Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Here’s the recorded KTVZ News livestream of Wednesday’s meeting of the Police Policy Committee of Oregon’s public safety oversight board, as members unanimously recommended a lifetime revocation of Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp’s certification.

A short time later, van der Kamp gave a statement to KTVZ News, expressing disappointment in the committee decision but announcing he plans to retire “in the coming months.”

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Just an hour after the Police Policy Committee of Oregon’s public safety regulator board voted unanimously Thursday to recommend a lifetime ban on Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp’s police certification, he announced that he plans “retirement in the coming months.”

Members of the committee said they voted in favor of removing van der Kamp’s certification because of numerous false or misleading statements uncovered in their investigation.

Here is the statement in full that van der Kamp provided to KTVZ News:

“While my legal team was limited in the scope of information we were permitted to present today, I am proud of the clarity and professionalism with which they outlined the facts and defended my record with the written materials. I am, however, disappointed that the committee appeared to disregard the absence of actual evidence in the historic La Mesa matter and instead relied on speculation and subjective impressions in reaching their decision. 

“To the dedicated men and women of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the community we serve, I offer my deepest and most sincere apologies. This outcome is not what I, nor the community, expected or deserve. I recognize the weight of this moment and the impact it has on all of you—my colleagues, supporters, and the people who placed their trust in my leadership. I am incredibly grateful for the past 23 years of service in this county—for the unwavering support, the camaraderie, and the friendships built through years of shared commitment to public safety. 

“During my tenure, I was honored to lead a cultural shift at the Sheriff’s Office—ending patterns of retaliation, reducing exposure to lawsuits, transparent hiring and promotional processes, streamlining operations to protect taxpayer money with a streamlined budget, and rebuilding vital partnerships with other county departments, public safety agencies, and community organizations. These are just a few priorities we met in record time. 

“Following today’s hearing, my team will begin the appeals process in hopes of correcting the record. According to DPSST officials, my certifications remain in good standing pending the outcome of the appeal. I will provide more updates when I get them. 

“In the meantime, my family and I are continuing to make plans for my retirement in the coming months. I remain grateful for the opportunity to have served this county for the past 23 years.”

END OF STATEMENT

—

At least two local elected officials – county Commissioner Tony DeBone and Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler – said Thursday that van der Kamp should step down immediately.

First, here’s DeBone’s statement:

“Public Safety is the number one priority for Deschutes County. If you are a long-time resident or moved here recently, if you are a tourist, friend or relative visiting. Public Safety is number one! From patrol to the jail or detectives and search and rescue the Sheriff’s office is fundamental in providing service for the community. I want to thank all of the Sheriff’s office members that serve the community all year long.

“Retired Deschutes County Sheriff Les Stiles quote: “Do the hard right not the easy wrong”

“As your County Commissioner, I work with the Sheriff’s office in Financial, Personnel and Legal matters. Today (May 22, 2025) the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Police Policy Committee has voted unanimously to revoke van der Kamp’s certification. I now ask that Kent van der Kamp please walk away so the community can move forward.

“The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners will appoint a new Sheriff before the next election cycle,” DeBone concluded.

In response to a question from KTVZ News, DeBone added that he meant van der Kamp should resign “immediately. He is elected and can drag this out for a while, but I can not support the top public safety official in our county not being trustworthy.”

Fellow Commissioner Phil Chang shared with us a column he wrote also calling for van der Kamp to step down.

Appreciate the Sheriff and Request his Resignation

We can both appreciate an elected official and, simultaneously, know that they can’t continue to serve. 10 years ago, John Kitzhaber resigned shortly after being sworn in for a 4th term as Oregon’s Governor. Parts of Kitzhaber’s story provide useful insights as the people of Deschutes County seek a path forward after revelations about past dishonest testimony under oath by now Sheriff Kent van der Kamp about his educational background. 

Kitzhaber accomplished great things as Governor – from salmon recovery to overhauling our health care system to land conservation and more. But he made a mistake which made it impossible for him to continue to serve. At that moment, we could both appreciate the Governor’s many accomplishments and still want him to resign to spare our State a long distracting scandal.   

