Author: KTVZ

Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Redmond has set a goal to reduce water usage by 10% this summer, with the community’s help.

According to the city, Redmond’s water usage typically increases during the summer months, from 2.6 million gallons to more than 14 million gallons per day.

The goal is all a part of a nationwide challenge to be both proactive and reactive.

“Every year, nationwide, there’s a Mayor’s Water Challenge to try and reduce your use of water by about 10%, (that) would be the ideal goal. But anything is great,” Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch told KTVZ News. “We’ve been doing it every year, and it makes a difference. If we’re successful, the winning person by lottery would probably get a lot of prizes, non-cash prizes from the Wyland Foundation.”

Fitch has a few tips and incentives for reducing water usage.

“If you can irrigate a little better, if you can use your water more wisely, there’s a lot of opportunities to conserve. And on the city website, there’s opportunities to get rebates for better irrigation systems, better irrigation controls, nozzles inside your home to reduce the intake of water,” Fitch said.

The Mayor says the city will be working with the Legislature and the state Water Resources Department to come up with more ways to reduce its water usage for years to come.

“Obviously, we live in a high desert. With climate change, there’s been less precipitation, hotter temperatures. We’re also seeing a huge population growth. So there’s a lot of concern at the state level that they cannot allocate any more water because it’s been overused in our aquifer,” Fitch said.

“We also had a slight reduction in the level of the aquifer over the past 10 or 15 years.. Access to future water is going to depend upon better conservation, more stewardship of the water that we have.”

Click here to view the city’s water conservation rebates page on its website.

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Here’s the city’s news release on the effort:

Redmond Joins National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, April 1-30 – Residents Encouraged to Submit their Conservation Efforts at mywaterpledge.com 

REDMOND, OREGON – This April, City of Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch joins mayors across the nation in challenging residents to make a long-term commitment to conserve water, reduce pollution, and manage natural resources more efficiently. By participating in the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, residents of Redmond can contribute to their city’s water conservation goals while competing to win over $50,000 in eco-friendly prizes, including $3,000 toward home utility bills, water-saving fixtures, and more. 

“Decreasing water availability is a reality that requires us all to rethink our stewardship of this natural resource.  Last summer the city crews shortened water schedules in parks, fixed leaks, and updated sprinkler heads, successfully reducing water use by 12% (7,273,862 gallons) from the prior year,” states Mayor Ed Fitch. “I encourage residents to take the pledge, no matter how small, and learn first-hand the impact they can have when we work together.” 

Residents can participate in the challenge by visiting www.mywaterpledge.com between April 1-30 to make a series of simple, online pledges to conserve water, reduce pollution, and save energy. The initiative, started over a decade ago, was conceived by a group of mayors looking for innovative ways to engage their communities in addressing water challenges across the United States. Each year, residents from over 2,000 cities across the nation pledge to reduce their freshwater consumption by billions of gallons, cut millions of pounds of waste sent to landfills, and prevent thousands of pounds of hazardous waste from entering local watersheds. 

This year, the challenge introduces new features, such as an AI-driven impact insight tool that helps residents see how their pledges address local water issues, reduce utility costs, and enhance community health. Residents can also participate in the MyVolunteer Water Project, a year-round platform that offers hands-on opportunities to support sustainability through home, community, and workplace projects.  

The National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation is presented by the Wyland Foundation, with support from the U.S. EPA WaterSense, The Toro Company, Zenni Optical, and the National League of Cities. 

About the Wyland Foundation 

Founded in 1993 by environmental artist Wyland, the Wyland Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the world’s oceans, waterways, and marine life. Through community events, education programs, and public art initiatives, the foundation inspires environmental stewardship across the globe. Learn more at www.wylandfoundation.org. 

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An extensive restoration has been completed at the Historic St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in downtown Bend, which is holding an open house from 4-6 p.m. Thursday.

Phase 2 of the renovation began last July, at a cost of more than $3 million.

The restoration was designed to bring the church more in line with its historical and traditional style.

Deacon Phil McCarty told us, “The statues, the pews, the stained glass windows, the Stations of the Cross, all of that is original – original 1920 that has been restored to be as beautiful as it was in 1920 and repaired in some cases. So we really were not looking to change anything.”

