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📰Person killed in police shooting in Madras | 🏘️Central Oregon Market Report
Issue #296
For a better reading experience Read Online
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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…
🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays
🌄Bend, OR Weather
📅 Lots and LOTS of Events
🦀Powell Butte Community Center Crab Feed! Yum
🪷Fractals Take Center Stage at High Desert Museum
📅Save The Date Section
📰Local News - What’s a Happening?
🔥🗺️📰Bend Sen. Broadman calls for 'full repeal' of Oregon Wildfire Hazard Map
🔥😖Bend is the third-smokiest city in the country, new study finds
👏Redmond Police Department Named Region 2 Agency of the Year by Western States Information Network
🚧 Road Closures & Construction
🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News
🔥Garage Fire Threatens East Bend Home
🚨Crime News
📰Three Bend Residents Indicted in Child Abuse Case, Warrants Issued
📰Person killed in police shooting in Madras, all officers safe
📰Community News
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
🛋️Thrifting for Furniture & Décor in Central Oregon: Where to Shop & Tips for Success
😁 MEME of the Day
Good Morning!
Top of Outback Mt Bachelor 02.21.25
BEND
SANTIAM PASS WEATHER
GOVERNMENT CAMP WEATHER
WILLAMETTE PASS WEATHER
What’s Up Central Oregon
Fractals Take Center Stage at High Desert Museum
The High Desert Museum in Bend invites visitors to discover the fascinating world of fractals in its interactive exhibit Patterns at Play: Fractals in Nature, Starts February 22nd and open through October 5.
This family-friendly experience showcases how fractals—never-ending patterns found in everything from ice crystals to galaxies—shape the natural world. Guests can build their own fractals, watch mesmerizing projections, and engage with hands-on "fractivity tables" that bring these patterns to life.
“Nature constantly surprises us,” said Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “This exhibition is all about exploration, excitement, and engagement.”
Don’t miss this chance to see nature’s patterns up close!
📍 High Desert Museum, Bend
🔗 highdesertmuseum.org/fractals
Coming up - Save the Date
HAVE an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?
Local News…
Bend Sen. Broadman calls for 'full repeal' of Oregon Wildfire Hazard Map
BEND, Ore. -- Sen. Anthony Broadman, D-Bend, on Thursday called for a "full repeal" of the Oregon Wildfire Hazard Map. It comes as outrage has grown from homeowners and lawmakers over how the map was formulated.
"The rigidity of the wildfire maps is not working in communities like mine, and they are distracting from much of the work my region is doing to get ready for the climate wildfire catastrophe coming this summer and in the future," Broadman said on the Senate floor.
Broadman noted that his home is in the moderate zone, but the extreme zone is "a couple of streets" away.
"I am not a fire professional, I'm not a scientist, and I cannot tell the difference between my street and the next one over," Broadman said.
Broadman noted the work that has been done already on fire fuels reduction, planning and preparation work under 2021's Senate Bill 762 -- the same bill that led to the map.
"The maps do not create an equitable system that encourages wildfire resilience work for homeowners partly because they do not account for variance among specific properties. Both things can be true," Broadman said.
“I don’t want the maps to distract from the work we’re doing on fuels reduction, community hardening and preparation for fire season. So, senators, I encourage a full repeal of the fire maps and let us focus on getting ready for the wildfires that are coming,” Broadman concluded.
Oregon House and Senate Republicans said Monday the wildfire risk map is flawed, is causing insurance rates to rise and disproportionately impacts rural Oregonians by devaluing properties.
Some homeowners believe the map is leading to insurance companies raising rates or dropping coverage altogether. State law says insurance companies are not allowed to determine rates based on the map.
Central Oregon Daily News spoke to a Sisters man this week who said his home sale fell through twice in the past year. He places the blame squarely on the map.
"We’ve had our house under contract twice the past two years. This was right after release of the first map. The first buyers couldn’t get insurance through their regular company. A company they did find was going to charge them an outrageous rate, over $15,000 a year, and they backed out," Tom Bracken said. "Second buyer, same thing, they couldn’t get insurance through their regular insurance company. It’s a real issue in this area."
The current map is a revised version of the original Wildfire Risk Map that was released in 2022. The original was quickly taken down after backlash over some areas that were considered high risk.
Redmond Police Department Named Region 2 Agency of the Year by Western States Information Network
Redmond, OR -- On February 19, 2025, the Redmond Police Department (RPD) was recognized as the Western States Information Network (WSIN) Oregon Region 2 Agency of the Year.
Region 2 encompasses 17 of Oregon's 36 counties.
This award recognizes the department's leadership in fostering a culture of excellence, and for its commitment to sharing investigative and operational information with other law enforcement agencies to promote communication and officer safety.
