In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🎭 Bendi Gras 2025 – Mardi Gras in Bend!

🎭 Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

📅Save The Date Section

🎷🎸🎶2025 Prineville Follies Set for March 21-22

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Developing Story from Central Oregon Daily News - American suspected of throwing newborn from Paris hotel window may have Bend connection

📰County offering free yard debris disposal ahead of wildfire season

🍔Landlord confirms Burgerville taking over former Bend Del Taco space

📰Deschutes County Law Enforcement Organizes Retail Theft Meetings

📰Regional News

📰Oregon DMV resumes controversial automatic voter registration

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

💥Sisters Man Involved in Fatal Head-On Crash on Highway 138W

🔥Small Explosion at Bend Poker Room Linked to Natural Gas Leak

⛑️ Father and Daughter Injured in Snowmobile Crash Near Century Drive

🚨Crime News

📰Community News

📰Heart of Oregon Corps Secures Site for New Redmond Campus, Launches Capital Campaign

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

📈Central Oregon’s Population Growth Continues, But Pace Slows

😁 MEME of the Day

Good Morning!

BEND

SANTIAM PASS WEATHER

GOVERNMENT CAMP WEATHER

WILLAMETTE PASS WEATHER

What’s Up Central Oregon 

🎭 Bendi Gras 2025 – Mardi Gras in Bend!

Let the good times roll!

Celebrate the spirit of New Orleans right here in Bend with Bendi Gras 2025! This lively Mardi Gras festival features a weekend packed with music, food, parades, and plenty of fun. Enjoy live performances, indulge in delicious Cajun cuisine, and immerse yourself in a colorful, festive atmosphere that brings the Big Easy to Central Oregon.

📅 Dates: February 28 – March 2, 2025
📍 Location: Various venues across Bend, OR
🎟️ Tickets & Info: Visit https://www.bendigras.com/ for details.

🎭 Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

Experience the magic of Matilda live on stage!

Mountain View High School presents Matilda the Musical, an enchanting adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved story about a brilliant young girl with a love for books and a rebellious spirit. This high-energy production, featuring local student talent, is perfect for audiences of all ages. Don’t miss this chance to support the arts and enjoy a heartwarming theatrical experience!

📅 Dates: February 28 – March 2, 2025 & March 7 – 9, 2025
⏰ Time: Evening and matinee performances available
📍 Location: Mountain View High School Auditorium, Bend, OR
🎟️ Tickets

Coming up - Save the Date

2025 Prineville Follies Set for March 21-22

The 48th annual Prineville Follies, a beloved community talent showcase, will take place on March 21-22 at Crook County High School. Hosted by the Prineville Music and Theater Boosters, the event features a pre-show at 6 p.m. and performances starting at 7 p.m. in the Eugene Southwell Auditorium. This year’s theme, Under the Neon, embraces a nostalgic 1920s vaudeville and jazz style, with acts including jazz ensembles, piano duets, tap and lyrical dancing, and vocal performances.

At least 27 acts are scheduled, along with fundraising efforts such as a live auction featuring handmade quilts, a fly rod, and a tabletop bar. Raffle tickets for gift baskets will also be available. Proceeds support scholarships for band, choir, and drama students, as well as funding for music and theater program needs.

Tickets are available at Coldwell Banker Sun Country Realty, Prineville Men’s Wear, and at the door. Organizers recommend arriving early to secure seats and enjoy the pre-show jazz band performance.

LOCAL EVENTS

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Deschutes Public Library Events

Local News…

Developing Story from Central Oregon Daily News

County offering free yard debris disposal ahead of wildfire season

Deschutes County is encouraging residents to prepare their homes for wildfire season and will be offering FREE disposal of yard debris at collection sites around the county later this spring. The 2025 FireFree disposal events begin on May 2, but the drop-off dates and times of operation vary by location.

“Wildfire embers can travel several miles and ignite fallen pine needles, leaves or other yard debris,” said County Forester Kevin Moriarty. “We invite residents to clean up their property, take advantage of the free disposal events and reduce the risk of losing their home to wildfire.”

Items that will be accepted at the collection sites include grass clippings, brush, plant trimmings, pine needles, pine cones, weeds, branches, and stumps or trees that are less than 12 inches in diameter.

Items that will NOT be accepted include sod, dirt, rocks, lumber, metal, trash or plastics of any kind, and stumps or trees that are larger than 12 inches in diameter.

Please remember to cover your loads as you travel to a collection site.

 Residents can discard yard debris free of charge during specific dates and times at the following Deschutes County collection sites:

• Bend: Knott Landfill, 61050 SE 27^th St.

May 2 – May 11 (7 days a week)

7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Sunriver: Sunriver Compost Site, 18305 Cottonwood Rd.

May 2 – May 3 (Friday and Saturday)

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• La Pine: Southwest Transfer Station, 54580 Hwy 97

May 16 – May 24 (Monday–Saturday, closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Redmond: Negus Transfer Station, 2400 NE Maple Ave.

