Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Senior High School hosted an open house Thursday evening to show the early designs for the new auditorium, replacing the facility that was demolished last year due to structural issues.

 The new plans include ways to showcase more Bend High spirit. Including its wall of notable alumni.

The new auditorium will also feature balcony seating, but one thing that’s not changing is the number of seats available. Despite the two-story design allowing for more seats, the school’s going to keep the same capacity and spread people out a little.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An Antique and Artisan Market is being held at Sundance Meadows Ranch in southeast Bend. Local artists, antique vendors, and even young entrepreneurs are showcasing their finds and talents.

It’s a family-run event put on by two sisters — they even received a little help from their granddaughters and 93-year old mother.

Event organizer Terri Burton said, “We’re doing the Bend Antique and Artisan Show, which is to highlight our local artists and some antique dealers from the area. We have just a variety of things. We’re trying to highlight local people.”

Two of the local vendors are teenage entrepreneurs — and also, sisters. Their mother spoke about the opportunity to share their work with the community.

“The joy of these events is often all the people that you meet, and so it’s really fun when the community comes out and enjoys old and new alongside each other,” Jamie Wallace said of her daughters’ bakery and artwork businesses.

Representatives from Sundance Meadows are on-site to answer questions about their facilities as well. Though their 900-acre ranch has been in existence since the 1970s, many locals are unaware they have family-friendly recreation activities, lodging, and even an RV park.

The event runs both Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s being held in the recreation hall of Sundance Meadows Ranch, located at 60335 Arnold Market Road.

Admission to the market is free; however, if you’d like to make a donation, it’s accepting canned goods for The Giving Plate’s food bank throughout the event.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend city councilors held an emergency meeting Friday afternoon, mostly in closed-door executive session, then voted 6-0 to have staff “take all steps necessary,” including joining in legal action, to challenge cuts in crucial federal grants.

The city council called the executive session under the condition outlined by Oregon Revised Statute 192.660 (2)(h), “to consult with legal counsel concerning current litigation or litigation likely to be filed.”

After that session, which lasted about 25 minutes, the council reconvened in public and approved without further discussion the following motion, made by Mayor Melanie Kebler, on a 6-0 vote (Councilor Ariel Mendez was absent):

“The City has been awarded federal funding for critical City projects. As the public is aware, there is uncertainty in the federal government around grants for public agencies. Things are moving quickly. The City now wishes to take steps to protect its interests. 

“Therefore, I move to authorize the City Manager and the City Attorney to take all steps they deem necessary, including joining litigation to protect the city’s interests in federal grant funding and to update Council in future executive sessions as necessary.” 

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KTVZ News Team

(update: adding numbers)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Community Action Target Team participated in the “Click it or Ticket Seat Belt Safety Campaign” over Memorial Day Weekend.

During the focused patrol, the CATT team made 43 traffic stops, issued 13 citations, and gave out 33 warnings. They also responded to several crashes.

Law enforcement will keep focusing on the five main dangerous behaviors that lead to crashes: lane safety, occupant safety, distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving.

Here’s more about the campaign:

Beginning Monday, May 19th and extending through Sunday, June 1st, law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon will use federally funded enforcement hours to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws including a law passed in 2017 increasing safety for children under age two.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading nationwide cause of death for children ages one through twelve years old. In 2022, 1,697 children under twelve were injured in Oregon traffic crashes, 16 percent were reported not using a child restraint system. It is estimated that car seats may increase crash survival by 71% for infants under one year old and by up to 59% for toddlers aged one to four. Booster seats may reduce the chance of nonfatal injury among four to eight year olds by 45% compared to safety belts used alone.

Of the 23,959 passenger vehicle occupants killed in the United States in 2023, nearly 50% of those killed were not buckled.

In 2017 an Oregon law was passed requiring children to ride in a rear-facing safety seat until they are at least two years old. A child over age two must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age eight or 4’ 9” in height and the adult belt fits them correctly.

The 2017 law, which extends the rear-facing requirement from the previous age one to age two, will better protect the child’s head, neck, and spine from potential crash injuries. This is because a rear-facing seat spreads crash forces evenly across the seat and child’s body while also limiting forward or sideways motion of the head.

Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle; being completely ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly.

For help selecting or installing child car seats, consult the seat manufacturer’s instructions, your vehicle owner’s manual, or visit a local child seat fitting station listed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats#inspection-inspection

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A former music teacher for the Bend La-Pine School district was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday following a multi-agency investigation regarding his online sexual abuse of children.

Erik Ekstrom, 37, was sentenced to a total of 240 months in prison (including time served), with three years of post-prison supervision, Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels said in a news release Friday, which continues below.

Mr. Ekstrom also will be required to register as a sex offender. The sentence was imposed by the Honorable Wells B. Ashby following Mr. Ekstrom’s guilty pleas to two counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, two counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, one count of Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct and one count of Luring a Minor.

