Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National Grassland said Thursday it is hiring seasonal employees for the upcoming recreation season and encouraged local residents to apply.  

“Our seasonal workforce is essential to both visitor services and on-the-ground stewardship of our public lands,” said Forest Supervisor Jeff Marszal. “These positions strengthen our ability to serve communities, care for the landscape, and help cultivate the next generation of natural resource professionals here in Central Oregon.”

The Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National Grassland is recruiting for a variety of roles, including:

Field Ranger: Providing visitor services, supporting front desk operations, and assisting across multiple program areas, with opportunities to gain field experience.

Timber Technician: Assisting with timber sale preparation, data collection, and forest management work that supports healthy, resilient landscapes.

Range Technician: Supporting rangeland monitoring, permit administration, and stewardship of grazing resources across the Forest and Grassland.

These positions are in addition to seasonal fire hire events, already underway. Bringing on seasonal employees will help improve trails, campgrounds and facilities for safer, reliable and enjoyable recreation experiences for all. 

All open positions will be posted at USAJOBS.gov. Interested applicants can visit help.usajobs.gov/get-started for more information.

“Seasonal jobs offer hands-on experience and a chance to work alongside dedicated professionals,” Marszal added. “Whether someone is exploring a future career in natural resources or looking for meaningful seasonal work, these positions are a great way to get involved and make a difference.”

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Prineville Review

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Supreme Court’s recent right-to-counsel decision has resulted in the dismissal of nearly 1,500 criminal cases statewide, but no such dismissals have been reported in Crook County, the Prineville Review reports.

The ruling, which imposes firm deadlines on the state to provide court-appointed attorneys for defendants who qualify, has already reshaped court dockets across Oregon. Cases lacking timely representation must be dismissed, a consequence the Court said is necessary to enforce constitutional protections.

Following the court’s decision on Feb. 5th, the Prineville Review reached out to Crook County District Attorney Kari Hathorn this week for her reaction. Hathorn told us that Crook County is not currently experiencing unrepresented defendant cases that would be affected by the ruling. That placed the county in a markedly different position than many of Oregon’s larger jurisdictions.

“We currently do not have any cases that are unrepresented in Crook County,” Hathorn said. “However, between June and October 2025, we did have cases on the unrepresented list. I have significant concerns that the Oregon Public Defense Commission has not addressed the root issues and our community may face the issue once again in the future.”

The Supreme Court’s decision has triggered widespread dismissals in counties where public defense shortages have left defendants without counsel for extended periods. While most of the affected cases are concentrated in metropolitan areas, the ruling has drawn attention to structural pressures facing courts statewide.

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez and Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton said the Supreme Court’s decision is expected to affect 1,465 criminal prosecutions across Oregon. 915 of those cases originate in Multnomah County, while 263 are tied to Washington County, according to a statement released by Vasquez and Barton.

“Cases subject to dismissal include crimes such as drug trafficking, aggravated theft, firearms and weapons offenses, felony DUII, and strangulation,” they said. “This will cause real pain and harm to victims and the public.”

Hathorn cautioned that Crook County’s current stability does not eliminate longer-term risks tied to Oregon’s public defense system.

“Oregon taxpayers, victims, criminal defendants, and our communities deserve a functioning criminal justice system,” Hathorn told the Prineville Review. “OPDC must ensure that it provides the services for which it is funded and it should do so with transparency.”

Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels revealed after initial publication that his county was in a similar position as Crook County, with no current cases that were dismissed for not being unrepresented. Gunnels confirmed that in the fall of 2025, they had about 150 cases that were on the unrepresented list.

Under the Court’s framework, dismissals tied to representation delays are generally issued without prejudice, allowing prosecutors to refile charges once counsel is available, and if still within the statute of limitations.

The dismissals come amid a leadership transition at the Oregon Public Defense Commission, the state agency responsible for contracting defense attorneys for qualifying defendants. On Jan. 23rd, 2026, Governor Tina Kotek announced the appointment of Ken Sanchagrin as OPDC’s permanent executive director, pending Senate confirmation. Sanchagrin had served as interim director since April 2025 during a period of long-running public defense challenges.

Note: This story was updated to include additional information related to Deschutes County after initial publication.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported the results Thursday of its recent participation in the national Click It or Ticket seat belt and car seat enforcement campaign, during which deputies made dozens of traffic stops, issued tickets and warnings and made three arrests.

The initiative that ran from January 26 through February 8 focused on encouraging drivers and passengers to buckle up when hitting the road ,and on sharing important tips for properly securing child car seats.

During the campaign, deputies conducted 51 traffic stops as part of the enforcement. Here’s the breakdown:

51 Traffic Stops

7 seatbelt violations cited

12 additional citations issued

30 warnings given

3 arrests made

While most drivers were following the law, the agency said that “these numbers serve as an important reminder that seat belts save lives.”

Sheriff Ty Rupert says the goal of these campaigns is not just to write tickets. It’s about educating drivers and reminding them of the importance of seat belts for their safety.

