- Central Oregon Local Buzz
- Posts
- 🚨Two Arrested After Violent Standoff with Police in Terrebonne |🏘️ Central Oregon Market Report
🚨Two Arrested After Violent Standoff with Police in Terrebonne |🏘️ Central Oregon Market Report
Issue #287
NOTICE TO ALL THOSE WHO SIGNED UP FOR EVENT NOTIFICATIONS. THE SMS ACCOUNT HAS BEEN DISABLED. YOUR PHONE NUMBERS ARE SAFE, I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF/WHEN I RE-ENABLE THE NOTIFICATION FEATURE. THANK YOU.
For a better reading experience Read Online
👇
In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…
🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays
🌄Bend, OR Weather
📅 Lots and LOTS of Events
🌕🛍️Bend Moonlight Market
📅Save The Date Section
❄️🏂Oregon WinterFest
📰Local News - What’s a Happening?
🎓Bend-La Pine Schools Graduation Rate Rises to 85.3%
📰Former Crook County Superintendent Skinner releases statement responding to allegations - Central Oregon Daily 🎦
❄️Oregon Cascades snowpack measurement offers hope despite dry January
📰Regional News
📰Grants Pass Faces New Lawsuit Over Homeless Camping Rules
📰FDA issues Class 1 alert for Lay's chips recall in Oregon and Washington
🚧 Road Closures & Construction
🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News
🚨Crime News
📰Redmond Police Identify NW Elm Avenue Incident as Attempted Homicide
🔥🚨Redmond Police Arrest Suspect in East Redmond RV Fire
📰La Pine Man Arrested on Child Sex Abuse and Illegal Marijuana Charges
🚨Two Arrested After Violent Standoff with Police in Terrebonne
📰Community News
⛳Bend Golf Club celebrates 100 years of history and growth - Central Oregon Daily 🎦
Have 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 by Reed Melton
🌱Get Ready for Gardening Season with the Best Emergency Seed Vaults!
📲Sponsors & Partners
😁 MEME of the Day
What is the oldest standing commercial building in Prineville, Oregon?
A) A.R. Bowman Memorial Museum
B) Crook County Bank Building
C) Prineville Railroad Depot
D) Ochoco Inn
Correct Answer: B) Crook County Bank Building
Expanded Answer: Built in 1888, the Crook County Bank Building is the oldest commercial building in Prineville. It originally served as a bank and later housed various businesses. Its Romanesque Revival architecture, featuring arched windows and stone masonry, makes it a notable historic landmark in Central Oregon.
Good Morning!
Bend Airport 01.31.25
BEND
SANTIAM PASS WEATHER
GOVERNMENT CAMP WEATHER
WILLAMETTE PASS WEATHER
Upcoming Events
Events Sponsored By
What’s Up Central Oregon
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.
Coming up - Save the Date
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.
HAVE an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?
Bend-La Pine Schools Graduation Rate Rises to 85.3%
The Bend-La Pine School District saw its graduation rate climb to 85.3% in 2024, the second-highest in a decade and 3.5% above the state average of 81.8%.
La Pine High School made significant progress, jumping 8% to 78.1%, following an 11-point increase last year. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are credited for the rise, with CTE students achieving a 91.3% graduation rate.
Other notable stats:
Summit High: +0.5%
Caldera High: First graduating class at 82.2%
Regional graduation rates:
Redmond: 90.9%
Crook County: 95.5%
Jefferson County 509J: 91.5%
Culver: 90.9%
Sisters: 92.6%
Oregon Statewide: 81.8%
Oregon Cascades snowpack measurement offers hope despite dry January
Ahead of snow expected for the Oregon Cascades and parts of Central Oregon this weekend, the first measure of this year's snowpack survey was conducted around Mt. Bachelor Thursday.
The snowpack will be measured three times this year -- January, February and March.
Despite the dry January, snow surveyors say we the region isn't doing too bad. But the new snow will be a welcome addition.
"We are right around average right now, or at 105% of average as of yesterday. You know, after starting the year around 160% of average for the Deschutes and Crooked River basins, we've just been kind of in some high pressure, losing snow since then," said Andy Neary, ecologist with the National Resources Conservation Service.
Forecasters use the information collected to develop the expectations for snowmelt and water runoff.
Grants Pass Faces New Lawsuit Over Homeless Camping Rules
Grants Pass, Oregon, the city at the center of a landmark Supreme Court ruling allowing homeless camping bans, is now facing a new lawsuit from Disability Rights Oregon. The group claims the city’s camping restrictions violate state law, which requires them to be “objectively reasonable.”
The lawsuit follows the closure of a city-sanctioned campsite housing 120 tents, leaving many homeless individuals with disabilities without a legal place to stay. The remaining site is only open overnight, forcing people to pack up their belongings daily.
