Author: KTVZ

Isabella Warren

(Update: Adding video, comments from CET Director)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — You can join Cascades East Transit for free bus rides during Try Transit Week, a community-wide celebration of public transportation throughout Central Oregon this week.

Enjoy free bus rides on all CET routes, extended service hours for Bend routes, and a week of transit-themed events and prize giveaways. Whether you’re a daily rider or new to CET, now is the perfect time to hop on board a CET bus to save money and help the environment.  

“We’re really just trying to get the word out. Have a few different fun activities to encourage ridership. And at the same time, it lines up with the expansion hours, which is the most critical element of getting back to a commuter-based system,” said director Bob Townsend.

Starting Monday, Bend Fixed Route service hours are extended during the mornings and evenings Monday-Friday to provide greater flexibility for commuters and riders who depend on transit. The new hours will start at 6:00am, with the last departure at 7:00pm at Hawthorne Station. 

“Most transit agencies within a year went back to their pre-COVID times. But here we are, five years later. And you know, it’s long overdue,” he added.

As the weather warms up, CET says some routes will see an increase in riders,

“Our hopes are that over time we start to increase summer usage because tourists who come in, it’s easy to ride the bus. They can just get an app on their phone and use our service.”

CET will be moving from free rides beginning this fall. Rides will be two dollars each, but riders who qualify can have their fares reduced to one dollar.

Here’s the rest of CET’s recent announcement:

Explore new opportunities to ride the bus in Bend and beyond by joining the Try Transit Challenge June 2-8. Sign up on Get There Oregon and log at least one round trip on a CET bus for a chance to win a $100 grocery store gift card and other great prizes! Be sure to stop by a CET event for trip planning assistance, schedule information, snacks, and prize giveaways.  

Try Transit Week activities include: 

“Perk and Ride” coffee kiosk and breakfast snacks at Hawthorne Station (334 NE Hawthorne Ave.) in Bend from 7:30am-9am for early morning bus commuters. 

Themed events at Hawthorne Station, Downtown Bend Library, OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon Community College, and the Redmond Transit Hub that include bike loading demos, trivia, snacks, and prizes. 

Celebrate with CET on Thursday, June 5 from 4-7 pm at Hawthorne Station for our main event that includes transit trivia, prize giveaways, tours of new Hawthorne Station amenities, snacks, and popsicles! 

A full list of Try Transit Week events is available at cascadeseasttransit.com/trytransit/. Follow us on Instagram @cascadeseasttransit, tag your ride with #TryTransit, and join the fun! 

Links and resources:  

Sign up for a free Get There Oregon account to log your trips at https://getthere.rideamigos.com/s/commute-options 

Visit CET’s Try Transit webpage for a list of events https://cascadeseasttransit.com/trytransit/ 

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KTVZ News Team

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The annual pop culture event, Beaver State Comic Con, made a return to the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center.

The convention kicked off Saturday with a special appearance from Jerry Mathers, best known as Theodore “Beaver” Cleaver on the classic sitcom Leave It to Beaver.

Mathers is headlining a star-studded guest lineup that also includes Reb Brown, the action star who played Captain America in the 1979 television series.

Beaver State Comic Con is a multi-genre convention that celebrates everything from comic books and cosplay to movies, TV, and gaming. It’s a gathering place for fans of all ages to meet special guests, dress as their favorite characters, and explore all things nerd culture.

Autograph and photo opportunities with featured guests are available throughout the weekend.

The event runs from 10 am. to 5 p.m. and wraps up Sunday, June 1st.

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KTVZ News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Hunter Noack, classical pianist and naturalist, will bring seven concerts to Central Oregon as part of IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild’s 10th anniversary 50-concert tour.

The outdoor concert series is known for creating immersive experiences in nature, where America’s most stunning landscapes replace the traditional concert hall.

Headphones allow audiences to wander, whether on a mountain top, in old growth forests, or in sunny meadows, the music as a soundtrack to their experience in the wild.

The series is branching out with a Dark Sky initiative this year, with two concerts in the Oregon OutbackDark Sky Sanctuary and in Sunriver, Oregon’s 1st Dark Sky-designated community.

A total of eight concerts will be held in Central Oregon landscapes from June 1 – September 17.June 1: Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, Warm SpringsJune 16, 17, 18: Black Butte Ranch, SistersJune 19: Wine Down Ranch, PrinevilleSept 14: Dark Sky, Summer Lake Hot Springs, PaisleySept 15: Dark Sky, Sunriver Resort, SunriverSept 17: Drake Park, Bend

Tickets are $45 and may be purchased on their website. They offer free tickets through the Good Neighbor Program, providing access to those who might otherwise be unable to afford a ticket to the outdoor classical music experience.

