Category: ktvz-local-news

Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. {KTVZ} — Saturday, festival goers braved the heat, as they were eager to take in all that the festival has to offer; from live music and art booths; to craft beer, food trucks and more. 

Organizers planned ahead, setting up misting tents, seating, and plenty of shaded spots to keep things cool. 

When the heat got intense, many found relief with a cold drink or a scoop of ice cream. 

Now in its 32nd year, the Bend Summer Festival continues to be a major draw for locals and visitors alike. Plus, there’s still time to join in. 

The festival wraps up tomorrow evening, with more performances, local shopping, and family fun. 

Whether you’re chasing good music, great food, or just a classic bend summer moment — the festival is sure to deliver.  

Attendance to the festival and its events, are free. 

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend man is facing multiple charges following a domestic violence investigation Friday in a southeast Bend neighborhood.

The suspect was arrested and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on charges of fourth-degree assault, strangulation, coercion, and tampering with a witness, according to Bend Police.

Officers responded to a report of domestic violence near Cheyenne Road and Comanche Lane. Investigators say the suspect physically assaulted a 52-year-old Bend resident, causing injury, and attempted to prevent the victim from calling 911.

The male, Bend resident, later barricaded himself inside his home. He was arrested by the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (CERT) and taken into custody without further incident.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

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KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A startling scene unfolded on Bend’s westside late Saturday afternoon when a downed power line near Century Drive sparked a small fire and prompted an emergency response.

The incident was first reported around 4:55 p.m. in the 200 block of Century Drive, near McDonald’s. Video captured by witnesses shows the power line bursting into flames, igniting nearby bushes.

Bend Fire & Rescue quickly responded and extinguished the flames before they could spread.

Southwest Century Drive remains closed as Pacific Power crews work to repair the damaged line and ensure the area is safe for both drivers and pedestrians. Power outages were reported in parts of Bend’s westside during the incident.

The cause of the power line damage is still unknown.

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Claire Elmer

(Update: Containment level grows to 55%)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — As of Tuesday morning, containment of the Highland Fire in Crook County is now at 55%. All evacuation levels have been reduced to a level 1 or 2.

According to Central Oregon Fire Info, “Yesterday crews strengthened the fire perimeter byreinforcing existing lines to enhance containment efforts. As a result, containment is now at 55%. Firefighters also continued to locate and cool hot spots within the fire perimeter, and complete fuel reduction treatments around structures such as tree limbing, juniper thinning, and hazard tree removal. Overnight, the fire line remained secure after being tested by high winds. Today, crews will continue mop efforts around the perimeter of the fire and have a goal to get 50 feet in depth around the fire.”

Click here to view current evacuation zones and levels.

EARLIER REPORTING:

Following a conflagration declaration by Governor Tina Kotek on Saturday evening, multiple agencies worked through the night and the weekend to establish fire lines on the Highland Fire in Crook County, and reported significant progress Monday, allowing some evacuees to return home.

As of Monday morning, the fire burning southeast of Prineville has now been mapped at a reduced 719 acres. The fire was previously reported at 1,500 acres on Sunday before being reduced early Monday morning.

According to the latest release from Central Oregon Fire Info, wildfire teams have made early progress strengthening the fire line and have the fire at 5% containment.

That brought good news late Monday afternoon from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office:

HIGHLAND FIRE (EVACUATION UPDATE) 07/14/25 3:45pm

“CCSO Emergency Management consulted with the Incident Management Team, and we have determined that the Longhorn Subdivision can be reduced to a LEVEL 2 BE SET, with restricted access to homeowners only.

Homeowners within the Longhorn Subdivision may return at their own discretion, but understand that if conditions change, you may be asked to leave and need to be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

There are still hot spots within the fire that could reignite. Please also understand that you may see flames and/or smoke during the day or night. Please utilize the non-emergency line for re-igniting trees. If there is an imminent threat, please utilize 9-1-1

Firefighters are still in the area attending to the hot spots and mopping up. Please be mindful of moving apparatus and personnel.”

—

Evacuation orders have been revised and reduced – view the most up-to-date evacuation map and information at Watch Duty.

Congressman Cliff Bentz told KTVZ News today in an email that he was happy that the White House authorized the funding, “We must protect the homes, infrastructure, and natural resources threatened by this dangerous wildfire. This authorization will help the Crook County Community. I will continue to work with FEMA and other agencies as they respond to wildfires”.

