Category: ktvz-local-news

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend has completed its 2025 Street Preservation Program after improving 67 lane miles of the city’s roughly 930 lane miles of roadway. The projects, costing about $4.85 million, focused on using the right treatment at the right time to maximize cost-effective maintenance.

This year’s street preservation work included several key treatments:

Paving: Crews ground out old asphalt and replaced it on existing roadways.

Slurry seal: Applied as a treatment for low-volume residential streets.

Chip seal: Used an asphalt emulsion and rock coating to extend pavement life.

“This work helps extend the life of our roads that are vital to our community,” said Streets & Operations Project Manager Paul Neiswonger.

As the seasons change, the City’s Transportation & Mobility Department is preparing for winter operations and asking residents to do their part to get ready as well. Information about how to prepare for winter driving and what to expect during storms is available at bendoregon.gov/winter.

The City’s winter resources are set for average conditions, but extreme storms can still pose challenges. Each shift includes 18 snowplow operators and 32 pieces of equipment—ranging from light-duty pickups to medium-duty dump trucks and heavy-duty motor graders equipped with plows.

When snow and ice occur, city crews prioritize plowing and sanding the highest-use streets that serve the most drivers, employment areas, schools, and transit routes. Details can be found on the City’s winter street priority map at bendoregon.gov/snow.

“Priority One” routes include main arterials vital for emergency access, Columbia Basin Hospital, bus routes, employment centers, schools, and government facilities. “Priority Two” routes are main collector streets that connect to arterials and include business centers, medical facilities, safe routes to school, and neighborhood connections.

Residential streets are cleared last and may involve contracted crews for support. With Bend’s total of 165 lane miles of arterials, 82 of collectors, and 687 of residential streets, plows and sanding crews must follow this tiered system to maintain efficiency and safety across the city’s network.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Sunriver Brewing Co. has announced the final day for its Galveston Avenue pub in Bend.

On November 1st, the last customers will be served as major changes to the block the brewery sits on are about to take place.

You might remember our previous reporting on the planned transformation after a local family company bought the Bakery Building and the building that once housed Boss Rambler, which they plan to turn into a two-story building with three restaurants and office space on top.

Sunriver Brewing said in a Facebook post Monday that extensive demolition and construction will take place over the next year and it would be unable to operate successfully during that time.

It’s now looking for the right opportunity to return to Bend’s Westside.

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Tracee Tuesday

REDMOND, Ore. {KTVZ} — A plan to open a managed camp in Redmond by winter faced uncertainty after the Redmond City Council deadlocked in a split vote on October 14. The camp, a joint effort between Deschutes County and the City of Redmond, has seen its construction costs rise significantly over the original estimate. 

In August 2025, the city and county entered into an intergovernmental agreement to establish the East Redmond Managed Camp at 1002 NE 17th Street. The project will cover about six acres, providing 72 campsites with temporary shelter, basic services, and case management for people experiencing homelessness. 

Under the agreement, Deschutes County would pay $281,000, and the City of Redmond would contribute $250,000. However, the construction bid came in roughly $145,000 higher than anticipated, something that is extremely common in the industry.

The new projections and data raised the total project cost to $676,118.75. This bid was the lowest of six bids that the County received.

If approved, the amendment to the agreement would require the City and County to split the added cost, bringing Redmond’s share to about $322,559 and the County’s to about $353,559. 

Deschutes County Commissioner Tony DeBone told KTVZ that the county remains committed to the partnership, despite the unexpected increase. 

“I think it’s just a partnership with the City of Redmond. We’re willing to contribute the extra money, but now it’s up to the city to decide if they’ll do the same.” 

During the October 14 council meeting, members voted 3–3 on approving the additional funds. Mayor Ed Fitch was absent, recovering from heart surgery, leaving the council without a tie-breaking vote. 

Councilor Cat Zwicker said councilors wanted more clarity about the reason for the cost increase before proceeding. 

“I think several councilors just wanted to know why we had that increase and what specifically those costs were related to. Having that information would make the decision easier for some.” 

Zwicker also emphasized that while the camp will be located within city limits, it is not exclusively owned by the City of Redmond. 

“This is a joint venture between Redmond and Deschutes County. The county will manage operations for the next couple of years as outlined in the agreement.” 

DeBone, who initially opposed the creation of the camp, now says it offers an important opportunity to provide stable shelter for individuals seeking a path out of homelessness. 

“It’ll be a good opportunity for people who need a place to stay — more stable, more secure. There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s a step in the right direction.” 

The county commissioners delayed their own vote during their October 15 meeting to gather more information on the cost increase.  

The Redmond City Council is expected to revisit the funding question in its next meeting on October 28th, Tuesday night. 

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KTVZ – News Team

(Update: video added)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Boys & Girls Club of Bend announced Monday it has a new CEO, Michael Baker, who will be stepping into the role beginning November 3rd.

