Month: April 2025

Barney Lerten

Announcement came on same day Latino Community Assn. canceled Central Oregon Latino Fest

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Father’s Group organization in Bend has canceled this year’s Juneteenth Celebration at Drake Park, noting “today’s increasingly political climate, with rising incidents of racial aggression and threats, particularly toward Black and Latino communities.”

“Safety must come first,” the organization said in a Facebook post, adding that the decision was made “after deep reflection, consultation and with heavy hearts.”

It was one of two Central Oregon community organizations to announce an event cancellation on Monday, citing similar safety concerns. The Latino Community Association said it has decided to cancel this fall’s Central Oregon Latino Fest in Madras.

Here’s the announcement posted late Monday by The Father’s Group on its Facebook page:

To Our Beloved Community,

After deep reflection, consultation, and with heavy hearts, we are postponing this year’s Juneteenth Celebration at Drake Park.

This decision did not come lightly.

As you know, Juneteenth is more than just a holiday for us—it’s a time to uplift our history, celebrate our resilience, and stand in joyful solidarity. But in today’s increasingly volatile political climate, with rising incidents of racial aggression and threats—particularly toward Black and Latino communities—safety must come first.

Every year, our celebration welcomes families, youth, elders, and people from all walks of life. Your safety is our top priority. As protectors and organizers, we refuse to put our community at risk. We’d rather pause now than regret later.

But make no mistake—we are not backing down. We are regrouping. And we’ll be back in 2026, stronger, safer, and bolder than ever.

In the meantime, we encourage you to support and attend the beautiful celebration being held by our friends at Central Oregon Earthseeds! They’re hosting a “Juneteenth – An Evening at the Campfire,” featuring a vibrant Black Business Market featuring a DJ and Jermaican Jerk Culture! Stay tuned for more information soon!

Let’s continue to show up, build together, and create safe spaces that center joy, culture, and connection. So make sure you mark your calendars!

Thank you for your understanding, love, and continued support. We’ll see you soon—and when we do, it’ll be unforgettable.

With love and solidarity,

The Father’s Group”

Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ)  — The Prineville Crook County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center is excited to unveil a stunning remodel of its main office in Prineville.

Funded through the Travel Oregon Competitive Grants Program, the remodel enhances the facility to enhance the Chamber’s ability to serve residents, visitors, and tourists exploring the area.

The project focused on key upgrades to improve the Visitor Center’s functionality, including a handicap-accessible door opener, a new ADA-compliant front desk, lobby seating, and wayfinding signage. The remodel also features a high-resolution LED sign at the front of the building, making community and tourism information easier to access for all.

“The grant we received from Travel Oregon made this project possible, and it’s incredible to see the transformation,” said Kim Molnar, Director of Tourism for Explore Prineville. “This remodel reflects our commitment to creating a welcoming and accommodating space for visitors. It’s a major milestone for Prineville’s tourism efforts.”

“This project wouldn’t have been possible without the vision and dedication of our team, especially Kim and her hard work securing this competitive grant,” said Chamber President Shawn Benson. “It’s an example of what can be accomplished when prioritizing tourism and community partnerships.”

The remodel was made possible through collaboration with local experts, including Brandin Noland of Orion Subcontracting, who led the construction efforts, and Brittany Grogan of Hailis Design, whose creative vision brought the redesign to life. Current and former board members of the Visitor Center also contributed to making this project a success.

“We’re proud to share these updates with the community and look forward to welcoming more visitors to Prineville,” added Operations Manager Deb Shaw. “This facility is not just an office—it’s the first impression many people have of our area, and now it truly reflects the warmth and hospitality of Prineville.”

Isabella Warren

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Homelessness looks different in and around all of cities across Deschutes County, officials say – especially in La Pine.

Outreach groups say they’ve long struggled to reach the homeless in the La Pine area, and as major homeless encampments in the county like along China Hat Road are closed, more homeless could be moving to the area.

The county says it’s preparing.

“What we see from our perspective is a lot of folks that are from the community,” said Colleen Thomas, supervisor of the county’s homeless outreach services. “We see a lot of generational poverty as well. If they aren’t able to access the limited resources that we do have, a lot of the folks may not be able to access some of the resources, including shelters or housing programs.”

Deschutes County says the outreach team is currently trying to prevent campers from moving farther onto Forest Service land, preventing isolation, which could pose dangers for those with mental health issues.

The homeless have been at the center of wildfire prevention in La Pine following the Darlene 3 fire, where a viral video showed a burning camp at the center of the devastating blaze. The Forest Service has not confirmed the cause of that fire.

The Problem Solvers are continuing to investigate homelessness in La Pine for a full report later this month. Please reach out with any information for this story to problemsolvers@ktvz.com.

Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new Indian food restaurant is preparing to open its doors in downtown Bend and it’s called Spiceland. Behind a banner advertising the restaurant, the new staff is working hard to set up shop. They’re in the process of moving into the space formerly used by the Japanese fusion bar ‘Chomp Chomp’.

The owner of Spiceland has been running Indian restaurants in the Pacific Northwest for three decades and currently manages the ‘Evergreen Indian Restaurants’ in both Eugene and Corvallis.

Spiceland aims to be an affordable casual dining experience where workers and families can sit down for authentic Indian cuisine.

Speaking for the owner, consultant and barman Craig Hanson said, “We’re going to be serving authentic Northern and Southern Indian cuisine, including kathi rolls and lamb shank curry. We’re also going to have dosa, and just things that you would expect to find in an authentic Indian restaurant.”

There’s no fixed opening date for the restaurant, but its hope is to open the doors as early as next week. Spiceland will also feature a bar with craft cocktails.