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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Trivia Photo Answer

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

😎Endless Summer Nights By Heart of Oregon Corps

⛳Sunriver Putt Putt Golf Tournament

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🔥Little Lava Fire Evacuation Update - 09/12/24 

💧Oregon Water Resources Commission adopts disputed update to groundwater allocation rules; city critics to seek ‘balance’

⚠️'Scam Jam' seminars held in Central Oregon after Oregonians lost $97 million last year

📰Oregon lawmakers visit Bend, see and hear plenty about transportation priorities, how to tackle funding shortfall

✅Local Vote

🗣️Senate District 27 candidates Broadman, Summers clash frequently during NewsChannel 21 debate

Central Oregon Fire Info

Updates of Oregon Fires

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨 Crime News

📰 Community News

📰More than 40 Ford Model As embark on Central Oregon tour

 Got 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 | September 11, 2024 With Reed Melton

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events

📲Sponsors & Partners

Thanks for playing! According to the photo it is Wall Street looking North from Oregon Ave.

A couple of you got it correct - LB and Debi. 😊

Name the Street

Bonus if you can name the cross street and the era

BEND

SUNRIVER

Events Sponsored By

Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

Endless Summer Nights

By Heart of Oregon Corps

 Join us for the 5th annual Endless Summer Nights Fundraiser, proudly sponsored by Mike's Fence Center and benefiting Heart of Oregon Corps! Bring the whole family and enjoy outdoor festivities hosted by R&H Construction and opportunities to support youth and young adults with Heart of Oregon Corps! The popular Cycle Pub race as well as other family friendly fun will take place at the Bend Park & Float. Guests can look forward to delicious food trucks, local brews, bingo, silent auction, Cycle Pub races, and a family fun zone complete with bounce houses, photobooth, cornhole, and more!

September 14, 2024

Time

03:00 PM - 06:30 PM

location

 Bend Park & Float 1000 SW Bradbury Wy Oregon

Tickets

$30.00

Sunriver Putt Putt Golf Tournament

The Sunriver Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Putt Putt Golf Tournament on Thursday, Sept. 19 at Sunriver Resort's Gray's Trail. The event is a fundraiser for the third annual Career Exploration Lunch for the Three Rivers Middle School students and mentors, to be held in the Spring of 2025.

The cost is $50 for a two-person team or $25 per person. Golfers can sign up for the 4:30 or 5:30 p.m. "tee times." Food and beverages are available for purchase at the Backyard Cafe & Bar. There will be prizes for first, second and third place.

To sign up for the event, please send:

Team members names
Time you want to play
An invoice will be sent via Quickbooks to players. RSVP to [email protected].

The event also is a great way to advertise your business. If you would like to add to the "gift bags for players," please send an email.

Date

September 19, 2024

Time

04:30 PM

location

 Sunriver Resort 17600 Center Drive Sunriver, Oregon

Tickets

$50 for a two-person team or $25 per person

Little Lava Fire Evacuation Update - 09/12/24 

September 12, 2024 / 11 AM Update

With improving conditions on the Little Lava Fire and continued progress, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Sunriver Police Department and fire managers, are adjusting evacuation levels.

Summary of evacuation changes:

Most areas previously Level 1 (Be Ready) are returned to normal. This area includes:

• West of Hwy 97 south of Lava Butte and adjacent to Sunriver, south to Vandevert Rd including the Sunriver Business Park, Caldera Springs, Crosswater and Vandevert Ranch.

• Oregon Water Wonderland and Big River Drive area north of South Century Dr (FS Rd 42).

All areas previously Level 2 (Be Set) are reduced to level 1. This area includes:

• Areas west of the Deschutes River from Fall River Estates north to Spring River Rd, including Fall River Estates, River Forest Acres, River Meadows, Stage Stop Meadows, and Deschutes River Recreational Homesites.

• Areas north of Spring River Rd west of the Deschutes River including Besson Rd area and Spring River Acres.

• Sunriver

All Level 3 (Go Now) areas will remain the same.

Current Evacuation Levels are as follows:

Current Level 3 (Go Now):

Deschutes National Forest south of  FS Rd 46 (Century Drive), west of FS Rd 41 and the Deschutes River (South of Benham Falls Road), north of FS Rd 40, and east of the of the north/south section of Century Drive (Excluding Elk and Lava Lake Resorts, cabins and campgrounds). This area includes: Mt. Bachelor, Wanoga Butte and snow park, Kapka Snow Park, Edison Snow  Park, Todd Horse Camp, Sparks Lake, Devils Lake.