Claire Elmer returned to Prineville Monday morning to get the latest information on the fire and its impacts. Her report airs on KTVZ News at 5:00 p.m.

Monday morning update from Crook County Sheriff’s office:

Crews from various local, state, and federal agencies have made substantial progress on the Highland Fire, with no reported loss of structures. In coordination with these firefighting efforts, the Crook County Sheriff’s Office has reduced some of the evacuation levels in areas around the fire’s perimeter.

LEVEL 3 GO NOW is still in effect for the Longhorn Subdivision, and there is a road closure at the entrance.

LEVEL 2- Areas in the reduced Level 2 area include Maphet Road and Bonnie Road.

LEVEL 1- Areas in the reduced Level 1 include SE Ridgeview, SE Indian, and PLA 1 & 2

Please be aware that there are still active hot spots and smoke within the fire perimeter. Fire crews remain on scene and continue working to protect homes and nearby areas. We appreciate your continued patience during this ongoing effort.

Please continue to monitor our Facebook page and other platforms such as Watch Duty, Genasys, Crook County Alerts, and Crook County Fire and Rescue for specific information on your location/residence.

—

News release from Federal Emergency Management Agency:

FEMA Authorizes Funds to Fight Highland Fire in Oregon

BOTHELL, Wash.  –  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Highland Fire burning in Crook County, Oregon.

The state of Oregon’s request for a declaration under FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program was approved by FEMA Region 10 Acting Administrator Vincent J. Maykovich on Saturday July, 12, 2025, at 10:58 p.m. PT. He determined that the Highland Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the fourth FMAG declaration in 2025 to help fight Oregon wildfires. 

At the time of the state’s request, the wildfire threatened homes in and around the community of Prineville Lake Acres. The fire was also threatening roads, infrastructure, utilities, a watershed, and wildlife resources.  

FMAGs make funding available to pay up to 75 percent of a state’s eligible firefighting costs for fires that threaten to become major disasters. Eligible items can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire. These grants do not provide assistance to individual home or business owners and do not cover other infrastructure damage caused by the fire.  

—

As of Monday morning, the Highland Fire had cost $1.9 million to fight, according to the National Interagency Fire Center’s daily situation report.

Structure protection efforts remain underway around homes and in neighborhoods. At this time, there have been no reports of any structures lost. Central Oregon Fire told KTVZ News late Sunday afternoon the entire perimeter of the fire is now lined — either with wet lines or hand lines.

The agencies that responded to the fire include the Central Oregon Structural Task Forces, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, and Oregon Department of Forestry. Central Oregon Fire said multiple counties across Oregon have sent their crews to the area to assist in efforts as well.

A temporary evacuation shelter is set up at Eastside Church at 3174 NE 3rd Street in Prineville. For large animals, Brasada Ranch has opened its Rim Rock Riders arena at 16976 SW Brasada Ranch Road in Powell Butte.

As of Sunday evening, Rim Rock Riders said they have received around 20 animals and still have space remaining for more. If you have questions regarding large animal evacuation to Brasada, you can contact Kerri Jo at 541-980-7911.

At this time, the fire has initially been determined to be human caused and the thorough and complete investigation is currently ongoing. To maintain the integrity of the investigation, no additional information is being released until the investigation is finalized.

A Highland Fire community meeting was held at 6pm on Sunday at Barnes Butte Elementary School. The meeting video can be viewed here.

The update from Central Oregon Fire released on July 14th, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. can be read in its entirety in the PDF attached below.

Highland Fire Update_07142025_AM[60]Download

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Summer Festival kicked off Friday and runs through Sunday in downtown Bend. The festival is a celebration of summer in Central Oregon, along with arts, culture, and community.

You can enjoy live music, performances, food, and a variety of vendors. Attendance and events are free to the public. For information on events, schedules, and more, you can visit Bend Summer Festival’s website.

KTVZ News will be present on Saturday to share some of the fun. A new weekend report will air this evening on KTVZ News at 10 p.m.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — M.C. Smith Signs, a trusted name in custom signage and branding solutions, proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Since opening its doors in 1975, the company has grown from a small local sign shop into a respected leader known for creativity, craftsmanship and customer dedication. 

