Spencer Sacks
Fishing enthusiasts, get ready to reel in some inspiration from the impressive catches. From German brown trout to a 26-inch beauty from the Upper Deschutes River, these anglers are setting the bar high. Join the fun and share your own big fish photos for a chance to be featured.
Claire Elmer
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A vehicle crash disrupted traffic at a busy Bend intersection Thursday afternoon after it appeared a car left the roadway and struck an electrical box. It happened around 1 p.m. near the intersection of Northeast 3rd Street and OB Riley Road.
When KTVZ News arrived on scene, it appeared the driver and responding officials were present, though details about possible injuries or what led up to the crash have not yet been confirmed.
The impact knocked out traffic signals at the intersection, creating delays in the high-traffic area. Drivers were seen treating the junction as a four-way stop while navigating through.
The Oregon Department of Transportation temporarily paused in the area to post warning signs along U.S. 20/Northeast 3rd Street and OB Riley Road, alerting drivers to the outage.
KTVZ News is working to gather more information and will provide updates as they become available.
Claire Elmer
(Update: adding video and comments from athletes, coach)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — High Desert Special Olympics athletes are heading to Corvallis this weekend for the State Summer Games, representing Central Oregon with more than just competitive spirit.
At Awbrey Glen Golf Club in Bend, the driving range has become a weekly hub for athletes to sharpen their skills and build confidence.
“Every Thursday, we host our local Special Olympians and give them the opportunity to come out and enjoy the game of golf,” said Tommy Berg, general manager at Awbrey Glen Golf Club. “It’s fun to see the smiles that they have and the joy that they have when they get to play.”
Among those athletes is Felicity Woods, a Special Olympics golfer who recently earned a gold medal at the USA Games in Minnesota.
“I’m just so proud to receive a gold medal. I did not expect that at all,” Woods said. “I feel like the victory and the success just building with my golf skills for the nationals — it’s such an honor and a very amazing experience.”
Now, she’s preparing to compete again at the state level.
Zachary Herrmann is also heading to Corvallis to compete in golf. He previously brought home bronze in soccer at the USA Games and says the experience has connected him with athletes far beyond Central Oregon.
“You build friendships throughout the state. And even when you go on the national level, you meet friends from across the country and you make connections that you wouldn’t have otherwise,” Herrmann said. “Like it’s one big family basically.”
For head golf coach Marilyn Goddard-Rowland, the impact of Special Olympics is deeply personal — her son is also an athlete in the program.
“He found a place that he fits,” she said. “To see him grow now into a grown man and having wonderful relationships with people…Special Olympics has done a lot to help him grow in those areas.”
She says strong community support in Central Oregon plays a key role in that growth.
“We are just very, very blessed in Central Oregon,” Goddard-Rowland said. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation with the community. They care about our kids. They’re always excited to see my athletes when we show up.”
As athletes prepare for the State Summer Games, many say the experience is about more than competition.
“Let me win. If I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” Woods said. “And always remember, it’s not all about winning. It’s all about inclusion and all about having fun.”
Adrielle Hasara
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nine local bands will perform at Bands for Bread, a free benefit concert to fight food insecurity, on Friday, July 31. The second annual event takes place from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Boneyard Pub in Bend, Oregon, and supports the efforts of St. Vincent de Paul – Bend.
Boneyard Pub will donate $1 for every beer sold during the event to the nonprofit organization.
Paul – Bend is a social service nonprofit that operates one of the largest food pantries in Central Oregon, serving more than 30,000 individuals annually. The Bands for Bread event also includes merch sales, a silent auction and raffle prizes to raise additional funds.
Last year, the benefit concert raised $2,324 when it was held at Bend Brewing Company, despite facing wind, rain and snow.
The idea for Bands for Bread originated from Jonah, a member of the local band Long Operators. Jonah started the effort after the passing of his grandfather, a preacher in the Seattle archdiocese. He sought ways to perform service and learned about his own family’s past reliance on Paul.
