Category: ktvz-local-news

Tracee Tuesday

REDMOND, Ore. [KTVZ] — Tuesday night, the Redmond City Council (Councilor Kathryn Osborne and Councilor Jay Patrick were absent) approved $117,784,847 in construction and design funding for Redmond Airport’s Terminal Expansion Project. 

The project is being funded through a combination of federal and state grants, loans, and the airport’s own revenue.  

Redmond Airport Director Zachary Bass says the expansion will rival that of other major airports across the country.  

“If you’re not already aware, hopefully you are. You know, we’re going to be adding 80,000 feet of new concourse with seven bridges, tripling the size of our retail food options.” 

Just how will this new expansive space be filled? 

“We do know that there’s 6000 feet of new retail concessions. Now, what exactly might that look like and what restaurants are going to be in there, or let’s say quick grab and go, etc… Not sure yet, but that should be coming out fully in the next few months,” said Bass. 

Redmond City Councilor John Neilsen, who also serves on the Airport Committee, advised travelers and residents to be patient through the construction phase.  

“I think people are going to have to expect to arrive earlier. There are going to be some pain points. There’s going to be some frustration in the short term. But i think in the long term, the addition of the jet bridges, the increased holding signs and all the additional entities will be more beneficial and will really pay off in the long run.”  

Airport Director Bass said though adding routes are always being discussed, it won’t be a part of the new expansion.  He also said, if he had a wish list of air carriers that he’d like to see fly in and out of Redmond Airport, there’s one, specifically. 

“We’re always looking to a new airline, and Southwest has been at the top of that list for a little while.” 

Redmond’s Airport Director said some federal funds are attached to this project. He says if the funds are pulled or they become unavailable, they will have a backup plan, as in backup funding sources they can take from.  

In the meantime, how long will this project take to complete today? Two years.   

To stay up to date on the latest information, check out the airport’s website.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

CLARNO, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to more accurate mapping, the Butte Creek Fire that broke out over the weekend on the east side of the John Day River, 9 miles north of Clarno, has been downsized to about 1,776 acres.

“Firefighters are engaged in active fire suppression activities,” Central Oregon fire officials said in Tuesday’s update. The fire earlier was estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 acres.

Resources on scene Tuesdsay include two interagency hotshot crews, one wildland fire module crew, interagency engines, bulldozers, Wheeler County and South Gilliam County engines, and multiple aircraft.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

No evacuations or closures are currently in place. Boaters in the general area are asked to use caution as helicopters will continue dipping water out of the John Day River.

Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information, visit fire.airnow.gov.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Pacific Power announced Monday it will carry out two more planned power interruptions in northeast Bend this Thursday and Friday nights.

Communications specialist Omar Granados told KTVZ News the interruption on Thursday night will start around 11 p.m. and last up to 15 minutes. Friday night’s planned outage will start around midnight, also lasting up to 15 minutes.

Both service interruptions will affect 6,530 customers in the area of Highway 20 and Mountain View High School, Granados said, and those affected will be notified by customer service.

“These planned interruptions are necessary to perform maintenance on equipment in facilities,” Granados said. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our customers and our employees while this work is underway. We understand the inconvenience of an interruption and will make every effort to minimize its impacts.”

Two similar outages last month affected the same group of customers served by the Pilot Butte substation.

For more information, contact Pacific Power Customer Service at 1-888-221-7070.

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Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Annual campfire restrictions go into effect on Sunday, June 1 on some BLM-administered lands in Central Oregon. Campfires will be prohibited along portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day and White rivers, as well as along Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus.

Here’s the full announcement received by KTVZ News:

“Our No. 1 goal is protecting public and employee safety,” said James Osborne, Fire Management Officer for the BLM Prineville District. “We are excited that people are getting out and enjoying the rivers. Reducing the risk of human-caused wildfire helps us be good neighbors.”

The closures prohibit campfires, charcoal fires. or any other type of open flame. That includes a ban on the use of portable propane campfires and wood pellet-burning devices.

Commercially manufactured lanterns and metal camp stoves used for cooking are allowed, when fueled with bottled propane or liquid fuel and operated in a responsible manner. Under the restrictions, smoking is not allowed, except inside vehicles or on the water.

“The river canyons present a combination of limited access, grassy fuels that dry out quickly, and steep slopes that allow wildfires to spread rapidly,” Osborne added.

The restrictions will remain in effect until October 15. A violation of this closure is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than 12 months.

For details on campfire closures and specific locations on BLM lands, call the Prineville BLM District Office at (541) 416-6700. People can also visit https://www.blm.gov/orwafire or https://centraloregonfire.org/ for more information about these closures and other fire restrictions throughout Oregon.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Construction is scheduled to begin next week on the Bear Creek & 27th Street Improvements Project, including Bend’s next roundabout, the city said Tuesday.

Here’s the full announcement, including a chance to learn more and ask questions later this week:

Full closure of the intersection at Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road and Purcell Boulevard starts Monday, June 2 for utility installation and construction of a new roundabout. Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to use the posted detour route.

The city will be hosting a Preconstruction Information Booth 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 at Desert Streams Church Parking Lot, 62010 SE 27th Street.

City staff will be available to describe elements of the project, including what to expect during construction and how access to the area will be impacted. Community members are invited to stop by to ask questions and learn more about the construction project.

