Author: KTVZ

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity announced Thursday it is now accepting applications for homeownership opportunities at Bear Creek Village, a new community located across from Bear Creek Elementary, in the heart of Midtown Bend. 

Bear Creek Village is Habitat’s newest neighborhood development in Bend, expanding access to affordable homeownership for Central Oregonians who are priced out of the market, the organization said in a news release that continues below:

The community will include safe, healthy, and energy-efficient homes designed to support stability and opportunity for hardworking local families. 

“Habitat makes homeownership possible for people who are vital to our community, including educators, healthcare workers, grocery and retail employees, who simply can’t afford to buy in today’s market,” said Carly Colgan, CEO of Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity.

“Bear Creek Village is about building stability and opportunity for Bend’s workforce and ensuring that the people who make this community thrive can afford to live here.” 

Homeownership Through Partnership Future Habitat homeowners qualify based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. Applicants complete homebuyer education and financial readiness courses, gaining the skills and confidence to succeed as long-term homeowners. 

Each home is purchased with a mortgage tailored to the buyer’s budget, and broad community support bridges the gap between what it costs to build and what local families can afford. 

“Our homeowners aren’t given houses – they buy them,” said Colgan. “They prepare, learn, and work alongside Habitat to build a foundation for their future.” 

A Community Effort Habitat’s work is powered by the strength of its community partnerships. Volunteers, donors, corporate sponsors, and public funding partners all play a vital role in making affordable homeownership possible. This collaboration ensures that homes like those in Bear Creek Village are attainable for hardworking local families and individuals who help our region thrive. 

“Together, we build opportunity in Central Oregon,” added Colgan. “Every partner, whether swinging a hammer, making a donation, or advocating for housing, helps create lasting impact for families and for the future of our community.” 

Apply Today Applications for Bear Creek Village are now open. Interested applicants can learn more about eligibility requirements, income guidelines, and the application process at https://bendredmondhabitat.org/habitat-homeownership/. 

About Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity At Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity, we believe that everyone deserves a place to call home—a safe, stable, and healthy environment where families can thrive and communities can flourish. Since 1989, we have partnered with over 250 families to make homeownership possible and revitalized 145 homes, transforming the lives of more than 1,100 children and adults.  

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Claire Elmer

(Update: Garner sentenced, judge’s ruling)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Samson Garner, the Portland resident recently convicted by a jury of plotting a mass shooting at a Smith Rock climbing event two years ago, was sentenced Monday afternoon to 30 years in prison.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alison Emerson agreed to the prosecution’s recommended sentence for Garner, found guilty back in September of planning a mass shooting at Smith Rock’s Craggin’ Classic event in October 2023. She rejected the request by his defense attorneys for a much shorter, 7 1/2 year sentence, ruling that each of the four counts of attempted aggravated murder should be served consecutively.

Prosecutors urged the judge not to do as the defense requested: “Concurrent sentences minimize the defendant’s conduct and intent to ‘rampage through the park shooting belayers and spectators while their climbers watched and lived the horror, unable to help or do anything to save themselves and their friends,’” Chief Deputy District Attorney Mary Anderson wrote in her response.

The judge quoted that section of Garner’s email and said: “I believe this would have been a significant tragedy.”

However, she said, because that threat was taken seriously by Garner’s friends and by law enforcement, “the community was spared that outcome,” and she quoted a familiar phrase to head off such incidents: “See something, say something.”

The hearing previously was set back twice, with the most recent delay bringing sharp criticism from Judge Alison Emerson aimed at the defense.

Earlier Story — October 23rd — BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Deschutes County judge once again postponed the sentencing of Samson Garner, the Portland man convicted of plotting a mass shooting at Smith Rock State Park’s 2023 Craggin’ Classic, after sharply criticizing his defense team for missing repeated filing deadlines.

The packed courtroom on Thursday heard Judge Alison Emerson rebuke defense attorney Kelly Monaghan for not receiving a sentencing memorandum until hours before the hearing.