“I had been thinking for a couple of years since his passing of ways to do something of service,” Jonah said. The plan for the event solidified after discussions with his mother.
Sue Shea, Board Chair of Paul – Bend, expressed the significant need for community support. “Our needs are great and sometimes overwhelming and this effort will have a huge impact,” Shea said.
The nonprofit also provides additional programs, including low-income rentals, a high-barrier shelter and support services for neighbors in need. Kaylee Graham serves as the Executive Director of Paul – Bend.
Bands for Bread started as an Instagram direct message from Jonah to Paul. The event, now in its second year, has gained community support and grown since its inception.
For more information, follow Bands for Bread on Instagram and Paul – Bend on Facebook. Inquiries can also be sent via email to stvincentbend@gmail.com.
Kelsey Merison
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From concerns regarding the voter-passed 2020 Transportation GO Bond to reports of illegal firework use over the 4th of July weekend, KTVZ asked Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler your pressing questions.
Viewers can submit questions for Mayor Kebler at any time as part of our exclusive monthly segment and have your question featured on next months live visit to the studio. Just click here.
Tyson Beauchemin
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-born author Michelle Kutz has released her new children’s book, “Mrs. Moon.”
The short story is a bedtime rhyme was inspired by Kutz’s granddaughter and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
Designed to help children fall asleep, “Mrs. Moon” offers a soft yet memorable pattern. The book also incorporates a religious message, providing a comforting narrative for young readers. The backdrop of the story is Lake Sammamish in Washington.
Kutz described the moment the inspiration for her book, came to her on a walk with her granddaughter: “The Pacific Northwest being so beautiful. We would get outside as much as possible,” Kutz said. “And I wanted her to enjoy nature. And obviously, I’m trying to teach her things as we walk and talk when she’s little. So, we walked and I looked up at the moon and said, Mrs. Moon, Mrs. moon, how are you this afternoon? And she giggled and I thought, oh, this is fun. So let’s roll with it.”
“Mrs. Moon” is currently available for purchase through online retailers Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Kutz, the author, has contacted several bookstores located in Central Oregon and hopes these local establishments will choose to carry her new children’s book soon.
Lance Campbell
BEND, Ore. — Central Oregon is known for outdoor recreation, but for local ice sports athletes, access to year-round ice remains limited.
The Forge Community Iceplex, a proposed nonprofit indoor ice facility in northeast Bend, hopes to change that. The project would create Central Oregon’s first dedicated year-round indoor ice facility with two NHL-regulation ice sheets.
Rendering of the proposed Forge Community Iceplex, a planned year-round indoor ice facility in northeast Bend.Rendering courtesy: The Forge Community Iceplex
Organizers are raising $40 million to build a 70,000-square-foot complex featuring two NHL-regulation ice sheets, training space, a pro shop, event areas and a restaurant. Organizers hope to build the facility on a site near Northeast 18th Street and Cooley Road, across from Les Schwab headquarters in Bend, if fundraising goals are met.
Tyler Brower, vice president of The Forge and a founding board member, said the project is being funded entirely through private philanthropy rather than taxpayer-supported bonds or public debt.
“We want our community to feel not only that it’s for them, but it’s theirs,” Brower said. “We are building this as a place where our community can grow and shape and build a future together.”
The Forge operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Brower said the debt-free approach is designed to support long-term financial stability while giving the community ownership of the project.
If completed, the facility would become Central Oregon’s first dedicated year-round indoor ice complex with two NHL-regulation sheets. Bend’s existing public rink, The Pavilion, is a seasonal, open-air facility.
Site plan rendering of the proposed Forge Community Iceplex, showing the planned two-sheet indoor ice facility.Rendering courtesy: The Forge Community Iceplex
Brower said the project is intended to serve families throughout Central Oregon, including Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Prineville, Madras, La Pine, Sunriver and communities beyond.
He said weather and direct sunlight can delay or cancel games on outdoor ice, creating challenges for youth hockey, figure skating and visiting teams.