Candidate and now Sheriff van der Kamp deserves our appreciation for many things. Former Sheriff Nelson was a toxic leader who ruled the Sheriff’s Office through fear and intimidation. Staff were so afraid of Nelson’s retribution that almost no one had the courage to run against him and his chosen successor in 2024. Van der Kamp was brave enough to do so. When van der Kamp stepped up to run, the members of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Employee’s Association found hope that someone might deliver them from Nelson’s rule and voted by an overwhelming margin to endorse van der Kamp. Immediately after van der Kamp won the election, morale at the Sheriff’s Office surged and so did employee recruitment.  

Van der Kamp has also been a pro-active and disciplined fiscal leader. Sheriff Nelson cut taxes at a time when the Sheriff’s Office really needed the revenue and then raised taxes by three times as much just a few years later when the Office was on the edge of a fiscal cliff. Nelson’s own poor personnel decisions resulted in lawsuits alleging wrongful termination, gender-related discrimination and harassment, tampering with internal investigations, and retaliation. In aggregate, the legal penalties, settlement fees, and other costs of litigation that Nelson inspired cost $2.9 million. 

Even as Nelson turned away needed tax revenue and racked up legal expenses, he showed up each of the last 4 years to County Budget Committee meetings complaining that the $55 million generated by the Sheriff’s Office taxing districts didn’t produce enough revenue and demanding that other County revenue streams bail him out.

But last week, Sheriff van der Kamp delivered a thoughtful, balanced budget to the Budget Committee that was swiftly and smoothly approved.  He worked with his team and with County Finance staff to understand the resources he had to work with, the commitments and required expenditures of the Sheriff’s Office, and where efficiencies could be implemented. Van der Kamp has helped the Sheriff’s Office to live within its means and was even able to add 20 more deputies for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Kent van der Kamp has helped Deschutes County turn the page on a very problematic leader. We now have a window of opportunity to reclaim the culture of the Sheriff’s Office – for service, integrity, team work, and merit. But while Sheriff van der Kamp has helped the Sheriff’s Office on its journey to a new promised land, completing the journey may require that he stays behind.

The opportunity to establish a new culture at the Sheriff’s Office will require that van der Kamp can recognize what Sheriff Nelson could not – that the Sheriff is not above the law. In this moment, Sheriff van der Kamp can put concern for his team first and demonstrate integrity and an understanding that the rules apply to him too. By doing so, van der Kamp can distinguish himself from his predecessor and finish turning the page on Sheriff Nelson. 

Then we can fully appreciate van der Kamp for restoring morale, integrity, care for others, and fiscal responsibility to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office,” Chang concluded.

Meanwhile, Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler told KTVZ News: “The Sheriff is no longer fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer for the county. He should resign immediately and cease taking a publicly paid salary, now that the panel has recommended his law enforcement credentials be revoked by DPSST. Public trust cannot be repaired at this point. “

–The state panel voted first to agree there were aggravating factors, then to recommend a lifetime ineligibility for police certification after it reviewed an investigative report that found van der Kamp had failed to disclose his previous work as a police cadet in Southern California and falsely claimed law degrees in three criminal cases.

The Police Review Committee first heard the results of the investigative report conducted by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training that cited numerous instances of misleading or dishonest statements over the years by van der Kamp, who was elected sheriff last fall in a hotly contested race. 

DPSST Communications Coordinator Sam Tenney told KTVZ News, “Today’s vote was a recommendation to the full Board on Public Safety Standards and Training, of which the Police Policy Committee is a subcommittee. The Board will vote on whether to adopt the committee’s recommendation when it next meets on July 27.

“If the Board votes to approve the recommended revocation, DPSST will send Sheriff van der Kamp a notice of intent to revoke his certifications,” Tenney explained. “He would have 20 days from the date of that notice to contest the findings. If he does not, his certifications will be permanently revoked. If he does contest the findings, they will remain active, and the case will be referred to the Office of Administrative Hearings, which will assign an administrative law judge to hear the case.

“If he is decertified for lifetime, he will be unable to perform the duties of a police officer in Oregon,” Tenney said. “However, DPSST does not have the authority to remove an elected official from office, or to terminate the employment of a public safety professional.”

During the discussion about agreeing there were “aggravating factors” in the case, DPSST staff nenber Cindy Park noted the report listed “an overwhelming amount of inaccuracies in the statements” made by van der Kamp.  Tenney explained that as part of the meeting procedure, staff members always read back aggravating and mitigating factors discussed by committee members prior to taking a vote.

Kevin Dresser said he recalls “100 percent” of his time as a reserve police officer, “so unless it was a negative thing … Most of his (statements) were not solid ‘no’s, simply that he didn’t recall, which I have a hard time believing.”  

