Author: KTVZ

KTVZ

(Update: Adding video)

EUGENE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Weekend snowfall over the Cascades has prompted the Oregon Department of Transportation to close the gates on the west side of McKenzie Pass, Oregon Highway 242.

Crews closed the gates Tuesday morning near the junction with Oregon Highway 126 and at the summit by Dee Wright Observatory.

Gates on the east side are expected to remain open a bit longer, with Nov. 6 as the latest possible closing date, ODOT said.

Weather conditions can vary on each side of the pass, and it’s not uncommon for one side to close before the other, ODOT said in a news release Tuesday that continues in full below:

McKenzie Pass is a secondary, scenic highway. Weather, costs and logistics make it impractical to maintain for travel year-round. In the winter, we focus our staff and resources on main highways to keep them plowed, open and safe. 

When the highway is closed, it is not maintained. Travelers who go past locked gates and closure signs could encounter hazards and equipment on the road. There are no services or cell coverage available.

Every year, McKenzie Pass opens and closes with the seasons. Dates vary depending on road and weather conditions. 

McKenzie Pass became a seasonal scenic highway in 1962 with the completion of the Clear Lake-Belknap Springs section of Oregon 126.

Even during its time as the main route between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon, the narrow, twisting roadway and high elevation (5,325 feet) made the highway too difficult to maintain and keep clear during the winter months.

To see what routes are open over the mountains, and to view current road and weather conditions visit TripCheck.com or call 511.

More information on McKenzie Pass, OR 242, can be found on ODOT’s website. 

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KTVZ

Update: Adding video

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County staff warned community members Tuesday of a recent email “phishing” scam and advised everyone to be wary of suspicious emails designed to steal their personal information.

“The Community Development Department recently discovered that cybercriminals sent a fake email from a CDD staff member, demanding payment and deceiving recipients into revealing sensitive data,” the county said in a news release that continues in full below:

If you receive an email demanding an urgent payment, requesting bank account, Social Security numbers or other personal information, or containing suspicious links and attachments, it may be a scam. Always take protective measures:   

Verify the source – Check email addresses carefully and look closely at the branding. If it looks unusual, contact the sender to confirm. 

Think about the message – Does it stress urgency or ask for sensitive information? Legitimate county sources will not request sensitive information via email.

Don’t open unexpected attachments – Avoid opening or downloading attachments unless you are sure of the source.

Do not click links – Avoid clicking on any links unless you are sure of the source.

Deschutes County urges community members to remain diligent and watch for scams. For more tips on how to avoid phishing scams mvisit: www.cisa.gov/recognize-and-report phishing.

If you believe you are the victim of a cybersecurity scam, please call Deschutes County 9-1-1 non-emergency dispatch at (541) 693-6911 or visit www.deschutes.org/911 to report a crime online.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest announced Tuesday that firefighters plan to start pile burning season as early as this Wednesday, if conditions are favorable.

Here are the details the Forest Service released Tuesday:

The Deschutes National Forest may accomplish up to an estimated 15,000 acres of pile burning throughout the fall and winter season, including up to an estimated 11,000 acres on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, 4,000 acres on the Crescent Ranger District, and 20 acres on the Sisters Ranger District. 

Pile-burning operations are planned for multiple locations across the forest, with some of the primary locations below: 

Bend – approximately 5 miles west of Bend near the junction of Forest Service Road (FSR) 4601 and 4602 near Triangle Hill and north of Wanoga Butte near FSR 4613 and east of Edison Butte near FSR 4188

Sisters – approximately 2 miles south of Sisters located off of the FSR 1505  

Crescent – approximately 10 miles southwest of Crescent along Hwy 58 and Hwy 97 and 10 miles northwest of Crescent within a quarter mile of Wickiup Estates 

Firefighters implement pile burning to reduce vegetation generated from active forest management such as timber sales and pre-commercial thinning treatments. The piles are concentrations of leftover materials associated with vegetation management activities being done to help maintain and restore forest and ecosystem health while reducing hazardous fuels loading.

Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days after ignition. Once ignited, firefighters monitor piles until they declare the piles out. Please do not report ignitions. While smoke may linger in the area, removing these large accumulations of woody debris during the winter months minimizes fire danger. 

Due to elevation differences, units will be burned when conditions are appropriate to meet objectives.

Pile-burning operations are carefully planned and implemented under specific conditions. Firefighters work with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Department of Forestry smoke forecasters to identify conditions that will minimize smoke impacts on people and communities.

While prescribed burn officials take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after ignitions. Most smoke impacts occur during the night and early morning hours.

For more information on pile burning and smoke preparedness in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive prescribed burn text alerts. Follow along on X @CentralORFire.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening tonight, Friday, October 10th, a new country bar in downtown Bend is having a grand opening party!

The Coyote has had the town talking for some time, taking over what was once Unofficial Logging Co.

For $5, you can enjoy live music, dancing, drinks, and fun–and there’s a mechanical bull!

The night kicks off at 6 p.m. with live music from 7-10, followed by a DJ from 10 to 1 a.m.

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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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