May 16 – May 24 (Monday–Saturday, closed Sunday)

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Sisters: Northwest Transfer Station, 68200 Fryrear Rd.

May 16 – May 24 (Wednesday–Saturday, closed Sunday-Tuesday)

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call (541) 322-7129, or visit www.firefree.org

Landlord confirms Burgerville taking over former Bend Del Taco space

The landlord where Bend's now closed Del Taco is located confirmed Thursday that Burgerville will be going into the space.

The space's owner said Del Taco decided not to renew its lease after 20 years at its location on Third Street near Vince Genna Stadium.

The building conversion will begin Saturday. He also told Central Oregon Daily that Burgerville is planning on eventually opening more than one location in the region.

Neither Burgerville nor the City of Bend have confirmed the news about taking over the old Del Taco.

It's been known since January 2024 that Northwest-based Burgerville planned to open a location in Bend. Last month, the Burgerville website posted the location would be the same address as the Del Taco. That posting was quickly removed, with Burgerville telling Central Oregon Daily that it was posted by mistake by a "third-party partner."

Founded in 1961, Burgerville has opened 39 locations across the Northwest, the vast majority of which are in the Portland-Vancouver area.

Deschutes County Law Enforcement Organizes Retail Theft Meetings

Deschutes County law enforcement organizes retail theft meetings 

The Bend Police Department, in collaboration with the Redmond Police Department and the Deschutes County District Attorney's Office, will host a series of Retailer Listening Sessions as part of the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) grant that Deschutes County secured in fall 2024.

The goal of this initiative is to stop organized retail crimes from occurring in our county by improving response to theft calls, increasing arrests, and enhancing prosecution of retail theft offenders. Achieving this goal will require a multi-tiered approach.

The Retailer Listening Sessions are an opportunity for the Deschutes County ORT team to hear directly from local retailers about the types of theft they have been experiencing, as well as to answer questions on Oregon retail theft law and share information about the Deschutes County District Attorney's Office's work to create a local chapter of the Organized Retail Crime Association of Oregon (ORCAOR). More information will be shared about a Central Oregon ORCAOR chapter meeting in the coming weeks. 

Retail owners, managers, and loss prevention officers from Deschutes County are encouraged to attend one of the Retailer Listening Sessions in March.

Registration for a Retailer Listening Session is encouraged but not required. Register here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/deschutescounty2/organizedretailtheftretailerlisteningsessionregistration

Retailer Listening Sessions:

Bend

Wednesday, March 12                 
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  

Bend Municipal Court, 555 NE 15th Street

Redmond 

Tuesday, March 18                        

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.                                 

Redmond City Hall Civic Room, 411 SW 9th Street

Bend 

Monday, March 31                         

1 p.m. to 2 p.m.                                 

Downtown Bend Library Brooks Community Room, 601 NW Wall Street

Regional News…

Oregon DMV resumes controversial automatic voter registration

The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles has resumed its automatic voter registration program, months after a clerical error mistakenly registered over 1,600 individuals, including some who may not have been U.S. citizens. The error resulted in three cases of possible voter fraud, prompting Governor Tina Kotek to temporarily halt the program and order an audit.

Republican lawmakers argue the decision to restart the program is premature, citing a lack of legislative review. Rep. Jeff Helfrich criticized Democratic leadership, saying they promised to address the issue before the 2024 election but have not provided documentation from the independent system audit. Concerns remain among some Oregonians about election integrity, with one DMV visitor questioning whether similar errors might still be occurring.

Kotek and Secretary of State Tobias Read maintain confidence in new safeguards implemented by the DMV. These include hiring a Voter Registration Integrity Analyst, adding an extra layer of review for registration files, and modifying the DMV system to reduce the chance of selecting incorrect documents. The Secretary of State’s office will also conduct monthly random audits, verify daily voter registration data transfers, and convene an annual review panel.

ODOT officials say these changes will ensure greater accuracy and prevent future mistakes. However, critics argue stronger oversight is still needed to restore public trust.

 City of Bend Events

Fire & Rescue New…

Sisters Man Involved in Fatal Head-On Crash on Highway 138W

Douglas County, Ore. — A deadly crash early Wednesday morning shut down a stretch of Highway 138W in Douglas County for several hours after an SUV collided head-on with a commercial truck, bursting into flames.

According to the Oregon State Police, the crash happened around 4:58 a.m. near milepost 6. Investigators say a Ford Escape, driven by 38-year-old Carl Gregory Miller of Eagle Point, was traveling east when it veered into the westbound lane, colliding with a Kenworth commercial truck operated by 34-year-old Grant Crossgrove of Sisters.

The impact ignited the Ford Escape, but passing motorists were able to pull Miller from the burning vehicle. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Crossgrove, the driver of the Kenworth, was reportedly uninjured.

