Learn how it works: Crook County seeks applicants for its first-ever County College program

KTVZ on August 19, 2025

KTVZ – News Team

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County is excited to launch its first-ever County College program and is now accepting applications from community members interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of county government operations.

County College is a free, multi-week educational program designed to offer participants a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Crook County.

Through presentations, facility tours, and interactive discussions, participants will engage with staff from a wide range of departments and offices, including: Administration, Road Department, Weed Control, Landfill, Fairgrounds, Health and Veteran Services, Community Development, Airport, Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney, Juvenile Department, Clerk’s Office, Assessor, and Finance Department.

“We’re excited to bring this opportunity to the citizens of Crook County,” said County Commissioner Seth Crawford. “County College is a great way for people to better understand how their local government works, meet the people behind the services, and see firsthand how decisions are made that impact our community every day.”

Sessions will be held once a month on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning September 17, 2025, and concluding February 18, 2026. Applicants must live, own a business, or work full-time in Crook County. To apply, please complete the attached application form or submit an application online at https://co.crook.or.us/county-admin/page/crook-county-college. The deadline to apply is Thursday, September 11, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.

A full schedule of the program is available at: https://co.crook.or.us/county-admin/page/crook-county-college.

*Please note: Space is limited to 25 participants, and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Not all applicants may be selected due to limited capacity.

For more information, please contact the Crook County Administration Office at (541) 447-6555 or email admin@co.crook.or.us.

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Demolition underway for Truman Hotel

KMIZ on August 19, 2025

Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Demolition is underway for the dilapidated Truman Hotel in Jefferson City.

Mayor Ron Fitzwater confirmed crews started tearing down the building on Monday afternoon.

The former hotel in the 1500 block of Jefferson Street has long been called an “eyesore” by city officials. Discussions around the building’s demolition have occurred for years, with the building becoming vacant in 2015 and being declared dangerous in 2020.

Previous reporting says photos submitted in the application for demolition – which are dated from 2023 – appear to show hazardous conditions within the building, including mold, scrap, broken walls and debris.

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The Air Academy football team has plenty of enthusiasm

KRDO on August 19, 2025

Rob Namnoum

When head coach Waymond Jackson took over the Air Academy football team, he had a plan to build his culture, “I wanted the guys to bond, to support one another. You know, it’s bigger than the game of football. So we wanted to make sure that we had guys that we were building their character, not just their athleticism,” says Jackson.

Now entering his second year, it seems his message is being heard loud and clear, “Let me tell you, the energy level between the previous years and then this year is different. I am never been this excited in my life. I feel like this is the most confidence that I’ve had going into a season before,” says Air Academy running back, Jackson Schmadeka.

The change in culture has his playes excited and not just for games, “It’s so much energy. I like playing it because I feel intense and I feel a will to win in practice, says Air Academy safety, Sean Kennedy.

Schmadeka adds, “I mean, I have adrenaline in practice. I’ve never had that before.”

Jackson wants his players to take charge, and they’re doing it, something he learned while coaching in college under Steve Spurrier, “It’s the most player led team that I’ve been a part of, something I’ve learned this year that really helps you build the Brotherhood and really helps you get everybody bought in. Its player led leadership on the team. When I was younger, I didn’t really have leaders. I didn’t look up to anybody that was, you know, above me. And I look up to my coaches as well as my players, even if they’re younger than me,” says Kennedy.

Jackson adds, “When you get tired in football games, it’s hard to struggle when you have that bond like yourself telling you to give up. You don’t want to give up for the next person beside you have to be more than just a football player. You have to make sure you’re developing the person on an iPad under the helmet. You got to make sure that you’re connecting with them and setting them up to be successful in their life.”

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La Pine-area raid by Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Team turns up grow; owner cited

KTVZ on August 19, 2025

Barney Lerten

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A La Pine-area man was cited for an illegal marijuana grow that was seized in a raid late last week.

Here’s a news release issued late Monday by Bend Police Lt. Mike Landolt of the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team:

Press Release Information:

On August 14th, 2025, at approximately 8:30 AM, Detectives with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement (DCIMME) Team executed a search warrant in the 52000 block of Bridge Drive in the La Pine area. This concluded a long-term investigation into Aaron Loosli, who was manufacturing an illegal marijuana grow outside of State licensing guidelines.

