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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia T&TH

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🦃Who's Open for Dining on Thanksgiving? - By Eat Drink Bend

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📅Save The Date Section

🎅The 2024 Bend Christmas Parade - Dec. 7th

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Madras closing Oak Street Homeless Camp less than 6 months after opening

🦌Wildlife protection: Deschutes Nat'l Forest winter range closures start December 1

⛔ The Edison Butte Sno-Park will be closed for the winter as a result of last summer’s record wildfire season.

❄️🚌 Bus service to two sno-parks west of Bend has been called off for this season

🎄 Holiday Tradition - Cutting Your Own Tree!

📰Regional News

🗣️💊DCBS to host public meeting on prescription drug prices Dec. 4

📰Hyundai, Kia recall 208,000 electric vehicles to fix power loss problem

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🏠🔥Home Fire in SE Bend Causes Significant Damage, No Injuries Reported

🔥Terrebonne shop fire prompts response from multiple agencies

🚨Crime News

⚖️Drug-dealing charges dropped against Bend man after OSP lab test finds agents misidentified ketamine as cocaine

📰Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse by Oregon Prison Doctor

📰 Community News

📰Rosland Elementary fifth-grader Teegan to serve in 2025 Kid Governor’s cabinet

 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 🚀

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What’s Up Central Oregon 

Bend Food News

by Eat Drink Bend

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but not all of us are looking forward to a day full of cooking. We've got some of the best places you can eat out, get takeout, or grab a ready-to-heat meal kit this Thanksgiving Day!

Who's Open for Dining on Thanksgiving?

Newbie Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge is just one of many restaurants serving up a fantastic prix fixe menu on Thanksgiving.

Coming up - Save the Date

The 2024 Bend Christmas Parade

Saturday Dec. 7, 2024 – 12pm Start Time

Bend's most beloved event is coming soon! After 40 years, the Parade keeps on going and growing, and the 2023 Parade  was the largest ever!
2024 is going to surpass 2023!

Our Grand Marshals this year truly deserve the honor. For 39 years of the Parade history Terry Rahmsdorff served as our Santa Claus, bringing up the rear of the Parade and bringing cheer to countless kids of all ages with his booming, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" Sadly, Terry passed away last year and he was greatly missed at the 2023 Parade. His wife Terri and his family have agreed to serve as Grand Marshals this year so that we can acknowledge and express our gratitude for Terry's years of love and care for our community. 

Got an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

Madras closing Oak Street Homeless Camp less than 6 months after opening

Steele Haugen, Reporter

The City of Madras is closing its Oak Street Homeless Camp less than six months after its opening.

"We don't believe with the homeless service center that we need that camp," Madras Community Development Director Nick Snead said.

Snead said part of the closure is due to the new Homeless Service Center's available beds.

"We're seeing the 3rd and Oak Street camp is really not needed because we've got a shelter for people to utilize to sleep and get food and other services there," Snead said.

By law, the city had to open another place for folks to go after sweeping a large homeless encampment at the Willow Creek trail due to sanitation issues. It opened the gravel-laid, concrete barriered Oak Street Camp, located behind the city's Homeless Service Center. Each individual was required to remove all their items in the mornings and could not return until an hour before sunset each day.

Shelter services manager Tony Mitchell said the capacity issues are a bit misleading.

"If you're a male guest, the capacity actually could be taken for the night," said Shelter Service Manager Tony Mitchell.

Mitchell said the 14 beds designated for men are usually at 75% capacity and the ten beds for women are almost always available.

"It's where we have most of our capacity, which is in our women in families dorm and occasionally in our assisted care flex room," Mitchell said.

The assisted care flex room has three beds.

The City said it will reopen the Oak Street Camp if capacity becomes full.

Snead said since the closure of Willow Canyon, different organizations have helped individuals out of homelessness.

"There have been eight individuals who are homeless who are now receiving services from Best Care and other places and getting the supportive services they need," Snead said. "Closing this camp is largely a bigger strategy than utilizing the existing resources in our community."

The Oak Street Homeless Camp officially closes on December 13.

Snead said the city is working on two major projects that should reduce homelessness. That includes updating its Housing Action Plan and developing a homelessness report to identify different solution strategies.

Mitchell said the Homeless Service Center is gearing up for its extended, longer winter hours.