In 2022, the Oregon Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip was from Snapchat, which reported that an account in Deschutes County had shared child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with another user.

Detectives from the Bend Police Department were able to trace the upload to Mr. Ekstrom’s residence. At the time of the tip, Mr. Ekstrom was employed by the Bend-La Pine school district as a music teacher. He taught at Summit High School, Cascade Middle School and Pacific Crest Middle School.

Further investigation showed that Mr. Ekstrom, using pseudonyms, solicited and enticed children as young as 13 years old to engage in sexual acts online. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was able to locate several victims around the country and the world.

Gunnels said the District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Bend Police Department for its thorough investigation. The investigation was led by Detective Ian Macdonell.

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After six months of being an empty storefront, the former Shari’s location on Bend’s northside will soon once again be a casual place to dine in and eat – with deep roots in Oregon. Compass Commercial, who owns the property off of Highway 97, confirmed to KTVZ News that Elmer’s Restaurants has leased the location.

The website for the group of Elmer’s Restaurants lists their location in Bend, and says it’s set to open in September of this year.

Starting as Elmer’s Colonial Pancake House in Portland way back in 1960, the company has since grown to 29 locations, but has maintained deep roots to Oregon and the Northwest.

KTVZ News has observed crews working on the location all week. Our cameras captured caution tape all around the building and a sign saying, “This building is closed for remodel.”

Elmer’s website notes the many Pacific Northwest vendors they use and the value in “delivering seasonally fresh entrees and premium, made-from-scratch favorites served with care in a warm, inviting family atmosphere.”

They are well known for their pancakes and use Walt Elmer’s original recipe from 1960. Though they serve breakfast all day, they also have a lunch and dinner menu.

The restaurant franchise has locations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California and Arizona.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Beginning the first week of June, Central Oregon Irrigation District will begin fire fuels reduction work on a 150-acre property in southwest Bend. The heavily vegetated site, located in the steep Deschutes River Canyon, is owned by COID and borders densely developed residential areas.

The project is being conducted to reduce wildfire risk and create defensible space for key COID infrastructure and the surrounding community, in compliance with City of Bend code requirements and in coordination with local fire and forestry experts.

“These fuel breaks will reduce fuel, reduce fire risk, and improve forest health,” said Nate Goodwin, International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist with Timber Stand Improvement.

COID has owned and managed the property since the early 1900s.

“This is about protecting our infrastructure and being a good neighbor,” said COID Managing Director Craig Horrell. “With the growth in Bend and increasing wildfire risks, this kind of mitigation work is essential.”

The property houses critical components of COID’s water delivery system, including the diversion point for the Central Oregon Canal, pipelines, a forebay structure, and the district’s siphon hydropower facility.

COID also partners with the Bend Park and Recreation District to manage the trail system that runs through the property for public use. The agencies are working together to post trail closure signage at appropriate locations, as well as communicating to the public about the planned closures.

COID will establish two shaded fuel breaks, one near the top of the canyon and one along the canal access road and pipeline. Treatments will include selective tree thinning (10

foot spacing), limbing lower branches to a height of six to eight feet, and the removal of ladder fuels. COID collaborated with Bend Fire & Rescue, the Deschutes County Forester, and Timber Stand Improvement to develop the project plan.

“I have toured the property with COID staff and Nate Goodwin, Certified Arborist with Timber Stand Improvement,” said Bend Fire & Rescue Fire Inspector Melissa Steele. “The property is densely overgrown with immature trees, ladder fuels, and low-hanging branches. Given the surrounding development, it’s in our community’s best interest to mitigate fire risk. Bend Fire & Rescue fully supports this project.”

Work along the COID access road and pipeline will begin in early June and is expected to take approximately three weeks. During this time, the access road and other areas of the property will be closed to the public. COID and BPRD requests that community members respect these closures for safety.

For updates or questions, please contact COID at 541-548-6047.

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Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. –(KTVZ)– Pilot Butte Middle School held a showcase extravaganza. It was a night showcasing capstone projects by the eighth graders. They were encouraged to develop a project about something they care about and something that can make their community a better place. Many of these projects produce real results and work with local groups like Street Dog Hero or The Shepherd’s House.

Penelope Stout, a PBMS 8th grader told KTVZ news “A big part of it was that with the school assignment you have all the resources you need laid out in front of you and you do it. For this it was different because you kind of had to go and figure out yourself and communicate with people and talk to people and kind of do it for yourself and so yeah that was pretty cool it was different and I liked it.”

Brynn Johansen, another PBMS 8th grader told KTVZ news “This night and this project was an opportunity for all of the students at Pilot Butte to show something that they really cared about and be able to um work in their community and actually make a difference.”

