KTVZ – News Team
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Are you looking for something to do this weekend in Central Oregon? Matthew Draxton highlights three local events, from a new bike festival supporting the Bend Endurance Academy to an Earth Day celebration!
For many more, and to submit your own events, visit https://events.ktvz.com.
Dylan Anderman
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — If you’ve opened social media recently, you’ve likely seen it — hundreds, even thousands of people dumping ice water over their heads. No, it’s not the return of the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from 2014. This time, it’s the Speak Your Mind Challenge, and it’s sparking a national conversation around mental health.
What Is the Speak Your Mind Challenge?
The challenge was created by the University of South Carolina’s student-led organization, MIND — short for Mental Illness Needs Discussion — in partnership with the national nonprofit Active Minds, a leader in mental health awareness and education.
The mission? To get people talking about mental health in a way that’s fun, creative, and community-driven.
How It Works
The challenge is simple:
After being nominated by someone, you record a video of yourself pouring ice-cold water over your head.
Before you get soaked, you nominate 2 to 5 other people to take on the challenge.
Post the video to social media using the hashtag #SpeakyourMIND and tag @uscmind.
Optionally, participants can donate to the USC MIND fundraising page, where 100% of proceeds go to Active Minds.
It’s a lighthearted but powerful way to spread awareness — and in just a few weeks, it’s taken off across the country.
Central Oregon Joins the Movement
Right here in Central Oregon, local students and athletes have jumped in — literally — to support the cause. From creative takes involving tractors to bold jumps into rivers the youth in our community are proving that nothing can stop them from speaking their mind — and supporting mental health awareness while they’re at it.
At its heart, the Speak Your Mind Challenge is about breaking the stigma around mental illness, encouraging open conversations, and showing that mental health matters — in every community.
Whether you’re in South Carolina or Central Oregon, it’s clear: The movement is making an impact.
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A 28-year-old Eldon woman was seriously injured Thursday in a crash on Highway 54 in Miller County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
According to the report, a 200 Jeep Wrangler – driven by the woman – was heading eastbound when it went off the right side of the road, overturned and hit a highway sign near Cave Drive.
The woman was not wearing a seatbelt, the report says. She was flown to University Hospital with serious injuries. The Jeep was totaled, the report says.
MSHP reports do not list those involved in crashes.
Kailey Galaviz
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – It’s been 11 years since the last Big Sky Handbell Festival happened in Idaho Falls, and now, it’s coming back.
Handbell choirs from around Montana and Idaho are coming together for a concert on April 26.
The festival begins with the youngest member ringing the tiniest bell. It will close with the eldest member ringing the largest bell, who this year, is 90-year-old Marilyn Taylor.
Taylor has been known as the “godmother of handbells” in Idaho Falls for years. Her dream was to be the closing ringer, but she has not been able to travel to different locations where the festival has been held. But now, she can live out that dream.
The free concert is at the Hillcrest High School Gym on April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Kendra Simpson
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Missouri Western State University students will show off their cinematic skills with the 10th Annual Griffon Film Festival, playing at the Trail Theatre Friday and Saturday evenings.
The film festival will showcase film, communication, digital animation and Griffon Media students’ work throughout the semester.
Organizer of the event, Blake Elder, will have his documentary, “Leather Bound”, featured in the festival. He hopes the community will see how essential and moving the fine arts can be.
“I hope the community sees that the arts are important and they should come out and support these students that have worked so hard and want to show their projects to everyone,” Elder said.
Elder said his favorite part of the festival is seeing his classmates’ work come to life after a year’s worth of script writing, filming and editing.
“My favorite aspect of the film festival is just getting to watch everybody’s hard work,” he said. “We’ve seen little bits and pieces, we’ve been on sets. But it’ll be really fun to see everything up on the big screen.”
Friday’s showing will end with awards, including Cinematography, Best Producer, Audience Choice, Best Overall Film and more.
The film festival is free to attend and will span two nights, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday night at the Trail Theatre, located at 111 N 9th St.
Rosemary Montañez
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)–One Borderland teenager and his mother continue to honor the memory of their late friend, Belen. The Neessen raises money each year for childhood cancer.
Renee Neessen explained to ABC-7 that Belen’s mother and she both went to Mesita Elementary School. They have been friends since they were five years old. So there was no doubt their own children would grow up alongside each other and even become best friends.
“She was my best friend. And she, we do this lemonade to honor her name,” Graham Neessen said.
Belen was diagnosed with leukemia. In 2020, she died just days before her 15th birthday.
The Neessen family helps keep her memory alive with a lemonade stand, hosting it each year on Belen’s birthday.
“Belen was their best friend, and it just raises awareness for, you know, kids with cancer. And it shows them compassion and love towards, you know, all these children that have to fight this battle and yeah, it just raises their awareness towards it,” Renee said.
This year the family is also supporting their friend, Logan, who has been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma five times. He began his own charity, Logan’s Lighthouse, that raises money and collects toys for kids with cancer.
“I have supportive friends, supportive family. Everyone around me is really helpful,” he told ABC-7.