Authorities believe fatigue may have been a factor in the crash, though the investigation is ongoing.

The collision shut down the highway for about five hours while emergency crews worked at the scene. Responding agencies included Oregon State Police, multiple rural fire departments, North Douglas Fire and EMS, Bay City Ambulance, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Small Explosion at Bend Poker Room Linked to Natural Gas Leak

BEND, Ore. — A small explosion at the Bend Poker Room on Thursday afternoon prompted an emergency response from Bend Fire & Rescue, though no significant damage was reported.

Fire crews were dispatched to the business, located at 917 NE Greenwood Avenue, at 4:49 p.m. after reports of an explosion in the kitchen area. Upon arrival, firefighters detected low levels of natural gas but found no active fire. The building’s utilities were secured, and Cascade Natural Gas was called to the scene.

One person was transported by ambulance to St. Charles Medical Center, but no further injuries were reported.

Investigators determined that the explosion was caused by a malfunction in the burners of a natural gas pizza oven. When the burners failed to ignite, gas accumulated in the oven and later ignited, causing a small explosion or flash fire. The fire self-extinguished and did not cause damage to the kitchen.

The business was able to reopen for the evening as usual, though the pizza oven remained out of service.

Bend Fire & Rescue is reminding the community to take immediate action if they smell natural gas indoors. Officials advise evacuating the building immediately, calling 911 from a safe location, and avoiding any activities that could create a spark. More information on natural gas safety can be found on the Cascade Natural Gas website: Cascade Natural Gas Safety Information.

Father and Daughter Injured in Snowmobile Crash Near Century Drive

BEND, Ore. — A father and daughter from Portland suffered serious injuries Thursday morning after crashing a rental snowmobile into a tree along Snowmobile Trail 25, near Mile Post 17.5 on Century Drive.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team responded to the accident after a third-party monitoring service received an automated crash notification from the victim’s cell phone app at approximately 10:15 a.m. Shortly after, a witness called 911 to report the crash and confirm that two individuals had been severely injured.

SAR volunteers, guided by electronic crash data and witness information, quickly located the victims—a 51-year-old man and his 14-year-old daughter. SAR medics provided emergency care at the scene and requested an air ambulance.

Using the DCSO Search and Rescue "Snow-Bulance," responders transported both patients to an awaiting Bend Fire ambulance. The father was then airlifted by AirLink to St. Charles Health System in Bend, while his daughter was taken by ground ambulance to the same hospital for further treatment.

"This incident highlights the importance of emergency notification technology and the rapid response capabilities of our Search and Rescue teams," said Deschutes County Sheriff Kent Vander Kamp. "Our SAR volunteers, 911 dispatchers, and emergency medical partners worked seamlessly to ensure this family received the urgent care they needed. Most importantly, when renting snowmobiles or other motorized recreational vehicles, always get proper use instructions and drive within your capabilities and experience."

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office urges outdoor enthusiasts to exercise caution when recreating in the backcountry, carry emergency communication devices when possible, share their planned routes, and dress appropriately for conditions.

Crime News…

Community News…

Heart of Oregon Corps Secures Site for New Redmond Campus, Launches Capital Campaign

Heart of Oregon Corps is preparing to establish a permanent home in Redmond, marking a significant milestone for the nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth and young adults through education, job training, and employment programs. During its 25th anniversary celebration, the organization announced the completion of a land purchase for a 3.4-acre site, which will serve as the foundation for its future campus.

Plans for the new facility include a 6,000-square-foot campus center designed to enhance program delivery and community engagement. A courtyard will be incorporated into the design, creating a welcoming and connected space for participants. The development represents a major step forward in expanding opportunities for local youth.

To support the project, Heart of Oregon Corps has launched Legacy 25, a capital campaign aimed at raising $2.5 million. The goal is to secure the remaining funding needed to break ground this fall and ensure the organization's continued impact over the next 25 years.

Despite recent shifts in federal funding, the organization remains confident in its ability to move forward, drawing on its resilience through economic downturns and the challenges of the pandemic.

A significant boost to the campaign comes from a $500,000 matching grant from the Central Oregon-based Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. Donations under $100,000 will be doubled through this matching opportunity, allowing supporters to maximize their contributions. Community members can participate by making a Legacy gift at various levels, ranging from $25 to $250,000.

The planned campus will include:

• A central Campus Center with classrooms, offices, and meeting spaces.

• A 14,000-square-foot training warehouse for hands-on workshops and skills training.

• Six equipment bays spanning 10,000 square feet to accommodate special projects and equipment storage.

• Youth-centered design elements that foster a sense of belonging and create an inspiring learning environment.

• An amenity-filled courtyard for gatherings, events, and quiet study areas.

This expansion reflects Heart of Oregon Corps’ ongoing commitment to empowering young people and preparing them for successful futures. Donations can be made online to support the Legacy 25 campaign.

 😎 Just sayin

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