Dresser criticized attempts “to classify that experience as just a college credit-type thing and not as a reserve program with law enforcement.” Others noted that van der Kamp had included in his background listing his unpaid time with the DCSO Search and Rescue team, but not as a police reserve in California. 

Scotty Nowning said the key aggravating factor, to him, was “his continued assertion that by providing a college transcript with a class title is sufficient research. The fact that someone would leave that out, accidentally or not, on multiple occasions is just beyond logic to me.” 

After a motion was made for a lifetime ineligibility for certification and before the vote, Patricia Lofgren, a public member of the committee, said based on the information before them, “This is not a person who’d make me feel safe in my community. … I just totally agree that I would not want this person to be in this position.” 

Van der Kamp, who previously told KTVZ News he’d decide whether to step down within 90 days, appeared briefly by remote camera before the meeting began but left the camera view and his attorney, Randy Harvey, was given five minutes to rebut the claims, first claiming some taking part in the meeting should rescuse themselves for having “predetermined this and having already made a decision before this meeting.” 

Harvey claimed that van der Kamp didn’t consider his time as a cadet/explorer and reserve police officer with the LAPD “experience as a police officer.” And he said there was no evidence van der Kamp was ever discharged from the La Mesa, California Police Department. 

The Police Policy Committee members in attendance at Thursday’s meeting were:

Scotty Nowning, Chair, Non-Management Law Enforcement

Casey Codding, Vice-Chair, Oregon State Police

DaNeshia Barrett, Non-Management Law Enforcement

Angela Brandenburg, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association

Mark Daniel, Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police

Christopher Gjovik, (designee of member Chief Bob Day of Portland Police Bureau)

Kevin Dresser, Non-Management Law Enforcement

Michelle Duncan, Oregon State Sheriff’s Association

Teresa Livingston, OSP Command Staff Representative

Patricia Lofgren, Public Member

Megan Townsend, Non-Management Law Enforcement

Robert Wood, Public Member

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KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Mt. Bachelor has announced that Memorial Day weekend will mark the last chance to get out on the slopes for the 2024/2025 season. Bachelor will be hosting several events Memorial Day weekend including the Annual North American Pond Skimming Championships on Sunday.

On Monday, Bachelor will host the the Last Chairs and Last Cheers event for skiers to get one last ride in. Pine Martin lift will be open from 9:00 AM until 1:30 PM. Those who say until close will have a chance to get their photo taken with Bachelors “One Last Chair” sign to remember the season.

May 31st will also mark the early-pricing pass deadline for the 2025-2026 season.

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. [KTVZ] — Here at Impulse Elite in Bend, it’s all about combining cheer, dance, tumbling and gymnastics. 

In fact, this team, they’re already state champions. 

Fresh off of their big win this year, where 2 of their teams won the state championship at the Pinnacle Cheerleading Championships in Las Vegas, on May 11th  

And get this, the ladies had only been practicing with one another, less than a year. 

In the heart of Bend, a new cheerleading facility is making waves—Impulse Elite, the region’s first and only all-star cheer gym, redefining what it means to train like a champion. 

Addison Chancellor, Impulse Elite champion: 

“I think we all know we need to put in the work to become that. So, so obviously that hope that we will win, but we know to win, we have to do the work.” 

Averie Unruh, Impulse Elite champion: 

“And I feel like we could really see that at practices just the way that we’re like okay. Oh we didn’t hit that in routine. Let’s do it again. Like let’s get this going because you know we want to go to the comps and have fun. But we want to go to the comps and win…. We want to bring home banners for our gym. That’s the end goal.” 

Charlie Lininger, Impulse Elite champion: 

“Yeah. The goal angle is always to win. But it’s also like supporting each other and just being a family and doing it like for each other.” 

Becoming champions is no small fete. 

Owner and Head Coach, Julee Vadnais says, their mission is not only to build champions but to instill values that athletes carry beyond the gym, and executing that confidence in front of hundreds of spectators. 

“We have 2.5 minutes to go out there on a 42 by 56ft spring floor as a team and try to execute all of these acrobatic skills with absolute precision and drivers and wow the judges and be graded against other people from all over the country. That’s what’s phenomenal about this club sport.” 

The drive and passion these gymnasts and cheerleaders exude are contagious – so much so, as a former cheerleader myself, I had to get in on the action! 

