Author: KTVZ

Kade Linville

(Update: Adding video)

TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) – Bend Fire & Rescue and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a food truck fire early Monday morning at the 19000 block of Seventh Ave in Tumalo.

Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies responded to the call around 1 a.m., arrived on the scene and found flames coming through the roof of the popular Sandos & Smash food truck when they arrived, but they kept it from spreading to nearby food carts and the large propane tanks they all use.d found flames coming through the food truck’s roof.

Fire Inspector/Investigator Jason Kamperman said the food truck was unoccupied when firefighters arrived and the fire was quickly extinguished by fire teams. No injuries were reported, Kamperman said.

The investigation into the origin of the fire is ongoing, but as of now, officials say the cause appears to be accidental.

Due to the level of damage reported, the food truck and its contents are considered a total loss.

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KTVZ News Team

To celebrate Mother’s Day, we’ve put together a special montage featuring photos from our viewers and KTVZ team. Thank you for sharing your photos! 

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KTVZ News Team

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Hammers will be flying at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds this Saturday as Sleep in Heavenly Peace volunteers build beds for kids who don’t have their own.

“We are hoping to build 200 beds and are looking for 200 volunteers to make it happen,” says Joe Myers, Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter president. 

Home Depot and the non-profit, “100+ Women Who Care,” have donated the bedding and materials for this build. Several Rotary clubs will be joining in.

The build will take place May 17 from 8:45 am to 2:45 pm at the fairgrounds.

You can register to volunteer here:  https://x.gldn.io/e/a5tNZlH99Sb

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KTVZ News Team

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – According to The Prineville Review, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted unanimously on Friday to open a formal investigation into Crook County High School Principal Jake Huffman.

The commission believes Huffman may have violated state ethics laws by using his public position and school district facilities to benefit his private wrestling business, COWA.

Investigators allege Huffman used school resources without paying the required rental fees, operating under time slots reserved by the nonprofit Cowboy Mat Club, an organization eligible for free gym use.

Commission Chair David Fiskum emphasized that Friday’s vote only authorizes a formal investigation and does not represent a finding of guilt.

Huffman remains in his role with the Crook County School District as the investigation proceeds.

We’ll continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Tracee Tuesday

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Senator Jeff Merkley  held three town halls for Oregonians in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties on Saturday.

“There is nothing like holding town halls directly in the communities where Oregonians live and work to get to the heart of the ideas, issues, and priorities that matter most to them. That’s why I hold a town hall for every Oregon county, every year,” Merkley said. 

KTVZ’s Tracee Tuesday attended the discussion held at the Performing Arts Center in Madras.

The meeting drew residents from Jefferson County, with a major focus on the recently approved Willow Project, a large oil-drilling initiative in Alaska. Senator Merkley voiced his opposition to the project.

Water rights also took center stage, as local farmers raised concerns about resource allocation.

Senator Merkley also hosted town halls in Sisters for residents Deschutes County, and Prineville for Crook County residents.

Oregon representative, Janelle Bynum co-hosted the Sisters town hall.

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KTVZ News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Senator Anthony Broadman and Representative Emerson Levy paid a visit to Central Oregon Friday to tour the area with officials from Bend and Redmond.

They focused on parts of local roads and highways, including the intersection of Murphy Road and Highway 97, sections of Knott Road, and several areas with ongoing safety concerns.

“We’re seeing a lot more need with the amount of housing that is developing,” said Anthony Broadman. “We’re one of the fastest growing regions, and it’s really important that our our street system matches the growth and the need for safety that we have throughout sisters Redmond, Bend and all of Deschutes County.”

The state legislature is considering a major transportation package this session, and the areas highlighted on the tour could receive funding for future maintenance projects.

Broadman and Levy emphasized a focus on improving local highways and expressed interest in adding medians.

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KTVZ News Team

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A massive bee colony was spotted in Redmond, near the Starbucks on North 6th Street.

Customers were advised earlier to use the drive-thru or mobile ordering options to avoid any close encounters.

KTVZ News has confirmed the hive has been cleared by a beekeeper.

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Triton Notary

SUNRIVER, Ore. –(KTVZ)– If you’re looking for the traditional Mother’s Day brunch, Sunriver says it’s got the buffet of all buffets at the main lodge from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The lodge will have brunch and breakfast buffet tables. It’ll have oysters, shrimp, prime rib, pastries, and so much more. To drink, there’s a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar. If you can imagine something for a Mother’s Day brunch, it will be there.

Lindsay Borkowski from Sunriver Resort told KTVZ news “This is a tradition that families love to come to year after year. I think the moms in everyone’s life want to be celebrated on Mother’s Day, and I think that this is the perfect way to do that. The families that come back year after year just rave about the experience. They have the beauty of the scenery here at Lodge Kitchen and of course the wide selection of food that they get. We love welcoming back those families.”

Tickets are still available at the Sunriver Resort’s website and cost $92 for adults. That includes complimentary family pictures. There are also a few Mother’s Day events happening around the resort which you can catch while you’re there before the buffet there’s a Mother’s Day yoga at the spa. There’s also a Mother’s Day pickle ball tournament.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County commissioners approved a new program Wednesday that allows rural residents to use recreational vehicles as rental dwellings.

Until recently, state and county laws prohibited property owners from using RVs as permanent rental dwellings. But in July 2023, the Oregon Legislature adopted a bill that gave counties the option to allow it locally.

After extensive outreach and deliberation, Deschutes County staff developed local criteria for how RVs can be used as rental dwellings.

Property owners in unincorporated Deschutes County who want to rent out an RV on their property must meet the following regulations:

The property must be zoned as rural residential: RR-10, MUA, UAR-10, SR 2 ½, WTZ

The property must be a minimum of two acres, except for areas in South County that require a five-acre minimum

The property must contain a single-family dwelling that is occupied as the primary residence of the property owner

There are no other dwelling units on the property besides the primary single-family residence, and no portion of the single-family residence is rented as a dwelling

The RV cannot be used as a short-term rental

The RV must have a working toilet and sink

The property owner must provide electrical supply, water supply and sewage disposal to the RV

The property owner must provide an RV parking pad made of gravel, concrete, or asphalt

The property owner must maintain a 20-foot radius of non-combustive ground cover around the RV

Property owners wanting to establish an RV rental dwelling, or correct code violations for an illegally established RV dwelling, must submit an application demonstrating compliance with the newly adopted rules.

More information and a research checklist for the application process can be found at www.deschutes.org/rvrentaldwelling.

For additional questions, please contact Planning Division staff at planning@deschutes.org or (541) 388-6560.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Missing teen found)

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Warm Springs Police turned to the public Friday for help in locating a 14-year-old who apparently ran away from home. Word came from police a few hours later that she had been found.

Officers said earlier that Lena Holliday left her home some time between midnight and 5 a.m. Friday.

Anyone who had seen or had any information about her whereabouts had been asked to contact Warm Springs or Madras police.

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