For five decades, M.C. Smith Signs has helped businesses of all sizes across Central Oregon make their mark through expertly designed and fabricated signage. From storefront signs and wayfinding systems to large-scale branding installations, the company has continuously adapted to new technologies while staying true to the values that have fueled its success: quality, service, and integrity. 

“This milestone is not just about looking back – it’s about honoring the relationships, community, and innovation that have brought us here,” said Chis Linderman, owner of M.C. Smith Signs. 

“We’re grateful to our clients, employees, and partners who have supported us through every chapter. As we look to the future, we’re more committed than ever to delivering signage that inspires and endures.” 

About M.C. Smith Signs 

Founded in 1975, M.C. Smith Signs is a full-service signage company specializing in custom design, fabrication, and installation. Serving a diverse client base across commercial, institutional and municipal sectors, the company combines modern technology with a commitment to craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.  

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Isabella Warren

(Update: Adding video, comments from ODF)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– We’re just a week into July, and already this fire season has been busy. In just 10 days, hundreds of wildland firefighters have been deployed across the state following intense lightning and dry conditions.

Officials with the Oregon Department of Forestry say that, so far this season, it is similar to last year, though they have seen more vehicle-sparked fires. 

However, the early start we saw in June with the Rowena and Fairy fires is causing long-term staffing issues. KTVZ News spoke Friday with ODF on how they track lightning strikes in the area, and what they’re preparing for this August. 

“We have the multi-mission aircraft, and that aircraft will then go up and basically follow behind the storms,” said Public Affairs Officer Jessica Neujahr. “They’ll go up and start detecting fires so that we can get firefighters out to new starts as early as possible.”

She said, however, later fires in August could put a strain on staffing: “It kind of puts a bit more of a strain on those resources. So we are anticipating the fire season to pick up even more. And we’re preparing for that.”

In August of 2024, nearly 13,000 wildland firefighters were on the ground in Oregon, battling the mega-fires burning in the east. Because this year’s season started early, officials have already dipped into the state wildfire funding. Governor Tina Kotek had recommended dipping into the state’s rainy day fund to help, as last year’s season cost the state $350 million.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Smith sentenced to nearly 28 years in prison)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On the day of his scheduled murder trial for killing his mother, a Bend man was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 28 years in prison on a reduced charge of manslaughter, along with two other crimes.

Joshua Lawrence Smith, 42, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge after the March 20, 2024 killing of his mother, Janice Marie Smith, 59, at the Legacy Landing Apartments in northeast Bend.

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels told KTVZ News last year that Smith’s mother died of blunt force trauma after a “violent physical interaction” between the mother and son.

Smith’s eight-day murder trial initially was set for April, but was delayed three months at his attorney’s request, seeking more time to prepare and review evidence. He was sentenced on the day the trial was set to begin.

The murder charge alleged Smith “unlawfully and intentionally” caused his mother’s death. In the plea petition Smith signed on July 3 and included below, he admitted having “unlawfully and recklessly” caused her death “under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.”

The petition said prosecutors and the defense would jointly recommend that Circuit Judge Alycia Herriott sentence Smith to 20 years in prison, including 10 years as a Measure 11 crime and the first 10 for which he will be “eligible for good time.” Herriott agreed to those terms, court records show, and Smith also was ordered to pay $2,010 in crime victim restitution.

Smith also admitted to criminal mistreatment in the killing, a charge connected to the victim’s senior age. That brought a recommended five-year prison term, including 33 months served consecutively to the manslaughter conviction and 27 months concurrently

Smith also signed a separate plea petition on July 2, admitting to aggravated harassment that brought a recommended 50 months (just over four years) in prison, admitting he spat on a Bend Police detective.

Gunnels told us Wednesday, “The victim’s daughter and defendant’s sister, Jessica Smith, was present and made a statement to the judge before sentencing. She told the judge how much she missed her mother and that she did not believe her brother had killed their mother on purpose.

“She said this happened because he was not on his medication, but she will be there for him when he gets out of prison someday. She agreed with the sentence imposed by the court,” the DA said.

Smith also spoke to the judge and courtroom, when it was his time to make a statement.

“He said he regretted what happened that day and he appreciated that his family was in court to support him,” Gunnels said.

