Month: August 2025

Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. {KTVZ} — Thunder, lightning, and bursts of heavy rain rolled across Central Oregon on Saturday evening, bringing dramatic skies—and power disruptions—to several neighborhoods in Bend.  The fast-moving storms began around sunset and continued on and off into the night, prompting weather alerts and keeping first responders and utility crews busy.  In Southwest Bend, over 390 customers were left without power due to the extreme weather.  

Pacific Power crews are working to restore electricity and estimate full service will return by midnight.  Meanwhile, a separate outage is affecting around 90 customers near NE 18th Street and Cooley Road. Pacific Power says electricity for those residents is expected to be restored between now and 10:30 p.m.  No major damage or injuries have been reported as of yet, but authorities urge residents to stay indoors during periods of lightning and be prepared for potential additional outages as storms continue to move through the region.  Stay with us for updates as conditions evolve. 

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Claire Elmer

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — While Central Oregon fairgoers are focused on having fun at the Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo, local law enforcement is working behind the scenes to make sure everyone stays safe.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has deputies on patrol for assistance and safety, but they also have a booth to meet with community members. 

Sgt. David Turkington, a patrol sergeant with DCSO, spoke with KTVZ at the fairgrounds about their ‘official’ roles, and more. 

“We mainly try to be a presence for people for answering questions or just responding to any kind of incident. Just making sure people are having a good time with safety in mind,” said Turkington. 

From keeping an eye out for suspicious activity to helping people find their lost items, deputies say they’re not just here for safety — they’re also here to connect with the community.

“We love connecting with the community, especially at the fair here. Most people come here looking for a good, fun day. It’s easy to jump on that wagon and either give out stickers, high fives, answer questions, or take photos. We love interacting with them all the time out here,” said Turkington. 

DCSO wants their presence to be visible, approachable, and ready to act if something goes wrong.

“The number one thing that we’re looking for is making sure that people are staying happy and safe — and that would look like making sure that they know where they’re going, answering questions about where things are. Or if somebody is looking like they could use some hydration or first aid, we’re there for that,” Turkington said. 

Turkington says the fair gives the sheriff’s office a chance to build relationships and help answer questions people may have, either for or about law enforcement.

“People ask a question like, ‘hey, I had this question about something going on with my neighbor’. So it’s a good time just to get ahead of things that we may encounter later out in the community. But we get started here,” said Turkington.

When it comes to operations, preparation for the fair takes plenty of planning and communication. DCSO works with Redmond Police and Fire as well as an independent security company to help keep all things covered, and safe. 

“I have a couple different radios that we talk on all the time. And just make sure that when there’s something going on, whether it’s our call or their call, we all know about it. And we try to coordinate to provide the best service possible. Everyone’s out here to help, and we’re all a big team to make that make that happen,” said Turkington. 

So while you’re enjoying concerts, rides, and great food, know that the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is there to make sure that your experience is both a fun and safe one.

And if you need anything — “just flag somebody down and we’ll get you help,” said Turkington. 

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