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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

*NOTICE

🌕🛍️Bend Moonlight Market

❄️🏂Oregon WinterFest

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📅Save The Date Section

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

👀Bend's googly-eye bandit reveals himself

📰Redmond City Council Seeks Community Input on Safe Parking Program’s Piloting of Microshelters

📰Jefferson County District Attorney Steven Leriche resigns to take job at Oregon DOJ

📰Redmond Nova Apartments Ribbon Cutting

📰New Sisters mayor prioritizes growth, homelessness and roads

📰Investigation clears Crook County AD Rob Bonner in complaint from volleyball parent - Central Oregon Daily

📰Regional News

📰ODOT receives $15 million from feds for weather-related road repair reimbursements

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🚧Olney Construction Coming Soon

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨Crime News

🚨Redmond Police Investigated Major Incident on NW Elm Avenue

📰Community News

🥳NeighborImpact celebrates 40 years with new food bank

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

📲Sponsors & Partners

😁 MEME of the Day

Good Morning!

 BEND

SANTIAM PASS WEATHER

GOVERNMENT CAMP WEATHER

Events Sponsored By

Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

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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.

Coming up - Save the Date

 LOCAL EVENTS

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Deschutes Public Library Events

Bend's googly-eye bandit reveals himself

A man in the central Oregon city of Bend says he was responsible for some of the googly eyes placed on sculptures there

• By CLAIRE RUSH - Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Bend man says he was the person behind some of the googly eyes that appeared on sculptures around the city in recent months and sparked a viral sensation widely covered by news outlets.

Jeff Keith, founder of a Bend-based nonprofit called Guardian Group that works to combat human trafficking, said Friday that he used duct tape to attach googly eyes to two sculptures. He said he has carried out similar pranks on other Bend sculptures before — such as adorning them with hula skirts and leis — and that they serve as a respite from the emotional toll of his work.

“It is a place for me to cope with some pretty heavy stuff,” he told The Associated Press, noting that many of the trafficking victims he has worked with have been through “unimaginable trauma.”

The city shared photos of the googly eye installations on social media in early December, saying the adhesives can damage the art. One photo shows googly eyes placed on a sculpture of two deer — which Keith described as his handiwork — while another shows them attached to a sphere. City officials at the time said eight sculptures were affected and that it cost $1,500 to remove the googly eyes.

The social media posts prompted a cascade of comments, with many social media users saying they liked the googly eyes and that the city shouldn’t spend time and money on removing them. The post and its comments were covered by news outlets, and even made it on a segment of CBS’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Keith said he didn't expect his exploits to receive that much attention, and that he went to city offices to offer to pay for any damages. The city didn't immediately respond Friday to an emailed request seeking confirmation and comment.

Bend's communications director, Rene Mitchell, told The Associated Press last month that the city regretted that its post had been misunderstood. She said there was no intent to be “heavy-handed” and that the posts were meant to raise awareness about the damage adhesives can do to the city's public art collection. The city had started treating some of the art pieces, she said, which are made of different types of metal such as bronze and steel.

Keith, who has lived in Bend for nearly two decades, said he also hopes his pranks bring some humor and joy into people's everyday lives.

“I think the biggest thing is, for me, just to get a laugh,” he said. "When I come up on these roundabouts and I see families laughing, like hysterically laughing at these, it makes for a good time.”

Redmond City Council Seeks Community Input on Safe Parking Program’s Piloting of Microshelters

REDMOND, OREGON – On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider Ordinance #2024-16, which would amend City Code to allow a limited number of microshelters at managed Safe Parking Program sites in Redmond.  Council seeks public comment on Mountain View Community Development’s request to pilot the use of microshelters for a trial period ending May 31, 2026. 

The proposal would not increase the current capacity of tenants permitted at each site – which is currently limited to 8.

Redmond’s Safe Parking Program was established in September 2021, allowing overnight camping and transitional overnight parking as a service to assist people with transitioning out of homelessness.  The program provides emergency or transitional shelter for households who lack permanent or safe shelter and who cannot obtain other low-income housing. Another valuable component of the Safe Parking program is to provide participants with case management and other services that help participants lift themselves out of homelessness and into a more stable living situation.

Mountain View Community Development (MVCD), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the operator of the Safe Parking program in Redmond and has successfully grown the program to seven locations with 29 designated Safe Parking spaces. These sites are hosted on property owned by private businesses, churches, Deschutes County, and the City.

Residents are encouraged to provide Council with feedback in-person at City Council Meetings held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.  Meetings are hosted in the City Council Chambers, 411 SW 9th Street in Redmond. Unable to attend in person? You can provide public comment virtually; pre-registration is required by 4:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting. To register email [email protected] or call 541-923-7755.  Written comments may be submitted via email to [email protected].

Redmond City Council meetings are streamed live on the City website at www.redmondoregon.gov/CouncilLive and are broadcast live on COTV 11 - TDS Channel 11 beginning at 6:00 p.m. on regular meeting nights.

Jefferson County District Attorney Steven Leriche resigns to take job at Oregon DOJ

Jefferson County District Attorney Steven Leriche is resigning to take a job with the Oregon Department of Justice in Salem, Leriche told Central Oregon Daily News Wednesday.

Leriche's resignation, effective Feb. 2, was announced by Gov. Tina Kotek's office. Kotek will need to appoint someone to fill the vacancy.

Leriche has been Jefferson County D.A. since 2009 and was just elected to a fifth term last year. He told Central Oregon Daily that this new job will allow him to focus just on being a prosecutor and not have to deal with the daily administrative duties of being a D.A.

He also cited family as a reason for taking the new job. Leriche said his children have all moved out and that he will have a chance to spend more time with his father, who lives in Beaverton.