The church got in contact with the family that made the original statues 100 years ago to have them refinished. The incredible stained glass windows were taken apart, cleaned and reassembled. The 100-year-old wooden pews got the same treatment as well.

The first Mass will be held next Monday, and is a ticketed event.

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Lynsey Harris

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Community pride was piping hot at Abby’s Legendary Pizza Monday night, where Crook County High School’s culinary team was celebrated ahead of their trip to Nationals in Baltimore.

In true Prineville tradition, the evening included a “Free Beef” giveaway — a nod to a practice started by Les Schwab back in 1964. This time, it was Abby’s Legendary Pizza keeping the tradition alive, awarding the student chefs $250 worth of beef from Erickson’s Thriftway.

The night was filled with support, laughter and encouragement. As the team prepares to represent their school and community on a national stage, they were sent off with heartfelt advice: Dream big, embrace mistakes, and carry the spirit of Prineville with them wherever they go.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Burn completed, new photos)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters conducted 450 acres of prescribed burning Thursday about three miles west of Bend, near Forest Service Roads 4610 and 4615 and the trail intersection of Grand Slam and Ticket to Ride.  

The burn was completed Thursday afternoon, as crews transitioned to mop-up and patrol operations.

Smoke has been visible from Cascade Lakes Highway, Bend, and the surrounding area. Residents in Bend are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours.  

A portion of Grand Slam Trail will be closed from FSR 220 to the trail junction of Grand Slam and Ticket to Ride. There will be a reroute in place and signage will be posted marking the closure and alternate route. 

Forest Service Road 4615 will also be closed for public safety from its junction with FSR 800 to its junction with FSR 4610, as prescribed fire operations will be occurring directly along the road.

These trail and road closures will remain in place for several days while mop-up and patrol operations continue after the prescribed burn is complete.

Smoke impacts are possible across Cascade Lakes Highway during prescribed burning operations, as well as overnight and in the early morning hours. 

Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing public and firefighter safety. 

Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.  

What does this mean for you? 

During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours.  

All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts. 

If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner. 

If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible. 

When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating. 

If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional. 

Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit When Smoke is in the Air for more smoke preparedness resources. 

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit https://nfs.fs2c.usda.gov/r06/deschutes. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts. 

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) A late-arriving Seattle flight passenger’s apparent joke about having a bomb in his carry-on luggage was taken very seriously by Alaska Airlines and authorities Wednesday, leading to police questioning, the removal of all passengers and a departure delayed by about 90 minutes.

Laurie Mailloux of Vashon Island, Wash., was a passenger on Alaska Flight 2230 who was traveling to visit close friends in Bend. She kept them posted by text about what was happening and spoke with KTVZ News after her arrival.

Mailloux said the man was a passenger one row in front of her, who “came in a little late” was struggling to get his baggage stored in the overhead bin.

“He pulled a tennis racket out of his bags and said, ‘I finally got the bomb in,'” Mailloux recalled hearing.

A flight attendant heard the comment and began talking to the man. Police arrived quickly and removed the passenger and his carry-on items, she said.

“Sniffer dogs came on” the plane, Mailloux said.

Soon, the pilot came on the speaker and apologized, saying that everyone would have to get off the plane with their luggage as well. Mailloux said they first were taken back to the boarding area, but then were moved to another part of the airport for a time.

After they got off the plane, as authorities were talking to the man, she heard him tell them: “Oh, by the way: I’ve got firearms in my suitcase.”

Mailloux said she wasn’t scared by the turn of events, but agreed that it was not funny.

She also had only praise for the authorities and staff involved, saying: “All in all, everything was fast and efficient.”

“I mean, I didn’t want to be delayed an hour and a half, but they did such a good job, I felt comfortable, Mailloux said. “And, you know, it’s good to know that they’re on top of it.“

Perry Cooper, public information officer with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, told KING 5 News that the FBI and the King County Prosecutor’s Office will be reviewing the incident to determine if charges will be filed. Perry also confirmed that the unfounded comment was regarding an explosive on the aircraft.

