Category: ktvz-local-news

Isabella Warren

(Update: Adding video, not guilty pleas)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ)– Prineville resident Martin Ray Terry, who was arraigned last week on murder, manslaughter, attempted murder and assault charges, was back in Crook County Court Monday afternoon for another arraignment hearing on a grand jury indictment.

He was charged after an incident two weeks ago in Prineville at the Grasshopper Village Apartments on NW 10th Street left Robert Allen Winter dead and the suspect and Steven Kyle Hutchinson seriously injured.

Terry, 36, who is being held without bail at the Crook County Jail, was arraigned last week by video before Circuit Judge Wade Whiting on eight initial felony charges filed by District Attorney Kari Hathorn: second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and four counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

Those are the charges listed in the indictment returned Thursday, which was filed in court Monday morning and you can read below.

Terry entered a not guilty plea Monday through his defense attorney, MIcah Moskowitz, as a courtroom filled with family and friends of the victims.

KTVZ News spoke with family and friends of the victims and Terry last week.

Martin Terry indictmentDownload

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Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, information from Monday’s hearing)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jessica Andersch, charged with second-degree murder in the killing of her mother a month ago, appeared Monday afternoon in Deschutes County Circuit Court. The hearing was set for Andersch to enter a plea in the case, but that was delayed by more than a month.

Andersch’s attorney requested a delay in the entry of plea and proposed a new date of Wednesday, August 13 at 1:30 p.m. Judge Randy Miller granted the postponement.

Andersch, appearing by video from the county jail, stood up to leave after her attorney voiced the request but prior to the judge’s reply, saying ‘Thank you, judge,’  mistakenly thinking her attorney’s voice was that of the judge. She promptly sat back down and waited for Miller’s response when she was corrected.

Andersch was arrested on June 8th after calling 911 to report that she murdered her mother in the home they shared in SW Redmond. She has been held without bail since her arrest. 

When police arrived at the home, they found Andersch covered in blood. Her mother, Tracy Berry, was found deceased after being fatally stabbed. 

Andersch was originally charged with both murder in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon; the weapons charge was dropped when she was indicted. 

Andersch has had a lengthy criminal history in the state of Oregon prior to her arrest for the murder — ranging from theft, unauthorized use of vehicle, and drug use.

Redmond residents who interacted with Andersch in the past, and others who knew of her online, raised questions on social media about potential mental illness based on their interactions with her. Andersch’s mental health status has not been confirmed or denied by any valid sources.

KTVZ News will continue to update you on the developments in this case.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — With multiple power outages affecting thousands of Bend residents in recent weeks, some are becoming worried – not just about inconvenience, but about what they call a lack of both communication and balance from their power company.

KTVZ News spoke with Bend resident, Mark Mariotti, who has recently experienced two two-hour outages within one week. “I’m really concerned of what the future is going to be like. You would think Pacific Power would be concerned about that too,” said Mariotti.

We reached out to Pacific Power who said these outages are not planned shut-offs, but automatic responses triggered by their ‘enhanced safety settings’.

The safety system is designed to shut off power instantly when wildlife, vegetation, or high winds interfere with power lines – especially in areas flagged as elevated wildfire risk by their meteorology team.

Questions about the system’s sensitivity has come into question for some customers. “Maybe they’ve gone too far on the spectrum where they’re shutting off power when it really didn’t need to be,” said Mariotti.

Pacific Power says these safety settings help prevent wildfires, and that customers were informed via email before fire season that outages could become more frequent. 

They say they’re also working to reduce how often they happen and how long they last.

Simon Gutierrez, spokesperson for Pacific Power, told KTVZ, “The safety of our customers and communities is our top priority. Pacific Power continues to focus on wildfire prevention while balancing reliability. We know that power outages are truly a hardship and we strive to provide safe, reliable power to our customers.”

“We all want to prevent fires. But we need a balance, some kind of a common sense,” said Mariotti. 

Pacific Power urges you to contact customer service if you need support or backup. They do offer assistance programs available for those with medical conditions that require power. 

Still, some feel more transparency is needed – especially when danger isn’t necessarily visible, and automated messages are delayed.

“With no communication at all other than the automated responses from Pacific Power, what do I do? I think communication really paves the future way. You need to be able to understand,” said Mariotti. 

As wildfire risk remains across Central Oregon, Pacific Power says safety will remain the priority – even if that means more frequent outages. 

You are encouraged to stay informed and prepared for an outage. Contact your power company to seek their assistance in solutions for you and your home. 

For more information from Pacific Power on their wildfire safety systems, you can visit their dedicated site here.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — While humans were enjoying the fireworks this Fourth of July, many pets had a different experience. 

