Category: ktvz-local-news

Lance Campbell

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Wildfire smoke has been hanging over much of Central Oregon this week, but in Jefferson County on Wednesday, the focus shifted to something far more festive: opening day at the Jefferson County Fair.

Families filled the fairgrounds in Madras as exhibitors proudly showed the animals they’ve spent months raising and caring for. For many, it’s not just a competition — it’s a chance to share their work with the community and celebrate local agriculture.

Gracie Blueback was among those taking in the first day of fair events.

“Just hanging out until the rodeo starts, so I can go cheer on one of my sisters,” Blueback said.

For exhibitors, the fair offers a rare opportunity to put months of early mornings, daily care and preparation on display for visitors. It also gives fairgoers a front-row seat to the region’s agricultural roots and the young people who keep those traditions going.

Rainee Jacobs said her time in the show ring didn’t go exactly as expected, but she was happy with how things turned out.

Rainee Jacobs pictured with her steer.

“I did good, my steer was a little rowdy, but he did good,” Jacobs said.

She added that there’s plenty more to enjoy beyond the judging.

“Fair’s fun. It’s really good food, funny animals and, you can pet goats.” Jacobs said.

Behind every animal in the ring are months of work that most visitors never see — feeding, grooming, training and preparing for moments like opening day, as livestock judging gets underway.

For many exhibitors, Wednesday marked the payoff after months of effort. And for the rest of the community, it was a reminder that even with wildfire smoke lingering in the air, traditions like the Jefferson County Fair continue to bring people together.

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Tracee Tuesday

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — A sudden and powerful storm swept through parts of Sunriver Wednesday afternoon, toppling trees, blocking roads and briefly trapping vehicles near the Sunriver Airport.

According to Chuck Rosenfeld, who identified himself as part of the Sunriver Citizen Patrol, the storm hit around 3 p.m. following a thunderstorm that brought heavy rain and hail to the Sunriver Village and Business Park.

Rosenfeld said hangar doors at the airport began rattling before multiple trees came crashing down across River Road and into the airport parking area.

In this case, several large Jeffrey pines near the airport terminal were either uprooted or snapped. Some vehicles in the parking lot were trapped and sustained minor damage. Despite the intensity of the winds, no damage to aircraft tied down on the ramp was reported.

The storm also brought down additional trees along River Road just south of the Sunriver Stables, blocking both the roadway and nearby bike path.

Sunriver Owners Association Public Works crews responded quickly, using chainsaws and a front-end loader to clear debris. Crews cut and removed fallen trees, trimmed obstructing limbs and pushed debris off the roadway.

River Road was reopened within about an hour.

While storm response is not part of their routine duties, Public Works crews are trained to handle emergency situations. Their rapid response helped restore access and maintain safety in the area following the storm.

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Claire Elmer

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County commissioners declared a state of emergency Wednesday as multiple wildfires continue burning across the county and surrounding region, citing exhausted local resources and ongoing threats to public safety.

The emergency declaration, approved during a special meeting of the Crook County Board of Commissioners on July 22nd, comes as firefighters battle several major blazes, including the Brewer, Coyote, and Henry fires, along with other smaller fires within the county.

Officials also noted that neighboring fires, including the Box Springs Fire, have threatened or already crossed into Crook County.

County leaders said the fires were sparked following widespread lightning during the week of July 13 and continue to be fueled by drought conditions, challenging weather, and limited firefighting resources due to the large number of wildfires burning throughout the region.

According to the resolution, the fires pose an ongoing threat to human health and safety, homes and other property, as well as the livelihoods of Crook County residents.

The county’s Emergency Operations Center has been activated, with emergency responders continuing to monitor fire activity, issue evacuation updates and take other measures intended to protect the public.

Under Oregon law, the emergency declaration recognizes that local resources have been exhausted and authorizes Crook County Emergency Services to take all necessary steps permitted by law to protect people and property throughout the county.

You can view the declaration in its entirety below:

Crook County State of Emergency 72226Download

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Redmond woman charged with killing her mother last summer appeared in court Tuesday for a status hearing, where a trial date was set in a case that has seen multiple delays.

Jessica Andersch appeared remotely in Deschutes County Circuit Court before Judge Wells Ashby on Tuesday afternoon.

Court records show the case has been setback several times, as Andersch has been found both mentally unfit and mentally fit to proceed at different points over the past year.

Following a brief discussion between the judge, prosecution, and defense, an eight-day jury trial was scheduled to begin February 23, 2027.

When asked by Judge Ashby if she had any questions, Andersch responded, “A lot, but not at this time.”

Andersch has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Junior League Baseball West Region Tournament is underway in Bend, with Bend South Little League serving as the host for the multi-day event.

State champion teams from across the western United States are competing at Caldera High School through July 30, with a trip to the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Michigan, on the line.

The tournament features teams from Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Southern California, Utah and Oregon.

