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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📅Save The Date Section

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Crook County School Board to Discuss Superintendent’s Future Amid Controversy

📰Defensible Space Expansion: Oregon State Fire Marshal Offers $250 Incentive to Protect Homes from Wildfires

📰Plan Ahead: Schedule Your Free Tax Aide Session

📰Warm Springs man creates coffee brand to help with reservation's Longhouse needs

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨Crime News

📰Bend Police Investigate Homicide at Holiday Motel

🚨Bend Man Arrested After Fleeing Police for Restraining Order Violation

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

💖Special “Monday’s Health Corner”

📲Sponsors & Partners

😁 MEME of the Day

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

Good Morning!

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Crook County School Board to Discuss Superintendent’s Future Amid Controversy

The Crook County School Board will meet Monday to discuss Superintendent Melissa Skinner's employment following backlash over her handling of staffing decisions, including the potential removal of Athletic Director Rob Bonner, which sparked a student walkout and community outcry. Parents and unions have called for Skinner's firing, citing concerns over alleged favoritism and decision-making processes. The meeting will also address a complaint against an unnamed board member. Vice Chair Scott Cooper emphasized the need for humanity during this challenging time. No public comment will be allowed at the 6:30 p.m. meeting at Barnes Butte Elementary, which is also available online.

Defensible Space Expansion: Oregon State Fire Marshal Offers $250 Incentive to Protect Homes from Wildfires

The following announcement about the expansion of a program to help encourage Oregonians to create a defensible space on their properties Oregonians pay for defensible space projects is from the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office. The Central Oregon communities that are eligible include:

• Black Butte Ranch

• Crooked River Ranch

• Culver

• La Pine

• Madras

• Metolius

• Prineville

• Redmond

• Terrebonne

• Warm Springs

Salem, Ore. - The Oregon State Fire Marshal is extending its incentive program to help Oregonians pay for defensible space projects in more communities in Oregon. The 2024 wildfire season comes as a reminder of the importance of defensible space and completing projects at home and at the community level to be better protected.

While supplies last, home and property owners in select wildfire-vulnerable communities may be eligible to receive a $250 payment following a defensible space assessment by the agency or a participating fire agency. The assessments are free and can be easily scheduled online at oregondefensiblespace.org.

“On the heels of a record-breaking wildfire season, we know that now is the time to prepare our homes for next season,” said State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “We strongly encourage home and property owners to schedule an assessment. Taking this first step can make a significant difference in protecting your home and neighborhood from wildfire risks."

Defensible space is the area around your home and buildings managed to keep embers from having a place to land and catch fire. Creating and maintaining defensible space is one of the most effective ways to protect a home during a wildfire. The Oregon State Fire Marshal understands that money may be a barrier to complete these projects and the incentive is designed to encourage people to implement the recommendations received during their assessment.

The OSFM’s defensible space program is a crucial step toward building more fire-adapted communities in the face of increasing wildfire risks. By empowering Oregonians to take proactive measures, we will reduce the impact of wildfires on lives, property, and the environment.

Eligible communities were chosen based on their vulnerability to wildfire to get money to those who need it the most. After the assessment is complete, those who qualify will receive the payment in the mail. For a full list of communities and eligibility requirements, click here.

Plan Ahead: Schedule Your Free Tax Aide Session

Get ready for tax season by setting an appointment with volunteers from AARP Tax Aide. Tax Aide volunteers are available on January 21 and January 22 (10am-2pm) at the Downtown Bend Library to schedule appointments for their free tax preparation program.

Stop in and schedule your appointment before the rush. The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program provides free tax preparation from IRS-certified tax volunteers for individuals earning under $67,000 a year; visit cashoregon.org for more information.

Central Oregon Daily News:

Warm Springs man creates coffee brand to help with reservation's Longhouse needs

Steele Haugen, Reporter

It started with a children's book to help the Warm Springs Community. Now, Theo Perez has taken the success from his book "Celeste Goes To Warm Springs" and has turned it into a coffee fundraiser for the reservation's Longhouse.

"What we were able to do with 'Celeste goes to Warm Springs' and donating those proceeds to sports, the cheerleading team and buying all this cool stuff and doing more than I thought was possible," said Perez. "I wanted to do the same thing, but with the Longhouse."

Theo turned to coffee, making his own brand: Theo's Longhouse Strong Coffee. Eighty-five percent of his coffee sales go toward helping the sacred community building with basic repairs, utensils for events and necessary upgrades.

RELATED: Dad writes Warm Springs children's book featuring landmarks, positive representation

"Since then, we've been selling out," he said. "They don't last very long. We put them on the market. And for the first time in a long time, we're going to be scaling the business, which will be scary, but it will allow us to donate so much more."