Emerson said she had to read the filing over her lunch break and needed more time to fairly review it. She emphasized the court’s duty to take the sentencing process seriously, adding that the briefing’s lateness would not allow her to make an informed decision.

Garner, 41, was found guilty in September on all 26 felony counts, including attempted murder, assault, and unlawful use of a weapon, following a three-week trial.

Prosecutors have recommended a 30-year prison sentence, citing the severity of the charges and Garner’s violent intent. The defense has asked for a combined 7½-year term, arguing that consecutive sentences would be excessive and outlining why during Thursday’s hearing.

Prosecutors also read a victim impact statement from former Craggin’ Classic event coordinator Jessica Mason, who described the lasting trauma she experienced after learning of Garner’s threats to attack the event. Mason said she has since left her position and stopped rock climbing due to fear tied to the incident.

Judge Emerson postponed the sentencing to November 10, saying she would take time to review the documents before issuing a final decision. Garner’s sentencing had already been delayed previously due to defense attorney Joel Wirtz’s involvement in negotiations for a new contract for Oregon’s public defenders.

Defense attorney Kelly Monaghan said Garner won’t make a statement at his sentencing, saying that was what his attorney’s had advised.

As a result, Emerson said the Nov. 10 hearing will be limited to her decision and the imposition of sentence. She apologized to those who drove over from Portland and said they can observe ithe subsequent hearing remotely, if they wish.

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Spencer Sacks

(Update: Adding more comments from Wyden, full video interview)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The second-longest shutdown in history is in its fourth week, with no clear end in sight.

KTVZ News spoke Thursday with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, who said he’s grown increasingly frustrated with the shutdown.

“It’s it seems like there is no willingness, particularly with the Trump administration, to open up the negotiations to get this resolved,” Wyden told us.

“But you have to have the president say to everybody who’s following this, ‘Look, let’s get to work. Let’s do it in a bipartisan way, and I know how to do it.’”

One of the major sticking points between Republicans and Democrats is over health care.

It’s an issue that both sides have talked about fixing. Senator Wyden said we need a new way of thinking about the problems.

“No question that we have to look for ways to modernize,” he said. “For example, the employer-based system comes from the World War II movement. Now that’s really an important tool for employers we can modernize. And so, you bet there ways to make everything better, if you really want to dig in and work in a bipartisan way.”

Senator Wyden said he still supports employer-based health insurance but is interested in companies giving financial assistance directly to workers.

Another major issue going on is the flip-flop in the courts over the legality of President Trump sending federal National Guard troops to Portland. When asked about this, Wyden was animated in his reply.

“It’s a local function,” he said. “You know what we’re saying here? We believe that our city is overwhelmingly made up of people who want a safe and community-oriented kind of approach.”

“We don’t want the feds coming in and trampling all over our rights. And that’s really what the Founding Fathers always thought. It’s that these were local kind of issues, you bet. There are things that need to be done at the local level.”

Rulings are expected soon by both Portland u.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut and the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The senator also spoke about the devastation that the fentanyl crisis has caused. He said he is hopeful for the future on curbing the epidemic.

Wyden told us he is working on legislation right now hoping to reduce the effects that fentanyl has on our community.

“It (fentanyl) is so powerful,” he said. “The cartels and everybody else pushes it, once it gets to the United States. What I want to do, though, is go to the source, and these brokers are playing a bigger and bigger, role in terms of getting it to the United States. Let’s cut them off at the source.”

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Spencer Sacks

(UPDATE: Added Video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Students feel they are often left behind when it comes to their physical and mental well being.

According to a new report by the Oregon Health Authority, more than 1 out of 5 students reported not having their physical and mental health care needs met.

In 2022, more than 29,000 students in 8th and 11th grades were asked questions related to their physical, mental, and emotional health.

KTVZ got an exclusive interview with a co-author of this report, 18 year old Senior Alexis Zou who was excited for the report.