Baker has worked with the program since 1988.

Read the full press release below:

“Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend is excited to share a new season of leadership. Michael Baker will step in as Chief Executive Officer on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Baker began his career with Boys & Girls Clubs in 1988, working in the housing projects of New York. For the past two decades, he has served as CEO at Clubs in Anaheim, California and Santa Barbara, California. His leadership has been marked by significant growth in membership, annual revenue and donations, organizational impact, and community visibility, all achieved with a strong commitment to financial and social responsibility.

For more than 30 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend has been a cornerstone for youth and families in Central Oregon, providing safe spaces, caring mentors, and opportunities for growth. Baker’s broad experience will strengthen and guide the Club as it continues to expand its impact in the community, “I am so excited to be the new CEO for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend. There is a great team in place, and the Board is as dedicated as any board I have ever seen in my career. I can’t wait to get started and meet as many of you incredible supporters as possible,” Baker commented.   

Board Chair Danielle Rosenfield shared, “Michael’s arrival marks an exciting moment for our Club and our community. His deep experience and commitment to youth development will help us serve more children and families across Central Oregon. We also know that leadership at Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend is about more than credentials—it’s about connection, humility, and a shared commitment to our youth-centered culture. We are eager to move forward in partnership with our staff, families, and community toward an even stronger future. We’re especially grateful to Bri Slusser for her steady leadership during this interim period, her care and clarity over the past six months have made us stronger and better prepared for what’s ahead.”

Baker will be in Bend just in time for the organization’s annual Flannel & Frost fundraiser on November 15, which will also mark one of his first opportunities to connect with the Club’s supporters and community champions. There will be additional opportunities to connect with him in the months ahead, and he looks forward to getting to know the community.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend has served Central Oregon youth for more than 30 years. The Club provides safe, supportive spaces, positive relationships, and enriching programs that help kids learn, lead, and thrive. Mission: We provide youth opportunities for growth that inspire and empower them to reach their full potential in the classroom, at home, and in our community.”

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KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As Halloween quickly approaches, the American Red Cross is offering five tips to keep you safe while enjoying the holiday.

Below are the tips from the agency:

Trick-or-treaters need to see and be seen.

Try using face makeup instead of a mask. Masks can block little one’s view and make it difficult to see.

Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight to light their way.

Use flame-resistant costumes.

Trick-or-treat routes and Halloween parties often include candles, fire pits, and decorative lighting, which can easily ignite long or flowing costumes. Kids’ costumes often have loose sleeves, capes, or tulle skirts, which are more likely to catch fire — so flame resistance adds vital protection.

Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street.

If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic.

Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner.

Don’t cut across yards or use alleys.

Don’t cross between parked cars.

Drivers – use extra caution. The youngsters may forget to look both ways before crossing.

If you’re handing out treats, turn your porch light on and make sure there’s a clear path to your porch.

Turn on outdoor lights so trick-or-treaters can avoid any obstacles

A grown-up should check the goodies before eating.

Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and choking hazards.

Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.

Before anyone enjoys their candy haul, adults should inspect all treats and remove any loose candy, open packages, or potential choking hazards. Discard any unfamiliar or unbranded items.

The American Red Cross also urges you to download the free Red Cross First Aid App for instant access to expert first aid advice on your mobile phone.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Snow began falling at mid-mountain Friday night at Mt. Bachelor and turned to snow at the base Saturday morning according to the resort.

Mt. Bachelor said it received a foot of snow Saturday night into Sunday morning.

There’s still a lot of prep to do before the moutain can open.

Right now they’re working of lifts, re-painting the lodge and doing parking lot matinaince.

We talked to Lauren burke , director of marketing and commuincation at Mount Bachelor who said “Snow is just the perfect way to get people excited. You see people buying lift tickets, you see them up here shopping in our retail shop, picking up new skis, snowboards, new winter gear. And people are just planning their trip for, later in the season to ”

We caught some people getting in some early ski’ing. Katie Lawrence, told us it was her “First time skinning or touring or whatever you want to call it.”

Local Murray Einerson was keen to get out on the slopes, saying “First day of the year and, we put skins on the bottoms of our skis and then get up to maybe the summit or halfway up and then sit down once, twice, three times. We’ll see”

Take a look at the below images from Mt. Bachelor’s live webcams Monday morning of the Rock Bar patio and West Village parking lot where snow is stacking up!

Rock Bar patio

West Village parking lot

With opening day slated for November 28th, which is less than 5 weeks away, conditions are shaping up for a great season. 

Mt. Bachelor wants to remind you that season passes and daily lift tickets are available to purchase online at mtbachelor.com. It also asks you to be mindful of its operations team as they get ready for the upcoming season.

Stay out of construction zones and out of the way of staff completing ongoing mountain projects across the resort.

