Category: ktvz-local-news

Felicity Desuasido

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management is organizing volunteer events across Oregon and Washington in honor of National Public Lands Day on Sept. 26. National Public Lands Day is America’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands, in which volunteers are able to get outside and give back to their communities.

Volunteers looking to contribute in Central Oregon can help out in the Prineville District through two main events.

The Reynolds Pond Restoration Project, which will take place Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will consist of a site cleanup to keep the area pristine and in its natural state. The Hampton Butte Rockhound Site Cleanup, taking place on Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will help to fill in holes left by rock collectors at the popular collecting location.

Other volunteer tasks across the Pacific Northwest include activities like beach cleanups, trail maintenance and historic preservation work across nine distinct BLM districts. Participants may receive free entrance coupons or volunteer t-shirts while supplies last.

Morgan Rubanow, who serves as an outreach specialist for BLM Oregon and Washington, said the volunteer day welcomes people of all backgrounds.

“We are hosting incredible events across Oregon and Washington,” Rubanow said. “Whether you are a seasoned hiker, a history enthusiast, or looking for a fun day out with the family, there is truly something for everyone.”

The BLM emphasized that volunteer efforts directly impact the health and accessibility of our shared public lands.

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Kelsey Merison

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Crook County Search and Rescue K-9 team recently had the opportunity to learn from an experienced canine expert, thanks to support from the local community.

Fundraising efforts helped the team bring in Robert Noziska for specialized training with the search and rescue dogs.

Noziska previously served as Special Operations Supervisor and Canine Coordinator for the U.S. Border Patrol Special Operations Group in El Paso, Texas.

During the training, the Crook County K-9s were able to build their skills alongside an instructor with extensive experience working with and training working dogs.

The opportunity is another example of how community support can help local search and rescue teams strengthen their capabilities and better prepare to serve the community.

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Felicity Desuasido

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A motorcyclist was injured in a crash involving another vehicle on South Highway 97, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The crash occurred at 6th Street in La Pine on the afternoon of Sept. 15.

Emergency responders with the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District transported the injured motorcycle driver to St. Charles-Bend for further evaluation and treatment.

The crash led to a temporary closure of the southbound lanes on South Highway 97, but they are now being reopened.

The Oregon State Police is still investigating the cause of the crash.

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Kelsey Merison

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — September is National Child Passenger Safety Month, and Crook County Fire & Rescue is helping local families make sure children are riding safely.

CCFR will host a free Car Seat Clinic on September 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at its main station, located at 500 NE Belknap Street in Prineville.

The clinic will provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to have their child’s car seat checked and learn more about proper installation and child passenger safety.

Families are encouraged to take advantage of the free event as part of National Child Passenger Safety Month.

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Felicity Desuasido

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth, a program operated by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, will host a fall training class for volunteers interested in mentoring children with an incarcerated parent. The 3.5-hour orientation session is scheduled for Sept. 26.

The training class covers program policies, techniques for establishing a mentor relationship, communication skills and the impact of incarceration on families. Attendance is free, but advanced registration is required for participants.

Following initial training, prospective mentors must undergo background checks before being matched with a child who shares similar interests. Program guidelines require volunteers to commit to spending a few hours per week with their matched child for a minimum of one year.

Time spent between mentors and children often includes participating in outdoor activities, exploring the community, working on art and craft projects, or simply spending time talking with each other.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Local Government Grant Program Advisory Committee will meet Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 to evaluate 43 applications requesting a portion of approximately $17 million in available funding for outdoor recreation projects across Oregon.

Established in 1999, the Local Government Grant Program directs state lottery revenue toward grants for eligible applicants to acquire, develop or rehabilitate outdoor park and recreation facilities.

The three-day meeting will be held virtually on Zoom. Members of the public may attend the meeting, though no time will be allocated for public comment. Meeting details, agendas and project proposal lists are accessible online.

Applicants will begin by giving brief presentations of their proposed projects. The committee will then evaluate and score each submission to establish a priority ranking list of projects recommended for funding.

The 10-member committee represents cities, counties, park and recreation districts, port districts, people with disabilities and the general public, as well as various geographic regions of the state. Administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the program is coordinated by Jennifer Dimsho.