Bend South is representing the host league in the double-elimination bracket and is trying to stay alive against some of the top junior league teams in the West.

In Tuesday’s game, Bend South was trailing Northern Lights of Colorado, 10-2, when a strong storm moved through the area in the fourth inning.

Play was halted because of thunder and lightning, adding another challenge in a tournament already carrying plenty of pressure.

The winner of the regional tournament will advance to the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Michigan.

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Adrielle Hasara

Bend ORE. (KTVZ) — The Bend Park and Recreation District will open registration for fall recreation programs and sports leagues on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.

Registration begins at 6:00 a.m. for programs scheduled from September through December in Bend, Oregon.

The Fall 2026 Online Playlist is currently available for viewing and download, a week earlier than in previous seasons. The one-day registration on Aug. 4 will include various recreation, enrichment and sports programs, swim lessons, aquatics, camps and leagues.

Offerings include no-school day camps, art, crafts, sports, ice skating, technology, fitness, outdoors and cooking. Sports leagues range from adult curling and adult hockey to youth indoor soccer, youth volleyball, middle school Ultimate and youth, middle school and high school basketball.

Community members are invited to attend a Registration Info Night on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Larkspur Community Center. Staff will be available to assist attendees with registration preparation, including setting up or updating household accounts, providing activity details and helping to build a wish list.

The event offers English and Spanish services and staff can provide information on youth recreation programs, inclusion services, therapeutic recreation programs for those with disabilities and assistance with the scholarship process. Participants will receive a free admission voucher valid for a drop-in fitness, swim, or skate visit at Larkspur Community Center, Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, or The Pavilion, limited to one per visitor aged 3 and up.

Patrons who have not logged into their online account in the past 30 days are encouraged to do so immediately to ensure a smooth registration process on Aug. Four. Bend Park and Recreation District staff advise adding desired programs to a Wish List within the online registration account and noting the opening dates of programs.

Registration will be available online and in person at multiple locations on Aug. Four. The District Office, located at 799 SW Columbia St., will open at 6:00 a.m. Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, at 800 NE 6th St., will open earlier at 5:30 a.m., and Larkspur Community Center, at 1600 SE Reed Market Rd., will open at 6:00 a.m.

For those experiencing issues with online registration, customer service can be reached by phone at (541) 389-7275.

Scholarships are available to qualifying individuals and applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure their applications are processed in time for registration. In the last year, approximately 3,300 individuals received financial support through the district to participate in programs aimed at providing enriching activities and promoting a physically active community.

Michael Egging, recreation business manager for the Bend Park and Recreation District, highlighted new facility openings and program availabilities. “This fall will celebrate the opening of the new Art Station facility at Larkspur Park and it’s also worth noting that there is some space available in the Kids Inc. after-school program at select elementary schools and our part-time preschool program at Juniper Swim & Fitness Center,” Egging said.

For future planning, registration for Winter/Spring 2027 programs will open on Dec. 8, 2026. Summer 2027 program registration is scheduled to occur over two days, March 2 and 3, 2027, due to an anticipated high volume of registrations.

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Redmond School District Nutrition Services has temporarily suspended most of its Summer Meals service at public meal sites.

The suspension is a direct response to unhealthy air quality conditions in the area.

The district implemented the temporary suspension to protect the health and safety of its staff, volunteers, and families.

Only two locations, Baker Park and Terrebonne Community School, will continue to operate their regular schedules.

All other public meal sites are temporarily closed until further notice, impacting families who rely on those locations.

Redmond School District Nutrition Services will continue to monitor air quality conditions.

The district will provide updates as service resumes for the affected meal sites.

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Spencer Sacks

WHEELER COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Rowe Creek Fire, a complex of 12 separate blazes, continues to burn near Mitchell, straining firefighting resources across Oregon. Close to 600 personnel are battling the fire, which has left significant burn scars near the Painted Hills and reached the Fossil Beds National Monument.

Statewide Resource Strain

The state of Oregon is currently at a Planning Level five (PL five) for firefighting resources, indicating that all available assets are dedicated. This means crews may be moved from one incident to another to address critical needs. Firefighters are working 13-hour days in temperatures near 100 degrees to contain the blaze.

Damon Simmons, a line safety officer with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office, emphasized the severity of the situation.

“We’re stretched about as thin as it can get,” Simmons said. “And so it’s looking for opportunities to stop these fires as quickly as possible.”

Impact on Painted Hills

The fire has spread to the Fossil Beds National Monument at the Painted Hills. Amy McClave stated the fire has come into the monument. McClave added there has been “no damage other than just that, that natural activity of having fire there at this point.”

Firefighting Efforts

Current efforts to control the Rowe Creek Fire involve 17 crews and six dozers. The nearly 600 personnel include federal, state and local firefighters, alongside crews from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management firefighters and Fish and Wildlife personnel.

