Category: ktvz-local-news

Spencer Sacks

La Pine, Ore. (KTVZ) — Saint Vincent DePaul of La Pine held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for new shower facilities at its food bank on Morrison Road. The project added an ADA accessible shower to the site. It is currently the only facility of its kind available for public use in La Pine.

The facility, which is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, provides hygiene access to any community member. Organizers noted the service is intended to help residents who may not have regular access to a shower.

The shower is located at the DePaul food bank on Morrison Road. While the facility is available to anyone in the community, it operates on a different schedule than the food bank. The shower is open four days a week. Individuals interested in using the service are encouraged to make an appointment, though walk-ins are allowed.

Each user is granted 30 minutes in the shower facility. Staff provide a 10-minute warning before the time limit expires to ensure the schedule remains on track. Tony Dixon serves as the general manager of Saint Vincent De Paul of La Pine. He explained that the facility addresses a specific need for residents who are preparing for professional obligations.

“A lot, because there’s a lot of people that are looking for employment that they need to have a shower before they go to their appointment,” Dixon said.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Terrebonne residents can learn how to protect their homes and land from wildfire during a presentation on Monday, March 9. The event features experts from Deschutes County Natural Resources, OSU Extension and the Oregon State Fire Marshal.

The session focuses on practical steps for wildfire readiness. The participating organizations are collaborating to teach community members how to prepare their properties and houses for fire risks.

The presentation will be held at Dry Fly Headquarters, located at 70295 NW Hunt Road in Terrebonne. The session is scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Organizers will provide coffee for those who attend the meeting. Participants are also welcome to bring their own snacks or dinner to the presentation.

The wildfire preparedness presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9.

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Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Saint Charles Health System is providing grant funding to community organizations to help Central Oregonians access affordable healthy food. The initiative aims to support local groups that target food insecurity throughout the region.

According to a survey by the health system, 24% of Central Oregonians said better access to affordable healthy food is the factor that would most improve their overall quality of life. This concern ranked higher among respondents than affordable housing or living wage jobs.

Many Central Oregonians currently struggle to access affordable healthy food. The health system is aiming to reduce this struggle through targeted community support. Saint Charles will direct thousands of dollars in grant funding toward organizations that address food insecurity. These community organizations are expected to focus specifically on improving access to nutritious food options.

The grant funding program will continue for the next three years.

Read the full press release below:

St. Charles adds access to healthy, affordable foods as priority after report shows surge in need for Central Oregonians

St. Charles also starts new initiative to support patients experiencing malnutrition

Many Central Oregonians struggle to access affordable healthy food and that need is increasing, according to results from the 2025 Community Healthy Needs Assessment recently produced by St. Charles Health System. The survey showed 24% of Central Oregonians said better access to affordable healthy food is the factor that would most improve their overall quality of life, ranking higher than affordable housing (19%) or living wage jobs (11%) and marking a significant increase from the 2022 report, when 15% of respondents picked affordable, healthy food as their top concern. 

To address this growing need within the community, St. Charles Health System is adding improving access to healthy, affordable foods as a focus for its Community Benefit efforts. This means for the next three years, St. Charles will direct thousands in grant funding to community organizations that target access to affordable healthy food as well as organizations that focus on fostering a sense of belonging and reducing loneliness (which has been the health system’s priority focus for the past three years and will continue through at least 2028). 

Carlos Salcedo, manager of community partnerships for St. Charles, says the two priority areas make a lot of sense together. “As people, we know that food and community often go together, and sharing a meal can bring people together and help reduce loneliness. We are excited to fund projects that serve these important priorities and meet the needs we are seeing in our community.”  

This priority, approved by St. Charles Board of Directors in February, is also driving other efforts in the health system focused on access to healthy food. Kelly Ornberg, manager of clinical nutrition services for St. Charles, is launching a new program named Fuel in March aimed at helping patients with a malnutrition diagnosis. Ornberg says St. Charles dietitians work hard to provide healthy foods to these patients while in the hospital, but many patients with malnutrition struggle to secure affordable, healthy food when they return home. 

“That’s one of the reasons these patients end up being readmitted to the hospital at a high rate. About 11 percent of patients with malnutrition end up being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Our goal is to change that trajectory,” said Ornberg. “With this new program, we are able to provide patients with 30 days’ worth of shelf-stable supplements for free, so they are able to get some basic nutrition when they return home.” 