Zou told KTVZ News, “What made this report especially valuable is that it’s one of the first times that we’ve really looked at the open ended data that students are describing their experiences in their own words, and then communicating that in the form of a report to make sure that their experiences are being heard and that they feel seen, and that we can take the steps necessary to address the issues that they’re struggling with.”

This study comes on the tail of the Covid-19 pandemic that saw schools all across the nation being shut down and moved online. Students said the pandemic disrupted physicals, as well as getting prescriptions. Not only was that a factor, according to the CDC, 44% of high school students said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness, or hopelessness during the pandemic. 37% reported poor mental health most, or all the time.

“Speaking from my point of view and also some of the trends that I saw in the data, I think covid definitely had a really big impact on how students felt,” Zou told KTVZ News “It all passed by and all blurred together because we were all isolated during that time. We couldn’t interact and socialize with our friends. For me, I was a seventh grader. That’s a really important time for getting out and talking, meeting new people. We were unfortunately deprived of that during the pandemic.”

Schools decided to take action, and make sure kids have more resources to access physical and mental health care.

KTVZ News spoke with Crook County Middle School Principal Marques Hase, who shared how the school is bettering care for students.

Hase told KTVZ News, “We have two counselors here at the school and student success coordinator that do a lot of support with students just in the day to day of life at school. They are constantly talking with parents about options in the community for outside counseling or outside supports that may be wanted and or needed from the families.”

This is an ongoing problem students, parents, and schools are grappling with. But Zou shared with KTVZ News it was important for her to address these issues and make sure nobody is left behind.

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Thursday at Ridgeview High School in Redmond, three judges from the Oregon Court of Appeals paid a visit to hold oral arguments and answer questions from students about the work of the judicial branch.

It’s part of an ongoing program where the court travels to schools across the state, allowing students to see Court of Appeals arguments firsthand while learning about the role of the courts and related careers.

“It’s huge to have the Oregon Court of Appeals decide that they want to come and do this in front of about 400 students. That (the students) get to see how it works, because I’m of the mind that a lot of people really don’t understand the appeals process and how that functions. And so the kids get to watch it and they get to ask questions and all the things that you want them to do to learn about how the judicial branch works,” said Susan Kernutt, a social studies teacher at the school and one of the organizers of the days events. “I want them to feel like they want to be more involved in our democracy and understand how the government works, and so they can talk about it with other people and be more civic-minded… I’m just really stoked to do this today.”

Earlier this month, the court heard oral arguments at Lakeview High School in Lakeview. It also visited schools in Portland and Corvallis this year.

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Silas Moreau

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend Food Project is weaving generosity and artistry together this weekend with its fourth annual quilt sale, set for Saturday, November 1, at the Unitarian Fellowship of Central Oregon on Skyline Ranch Road in Bend.

More than 300 handmade quilts, created and donated by over 80 Central Oregon quilters, will be on display and available for purchase from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The quilts, which range in price from $50 to $550, feature a variety of designs, sizes, and color patterns.

All proceeds from the sale will benefit local children through the Bend Food Project and The Giving Plate’s Kid’s Korner program. Last year’s sale raised more than $37,000 to fight food insecurity, and organizers hope to raise $38,000 this year.

For more information or to preview quilts for sale, visit www.bfpquiltsale.org.

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KTVZ

(Update: Adding video)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Youth Villages’ Holiday Heroes campaign is underway, and the nonprofit is looking for more heroes to help make the season special for more than 500 children and young people engaged in services in Portland, Salem and Bend.  

Holiday Heroes fulfills wish lists for holiday gifts and winter essentials for youth and families who are working to strengthen and stabilize, as well as young people impacted by foster care, the organization said in a news release this week, which continues below:  

Holiday Heroes has been serving Oregon for more than 13 years by connecting corporate and community volunteers to fulfill the holiday wishes of local youth. Each child in services submits a wish list of three gifts they hope to receive, along with clothing sizes, hobbies and other useful information to shop for that child. Heroes are asked to spend $100 for each young person, and the deadline to participate is Dec. 10. 

