Category: ktvz-local-news

Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An early morning fire caused extensive damage to a Bend home Saturday, with investigators pointing to a pellet stove pipe as the likely source.

Bend Fire & Rescue responded around 5:07 a.m. to a reported structure fire near Thomas Drive and Airpark Drive. When crews arrived within eight minutes of the initial 911 call, they found flames venting through the roof of a single-story home.

The occupant was able to escape safely after being alerted by a working smoke alarm. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire, preventing further spread.

Investigators determined the fire started in the attic near the stove pipe for a pellet stove. Heat from the pipe ignited nearby insulation and structural materials, allowing the fire to spread through the attic and eventually cause the collapse of portions of the roof and ceiling into the living space.

Damage is estimated at $400,000 to the structure and $80,000 to its contents, which included a vehicle parked inside the garage at the time of the fire. The resident declined assistance from the American Red Cross.

Fire officials are using the incident as a reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms. According to the National Fire Protection Association, most home fire deaths occur in homes without them.

Bend Fire & Rescue offers free smoke alarm consultations and can be reached at 541-322-6386. Those outside the Bend area can contact their local fire department or the Central and Eastern Oregon chapter of the Red Cross for assistance.

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Spencer Sacks

(Update: adding more information about surrounding Central Oregon, Oregon, and nationwide rallies. Including response from the Trump Administration.)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A “No Kings” rally in Prineville brought out a few hundred people over the weekend, as part of a sweeping national protest movement that drew millions of Americans voicing frustration with the Trump administration.

The demonstration in Crook County reflected a wide range of concerns, from constitutional rights to political leadership and the direction of the country.

Nora Scott, a lifelong Republican and Crook County resident, said she felt compelled to attend because of growing dissatisfaction within her own party. “We’ve got to get them out of there. We’ve got to get them out,” Scott said. “I’m a lifelong Republican and this crime family has taken over the Republican Party.”

Other residents focused on what they see as deeper concerns about the foundation of government. Sharon Krause, also of Crook County, said she attended the rally because of her concerns about the U.S. Constitution, explaining, “I am here because I am not appreciating what Trump has done to our government. He is using the Constitution as toilet paper.”

Amy Stewart, another Crook County resident, described the emotional toll of the current political climate, saying, “Just the violation of our Constitution, destroying our democracy, trying to create tyranny, hurting people, killing people. That wounds me as an American.”

Krause also raised questions about transparency and foreign policy, adding, “Still want to know about the Epstein files. I do not like that unelected people are running the government. I do not want us in this war. I think it is uncalled for.”

Bend rally draws thousands, marches through downtown

While Prineville’s turnout reached the hundreds, the largest crowds in Central Oregon gathered in Bend.

Thousands of people filled Drake Park for music, speakers, and community organizing before marching to Peace Corner, flooding downtown streets during the afternoon protest. Demonstrators lined sidewalks and intersections, holding signs, chanting, and engaging with passing drivers as they shared their message.

The scale of the Bend rally mirrored, and in some cases exceeded, previous “No Kings” demonstrations in the city, signaling growing momentum behind the movement across the region.

Demonstrations spread across Central Oregon communities

Protests were widespread throughout Central Oregon.

In Redmond, organizers said around 1,000 people attended, filling park spaces with signs, flags and chants. Hundreds more gathered in Sisters, with additional demonstrations held in Prineville, La Pine and Madras.

Altogether, thousands participated across the region, highlighting strong turnout in both larger cities and smaller communities.

Oregon leaders join rallies in the Portland metro area

The demonstrations extended into the Willamette Valley, where state leaders joined protesters.

Governor Tina Kotek spoke outside the Portland Expo Center, telling the crowd, “We believe that no one is a king. Especially not here in Oregon and not in the United States of America. Am I right?” — drawing a strong response from those gathered.

In Gresham, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden joined demonstrators and emphasized that while he continues pushing back at the federal level, he believes meaningful change often begins with grassroots movements like those seen across Oregon.

Part of a nationwide protest movement

The rallies in Oregon were part of coordinated “No Kings” demonstrations held across the country over the weekend.

Millions of Americans protested a wide range of issues tied to the Trump administration, including its mass immigration program and the conflict in Iran. Economic concerns also played a role for some participants.

One protester said, “I think it’s incredibly good. You know, gas is almost six bucks at this point, and we got to have some people are going to stand up for the typical citizen.”