Ornberg says St. Charles outpatient dietitians will also follow up with these patients after discharge to connect them with community resources for longer-term support. With the initial funding, Ornberg expects they will be able to help about 500 patients across all four St. Charles hospitals. 

“It feels so good to be able to do something to help bridge that gap,” said Ornberg. 

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care and specialty clinics in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 5,000 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 400 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Many Central Oregonians struggle to access affordable, healthy food – and that need is increasing, according to results from the 2025 Community Healthy Needs Assessment recently produced by St. Charles Health System.

Officials said Thursday the survey showed 24% of Central Oregonians said better access to affordable healthy food is the factor that would most improve their overall quality of life. That ranks higher than affordable housing (19%) or living-wage jobs (11%), and marks a significant increase from the 2022 report, when 15% of respondents picked affordable, healthy food as their top concern.

To address this growing need in the community, St. Charles announced Thursday that it’s added improving access to healthy, affordable foods as a focus for its Community Benefit efforts.

That means for the next three years, St. Charles will direct thousands in grant funding to community organizations that target access to affordable healthy food, as well as organizations that focus on fostering a sense of belonging and reducing loneliness (which has been the health system’s priority focus for the past three years and will continue through at least 2028).

Carlos Salcedo, manager of community partnerships for St. Charles, says the two priority areas make a lot of sense together.

“As people, we know that food and community often go together, and sharing a meal can bring people together and help reduce loneliness,” he said. “We are excited to fund projects that serve these important priorities and meet the needs we are seeing in our community.”  

This priority, approved by St. Charles Board of Directors in February, is also driving other efforts in the health system focused on access to healthy food.

Kelly Ornberg, manager of clinical nutrition services for St. Charles, is launching a new program in March, named Fuel and aimed at helping patients with a malnutrition diagnosis.

Ornberg says St. Charles dietitians work hard to provide healthy foods to those patients while in the hospital, but many patients with malnutrition struggle to secure affordable, healthy food when they return home.

“That’s one of the reasons these patients end up being readmitted to the hospital at a high rate. About 11 percent of patients with malnutrition end up being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Our goal is to change that trajectory,” said Ornberg. “With this new program, we are able to provide patients with 30 days’ worth of shelf-stable supplements for free, so they are able to get some basic nutrition when they return home.”

Ornberg says St. Charles outpatient dietitians follow up with these patients after discharge, to connect them with community resources for longer-term support.

With the initial funding, Ornberg expects they will be able to help about 500 patients across all four St. Charles hospitals.

“It feels so good to be able to do something to help bridge that gap,” Ornberg said.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding OEA response to COCC statement)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Community College, which could face a spring strike by its classified workers, made its case Thursday on where its bargaining position stands in contract talks, with officials saying they must weigh the need to pay living wages against the crucial focus on long-term financial stability.

The Oregon Education Association announced and KTVZ News reported Monday that an impasse had been declared in COCC classified employee contract talks and mediation that have occurred over the past year, setting the stage for a potential walkout, after a required cooling-off period and notice.

The union also pointed out and KTVZ News reported Wednesday that two other Oregon community colleges also have similarly unresolved contract talks; any of the three that leads to a walkout would be the first in Oregon community college history. Four K-12 school districts are in similar straits.

Here’s COCC’s Thursday message, in full. We also reached out to the Oregon Education Association, to see if they wanted to weigh in on the message from the college about its stance in contract talks. The comments we received from OEA are below the news release:

NEWS RELEASECOCC responds to classified union impasse declaration

Central Oregon Community College confirmed on Monday that the Classified Association of COCC (CACOCC/OEA) has declared impasse following mediation in ongoing contract negotiations.

Negotiations between the College and the union that represents custodians, administrative assistants, enrollment staff and other hourly positions have been underway for more than a year. While mediation did not result in agreement, both parties will now proceed through the statutory process outlined under Oregon’s public collective bargaining law.

“We value our classified employees and the essential work they do for our students and community,” said Greg Pereira, COCC president. “The College has proposed a significant multi-year compensation increase of 18.54% [compounded] over three years, or about $1.5 million. The union’s proposal represents a 55.42% [compounded] increase over that same period, totaling approximately $4.8 million.

“As a public institution, we must balance compensation with long-term financial stability. We remain committed to reaching an agreement that is financially sustainable and supports the long-term health of the College, as well as affordability for our students.”