“Wearing a seat belt and properly securing children in car seats are two of the easiest things you can do to prevent tragedy,” Rupert said. “We appreciate everyone who makes safety a priority every time they get behind the wheel.”

DCSO says, “Buckling up is the simplest and most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones in a crash.”

For more information on how to properly secure child car seats in your vehicle, you can check out the resources on the sheriff’s office website, including a downloadable PDF: Car Seats – Deschutes County Sheriff Office Oregon.

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Prineville Review

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crook County’s public library may soon restrict use of its meeting rooms to normal operating hours after staff raised concerns about after-hours security problems, building access issues, and facility misuse.

The discussion took place during the Crook County Board of Commissioners’ Feb. 11 work session, where Lead Library Tech Kim Bales outlined a series of recurring problems associated with late-night and weekend reservations, according to the Prineville Review.

“For several months now, the meeting rooms have kind of gotten out of control,” Bales told commissioners. “We’re finding that people are drinking alcohol after hours. They’re leaving the building unlocked. We even had someone stay overnight.”

According to library staff, the current system allows groups to reserve meeting rooms outside of public hours using physical keys, which has created ongoing security concerns. Bales said some users fail to return keys, increasing the risk of unauthorized building access.

“Sometimes they don’t return the keys, and then that’s a security issue, because the keys get into the main building,” she said.

Staff also described situations where individuals entered the library after hours while cleaning crews were present, mistakenly believing the facility was open.

To address those issues, library staff are proposing that meeting rooms be available only during library operating hours. The proposed schedule discussed at the work session would limit room use to:

Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Sunday: No meeting room use

The proposal includes a buffer before closing time to allow staff to clear rooms and secure the building.

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Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Revenue is urging taxpayers to use public computer kiosks in its regional offices – including Bend – to avoid significant delays in paper tax return processing this year.

The agency said Thursday that filing electronically through these kiosks allows residents to receive their kicker and tax refunds several weeks sooner than mailing in paper forms.

The push for electronic filing comes after the Internal Revenue Service was late in providing necessary tax forms and information to the state late last year, officials said.

Because of those delays, the department will not begin processing paper-filed Oregon personal income tax returns until the end of March.

Kiosks are available in the public spaces of department regional offices in five Oregon offices, including Bend. The computers are accessible during regular business hours for taxpayers to file their state returns using Direct File Oregon for free.

Filing through these kiosks is specifically intended for individuals who do not have a home computer or those who usually fill out paper forms but want to transfer their data to an electronic system.

On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and choose direct deposit receive their money two weeks faster than those who request a paper check via mail. This year, the time difference between filing methods is expected to be even larger because of the late processing of paper documents.

Megan Denison serves as the administrator of the department’s Personal Tax and Compliance Division. She noted that the kiosks provide a digital option for residents who may otherwise face long wait times for their tax results.

“The computer kiosks offer a way to file electronically for those without a computer or those who fill out paper forms and want to transfer their data into Direct File Oregon to receive their refund — and their kicker — sooner,” Denison said.

The Bend regional office is located at 951 SW Simpson Ave., Suite 100. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., although the office closes daily for one hour between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Other kiosks are available in Portland, Eugene, Medford and Gresham.

Oregon DOR will begin issuing refunds for e-filed returns next Tuesday, Feb. 17. For those who choose to file paper returns, the department says it won’t begin issuing refunds until early April.

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Redmond Police Department will open a new sex offender registration office next Tuesday, providing a private location for individuals who are required to register.

The private registration office is located on the west side of the new police building at 111 NW Teak Avenue. This transition introduces a specific schedule and location for the registration process in the city.

The registration office will be staffed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Individuals needing to register will have private access to the office during these scheduled hours.

Lt. April Huey of the Redmond Police Department provided information about the new facility in a news release on Thursday. She emphasized that individuals should prepare for the change in procedure to remain in legal standing.

“This is a new process and will require individuals to plan ahead to make sure to complete their registration in the required time to avoid being out of compliance,” Huey said.

The Redmond Police Department can be reached at 541-504-3400 for questions regarding the local process.

For general inquiries about sex offender registration, the state Sex Offender Registration Section is available at 503-934-1258 or via email at sexoffender.questions@osp.oregon.gov. Information is also available on the Oregon State Police website.

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Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From her stance on ICE activity to questions about the city’s transportation fee, KTVZ News asked Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler your pressing questions Thursday morning.

Make sure to submit your questions for the mayor here. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

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Spencer Sacks

(UPDATE: adding quotes from City Councilors Michael Preedin and Gary Ross)

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ)— The Sisters City Council is reconsidering plans for a proposed new park near Highway 20 and Sisters Park drive after councilors expressed concerns over the cost and scale of a planned pavilion. The original design, which included a pavilion and winter ice rink, was estimated to cost nearly $10 million.

The proposed park would be located across from the Best Western. Initial plans called for a standing pavilion that would house an ice rink during the winter months and hard courts for sports like basketball during the rest of the year. However, council members are now looking at scaling back the project to better fit the site and the community’s needs.