“Youth Villages Oregon cares for hundreds of families and youth through its community-based programs across Portland, Salem and Bend,” said Shauna Lugar, director of development for Youth Villages Oregon. “With the help of the community and individuals, we can provide joy and happiness to children who may have not received anything otherwise.”  

Individuals, companies and groups (church, civic, social) can help by either shopping for a child or sibling group’s wish list or making a financial contribution to Holiday Heroes. Everything raised during Holiday Heroes provides gifts to local children during the holidays, while also supporting the basic needs — food, clothing, shelter, beds, etc. — of the young people in LifeSet, a program offering life-changing guidance to youth aging out of foster care.  

To sign up, visit our Holiday Heroes website here, and you will receive the requested number of wish lists. The drop-off date for delivering the gifts to Youth Villages is Nov. 1 through Dec. 10 at the Youth Villages offices, located at 5331 South Macadam Ave., Suite 287 in Portland and at 550 NW Franklin Ave., Suite 228 in Bend. Youth Villages will accept donations for Holiday Heroes throughout the month of December to ensure every child who enters care has a holiday they will always remember. 

About Youth Villages 

Youth Villages is a national leader in mental and behavioral health committed to finding the most effective solutions to help children, families and young adults overcome obstacles and live successfully. Working through direct services, partnerships with other high-performing agencies and advocacy, we collaborate to bring positive change to child welfare, children’s mental health and justice systems. Our 5,000 employees serve more than 47,000 children and young adults in more than 100 locations in 29 states and Washington, D.C. Youth Villages has been recognized by the Harvard Business School and U.S. News & World Report and was identified by The White House as one of the nation’s most promising results-oriented nonprofit organizations. Learn more at youthvillages.org. 

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KTVZ

(Update: Adding video)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The BLM’s Prineville District plans to burn piles on nearly 100 acres near Eagle Crest west of Redmond, starting next Monday.

BLM crews originally planned to start the 98-acre burn operation on Wednesday, but it was postponed, a representative told KTVZ News.

“The burn reduces the potential for a future wildfire to move from public lands to private land,” the

Crews expect to finish the work in one or two days and will monitor the area, they said.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum’s original exhibition Sensing Sasquatch has won the 2025 Autry Public History Prize, which recognizes exceptional work that contributes to a broader public reflection on and appreciation of the North American West.

The prize was awarded to the High Desert Museum on October 17 at the annual Western History Association Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the museum said Wednesday in a news release that continues below:

In remarks from the Autry Prize Committee, the exhibition was praised for its “originality of work and the collaboration of the project team.” The committee also applauded Sensing Sasquatch for its “major contribution to Public History and the field of the North American West.”

The Autry Public History Prize is awarded annually. The award consists of a $1,000 prize, made possible by the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles. Past winners of the prize range from museums to libraries to state historical centers.

Blending history, art and mixed media, Sensing Sasquatch explored the cultural significance of Sasquatch across Indigenous cultures in the High Desert. In pop culture today, Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, often appears on beer cans, stickers and billboards. Yet for some Native people of the Indigenous Plateau, Sasquatch represents a story that is more profound and spiritual.

Open from March 2024 through January 2025, Sensing Sasquatch challenged visitors’ perceptions, encouraging them to reconsider the conventional depictions.

“We are so proud of the collaboration and dedication of the Museum team for their research and creative spirit in producing this unique and impactful exhibition,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “We worked very closely with Indigenous partners and artists to make their voices the core of Sensing Sasquatch. We are honored to have the exhibition recognized by the Western History Association and the Autry Prize Committee.”

Advisor and scholar Phillip Cash Cash, Ph.D., (Nez Perce/Cayuse) and the Museum conducted research into the significance of Sasquatch to Indigenous peoples – from linguistic study to examining archival documents. The result was an exhibition that told a compelling and respectful story about the past, present and future of Sasquatch.

