Kidnapping, armed robbery suspect arrested after multi-agency search; judge sets bail at first court appearance

KTVZ on October 17, 2025

Silas Moreau

(Update: Powell makes first court appearance; judge sets bail at $150,000)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Madras man was arrested Thursday and was arraigned on several charges Friday after allegedly kidnapping and robbing a Prineville woman at gunpoint last weekend, Bend Police said.

According to police, officers responded around 4:29 a.m. last Sunday to a report of a kidnapping and robbery. The victim, a 31-year-old Prineville woman, told officers she had been kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint.

Investigators learned that after being released from the Crook County Jail, the woman drove to Madras to meet her friend, Coby Michael Powell, intending to stay with him. Police said that after an altercation between Powell and the victim’s boyfriend, Powell forced the woman into his truck and began driving toward Bend.

During the drive, Powell allegedly held a gun to the victim’s head, took her phone, and threatened to shoot her, police said.

When they arrived at the victim’s boyfriend’s home in Bend, the victim managed to escape from the truck and began screaming for help. Powell then left the area, authorities said. The woman sought help and called police from the 7-Eleven store on Northwest Galveston Avenue.

On Thursday, Bend Police detectives—assisted by Redmond Police and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team—conducted a traffic stop on Powell after he left his workplace in Redmond. Detectives served search warrants on Powell, his vehicle, and his Madras home.

Police said Powell was arrested and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping, menacing, coercion, and unlawful use of a weapon. Investigators said all firearms connected to the incident were located and seized.

Court and jail records reviewed by KTVZ News indicate Powell is listing an address on Elkhorn Drive in La Pine.

Asked about that, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller told us police served a search warrant in Madras at the home Powell was staying at, but he also has lived in Redmond, Madras, La Pine and Bend over the years.

Powell was arraigned Friday afternoon and Deschutes County Circuit Judge Michelle McIver set bail at $150,000, at the request of Deputy District Attorney Lindsay Chenelia. Initial charges include six felonies – first- and second-degree kidnapping, first- and second-degree robbery and coercion, as well as two misdemeanor counts of menacing.

The prosecutor briefly recounted the allegations that involve “multiple Meausre 11 offenses,” with Powell accused of driving the woman to Bend at gunpoint and threatening to kill her and her boyfriend. Two firearms were found in the car, she said.

Judge McIver asked if either victim was in court (or online) and wished to be heard, but neither were.

The judge set arraignment for next Friday on an expected grand jury indictment. McIver also ordered that Powell have no contact with either victim, obey all laws, not possess any firearms or dangerous weapons or ammunition, appear at all future court dates, keep in touch with his attorney and not leave the state without written permission.

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Assistant chief at Boone County Fire steps down after felony charge filed in Camden County

KMIZ on October 17, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Kurt Doolady — an assistant chief with the Boone County Fire Protection District and Missouri Task Force 1 program manager – stepped down from his position with the department on Thursday after a felony charge was filed against him in Camden County.

BCFPD Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp told ABC 17 News in a text message that Doolady retired at 5 p.m. Thursday. Doolady first became a volunteer with the department in 1990 and was hired full-time in 2002, Blomenkamp wrote.

Doolady was charged on Tuesday with second-degree domestic assault. A $10,000 bond was set in the case. He was not listed on the Camden County Jail’s online roster on Friday afternoon.

The probable cause statement says deputies were called at 3:17 a.m. Oct. 11 to a Sunrise Beach location for a reported assault.

The victim was allegedly assaulted after they confronted Doolady about smoking cigarettes, the statement says. Doolady allegedly pushed the victim into a retaining wall, punched them several times and choked them, the statement says. The victim got free after biting Doolady, the statement says.

Deputies noted a number of injuries on the victim, including cuts, swelling and bruising around their face, neck and arms, the statement says.

Doolady allegedly told deputies he was attacked and a fight occurred because he would not go to bed, court documents say. Deputies noted some injuries to Doolady, but “did not observe injuries consistent with his report.”