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KTVZ News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes National Forest firefighters conducted a total of 271 acres of prescribed burns on Monday at two locations near Bend and Sisters, and residents are being urged to keep doors and windows closed to ease smoke impacts.

The Big Eddy Block 1 burn totaled 113 acres a mile southwest of Bend, near the junction of Cascade Lakes Highway and Forest Service Road 41. A pilot car was escorting traffic along Road 41.

Residents in Bend and living south and east of the Deschutes River, including Sunriver, La Pine and Redmond, were urged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts, especially overnight and in the early morning.

Meanwhile, 158 acres initially were planned to be burned on Highway 20 Units 81 and 93 about 3 1/2 miles north of Sisters.

Residents in Sisters, Black Butte Ranch, Tollgate, Crossroads and nearby areas were also urged to keep their doors and windows closed to limit smoke impacts.

—

Earlier information:

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) –  If conditions are favorable on Monday, June 2, the Deschutes National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burn operations on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts.

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct up to 215 acres of prescribed burning on Monday approximately one mile southwest of Bend and south of the Cascade Lakes Highway.

 Ignitions are planned for 113 acres on Big Eddy Block 1 Prescribed Burn located near the intersection of Cascade Lakes Highway and Forest Service Road (FSR) 41 along the eastern side of FSR 41.

If conditions allow, firefighters will also conduct 102 acres of prescribed burning on Tiddlywinks Block 2 Prescribed Burn on the west side of FSR 41 on Monday. Ignitions are planned for 10 a.m.

The following road and trail closures will be in place:

Road access to Lava Island Day Use & Trailhead

All trails north of Big Eddy Day Use

Northern portion of Catch & Release Trail

Roads and trails will be closed during ignitions and until roadside and trailside hazards are mitigated. The Cascade Lakes Highway and Forest Service Road 41 will remain open. A pilot car will be implemented if smoke limits visibility.

Smoke will be visible from Bend and the surrounding area. Residents in Bend and those south and east of the Deschutes River, including Sunriver, La Pine, and Redmond are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours.

Sisters Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct up to 158 acres of ignitions on the Highway 20 Units 81 & 93 Prescribed Burn located approximately three and a half miles north of Sisters, along the north side of Forest Service Road 1012 (Cold Springs Road), and west of Highway 20.

Ignitions are slated to begin around 9 a.m. Smoke will be visible from Sisters, Highway 20, and the surrounding area. Residents in Sisters, Tollgate subdivision, Crossroads, Black Butte Ranch, and the surrounding area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours.

Smoke impacts are also possible across Highway 20 during ignitions, overnight and in the early morning hours. A pilot car operation will be available if needed. No road or trail closures are anticipated.

For more information, click here.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Eight nurses from St. Charles Health System recently earned DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nurses, recognizing the outstanding, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day.

The nurses, who represent all four St. Charles hospitals in Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville, were recognized with a ceremony on their respective units and presented with a certificate, a pin and a “healer’s touch” sculpture by their hospital’s chief nursing officer.

The five direct-care nurses earning DAISY Awards are:

Emily Cahoon, an Intermediate Care Unit nurse at St. Charles Bend, was recognized for providing exceptional care to a postpartum patient who was also recovering from a stroke. She was specifically recognized for assisting in finding a treatment plan that fit the patient’s specific needs as a new mom.

Acacia Knutzen, a nurse at St. Charles Redmond, was recognized for the compassionate and skilled care she provided to a patient in their final days and the comfort she offered to their family. She supported the family with empathy and understanding during a difficult time, while also providing exceptional medical care.

Melissa Levesque, a nurse at St. Charles Prineville, was recognized for her strong teamwork and dedication to supporting her fellow caregivers. She was also commended for being a mentor to her team, inspiring and empowering others to grow and succeed in their roles

Jessica Thurman, a nurse at St. Charles Madras, was recognized for not only providing exceptional care but also for her thoughtful gesture of purchasing a floral bouquet and card, signed by fellow nurses, to celebrate a patient and their spouse on their wedding anniversary.

Jonathan Schneider, an infusion nurse at St. Charles Cancer Center in Bend, was recognized by a patient for “exemplifying the very best of nursing. His compassion, his humor and his ability to bring light into the lives of his patients make him an extraordinary caregiver. He doesn’t just treat illness — he treats the soul.”

The three nursing leaders earning DAISY awards are:

Erin Olsen, a nurse leader at St. Charles Redmond, was recognized by a fellow caregiver for “creating an environment where teamwork thrives, where challenges are met with solutions, and where successes — big or small — are celebrated. Her dedication, kindness and unwavering support make all the difference, and I couldn’t ask for a better leader.”