White House response

Despite the scale of the protests nationwide, the Trump administration said it is not concerned about the demonstrations and indicated the rallies will not affect its policy direction.

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Barney Lerten

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Oregon Department of Transportation begins several weeks of overnight construction on Sunday night along U.S. Highway 20 in Sisters, upgrading curb ramps and pedestrian crossings to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

The start date for the project recently was moved up from the original plan of April 12, the agency said.

ODOT says the improvements will make it easier and safer for people walking or rolling to get around downtown Sisters and access nearby businesses and services.

The work will start with curb ramps at Cascade Street and continue west along the north side of U.S. 20. To minimize impacts to daytime traffic, most of the work will occur at night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Friday.

During construction, travelers can expect:

Crews working throughout the project area

Overnight construction and noise

Sidewalk, shoulder and lane closures

Flaggers directing traffic as needed

Minimal traffic delays

If work is not completed by Memorial Day, crews will pause construction for the summer and return after Labor Day to finish the project.

Visit our website for more information or contact Meghan Blyth, community affairs coordinator.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon residents are facing a surge in allergy symptoms. The obvious culprit is the blooming juniper, but birch pollen might also be a factor.

Medical experts at Central Oregon Ear, Nose and Throat say every person has different things their allergic too. And allergy issues can persist year-round, rather than just being during “allergy season.”

Identifying the specific cause is a first step in finding relief. Booking an appointment with a specialist is the quickest way to determine the exact irritant causing your allergies. After that, they can come up with a treatment plan for you, if over-the-counter medicine isn’t cutting it.

Deena Fiddler, the allergy clinic coordinator at Central Oregon Ear, Nose and Throat, says the sooner you get a consultation, the better.

“As soon as you start to have those allergy issues, especially that are not covered by over-the-counter medicines, then you need to be seen by a specialist,” Fiddler said.

For patients seeking long-term solutions, the clinic offers a specialized sublingual (or under the tongue) treatment.

Taking a few drops under the tongue three times a day is easier than getting a shot, and the treatment is specialized to each patient. The treatment lasts for three years, but after that, the clinic says you should be allergy-free for five years or more.

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Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Shepherd’s House Ministries has received a $3 million award to grow their “Abi’s House” program, which houses at-risk women and children in Central Oregon.

Currently, Abi’s House can only serve 10 people. But with this funding, the program will grow to 40 participants.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than one-third of the homeless population in Oregon is women and the program currently has to turn away many applicants due to limited space.

The project involves purchasing multiple residences and units in the same area to create a network of safe housing.

Jerry Kaping, the director of development for Shepherd’s House Ministries, said the campus model is designed to provide 24-hour support.

“The reason why we’re building this campus is so that they will have community on an everyday basis, 24-7,” Kaping said. “They’ll have friends, they’ll have family, and they’ll have shepherd’s house right next to their side.”

The specific locations of the homes in the Abi’s House network are kept secret, to protect the privacy and safety of the women and children staying there.

Gina Stout serves as the CEO of Shepherd’s House Ministries. She said the additional space will provide trauma-informed care for women and children overcoming addiction, abuse and chronic instability.

“This project represents what’s possible when community partners come together to address homelessness and promote long-term stability for people with compassion and intention,” Stout said. “It will allow us to say ‘yes’ to women and children who too often hear ‘there’s no room.’ By expanding Abi’s House, we’re creating more than just shelter. We are creating safe, healing spaces where women can rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.”

The award comes from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Summit Bank facilitated the award through the loan bank. Gary O’Connell, the Central Oregon market president for Summit Bank, said the partnership is intended to strengthen local communities.

“Supporting efforts like this are one of the most meaningful parts of what we do at Summit Bank,” O’Connell said. “We are proud to partner in bringing Federal Home Loan Bank grant funding into our communities and to support organizations that are making a real difference in people’s lives every day. This kind of investment helps strengthen the places we call home and we are honored to be a part of it.”

Shepherd’s House Ministries expects the new expansion to be completed within six months to a year.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Real estate developer Taylor Brooks recently announced that it has sold Lot 5 of the Cooley Road Industrial Lots subdivision at Juniper Ridge to the Central Oregon Irrigation District.  The 5.72-acre lot is south of Cooley Road and includes a portion of COID’s main canal.

The sale price for the parcel was not disclosed.