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New public art by Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt dedicated in Bend’s Discovery West neighborhood

KTVZ on October 17, 2025

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Discovery West and the Bend Park and Recreation District hosted a dedication event this week for new public art by celebrated Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt, with creative collaboration from Ben Dye and Juno Lachman.

The piece is located in Discovery Park and features two sculptures that depict the Native American legend, The Legend of Coyote and Crow, according to a news release that continues below:

The installation consists of two sculptures: One is a 14-foot-tall steel tree, which rises at the heart of this work, alive with cast crows. Coyote perches across the way on a basalt stone, his eyes blooming bright yellow, and together the pieces retell a beloved Native American legend.

The art honors cultural storytelling and the enduring connection between nature, myth, and place. (Read the story of Coyote and Crow below and experience how this timeless tale comes to life through art).

“On the heels of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we could not be more pleased to honor Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt, and her stunning sculptures. These pieces are both thought-provoking and playful, and together will make a great addition to the neighborhood’s art collection,” said Romy Mortensen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Discovery West.

“We are thankful for our long-standing partnerships with Bend Park and Recreation District and Visit Bend, whose sustainability fund helped bring this to fruition,” Mortensen added.

The Discovery West development team commissioned the art piece and worked with the park district to select the location. The piece was funded by a grant through the Visit Bend Sustainability Fund and is dedicated to the Bend Park and Recreation District, which will own and maintain it for the public’s enjoyment along the trail.

Tuesday’s event included remarks by Bend Park and Recreation District board members, Visit Bend, the neighborhood development team and representatives from the artist’s team. 

The installation joins the many creative discoveries found throughout the Discovery West neighborhood. Visitors can enjoy our Audio Discoveries art tour by scanning a QR code at the art kiosk adjacent to the piece to hear Lillian retell the legend in her own words. There are 10 stops on the audio tour throughout Discovery West, including The Legend of Coyote and Crow. 

Locating the Art Installation

Take the soft surface trail located near the intersection of NW Elwood Lane & NW Crosby Drive.

Take the soft surface trail located just south of the intersection of NW Celilo Road & NW Skyline Ranch Road, before the bridge over the park.

Accessibility route: Enter the path off NW Stanhope Drive and head east along the paved Outback Trail.

The Legend of Coyote and Crow

In this Native American legend, the clever tricksters Coyote and Crow meet in a playful — and fateful — contest.

Crow and his friends are racing their eyes: popping them out, sending them soaring across a meadow, and catching them on the return. Coyote, always eager to impress, tries to join in but fails again and again.

Crow, feigning kindness, offers to help. He plucks out Coyote’s eyes and launches them into the air — only to fly off laughing, taking them with him. Now blind and alone, Coyote stumbles through the landscape until he discovers a patch of bright yellow flowers. Desperate, he presses one into each empty eye socket and turns toward the sun. Slowly, the shapes and colors of the world return. Coyote can see again — and his eyes are now the color of those golden blooms.

High in a tree nearby, Crow and his companions watch and laugh. And that is how Coyote came to have yellow eyes.

About Discovery West

Discovery West, situated on 245 acres on Bend’s westside, is the newest community in development by the team behind award-winning NorthWest Crossing. Discovery West offers a variety of home types and sizes, Discovery Corner, its community plaza, select retail shops and businesses, Aerie by AvantStay luxury overnight vacation rentals, public art installations, and 40 acres of parks, trails and open land. The development team’s vision for creating livable, detail-oriented communities that respect the Central Oregon landscape and lifestyle is apparent throughout the neighborhood. www.discoverywestbend.com

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Rock Bridge Memorial State Park to temporarily close for managed deer hunt

KMIZ on October 17, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the Gans Creek Wild Area will close for two days next month for a managed deer hunt, according to a Friday press release from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The closure will occur Nov. 3-4. Hunters for the event have already been selected and will use only muzzleloaders, the release says.

The release says studies at the park have determined the number of deer per acre indicates overpopulation and the hunt is designed to help other wildlife and the ecosystem.

“Missouri state parks are usually wildlife refuges where hunting is not permitted. However, when an overpopulation of deer develops, the Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Department of Conservation hold special managed hunts to prevent harm to the ecosystem,” the release says.