"We need at least a couple of staff members, a staff member and a volunteer to successfully do so in terms of donations that we can use. We're going into the winter," Mitchell said.

Mitchell expects the shelter to be used more as the winter conditions approach.

"We can use socks, knit hats, boots and backpacks that unhoused friends can use," Mitchell said. "Our organization would well appreciate any of that. This means that I want to let you know that we appreciate what we can do by partnering with the city of Madras and the community to serve the folks we serve here."

You can donate to the shelter here:

Wildlife protection: Deschutes Nat'l Forest winter range closures start December 1

Four winter range closures across the Deschutes National Forest will take effect December 1 to protect critical habitat for deer and elk, the U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday. The closures, lasting through March 31, 2025, aim to reduce disturbances that deplete the animals' energy reserves, supporting survival and healthier populations.

Here is the full announcement including which areas are affected:

Central Oregon— Starting Sunday, December 1, four winter range closures take effect across the Deschutes National Forest to provide critical habitat for deer and elk.

Beginning December 1, 2024, four annual wildlife winter range closure areas including Cabin/Silver Lake, Metolius Winter Range, Opine Travel Management Area and Tumalo Winter Range will begin. Motorized vehicles (including snowmobiles and electric bicycles) are prohibited in the closure areas to protect deer and elk during the winter. The winter wildlife closures will last through March 31, 2025.

>The public can visit the following links to view maps of the closure areas:

• Cabin/Silver Lake Map

• Metolius Winter Range Map

• Opine Travel Management Area Map

• Tumalo Winter Range Map

Winter range is habitat deer and elk migrate to in order to find more favorable living conditions during the winter. Winter range is found predominantly in lower elevations of central Oregon and is extremely important to elk and mule deer survival. Winter ranges usually have minimal amounts of snow cover and provide vegetation for forage, hiding cover, and protection from the weather. In Oregon, elk and mule deer migrate, often long distances, to lower elevations to escape or minimize exposure to snow cover.

Local mule deer populations have declined 56% between 2004 and 2021. Human disturbance of deer and elk during the winter can cause the animals to flee which expends energy from the reserves they’re relying on to survive through winter and to successfully provide for young in the spring.

By respecting winter range closures, the public can reduce impacts to deer and elk helping to sustain existing populations into the future. Improving habitat quality for deer can preserve the functionality of traditional migratory routes and reduce impacts with nuisance deer in town resulting in more healthy and productive deer populations.

The public can learn more about the importance of winter range by visiting Winter Range Closures on the Deschutes National Forest website.

The Edison Butte Sno-Park will be closed for the winter as a result of last summer’s record wildfire season.

The U.S. Forest Service announced that the sno-park remains within the Bachelor Complex emergency closure area. Even if the closure area is lifted, the sno-park itself will remain closed.

At the site, at least one shelter has been damaged, and numerous hazard trees are present along the trails, contributing to the ongoing closure.

 Bus service to two sno-parks west of Bend has been called off for this season.

The weekend routes were set to shuttle cross-country skiers to the Meissner and Swampy Lakes Sno-Parks starting in December.

Nonprofit Meissner Nordic cited the complexity of starting a new bus route as one of the reasons that service through Cascades East Transit won’t roll this year.

The funding came in part by grants from the Deschutes Trail Coalition and Visit Bend.

Meissner Nordic Ski Club board president Steve Roti said that money will carry over and they will try again next season.

 Holiday Tradition - Cutting Your Own Tree!

You can purchase a Christmas tree permit at a participating local vendor, a USFS office or on http://Recreation.gov. Individual tree permits are $5 each. Click the link below for the updated list of local vendors: HERE

DCBS to host public meeting on prescription drug prices Dec. 4

Salem – The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) will be hosting a public hearing on prescription drug prices on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. both in person and via Zoom.

The hearing will feature panel presentations on “Who really pays for drug advertising and is what you see what you get?” and “Why are rebates necessary and how do they help or harm the consumer? How do they affect what drugs are available?” Panels will be moderated by Oregon legislators Sen. Deb Patterson, Rep. Christine Godwin, Rep. Emerson Levy, and Rep. Rob Nosse and feature presenters from academia, patient advocates, and industry representatives. You can learn more about the agenda on our website.