Further, the College has proposed eliminating the lowest step or pay rate for each position in the bargaining unit and removing the current requirement that new employees can only be hired at steps 1-3. This would result in the entry level wage for all bargaining unit positions increasing and addresses CACOCC/OEA’s request to elevate employee starting wages. The College also confirmed that no classified employees are currently earning $18.91 per hour; the lowest hourly rate is $19.68, and the majority earn $20.07 per hour or higher; the top hourly rate is $37.44.

Below is a chart that outlines the compensation increases since Fiscal Year 2015–16 for both administrators and classified employees.

Administrator/Classified is June Data, comparing hourly rates, year over year, with the exception for FY 16/17 and FY 22/23 with CACOCC Wage Studies.

Data can include working out of class increases/decreases, bilingual pay increases/decreases, FTE changes, probation increases, position changes, steps, promotions and advanced degree increases

* The 2016 Classified Wage Study had an average increase of 6.36%, and includes the annual 3.00% July 1 increase

** The 2022 Classified Wage Study had an average increase of 11.57%, and includes a 4% annual increase plus 7.57%, on average, salary study increase

*** The 2024 Administrator Wage Study had an average increase of 16%, and includes a 3.5% annual increase

In addition to wages, classified — and all COCC employees — receive comprehensive benefits, including generous health coverage for employees and their families, tuition waivers and professional development support, public service loan forgiveness eligibility and employer-paid contributions to the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

In 2024, the College’s Board of Directors adopted a General Fund reserve policy to be a minimum of 29%, equivalent to approximately 3.5 months of operating resources. Current projections show reserves below that target, at 14.81% for 2025–26, or less than two months of operating resources.

“Over 80% of the College’s expenses are personnel-related,” said Erica Skatvold, COCC Board Chair. “Our funding streams are the federal government, state government, county taxes and student tuition and fees.

“This reserve fund exists to ensure that the College could continue to pay employees, maintain low tuition for students, and complete projects or run operations during unexpected events such as federal or state funding cuts or halts to payments.

“For example, our sudden loss of $3 million in federal funding last year was supplemented by the reserve fund so that the College operations and projects could continue to run uninterrupted. With the unanticipated withdrawals over the past year, we do not anticipate being able to return the fund back to its board-approved size for many years. This is a concern for us as we always want to ensure that the College can continue to run and pay employees in uncertain times, like what we are experiencing today.”

Because salary increases are a recurring budget commitment, accepting the union’s proposal would place sustained structural pressure on the College’s operating budget and significantly accelerate the depletion of reserves over time. This would likely result in substantial tuition increases, as well as a decrease in programs and services to students across COCC’s four campuses in Central Oregon.

Under Oregon law, both parties will now submit cost proposals and enter a statutory cooling-off period. The College remains committed to fair, equitable and data-driven compensation for all employees.

For more information, or for current status updates, please visit https://cocc.edu/negotiations.

OEA response:

Liz Patterson, data specialist at COCC and Lead Negotiator for the Classified Association of COCC:

“COCC’s management team is being misleading by strategically noting only percentages instead of citing real dollar amounts.  Based on the latest data we have, classified wage increases have averaged $456,360 per year since 2023. Meanwhile, administrative raises have averaged $1.56 million per year in that same time. The college is spending more money per year on the people who already make the most, rather than investing in people barely scraping by. COCC wants to embarrass us for asking for such a high percentage increase, but they should be embarrassed that they have let our pay slide so far below a living wage.”

Scott Dove, academic technology specialist at COCC and President of the Classified Association of COCC:

“COCC’s most recent update claims that our proposal would take them to 10% reserves, which they describe as financially ruinous. But to the contrary, five other community colleges: Blue Mountain Community College, Clackamas Community College, Lane Community College, Mount Hood Community College, and Portland Community College have target reserves of 10%, or less. It is COCC that is out of step with other Oregon community colleges, and their decision to hoard reserves to nearly three times that of comparable colleges already has created financial ruin for the lowest paid staff who work here. Over the last 5 years, the college has, according to their own state audits, diverted an average of $2.43 million per year into their reserves. Using some of that money to invest in people instead of reserves would allow the college to continue to grow reserves and fund our proposal at the same time. The board could afford to give everyone a living wage and still save money– why don’t they?”

