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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

🌕🛍️Bend Moonlight Market

❄️🏂Oregon WinterFest

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Redmond Fire & Rescue Receives Wildfire Defensible Space Grant

🚒Bend Fire & Rescue Places New Ambulance In Service

📰Bend Entrepreneurs Double Sweatshirt Business with SCORE Mentorship

✈️3 daily Redmond-Portland flights coming in May on Alaska Airlines

☕From humble beginnings to quality cups with Backporch Coffee Roasters - Central Oregon Daily 🎦

📰Regional News

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨Crime News

🚨California Fugitive Captured Near Bend by SWAT Teams

📰Community News

🫴Bend Police To Host Tip-a-Cop Event To Benefit Special Olympics Oregon

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

🐶Pet of the Week

🐶Meet Barney! - CCREW

📲Sponsors & Partners

😁 MEME of the Day

What year did the Old St. Francis School reopen as a McMenamins property after its transformation?

A) 1999
B) 2004
C) 2010
D) 2015

👉Find The Answer in Friday’s Newsletter👉

Good Morning!

 BEND

SANTIAM PASS WEATHER

GOVERNMENT CAMP WEATHER

Events Sponsored By

Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

Coming up - Save the Date

 Bend Moonlight Market

Experience the vibrant Bend Moonlight Market on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM at the Volcanic Theatre Pub. This event showcases local artisans, live music, and a variety of food and beverages, offering a unique evening of shopping and entertainment.

Oregon WinterFest

Join the annual Oregon WinterFest from February 14 to 16, 2025, in the Old Mill District. This family-friendly festival features live music, art installations, delicious cuisine, and a range of entertainment suitable for all ages. Enjoy the winter wonderland atmosphere and participate in various activities throughout the weekend.

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Deschutes Public Library Events

Redmond Fire & Rescue Receives Wildfire Defensible Space Grant

REDMOND, OR-January 21, 2025- Redmond Fire & Rescue is excited to announce that it has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal. This funding will be utilized to assist property owners in helping them to start the work of creating defensible space around their property.

Last year Oregon had a record-breaking wildfire season and now is the time to start preparing your property for the upcoming season.

Defensible space is the area around your home and buildings 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.

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

Owners of residential properties can request a defensible space assessment, through Redmond Fire & Rescue’s website at www.rdmfire.org. Once the request is received, members of Redmond Fire & Rescues Fire & Life Safety Division will visit the property and make recommendations for the type of work to be completed. 

Redmond Fire & Rescue appreciates this grant and the impact it will have on residents of Redmond Fire & Rescue Fire District.

Bend Fire & Rescue Places New Ambulance In Service

On Monday, Jan. 20 Bend Fire & Rescue placed a new advanced life support ambulance into service. This ambulance is one of four that serve a 1,450 square mile service area in Bend and the surrounding rural community.

In 2024, Bend Fire & Rescue saw nearly 14,000 calls for service – a record year for the department. Of those calls, 75% were medical.

“Last year we responded to the most calls we ever have as a department. That higher call volume means we need more resources on the road to respond to emergencies,” said Fire Chief Todd Riley. “Our goal as a department is to decrease the time it takes for crews to respond to an emergency, and when crews are tied up on other calls, we can’t meet that goal.”

“Today marks an important milestone for our community as we welcome a new ambulance into service,” said Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler. “This resource will ensure that our responders have the tools they need to provide critical care and save lives.”

The new ambulance was brought into service because of funding received from a voter-approved operating levy passed in May 2023. Funding from the levy is also being used by the department to fund additional responder positions, equipment and training.  

In addition to adding this ambulance to the Bend Fire fleet, the department recently graduated six new firefighter/paramedics from training academy who have been integrated into stations around Bend.

“Placing this crucial resource in service fully staffed will make a tangible difference in lowering response times and meeting a growing demand for service, which will hopefully lead to more positive patient outcomes for our community,” said Riley.

Bend Entrepreneurs Double Sweatshirt Business with SCORE Mentorship

Andrew and Ben Balzer, co-owners of Sendr Brand sweatshirts in Bend, doubled their sales projections from 3,000 to 6,000+ annually with help from SCORE, a free U.S. Small Business Administration mentorship program. Their mentor, Kaye Kloster, guided them on record-keeping and profitability, while another mentor connected them to a supplier, freeing them from sewing duties.