"It's great to see our police receive the recognition they deserve for solving crimes and working well with law enforcement agencies across the state," said Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch.
WSIN operates under the umbrella of the Regional Information Sharing System (RISS) which is a federally funded program, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance to assist local, state, federal and tribal criminal justice partners by providing adaptive solutions and services that facilitate information sharing, support criminal investigations, and promote officer safety and wellness. RISS is composed of six regional centers with more than 10,700 agencies registered as members.
RPD is proud to partner with and be recognized by a multi-agency organization like WSIN.
BendRedmond | Deschutes County |
Fire & Rescue News…
Garage Fire Threatens East Bend Home
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Bend Fire & Rescue responded to a report of a structure fire east on Bend at 7:59 PM on 02/19/2025. Crews arrived to find a fully involved detached garage on fire, near a private residence. All occupant's safety evacuated the primary residence and did not report any injuries. Fire crews aggressively extinguished the garage fire preventing it from spreading to the primary residence or other property. Occupants were alerted of the fire by a partial power outage in the residence, alerting them to investigate, finding the garage and two vehicles on fire at the time. The fire is estimated to have caused approximately $250,000 worth of damages to the structure and vehicles. The cause of the fire has been determined to be unintentional and electrical in nature.
Bend Fire & Rescue would like to remind you of the importance of working smoke alarms as well as defensible space around your home and structures. More information on defensible space can be accessed under City of Bend's website under Fire & Rescue's Wildfire Preparedness link.
Crime News…
Three Bend Residents Indicted in Child Abuse Case, Warrants Issued
BEND, Ore. – A Deschutes County Grand Jury has indicted three Bend residents following an extensive investigation by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) Detective’s Division. Authorities have issued nationwide felony arrest warrants for Sarah Marie Session, 33, Paula Hardenburg, 60, and Gary L. Hardenburg, 65, who are currently evading law enforcement.
The suspects face multiple charges, including attempted murder, assault, criminal mistreatment, coercion, and tampering with evidence.
According to DCSO, the indictment was filed on February 18, 2025, following the investigative efforts of detectives and the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. Details regarding the case remain limited, but officials are urging the public to assist in locating the suspects.
Authorities ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Session or the Hardenburgs to contact Deschutes County non-emergency dispatch at (541) 693-6911.
This remains an active investigation.
Person killed in police shooting in Madras, all officers safe
MADRAS, Ore. — A person died Thursday evening in a police shooting along Highway 97 in Madras.
All officers are safe, a Madras Police spokesperson said.
Madras Police reported the incident after 6 p.m. Thursday near the Dollar General along Highway 97. They said there was a heavy police presence, and asked people to steer clear of the area.
According to police, a suspect was injured in an officer-involved shooting. At this point, they have not said what the person is accused of doing.
After the shooting, police said the wounded person was taken to the hospital for treatment before dying of their injuries.
The Regional Major Incident Team is investigating the shooting.
Community News…
Real Estate News…
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Photo by Reed Melton
By Reed Melton
This morning, mortgage rates for a 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage are 7.02%, nearly identical to the last several weeks, with no significant change on the horizon. In the housing market, when mortgage rates stay elevated, inventory rises. If inventory increases enough and buyer demand slips, prices soften. Increasing inventory is happening in Central Oregon, with softening less of a factor. However, many price points are becoming significantly more competitive, making accurate pricing more critical. Another factor of increasing inventory is an extended time on the market. During the peak buying frenzy of the pandemic, single-digit days on the market with multiple offers on a single property were prevalent. Today, most pending sales median days listed are a month or more, with the active inventory showing properties listed for three months or more. The old real estate axiom, "price cures all," rings true for properties that linger without offers.
Inventory levels in Deschutes County likely reached the bottom for 2025 at 750 single-family listings on February 5. In 2022, the bottom was 333, which didn't occur until April 20. In 2023, the number was 485 on March 1 and 550 on February 14, 2024. While population growth in Central Oregon continues, sales have dampened from the lofty peaks during the pandemic. From 2013-2022, annual sales of single-family homes in Deschutes County exceeded 4,000 (2013 - 3,948), with sales of houses eclipsing 5,000 in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, as mortgage rates escalated in the second half of the year, sales diminished while still reaching 4,130. In 2023, buyers purchased 3,162 homes and 3,343 in 2024.
Today, 769 single-family homes are actively listed in Deschutes County, with a median listing time of ninety days. A steady fifty-six properties are pending at a median sale price of $649,500. At this time of year, the trend of selling more modestly priced homes is likely attributable to buyers who are more motivated by a home they can afford and less inclined to hold out for unique or particular features. Interestingly, the median price change before securing a contract for this week's pending sales was only -2.45%. Today's housing market might not be as red-hot as the pandemic, but sales are still brisk.