Simmons further noted that firefighting resources are very thin across the state.

“We are at a Planning Level Five of PL Five,” Simmons said. “That means that all the available resources are dedicated at this time, so they may pull off a fire and then go on to the next fire.”

Structures Saved

Despite the challenging conditions and stretched resources, firefighters have successfully saved numerous structures. A local schoolhouse, surrounded by dozer lines and hand crews, was saved even as the area around it burned.

Simmons highlighted this effort, stating, “Firefighters were able to steer fire around this building using a combination of dozer lines and fire engines. So that’s a good example of how we work together to save structures and infrastructure.”

Officials also commended residents of Wheeler County for their work in protecting structures and fighting the fires.

Fire Conditions and Strategy

Firefighter Jaime Barajas described the intensity of the blaze.

“The blaze is pretty hot, intense,” Barajas said. He added that the crews look after each other.

Crews have initiated controlled burns on a side of the hill to prevent the Rowe Creek Fire from spreading further.

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Dylan Anderman

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ)– Effective immediately, the Deschutes National Forest is temporarily closing an area east of Forest Service Road 11 on the Sisters Ranger District for public safety due to the Akawa Butte Fire.

The area is closed to the public due to hazards and hazardous conditions created as a result of the Akawa Butte Fire.  

For more information about the temporary emergency closure, visit the Deschutes National Forest website.

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Tracee Tuesday

Central Oregon (KTVZ) — Smoke from multiple Central Oregon wildfires is raising new questions about how county fair operations may unfold this summer, with the Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo set to open Wednesday, the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo starting July 29, and the Crook County Fair beginning August 5.

KTVZ News can confirm, despite the smoke or air quality from wildfires, Jefferson, Deschutes and Crook County fairs will move ahead as scheduled and organizers aren’t anticipating any cancellations.

Fire activity in the region has already prompted evacuations and emergency response actions, while officials say smoke impacts can linger overnight and into the early morning hours.

The Akawa Butte, Brewer, Box Springs, Hay Creek Complex, Rowe Creek Complex, Coyote, Henry, Pilot, and Crooked fires are part of the broader wildfire picture crews are monitoring across the region. Fire officials reported Monday that the Akawa Butte Fire in southern Jefferson County prompted Deschutes County to set up evacuation zones along the northern county line. Officials have also warned that wildfire smoke can affect travel and outdoor conditions even when flames are not directly threatening a venue.

For fairgoers, the biggest question is whether smoke and fire response will affect visibility, traffic, operations or the overall experience at the fairs. Jefferson County’s fair begins first, so attendees there may get the earliest sense of whether conditions remain manageable or whether organizers need to adjust plans. Deschutes County’s fair comes later, giving officials more time to watch how fire behavior and smoke evolve across Central Oregon.

At the Crook County Fairgrounds, Manager Casey Daly said staff will monitor air quality daily and make adjustments if needed as fair time gets closer.

“We’ll monitor the air quality on a daily basis, and then we’ll make adjustments to that as we get closer to fair,” Daly said. “Obviously, with the air quality, there are some health issues for some of the seniors and some folks that have respiratory things going on. And so they’re advised to limit the amount of time that they’re in smoke, and so we’re going to just follow those guidelines.”

In Jefferson County, Event Complex Manager Bart Platt said the fair has added protections for smoky conditions.

“We have secured some additional air scrubbers that we will have, filtering the smoky air and dust particles out of the core arena, where we historically have all of our rodeo action each night throughout the fair,” Platt said. “We also have filtered air throughout open class exhibit buildings. So those are always safe havens for people. We will have air masks available at the front counter for anybody who has any respiratory concerns or would like one available.”

Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center Director Jeff Curtis said fairgoers should monitor conditions and use the indoor spaces available on the property.

“When fairgoers come here, we just advise them to, first of all, monitor conditions and especially if they have underlying health conditions, to take that into account and pick their time when they go to the fair and take their own precautions,” Curtis said. “But we have a very fortunate property with a lot of indoor facilities, so those guests can take breaks from being outdoors. They’re not outdoors all day.”

KTVZ News also spoke with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office, which says the best way to enjoy these fairs is to stay aware of your surroundings, check the weather, keep an eye on fire updates in the region, and plan accordingly.

Fair details

Jefferson County Fair and Rodeo

When: Wednesday through Saturday (July 22 through July 25).

Where: Jefferson County Event Complex in Madras.

Time: Fair week runs throughout the day and evening.

Other info: Rodeos, livestock, concerts and local food are part of the event.

Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo

When: July 29 through August 2.

Where: Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond.

Time: Fair week runs throughout the day and evening.

Other info: A major Central Oregon summer event.

Crook County Fair

When: August, 5-8.

Where: Prineville.

Time: Free admission and parking; event schedule varies by day.

Other info: The fair follows soon after the Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo.

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