Author: KTVZ

Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening tonight, Friday, October 10th at 6:30 pm, there’s a special celebration taking place at Dogwood at the Pine Shed.

It’s a party for local pro snowboarder Jared Elston’s new snowboard release presented by Tactics and Arbor Snowboarding.

Jared, known as ‘Big Air Jare’ online, recently released his ‘El Camino’ model with Arbor.

Tonight, enjoy drinks from Dogwood and hang with the snowboarding community! 2 snowboard films will also be premiering.

Jared told KTVZ News he’s looking forward to the community coming together, kicking off the upcoming winter season.

Money raised from the event will go to the Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation.

Stop by Tactics in Bend to purchase a wrist band.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding statements by Rutledge family, attorney, copy of lawsuit)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Relatives of a Troutdale family of four killed by a drugged, sleep-deprived driver in a fiery head-on crash on Highway 97 north of Redmond two years ago have filed a $50 million wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against the driver, his employer and an insurance company. 

Jesse Carl Ross,44, was sentenced last January to 24 years in prison for the October 2023 crash that killed Gary Rutledge, 57, wife Michelle, 53, and their two children, Reynolds High School students Kate, 15, and Ryan 17, as the family was heading to Central Oregon to watch an annular eclipse. 

Ross, a wetlands engineer for the nonprofit Ducks Unlimited, first pleaded not guilty to seven charges, but later agreed to plead guilty to single counts of manslaughter, DUII and criminally negligent homicide. 

During an emotional sentencing hearing, Ross told grieving family and friends, “I would gladly trade places with them (the victims) in an instant.” 

Ross had driven to Montana for a required work meeting in Klamath Falls, at his employers’ direction, and was on a 13-hour drive home at the time of the crash. 

The lawsuit, first reported by The Oregonian, was filed Thursday in Multnomah County Circuit Court by two representatives of the victims’ estate. It names Ross as a defendant, along with Ducks Unlimited and the family’s insurance company, USAA.

The lawsuit claims Ross was driving his pickup north on Highway 97 under the influence of cocaine and caffeine pills and while sleep-deprived when he crossed the center line, sideswiped a northbound semi-truck and collided head-on with the Rutledge family’s SUV, which then burst into flames. 

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs say the organization required Ross to pay for his travel, so he chose to drive instead of fly. They say he had gotten only about two hours sleep and took Xanax. They also claim his conduct at the work meeting “was erratic and provided reasonable notice to all in attendance that it was unsafe for him to drive.” 

The suit claims co-workers had noticed previously that Ross “was having performance issues and had lost weight,” and he had been asked if he was engaged in substance abuse, but that his employer “took no further action” and “did nothing to ensure (that) Ross was safe to drive.” 

The insurance company USAA is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, alleging it breached its obligation under the Rutledges’ policy by failing to pay under-insured motorist benefits for damages from the accident. 

Portland attorney Jon D. Friedman, who filed the lawsuit, provided KTVZ News with these statements from the surviving Rutledge family members, and his own comments:

“As our family continues to struggle with the unspeakable loss of my daughter, and our brother, and their beautiful family, we are haunted by the milestone of their preventable and horrific death. In the past two years, not a day goes by that we don’t mourn the nightmare of their tragic passing, or miss their irreplaceable contribution to our family.  There is no ease to our collective grief in knowing they could and should still be with us.  An entire limb of our family tree has forever been cut off and that impact will be with us forever.  The entire Troutdale community also lost four shining stars who brought light and love to everyone they met.” – Allen Rutledge, Gary’s Brother, and Linda Windsor, Michelle Windsor-Rutledge’s mother

“What happened to Gary, Michelle, Ryan, and Katherine is beyond a tragedy. No family should have to go through what the Rutledge family has been forced to endure. When organizations like Ducks Unlimited prioritize their business interests over the safety of our community, innocent people are forced to deal with the consequences. Their lives forever changed. No one from Ducks Unlimited stopped Mr. Ross from getting behind the wheel, despite his obvious impairment. Mr. Ross and Ducks Unlimited are clearly responsible for this horrific event and must be held responsible. The Rutledge family’s ultimate goal is to prevent future tragedies like this from happening to any other Oregon family.”  – Jon D. Friedman, Law Offices of Jon Friedman

KTVZ News also has reached out to Ducks Unlimited and USAA for any reaction or statement regarding their being named as defendants in the lawsuit. 