Smaller Crook County is not experiencing the same inventory increases as neighboring Deschutes County. There are 144 single-family homes listed, down two from last week. Sales are strong, with eleven pending transactions at a median of $490,000. The median price reduction of the pending sales before securing a contract is -3.61%. Ten properties closed this week at a median of $437,000. The housing market in Crook County experiences very different dynamics from the rest of Central Oregon, with communities like Powell Butte and Brasada Ranch selling well above $1M, compared to downtown Prineville homes selling near the $300k mark in many cases.
Jefferson County inventory remains flat, with ninety-eight homes listed this morning, only one more from last week.Three houses are pending at a median of $299,950. Two of the three pending sales are new construction, and the median price change before securing a contract was an increase of 3.45%. Four properties closed at a median of $389,996.
The numbers in today's report show a very different dynamic between the three counties of Central Oregon. While looking at Crook and Jefferson County to learn the market is easy, larger Deschutes County requires a more specific approach. Bend, Redmond, parts of Terrebonne, Sisters, and La Pine are all within Deschutes County; each area deserves an independent analysis, particularly Bend, which is generally divided by the NW, NE, SW, and SE quadrants. Acreage properties, Cascade Mountain Views, and exceptional homes require a unique analysis to understand the market. No matter where in our region you are focused and whether you are buying or selling, understanding pricing in today's market is essential to any transaction.
ACTIVE LISTINGS
Thrifting for Furniture & Décor in Central Oregon: Where to Shop & Tips for Success
If you're looking to furnish your home with character and style—without breaking the bank—thrifting is the way to go. Buying second-hand furniture and decorations is not only a budget-friendly choice but also an eco-conscious one, keeping quality pieces out of landfills while giving your home a unique and curated look. In Central Oregon, thrifting goes beyond clothing—there are fantastic stores where you can find everything from gently used furniture to one-of-a-kind décor.
Here’s a guide to some of the best places to shop for second-hand furniture and home décor in Central Oregon, plus tips for making the most of your thrifting experience.
Best Places to Shop for Second-Hand Furniture & Décor in Central Oregon
Roundabouts Home Consignments (Bend, OR)
With a 9,000-square-foot showroom, Roundabouts is a treasure trove of furniture, home décor, and art. The selection changes daily, making it a great place to check regularly for high-quality pieces, whether you’re looking for modern, vintage, or rustic styles.
Second Tern Thrift Store (Sunriver, OR)
This volunteer-run thrift shop supports the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory. You’ll find everything from furniture and housewares to sporting goods. It’s a fantastic stop for those looking to shop sustainably while supporting a good cause.
The Vintage Cottage (Prineville, OR)
If you love farmhouse, rustic, or shabby chic styles, The Vintage Cottage is the place to visit. It features antique and repurposed furniture alongside unique home décor pieces, many crafted by local artisans.
City Thrift (Bend, OR)
A true hidden gem, City Thrift offers a mix of furniture, home goods, and even outdoor gear. Since inventory changes frequently, it’s best to stop by often to find the best deals.
Old Boy Vintage (Bend, OR)
While primarily known for vintage clothing, Old Boy Vintage occasionally has unique home décor pieces and small furniture items. If you love a mid-century modern or eclectic aesthetic, it’s worth checking out.
Tips for Thrifting Success
✅ Inspect Before You Buy – Always check furniture for signs of wear, structural damage, or unpleasant odors. A quick cleaning can refresh most items, but be mindful of major damage that could be difficult to repair.
✅ Know What Not to Buy – While thrifting is great, some items are best purchased new, such as mattresses, nonstick cookware, and upholstered furniture that may harbor allergens or pests.
✅ Check for Solid Wood – Solid wood furniture can be refinished or repainted to match your style. Avoid particle board or MDF pieces unless they’re in excellent condition.
✅ Visit Often – Inventory at thrift stores changes rapidly. Regular visits increase your chances of finding unique pieces at great prices.
✅ Haggle (Respectfully) – Many thrift stores and consignment shops are open to negotiation, especially if an item has been on the floor for a while.
✅ Bring Measurements – If you’re shopping for furniture, have your room dimensions handy to ensure a good fit before purchasing.
✅ Think Outside the Box – A vintage dresser can be repurposed into a bathroom vanity, and an old ladder can become a bookshelf. Get creative with your finds!
Why Thrifting is a Great Choice
Shopping second-hand isn’t just about saving money—it’s about sustainability, community, and finding pieces with history and charm. Whether you’re decorating your home, hunting for a statement piece, or just browsing for inspiration, Central Oregon’s thrift and consignment stores offer an ever-changing inventory that makes every visit an adventure.
So next time you’re looking for furniture or home décor, skip the big-box stores and try one of these local spots instead. You might just find the perfect piece—at the perfect price!
😎 Just sayin
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