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Barney Lerten

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A traffic stop on U.S. Highway 26 near Madras led to a drug-detection K-9’s alert, a search and the arrest of two men from Redmond and Prineville on drug charges, authorities said.

The arrests wrapped up the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team’s short-term investigation into the sale of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Deschutes and Crook counties, Lt. Mike Landolt said.

A Prineville police detective began the investigation after learning of drug distribution in Prineville, Landolt said. Katen Von Blalack, 39, of Redmond, was identified as a suspect.

Around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies pulled over a gray Nissan Versa on Highway 26 and NW Cherry Lane for what Landolt said were “multiple traffic violations.”

Blalack was a passenger in the car, driven by Luke Benton Estes, 36, of Prineville.

During the stop, JCSO drug-detection K09 Keira alerted to the odor of drugs in the car, Landolt said. A Prineville police detective wrote a search warrant for the vehicle and its occupants.

Landolt said the search turned up a commercial amount of fentanyl in the glove box and trunk, individually packaged in baggies. Officers also found user amounts of fentanyl on the two men, as well as cash, a scale and drug paraphernalia.

Blalack iinitially was charged with fentanyl delivery and Estes with fentanyl possession.

Court records show Blalack, who has a lengthy criminal record, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges of fentanyl delivery and possession. He was released after posting 10% of his $100,000 bail. A pre-trial conference is set for March 11.

Estes, who in 2020 pleaded guilty to heroin delivery, DUII and unlawful possession of a firearm, was cited for driving uninsured and with a suspended or revoked license. He is due in court March 18.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Jefferson County ranching couple has sued Central Electric Cooperative for more than $10 million, claiming the utility’s negligence and failure to shut down power lines amid dry conditions and severe fire risk sparked last summer’s destructive, 95,000-acre Cram Fire. 

A Portland attorney for Ronald and Debra Dees, who own and operate The RiverD Ranch, filed the personal injury and property damage lawsuit on Monday in Deschutes County Circuit Court, since Central Electric Co-Op is based in Redmond. 

The 22-page lawsuit, which you can read below, alleges the fire was ignited last July 13 when a 12-kilovolt CEC power line was downed, igniting nearby brush and vegetation. Amid hot and dry conditions and strong winds, the fire spread quickly to become the largest in the U.S. for a time and the biggest in the Pacific Northwest last year. 

“Despite the high risk of wildfires, defendant CEC negligently and recklessly failed to properly maintain its equipment, including power lines … that (they) kept energized,” the lawsuit claims. 

The couple says they and others saw the downed power line, near Highway 97 and NE Pony Butte Road in Willowdale, and their power went out just before they saw the flames approaching their home and buildings. The fire eventually destroyed two homes and 16 other structures.

The lawsuit claims CEC breached its duties in several ways, including not adequately inspecting, maintaining and removing overgrown vegetation near its power lines. 

While the Cram Fire was early on found to be human-caused, an official determination of the exact cause is still pending, as a CEC representative noted in a brief response, when KTVZ News asked for their reaction to the lawsuit. 

“CEC is aware of the filing, and as the Cram Fire is currently under investigation, we are unable to comment at this time,” said Brent ten Pas, vice president of member and public relations. 

The new lawsuit comes amid several individual and class-action lawsuits against the region’s utilities over their alleged roles in sparking major wildfires. 

Just days ago, PacifiCorp, Pacific Power’s parent company, reached a $575 million settlement with the federal government to resolve all known federal claims for damages from several large wildfires. 

A Multnomah County jury on Wednesday awarded $305 million in damages to 16 survivors of Oregon’s 2020 Labor Day weekend wildfires, in a class-action lawsuit against PacifiCorp. Three years ago, a jury found the utility grossly negligent and reckless for failing to shut down power amid a severe windstorm, causing four catastrophic blazes, The Oregonian/Oregon Live reported. 

Ronald Debra Dees v Central Electric CooperativeDownload

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Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Images of a starving Cane Corso, who appeared to have just given birth, rapidly spread on social media in late 2025. She was spotted traveling from Lake Billy Chinook all the way to Smith Rock over multiple weeks.

The dog was safely trapped and rescued—but had a long road to recovery ahead of her.

That’s when a Smith Rock mother, a missing pet recovery expert, a generous foster home, and BrightSide Animal Center stepped in.

She was affectionately given the name ‘Mama Eva’—and has been available for adoption since January.