Plaintiffs, including people with disabilities, argue that frequent forced movement is discriminatory and that the city’s actions aim to push homeless individuals out rather than provide real solutions.
City officials have not commented. The lawsuit seeks to block the city from enforcing its camping rules.
FDA issues Class 1 alert for Lay's chips recall in Oregon and Washington
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class 1 alert after Frito-Lay issued a recall for bags of Lay’s potato chips sold in Oregon and Washington.
The Class 1 recall alert is the highest risk classification issued by the FDA.
Frito-Lay issued the recall due to possible undeclared milk after being alerted through a consumer contact. Anyone who has an allergy or sensitivity to milk should not consume this product and should discard it immediately, the FDA instructed.
“Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product,” an FDA spokesperson said in a press release on the recall. Promoted Links Empty heading Rebuilding Nerves? Nightly Habit to Tackle Neuropathy’s Root CauseHealth Insights Journal
The recall concerns a limited number of 13oz bags of plain Lay’s potato chips.
The recalled product is in a flexible bag with UPC numbers 28400 or 31041. The product also must have both a “Guaranteed Fresh” date that reads “11 FEB 2025” and one of the following manufacture codes: 64262307xx or 6463307xx.
The recalled bags could have been purchased as far back as Nov. 3, 2024, according to the FDA.
No other Lay’s products, flavors, sizes or variety packs are recalled, the FDA said. So far, no allergic reactions related to this recall have been reported.
If you have purchased one of the recalled Lay’s products, contact Frito-Lay Consumer Relations at 1-800-352-4477 (9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday-Friday).
BendRedmond | Deschutes County |
Redmond Police Identify NW Elm Avenue Incident as Attempted Homicide
Redmond, Ore. – Authorities have determined that the January 23 incident on NW Elm Avenue was an attempted homicide followed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to an update from the Redmond Police Department (RPD).
Officers responded to a 911 call that night and discovered two individuals with gunshot wounds at a residence in the 1000 block of NW Elm Avenue. After an investigation by RPD and the Central Oregon Major Incident Team (MIT), officials confirmed that the incident involved an attempted homicide of a roommate. The suspect, identified as Joshua Moore of Redmond, shot his roommate before turning the gun on himself.
Moore was transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, where he died on January 25 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
RPD expressed gratitude to Redmond Fire and Rescue, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Bend Police Department, Oregon State Police, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Oregon State Crime Lab, and other MIT partners for their assistance in the investigation.
No further details have been released at this time.
Redmond Police Arrest Suspect in East Redmond RV Fire
Redmond, OR – Authorities are investigating an RV fire in east Redmond that police believe was intentionally set following a family dispute.
On January 30, officers from the Redmond Police Department (RPD) and firefighters from Redmond Fire & Rescue (RF&R) responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting an RV engulfed in flames in an undeveloped area between East Antler Avenue and East Highway 126.
Investigators determined that the fire was started after a disagreement between adult family members. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Tallan Delucia, fled the scene but was later located with assistance from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO).
Delucia, a Redmond resident, was taken into custody and booked at the Deschutes County Jail on a charge of second-degree arson.
The RV was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries were reported.
RPD is asking anyone who may have witnessed the fire to contact the non-emergency dispatch line at 541-693-6911.
La Pine Man Arrested on Child Sex Abuse and Illegal Marijuana Charges
La Pine, OR – A La Pine man has been arrested following a months-long investigation into child sexual abuse and illegal marijuana operations, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) announced Thursday.
Levi Jameson Witsoe, 35, was taken into custody after law enforcement uncovered extensive evidence linking him to multiple felonies, including child sexual abuse crimes and unlawful marijuana production.
The investigation began in January 2024 when the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The tip indicated that an unknown user had shared child sexual abuse material on the chat application Kik within Deschutes County. Through search warrants and subpoenas, authorities identified Witsoe as the suspect.
While conducting surveillance, detectives gathered information suggesting Witsoe was also involved in an illegal marijuana operation. The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement (DCIMME) team was brought in to assist with the case.
In August 2024, a multi-agency task force executed a search warrant at a residence in the 52000 block of Ranch Drive in La Pine. During the operation, law enforcement seized:
127 marijuana plants in various stages of growth
Six firearms
U.S. currency
Large quantities of marijuana seeds and packaging materials
Digital devices belonging to Witsoe
After forensic analysis of the seized devices and online accounts linked to Witsoe, investigators discovered a significant number of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old victim residing in Deschutes County. The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) was notified, and officials ensured the child was safe.
On January 16, 2025, Witsoe was indicted on multiple counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the first and second degrees, as well as felony marijuana-related offenses. He turned himself in at the Deschutes County Adult Jail on January 22, 2025, without incident.
