Category: ktvz-local-news

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) Another longtime Bend restaurant has unexpectedly closed its doors.

The combination Schlotzsky’s and Cinnabon location is now permanently shut down. A note posted on the door does not provide an explanation for the sudden closure. Instead, the message thanks the community for more than 30 years of support. The shutdown appears to have happened abruptly, as products can still be seen sitting on shelves inside the store.

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Campbell Porter

(Update: This article has been corrected to reflect the proper name of Fire Chief Tony Prior)

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District has been recognized for its exceptional efforts during the 2025 Flat Fire, receiving a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol as a symbol of appreciation and gratitude.

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley presented the flag to Fire Chief Tony Prior in recognition of the district’s work protecting lives and property throughout the Sisters Country during the wildfire.

The district said the honor represents far more than one agency. During the Flat Fire, 87 agencies united with the shared goal of protecting homes and communities across Central Oregon. That collaboration helped save countless homes and lives.

“This recognition represents far more than our district alone. During the Flat Fire, 87 agencies came together with a shared mission—protect lives, homes, and the Sisters Country we all love,” the district said in a statement, “because of that collaboration, countless homes were saved.”

Officials expressed deep gratitude to Senator Merkley for the meaningful tribute and for honoring the collective effort that defined the community’s response to the fire.

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Campbell Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend police have officially activated new automatic traffic cameras at three intersections as part of a pilot program aimed at improving safety and reducing crashes. Below is a map showing where these new cameras are located.

KTVZ News spoke to Bend Police to understand how the cameras work.

Each intersection now has several cameras operating in different ways. A lower-quality video camera passively records the intersection, while two additional cameras activate when a driver speeds or runs a red light, capturing both the front and back license plates of the vehicle.

Captain Brian Beekman with Bend Police said the system is designed to help address community concerns about reckless driving and limited officer availability.

“I’ve gone to several recent community townhall forums where the number one issue from residents is traffic safety,” Beekman said. “We have a limited number of officers. We can’t be everywhere at once. This is a multi-pronged approach the City Council and police department are taking to try and improve overall safety.”

Bend Police own and manage all the data and video collected by the cameras. The department plans several public presentations to explain how the technology works and answer questions.

The next meeting is scheduled for this Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Larkspur Community Center.

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Spencer Sacks

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters City Council held a town hall meeting Wednesday night, focusing on several proposals that could directly impact residents and businesses. Among the main topics: a discussion on potential rate hikes for trash and municipal solid waste services, and updates on the Northwest Park project.

Republic Services, the city’s waste provider, gave a presentation outlining proposed changes to service rates. However, several councilors said the information lacked clarity.

Councilor Gary Ross expressed frustration with the lack of detail, saying the proposal did not provide enough data to make a financial decision.

“I don’t make monetary decisions on partial information,” Ross said, noting that the presentation seemed vague and inconsistent when comparing increases and decreases in rates.

No decision was made during the meeting. Republic Services plans to return in the coming months with additional information before any rate changes are considered. Council members emphasized that discussions are still ongoing and no rate increase has been approved.

In other business, the council formally accepted a report outlining goals for the Northwest Park project. Next steps include developing a full master plan, which is expected to be presented later this year. That plan will shape the project’s future direction, leaning more toward a traditional community park rather than earlier ideas for a large pavilion.

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — If conditions are favorable on Thursday, the Deschutes National Forest plans to continue prescribed burning operations on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts.

Firefighters on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District plan to conduct up to 365 acres on the Tiddlywinks 4 and 2B Prescribed Burn units located one mile west of Bend on the west side of Forest Service Road (FSR) 41 and south of the Cascade Lakes Highway.

Ignitions are planned for 9:30 a.m. A pilot car will be in place on FSR 41 providing escorted access through the prescribed burn area. The following trail and road closures will be in place:

Storm King from the junction with Tiddlywinks and Funner east to FSR 41

Catch & Release from the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station south to the junction with FSR 41-600

FSR 41-100

FSR 41-530

Closures will remain in place for multiple days while mop-up and patrol operations continue after the prescribed burn is complete. Firefighters will reopen trails once conditions have been assessed and are determined safe for the public.