Wronful death lawsuitDownload

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The second snowfall in two weeks left a thin coat of white on Mt. Bachelor and in the Cascades Friday from a storm expected to bring a wintry mix to the mountain passes over the weekend.

Mt. Bachelor’s webcams showed the snow across the slopes, though the snow stake made clear it was a dusting of less than an inch.

KTVZ News Chief Meteorologist says in this afternoon’s update, “The mountain passes are expected to see a mix of rain and snow, but little to no accumulation on the roads. Roads through the Cascades will be slick as we get our first taste of wintry driving conditions.”

If all goes well snow-wise, Mt. Bachelor will open for the winter season on Friday, Nov. 28 – the day after Thanksgiving.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Here’s the Deschutes County Weekly Road Construction Update for the week of Oct. 12-18:

Projects Administered by Deschutes County:

La Pine UIC Stormwater Improvements (La Pine Area) – Crews will be doing excavation and inlet removal work along Mitts Way, Assembly Way, Box Way, Dillon Way and Hinkle Way in the La Pine Business Park area.

Traffic Information – Road users should anticipate shoulder closures and construction vehicles/equipment entering and exiting the roadway during work hours, 7a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Paving of Tumalo Road: Cline Falls Highway to Tumalo Place (Bend Area) – Crews may be doing shoulder work on Tumalo Road and Swalley Road.

Traffic Information – Road users should anticipate intermittent single-lane closures facilitated by flaggers and delays of up to 20 minutes during daytime hours.

Projects Administered by Other Agencies:

Redmond Wetlands Complex (City of Redmond) – Crews will be doing sewer utility work on Northwest Way.

Traffic Information – One lane of Northwest Way will be closed to traffic between NW Euston Lane and the Redmond Wetlands Complex entrance. A temporary traffic signal will be in place for the duration of the closure.

Inquiries pertaining to this work should be directed to the City of Redmond Wetlands Complex project website.

U.S. 97: Terrebonne (Oregon Department of Transportation) – Crews will be doing concrete work on 11th Street and C Avenue.

Traffic Information – 11th Street and C Avenue will be closed to traffic for underground utility work. Road users should follow the signed detour routes.

Lower Bridge Way remains open to traffic allowing only right-in, right-out movements. Traffic bound for U.S. 97 North will continue to use the signed detour route along NW 19th Street and NW Davidson Way.

China Hat Road & FS Road 1815 Closure (US Forest Service) – China Hat Road and Forest Service Road 1815 are both closed at the USFS Boundary for forest thinning work.

Traffic Information – China Hat Road and FS Road 1815 are closed to all traffic at the end of County maintenance. Access to the area is closed until further notice.

*** Please note that work hours are subject to change based on weather conditions. ***

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit: deschutescounty.gov or TripCheck.com

Contact: Deschutes County Road Department at (541) 388-6581

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Arnold Irrigation District is wrapping up one of its best water seasons in years in a bit tricky fashion, as it works to balance the system of canals and pipelines while some patrons ask to stop water deliveries early. 

In a letter sent this week to the district’s 600 or so patrons, mostly in southeast Bend, Board President Bob Schuur said they are “experiencing an unusual challenge we have not encountered in many years.” 

“A significant number of patrons have requested to discontinue irrigation water delveries,” Schuur wrote. “While these requests are understandable, they have begun to affect our ability to effectively serve those who still require water.” 

Schuur explained that the delivery system as configured “depends on a consistent flow to operate efficiently. When too many turnouts are closed, the system struggles to deliver the correct volume of water to remaining users.” 

With lower needed volume or pressure, some patrons might receive less water than expected, or even none at all. But increasing water flow to ensure delivery risks flooding at the ends of the system where shutoffs have occurred, and Schuur said that “is a risk the district cannot take.”

Balancing it out “is becoming increasingly difficult,” he said, so they might have to conclude the irrigation season and halt water deliveries earlier than the originally scheduled end date of Friday, October 17th. 