When asked about how this land was specifically selected, Craig Horrell, managing director of COID, said, “COID has been here for 100+ years and will be here for a hundred more – this property provides the district flexibility to manage staff, operations, and infrastructure in a location that provides convenient access to our two canals and the roughly 3,500 patrons we serve.”  

According to Taylor Brooks’ announcement, the COID Board of Directors recognized the strategic value in purchasing the lot for various reasons.

First, a good portion of the lot is encumbered with COID easements and infrastructure. Those items can pose a challenge for a different entity, but for COID, having direct access to its pipeline and forebay structure is a benefit. 

Also, the property is centrally located within COID’s service territory and is located minutes from its Juniper Ridge hydroelectric facility. It could also provide an optimal location for future COID office space, since it routinely interacts with businesses, agencies and other stakeholders in Bend. 

In addition, COID is in a rapidly urbanizing area, which increases the costs of delivering water to its patrons. As a result, the district is seeking other streams of revenue to keep up with those costs. COID has the opportunity to create leasable, “flex” industrial space on this property. 

While COID has not yet begun planning for the development of the site, the irrigation district expects that it will  likely begin in 2027 or 2028. COID bought the parcel with the proceeds from a sale of property in the Redmond area and says the purchase won’t impact patrons’ rates.  

Taylor Brooks has four developed industrial lots remaining fronting Cooley Road in Juniper Ridge, ranging from just under 2 acres to 5.5 acres in size, at listing prices of $1.31 million to $3.72 million. Those interested in learning more were advised to contact Jay Lyons at Compass Commercial or view the listing.  

About Taylor Brooks 

Taylor Brooks is a Bend-based real estate development company specializing in land acquisition, site planning, and complex build-to-suit projects that support long-term community growth and economic vitality. It specializes in development of healthcare, office, and flex industrial spaces. The company also offers its tenants full-service commercial property management capabilities, with a focus on maintaining strong relationships. Taylor Brooks is a partnership of Taylor Development LLC and Brooks Resources Corporation. www.taylorbrooksdev.com. 

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Silas Moreau

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sprouts Montessori of Bend has been awarded a $719,200 property acquisition grant to open a new licensed child care facility for infants and toddlers. The funding will support The Orchard Infant Nest on Northeast Revere Avenue in Bend.

The grant is mad possible through the Child Care Infrastructure Fund, which is administered by Business Oregon. This fund uses lottery-backed bonds authorized by the Oregon Legislature in 2023 as part of a $50 million statewide investment in child care facilities. Montessori was selected as a recipient in the third and final round of the program.

The new facility, located at 502 NE Revere Ave. in Bend, will be known as The Orchard Infant Nest, or Nido del huerto. It is designed to serve 24 infants and toddlers between the ages of 6 weeks and 24 months. The project involves property acquisition, the installation of a fenced infant play area and minor interior renovations to the existing building.

Sharon Richardson, the owner of Montessori of Bend, expressed gratitude for the state support and the chance to grow the school’s offerings. “We are honored to have been chosen to receive this extraordinary support and grateful for the opportunity to expand our infant and toddler program,” Richardson said.

Richardson also highlighted the school’s nutritional offerings as a strong component of the new center. “We are also excited to feed more children! Our food program is a core part of our school,” Richardson said. The facility plans to provide three meals and two snacks each day to the children in its care.

The center will operate as a Spanish immersion program, offering families an alternative educational environment. Operating hours are scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to accommodate various schedules. The facility will offer both flexible part-time and full-time options to meet the needs of families in Central Oregon.

The Orchard Infant Nest is scheduled to open later this spring. Families can find more information and a tentative rate sheet by visiting the Montessori website or by calling (541) 410-8045.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Shepherd’s House Ministries will host its annual Easter and Spring celebration meals on April 3, 2026, at three locations in Bend and Redmond. The organization is requesting food donations from the community to help provide holiday dinners for individuals and families in need.

The meals are designed to provide a restorative celebration for those in long-term programs and any community members who wish to join. This initiative relies on public support to supply the ingredients necessary for the multi-site event.

In Bend, dinner will be served at the Men’s Center, located at 1854 NE Division St., from noon to 2:00 p.m. A second Bend meal service will take place at the Lighthouse Navigation Center at 275 NE 2nd St. from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Redmond Center at 1350 S. Hwy 97 will host its celebration from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. These meals are available to individuals in long-term programs as well as families and community members who wish to attend. To prepare the meals, the ministry is requesting donations of ham, potatoes, rice, onions and shredded cheese.

