Author: KTVZ

Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Civil Air Patrol Cadet program recently received a $1,000 grant from Mid Oregon Credit Union and KTVZ’s “One Class at a Time” program. These funds are designated to purchase parts for a flight simulator currently being assembled at the Bend Airport.

The Civil Air Patrol Cadet program focuses on creating future pilots, while also teaching participants STEM education, leadership skills and discipline.

Bruce McLellan, commander of the High Desert Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, noted that many young people join the organization due to their interest in aviation and aerospace. “Most of the young people to join our organization do so because they’re interested in aviation, or perhaps aerospace,” McLellan said. “So many of them seek an outlet for that upon graduation. This year, we have one young woman that’s enrolled in the Naval Academy and she leaves next week for Annapolis.” The program is recognized for its emphasis on aviation, which serves as a starting point for many aspiring pilots. In addition to flight training, the Civil Air Patrol Cadet program offers instruction in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), leadership skills and discipline. The $1,000 grant will specifically be used to acquire components for a flight simulator. Cadets are currently constructing this simulator at the Bend Airport.

The $1,000 grant will facilitate the acquisition of necessary parts for the flight simulator, which cadets are assembling at the Bend Airport. A female cadet from the program is scheduled to depart next week for the Naval Academy in Annapolis.

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Spencer Sacks

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Redmond Fire & Rescue has announced details for the memorial service honoring Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Kienzle. The service will be held on July 11 at 11 a.m. at the Deschutes County Fairground Events Center and is open to the public.

The service will also be live streamed for those unable to attend in person. Community members are invited to either attend the memorial service or participate by observing the family escort along the route.

The family escort will begin moving at approximately 10 a.m. The route will proceed along 6th Street, from Maple to Highland and then continue on Highway 97 to the Yew Avenue exit. Community members who wish to pay their respects without attending the service are encouraged to line the route along SW 6th Street safely.

Emergency response agencies are welcome to bring apparatus and staff vehicles to the fairgrounds. A designated parking area will be available for these emergency vehicles at the Fairgrounds. Redmond Fire & Rescue apparatus will escort the family to the memorial service.

Media representatives are welcome to capture footage and photos of the escort procession as it enters the fairgrounds complex on Mt. Jefferson Drive. Out of respect for the family, media are asked not to capture images or video of family members and will not be permitted inside the memorial venue.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be made in honor of Firefighter/Paramedic Kienzle to three organizations. These include the Redmond Firefighter’s Foundation, the Corvallis Firefighter’s Foundation and the Obliteride Team Kienzle Fundraiser.

Donations to the Redmond Firefighter’s Foundation can be mailed to P.O. Box 2054, Redmond, OR 97756 and should note “Kienzle Memorial” on checks. The Obliteride Team Kienzle Fundraiser supports Dr. Cassiday’s T-Cell ALL cancer research.

Redmond Fire & Rescue extended its gratitude to the community, partner agencies and supporters for their compassion and respect during this time as the department honors and remembers Firefighter/Paramedic Kienzle.

The memorial service for Firefighter/Paramedic Kienzle is scheduled for July 11. The family escort will begin at approximately 10 a.m., leading to the 11 a.m. service.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Discovery West will host a free “Stars and Stripes” event on Friday, July 3, from 8 to 10 p.m. in Bend, Ore., celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday.

The celebration, located at Discovery Corner at 1125 NW Ochoa Drive, will feature a patriotic drone show with 100 drones lighting up the skies at 9:45 p.m.

The “Stars and Stripes” event is designed to kick off the holiday weekend with a variety of entertaining and delicious offerings for all ages.

The evening includes entertainers, a DJ, good old fashioned desserts, refreshing adult and kids beverages, along with modern square dancing that will feature live lessons and demonstrations. Fun games and giveaways are also planned throughout the evening.

A variety of local vendors will be on site for the event. These include Cuppa Yo, Stars & Stripes Bar, Adamo’s Carnival Eats, Sparrow Mercado Pie Stand, Balloons and Tattoos by Pretend and Hair Tinsel by Sparkle Strands.

The event is made possible through the generous support of several sponsors. These sponsors are Harcourts The Garner Group, Discovery West Builders Guild, Sorren and Harcourts Auctions.

The event will be held at Discovery Corner, which is located at 1125 NW Ochoa Drive in northwest Bend. Attendees are encouraged to walk, roll, ride their bikes and carpool to the event as feasible, though parking will be available throughout the neighborhood.

Discovery West is a 245-acre community on Bend’s westside developed by the team behind NorthWest Crossing. The community offers diverse home types and sizes, Discovery Corner, select retail shops, Aerie Residences by AvantStay luxury overnight vacation rentals, art installations and 40 acres of parks, trails and open space. The development team focuses on creating livable communities that respect the Central Oregon landscape and lifestyle.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Summer Criterium Series, presented by McGlone Property Group-EXP Realty, is returning for a five-week series. The cycling event will take place around Pacific Crest Middle School in Bend, Ore., from June 24, 2026, to July 22, 2026.