Smoke will be visible from FSR 41, Cascade Lakes Highway, Bend and the surrounding area. Residents in Bend and along the Deschutes River drainage including Sunriver and La Pine are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours.

Sisters Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct 40 acres of ignitions on the Flymon 7 Prescribed Burn located 10 miles northeast of Camp Sherman and six miles southeast of Lake Billy Chinook. While no road or trail closures are anticipated, FSR 11 will serve as the western control line of the prescribed burn. People driving in the area should slow down and use caution as firefighting personnel will be working in the area.

Ignitions are planned for 10 a.m. Residents in the Three Rivers subdivision and 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.

Prescribed burns can protect homes from tragic wildfires. 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 centraloregonfire.org/protect-your-health 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/deschutes. Follow us on X @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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Harley Coldiron

REDMOND, Ore. – St. Charles Health System celebrated the opening of its new 53,000 square-foot Cancer Center in Redmond Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The facility, located at 180 NW Kingwood Ave., will expand access to nationally recognized cancer care for Central Oregon residents. The new center officially opens to patients on Monday, April 20, providing comprehensive services closer to home for those living in Redmond, Madras, Prineville, Sisters, Warm Springs, Culver and surrounding areas.

The new facility represents a significant expansion in local cancer treatment capabilities, designed to serve up to 300 patients a day. This development aims to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for care, with some previously commuting up to 50 miles daily for treatment at St. Charles’ facility in Bend.

Dr. Steve Gordon, President and CEO of St. Charles Health System, expressed enthusiasm for the opening.

“After years of planning and construction, we are thrilled to celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art Cancer Center, which will be a place of hope and healing for patients, loved ones and caregivers alike,” Gordon said. “This major expansion brings care closer to home for many of our cancer patients, some of whom are traveling 50 miles a day for treatment at our Cancer Center in Bend.”

Dr. Linyee Chang, executive medical director for the St. Charles Cancer Institute, highlighted the long-term vision behind the project.

“The opening of this center is a dream more than a decade in the making,” Chang said. “For years, we have planned for this, as we saw the population of Central Oregon growing and the need for services expanding. I’m thrilled to see this project through to completion, knowing how many patients will receive exceptional care within these walls.”

The 53,000 square-foot center includes dedicated clinical space for radiation oncology, surgical oncology, medical oncology and integrative therapies. It also houses top-tier technology, such as a brand-new True Beam Linear Accelerator for targeted radiation, a CT Simulation and a brachytherapy suite. Patient comfort and healing were emphasized in the facility’s design.

Mari Shay, service line administrator for Cancer Services at St. Charles, noted the inclusion of natural light and natural materials. A highlight of the center is a second-story infusion room, offering large picture windows with views of the Cascade Range.

“For the majority of all of our patients in Central Oregon that are diagnosed with cancer, we can treat them here,” Shay said.

She added that St. Charles’ medical oncologists are sub-specialized, enabling them to treat various cancers, including breast, GI and lung cancer.

“Our goal is to not have any patient leave our area that doesn’t have to.”

The new facility is a substantial increase in capacity compared to the previous St. Charles Cancer Center in Redmond, which occupied only 2,500 square feet. The expanded center ensures that the level of care provided in Redmond is consistent with that offered in Bend, with doctors and staff rotating between both locations.

Mike Caccavano, a former engineer with the City of Redmond and a cancer patient treated at the old Redmond cancer center, performed the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

“I’m still kind of amazed by that,” Caccavano said. “It means a lot. And it’s it’s really an honor to be part of this.”

The St. Charles Cancer Center will begin treating patients on Monday, April 20.

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Campbell Porter

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Tractor Supply Company will celebrate the grand opening of its new Redmond location with a family-friendly event this Saturday, April 11.