Project information, including a detour map, is available at bendoregon.gov/bearcreek27th.

The city says the Bear Creek Road and 27th Street Improvements Project will provide safer connections for pedestrians and bicycles traveling between neighborhoods, schools, parks and trails, and add a new roundabout at Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road and Purcell Boulevard to improve traffic flow and safety.

The project will construct the following improvements:

A new roundabout at the intersection of Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road, and Purcell Boulevard

Water and Sewer Improvements

Shared-use path for bikers and pedestrians on the north side of Bear Creek Road from Cessna Drive to the Bend Urban Growth Boundary

Shared-use path for bikers and pedestrians on the west side of 27th Street between Bear Creek Road and Reed Market Road

Trail connection between the 15th Street and Bear Creek Road roundabout and the Coyner Trail to connect the existing Larkspur and Coyner trails.

For more information about the project, visitbendoregon.gov/bearcreek27th.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters Athletic Club, an award-winning business and facility, is for sale at a $7.1 million price tag, the listing real estate broker said Tuesday. Founder and owner Tate Metcalf has decided to hang up his running shoes so that he and his wife can spend quality time traveling the country and exploring new opportunities. 

Here’s the full announcement KTVZ News received Tuesday:

The Sisters Athletic Club was established in 2001 and has operated in its present location since 2004. It has a membership of over 1,600 satisfied Central Oregon residents and a long-term staff of fitness professionals. The building is approximately 24,000 square feet and is located on 1.4 acres in the idyllic FivePine development, just east of downtown Sisters. 

The club was chosen as the International Health Club of the Year for Community Service in 2018, out of 9,000 clubs worldwide and was awarded the Sister’s Chamber Business of the Year and Central Oregon Realtors Building of the Year. For decades, patrons have supported this financially successful business by enjoying its state-of-the-art fitness offerings and engaging with its warm and professional employees in a true community ambience. Simply, this place is a Central Oregon icon. 

Aligned Commercial Real Estate has listed the property and business for sale for $7,100,000. Ken Streater, Principal Broker, notes: “I have known Tate and his real estate partner for nearly 30 years. Tate has built and runs a world-class business that operates in an exceptionally nice facility. It is an honor to help him find a new owner to continue the Sisters Athletic Club legacy.” 

For additional information, please contact Ken Streater at Aligned Commercial. 

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Barney Lerten

Madras, OR – Over the course of the Memorial Day weekend, the Madras Police Department conducted enhanced traffic enforcement as part of the national “Speeding Catches Up With You” safety initiative. The department’s efforts were focused on curbing dangerous driving behaviors, particularly speeding, distracted driving and Move Over Law violations.

Between Friday and Monday, Madras officers issued a total of 38 citations, seven warnings, and made two arrests.

Enforcement Totals by Date:

Friday, May 23

Speeding: 12 citations, 1 warning

Driving While Suspended (DWS): 2 citations, 1 arrest

Distracted Driving/Cell Phone Use: 2 citations, 1 warning

Equipment Violations: 1 citation

Other Violations (including registration, insurance, etc.): 7 citations, 2 warnings, 1 arrest

Monday, May 26

Speeding: 13 citations, 1 warning

Driving While Suspended (DWS): 2 citations, 1 arrest

Other Violations: 1 citation, 2 warnings

“We want to thank the drivers who made safe and responsible choices this weekend,” said Police Chief Tim Plummer. “Unfortunately, too many motorists continue to take unnecessary risks — speeding, driving on suspended licenses, or using their phones behind the wheel. Our officers are committed to addressing those dangers head-on.”

Keeping Our Roads Safe

This targeted enforcement was part of a broader effort to remind drivers that speeding remains one of the leading causes of fatal crashes in Oregon and nationwide. In 2023, nearly 12,000 people lost their lives in speeding-related crashes in the U.S., with a vast majority occurring on non-interstate roads.

The department also reinforced Oregon’s Move Over Law, which requires motorists to move over or slow down for any vehicle stopped roadside with hazard lights activated—including emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and civilian vehicles.

“Holiday weekends bring increased travel and traffic,” Chief Plummer added. “But that doesn’t mean the rules go on vacation. We’ll continue to enforce the laws that save lives — every day, not just on holidays.”

For more information about safe driving campaigns, visit👉 www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding

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John Carroll

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) – KTVZ Chief Meteorologist John Carroll was in the Sunriver area on Tuesday, visiting with the fifth-grade class at Three Rivers Elementary.

The students asked a number of great questions about global warming and how clouds impact the forecast. They also discussed the water cycle and recycling and became “weather detectives” while solving the mystery of the weather.

It was a great group of students, and we thank Mr. White for reaching out to our team and setting up the visit!

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Harley Coldiron

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Students at Sisters Elementary busted out the gloves last week and dissected owl pellets to learn more about the owl’s digestive system, and its bones. The hands-on learning experience was put on by Think Wild and the Sisters School Foundation.

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Harley Coldiron

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Madras High Senior known for her leadership and tenacity, has won the 2025 Amazing Kid for Jefferson County. Her photo and writeup is featured in the local paper, The Madras Pioneer.

Congratulations to Yashira for making Jefferson County proud!

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