Month: August 2026

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Are you planning on heading outdoors with your dog? Prineville officials remind pet owners to follow two simple rules to help keep public spaces safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Keep dogs on a leash, and remember to clean up after them when visiting parks, trails, and other public spaces.

Officials say those simple steps help protect other visitors, keep shared spaces clean, and reduce conflicts between people and pets.

As you enjoy the outdoors with your four-legged friend, remember: Leash up and clean up.

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — As evacuation levels are lowered and residents begin returning home, officials are warning people not to let their guard down. Burned areas can still contain serious hazards.

Fire crews and heavy equipment may still be working in the area, while some locations can continue to burn or smolder.

Officials say residents may encounter unstable ground, displaced wildlife, fire-damaged trees, and hidden stump holes or ash pits.

People are urged to keep children and pets away from burned areas.

Fire-weakened trees, burning stumps, and hidden ash pits can cause serious injuries.

If you notice an unusual amount of smoke near your property, call the non-emergency dispatch line at 541-447-4168.

If you see active fire near the fire edge, your property, or structures, call 911.

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — If you’re planning to celebrate Labor Day with alcohol, police have a message: Plan your ride home before you drink.

A nationwide impaired-driving crackdown is underway, including here in Oregon.

The Black Butte Ranch Police Department is joining agencies nationwide for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.

The heightened enforcement effort runs from August 19th through September 7th.

Nationally, 505 people were killed in traffic crashes during the 2024 Labor Day holiday period. About one-third of those deaths involved a drunk driver.

Police say if you plan to drink, designate a sober driver, call a taxi or rideshare, or make other arrangements before the celebration begins.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend family officially opened the door to a new chapter on Wednesday, receiving the keys to their new home which was made possible through the nonprofit First Story and its community partners.

Community members, regional leaders, and representatives from First Story and Hayden Homes gathered for a home dedication ceremony welcoming the Hammons family.

“This has been an amazing experience for me and my family, and we are really excited to start our new life,” homeowner Kimberly Hammons said.

First Story helps first-time homebuyers earning no more than 80% of the area median income purchase homes with zero-down, zero-interest, 30-year mortgages. The organization says the lower-cost loans allow families to direct more of their income toward education, children’s activities, and other needs while avoiding additional debt.

Families also complete homebuyer education through organizations such as NeighborImpact, learning about home loans, credit scores, the purchasing process, and fair housing rights.

The program relies on partnerships with homebuilder Hayden Homes, building materials supplier PARR Lumber, NeighborImpact, and a network of individual donors. Partners contribute labor, materials and expertise to help offset rising construction costs and create homes with the same market value and curb appeal as others in Hayden Homes communities.

“This work happens when our elected leaders join us in our commitment to ensuring that Central Oregon remains affordable and livable for our workforce families,” First Story Executive Director Claire Duncan said during the ceremony.

State Representative Emerson Levy (D- Bend) also attended the dedication and said it demonstrated the tangible impact of work completed by state lawmakers.

“We can’t forget that our bills and our laws, they’re about humans and families in our community,” Levy said.

Hayden Homes Chief Operating Officer Craig Smith officially welcomed the family to the neighborhood.

“Let me just be the first from Hayden Homes to say, ‘Welcome home,’” Smith said.

First Story says 80% of families in the program are the first members of their families to own a home, 23% identify as minority households, and 25% include family members with disabilities.

The Hammons family is the 133rd family to become homeowners through First Story and the 16th in Bend.

More information about the organization and its homeownership program is available at firststory.org.

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) A Level 3 – Go Now evacuation order has been issued in Crook County as the Rowe Creek Complex Fire flares up.

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office issued the evacuation notice Tuesday night for the east side of NE Mill Creek Road from the intersection of Forest Service Road 3370, near the end of the pavement, north to Wildcat Campground.

Officials say the fire is actively burning, with fire crews and aircraft on scene working to contain the flames.

Residents in the affected area are urged to leave immediately and avoid the area to allow emergency crews to work.