Some students actually gave TED talk style presentations for their projects alongside these serious projects there were also games and food.

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Jillian Fortner

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Oregon experienced its most severe wildfire season on record in 2024, with an estimated 1.9 million acres of forest and grassland burned.

“The 2024 fire season definitely was exceptional,” said Ben Walen, a forest resource officer with the Oregon Department of Forestry.

With summer quickly approaching, the threat of wildfire is once again top of mind, and it’s changing the way we build and protect our communities.

More and more neighborhoods in Central Oregon are joining Firewise USA, a nationwide network of neighborhoods actively working together to decrease the risk of wildfires.

Oregon ranks second in the nation for the number of Firewise communities, just behind California.

32 communities were added across the state last year, bringing the total to nearly 300.

“There’s 70-plus Firewise communities in Deschutes County alone,” Walen said.

The program is grounded in science, showing fire doesn’t consume everything in its path. By adjusting vegetation and fuels around the home, homeowners can significantly reduce the chances of a fire igniting nearby.

One of the core components is defensible space around the home.

Bend Fire & Rescue Fire Inspector Melissa Steele said, “What we’re talking about is that critical, immediate zone. That first five feet around your home. When there are embers flying everywhere, when there’s a wildfire in the area, what is it landing in?”

Defensible space can look like spaced-out trees and shrubs, removing mulch and using fire-resistant plants. Anyone can practice defensible space, but in Firewise communities, you’ll see many houses adopting a set of standards.

Kirk Schueler is the president and CEO of Brooks Resources, a real estate developer in Central Oregon. The company has helped develop neighborhoods that participate in the Firewise USA program, including Discovery West in Bend.

“Most of the neighborhoods on the west side, in fact most of Bend, is considered to be in the wildland urban interface where there is some higher risk of fire damage,” Schueler said.

Firewise isn’t just for neighborhoods. Central Oregon Community College will become the second school in the United States to join the program.

Paula Simone, associate professor of fire science at COCC, said, “I think we’re the first one in Oregon, so hopefully that will be an example for others to follow, which would be great.”

The college recently hosted a wildfire preparedness fair, sharing information about Firewise and defensible space with the community.

While wildfires can’t be prevented, many people feel more confident knowing they’re taking steps to protect what matters most.

“We live in Central Oregon,” Steele said. “It is a high-hazard area. We can’t change that. What we can change is the risk to yourself and to your home.”

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Doorbell cameras can catch wonderful scenes of nature and life – but sometimes, they can also record a very frustrating, even dangerous encounter.

That’s what was captured and shared with KTVZ News this week by a southwest Bend resident, Jonathan Elwing.

“We just caught our neighbor’s two large loose dogs running onto our property and chasing a herd of six deer off (babies included), ran the deer into the street and blocks away,” he told us.

Elwing called it “a perfect example of why dogs should not be unleashed where not allowed (especially when they chase wildlife, which is not only against Oregon law, but is a grave threat to the poor wildlife who have enough to contend with as they struggle to survive in the ever-encroaching urban environment).”

He told us he called police about what happened, and he thought it was an especially timely message to share, considering the current joint effort by the Bend Park and Recreation District and Bend Police to remind pet owners about leash requirements and the safety benefits of keeping dogs on leash.

BPRD’s park stewards have been partnering with Bend PD community service officers this week, visiting several parks and trails to talk with dog handlers about expectations and park rules.

KTVZ News contacted Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller, who pointed out that the consequences can indeed be costly – and not just for the wildlife, other dogs or people off-leash dogs can encounter, harass … or sometimes far worse.

The yearly Bend Parks/Police engagement campaign aims to inform community members about the possible enforcement actions for letting dogs run off-leash. It can include a 30-day exclusion from park district property and/or a $250 fine and being held responsible for a dog’s actions in civil or criminal cases.

“Dogs are required to be controlled on a tethered leash inside the City of Bend, unless they’re in a designated off-leash dog area or on private property (for example, your yard, or the yard of a friend who has given you permission to have your dog off-leash there),” Miller told us.

“If you are the owner of a nuisance animal (one which, according to Bend city code, injures or kills an animal belonging to a person other than the owner or keeper of the animal, bites a person, chases people or vehicles, that sort of thing), you could be cited for a Class A violation.”

“Our community service officers typically will try to educate community members first – and then, if your dog continues to be a problem, you could be cited.”

“As you can imagine, our officers and CSOs must prioritize emergencies and threats to life and property before nuisance dogs, but if a dog injures someone or an animal, that would be a more emergent call for us to respond to.”

“The leash law applies to everyone – even you!” Miller said. “You may think your dog is nice, and that you have control of your dog. But it’s not always about your dog – it’s about other people and other dogs around you. So putting your dog on a leash and having control of your dogs is important, for everyone’s safety.”

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