The Museum also commissioned five Indigenous artists to craft pieces reflecting their encounters with and perspectives on the enigmatic figure. Rocky LaRock (Salish), Charlene “Tilly” Moody (Warm Springs), Frank Buffalo Hyde (Nez Perce/Onondaga), HollyAnna CougarTracks De Coteau Littlebull (Yakama/Nez Perce/Cayuse/Cree) and Cash Cash each contributed unique artwork that sparked conversation, curiosity and wonder.

A car disappearing into a forest scene greeted visitors at the exhibition entrance. The car’s collection of stereotypical Sasquatch stickers was a contrast to the content inside the gallery, beginning with a digital language map that highlighted the diverse array of names used to refer to Sasquatch across the Indigenous Plateau.

Buffalo Hyde’s multimedia piece Enigma portrayed Sasquatch as an interdimensional being with the ability to traverse history, time and space. LaRock’s Shapeshifter mask evoked a large being emerging from the forest, and Moody’s Around Us Watching piece provided a glimpse into the forest in the shape of a Sasquatch.

Other artworks in the gallery were Cash Cash’s Sasquatch’s Rattle No. 1 and Sasquatch’s Rattle No. 2, which Sasquatch perhaps wields. In the center of the gallery stood CougarTracks DeCoteau Littlebull’s The Protector, a towering mixed media Sasquatch sculpture.

Visitors were also encouraged to use their senses as they explored the Spirit of the West Gallery. A scent station invited visitors to envision an encounter with Sasquatch through smell, and they could feel the buffalo hide used in Moody’s piece. Forest sounds filled the gallery, and the motion-activated sound from Buffalo Hyde’s Enigma delighted visitors of all ages with its deep, ground-shaking subwoofer.

Sensing Sasquatch was made possible by Visit Central Oregon Future Fund, the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, Bigfoot Beverages, Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, Redmond Municipal Airport, Central Oregon Daily News, Bend Magazine, Brooks Resources Corporation, Old Mill District, and 100.7 The X, with support from Travel Oregon, Waypoint Hotel and Bend Pet Express.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM: 

The HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. 

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Wednesday, Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone announced that he will be seeking re-election to Position 1.

Here’s a full breakdown of everyone running so far for Deschutes County Commissioner.

In a press release, DeBone pledged to “continue championing rural priorities and balanced growth”.

Read the full press release below:

“Current County Commissioner Tony DeBone announced today that he will seek re-election, vowing to continue his practical, people-first leadership and commitment to preserving the character that defines the region.

DeBone, who has served in position one on the Board of Commissioners for 15 years, said his decision to run again stems from a deep dedication to our community.

“During my time on the Commission, I have ensured our rural communities have a place at the table, and all voices are heard in Deschutes County” said DeBone. “I’ve worked hard so that our whole county remains a safe, vibrant place to live—without losing the character that makes it special.”

Throughout his tenure, Commissioner DeBone has prioritized public safety, infrastructure investment, economic stability, and fiscal responsibility—always with a focus on ‘putting people over politics’. His practical approach to leadership has helped guide Deschutes County through both periods of rapid growth and unprecedented challenges, all while ensuring that long-standing community values are respected and protected.

DeBone has been a consistent advocate for balanced growth, ensuring that as the county evolves, it remains rooted in the principles that make it a desirable place to live, work, and raise a family.

“I want everyone in our community to have the opportunity to thrive! Deschutes County provides common services for everyone from the County Health Department to Assessment/Taxation to Public Safety and Infrastructure. My focus has always been on cost effective solutions that work and I will continue this pragmatic approach.” DeBone said.

As he looks toward another four year term, DeBone says he remains committed to delivering results for Deschutes County residents, while continuing to honor the character of the region’s rural and urban communities alike.

For more information about Commissioner Tony DeBone, visit https://www.electtonydebone.com”

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