Once the priority ranking list is completed, it will be submitted to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for final review and approval.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Economic Development for Central Oregon announced Tuesday that 10 Oregon-based startups have been selected as Early Stage semifinalists for the 23rd annual Bend Venture Conference. The main conference will take place Oct. 15-16 in downtown Bend.

The Early Stage competition is limited to Oregon-based businesses. The semifinalists will deliver three-minute pitches on Sept. 24 at the Central Oregon PubTalk event at Worthy Brewing in Bend, where judges and attendees will vote on which companies advance to the main stage in October.

At the Sept. 24 event, audience members will select one company to receive a $5,000 cash award courtesy of Washington Trust Bank. During the October conference, one startup headquartered in Central Oregon will receive a cash award of at least $40,000.

Wendy Morgan, venture catalyst for Economic Development for Central Oregon, highlighted the quality of the applicant pool. “This year’s Early Stage companies reflect the creativity and ambition we’re seeing from founders across Oregon,” Morgan said. “They’re tackling meaningful problems, testing new ideas and building companies with real potential. I’m excited to give these founders a platform to share what they’re building and connect with the people who can help them take the next step.”

Seven of the 10 semifinalists are based in Bend. These companies include Closeoutdoor, an excess inventory management platform; EYEONIZE, an eye health product developer; Hungry Hound, a fresh dog food subscription service; Quilld, a brand strategy developer; Regen8, a corporate system developer; V4 Final, Inc., an artificial intelligence developer for law firms; and VeriBuy, a digital vehicle evaluation tool for dealerships.

The remaining semifinalists operate from other areas in Oregon. Core Defender AI, based in Hillsboro, develops artificial intelligence and robotics technologies. Ebb Health, Inc., based in Portland, develops a relief platform for neuropathic pain. Lateral Systems, located in Lake Oswego, builds automated monitoring systems for commercial indoor farms.

The Sept. 24 PubTalk event will run from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Worthy Brewing’s outdoor stage. Tickets are priced at $32 for Economic Development for Central Oregon members and $48 for non-members.

Finalists for the Growth Stage competition will be announced in early October. Early bird registration for the conference is available through Sept. 30.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Green House Theatre in Bend is scheduled to conclude its season with the classic musical “Cabaret,” which will run from Oct. 16 through Nov. 14. Tickets are available online now for this can’t-miss show, bringing this all-time classic to the stage here in here in Central Oregon.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Business & Industry has named 16 finalists for its fourth annual Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest.

The statewide competition aims to recognize the breadth and ingenuity of Oregon’s manufacturing sector.

A panel selected this year’s finalists from scores of products nominated by residents over the spring and summer. The selected products represent a wide variety of goods manufactured across the state, ranging from Ashland to Boardman.

Members of the public will narrow the field through several voting rounds using a tournament-style bracket. Oregonians can view the bracket, read about each finalist and cast votes on the contest website.

The manufacturer of the winning item will receive formal recognition for producing the state’s top product, holding bragging rights until next year’s contest.

The first round of voting, which will reduce the field from 16 to eight products, is open until noon on Sept. 28.

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Tyson Beauchemin

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Hub, a new 56,000-square-foot recreational facility located at Southwest 35th Street and Lava Avenue is set to open to the public by the end of the week.

The $49 million project was funded through a bond measure approved by local voters in 2022.

The Hub contains a weight room, a spacious gymnasium, and of course: pools.

Two expansive swimming pools serve as the primary attraction. The lap pool matches the length of the previous pool at the Cascade Swim Center while adding two extra lanes. The leisure pool includes a lazy river, a raised hot tub and a detached water slide extending beyond the structure’s exterior.

Katie Hammer serves as executive director for the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District. When asked about her preferred feature at the facility, Hammer highlighted the leisure pool. “That’s a really tough question because I’m excited about all the features,” Hammer said. “But truly I think that leisure pool, it’s just it’s something our community doesn’t have. And I think that being able to add that amenity to our community, I think it’s going to be a real benefit to our families.”

The facility vastly expands recreation options for Redmond, offering space for classes and general use, including a kitchen for cooking demonstrations. Registration for classes and memberships is currently open to community members.

Bend Park and Rec plans to return the Cascade Swim Center lease to the Redmond School District by the end of the year following the opening of the new pools.

A formal grand opening event for The Hub is scheduled to take place shortly.

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