The public is invited to participate and comment on how drug prices have impacted them. You can attend the hearing via Zoom or in person at the Labor and Industries Building, second floor conference room (Room 260), located at 350 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. We encourage you to testify at the hearing or provide written testimony. For more information about the hearing, email [email protected].

DCBS is also asking for the public’s help before the public hearing to share your stories on prescription drug prices. The department has set up a brief survey for consumers to share their stories about rising prescription drug prices. Drug prices play a major role in health care decisions of Oregonians, and the cost of prescription drugs have steadily increased. The department wants to hear your stories about the costs of prescription drugs and how it has affected you and your family. The previous testimonials are available on our website.

Insurance Commissioner Andrew Stolfi will facilitate the hearing, and staff will discuss highlights and recommendations from the 2024 Drug Price Transparency Report to the Oregon Legislature. The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act (ORS 646A.689) directed the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services to establish a transparency program to accept reports and disclose certain information from prescription drug manufacturers, health insurance carriers, and consumers on drug prices. The goal of the program is to provide accountability for prescription drug pricing through the notice and disclosure of specific drug costs and price information from pharmaceutical manufacturers, health insurers, and consumers.

### 

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and www.dcbs.oregon.gov.​​

Hyundai, Kia recall 208,000 electric vehicles to fix power loss problem

Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80.

Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024.

The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery.

Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Owners whose vehicles were recalled earlier this year to fix the same problem will have to visit their dealer again.

Owners will be notified by letter in December and January.

Home Fire in SE Bend Causes Significant Damage, No Injuries Reported

A late-afternoon fire on Friday, November 22, 2024, caused significant damage to a home in Southeast Bend near the 61000 block of 27th Street. Fortunately, no one was inside the structure at the time of the fire. A nearby neighbor spotted the blaze, called it in, and checked the house for occupants before firefighters arrived.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded promptly, managing to confine the fire to a single room. Despite their swift action, the structure sustained an estimated $75,000 in damages. The cause of the fire was determined to be combustible materials placed too close to a wood heating appliance. Heat from the appliance ignited the materials, causing the fire to spread to other combustibles and the structure itself.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

Following the fire, Bend Fire & Rescue issued a reminder to residents to adhere to manufacturer-recommended safety guidelines for heating appliances and comply with local fire and building codes. They emphasize maintaining proper clearances around wood heating appliances, suggesting a minimum of 36 inches on all sides to prevent similar incidents.

Terrebonne shop fire prompts response from multiple agencies

A shop fire near Terrebonne Friday afternoon prompted a response by multiple agencies.

The fire was reported just after 1:00 p.m. at 13406 SW Golden Mantel Road. Units from Redmond, Crooked River, Sisters and Cloverdale responded.

The shop included a small mother-in-law unit.

Firefighters mostly got the flames under control by 3:00 p.m. Nobody was hurt, but a cat was reported missing.

The cause of the fire was not immediately released.

Drug-dealing charges dropped against Bend man after OSP lab test finds agents misidentified ketamine as cocaine

Charges have been dropped against a Bend man accused of selling a variety of illegal “party drugs” from his home near a school on Bend’s Westside after Oregon State Police lab tests determined one of the seized drugs was misidentified. But a prosecutor said a new indictment will be sought.

A traffic stop last month had led to the arrest of North O'Connor, 42, accused of selling drugs from his home, located less than 1,000 feet from Westside Village Magnet at Kingston School.

However, Deschutes County Deputy District Attorney Andrew Doyle told NewsChannel 21 Friday the substance identified as cocaine in the grand jury’s indictment “came back as ketamine, not cocaine.”

“As it was indicted by a prior grand jury, it will need to be re-indicted on new charges by a new panel,” Doyle said. He expects the charges will involve distribution of a Schedule 3 controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

"When law enforcement seizes drugs, they use what is called a 'presumptive test' to initially test in the field," the prosecutor explained. "These presumptive tests are not usually admissible in jury trials. 

"OSP lab must test it using much more detailed and accurate testing. In this case, that is what occurred," Doyle said. "There is still cocaine, just the large quantity bags of white powder which one presumptive test said was cocaine tested by OSP on their equipment as ketamine. 

"That necessitates a change in charges that cannot be done by simple oral amendment, but instead must be entirely resubmitted to a new grand jury panel," Doyle explained.

"Even though the bulk quantity tested as ketamine, that is still a controlled substance and still illegal to deal," he said. "So the government still intends on prosecuting Mr. O’Connor, but this is exactly why we have OSP lab testing in place."