With its dynamic programs and community spirit, Impulse Elite is not just building champions—it’s building a family. 

Julie says her school isn’t just for the elite, in fact beginners as well. Kids join as early as five years old all the way up to 18 and over.  

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Barney Lerten

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 29-year-old Sisters man was arrested in a guns-drawn traffic stop Wednesday morning on assault, hit-and-run and other charges, accused of hitting a pedestrian on a sidewalk and a short time later brandishing a knife during an argument.

Around 10:50 a.m., Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported hit and run involving a vehicle vs. a pedestrian in the area of West Hood Avenue and Highway 20 West in Sisters, Lt. Chad Davis said.

Deschutes County 911 dispatchers advised a gold-colored sedan had driven up onto the sidewalk at this location in the oncoming lane and struck a pedestrian. Several citizens witnessed the vehicle strike the pedestrian and later provided statements to deputies.

The car was seen leaving the area, heading west on Highway 20, Davis said. Deputies responding to the scene evaluated the pedestrian and began to search for the suspect vehicle.   

The pedestrian, a 35-year-old Sisters man, had minor injuries and refused treatment from medics with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District, Davis said. He received minor scrapes and abrasions from being struck by the driver’s side mirror of the suspect vehicle and was able to walk away from the scene.

At 10:56 a.m., a separate 911 call was received from the Mainline Station at 1001 Rail Way, where there was a reported dispute involving a man who was brandishing a knife. 

Prior to a nearby deputy arriving at Mainline Station, the man with the knife was seen leaving in a gold-colored sedan, Davis said. 

Deputies were able to locate the gold sedan near the original hit-and-run scene, where they performed a high-risk vehicle stop.  

The suspect complied and was taken into custody without incident, Davis said. He was lodged at the Deschutes County Jail in Bend on charges of second-degree assault, failure to perform the duties of a driver involving injury, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, reckless driving, reckless endangering and second-degree disorderly conduct.

Davis said the investigation determined that after the driver struck the man with his vehicle, he drove to Mainline Station, where he got into a separate argument with a 46-year-old Sisters man.

The suspect is accused of brandishing a folding knife at the other man during the verbal confrontation.

Staff at Mainline Station called 911 to report the dispute. Eventually, the suspect drove away from Mainline, heading east on Highway 20, where he was stopped by deputies and taken into custody. 

Davis said neither of the victims had any prior affiliation with the man.

KTVZ News policy is not to name arrested individuals until and unless formal charges are filed.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the incident by officers from the Black Butte Ranch Police Department and medics from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. 

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Barney Lerten

Update: Adding video.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregonians will be honoring service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country at several events around the area on Memorial Day.

Bend’s Memorial Day Service begins at 1 p.m. at the Central Oregon Veterans Memorial at Deschutes Memorial Gardens.

In downtown Bend, volunteers will read the names of every U.S. service member killed in Afghanistan since 2001 and in Iraq since 2003 at the 18th annual “We Are Remembering – Not Just a Number” event at Troy Field Each name is accompanied by the beat of a drum.

Signs listing each of those heroes are also placed around the field during the event, which begins at 8 a.m. and continues until about 11:30 p.m. The reading of names will also be livestreamed.

Bend’s first observance of the day begins at 7 a.m., as the Bend Heroes Foundation and volunteers will honor Bend’s 112 war dead with a moment of silence and by installing flags bearing veterans’ names at  Bend Heroes Memorial in Brooks Park, along Veterans Memorial Bridge,  and downtown Bend.  

Boy Scout Troop 25 has the honor of leading the flag installations, with former Scoutmaster Kelly Reynolds and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Atticus Zmach leading the volunteers. 

Proclamations issued by President Trump and Governor Kotek will be read.  

Foundation Chairman Dick Tobiason will update participants on the recently completed Oregon Gold Star Families Memorial Highway across Oregon on the 477 mile US Hwy 30 between Astoria and the Oregon – Idaho border.  That highway honors the families of about 6,000 wartime veterans from Oregon who made the ultimate sacrifice during war from WWI to the present, including Bend’s 112. The Gold Star highway on  US Hwy 30 is the longest highway in Oregon and the 9th  and final veterans highway across Orego,n initiated by the Foundation. Photos of Gold Star Family members and highway signs will be shown. 