Loud booms, bright lights, and sudden noise can cause many animals to panic, or even run. 

Animals shelters throughout Central Oregon tend to see at least ten times the normal amount of intakes during the Fourth of July holiday.

Nationally, the American Humane Society estimates July 5th is the busiest day of the year for shelters. 

While many pets are reunited with their families right away, others aren’t so lucky. In some cases, it can take skittish animals days to be captured.

Experts say the best way to protect your pets is to secure them indoors, create calm environments, and check that your pet’s ID tag and microchip information provides sufficient information to reach you. 

If your pet is missing, check with all local shelters (as pets can travel quite a distance when scared), and post on community pages.

Some suggest leaving some of your worn clothes outdoors or on your nearest street corner to help your pet find its way home through scent.

Though fireworks are now banned in most cities across Central Oregon and on public lands, the risk of illegal fireworks being used is still high. It is recommended you continue to secure your pets through the entirety of the holiday weekend. 

If your pet does end up at a shelter, please be sure to pick them up right away as space is especially limited in the days surround July 4th.

Here is contact information for local shelters:

Humane Society of the Ochocos – 541-447-7178

Humane Society of Central Oregon – 541-382-3537

BrightSide Animal Shelter – 541-923-0882

Below is additional information from the American Humane Society:

Tips to Keep your Pets Safe this Fourth of July 

Keep pets inside and shielded from loud noises. Keep windows closed and draw the shades to minimize the sound and flashes of light. 

Be sure that all ID tags are properly affixed to your pet’s collar.

Update your microchip registrations and pet license information. 

If loud noises upset your pets, do not leave them alone; ensure someone can stay with them. 

If you’re the one staying with them, act calm and give them reassuring pets and physical touch, pets, belly rubs, etc.; animals look to you to see how you’re reacting.  

Look into commercially available products that help to reduce stress, like species specific pheromones. 

If you think your pets might need medication to help ease their stress, consult your veterinarian well in advance. 

Contact an animal behaviorist to work with your pets on their fears. With some positive reinforcement and behavior modification training, by next Independence Day, you all may be worry-free! 

With these tips and tricks, we can keep our furry companions relaxed throughout the holiday—and make sure the Fourth of July is a joyful occasion for all.

Celebrate safely and happily this Independence Day—your pets will thank you. 

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Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– A Bend teen is climbing to new heights. Nathaniel Perullo from the Bend Endurance Academy just took first place in bouldering at the USA Climbing Youth Championships in Portland. His victory earned him a spot on the US youth national team and a trip to compete at the youth World Championships in Finland.

Nathaniel has trained with the Bend Endurance Academy for years. He says achieving this title is the result of nearly a decade of hard work. In all, 5 local athletes competed with Bend climbers earning top finishes across several disciplines. A big congratulations to all the athletes, especially Nathan, from all of us at KTVZ News.

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office thanked two locals after they spotted and helped stop a brush fire, using a water hose and shovel. Though Central Oregon has experienced rainfall this Independence Day, wildfire risk is still extremely high with lightning, high winds, and even flooding forecasted.

Below is the full post from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office:

Clayton and Jeaneva sprung into action this afternoon when they saw a brush fire in the area of NW Lower Bridge Way and NW Quail Road. They used a water hose and shovel to stop the fire from spreading and help extinguish the fire.

With current dry conditions and afternoon winds picking up, their actions were invaluable to preventing another wildfire in Deschutes County. Be safe out there as you celebrate Independence Day.

Happy 4th of July from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office!

***End of Post

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — For this month’s ‘21 Cares for Kids: Making a Difference’ spotlight, we’re highlighting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon—a youth mentoring network solely supported by donors and volunteers.

“The first thing we did is go climbing at the Bend Rock Gym,” said Ryan Bukstein, a Big Brother.

Ryan and Maddox have a lot of fun together.

Ryan and Maddox

“I had never climbed before and so that was really cool for me because it was a little scary. And (Maddox) had climbed,” Ryan said. “He’s a really talented climber, loves it, so he got to help me learn to climb.” 

Their relationship blossomed two years ago when Ryan decided he wanted to volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon (BBBSCO).

“My wife and I decided we weren’t going to have kids, and I wanted kids to be a part of my life. So I was looking into the options there. And I had heard about Big Brothers Big Sisters, so I just hit them up and they connected me,” Ryan said. “Actually, I told them that I really wanted a younger kid, and so that opened me up to a lot more options. And (Maddox) was the first person I met with. I went to his house, and immediately he was like, ‘Let’s go ride bikes!’ And they were like, ‘No, we have to do this match process first.’ But he was in it from the start. So it was really cool, we hit it off.”