Jennifer Brooks, an ambulatory nurse leader at St. Charles Bend, was recognized for her exceptional leadership and consistent support of caregivers and patients. She received special praise for her role during the recent integration with St. Charles Center for Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, where she continues to provide hands on assistance and advocate for caregiver needs.

Taylor Jones, a nurse leader for Sage View and in-patient behavioral health, was recognized for her remarkable leadership and dedication to improving behavioral health care. Through her leadership she has improved patient outcomes and fostered a supportive and collaborative environment for her entire team.

About the DAISY Awards:

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that was established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A wanted Bend man who eluded a police manhunt in April tried to flee again after a Walmart shoplifting incident Thursday evening by driving from a car’s front passenger seat, but was caught and arrested, police said.

Around 6:20 p.m., Thursday, May 29, Bend Police were investigating a hit-and-run crash in the parking lot of Walmart when they were contacted by loss prevention personnel about a pair of shoplifters who left the store without paying for more than $500 in groceries and placed them in the trunk of a white sedan, police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

When officers contacted the car’s occupants, they tried to flee before stopping. The front passenger, later identified as David Alan Mills, 46, then repeatedly attempted to drive the vehicle from the passenger seat in an effort to get away from officers, Miller said.  

Mills had an outstanding felony warrant for first-degree burglary, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer stemming from an April 17 incident in which a large manhunt took place and northeast Bend residents were alerted about two men, one possibly armed, who ran from officers at a traffic stop.

Mills was taken into custody and taken first to St. Charles Bend before being booked into the Deschutes County Jail on the warrant, as well as new charges of second-degree theft (shoplifting), misdemeanor driving with a suspended license and methamphetamine possession.  

Mills was arraigned Friday on two formal misdemeanor charges of meth possession and second-degree theft and is scheduled to enter a plea on June 20, court records show. He has a lengthy arrest record dating back at least 20 years. Jail records Friday show Mills is being held without bail for a parole violation.

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Redmond Municipal Airport announced Friday that American Airlines will again provide direct seasonal service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), beginning next Thursday, June 5, through October 6.

The non-stop flights will depart from RDM at 12:37 P.M., arriving in DFW at 6:10 P.M. Departures to RDM will leave DFW at 10:15 A.M., arriving in RDM at 12:31 P.M. 

“This will be the farthest eastbound direct flight offered at RDM and will connect passengers to some outstanding locations,” states Airport Director Zachary Bass.

“American Airlines has more than 800 outbound flights departing daily from DFW, significantly increasing travel options for Central Oregon business and leisure passengers connecting through Dallas.”

The daily non-stop flights will be operated by American Airlines utilizing the Airbus A320 series aircraft, which accommodates up to 150 passengers, configured with 12 recliner seats in first class and 138 seats in economy. 

This new service to DFW will operate alongside continuing nonstop service to Phoenix (PHX), providing local residents access with just one stop across American’s comprehensive global network. 

With this new flight, RDM now offers direct flights to 13 locations: Burbank, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Seattle.

The Redmond Airport terminal is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Boarding lounge amenities include a children’s play area, Nursing Room, a free book exchange, a coffee/gift shop, a family-friendly restaurant, and a full-service bar (located post-security) that opens daily at 10:00 A.M. 

Additional links to TSA, Airport amenities, Air Carrier, and flight information can be found online at www.flyrdm.com.

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — With a warm and windy weekend ahead, Redmond Fire & Rescue decided to close outdoor debris burning for the season and enact a burn ban Friday evening at sunset, two days ahead of earlier plans.

During the closure, until further notice, all outdoor debris burning is prohibited in all areas served by Redmond Fire & Rescue in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties.

Fire Marshal Tom Mooney told KTVZ News the early closure was “due to the (forecast) high winds. Our threshold is anything over 10 mph.”

As a reminder, the closure of outdoor debris burning and the enactment of the burn ban prohibits all of the following:

1. Backyard or open burning (branches, yard debris, etc.).

2. Agricultural burning (agricultural wastes, crops, field burning, ditches etc.).

3. Any other land clearing, slash, stump, waste, debris or controlled burning.

4. The use of any type of weed burning torches.

5. Bonfires

3. Burn Barrels

The burn ban does not prohibit:

1. Small outdoor cooking, warming or recreational fires at residential properties. These include portable or permanent fire pits, fire tables, and campfires, with a maximum fuel area of three feet in diameter and two feet in height in a safe location away from combustibles or vegetation and are fully extinguished after use.

2. Barbeque grills, smokers and similar cooking appliances with clean, dry firewood, briquettes, wood chips, pellets, propane, natural gas, or similar fuels.