Tobiason will also discuss the National Medal of Honor Highway Act, created by Congress and President Biden last December at his request. That 3,365-mile highway across the USA on US Hwy 20 honors all 3,528 Medal of Honor recipients from all 50 state,s including 29 recipients connected with Oregon and had its origin in Oregon eight years ago.

The National Medal of Honor Highway is the longest highway in our nation. Tobiason kept his promise to WWII Medal of Honor recipient Bob Maxwell, a director of Bend Heroes Foundation, to honor our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients with the coast-to-coast highway. The original Act signed by Congress and President Biden and a highway map will be displayed at 7:00 am. 

Finally, a wreath will be placed by Gold Star Families at the granite monument listing the 112 war dead names at Bend Heroes Memorial before 250 flags are installed. 

The Foundation’s Bend Parade of Flags program began 20 years ago, with BSA Troop 25 as the first youth group to be involved. 

In Redmond, a Memorial Day ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. at Redmond Memorial Gardens and another observance is set for 9 a.m. at the Terrebonne Pioneer Cemetery.

The Sisters veterans community will mark Memorial Day with a gathering at Sisters Village Green Park at 11 a.m.

This year’s keynote speaker is Col. John Miller, U.S. Air Force (Ret.). Miller is a life member and has served as post commander for both the Sisters VFW and American Legion Post, and continues to be an officer in both, The Nugget Newspaper reports.

Prineville’s traditional Memorial Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. and travels from NE Fourth and Main streets, down Fourth Street to Elm Street. It ends at the Memorial Park area of Ochoco Creek Park, where there are POW/MIA and Hotshots monuments.

From there, participants walk north one block and line the Elm Street Bridge across Ochoco Creek for a wreath-laying ceremony.

At 1 p.m., the Prineville Band of Brothers hosts a paver dedication and rededication of the Bob Ervin Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Crook County Fairgrounds.

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Harley Coldiron

(Update: Fun new video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After a record winter and nearly eight feet of snow piling up on the Cascade Lakes Highway, the beloved scenic route opened Thursday morning, giving Central Oregonians access to lakes, trails, and camping.

One of our loyal viewers, Craig Brightwell, sent in videos of him and his dog Canyon enjoying Cultus Lake. It’s one of over a dozen lakes now available to access, just a short drive from Bend.

The 66-mile highway starts in Bend and runs southwest to Crescent in Klamath County.

The Oregon Department of Transportation maintains the highway and usually opens it from Memorial Day Weekend through late October or November.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

BURNS, Ore. (KTVZ) — As the old saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather in Oregon, just wait a minute and it will change.” In late March, the weather changed in the mountains just north of Burns, the snowpack started melting – fast!

Burns is a small community of 2,700 in the high desert of Harney County. On March 30th, the Burns levee on the swollen Silvies River failed, the community was hit by major flooding, affecting hundreds of homes on the north and east side of the community. The flooding was so severe, it could be seen from National Weather Service satellites in space.

The community response was immediate, and help came from far and wide. And the residents of Burns rallied and helped themselves.

The Burns Lions Club, through their member, District Governor Lion Pete Runnels, applied for an emergency grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation. The clock started at 5 p.m. on Monday with the submission of the grant. By 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the $15,000 grant was approved – and by Thursday, the money was in the bank, in only 94 hours.

That was great, but not enough for the Burns Lions, who promptly added $5,000 of their own charitable project fund. The Crooked River Ranch Lions heard about the disaster and sent $1,000. With some quick personal donations, including Parr Lumber staff and Lion Pete, the total dollars to help Burns residents came to just under $22,000.

Lion Pete Runnels connected with the Parr Lumber store in Burns and was met by Manager Jon Case, who was busy trying to get as much sheetrock, subfloor and insulation as could be trucked to Burns in short order. Jon and Burns Parr Lumber were already planning to let affected Burns residents have the product at near-cost.

After some brief number crunching, the sum of $350 per flood victim was settled upon.

When the water receded and Burns residents took the toll of the flood damage, they began flocking to the Parr Lumber store, where they were happy to get products at substantially reduced prices, along with a $350 gift from the Lions.

When everything was said and done, the Lions helped 69 Burns families begin their recovery from the Silvies River flood of 2025.

Lion Pete was quoted saying, “When the waters receded and folks faced the question of where do we start … this assistance was immediate and gave them a starting point and hope to begin the recovery process. There was no ‘red tape,’ so to speak.”