Joshua Smith plea petitionDownload

Joshua Smith criminal mistreatment plea petitionDownload

Joshua Smith aggravated harassment pleaDownload

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Claire Elmer

(Update: Adding video, adding interview with professor and students, information on project)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — OSU-Cascades students in Hospitality Management and Engineering have been working together since 2018, hoping to better understand and reduce food waste. With the help of new technology and crucial community partners, they are doing just that — and even more.

Students have created a system that identifies food plated prior to consumption, then tracks leftovers. Their goal is to see what frequently goes to waste and track nutritional intake.

Hospitality Management student Pickett Johnson told KTVZ News, “We’re basically calculating food waste. That’s something that’s never really tracked otherwise. We’re trying to figure out how much is getting sent back, to better track for sustainability and environmental reasons.”

The saying “you can’t manage what you can’t track” was the idea behind this system. 

Todd Montgomery, a professor at OSU-Cascades, was present during the test.

“This is going to help inform,” Montgomery said. “The larger research objective is understanding post-consumer food waste, and also help identifying malnutrition to help improve health outcomes.”

OSU-Cascades partnered with the Council on Aging of Central Oregon, which regularly provides meals to seniors in Central Oregon. That provided prime test conditions, giving students the opportunity to track a large number of meals before and after consumption.

Engineering student Luke Bensching explained how the technology works. 

“What we do is we take a photo of the food before it goes out, and we’re able to get a weight. Then there’s the AI recognition. Once it comes back from the consumer, we’ll take another photo and get the difference in volume and the difference in weight to determine if they’re wasting certain foods, and if maybe Council on Aging folks should do different types of options.”

OSU-Cascades completed their final test of the technology this week and intends to put the system into production right away.

They say none of this would have been possible without the assistance of Central Oregon Health Quality Alliance, which provided the funding, and also the participation of the Council on Aging, coupled with the commitment of their students.

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon is home to one of seven US Forest Service bases in the country—where smokejumpers convene and set out to be the first line of defense against wildfires.

A smokejumper mid-air. Credit: BLM

KTVZ News took a trip to the Redmond Air Base and got a behind-the-scenes look at what a day in the life of a Redmond Smokejumper entails.

Redmond Smokejumper hanging up a parachute

“Very few people get to go where we go and experience it the way we do,” Josh Cantrell, a smokejumper and the base manager, told KTVZ News.

Josh Cantrell

Cantrell has been a smokejumper for nearly 30 years.

“There are different things that trigger different memories. (One of my favorite memories) could be jumping an August fire in Warm Springs and being surrounded by huckleberries next to a lake. It could be the first fire that I jumped ever out of Silver City, New Mexico. We jumped at about 37 acres (burned). And by the time we were done with it, it was about 37,000 acres. So we didn’t catch that one, but it’s a memorable fire in that sense,” said Cantrell. “My career is really littered with those, just that experience of who’s been here before?”

He detailed what the unique job requires.

“I don’t know that there’s a typical day in the life of a smokejumper. I think that you show up in the morning, you say ‘Here’ when your name is called, but you can end up really anywhere in the Western United States by day’s end,” Cantrell said. “Because we have airplanes, we can cover a great distance…Even days after a lightning event or a cell that moves through, we can still staff those fires long after the storms have moved through. So really, it’s unpredictable.”

Smokejumpers exiting a plane. Credit: USDA Forest Service

While jumping out of planes to fight fires is one of the main aspects, a lot more goes in to the position than one might realize.

The crew sews all of their own gear, pack and load up their cargo, and when the alarm sounds—they hop into a plane to be the first line of defense against a wildfire.

Smokejumper gear ready for action

“We’re no different than any of the public that we’re here working for. Just as a public employee, we work at the privilege of the public and are happy to provide that resource and do what we do. Somebody selected us to do this, and I think we consider that a privilege to continue to do it,” Cantrell said. “What makes you want to become a smokejumper? Well, I’d say, like most other smokejumpers here or firefighters, it started as a summer job that was rewarding, entertaining, fulfilling. And that’s what you end up doing while you’re figuring out what you’re going to do. And then you get to my age.”

A special privilege—protecting our communities and land.

“I think that everybody here has that same sense of public service and is happy to do this,” said Cantrell. “I mean, for most firefighters, it is. It’s a bit of an adventure to go around wherever in the Western United States and sleep in the dirt, sleep on a hillside, go put a fire out.”

To learn more about the Redmond Smokejumpers, click here.

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