Central Oregon Archives

Deschutes Soil and Water Conservation District, seeking voter funds, holds open house to shine spotlight on their efforts

October 15, 2024 11:00 pm Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Water, soil and wildfire were important factors within the soil and water conservation community. The Deschutes Soil and water Conservation District hosted an open house Tuesday evening, inviting Deschutes County residents to learn more about conservation efforts. District Manager Erin Kilcullen said, “Any landowner, both rural or urban, has a lot of

‘Slap in the face’: Flagpole toppled, flags vandalized at Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Deschutes Memorial Gardens

October 15, 2024 11:57 am Matthew Draxton

The recently renovated Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Deschutes Memorial Garden in Bend has been vandalized, and not for the first time — distressing many veterans, especially those who help oversee the monument.

Illegal pass, head-on crash on Mt. Washington Drive bring reckless driving charge; small co.’s truck also totaled

October 15, 2024 11:18 am Barney Lerten

A driver’s illegal pass led to a head-on crash on NW Mt. Washington Drive Monday afternoon that closed the road for two hours and led to reckless driving charges, police said. It also dealt a severe blow to the small business whose pickup truck he hit.

‘It allows these folks to be seen’: Bend company’s ‘Pink Lights for Hope’ honors breast cancer survivors across US

October 4, 2024 4:12 pm KTVZ

(Update: Adding video, comments from CEO) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — People around the country are marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One Bend company wants to shine a special light on survivors. Christmas Lights Factory is putting on its second year of the “Pink Lights for Hope” campaign. It’s an initiative bringing light and hope to 50 breast

Costco’s new, larger Bend store just days away from opening; members eager to check it out

October 15, 2024 4:45 pm KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ Just days away, the final touches are being completed on Central Oregon’s new Costco, and members are excited to check it all out. The new store off Cooley Road is much larger than the former location at the Forum Shopping Center. The new Costco opens Saturday at 8 a.m., just 15 hours after the old northeast

Oregon Dept. of Forestry ending regulated-use closure across Central Oregon District – but fire season still in effect

October 15, 2024 2:19 pm KTVZ News Partners

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Central Oregon District announced it will terminate regulated-use closure at 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, but added that fire season remains in effect across the district. “We caution the public to be mindful of activities which could start a fire, as we continue to slowly ease into winter. Periods

National Wild Turkey Federation, Ochoco National Forest partner on western juniper removal project

October 15, 2024 2:07 pm KTVZ News Partners

EDGEFIELD, S.C. (KTVZ) — Oregon wildfires have scorched a record-breaking 1.9 million acres this year — the most acres ever damaged in modern state history, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. These ongoing wildfires have posed significant challenges for land and wildlife managers this season, severely impacting landscapes, wildlife and surrounding communities. Despite these

South Deschutes County daylight burglar caught on home’s security camera; sheriff’s deputies seek tips to ID, find him

October 15, 2024 12:50 pm KTVZ News Partners

A daylight burglar who entered a home in southern Deschutes County was caught on camera Monday morning, and sheriff’s deputies released a still and video Tuesday while asking for the public’s help in identifying him.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office drops all evacuation levels around Pine Fire at Pine Mountain

October 15, 2024 10:22 am KTVZ News Partners

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — With continued success of firefighting operations on the week-old Pine Fire and improved weather conditions, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday it is dropping all evacuation levels on and around Pine Mountain and returning the area to normal status, effective immediately. “Please continue to avoid the fire area and abide

Deschutes County commissioners plan to replace 5 resigned La Pine Park & Rec board members; applicants sought

October 14, 2024 8:00 pm Barney Lerten, Tracee Tuesday

Deschutes County commissioners agreed Monday to move as swiftly as possible to appoint fill-in replacements for all five recently resigned La Pine Park and Recreation District Board members — hopefully next week – but staff advised their state-granted authority goes no further.

‘Very rewarding’: High Desert Food & Farm Alliance celebrates 10 on-farm efficiency grants for 2024

October 15, 2024 12:08 am KTVZ News Partners

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Throughout Central Oregon, where water scarcity and harsh conditions challenge even the most determined farmers, small grants are making a big difference. The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance’s On-Farm Efficiency Grants are sowing seeds of resilience into local agriculture by helping farmers invest in seemingly simple solutions that deliver huge

Judge rejects defense request to toss indictment in Bend baseball-bat attack over leg restraint, 2 deputies in grand jury room

October 14, 2024 9:19 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Deschutes County judge on Monday rejected a defense request to throw out the indictment of a Bend man accused of attempted murder in an August baseball-bat attack on his roommate due to a leg restraint he was wearing under his clothes and two armed deputies in the room when he

OSP ID’s Bend motorcyclist killed in collision with minivan driver turning left at Hwy. 20, Powell Butte Highway

October 12, 2024 1:27 pm Barney Lerten

A 41-year-old Bend man was killed Saturday when a minivan driver turned left into his path on Highway 20 at the intersection with Powell Butte Highway, Oregon State Police said Monday.

‘I was very overjoyed’: Central Oregon Symphony adds two Caldera High students to ensemble

October 14, 2024 11:38 am KTVZ

Two Caldera High School musicians recently were accepted to join the Central Oregon Symphony, a rare and exciting opportunity.

Downtown Bend businesses report a drop in foot traffic as Central Oregon’s wildfire smoke lingers well into fall

October 14, 2024 4:55 pm KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The latest round of smoke from the continued, lingering wildfires has again affected air quality levels for more than a week. It also has been affecting businesses in downtown Bend. According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, there’s an air quality advisory for Deschutes County through at least Tuesday due to the

‘Blown away’: Woman undergoing breast cancer treatment says family and friends have made journey easy

October 14, 2024 5:09 pm KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– A warm smile and lots of positivity: That’s what’s helping Kristi Testerman through her breast cancer journey. “What I bring to the table as a mom and wife and a business owner and stuff like that,” Testerman said. “So when most of that gets taken away, it’s really hard to figure out where

Turn In Poachers alert: OSP investigators seek public’s tips in illegal take, waste of yearling buck deer in Crook County

October 14, 2024 4:47 pm KTVZ News Partners

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife is investigating and seeking the public’s help in finding those responsible for the unlawful take and waste of a yearling buck deer late last week in the Grizzly Wildlife Management Unit north of Prineville. OSP Fish and Wildlife troopers from Prineville responded last Friday

‘They’re not alone’: Nearly 400 people take part in this year’s C. Oregon Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Riverbend Park

October 13, 2024 10:28 am KTVZ

(Update: Adding video, comments from walk manager, participant) BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and it kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Hundreds of people participated in the Central Oregon Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sunday afternoon at Riverbend Park. It’s the largest fundraiser for

OSU-Cascades sets meeting for public input on planned $4 million EPA grant request for former landfill remediation

October 14, 2024 3:30 pm Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon State University – Cascades will host a public meeting next week to gather input on a proposal for an Environmental Protection Agency grant of about $4 million to remediate a portion of the former Deschutes County demolition landfill for future expansion plans. The project will provide 24 acres of usable

Warm Springs teen, moving to the coast, wounded in Hwy. 26 shooting that family says was an ambush

October 14, 2024 3:14 pm Barney Lerten

JaDe Smith says she was at work in Lincoln City last Thursday evening, waiting for her younger brother Ysidro Greene, 17, and grandfather to arrive from Warm Springs, when her phone started vibrating.