Schuur tells us they haven’t been in this situation since before 2020, because drought conditions meant “there wasn’t water to distribute” this late into the year. 

But thanks to last winter’s healthy snowpack, “It’s a good year,” he said. “We’re really quite pleased with how things have gone this year.”

“When it starts to get cold, lots of farmers say, ‘Hey, I’m not going to get any growth, I’m going to shut my water off.” The system needs a certain amount of water(flowing through it) to function properly.” 

“Our goal remains to run until the 17th,” Schuur said. 

Meanwhile, the district is about halfway through its project to pipe 12 miles of its main canal. 

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KTVZ

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Hayden Homes has announced the grand opening of its new Support Center in Redmond, marking what it calls “a significant and continued investment in the Redmond community and in the company’s mission to expand affordable homeownership opportunities across the Northwest.”

Here’s the rest of the Hayden Homes announcement we received Thursday:

The company held a community celebration at the new Support Center across from the Redmond Airport in September that welcomed neighbors, community members, and business leaders to tour the space, connect with the Hayden Homes team, and enjoy an afternoon of food, drinks, and giveaways.

More than 150 attendees joined the event, underscoring the value of the new Support Center to Redmond’s continued growth and the partnerships that Hayden Homes has built throughout the region.

“Our new Support Center is more than just a building—it’s a new home base for our company and a promise to our community,” said Steve Klingman, president of Hayden Homes. “As a certified Great Place to Work, we are proud to provide a space where our team and culture can thrive. This facility also demonstrates our investment in local jobs, our dedication to regional partnerships, and our ongoing efforts to live out our Give As You Go™ philosophy.

“This place will help us expand opportunities and strengthen our long-standing support for the communities and hardworking families we are honored to serve throughout the Northwest.”

The grand opening served as a powerful reminder of where it all began and a celebration of the legacy that continues to shape the company.

Since 1989, when Bob and Virginia Watson founded Hayden Homes, the company has grown across the Northwest—yet it all started in a humble 1,000-square-foot model home on 33rd Street in the Hayden Village community of Redmond.

From those early days, Bob and Virginia envisioned a company rooted in the belief that you should always give more than you get. That guiding principle has fueled our commitment to building not just homes, but a strong community where people can live fulfilled lives.

Since opening its doors, Hayden Homes has contributed $7.1 billion to local economies, has created more than 99,000 jobs and has given more than $80 million in charitable donations to the communities it serves.

“Hayden Homes’ renewed investment in Redmond and renovation of an existing industrial building exemplifies the kind of long-term economic development that REDI strives to facilitate,” said Steve Curley, director of Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI). “When businesses launch and grow here in Redmond—as Hayden Homes has over three decades—these employers create lasting prosperity for our community.”

The new Support Center is a renovation of a former aircraft parts manufacturing facility and now includes offices and work spaces for more than 100 team members, a floating mezzanine level of meeting rooms and soaring floor-to-ceiling art installations championing the company’s Give As You Go™ story and the core values the company lives by.

Hayden Homes intends to use the facility to host partners, support relevant community events and for the company’s next 30 years of growth, and beyond.

The new Support Center is located at 250 SE Timber Ave. Redmond, OR 97756.

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KTVZ

Update: Adding video

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)  — The Central Oregon Health Council announced Friday that the region’s health care partners have brought home about $23.5 million in bonus Medicaid funding for providing exceptional care to the communities they serve. 

Here’s the full Health Council announcement about the bonus funding:

This achievement reflects the outstanding performance of the Central Oregon CCO, PacificSource Community Solutions, aided by a regional network of Medicaid providers and clinics, the public health departments and the hospital system, in meeting the Oregon Health Authority’s Quality Incentive Measures (QIMs).

The QIMs are metrics designed to assess health care processes and outcomes, ensure that the state’s CCOs, or Coordinated Care Organizations, are serving members of the Oregon Health Plan well, and reward performance. CCOs can earn incentive payments by meeting or exceeding these annual benchmarks. 

OHA recently announced the 2024 incentive program results, and PacificSource met 13 of 15 QIMs to achieve a 100% payout, as well as 4 of 4 challenge pool metrics, earning $23.5 million.