Areas West of the Forest Boundary, north of FS Rd 42 (South Century Dr), east of FS Rd 4240, and north to the FS Rd 40 (and adjacent Level 3 Evacuation areas. This area includes Pistol, Sitkum and Anns Buttes.

Level 3: Means “GO” evacuate now. Leave immediately! Danger to your area is current or imminent, and you should evacuate immediately. If you choose to ignore this advisement, you must understand that emergency services may not be available to assist you further. DO NOT delay leaving to gather any belongings or make efforts to protect your home. This will be the last notice you receive.

Oregon Water Resources Commission adopts disputed update to groundwater allocation rules; city critics to seek ‘balance’

The Oregon Water Resources Commission has adopted new groundwater allocation rules aimed at promoting sustainable use of groundwater in the state. These rules prioritize existing water rights and protect surface water connected to groundwater, such as rivers and lakes. Supporters applaud the decision, citing improved water sustainability, while critics, including Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch, express concerns about future water access for cities and seek a balanced solution. The new rules will not affect current groundwater applications or existing rights but will guide future water use permits based on scientific data.

Full Story Here

'Scam Jam' seminars held in Central Oregon after Oregonians lost $97 million last year

• Colby Enebrad, Reporter Central Oregon Daily

Oregonians lost $97 million dollars to scams in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Unfortunately, the actual amount lost in 2023 is likely much more as scams can go unnoticed and unreported. 

"Everybody can be scammed at any age. That's the reality. What we find is that older adults happen to lose more money when they're scammed, but younger people are actually scammed at a higher rate," AARP Oregon Director of Bandana Shrestha said.

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, in partnership with AARP Oregon, is holding a series of Scam Jam seminars throughout the High Desert. 

One was held at the Larkspur Community Center in Bend on Thursday, with another planned for Sisters on Friday.

"I get tons of text messages. Some of them may be legit from political organizations, but if I don't know who it's from, I just delete them. It seems I'm getting, nowadays, four to five a day," seminar attendee Ann Flanagan said.

Scams are ever evolving. These seminars are meant to educate people about the newest trends in scams and how you can protect yourself.

"I want to be up to date about the kinds of scams that are out there. I think I'm already pretty careful. I don't answer phone numbers I don't recognize, but I'm hearing more and more information about AI types of scams," Flanagan said. "I don't think I have the expertise for some of those. "

Imposter schemes have become the most common type of scam in Oregon and the U.S.

"They'll claim to be a business. They'll claim to be a government agency. They'll claim to be a law enforcement agency. They're doing that because they want your information. They want your money. If they succeed in getting your information, they'll use it against you or they'll sell it. If they get your money, obviously they'll spend it," FTC Regional Director Chuck Harwood said.

Experts say the best way to protect yourself from scams is to not click on any suspicious links or take any phone calls from numbers you don't recognize. Speaking to loved ones or friends about new scams is also effective in preventing people from falling victim to them.

Scammers will often act with a sense of urgency, claiming it's an emergency. Anyone who finds themself in this situation should not panic nor act impulsively. Instead, they should either hang up, or ask someone they trust if they're still unsure of the situation.

Friday's Scam Jam seminar will be held at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

VIDEO

Oregon lawmakers visit Bend, see and hear plenty about transportation priorities, how to tackle funding shortfall

State lawmakers visited Bend to review the Highway 97 North Corridor Project and nearby homeless camps, as part of a tour to address transportation priorities and ODOT's $1.8 billion budget shortfall. Businesses voiced concerns over construction disruptions, while officials highlighted the need for more public transportation investment and safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists. ODOT warned of potential service cuts, including the closure of seven maintenance stations, if the budget gap isn't resolved. Residents and officials called for bipartisan solutions, with suggestions ranging from light rail to better greenways and bikeways.

Full Story Here

Senate District 27 candidates Broadman, Summers clash frequently during NewsChannel 21 debate

Updates of Oregon Fires

Link to: Air Quality Index map

Another AQI Map

Link to: Northwest Large Fire Interactive Web Map

More than 40 Ford Model As embark on Central Oregon tour

If you were driving around Redmond or Prineville Wednesday morning, chances are you saw a long line of cars coming straight out of the 1920s and '30s.