SCORE's Central Oregon chapter needs more mentors, particularly women, to meet the rising demand for business support. Last year, Oregon mentors helped launch 462 businesses, averaging 70 mentorship requests monthly. Volunteers, including experienced professionals like Kloster and Ed Weiser, offer expertise to startups across diverse industries.

Weiser also helped Tomi Mart, Bend's first Asian market, refine operations and layout. Owners Jesi Scott and Natasha Dempsey credit SCORE for their successful June opening, transitioning from pop-ups to a brick-and-mortar location.

SCORE aims to foster long-term mentor-mentee relationships, leveraging nationwide expertise to help startups thrive.

3 daily Redmond-Portland flights coming in May on Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is increasing its round-trip, nonstop service between Redmond and Portland to three daily flights, Redmond Municipal Airport announced Tuesday.

A check of the Alaska Airlines website shows the first date for the three flights is May 15.

Alaska currently provides one or two daily flights between Central Oregon and Portland.

The airline provided daily flights before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the service was suspended due to what it called "regional capacity constraints." After that, people trying to fly between the two cities would most often have to connect in Seattle.

In November 2023, Alaska re-started the direct flights as a seasonal service. But last fall, Alaska announced the return of year-round, once-daily flights.

Alaska Airlines also announced last month it was resuming twice-daily nonstop service between Portland and Eugene.

 City of Bend Events

California Fugitive Apprehended in Deschutes County by SWAT and Emergency Response Teams

Bend, Oregon — A collaborative effort between the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (CERT) led to the safe apprehension of a California fugitive wanted on a nationwide felony warrant. The arrest occurred on January 19, 2025, at a private property on Highway 20, east of Bend.

Salvador Edward Juarez, 50, of Shasta County, California, was wanted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and trespassing. Acting on information provided by the Redding Police Department, DCSO detectives tracked Juarez to the property at 26300 Highway 20. After securing a search warrant, law enforcement teams conducted ground and aerial surveillance to confirm Juarez’s presence at the location.

The operation involved DCSO’s SWAT team and CERT, a regional tactical unit comprising members from multiple law enforcement agencies across Central Oregon. Using multiple armored vehicles and coordinated tactics, the teams surrounded the property. Juarez surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody without incident.

Sheriff Kent van der Kamp praised the collaborative effort, stating, “This operation underscores the importance of partnerships between agencies in ensuring public safety and resolving potentially dangerous situations swiftly and safely.”

Juarez was transported to the Deschutes County Jail, where he awaits extradition to California.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, established in 1916, provides a wide range of services to over 200,000 residents across 3,055 square miles. The agency oversees patrol operations, criminal investigations, civil processes, and specialized units such as SWAT, search and rescue, and K9 teams. Led by Sheriff van der Kamp, the office includes 259 personnel dedicated to protecting the community.

For more information, visit the DCSO website or contact the department directly.

Bend Police To Host Tip-a-Cop Event To Benefit Special Olympics Oregon

The Bend Police Department will host a Tip-a-Cop event to raise money for its Polar Plunge team, benefiting Special Olympics Oregon from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24. This event is hosted in partnership with Red Robin Restaurant in Old Mill District, 625 SW Powerhouse Dr.

Bend Police invite the community to dine at the Bend location of Red Robin during the event, where law enforcement staff will help serve meals and bus tables. Red Robin will donate 20 percent of food sales to Special Olympics Oregon when guests present or mention the attached flyer during their meal.

Polar Plunge and Tip-a-Cop raises money for Special Olympics Oregon, which uses sports training and competition to grow acceptance and inclusion of children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Meet Barney!

Pet of the Week: Meet Barney!

Barney is a charming Chi mix with a goofy personality and a heart full of love. This adult male dog is currently in a foster home, waiting to meet his forever family. Barney's playful antics and friendly nature make him the perfect companion for someone looking to add joy and laughter to their life.

Why Barney is the Perfect Match:
🐾 Goofy and Fun: Barney’s silly side will have you smiling every day.
🐾 Dog-Friendly: He gets along wonderfully with other dogs, making him a great addition to a multi-dog household.
🐾 Affectionate and Loyal: Barney is ready to be your snuggle buddy and loyal best friend.

Details:

• Breed: Chi Mix

• Gender: Male

• Age: Coming soon

• Kids/Cats Compatibility: Coming soon

• Dogs Compatibility: Yes!

Barney is currently thriving in his foster home. Contact us today to meet this fun-loving guy and see if he’s the perfect fit for your family!

 😎 Just sayin

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