Witsoe faces the following charges:
10 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree (Felony)
10 counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree (Felony)
Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (Felony)
Prohibited Import/Export of Marijuana Items (Felony)
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with state and federal agencies, continues to combat illegal activities within the county.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
Two Arrested After Violent Standoff with Police in Terrebonne
Terrebonne, OR – A man and woman were taken into custody Tuesday morning after a dangerous confrontation with law enforcement outside a Terrebonne grocery store. Both suspects, identified as 33-year-old James Ayers and 35-year-old Kayla Busche, had outstanding felony warrants and had been involved in multiple recent vehicle pursuits that posed significant risks to the public.
Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) received a tip from a concerned citizen about the suspects' whereabouts. Due to their history of fleeing from law enforcement, DCSO SWAT team members were called in to assist with the arrest.
Around 9:00 a.m. on January 28, deputies surrounded the suspects' vehicle in the parking lot of a grocery store on 11th Street. Ayers, who was behind the wheel, attempted to escape by ramming unmarked police vehicles. When the vehicle was briefly immobilized, he moved to the passenger seat while Busche took over as the driver and continued ramming law enforcement vehicles, causing significant damage.
Additional patrol units arrived on the scene, and officers were eventually able to block the vehicle and take both suspects into custody.
Ayers and Busche face multiple felony charges, including attempted assault on a police officer, fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless endangering, criminal mischief, escape, and reckless driving. Ayers, a convicted felon, also faces a charge of being in possession of a restricted weapon, while Busche was charged with felony driving while suspended. Both were booked into the Deschutes County Jail.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office continues to encourage residents to report suspicious activity and remains committed to ensuring public safety.
Photo by Reed Melton
by Reed Melton
Reed Melton
As we head into the 2025 peak of real estate activity, I wanted to provide perspective by recapping 2024. I hear a lot of opinions about the housing market today and where we are heading that are not accurate, and some hard data will help illuminate reality.
Mortgage Rates
The numbers below reflect the national average for a 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage. The trend is flat, with current rates in the low 7% range.
2022
January 3.41%, June 6.11%, November 7.08%
2023
January 6.12%, June 6.96%, November 7.34%
2024
January 6.87%, June 7.02%, November 7.03%
Next are the number of closed transactions, median sale price, and days on the market for 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Deschutes County:
2022
Sold - 4,128, Median sale - $680,000, Days Listed - 9
2023
Sold - 3,161, Median sale - $664,900, Days Listed - 22
2024
Sold - 3,344, Median sale - $680,000, Days Listed - 30
Crook County:
2022
Sold - 431, Median sale - $455,000, Days Listed - 21
2023
Sold - 358, Median sale - $448,000, Days Listed - 49
2024
Sold - 382, Median sale - $465,000, Days Listed - 39
Jefferson County:
2022
Sold - 311, Median sale - $400,000, Days Listed - 19
2023
Sold - 218, Median sale - $397,000, Days Listed - 42
2024
Sold - 223, Median sale - $400,000, Days Listed - 48
The most significant recent changes in housing occurred from 2022 to 2023. Since then, most of the data points have remained flat. With the economic conditions we face in 2025, I do not anticipate a significant change in mortgage interest rates or a reduction in prices. There is no question that overpricing a property will extend sale times and require price reductions to entice buyers while appropriately priced homes are moving quickly. Every property has different levels of appeal, and considering all factors and promptly adjusting prices are essential for a successful sale.
Looking at county data over the last three years is helpful for a broad overview of the Central Oregon housing market. However, different price points and locations are subject to variation from the wider trends. Furthermore, narrowing down the price for unique homes can be trickier, and our market has a highly diverse set of properties to compare.
I have taught classes on market analysis to agents in my office and regularly assist our agents with challenging pricing scenarios. I also frequently run analyses for my clients on properties throughout Central Oregon. Whether buying or selling, lean on me for a comprehensive report that will provide the information you need to make a good decision.
Active Listings
Get Ready for Gardening Season with the Best Emergency Seed Vaults!
Spring is right around the corner, and there’s no better time to start planning your garden! Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just getting started, having a well-stocked seed vault ensures you're always ready to grow fresh, healthy produce. This guide explores the best emergency seed vaults for long-term storage—perfect for stocking up on hardy, non-GMO, heirloom seeds that will thrive season after season. Check it out and get inspired for a bountiful gardening year ahead!
  |   New Subscription Option |   |
😎 Just sayin
Please visit this Week’s Sponsors & Partners ⬇️
| | |
How'd we do on this issue? |
We could use your help
We’ve got big plans as we get up to speed! But we need your help!
One huge way that you can help us is to spread the word for us.
Know somebody who lives in the Central Oregon area and would benefit from being kept in the know?
Please share Central Oregon Local BUZZ with them! It’s simple!
Reply