These funds will be distributed to participating health care providers, awarded to social service organizations that contribute to expanding access or closing care gaps, and used to support providers and innovative programs that continue to advance quality care. 

For years, COHC has coordinated a monthly Central Oregon QIMs Workgroup, bringing together hard-working health care partners to collaborate on strategies and share best practices to improve the delivery of care.

These efforts have helped Central Oregon to achieve ambitious performance benchmarks, which also align with the Regional Health Improvement Plan and its focus on improving access to and quality of healthcare. 

“We should celebrate our health care providers — primary care and behavioral health providers, dental teams — they achieved 100% of the goal because of the quality care they provided to the Medicaid population,” said MaCayla Arsenault, COHC’s Director of Quality. “This means around $23.5 million coming back to the region to continually improve services, enhance quality of care, and support our communities.” 

About the Central Oregon Health Council The Central Oregon Health Council (COHC) is a nonprofit organization working to improve health outcomes and equity across Central Oregon through collaboration with health care and community partners to identify needs, coordinate solutions, and develop projects and programs that advance the goals of the Regional Health Improvement Plan. 

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Tracee Tuesday

CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jefferson County officials are considering new rules that could open certain Crooked River Ranch roads to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).  

The proposal aims to improve access for local riders while also tackling ongoing safety and noise concerns in the community. 

County leaders — including the Board of Commissioners, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Crooked River Ranch Special Road District — have collaborated on a draft ordinance that would authorize limited ATV use.  

The measure could introduce a trial period with a built-in sunset clause, allowing officials to assess the program’s impact before deciding whether to make it permanent. 

Reaction from residents has been mixed. Some locals support the idea, saying it would enhance mobility and outdoor recreation.  

Others have voiced worries about potential noise disturbances, accidents, and conflicts with existing road policies.  

Public discussions on social media and at recent meetings have revealed a community divided on whether the benefits outweigh the risks. 

The Crooked River Ranch Special Road District will review the draft proposal Monday, October 13, at 6 p.m.  

The meeting will be held in the Juniper Room in Terrebonne and is open to the public. 

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KTVZ – News Team

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — Happening this Saturday, October 18th, there are two ‘No Kings’ rallies planned: One in Bend and another in Prineville.

In Bend, the day will kick off at Drake Park. Indivisible Bend has joined with 50501 Central Oregon to sponsor the ‘No Kings 2.0’ event. Plans include an hour of music and inspirational speakers from 2:00-3:00 p.m. followed by a rally at Peace Corner from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

In Prineville, the rally is slated from Noon to 1 p.m. at Pioneer Park.

These ‘No Kings’ events are happening nationwide this weekend.

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Barney Lerten

Update: Adding video

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The City of Redmond has scheduled paving next week of the final section of the Reservoir Drive Improvement project between SW 39th and SW 43rd Street.

The Work will occur October 15 through October 17 (weather permitting)., the city said in a news release Friday that continues in full below:

Due to the nature of the work, a full closure is required, and flaggers will be directing traffic.   Drivers are asked to avoid traveling in the area, as there has been a significant uptick of commuters cutting through the construction zones which may cause project delays.   

Reservoir Drive is scheduled to fully reopen October 31.  

“Phase 2 of the Reservoir Drive Improvement Project has been underway since April, and we are excited to see the newly constructed road and infrastructure improvements nearing completion,” states Redmond Principal Engineer Jake Sherman. 

Reservoir Drive Phase 2 Detour Map (City of Redmond)

The Reservoir Drive Improvement Project included the installation of new pavement, curbs, sidewalks, bike lanes, waterlines, storm collection systems, and sewer lines. These improvements were designed to bring this older street section up to current City standards, ensuring a safer and more efficient roadway for all users. 

Reservoir Drive Improvement project details, status updates and necessary detours are available on the project website at www.redmondoregon.gov/reservoirdrive. 

For more information about the Reservoir Drive project, visit the website at www.redmondoregon.gov/reservoirdrive or contact City of Redmond Principal Engineer Jake Sherman at (541) 504-2019 or by email: jake.sherman@redmondoregon.gov. 

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