He has four kinds of coffee: light, medium, dark roast and instant. All the packaging has tribal symbols he designed himself.

Perez says the Longhouse holds a special place on the Warm Springs reservation.

"I'm not allowed to say too much, but what I am allowed to say is that it's the heartbeat, and it's the, you know, it's the soul," Perez said. "Obviously, with our people being at the center of all that, it's something that unites us all."

Theo said $7,000 has already been raised for the Longhouse's needs.

"This, hand-in-hand with "Celeste Goes To Warm Springs, I want to change the entire reservation and do the small part I can," Perez said.

You can order Theo's Longhouse Strong Coffee here.

 City of Bend Events

Bend Police Investigate Homicide at Holiday Motel

Bend, Ore. — Bend Police are investigating a homicide following the discovery of a deceased man at the Holiday Motel on Southeast Third Street.

On the morning of Friday, January 3, at approximately 8:24 a.m., police were called to the motel after an employee conducting a welfare check found an unresponsive man in one of the rooms. Officers arrived to find 34-year-old Bend resident Robert Lewis Treher deceased at the scene. His death has been ruled a homicide.

A significant law enforcement presence, including Bend Police and Oregon State Police forensic teams, remained at the motel until early Saturday morning, working to gather evidence. Investigators were on-site until about 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact nonemergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 and reference case number 2025-00000421.

Bend Man Arrested After Fleeing Police for Restraining Order Violation

Bend, Ore. — A 42-year-old Bend man wanted for violating a restraining order was arrested Friday after a brief attempt to flee from police.

The incident began around 12:06 p.m. on January 3, when Bend Police were called to a business in the 100 block of Southeast Bridgeford Boulevard. According to reports, Gregory Ross Gehring arrived at the workplace of a woman protected by a stalking order against him. Gehring allegedly assaulted the woman and prevented her from calling 911 before leaving the scene.

Officers confirmed that Gehring was subject to a stalking order prohibiting any contact with the victim. Later in the afternoon, at approximately 2:58 p.m., police learned that Gehring had returned to his residence in the 20300 block of Silver Sage Street. When officers arrived, Gehring fled on foot, jumping over fences and entering multiple neighbors’ yards to evade capture.

Police deployed drones and a K9 unit to track him down. Gehring was eventually located in the backyard of a home in the 61130 block of Benham Road and taken into custody at approximately 3:24 p.m.

Gehring was transported to the Deschutes County Jail and faces charges of harassment, coercion, interference with making a report, third-degree escape, and violating a stalking order.

 What IF?

What are your health goals for 2025?

For Myself: My main goal is to get healthier overall - lose my excess FAT, be more active, keep up with toxins elimination. To truly commit to finding what works for Me. To find empowering products and experiences that support and make my health journey successful and well easier.

Below I wanted to share my current supplements, experiences thus far and goals for 2025:

1.  Avini Health* – I have been on these products for just over 2 years.  They are helping my overall health by eliminating toxins on a regular basis using their Cell Defender. Their Cardio supplement has helped me with my recent emergence of mild atrial fibrillation. Their Fiber is the best out there. Their Nano Silver I will always use and have on hand! And the Hydro electrolyte is awesome.

2. EPIC Energy Center – To be honest I have only gone once - only because I did not make it a priority 😔. But it is my goal to go more often to regenerate my cells overall health. It is truly a positive and enjoyable experience.

3.  pHix*– This is a brand new product for me. Although Avini is helping with many things, one thing was missing for me – fat loss! A friend introduced me to this supplement in December. I have only been using it for 18 days, although I am very optimistic for what this special supplement will be able to do. So far, I am sleeping harder, I wake up during the night – if at all – much less than I used to. I’m not in as much pain when I do wake up for the day as I used to be, almost none.  I have more stamina and energy during the day for just every day chores and activities. My mood  has improved and just overall feeling good. One thing I’m learning about this product is it truly does more than fat loss. In time it can reset our bodies to basically heal themselves. It’s truly fascinating how it works.

One thing to note is that – there are NO stimulants in this – I am very sensitive to stimulants in supplements and stay away from them.

4. To get outside more. Walk, hike, go fishing, kayaking. I’m not naturally athletically inclined, but with getting, feeling and being healthier (Losing my excess FAT!), I am truly looking forward to getting out there this year!

 Cheers to our health! Hoping you have a successful and healthy 2025!

*Because I am able to purchase these products at wholesale the companies also allow me to share my experiences and reward me monetarily when those I share them with make a purchase. You can reach me at [email protected] or 541-241-8982 if you have questions or would like more information for Avini Health and/or pHix. Thank you.

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