Those who are interested in filling Leriche's role in Jefferson County are asked to fill out this District Attorney Interest Form.

Interested applicants should address their completed District Attorney Interest Form to Richard A. Lane, General Counsel, Office of the Governor, and email (no mail or hand delivery) the forms to Shevaun Gutridge at [email protected]. Forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

Questions regarding the appointment process should be directed to Shevaun Gutridge by emailing [email protected], or by calling (503) 378-6246.

Redmond Nova Apartments Ribbon Cutting

24-units designated for workforce housing will soon be available for rent in Redmond.  A ribbon cutting for the Nova Apartments on 5^th street Tuesday brought together city officials, housing advocates, and local developers.

The Nova Apartments in Redmond, Oregon, are located at 629 SW 5th Street. The complex features 24 studio units and has been recently renovated from a former downtown motel into workforce housing. Amenities include a community center, gym, laundry facilities, and shared parking. Rental rates start at approximately $1,100 per month.

The renovation was completed in early 2025 through a collaboration between Watson Development and Simplicity by Hayden Homes. The apartments are conveniently located near recreational attractions like Cline Falls State Scenic Viewpoint, just 4.5 miles away.

For the most accurate and up-to-date details on leasing and availability, contact the property management directly.

New Sisters mayor prioritizes growth, homelessness and roads

The City of Sisters is welcoming a new mayor who is a familiar face in the community.

Jennifer Letz was appointed mayor two weeks ago after serving on the City Council for four years. She takes over the role held by Michael Preedlin.

One of her top priorities is completing the urban growth boundary expansion process this year. The city is currently in the public comment phase regarding future growth.

Another key priority is addressing the ongoing issue of homelessness.

"Like any other city in Central Oregon, we are experiencing the same challenges around homelessness. Our situation is a little unique in that the majority of people are living on federal land outside of the city," Letz said Wednesday.

The city will also begin work on improving Barkley Road this year by adding sidewalks, bike paths and straightening the road.

ODOT receives $15 million from feds for weather-related road repair reimbursements

The Federal Highway Administration is giving the Oregon Department of Transportation $15 million to reimburse the agency for road repairs resulting from extreme weather.

$9.5 million is for flooding and landslides that blocked Highway 101 and threatened a portion of Interstate 84 in the winter of 2022.

More than $5 million is for repairs following the ice storm in January of last year.

$325,000 will reimburse ODOT for a series of severe thunderstorms in Harney and Malheur counties that caused a landslide, blocking Highway 20 back in 2023.

Nearly $280 goes to recovery efforts from a series of atmospheric rivers in December 2023.

 City of Bend Events

Olney Construction Coming Soon

Construction Road Closures and Detours

CONSTRUCTION STARTS AS EARLY AS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Crews are gearing up to begin construction on Portland Avenue, Wall Street and Olney Avenue. Full road and intersection closures are required during construction. See map below.

A full road and intersection closure will be in place as early as February 3. The closure will extend from the intersection of Portland Avenue/Steidl Road through the intersection of Olney Avenue at Wall Street and on Olney Avenue to NE First Street. The intersection of Olney Avenue and Wall Street is anticipated to reopen to vehicle traffic in June of 2025. Construction on Olney Avenue from the intersection of First Street through Second Street will require periodic intersection and road closures in spring and summer. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2025.

Detours will be posted. Drivers should expect to use NW Ninth Street, Newport/Greenwood Avenue, NE Third Street, Revere Avenue and southbound US 97 (the Parkway) to get around the intersection.

The first few months of construction will focus on removal and replacement of aging utilities underground. The City of Bend is upsizing the existing water and sewer lines and improving stormwater facilities throughout the project. The City will also work with franchise utilities during this time to relocate their infrastructure (utilities such as electrical lines not owned by the City).

BUSINESS ACCESS OPEN DURING CONSTRUCTION

Access to all business will remain open during construction. However, there may be temporary detour routes to access businesses around the active project construction areas. Sections of Olney Ave will be completely closed, as necessary, during construction. There may be times that access is open to a business from Olney Avenue, but drivers should also be prepared to use a detour route if the business is in the middle of an active construction zone.

Project Contacts

Carrie Harris, Project Manager
Project Team Email: [email protected]
Project Phone: 541-322-9919

Click here for more information

Redmond Police Investigated Major Incident on NW Elm Avenue

Redmond, Ore. – The Redmond Police Department (RPD) responded to a major incident late Thursday evening in the 1000 block of NW Elm Avenue.

At approximately 10:34 p.m. on January 23, officers arrived after a 911 call reported an emergency at the location. Upon arrival, they found two individuals with significant injuries. Both victims were transported by ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center in Redmond for treatment.

The Central Oregon Major Incident Team (MIT) was activated to assist with the investigation, which authorities treated as an isolated incident. A heightened police presence remained in the area throughout the following day. Officials stated there was no known threat to the community.

During the investigation, RPD asked residents in the area to review any video surveillance footage from January 23, specifically between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., for any vehicles or suspicious activity. Anyone with relevant footage was encouraged to contact the department through non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.

RPD expressed gratitude to Redmond Fire and Rescue, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Police Department, Oregon State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and other MIT partners for their assistance in responding to and investigating the case.

No further details about the incident were released at the time.

NeighborImpact celebrates 40

On Friday in Redmond, NeighborImpact celebrated their 40th anniversary in style. To commemorate the milestone, they held a ribbon cutting for a new food warehouse on 1st street. Attendees got a tour of the facility, and even had a virtual cameo from Senator Ron Wyden. NeighborImpact started raising the funds for this project back in 2019. They hope the new warehouse will serve as a food hub for the community for decades to come.

 😎 Just sayin

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