Jon Case replied, “We would do it again in a heartbeat. The appreciation shown from those affected wasmoving.”

As Burns families continue their recovery, the Burns Lions will be there to help. As always, the Burns Lions will make sure underserved community members will get the vision and hearing help they need and that all the K-8 students get quality vision screening, plus so much more.

The Burns Lions say: “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.” The Burns Lions can be reached through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BurnsLionClub/.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: La Pine-area burn proceeds, one near Sisters canceled)

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nearly 240 acres of prescribed burning were taking place Thursday on the Deschutes National Forest northeast of La Pine, putting up a smoke plume visible over a wide area.

Burns on Thor Units 11 and 12 were conducted on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District about four miles northeast of La Pine, along both sides of Paulina Lake Road, a mile west of Ogden Group Camp.

No road or trail closures were expected, but officials said smoke would be visible from La Pine, Sunriver Highway 97 and the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, due to unfavorable conditions, firefighters canceled the 158 acres of prescribed burning planned for Thursday about 3 1/2 west of Sisters, along the north side of Forest Service Road 1012 (Cold Springs Road), and west of Highway 20.

Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when the weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities.

While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn. 

—

Earlier story:

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest plans to conduct two prescribed burn operations Thursday totaling nearly 400 acres on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters ranger districts, if conditions are favorable. 

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct up to 236 acres of ignitions on the Thor Units 11 and 12 Prescribed Burn, located about four miles northeast of La Pine, directly along the north and south sides of Paulina Lake Road, one mile west of Ogden Group Camp.  

Ignitions are slated to begin around 10 a.m. A pilot car and flaggers will be in place along Paulina Lake Road during ignitions. No road or trail closures are anticipated. Smoke will be visible from La Pine, Sunriver, Highway 97, and the surrounding area.

Residents in La Pine and Newberry Estates are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. Smoke impacts are also possible across Highway 97 during ignitions, overnight and in the early morning hours. 

Meanwhile, also on Thursday, Sisters Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct up to 158 acres of ignitions on the Highway 20 Units 81 & 93 Prescribed Burn, located about three and a half miles west of Sisters, along the north side of Forest Service Road 1012 (Cold Springs Road), and west of Highway 20.  

Ignitions are slated to begin around 10:30 a.m. Smoke will be visible from Sisters, Highway 20, and the surrounding area. Residents in Sisters, Tollgate subdivision, Black Butte Ranch and the surrounding area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts.

Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. Smoke impacts are also possible across Highway 20 during ignitions, overnight and in the early morning hours. A pilot car operation will be available if needed. No road or trail closures are anticipated. 

Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing public and firefighter safety. 

Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.  

What does this mean for you? 

During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours.  

All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts. 

If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner. 

If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible. 

When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating. 

If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional. 

Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit When Smoke is in the Air for more smoke preparedness resources. 

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest, visit fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts. 

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend announced Wednesday it will soon be requesting applications for the development of affordable housing, pending Bend City Council approval on Wednesday, June 4.

The total amount of funding available is $5.7 million, and this competitive offering is a combination of three funding sources: $4 million in Pathways to Remove Obstacles (PRO) to Housing Funds, $1.5 million in Affordable Housing Funds (AHF), and $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG).

The PRO Housing Fund is intended to be offered in competitive application cycles, along with the annual Community Development Block Grant and Affordable Housing Fund offerings. Applicants may choose to apply for any or all the funding sources, greatly amplifying the amount of funding available for affordable housing development.

Funds will be targeted to developments with a high feasibility of success, low risk and near-term deadlines, who, without additional funding, will be unable to proceed in the near term. 

By offering the PRO Housing Fund to developers as loans with favorable terms, as opposed to grants, repayments of loans are refunneled into future application cycles, resulting in a long-term impact on the community’s housing and community development needs.

Both nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing developers are encouraged to register for a virtual pre-application training on Wednesday, May 28. A recording of the training and the training slide deck will be available on the City’s website in the Request for Proposals (RFP) section on May 29.

Technical questions should be directed to housing@bendoregon.gov and please include “2025 Funding Application” in the subject line. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers will be posted at theCity’s websitein the Developer Resources section. The FAQ period closes on June 19, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. 

Pending Bend City Council approval on June 4, applicants may access the application starting on Thursday June 5. All applications must be submitted before 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25.

Please see this graphic for a schedule of the funding allocation process.

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