City officials are evaluating three potential routes for the park’s development. The first is a two-phase approach where the initial phase includes a playground, bouldering area, parking and restrooms, while the second phase adds the pavilion. A second option is a hybrid model featuring a sports court and a temporary ice rink, while the third option focuses solely on the phase one amenities with no courts or pavilion. Any chosen plan would be funded through a combination of grants and bonds.

Michael Preedin, a city councilor and former mayor, spoke during the meeting about the importance of balancing the park’s features with the city budget. “Well, we want to have the best park we can have in Sisters,” Preedin said. “We wanted to fit the community and we don’t need to overspend on it either.”

Council members also raised concerns about how a large structure would fit on the designated lot. City Councilor Gary Ross noted that interest in a full-size ice sheet, similar to facilities in Bend, created complications for the site plan regarding space and neighborhood parking. 

“Clearly, if we would have done that, there would have been room in that site for anything else,” Ross said. “And we were looking at potential parking problems in the neighborhood. So we started scaling it back and then scaling it back. And all of a sudden became, is this really the right thing to do? And that’s where we are today.”

Community reaction to the proposed pavilion and ice rink remains mixed. While some residents expressed excitement for the new amenities, others told KTVZ they were opposed to placing a pavilion and ice rink at that specific location.

The council has requested that the project team revise the plans to focus on the phase one design with a sports court. This updated version is expected to include a sports court but will no longer feature the pavilion structure.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — More than 50 rural-based students enrolled in health care training programs at Central Oregon Community College — in areas like public health, nursing and behavioral health — will have their tuition fully or partly covered by a recently announced $224,532 grant from the Central Oregon Health Council.

In addition to providing scholarship support, the funding from COHC will be used to help expand health sciences programming at Jefferson County 509J high schools, and also pay for field placements, so COCC students can earn while they learn. The grant period opened last November and continues until November of 2030, COCC said in Wednesday’s news release, which continues in full below:

COHC’s funding reinforces a $300,000 grant from the Oregon Health Authority, received by COCC in early 2025 and designated for the same purpose; OHA funding continues until the end of June 2027. Scholarships from that grant are being awarded to COCC students — about 100 in all — in various health care specialties, such as public health, nursing, nursing assistant, medical assisting and addiction studies.

The need for health care workers in Oregon, particularly in rural areas, is significant. A 2025 state biennial health care workforce assessment — a recurring report that’s mandated by Oregon law — found that while Oregon’s health care and social assistance sector increased by more than 15,000 jobs in 2024, it had 18,800 position vacancies.

“With our newly expanded Madras campus, the timing of this funding is allowing more students from rural areas to work toward high-demand health care careers in the region,” said Zak Boone, vice president for college advancement and COCC Foundation executive director. “Central Oregon Health Council will change the trajectory of many lives with this support.”

Opened last month, the expanded college campus in Madras now offers complete degree and certificate trainings in the fields of nursing, nursing assistant and medical assisting.

Scholarship priority for the COHC and OHA grants is being given to students who have lived in, are attending or formerly attended school in, or intend to work in a Health Professional Shortage Area, which includes a large portion of Central Oregon and the Warm Springs Reservation. Awards range from $500 to $5,000.

Interested students can explore scholarship options and conditions at cocc.edu/departments/financial-aid. COCC’s spring term begins March 30.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Video Added)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office released the results Wednesday of ithe Office of Emergency Management’s recent community-wide survey, which asked residents to share their experiences, concerns and priorities related to natural hazards and emergency preparedness.

The response to December’s survey was strong: 771 citizens participated in the Natural Hazards Survey, providing valuable insights that will help shape the 2026 Deschutes County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan .

The survey results show residents are most impacted by winter storms, wildfire, and extreme heat, and place the highest priority on safe evacuation routes, reliable utilities, clean water, trained emergency responders, and protection of critical facilities.

“This level of participation tells us people care deeply about preparedness and community safety,” said Ashley Volz, emergency services coordinator with the sheriff’s office. “We heard loud and clear that residents want clear information, practical tools, and planning that reflects the realities of living in Central Oregon.”

Key Survey Findings

The top hazards experienced and cited by survey participants:

Winter storms (62%)

Wildfire (58%)

Extreme heat (40%)

Preparedness actions: Many households have signed up for emergency alerts and created evacuation plans or supply kits, but fewer have documented property, built emergency savings, or completed more complex preparedness steps.

Barriers to preparedness: Time, cost, storage limitations, and lack of clear information were the most-cited challenges.

Trusted information sources: Emergency services were identified as the most trusted source for preparedness and safety information, followed by email newsletters, online news, and social media.

Next Steps

The county said survey results will directly inform the development of the 2026 Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, which guides Deschutes County’s efforts to reduce risk, prioritize projects and pursue grant funding for hazard mitigation and preparedness. The Office of Emergency Management plans to complete the following:

Use survey feedback to guide planning discussions and mitigation priorities

Continue community outreach and education focused on practical, achievable preparedness steps

Share additional opportunities for public input as the planning process moves forward

Residents interested in learning more or staying involved are encouraged to contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management at emergency.management@deschutes.org.

Survey results and key findings are available here: NHMP-Public-Survey-Key-Insights.pdf

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