Month: October 2025

Tracee Tuesday

PRINEVILLE, Ore. {KTVZ} — The Crook County Fair Board met Monday evening in Prineville, focusing on one of the most significant topics on its current agenda — the fair’s contract with the Crooked River Roundup (CRR). 

During the meeting, representatives from the Crooked River Roundup Board voiced their dissatisfaction with the existing short-term contract governing the 2025 rodeo and race season. The agreement, valued at $25,000, was described by CRR Race Chair Doug Smith as inadequate given the economic impact the Roundup brings to the fairgrounds and the local community. 

Smith and other CRR leaders outlined several priorities for future consideration, including: 

A 20-year contract term 

Rent tied to event profits rather than fixed annual increases 

County support for potential grandstand upgrades 

Shared access to grant funding used for facility improvements 

Fair Board member Casey Kaiser acknowledged the challenges of reaching a balanced agreement. To facilitate progress, the board recently created a formal advisory committee, with Kaiser appointed as a designated member. The committee’s role is to collect and analyze information related to past and current contracts to help Fairgrounds Manager Casey Daly develop a recommendation for future negotiations. 

“The job of that committee will be to provide information to the director that will help him form a recommendation to the board on how to handle the contract with the Crooked River Roundup,” Kaiser explained. 

According to Kaiser, three governing bodies are part of the discussion — the Crook County Fair Board, the Crooked River Roundup, and the Crook County Board of Commissioners. Coordinating between these groups means the process will take time. 

“There are places where our interests align perfectly between the fairgrounds and the Crooked River Roundup,” Kaiser said. “And there are places where our interests differ. These are two very important entities in the community, and negotiating this contract just takes a little bit of time.” 

The advisory committee will first gather background and financial information on previous contracts before presenting its findings to Daly. Once reviewed, Daly will compile his own analysis and make a recommendation to the Fair Board for potential action. 

No timeline has been announced for when the process will be completed. 

For details about the Fair Board and its members, visit the Crook County Fair Board webpage. 

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KTVZ

(Update: Adding video, text of statement)

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollock posted a statement on the agency’s Facebook page Monday evening, refuting rumors of immigration raids and saying the local officers, some in plainclothes, actually were part of a national domestic violence sweep.

Here’s the full statement from the sheriff:

Clarification on Recent Law Enforcement Activity in Madras

There have been several misleading and false social media posts claiming that “ICE agents” were operating in the Madras area this week. Let us be clear, no Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were involved in any operations in Jefferson County last week.

The individuals seen in recent videos and photos were Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies and Detectives, Madras Police Officers, and Jefferson County Parole and Probation Officers, participating in a National Domestic Violence Sweep.

As part of this coordinated national effort, law enforcement agencies across the country locate and arrest individuals wanted for domestic violence related crimes, including serious offenses such as kidnapping, assault, and coercion. In Jefferson County, our deputies were assisting in the apprehension of a wanted felon tied to domestic violence crimes.

Some members of the team were in alternate vests or plain clothing due to operational roles. These differences in appearance do not make them “fake officers,” nor do they indicate outside federal involvement.

Unfortunately, misinformation has spread online, creating unnecessary fear and division. Posting and sharing false information without facts or verification is not only irresponsible, it also undermines the hard work of the men and women who risk their safety every day to protect victims and keep our community safe.

If you have concerns or questions about law enforcement activity, we encourage you to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office directly, rather than relying on speculation circulating on social media.

The safety of our community, and our transparency with the public, remain our highest priorities.

Sheriff Jason Pollock Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

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KTVZ

Update: Adding video

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A new Oregon Zoo license plate sponsored by the Oregon Zoo Foundation will be available at Oregon DMV, starting Nov. 3.

The plate’s design is a nod to the Oregon Zoo’s endangered Asian elephant population and Portland’s nickname of the Rose City, DMV said in Monday’s announcement, which continues in full below:

Artist Jeremy Nichols, whose mural work can be seen around Oregon and beyond, designed the plate to encourage the preservation of the natural world around us.

Oregon Zoo license plates cost an additional $40 to buy for the first time and with each renewal or replacement, in addition to regular registration renewal fees or replacement plate fees. You must pay the surcharge or redeem a pre-paid voucher.

About $35 of the surcharge goes back to the Oregon Zoo Foundation to support conservation education, species recovery and animal wellbeing.

The license plate design was approved by the Oregon Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Oregon Zoo Foundation and Oregon State Police, and tested by the Washington State Tolling Division.

The Oregon Zoo plate joins DMV’s lineup of specialty registration plates, including Crater Lake, Cultural Trust, Gray Whale, Oregon Ducks, OSU Beavers, Pacific Wonderland, Pollinator Paradise, Salmon, Smokey Bear, Trail Blazers, Watch for Wildlife and Wine Country.

How to apply

The Oregon Zoo license plate will be available through Oregon DMV beginning Nov. 3, by mail, at DMV field offices or through a licensed dealer. DMV does not accept early applications.

While you can apply for an Oregon Zoo plate at DMV2U for renewal or as a stand-alone replacement plate, you cannot redeem pre-paid vouchers online. To use a voucher, customers must apply in person at a DMV office or send their transaction by mail to DMV Headquarters. DMV staff will verify the paper voucher by entering the voucher number into the system.

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