Ryan Bukstein

Since then, it’s been nothing but good times and lasting memories—something many Central Oregon kids are able to experience through BBBSCO. 

“We serve over 220 kids each year through Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties, kids from all communities from La Pine and Madras,” said Jenn Davis, the program director.

Jenn Davis

Jenn gets to see the program’s impact first-hand. 

“Mentoring has proven that it has an impact on our economy. Kids who have a stable mentor in their life are more likely to graduate high school and go on to secondary education,” Jenn said. “They’re more likely to make two-thirds greater income over their lifetime than their non-mentored peers, and they close the economic gap. They’re more likely to have the income closer to their mentors and their families. It really improves our economy.”

Big and Little sisters

And now, in a space that’s brand new, the opportunities are endless. 

“Big Brothers Big Sisters moved on to the J Bar J community campus back in February. We’re so grateful to have this space,” Jenn said. “We have 20 acres for our kids to come out and enjoy our therapeutic horse program. It’s a space for them to spend time with their mentors. They can cook and bake and do arts and crafts. We started a tutoring program this summer. Lots of activities for them to engage in a safe place.”

Engaging activities in a safe place—something Ryan says all Central Oregonians can take part in with just a little free time and a lot of heart. 

“So many people in Bend have the time to be a part of this. And I think here in Central Oregon, we could be an example for other areas, leading the charge,” Ryan said. “Reach out, come out here.”

If you’re interested in becoming a mentor with BBBSCO, or if you have a child you think would benefit from having a mentor, click here for more information.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County is moving its online dog licensing program to DocuPet, simplifying the process for owners to license their dogs, comply with state regulations, and ensure a quick reunion if their dogs go missing.  

Under Oregon law, all dog owners are required to vaccinate their pets against rabies and obtain a license in the county where they reside. Deschutes County issues licenses for county pet owners, including licenses for all cities within the county. Currently, only an estimated 32% of dogs in the county are licensed. The goal in transitioning the online program is to streamline the process and increase registration by providing a user-friendly platform.   

Key features to using the DocuPet platform include:

Convenience: Owners create secure online profiles at deschutescounty.docupet.com to purchase or renew dog licenses. These profiles allow owners to upload photos, store microchip numbers, rabies certificates and other important information to aid in finding dogs if they get lost. Profiles can be easily updated with changes such as owner relocation, ownership transfers, or changes to the dog’s details or status. Owners can quickly generate Lost Pet Reports online.

Compliance: Dogs six months or older or those with permanent canine teeth, whichever comes first, must be licensed per state law. New dog owners or new county residents have 30 days to license their dogs.

Extended Customer Service: Online support is available beyond normal business hours, including on Saturdays, with services in Spanish to enhance community accessibility.

Additional Benefits: Every license includes the HomeSafe 24/7 lost pet service, which helps keep dogs out of shelters and returns them home safely. Additionally, owners can choose from a variety of colorful dog tags or design their own. Each tag contains a unique code linking to the dog’s online profile, enabling anyone finding a lost pet to report it easily.

The annual licensing fee in Deschutes County is $36 for unaltered dogs and $22 for spayed or neutered dogs, with options for two- or three-year licenses. Service animals are exempt from fees but are still required to be licensed. To license a service animal, please contact Deschutes County directly at (541) 388-6637.

For more information or to license your dog online, visit deschutescounty.docupet.com.

Community members who prefer to pay with cash or check can obtain dog licenses in person at the Deschutes County Services building, located at 1300 NW Wall St. in Bend, or through local humane societies.

You can learn more about the county dog licensing program by listening to Episode 53 of the Inside Deschutes County podcast.

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nothing says summer like baseball and fireworks, and the Bend Elks have both Thursday night.

Around 9 p.m., the team will hold its annual fireworks show at Vince Genna Stadium. The celebration will light up the sky for about 20 minutes after the Bend Elks take on and defeat the Walla Walla Sweets.

The game starts at 6:35 p.m., so the fireworks are expected to begin just after 9 p.m.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-La Pine Schools said Thursday it would like to remind residents and visitors that the use of fireworks is not permitted on school grounds, including playgrounds, fields, parking lots and sidewalks.

Here’s the rest of their announcement:

This applies to all our Bend properties, which fall under the City of Bend fireworks ban, as well as our campuses outside of Bend city limits, including our schools in La Pine and Sunriver.

Discharging fireworks is prohibited due to safety concerns, risk of fire, potential for property damage, and litter from spent fireworks. In previous years, district maintenance teams have needed to clean up messes left from the discharge of fireworks on school property, including aerial fireworks that land on school roofs.

Security personnel will patrol school district properties on and around the Independence Day holiday. In Bend, fireworks complaints may be directed to fireworks@bendoregon.gov.

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