in.

On average, a home energy audit costs about $200 to $700, but some utility companies will do them for free.

4. Do a deep clean

“It’s never easier to do a deep clean than when the house is empty,” Beckman says. A cleaning service costs around $150. Don’t mind cleaning the home yourself? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Cleaning a House, with tips on how to clean a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and beyond.

5. Change the locks

Swapping in new locks that only you have a key for is an essential safety measure. However, “it can’t be done until after closing,” says Chris Dossman, a real estate agent in Indianapolis, IN.

6. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Ensure these function properly to protect your new home from fires and other emergencies. Also, read our recommendation for the best type of smoke detector.

7. Set up the alarm system

If the home already has a security system installed, call the provider to confirm that service is set up, says Jennifer Baxter, associate broker at Re/Max Regency in Suwanee, GA.

8. Tackle major home renovations

The last thing you want to do is have to tiptoe around a construction zone after you move in. So, if you want to repaint the home, resand floors, or make any other renovations, do them in advance.

“These projects are best done when the house is empty and usually don’t happen once the furniture shows up,” says Foy.

One caveat: “You have the right to bring in vendors for quotes, but work cannot start until you own the home,” she adds.

9. Make repairs

Before moving in, Baxter recommends hiring a contractor to do any repairs that the seller didn’t agree to make. Check out our tips on how to hire a great contractor.

10. Get a home warranty

Imagine waking up one morning to a busted boiler or leaking washer in your brand-new home. A home warranty covers the cost of repairing many home appliances—and basic coverage starts at only about $300, says Shawna Bell of Landmark Home Warranty.

11. Buy fire extinguishers

Get a fire extinguisher for every level of your home, make sure you know how to use it, and plan an escape route in the event of a fire.

12. Get to know your new house

Figure out where the circuit breaker box and main water shut-off valve are before moving in so you know how to turn the electricity or water off in an emergency. Also, consider labeling your home’s electrical panel.

13. Childproof the home

Have kids? Every year, millions of children are hospitalized because of accidents around the home, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. So, before your bundle of joy starts toddling around the house, take steps to fully childproof your new home.

14. Forward your mail

Don’t forget to update your address with the United States Postal Service. (Visit the Official Postal Service Change of Address website.) The postal service charges a $1 fee to verify your identity when changing your address online, so you’ll need a credit or debit card.

Note: The postal service will stop forwarding periodicals to your new address 60 days after you move, so alert magazines and newspapers that you’ve moved.

15. Update your billing address

Alert your credit card companies, banks, or any other financial institutions of your new address. Also, if you frequently buy anything from a website, you can avoid a future headache by updating your profile with your new address.

 😎Just Sayin

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