Renee said the lemonade stand has helped start important conversations.
“So throughout the years, my kids have always been so open about their story, about Belen. And I think it’s opened up a lot of kids’ eyes that there that is their age, like today, just bringing their little community out to come and sell, just bring awareness towards these kids.”
She said Belen’s life continues to inspire others. Their hope is this lemonade stand can be a catalyst for change in the fight against cancer.
“I believe she is happy and proud of us for doing this for her,” Graham said.
The family said they have hosted this lemonade stand for 12 years, raising over $30,000.
Nicole Ardila
April is recognized by Congress and most states across the U.S. as National Safe Digging Month, including Texas.
It’s the time of year when temperatures increase in many parts of the country and spring digging projects begin.
“In Texas, it is a pretty big problem. Last year, 46% of all of the excavation damages to underground facilities happened because 811 was not contacted,” said Safeena Khanmohamed, a spokesperson of Texas Gas Service. “So we’re really trying to raise awareness and keep people safe.”
Khanmohamed emphasizes the importance of calling 811 at least two days before putting a shovel in the ground, no matter the size of the digging project.
“So whether that’s installing a new funds or a sprinkler system, planting a tree, whatever it is, there is likely to be underground facilities in your area,” she said.
She says calling before starting your digging could prevent damaging underground pipelines, electric cables, waterlines and injuries.
“You can also potentially cause a service outage in your area and even if you aren’t sure whether you did cause any damage, even a small ding or a scrape could lead to a bigger problem down the line,” said Khanmohamed.
Line locating technicians from Texas Gas Services use radio-magnetic line locators, which makes high-frequency sounds when it is above underground pipelines.
They then mark the areas with flags and paint so diggers can start their projects safely and avoid those areas.
“But if you do need to work in that area, use hand or soft digging techniques,” she says. “And some soft digging tools you can use are ones that use water or air pressure to break up the soil or rock, but certainly not any heavy duty equipment.”
Khanmohamed says placing a ticket with 811 to check your area before digging, is completely free of charge.
Ashley Luthans
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The YWCA of St. Joseph is hosting a Wellness and Resource Fair on Friday, April 25 to help support survivors in the St. Joseph area.
There will be a self defense class, therapy dogs, yoga, free HIV testing and more.
The event will be hosted at the YWCA, 304 N 8th St., from 4 to 6 p.m.
Victor Guzman
MARINA, Calif. (KION-TV) — Marina Police said they arrested a 39-year-old man for setting fire to several large eucalyptus trees in Marina early Friday morning.
Police identified the man as Sean Canava, who they described as a transient.
Police said he was observed leaving a wooded area and admitted to officers he set the fire along Beach and Melanie Road around 12:35 a.m.
Police said the fire was threatening the nearby Canaan Korean United Methodist Church by the time they got there.
Officers said when they tried to detain Canava he resisted but was ultimately arrested.
No injuries were reported and the fire was contained to the trees and fence.
Allie Anthony
Time is running out for a chance to win the Coachella Valley St. Jude Dream Home giveaway.
Call the number on your screen to reserve your ticket by today, and you’ll be eligible to win the house built by GHA Companies and the last chance prize — a $10,000 home shopping and design spree, courtesy of BoConcept of Southern California.
Tickets are available now by calling 1-800-535-6748 or you can learn more by visiting https://www.stjude.org/give/dream-home/coachella-valley.html.
All proceeds from our St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway ticket sales go directly towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and their fight to end childhood cancer.
The giveaway will take place on Tuesday, April 29th, and if you want to see this house for yourself, there will be open houses from 10 am to 4 pm.
News Channel 3’s Allie Anthony has an incredible story about a local family that understands the impact of St. Jude from their own experience.
Natalie Tanner was only three months old when she was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.
“I don’t remember anything at all,” Natalie said.
But her mother, Kristen, will never forget that life-changing moment.
“As a parent during that sort of start really planning instead for them not being here in the future rather than planning for their future,” Kristen said.
When doctors told the family that Natalie has less than a 20% chance of surviving. They knew they needed to find another doctor’s opinion.
“One of the first hospitals we contacted was St. Jude and the response we got from them was just so overwhelmingly, supportive and caring, and even though her chance of survival still was not great we felt like they had so much hope that she could make it and live and go onto live at a beautiful life,” Kristen said.
And after treatment, brain surgeries, and well, as Kristen believes, a touch of divine intervention, something incredible happened.
“Back when she had just turned one year old. A day after her first birthday, which we had celebrated at St. Jude with balloons and confetti, the next day we walked out of those same front door, doors, cancer free, and that is how Natalie has remained ever since,” Kristen said.
Natalie, now 18, is a student at Xavier Prep, a trumpet player in the jazz band and orchestra, and a shining example of hope. She doesn’t remember the fight that once defined her, but she carries its miracle. and sometimes, She goes back—to the place that helped save her life.
“Every year when I go back, they remember me,” Natalie said.
Now it’s your turn to give back to families just like the Tanners. Your Dream Home ticket reservation makes it possible for St. Jude to provide care to children at no cost at all for their families.