Other necessary items include cream of mushroom, heavy cream, canned vegetables, eggs, whipped cream, coffee, black pepper, rolls, pies and butter. Jerry Kaping, director of development for Shepherd’s House Ministries, is coordinating the donation drive and event logistics. Kaping emphasized that even small contributions of specific staples make a difference for the holiday service.

“We need ham, potatoes, whipped cream, pies, rice,” Kaping said. “If you can bring coffee, anything you can bring down to us, would sure help us out for this Easter dinner.”

Donors can drop off food items at the Shepherd’s House Men’s Center in Bend or the Redmond Center. The organization aims to ensure all neighbors have access to a holiday meal regardless of their circumstances.

For more information regarding the events or donation needs, the community can visit shministries.org.

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Spencer Sacks

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Kiwanis Club of Redmond received a $500 donation this week to fund a new playground at a planned local recreation center. The award was presented by KTVZ News, Mid-Oregon Credit Union and Dutch Bros Coffee as part of the Pay It Forward community initiative.

The funding is designated for the Kiwanis Hub Park at the Hub, a project intended to serve families in the Redmond area for generations. Although the new recreation center itself is still in development, the Kiwanis Club is already working to secure the resources necessary to build an inclusive playground at the site.

The Kiwanis Club of Redmond has raised approximately $94,000 for the playground project so far. Members are still working toward a total fundraising goal of $250,000. Leaders of the organization emphasized that the playground is designed to provide a shared space for all residents regardless of their background.

Chris Richie, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Redmond, said the park will address a specific need for local children.

“The world is is a tumultuous place and playgrounds is a place where people of all socioeconomic backgrounds can come together and just play,” Richie said. “I think that’s something that’s missing in a lot of kids lives. And it’s something that I instill in my kids lives. And we want to make sure that that is expanded to the community here.”

Michelle Duff, also a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Redmond, noted that the impact of the park will extend well into the future. She credited local business partnerships for helping the club reach its goals.

“This playground is not going to just help in the immediate future, thousands and thousands of kids and their families are going to be able to use it for years to come,” Duff said. “And it’s because of support from organizations and businesses like Mid Oregon Credit Union that we can make that happen.”

Community members interested in supporting the playground mission or nominating a person or project for recognition can click here.

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Triton Notary

(Update: adding more background information on SuperDeluxe, and its bankruptcy).

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — SuperDeluxe has officially closed its drive-thru restaurant in Bend, Ore. The closure marks the end of the brand’s presence in Central Oregon, leaving the chain with operations only in the Portland metro area.

The restaurant, which opened its Bend location in 2022, ceased operations this week. While the company has not cited a specific reason for the closure, the move follows a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in February 2024, which the company attributed to debt incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The closure was confirmed by a note posted on the restaurant’s drive-thru menu board. “After years of serving our community, we have closed our doors,” the message stated. The note expressed gratitude to customers for their support over the years, but did not provide specific details regarding the reason for the shutdown.

KTVZ News reached out to the company for further comment, but has not received a response. Co-owners Micah Camden and Matt Lynch originally opened the Bend location in 2022.

Camden and Lynch first launched the SuperDeluxe brand in July 2018 with a focus on a specific fast-food menu, including items like the Vegan Deluxe, which features a vegan version of the company’s deluxe sauce and gluten-free buns from Rotella’s Italian Bakery. The restaurant operated out of a building that had previously housed a TacoTime.

The closure follows significant financial developments for the company. In February 2024, SuperDeluxe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to the Willamette Weekly. In that filing, the company cited heavy debt resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic as the primary factor for the legal action.

SuperDeluxe continues to operate multiple locations within the Portland metro area. These include the original store on Southeast 50th Avenue and Powell Boulevard in Portland, as well as a second location in Sherwood on Southwest Tualatin-Sherwood Road.

The remaining restaurants continue to offer drive-thru service, online ordering for pickup, and delivery through third-party platforms. The chain’s operational standards include the use of 100% canola oil in all fryers.

While the company’s signature sauces contain soybean oil, the kitchens are managed without the use of nuts. Gluten-free bun options were also added to the menu before the Bend closure to accommodate diners with dietary restrictions.

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