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SportsZone Football Friday highlights and scores: Week 8

KMIZ on October 17, 2025

ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Week 8 of the Missouri high school football season is tonight.

Scores from Mid-Missouri teams will be posted below.

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Columbia man accused of threatening to stab man at bus stop; damaging cop car, jail property

KMIZ on October 17, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly threatened to stab someone after they arrived at a bus stop on Thursday.

Eddie Blackshire, 43, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and first-degree property damage. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was held on Friday.

The probable cause statement says police were called to the Food Bank on Business Loop 70 around 8:10 a.m. and the victim stated Blackshire had a knife. Blackshire allegedly pulled out a knife when the victim arrived at the bus stop and threatened to stab the man, the statement says.

A witness allegedly told police they saw Blackshire walk to the side of the Food Bank and place a black object in a pest control box, the statement says. Officers eventually found a black pocket knife in the box.

After Blackshire was detained, he started kicking the door window and frame, causing it to bend, the statement says. Court documents say it would take $1,000 to repair.

Blackshire was then charged with first-degree property damage, damaging jail property and fourth-degree assault after he allegedly ripped a camera off a wall in the jail and shattered it, another probable cause statement indicates. He also allegedly damaged the light source in his cell. The total damage to the cell cost $3,000-$4,000, the statement says.

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Laguna Blanca names new boys basketball head coach

KEYT on October 17, 2025

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – (KEYT). – Laguna Blanca High School in Santa Barbara announced a new head boys basketball coach with the following press release.

Darnell Campbell has been appointed the Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Laguna Blanca School. Campbell brings with him a wealth of experience in the sport of basketball.  

Campbell was a standout interscholastic basketball player for Lake Erie College, a NCAA DIV II school located in Painesville, Ohio, where he received All Conference recognition for several years.  Darnell was a key contributor of the 2006-07 team that went 25-3—a team that was inducted into the Storm Hall of Fame in September of this year.   

Darnell brings to Laguna Blanca over ten years experience providing skill development training for elite basketball players on various NBA teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, and Los Angeles Clippers.

Campbell also has significant experience in the skill development of younger players, with twenty years of experience coaching youth camps and clinics for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and serving as director of youth basketball for the Los Angeles Clippers.  

Coach Campbell continues to serve as a full-time faculty member and coach at The Riviera Ridge School, where he has worked for the past 11 years. Additionally, he is also the Director of Basketball at LevelUp basketball club and the Director of Basketball for Oakland Soldiers in the Central Coast Region. 

Athletic Director Dan Peeters has this to say about Campbell, “I am thrilled that Darnell is joining our community; he will revitalize the program and I am confident the boys in the basketball program will thrive and reach their fullest potential under his leadership.”

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Idaho State University secures $1.2 million grant for scholarships for future STEM educators

KIFI on October 17, 2025

News Release

POCATELLO, Idaho — In response to a critical shortage of teachers in Idaho, select Idaho State University students have an opportunity to be awarded full tuition as well as cost-of-living expenses throughout their degree completion as part of the Idaho Making Progress Against Critical Teacher Shortages in STEM (IMPACTS in STEM) project. Funding for the awards comes from a five year, $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. 

There are three Noyce Scholar students at ISU; two at the undergraduate level and one at the graduate level, this is a strong start to the pipeline of highly qualified STEM teachers that the IMPACTS project is creating in Idaho. 

IMPACTS in STEM Noyce Scholars first complete an undergraduate STEM degree in the College of Science and Engineering. They then complete the Master of Arts in Teaching program in the College of Education, earning both their master’s degree and teaching certification. In addition to their coursework, students participate in an extensive and rich community of practice that includes book studies, volunteering in local STEM classrooms, working with current STEM teachers and engaging in other meaningful experiences that support their development toward becoming a highly effective K-12 STEM teacher.

For current ISU students who are interested but still undecided if they want to become a STEM teacher, the IMPACTS project has made internships available for them to explore STEM teaching. While working as interns, students can participate and engage in all parts of the IMPACTS project.