Organized by the Horner Cycling Foundation, the series offers racing categories for various age groups. Horner Law, LLP will sponsor free racing for all junior participants.

The race schedule for the series includes multiple categories. The Kiddie Crit, for ages 0-8, will be one lap and start at 5:10 p.m. for 10 minutes. Junior Open and Junior Women categories, for ages 9-12, will begin at 5:25 p.m. and last 20 minutes.

Additional races include Women one/two/3, Women four/5, Women four/five Masters and Women one/two Masters, starting at 5:50 p.m. for 30 minutes. The Open four/5 race begins at 6:25 p.m. and runs for 40 minutes. The Open one/two/three and Open one/two Masters races will start at 7:10 p.m. and last 51 minutes.

All participants must have an OBRA membership. Single race and annual OBRA memberships are available online and at the event. Online registration closes by noon on race day at obra.org/schedule. Day-of registration starts at 3:00 p.m. under the OBRA tent at Pacific Crest Middle School, located at 3030 NW Elwood Lane, Bend, Ore.

The Horner Cycling Foundation’s mission is to establish an inclusive junior road cycling team. This team is designed to be accessible to all socioeconomic backgrounds, focusing on skill development, team building and cultivating a lifelong passion for cycling.

The Bend Summer Criterium Series begins today, June 24, 2026. More information can be found at www.hornercyclingfoundation.org, or by contacting Molly Cogswell-Kelley at 541-480-6975.

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Claire Elmer

(Update: adding information from June 24th’s hearing)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Redmond woman accused of killing her mother last summer was back before a Deschutes County judge Wednesday for a status check hearing.

Jessica Andersch is charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the fatal stabbing of her mother, Tracy Berry, at their Redmond home in June of 2025.

Since early in the case, questions have surrounded Andersch’s mental fitness. Court records show she has been found both fit and unfit to proceed more than once, repeatedly delaying proceedings.

The delays reflecting broader challenges Oregon courts have faced with access to mental health services, including limited treatment space and a shortage of qualified mental health evaluators.

Most recently, on June 18th, Andersch was found mentally fit to proceed.

She appeared remotely Wednesday before Judge Wells Ashby. Her demeanor during the brief hearing was calm — a contrast from some earlier court appearances, where she made outbursts, appeared confused while discussing the case and charges, and made statements about stabbing her mother.

In one previous appearance, Andersch said, “I did stab the being that represented herself as Tracy Berry.”

After a brief discussion between the judge, attorneys, and Andersch, the next hearing was set for July 21st. Andersch’s defense attorney said she is requesting to appear in person for that hearing, and later said trial dates will likely be set at that time.

KTVZ News will continue to follow the case as it moves forward.

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Spencer Sacks

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Brenda Fahey has been named the new city administrator for Madras, following a months-long search. The Madras City Council reached an employment agreement tonight for her appointment and she is expected to begin her new role next month.

Fahey brings more than 25 years of public sector experience to her new position. She currently serves as the assistant city manager and human resources director for The Dalles.

Fahey is scheduled to begin her new role as the Madras city administrator next month.

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — BEND, Ore. — Bend’s long-running goose management program is drawing renewed attention as the Bend Park and Recreation District continues oiling Canada goose eggs to keep them from hatching.

The district says the nonlethal method helps control a resident goose population that can damage turf, erode riverbanks and leave behind waste in parks across the city, including Drake Park and Discovery Park.

BPRD says the birds can also pose public health concerns, pointing to risks including E. coli, salmonella and swimmer’s itch.

“There’s some disease risks that are happening in addition to any esthetics and just nests that people may be seeing,” Julie Brown, with the district’s community engagement team, said. “E. coli is a concern. Salmonella is a concern. Swimmer’s itch that sometimes can develop in bodies of water has a direct correlation to geese population.”

The district says goose egg oiling is only one part of its Canada Goose Management Plan. Other efforts include:

Public education, including asking residents not to feed geese and ducks.

Habitat modification, such as creating buffer zones with vegetation to discourage nesting.

Egg oiling during nesting season to prevent eggs from hatching.

Hazing, including trained dogs used to move geese out of park areas.

Relocating independent juvenile geese during a short summer capture period.

Encouraging residents to report nest locations so staff can respond before eggs hatch.

BPRD says the program is designed to reduce the number of geese in Bend while balancing wildlife management with park use.

But the practice is not without controversy.

Bend resident Justin Gottlieb says concerns over goose management go back years, including a 2010 culling that drew backlash from animal rights activists and helped push the district toward nonlethal methods.

“About 15 years ago, the solution to this problem was to gas 109 geese, which was permitted by the Oregon Wildlife Department and feed their remains to the homeless,” Gottlieb said.