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Claire Elmer

CULVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — Culver’s sense of community got a major boost thanks to one local’s dedication. This month, our Pay It Forward segment spotlights resident Cindy Dix, who was recognized for her relentless efforts and work in making a new recreational space in Culver a reality.

With the support of Mid Oregon Credit Union and Dutch Bros Coffee of Central Oregon, Cindy Dix received this month’s Pay It Forward award — a $500 gift as thanks for years of fundraising and commitment to her community.

Cindy was presented with the award as a surprise during the grand opening of Culver’s newest skate park and pickleball courts — a project she was instrumental in making a reality. After years of selling scooters and making caramel corn to raise funds for the project, this award is simply the cherry on top.

“What makes me the happiest is seeing all these kids behind me on their skateboards and down at the other end on their bikes,” Cindy shared after the unexpected announcement, adding, “It means a lot that people know I just gave my all for this project and kept working. There were a ton of people that helped out, but it means a lot to be appreciated”.

School officials and students joined in the celebration, presenting Cindy with a book signed by elementary students expressing their gratitude for the new outdoor play spaces.

Culver Schools superintendent Stefanie Garber praised Cindy as “the example for all of us of what it means to pay it forward,” while Kyle Frick of Mid Oregon Credit Union presented the award, saying, “Thank you for all you do”.

Thanks to Cindy’s dedication and the wider community’s support, the new skate park and pickleball courts now offer fresh opportunities for kids to play and families to gather, boosting safety and active recreation in Culver.

KTVZ and its partners encourage nominations for future Pay It Forward — if you know someone making a positive difference in Central Oregon, you can visit the page here for more details.

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Tracee Tuesday

(Update: adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 29-year-old snowboarder was rescued Sunday afternoon after being injured on the Cinder Cone at Mt. Bachelor, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. 

Deputies say Search and Rescue volunteers were called out just after 12:30 p.m., when the man fell and hit a rock while riding, resulting in severe pain to his hip and ribs. Because of steep terrain and limited access, Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol requested help from Search and Rescue to safely bring him off the mountain. 

A team of fifteen volunteers hiked up to the location to reach the injured snowboarder. After stabilizing him, they carefully carried him down to a snowcat access road, where Mt. Bachelor staff used a snowcat to transport him to the West Village parking area. 

Bend Fire & Rescue then took the snowboarder to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend for further evaluation and treatment shortly after 5 p.m. 

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to its Search and Rescue volunteers, Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol, and Bend Fire & Rescue for their swift response and teamwork during the incident. 

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. {KTVZ} — A beloved Pacific Northwest favorite is making its way to Bend. Signs are officially up at the new Elmer’s location on NE 3rd Street, which is taking over the building formerly home to Shari’s Restaurant. 

The family-style eatery, known for its hearty breakfast plates and welcoming atmosphere, is putting the finishing touches on the space. This week, the exterior received a fresh coat of paint accented with Elmer’s signature blue trim. Outside, banners are up advertising job openings, and newly installed neon signs are lighting up anticipation for the grand opening. 

Elmer’s plans to officially open its doors to the public on November 24th, just in time for the holiday season—a perfect addition for locals and visitors looking for a warm, homestyle meal in a familiar setting. 

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nearly four years after the death of Barry Washington Jr., dozens gathered in downtown Bend this weekend to celebrate his life and unveil a permanent memorial in his honor. The crowd filled the corner of Northwest Wall Street and Oregon Avenue—the same place where Washington was tragically killed in 2021—to dedicate a new bronze plaque marking his memory.  

Family members, friends, and community leaders spoke at the ceremony, including Washington’s mother, LaWanda Roberson, and Redmond City Councilor Clifford Evelyn. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler reflected on how the community united following the tragedy, saying that the memorial symbolizes not only remembrance but resilience. “As someone who has been a prosecutor and a victims’ rights attorney, I’ve seen how gun violence shatters lives,” Kebler said. “I’m proud of our community and how we have followed through—today is a momentous occasion, and we will continue to remember Barry”.   

The 2.5-foot bronze plaque, created by Noble Bronze, features Washington’s image along with a Bible verse and a personal quote. It stands on the sidewalk at the corner where his life was taken. The project was entirely funded by community donations through the grassroots group Central Oregon Earthseeds, without taxpayer money, and was approved under the City of Bend’s “Memorials and Monuments in Public Rights of Way” program.  

Washington, who had recently moved to Bend from the Bay Area, was 22 when he was shot outside a nightclub in September 2021. The encounter began after he complimented a woman and escalated into a confrontation with her fiancé, Ian Cranston.  

In 2022, a jury convicted Cranston of first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon, sentencing him to ten years in prison.  

For many in Bend, the memorial represents more than remembrance—it is a call for unity and compassion.  

Saturday’s dedication, marked by emotion and solidarity, reinforced a collective commitment to healing. For Bend residents, the monument now stands as a lasting testament to Barry Washington Jr.’s life—and to the community’s continuing pursuit of justice and togetherness. 

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