“Scholars are engaged in an array of outreach and support activities to learn more about STEM teaching and learning; some of them are volunteering in schools,” said Cory A. Bennett, Ph.D., professor in the Teaching and Educational Studies (TES) Department and a leader of the project. “Some of them are helping out with different kinds of science or engineering fairs, and they’re getting involved with the education community in many different ways before they start taking their formal coursework in education.”

Current Noyce Scholar, Zoe Tassava grew up in a family full of STEM professionals. As a child, she was passionate about science. She loved dinosaurs and planets, and she was never without her beloved science encyclopedia. When high school rolled around, Tassava had a few struggles that made her question her abilities. She still loved science, but had lost her confidence about belonging in a STEM field. 

When she started college classes in her late twenties, she decided that being a science teacher would be a good fit for her interests. “I knew that there was a need for STEM teachers, and I had still maintained a passion for science, so my path seemed set,” Tassava said. 

Tassava thrived in her classes, working her way up from lower-level mathematics classes to calculus. The confidence that had faltered in high school began to blossom as she discovered she was a capable learner in mathematics. 

“As I took more and more math classes, and proved to myself that I was a math person, that I belonged in STEM and math, I realized that maybe what I really wanted was to have a math degree, to be a math expert,” Tassava said. 

Being a Noyce Scholar is helping her do that, and in the future she looks forward to helping her students navigate their struggles and showing them they belong in STEM. In addition to her coursework, Tassava has also been able to tutor and teach. She has loved watching her students experience what she calls “lightbulb moments” when they understand the materials. 

“It has been so amazing to have an academic journey that recommits me to my passions nearly every single day,” Tassava said. “My journey so far has reassured me that STEM teaching is my destiny, and I can’t wait!”

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Community steps up: Shepherd’s House Ministries says generosity has fed our hungry neighbors

KTVZ on October 17, 2025

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Federal funding cuts left some Oregon organizations scrambling to keep programs and services running. When a funding freeze affected Shepherd’s House Ministries‘ food budget earlier this year, the community stepped in to help fill the gap.

Since April, the generosity of Central Oregon has enabled Shepherd’s House to provide more than 155,000 meals at its six sites in Bend and Redmond, the organization said in a news release that continues below: 

The organization launched a community initiative called “A Place at the Table” to raise funds to continue serving meals to neighbors in need without an interruption or reduction in services.

Caring and compassionate citizens responded, allowing Shepherd’s House to serve daily meals to residents at the Redmond Center, Lighthouse Navigation Center, Franklin Shelter, Cleveland Commons, Abi’s House, and the Men’s Center.

In addition, it filled plates for walk-ins at the Redmond Center, Lighthouse Navigation Center, and the Men’s Center. 

“When we were hit with a 17% federal funding cut earlier this year that reduced our food budget, we faced the risk of serving fewer meals to our neighbors in need,” said Curt Floski, executive director of Shepherd’s House Ministries.

“Instead, your generosity through the A Place at the Table Campaign turned potential loss into abundance,” Floski added. “Together, we stepped into the gap and provided thousands of meals, restored dignity, and ensured no one was left without a seat at the table.”

Shepherd’s House also provides basic necessities, including food, through its mobile outreach program called SHARE. More than 300 volunteers contribute time and talent in preparing and serving the meals, transporting food, sorting donations, and cleaning up after the meals.

“A Place at the Table” continues through the end of the year as the organization preps for colder weather and holiday meals.

For more information, contact Jerry Kaping, Director of Development at 541-388-2096.

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Over $20K raised for Friends of the Animal Shelter

News-Press NOW on October 17, 2025

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Friends of the Animal Shelter of St. Joseph (FOTAS) announced it received a large check thanks to the help of community members.

In a Facebook post shared on Friday, FOTAS shared that over $20,000 was raised through a “Raise a Pint for Pets” event held by Purina with River Bluff Brewing.

The group expressed thanks to community members who donated, shared posts, volunteered time, adopted animals and helped in any way possible with the event and the animal shelter.

“This community is something we are incredibly proud to be a part of. Your donations help so many animals that have been lost, forgotten, or abandoned. We cannot do this alone and MAN are we grateful to have you on our team,” the post said.

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