There are very strict guidelines regarding the marijuana plants that are allowed and how excess marijuana is distributed.  This investigation revealed Aaron Loosli did not follow the guidelines; no additional information will be released regarding these crimes.

Detectives dismantled the illegal marijuana grow, and Loosli was criminally cited for the above-mentioned crimes.

Detectives were assisted by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.  Detectives were also assisted by Deschutes County Code Enforcement and Oregon Water Resources, both agencies noted numerous violations including illegal water use, and electrical & structural permitting violations. 

Criminal complaints contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Current Date: August 18th, 2025

Date of Incident: August 14th, 2025

Case #: 25-44314

Incident: Drug Detectives serve search warrant and seize marijuana plants

Location: 52000 block of Bridge Drive, La Pine OR 

Arrested: Aaron Wayne Loosli, 50 years old

Charges: ORS 475.349(3)(b)(A) – Unlawful Manufacture of marijuana >12 plants

ORS 475C.345- Attempted Delivery of marijuana

The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the following Central Oregon law enforcement agencies:  Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department,  Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, Sunriver Police Department, Black Butte Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Warm Springs Tribal Police Department, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County District Attorney’s, and the Oregon National Guard.

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement task forces to disrupt or dismantle local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations.

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Trash, Weeds, and Car-Dwellers – Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara Express Locational Concerns

KEYT on August 19, 2025

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A popular boys and girls club location is fighting blight in an area where members must walk to get to the club.

The Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara, that now goes by The Downtown Club, said it happens to be an area where dozens of people are known to live in their cars and RVs.

“This is all about the kids really, and when you have the junior high, the high school, the Boys and Girls Club – we also have Providence School, we also have the church, all within this area that is impacted, it truly has become a safety, a public health and safety issue for us,” said Mark Alvarado.

He said he understands the need for a safe place for people to live in vehicles.

“Why here? Why is it such an impact here where there is such a high volume of kids? We should be able to recognize this and adjust whatever the laws are in order to help folks that need help getting off the streets, but also protect our kids and families,” said Alvarado.

He is concerned about his staff members, too.

Josh Loza, 18, is the club’s computer lab facilitator and takes Quarantina St. to work.

The area is located Councilmember Wendy Santamaria’s district, meaning Loza would ask her to take the lead on fixing the problem.

“I would ask if it could be attended a little more, it doesn’t look like it receives much attention, it seems very overshadowed, which is scary, considering that it is close to the club here the junior high and a public park, it just feels very unsafe, it is just a shady area with the people you see around here sometimes,” said Loza.

Josh Baptista said he understands the concerns, but he happens to be living in a van that needs repairs.

On Monday he got a ticket on Monday for parking during street sweeping.

Baptista is a trained in construction and ended up living in his vehicle following a divorce.

He is in contact with News Beginnings, a local nonprofit that offers counseling and housing assistance.

“I’ve been working with New Beginnings, about a placement and all that sort of stuff, and hopefully I will get taken care of. So they’re going help me, get the bill and get it working right,”said Baptista.

Neighbor and jogger Ines Wystra would like some added trash pickups.

 “We don’t feel unsafe, but we feel like there’s a lot of trash that needs to be cleaned up more,” said Wystra.

The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara has sent letters to city leaders to raise awareness.

Councilmember Santamaria could not be reached to comment, but Mayor Randy Rowse, said by phone, the city is aware of the issue.

When the city held a meeting about the blight along Quarantino and De La Guerra last year it led to the posting of a no dumping sign next to a trash can, but the trash can is often overflowing.

School starts Wednesday.

Club members hope the changes will come to make kids feel more comfortable walking to the Downtown Club after school.

Parents have shared their concerns with the club and some said have trouble parking for their children’s soccer practice and other sports.

The club has worked hard to attract more tweens and teens .

They offer memberships for $60 a year.

Kids can choose two 45 minutes activities plus a study period each day.

Activities include basketball, pottery, culinary arts, and computer classes.

There are also reading, homework and teen rooms.

For more information about The Downtown Club visit https://www.boysandgirlssb.org

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Bend-La Pine Schools launch new app that can help your kids catch the bus on time

KTVZ on August 19, 2025

Spencer Sacks

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — There’s a new app being used by Bend-La Pine Schools called My Ride K-12, and it gives parents up-to-date time and route information for their kids’ bus. 