There may be more restrictive fire safety rules on Deschutes County-Owned Land and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF)-protected land. ODF restrictions may include prohibitions on campfires, smoking, target shooting, powered equipment, motorized vehicles, and other public/private landowner and industrial fire restrictions. More details about ODF fire restrictions are available at Oregon Department of Forestry Public Fire Restrictions. More details about fire restrictions are available at Deschutes County-Owned Land.

Outdoor fires in violation of this closure will be immediately extinguished. If a fire agency responds to a fire that has been started in willful violation of this closure, the person responsible may be liable for all costs incurred, as well as legal fees per ORS 478.965. Burning restrictions are authorized under Oregon Revised Statute 478.960, Oregon Fire Code 307 and Redmond Fire & Rescue Ordinance 5. 

Redmond Fire & Rescue encourages the public to use extreme caution with activities that could start a fire. It is everyone’s responsibility to prevent and be prepared for wildfires. Residents are encouraged to continue exercising caution and taking steps to prevent and prepare for the threat of wildfires. That includes:

Creating defensible space:

• Mowing and watering lawns.

• Removing brush, dry grass, and leaves from underneath decks and crawlspaces.

• De-limbing tree branches 6 feet off the ground and well away from your roof.

• Planting low-growing, fire-resistant plants near your home.

• Eliminating fuel sources near and around your home – firewood, fuel tanks, etc.

To request a defensible space assessment of your property please visit, www.rdmfire.org.

Maintaining access:

• The road or driveway to your home should be clear of all debris, dense vegetation, and low-hanging branches. The roadway should be at least 12 feet wide drivable. Turn-out areas are needed if the road or driveway to your home is not large enough for two-way traffic or your home is located at the end of a long driveway or dead-end road.

• The driveway to your home should be designed without sharp curves or steep grades.

• If crossing a bridge is necessary to access your home, it should support 75,000 pounds.

Signing up for Alerts:

To make sure you are receiving the most current alerts regarding Emergency Evacuations (Fire, Flooding, Public Welfare, etc.), Natural Disasters (Fire, Flooding, etc.), Severe Weather or Neighborhood Emergencies, you can sign up for Deschutes Alerts.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: New fire update)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A wildfire broke out Friday north of Skyliners Road, about four miles west of Bend, putting up smoke that was visible over a wide area as crews quickly stopped its spread and worked to put it out.

The Trail 32 Fire (Incident 185) was reported around 2:45 p.m. and later determined it burned about a half-acre before its forward progress was stopped. Crews were building a hand line around the fire, which burned in grass, brush, logs and duff.

While the fire burned in the area of the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest, officials said later the point of origin was found to be on private land.

“The fire was human-caused and is under investigation,” officials said shortly after 5 p.m., as crews began mop-up operations.

No structures were threatened, they said. Three engines and a hand crew were working to finish containment.

Shortly after she left the fire scene, Bend Deputy Fire Marshal Cindy Kettering told KTVZ News, “A number of Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry resources are on scene.”

A helicopter and fixed-wing plane were the first air resources on scene to assist.

Kettering said when she left the scene, “they were already getting a good knock on it.”

The fire had a moderate rate of spread in trees and brush and was burning on the ground, not up in the trees, Kettering said.

The fire was constrained on the west side by a rock cliff and to the East by a Forest Service road.

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Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Department of Forestry on Friday deployed 14 firefighters to Alberta, Canada, four to Alaska, three to Minnesota and one to Florida to help fight wildfires.

“With fire season beginning in some parts of the state, this will be the agency’s last big out-of-state resource push until the rainy fall returns in Oregon,” ODF said in their announcement.  

ODF Public Affairs Officer Jessica Neujahr told KTVZ News that the two firefighters going to Alaska, Ben Duda and Eric Metzger, are from Sisters, while some of the others are from John Day and Fossil.

Those being deployed to Alberta and Alaska are going through the Northwest Compact, which is a mutual assistance agreement among six states and five NW Canadian provinces and territories. Those deployed to Minnesota and Florida are going through state-to-state mutual aid agreements.

Both agreements are in place for organizations to easily share resources with one another, creating a larger and more comprehensive fire management system.  

“These agreements help bolster Oregon’s complete and coordinated fire protection system and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed,” said Michael Curran, ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief.

When wildfire activity is low in Oregon, firefighters can be spared to help in places experiencing high levels of wildfire. This two-week rotation with our partners is our firefighters’ chance to enhance existing skills, learn new ones, and build on long-standing relationships.

“Know that we don’t share these resources without appropriate vetting. Before committing to any out-of-state deployment, we make sure that our own fire management system is still adequately staffed and ready to respond to fires here in Oregon. Serving Oregonians is our first and primary priority,” said Curran.

Oregon can and has called on its out-of-state partners to send resources when wildfires here exceeded our local and state response capacity, most recently in 2024 when ODF received firefighters and equipment from about 21 states, provinces and territories.

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