He said he believes earlier relocation efforts also helped reduce the goose population in parts of Bend.

“Many of these geese that would have been born in Bend have been those eggs and those geese have been relocated out to other areas,” Gottlieb said. “We didn’t kill them. We just moved them out of the center of town.”

The district says it continues to use the program to balance community concerns, park conditions and wildlife management.

We want to hear from you. Take our POLL:“Bend uses egg oiling to control Canada goose populations. Do you support or oppose this method?”

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Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, comments from Bend Airport manager)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Municipal Airport is nearing a major safety milestone as its first air traffic control tower prepares to begin operations in the coming weeks.

The 115-foot tower is almost ready to guide aircraft and pilots between the ground and sky at one of Oregon’s busiest airports.

“This will be the very first brand new air traffic control tower to open in the United States in the year 2026,” Bend Airport Manager Tracy Williams said. “The BDN, that’s our three-letter identifier — Bravo, Delta, November for Bend.”

Bend Municipal Airport is the third-busiest airport in Oregon, with more than 141,000 takeoffs and landings each year. Airport leaders say that averages roughly 360 operations per day.

Until now, pilots using the Bend Airport have relied on radio communication with one another on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to coordinate takeoffs, landings, and movement around the airport.

“The purpose of the air traffic control tower is to provide for safe separation of aircraft,” Williams said. “We’re pretty safe already, but this will just add an extra margin of safety, an extra layer.”

The tower has been a priority for airport users since around 2008. The project moved forward after Bend Municipal Airport was accepted into the FAA’s Federal Contract Tower Program in 2020.

The tower includes four controller workstations, a break room, backup generator, weather equipment, antennas, lightning protection, and a rotating beacon. The project also includes an access road, parking area, utility connections, security fencing, and supplemental weather sensors.

The City of Bend says the design cost about $1.6 million, with construction costing about $9.1 million. The project is funded primarily through federal and state grants.

Airport leaders say the tower is expected to improve safety and efficiency while supporting the region’s aviation economy. Bend Municipal Airport is home to nearly 300 aircraft, two flight training schools, and numerous airport-related businesses.

Williams said the tower will also bring new aviation jobs to Central Oregon.

“We will employ at least five to seven air traffic controllers, including a manager. We’ll initially start with a couple, and then grow and provide more jobs as the demand occurs,” Williams said.

Airport leaders hope air traffic services can begin within the next couple of months.

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Harley Coldiron

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mt. Bachelor will begin summer operations on Thursday, June 25. The opening will feature the most expansive opening weekend terrain offering to date, including 13 Bike Park trails and top-to-bottom hiking access.

Guests visiting Mt. Bachelor can also participate in various activities such as sunset dinners, zipline ziptours, scenic chairlift rides, overnight camping and child care. The resort has also added two new disc golf courses for guests to enjoy.

Opening Day on June 25 will include live music from Blackstrap Bluegrass. Daily dining options will be available at Rock Bar in the West Village base area and Scapolos at Pine Marten Lodge, which is accessible via hiking trail or chairlift. Mt. Bachelor’s retail shop will operate daily, offering bike gear, apparel, logo wear and souvenirs.

Kids Bike Camps will begin on July 6, with options for three-day and five-day programs. These camps are designed for youth ages 8 to 15. Discounted Bike Park passes and rentals are available for those who purchase a camp and transportation from the Bend Park N Ride to Mt. Bachelor is included with enrollment.

Kids Bike Camps are scheduled to kick off on July 6.

Guests can look forward to the following events and more at www.mtbachelor.com/events 

Friday Night Race Series – select Fridays throughout the summer 

Little Rollers – select Sundays throughout the summer 

Northwest Cup Downhill Race – August 7-9 

Red Line Rally – August 29 

Mountain Clean Up presented by Pepsi – July 19 

Yoga in the Wild – select Thursdays throughout the summer 

Bachelor Ascent – September 12 

Movies in the Mountains – every Friday in October 

Bachelor Summer Trailfest – October 3-4 

Ask a Ranger – Friday through Wednesday every week starting July 10  

Visit Mt. Bachelor’s Mountain Report for the latest operations updates and trail statuses.

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) to gather public feedback for the 2026 update of the Deschutes County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP). Community members are invited to provide input by completing a confidential public survey.

This survey is designed to collect information from the community and is available now through July 13.

The survey aims to better understand individuals’ preparedness, risk and vulnerability to natural hazards. The information collected will help support the county’s Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan and improve coordination of hazard mitigation and risk-reduction efforts.

The public survey is available to community members in both English and Spanish.

All individual survey responses provided are strictly confidential and are solely for research purposes.

The public survey is open now through July 13.

Deschutes County Natural Hazards Survey (English)

Deschutes County Natural Hazards Survey (Spanish)

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Mitigation Information

If the public has questions about the plan update, they can call the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-388-6501 or send an email to emergency.management@deschutes.org

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