“We’re just really proud of her,” said Hannah Loftis, the shelter manager at BrightSide.

The 6-year-old dog was first spotted wandering around Lake Billy Chinook—emaciated and appearing to have recently given birth—and is believed to have traveled 40 miles before ending up near Smith Rock. 

Once she was safely captured, her healing journey began. 

“She has constantly maintained, like, being so good with getting checkups and with getting love and learning new people and new things,” Hannah said. “She is a dog who, once she finds that person she loves, you are going to be so loved.”

She’s been gaining weight, her cherry eye was repaired, a mass on her forehead was removed, and she was spayed. She’s also received plenty of well-deserved love and treats. 

“I’m just very proud of her. The weight that she’s gained, the personality that we see,” Hannah said. “I’m so appreciative of my staff and how far they’ve (come) working with her.”

She survived, she healed, and now she’s waiting for someone to choose her. 

“It’s just a really great thing to see, but it’s also really hard to see her still here (at the shelter) when we know that she is so deserving and so able to find that home,” Hannah said. “I would love to see her in a home where she can be equally lazy and have a fun time. Being able to romp around or go on a little adventure or play, and then be able to have a nice comfy bed where she can hang out.”

If you’re interested in giving Mama Eva a forever home, you can visit her at BrightSide Animal Center in Redmond. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Hannah said that Mama Eva would do best in a home where she is the only dog, but could potentially do well with another dog, it would just be a longer transition as she is still working on her bravery.

Click here to learn more about BrightSide and to find Mama Eva’s profile.

Click here for our original Problem Solvers report on Mama Eva’s journey.

Mama Eva with Hannah Loftis at BrightSide Animal Center

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Triton Notary

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KTVZ)– Redmond’s Varsity Game Day team captured the 2026 JAMZ Level 3 Small Coed National Championship title. The team also secured a third-place finish in the Friday Night Lights division during the national competition.

The JAMZ National Championship features various cheer and dance categories organized by team size and skill level. The Redmond-based squad competed in multiple divisions throughout the tournament to earn their national rankings.

The Varsity Game Day team competed in the Friday Night Lights division, where the group earned a third-place finish. Participants in the division are judged on their performance and game-day routines.

The squad also competed in the Level three Small Coed category. Their performance in this division resulted in the team being named the 2026 JAMZ Level 3 Small Coed National Champions.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend-La Pine Education Foundation continues its partnership with Mt. Bachelor and the Ski 4 Schools program, now in its 21st year. This popular program offers discounted tickets to skiers and snowboarders and directs the proceeds to local area schools in Bend and Redmond.

Once again, the tickets sold out in record time, raising $28,125 for Bend-La Pine students, the foundation announced in a recent news release, which continues below: 

“The Bend-La Pine Education Foundation’s ongoing commitment to empowering youth and supporting teachers is essential to our community,” said Mt. Bachelor Communications and Community Relations Manager Presley Quon.

“While Ski 4 Schools has existed for over two decades, the fundraiser has gained a lot of traction in the past few years. We look forward to keeping the momentum going. It’s awesome to see people rally around snow sports while supporting local schools.”   

Since 2005, Mt. Bachelor has generously donated over $232,000 to support students in Bend-LaPine Schools through the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation’s Activity Fee Scholarship program. Each year, the program funds about 270 student activity fees for OSAA-sanctioned sports and activities at middle schools and high schools in the district.  

These scholarships ensure that extracurricular opportunities, such as sports teams and clubs, are open to every student, regardless of their financial situation, removing barriers to participation. 

“We appreciate Mt. Bachelor’s dedication to the Ski 4 Schools program and their collaboration with the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation. Offering these scholarships is crucial in helping all students achieve success through a well-rounded education. Mt. Bachelor’s ongoing support for our community is greatly valued and deserves recognition” said Michele Emery, board president of the Education Foundation.  

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Started in 1988, the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit composed of parents, community leaders, educators, and citizens who share the belief that a vibrant public school system is essential to the social and economic well-being of our community. The Foundation mobilizes community resources to fund innovative academic, STEAM, CTE, art, music and wellness programs that go beyond normal school funding at the 33 schools within the Bend-La Pine School District. Other programs include Activity Fee Scholarships and Perseverance Scholarships.  Learn more about the Education Foundation on our website: https://www.blpedfoundation.org 

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