The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1900 NE 2nd St. and will include face painting, free coffee, custom Tractor Supply cookies, and adoptable dogs from BrightSide Animal Shelter.

The event will also feature community partners including Brushes & Blessings Facepainting, Tite Knot Craft Coffee, Kook’i Baked Goods, BrightSide Animal Shelter and Redmond High School FFA.

Face painting will be available throughout the event, while coffee and cookies will be served while supplies last. Adoptable dogs will also be on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until all are adopted.

Tractor Supply says it has served rural communities for more than 85 years and is the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the country. The company operates stores in 49 states and also includes Petsense by Tractor Supply and Allivet in its family of brands.

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Campbell Porter

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Teachers and education professionals looking for new opportunities across Central Oregon will have the chance to connect directly with local districts at the upcoming Central Oregon Educator Job Fair on Tuesday, April 14.

The event runs from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center’s Middle Sister Building in Redmond. It’s hosted by the High Desert Education Service District (HDESD) and is free to attend.

Organizers say the fair is a one-stop opportunity for educators, counselors, and support staff to meet face-to-face with school leaders, learn about current openings, and even participate in on-site interviews. Districts are currently hiring for a variety of roles, including math and special education teachers, bilingual educators, speech language pathologists, substitutes, and counselors.

Participating organizations include Bend-La Pine Schools, Redmond School District, Crook County School District, Jefferson County 509J, Culver School District, Central Oregon Community College, OSU-Cascades, George Fox University, Grand Canyon University, Klamath County School District, and several education service districts serving Central Oregon.

HDESD encourages job seekers to register ahead of time at hdesd.org so their resumes can be shared with hiring districts before the event.

For more information, contact debi.brazelton@hdesd.org or kristen.johns@hdesd.org.

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Campbell Porter

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — ClearPath Healthcare will host its second annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day event on Saturday, April 11, at the VFW in Redmond. It’s located at 491 SW Veterans Way.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and it’s expected to run until 6:30 p.m. The event will include an honor guard ceremony, raffles, and a free spaghetti dinner for veterans and their spouses, made possible through donations. A $5 donation is suggested for other guests, supporting VFW Post 4108.

U.S. Army Military Police veteran and Executive Chef, Bryant Kryck of ROAM (restaurant located in the Oxford Hotel in Downtown Bend), will be serving the gourmet spaghetti.

There will also be live performances by David Brock and Voices of Joy.

Organizers say the event is meant to honor Vietnam veterans and recognize the 51st anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War this year.

Please RSVP by calling 541-548-7483 or email jody@clearpathhealthcare.org

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Silas Moreau

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Wednesday it will open the summit road at Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint to vehicle traffic starting at 10 a.m. Friday, May 1, for the 2026 season.

Find more details from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department below:

Despite a short, dry winter, this year’s opening comes later than in past seasons. A contracted security service that previously handled evening park closures ended last fall, and park staff will now take on those duties. Seasonal employees who assist with closures begin work in May.

Pedestrian and bicycle access to Pilot Butte is available year-round. Only vehicle access is affected. Future improvements, including automatic gate systems, are being planned to improve efficiency and support long-term financial savings.

“Opening the road on May 1 allows us to align our operations with the staffing and resources we have available this spring,” said District Manager Dani Padilla. “Like many public agencies, we’re navigating budget constraints and working hard to operate more efficiently. Even as we run leaner, our commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable experience at Pilot Butte hasn’t changed.”

The road provides access to panoramic views of the Cascade mountains, including Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, Black Butte and Mt. Hood.

Once the road opens, visitors are asked to drive slowly, stay alert, and share the road courteously. The summit route is used by walkers, runners, cyclists, and motorists, and respectful behavior helps everyone enjoy the park safely.

The road will be open from 10 a.m. to dusk, 30 minutes after sunset, daily until it closes for the season in the fall.

For more information about the park, visit the webpage here.

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