The Northwest Regional Group of the Ford Model A Club of America took to the roads of the High Desert, touring it in style.

"Last year we were in Victoria. The year before that we were in Spokane. We're all over the Northwest. The Northwest regional group is Washington, Oregon, Idaho, We've got Western Montana. And then we've got B.C. and Alberta," club chairman Jan Jackson said.

Nearly 100 people, hailing from several different states and two Canadian provinces, showed off their Model As through the Central Oregon.

"I'm a Canadian. It was a long drive, it took three days. We could do with less smoke from your fires, but other than that we're having a good time," club member Allan Glen said.

They may not be the fastest, but they'll certainly grab your attention.

"I've owned my car since I was 15, so I've had it for 60 years. And I've only had one person give me the wrong finger when we were going too slow. So most people are really happy to see us," Jackson said.

All 46 of them unique and stylish. But there are some that are bit more hard to find than others.

"See that one across the way has got three windows on the side, this one only has two windows down the side. There's only about 16 in existence. It's rarer than rocking horse dookie," club member Robert McLaughlin said.

Every car, nearly 100 years old, ranging from the years 1928-1931, still chugging along and ready for next year's tour.

VIDEO

Central Oregon Market Report | September 11, 2024

by Reed Melton

Lightning-caused fires west of Sunriver and adjacent to Mt. Bachelor have had the Sunriver Resort and Three Rivers South communities on "standby to evacuate" mode for the last few days. While the air quality in these neighborhoods has been relatively good, the SSW winds were blowing most of the heavy smoke into Bend. Ash fell from the sky like snow, blanketing vehicles and creating an ominous, eerie mood in town. Fortunately, it is raining in Sunriver this morning, with rain forecast throughout the day, hopefully preventing an escalation to mandatory evacuation. I have relied mainly on the "Watch Duty" app, which provides updates on fire activity and notifications of changes in the evacuation status. Advanced notice has been excellent between Watch Duty, social media, and signs on the roadways. However, any evacuation notice is stressful, and deciding what to take as you leave your home and possessions behind is stressful. Also, the evacuation from most of Sunriver and Three Rivers South is a single road that would likely become backed up with residents all leaving simultaneously. All another day of living in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains!

Surprisingly, this week, the inventory in Deschutes County increased by ten to 1261 single-family homes listed for sale.In many cases, the housing market doesn't immediately respond to positive changes in the dynamics impacting buyers. Mortgage rates have improved significantly over the last several days, but pending transaction volume has remained stable. This morning, the 30-year fixed-rate national average for a conventional loan is 6.22%, down from 7.43% on April 22, 2024. Seventy-three pending sales this week, with seventy-two closed transactions, is undoubtedly strong activity relative to this year's sales volume. Still, I expected more activity with a nearly 125 basis point drop from last spring's peak. 

With so much emphasis placed on the upcoming Fed meeting and an expected overnight rate decrease of at least 25 basis points, many buyers might be waiting for better rates. While the Fed telegraphed more decreases in the November and December meetings, rates today have already priced in the September Fed rate cut. In the unlikely event that Jerome Powell cuts 50 basis points, mortgages might decline further, but that seems like a stretch. The Central Oregon housing market is bound by seasonal weather and the holidays, with far fewer transactions typically taking place in November and December than at other times of the year. As homes come off the market and selection dwindles the dynamics change. There is little doubt that off-season buying can be a great time to negotiate better deals, but robust selection is not a defining characteristic of the off-season. I still maintain that short of a devastating recession, if mortgage rates in the spring of 2025 are in the mid-5 % range, there will be upward pressure on prices, and inventory will be less than we see today. However, the lenders I speak with are seeing an uptick in refinance applications.

Crook County inventory increased three this week to 167 single-family homes listed for sale. Five pending sales and two closed transactions rounded out a tepid week in terms of transactions. 

Jefferson County inventory dropped three to 116 single-family listings, with seven pending sales, and three closed transactions. 

Whether back-to-school, fire season, election uncertainty, or waiting for better rates are to blame for the modest transaction volume of late, these factors do not change the fact that Central Oregon has more selection at better pricing than we have witnessed in a few years. Sometimes, waiting fits personal circumstances best, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to housing. However, passing up these small windows of opportunity has not resulted in better conditions over the last few years. No matter your situation, I am happy to assist in any way I can to help you determine the right move for you! 

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