Here’s the Alaska Airlines statement on the incident:

There was a security incident this afternoon involving Alaska Airlines Flight 2030 operated by Horizon Air, from Seattle (SEA) to Redmond (RDM). During the boarding process, a passenger made an inappropriate comment to one of our flight attendants related to the safety of our aircraft. Out of an abundance of caution, guests deplaned, port security met the inciting guest at the gate, and a security sweep was performed. Once the aircraft was deemed safe, the flight continued on with a delay of an hour and twenty minutes.  

Following the exit of the removed guest and his traveling companion, there were 69 passengers and 4 crew members on board. We appreciate our guests’ patience and understanding during this situation, and we are grateful for the professionalism of our flight attendants and pilots throughout this incident.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video, Comments from Fire Marshall)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Thanks to alert employees, a fire was kept fairly small and quickly stopped Wednesday morning in a downtown Bend bike and ski shop housed in a more than century-old former church.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews responded shortly after 10 a.m. to the fire at WebCyclery and WebSkis at Franklin Avenue and Harriman Street. It’s located in a unique building known as the “Old Stone Church,” a Craftsman-style structure with Gothic and Tudor-style details, built for First Presbyterian Church in 1912.

Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said the flames were first noticed in a ceiling light fixture. But the fire had spread to nearby stored goods by then. All employees and customers evacuated safely before fire crews arrived.

Crews found the attic space full of smoke when they arrived and stretched hoses into the building to extinguish the fire. Bend Fire’s ladder truck set up and opened holes in the roof to allow smoke out of the attic to aid in extinguishing the fire. The fire was extinguished in approximately 30 minutes. 

The workers tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher while calling 911 to alert firefighters, Derlacki said. The fire official praised their actions, saying the call allowed firefighters to arrive on the scene much more quickly and keep it from spreading to other parts of the building.

“This is why we ask people to do when you’re using a fire extinguisher, call 911. They attempted that extinguisher.” said Derlacki” “They thought they had it out, but it came right back pretty quickly. So they were already on 911 when that second, when it came back up. And that communication flowed very quickly and allowed us to respond appropriately. “

But Derlacki said the fire burned in a storage area for inventory.

“With the smoke throughout the building, it did do a fair amount of damage to soft goods, such as all the clothing for sale,” he said. “The damage to the building is minor when compared to the retail items.” Holes were cut in the roof to vent the smoke in the attic.

Harriman Street was closed during the firefighting effort.

WebCyclery posted to social media a photo of the firefighters on the scene and said the business would be closed Wednesday, but to “look forward to a big fire sale in the near future!”

Fortunately, the damage was far less than from a blaze at the former church 33 years ago.

A February 1982 fire broke out during a Sunday afternoon service at what was then Cascade Christian Fellowship Church. All were evacuated and the fire was traced to combustibles too close to the chimney, causing $250,000 damage.

Here’s the rest of the information Derlacki released Wednesday afternoon:

“Bend Fire & Rescue investigators determined the fire to have started when a fluorescent light fixture in the attic storage room failed. The light caught fire, and the flames then spread to adjacent boxes and stored goods in the space.

The quick actions of the staff by using an extinguisher while calling 911 at the same time prevented this fire from getting any worse.

Damage to the building is estimated to be about $25,000. The damage to the contents of the retail space is considered extensive due to the smoke from the fire.

Several dozen high-end mountain bikes were destroyed in the attic space due to catching fire. But there is a potential for all clothing and soft goods in the entire building to be considered a loss if they can’t be cleaned of the smoke. This damage could range from $100,000 to $500,000, depending on the extent of damage to the retail items and whether they can be restored for retail use again or not. The business is fully insured and the insurance company had been contacted by the time Bend Fire left the scene. 

Bend Fire & Rescue commends the actions of the staff of Web Cyclery for their quick actions in preventing this fire from getting any worse. They investigated the smell as soon as it was known. They used an extinguisher for what was a small fire to start off with.

But most importantly, they started evacuating the building and calling 911 at the same time another employee was using the extinguisher. These actions ensured everyone was out safe and the fire department was on its way in the event the extinguisher wasn’t enough, as it turned out to be.

“Bend Fire reminds anyone who uses a fire extinguisher on a fire to call 911 at the same time. If the extinguisher puts the fire out completely, the fire department can ensure the fire didn’t spread and help with the initial clean-up. If the extinguisher doesn’t put the fire out completely, we are on the way sooner than later to extinguish the fire completely.”

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