This new app will replace their old one, which only gave general messages about delays.

Now you can see the bus moving toward your house in real time.

Bend-La Pine Schools Executive Director of Transportation Kim Crabtree told KTVZ News, “You know, on a morning that’s pretty cold, they can see – ‘Oops, it’s coming up the hill! I’d better get my kids out there!’

“While we ask kids to be out five minutes before the bus stop time, we understand there’s mornings that are really cold, and you know, you’re running a  little behind.” With the new app, she said, “You can see, ‘I’ve got a little bit of time to get there.’”

This app tracks buses, not individual students. But there’s a way that you can track your kids, using a card linked to your student.

If you sign up for the card, you get notifications whenever your child gets on or off the bus.

To register, you can download the app or reach out to the school district for assistance.

The district asks that you register your kids this week, in order to make sure they are is ready to take the bus to and from home on their fast-approaching first day of school.

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Community Conversations: New Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert outlines priorities and vision for the community

KTVZ on August 19, 2025

Lynsey Harris

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Deschutes County has a new sheriff, and Ty Rupert is stepping into the interim role with a clear focus: building trust, connecting with the community and keeping residents safe.

Rupert, a native of Eugene, brings years of law enforcement experience to his new position. Throughout his career, he says, service and community engagement have always been top priorities. As sheriff, he plans to continue that focus by making the office more transparent and approachable.

As he settles into his role, Rupert is setting the tone for a sheriff’s office that combines law enforcement with community care, aiming to address challenges while building lasting connections across Deschutes County.

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‘Killer Burger’ opens in Bend, near the city’s new Costco

KTVZ on August 19, 2025

Tyson Beauchemin

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Killer Burger has opened its doors in Bend.

The chain started in Portland, but has opened stores all across Oregon. They’ve set up shop in Eugene, Medford, Salem – and now here, next to the new Costco. The burger shop is one of the first businesses to move into the new shopping area next to the Costco on U.S. Highway 20.

What makes Killer Burger unique, they say, is their precision-crafted gourmet burger. They pride themselves on making each burger to exact specifications, and the interesting ingredient combinations.

There’s no better example of this than their flagship burger, with peanut butter, pickle AND bacon.

“It’s a burger that most people actually haven’t ever heard of before,” Logan Miller, the new general manager of our Killer Burger told us Monday. “So when they hear about it with Killer Burger, it’s kind of pretty iconic. It’s what we’re known for. A lot of people think it’s a very weird combination, but it definitely works! And we think you should try it when you come by.”

Right now, their menu includes a burger with Swiss cheese fondue, blue cheese crumbles and bacon. Another is filled with roasted green chiles and covered in Monterey Jack cheese.

However, if you’re not feeling adventurous, the menu also includes standard burgers, chicken strips and well-seasoned fries.

 “I think we’re going to fit in really well,” Miller said. “I know that Bend loves their fast casual restaurants, so I think we’re going to do great here.”

This new location also means new employment: Killer Burger is currently hiring. 

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Jefferson City Transit offering free rides for students this fall

KMIZ on August 19, 2025

Keriana Gamboa

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)

This fall, Jefferson City students have a free option for getting to and from school. Jefferson City Transit is waiving bus fares for students on Tripper routes throughout the fall semester.

The free service applies to anyone riding the Tripper Routes, which operate Monday through Friday on school days.

No student ID is required to board, and the promotion is open to all riders, including K-12 students, homeschoolers, and college students.

The routes will run from around 3 p.m., shortly after school lets out.

Three Tripper Routes begin at Helias Catholic High School, Jefferson City High School, and St. Peter School.

After leaving those schools, all Tripper buses travel to the JeffTran Transfer Station at 820 E. Miller Street, where students can either transfer to another bus or continue on the same route.

Transit Manager Gerry Stegeman said the goal this year is to encourage more students to use the bus.

“So we’re just trying to encourage more students to ride,” Stegeman said. “It also gives the parents a little break and price if we run it for free.”

Bus driver Joseph Harden told ABC 17 News he hopes the program is successful for families who can’t afford bus passes.