Circuit Judge Beth Bagley signed the dismissal order on Friday, court records show, and a jail official said he had been released.

At a pre-trial release hearing a week ago, Circuit Judge Raymond Crutchley reduced security to $250,000 and laid out conditions of O'Connor's release, including living with his mother under third-party supervision in Gates, Oregon, wearing a GPS monitoring device and under a nighttime curfew.

Dismissal of the initial charges means that at least for now, the conditions would not be in place, Doyle confirmed.

Earlier info: 

The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team had said its investigation found that North O’Connor was selling the drugs from his home in the 1300 block of Northwest Lexington Avenue, located within 1,000 feet of the school, which Lieutenant Mike Landolt said “made this case a priority for our team.”

CODE Team members pulled over a vehicle driven by O’Connor in a traffic stop around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the area of Northeast Fourth Street and Greenwood Avenue, Landolt said. He was taken into custody on probable cause of distributing cocaine.

CODE detectives requested and were granted a search warrant for O’Connor, his vehicle and his home.

The detectives, assisted by the Central Oregon Emergency Response (CERT) Team and Bend Police, served the search warrant around 8:30 p.m. that night. Landolt said the searches turned up cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, steroids, cash, packaging material, scales and drug paraphernalia.

O’Connor was booked into the county jail, where he was initially held on $500,000 bail. He was arraigned by video from jail on four felony charges and is scheduled to enter a plea on Nov. 22, court records show.

O'Connor was indicted Oct. 30 on one Class A felony – cocaine delivery with 1,000 feet of a school – and three Class C felonies: possessing a “substantial quantity” (over 10 grams) of cocaine, attempted illegal delivery of marijuana and marijuana possession (over 128 ounces).

"This is an ongoing investigation," Landolt said at the time, and "more charges and more arrests may be conducted."

Lawsuit Alleges Sexual Abuse by Oregon Prison Doctor

Madras, OR - A former inmate at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Dr. Leland Beamer of sexual abuse during medical visits. James Watkins, released earlier this month, alleges the abuse occurred while he sought treatment for a back injury and claims prison officials ignored his reports, fostering a culture of abuse.

Watkins’ attorney, Alicia LeDuc Montgomery, criticized the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) for its history of systemic sexual misconduct, calling for accountability and encouraging other victims to come forward.

ODOC placed Dr. Beamer on administrative leave and stated it has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse. An investigation is underway through its Office of Inspector General. Reports of misconduct can be made via the ODOC hotline.

Rosland Elementary fifth-grader Teegan to serve in 2025 Kid Governor’s cabinet; benefits of team sports are his focus

Teegan Wright, a fifth-grade student at Rosland Elementary School in La Pine, will serve in the cabinet for the 2025 Oregon Kid Governor. He and other cabinet members and the new Oregon Kid Governor, Rosie from Riverdale Grade School in Portland, will be sworn in at the state Capitol in January.

Teegan is one of seven finalists who ran for kid governor this fall. His campaign centered on inclusion in team sports to help students who experience trauma – an issue he has seen up close.

“I play a lot of team sport, and I’ve seen kids who are struggling in class and feeling traumatized,” Teegan said. In his experience, students who are involved with team sports tend to show improvements on the field and in the classroom, he said.

Borrowing a football term – the run-pass option (RPO) – Teegan came up with an RPO for his campaign issue: Recognize, Prepare, Organize. As he explained it, we need to recognize the problem, prepare to meet the needs of traumatized youth, and prioritize opportunities for inclusion.

The structure and routine of team sports help kids avoid aggression and anxiety and improve their mental and emotional health, he said. “A vote for Teegan is a vote for children to thrive, on the field, in the classroom and in life,” he concluded in his campaign video.

Teegan said he might consider a career in government, but at this time he’s especially interested in pursuing professional sports. The young athlete has participated in football, soccer, baseball, snowboarding, golf, tennis and swimming.

Oregon became the second state to implement the Kid Governor program in 2017. It’s open to all fifth-graders, and fifth-grade classrooms across the state vote on the candidates after watching their campaign videos.

“This bipartisan program provides free toolkits and lesson plans that help celebrate Oregon democracy,” Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers said. “The future of our state looks promising, thanks to these impressive future leaders.”

 😎Just Sayin

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