“I think it will help out a lot of kids who are not able to buy the tickets. They might be a little bit expensive for them, you know, for the parents. And so  I think it’s a good idea. I’m hoping that word will get out and more kids will ride, and it will be successful,” Harden said.

Stegeman says the program doesn’t cost that much to run.

 “If you compare to what the student ridership was last year, through the fall semester,  it was like 600 some odd rides,  you know, and stuff there. So it worked out to about  $765, is what we would lose in fares.  So, you know, it’s not a big expense,” Stegeman said.

He told ABC 17 News families could save a lot of money through the program.

“If you go to school five days a week, you know, so that’s going to save you $27 a month per student.  So, you know, when you add that up over a school year, it’s quite a bit of money especially if you have two or three kids in school,” Stegeman said.

Student rider Lorelei Weeks tells ABC 17 News she rides from Helias Catholic School to the library downtown and enjoys the free ride.

“It’s really nice, like most people think it’s a bunch of weirdos, but or people think only weird people who ride it. But it’s actually been really nice,” Weeks said.

She hopes it will continue throughout the spring semester.

“It would be very nice, especially for the students and stuff. But I totally understand if they don’t either.  They’ve got to make money somehow,” Weeks said.

Stegeman told ABC 17 News it is uncertain if the promotion will continue next year.

“We’ll just have to wait and see, see what they think and, you know, see how it goes,” Stegeman said.

JeffTran will be offering free rides on its Tripper Routes from August through December.

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Updates on the alleged sexual assault incident near Frederick Street in Santa Cruz

KION on August 19, 2025

jose.romo

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Concern continuing to grow in Santa Cruz after an alleged sexual attack on August 8 between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.

Some people in the area concerned with how much time went by before police notified the community about the incident and the suspect, who is still at-large.

“It took us a significant amount of time to work through all the details with the survivor,” said Santa Cruz Chief of Police Bernie Escalante. “The survivor actually needed medical attention for the first few days.”

Chief Escalante said that investigative work had to be done in order to solidify some details surrounding the incident.

Some people in the community also wondering if there’s a possible link between this incident and other predatory actions that took place on the U.C. Santa Cruz campus a while back.

Both suspects in the sketches looking similar to one another.

The sketch on the right is of a suspect in a few “Peeping Tom” incidents, which police later confirmed was a former student named Tony Pau.

According to police, Pau was arrested in June and then let out on bail in July.

“We are aware of the fact that the sketch looks very similar to that individual involved in that incident,” said Chief Escalante. “We haven’t ruled that out. At this point, we’re still going through all of the different tips and leads. And, so we will definitely look into that.”

Chief Escalante saying that at the moment, there doesn’t seem to be any risk to the public.

“We have picked up our enforcement and presence in the area, not only looking for additional evidence for this case, but to keep the rest of the community, especially in that particular neighborhood, safe,” he said.

Authorities search for suspect in alleged sexual assault incident

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — An alleged sexual assault in a Santa Cruz neighborhood has left residents shaken and on high alert as police continue to search for a suspect. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of August 8 near the 400 block of Frederick Street, according to the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Authorities say the survivor was found disoriented by a passerby and had visible injuries. Officers responded quickly and began canvassing the area in search of clues.

“We’re scouring the neighborhood for surveillance cameras and any other witnesses that hopefully can come forward,” said Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante. “At this point, there aren’t any major updates, but we’ve increased patrol,” he adds. A sketch of the suspect has been released.  

Residents in the neighborhood, typically described as calm and safe, say the incident has been a wake-up call.

“We’re definitely concerned—especially for young kids,” said Tom Beggs, who lives nearby. “We’re going to be keeping an eye out.”

Other neighbors echoed the concern and expressed a renewed focus on safety and vigilance.

“I did hear from other women in the neighborhood,” said a local resident named Anne. “We all alert each other and feel a lot for the person who was assaulted. We just want to watch out for each other and make sure we’re practicing safe behaviors—not forgetting our vulnerability.”

Sue DeCarlis, another neighbor, shared that she now carries pepper spray while walking her dog late at night.

“I’ve always trusted the neighborhood,” she said. “But I do feel these parks should be patrolled by police a little more often.”

Police are actively working with the survivor to gather more details and encourage anyone with information to come forward. The investigation remains ongoing.

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