“Creating this indoor facility is going to solve a lot of troubling problems that our community has had to face and grind through,” Brower said.
According to The Forge, hosting regional and national tournaments could bring as many as 16,000 visitors to Central Oregon each year and generate an estimated $4.4 million in annual visitor spending.
But Brower said the project’s biggest purpose goes beyond tourism.
“Our local athletes are forced with the decision, and their families with the decision, of stay in Bend and give up the performance pursuit of the sport that they love … or leave Bend and have to relocate to another city and state to pursue the sport that they love,” Brower said.
Brower knows that decision firsthand.
He said he moved away in eighth grade to pursue competitive hockey before eventually playing at the collegiate and professional levels. Now, as a coach in Bend, he said he wants future generations of athletes to have opportunities without leaving home.
Graphic showing The Forge’s fundraising progress toward its $40 million capital campaign. Organizers say construction will begin once the remaining funding is secured.Graphic courtesy: The Forge Community Iceplex
Spencer Sacks
(UPDATE: Meeting took place where board decided on reduced service)
ALFALFA, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Alfalfa Fire District Board of Directors voted today to temporarily reduce emergency services for residents and property owners.
Chief resignation, staffing shortage drive decision
This decision comes as the district searches for a new fire chief following the resignation of former Chief Chad LaValle earlier this month and a current shortage of volunteer firefighters.
Reduced response, increased reliance on partners
The temporary reduction means emergency response capabilities will be substantially reduced, leading to delayed service times. This may require partner departments, such as Bend Fire and Rescue, to respond in place of Alfalfa Fire District crews.
Wildfire season heightens concern
The staffing challenges have created a significant hole in the department, leaving only a fraction of its previous firefighter strength. This situation places additional strain on residents during wildfire season and raises concerns regarding insurance implications.
Board explains cause, recruitment efforts
Mark Laucks, an Alfalfa Fire District Board Member, stated that the reduction in services is due to the departure of the district’s fire chief and the current lack of volunteer firefighters. The district is actively seeking to recruit a new chief and additional volunteers.
Laucks clarified the board’s position, saying, “The Fire District Board of Directors wishes to advise residents and property owners of significant temporary reductions in emergency services resulting from the heart of the district’s fire chief and the current shortage of volunteer firefighters. The district is actively recruiting a new chief. However, until qualified personnel are hired and additional volunteers are recruited, emergency response capabilities will be substantially reduced.”
Board outlines chief qualifications
The board discussed the open chief position at today’s meeting, outlining specific qualifications. Laucks detailed the requirements, stating the role needs a “minimum of five years of progressively responsible fire service experience, supervisory and command level experience, Firefighter II certification, Fire Officer II certification, Engine Boss certification, ICS 100, 200, 300 and 400, and current EMT certification or ability to obtain.”
District open to training qualified candidate
While acknowledging the high qualifications for the position, the board seeks a candidate willing to work toward achieving all necessary certifications. Former Chief LaValle took a year to meet the desired qualifications when he assumed the role, and the department intends to follow a similar approach with the next chief.
Residents want accountability, community focus
Residents, who declined to be identified, expressed their hopes for the new chief. They desire a leader who is inclusive, accountable, understands the community’s constraints—such as a lack of hydrants—and values community input. They also want a chief who upholds a high standard of service.
Early interest in chief position
The Alfalfa Fire District Board has already received interest in the open chief position and will continue its search.
Adrielle Hasara
BEND, OR (KTVZ) — The High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon will host “Welcome the Night” on July 15, an after-hours event celebrating nocturnal wildlife, astronomy and the importance of protecting dark skies.
The event offers hands-on discovery and activities designed to engage visitors in the wonders of the dark.
“Welcome the Night” runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., inviting visitors to explore the Museum after dark alongside community partners, Museum experts and local naturalists.
Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and children ages 3 and older, with Museum Members receiving a 20% discount. Children two and younger are admitted free.
Guests will receive an adventure card and a map to guide them through 20 stations located across the Museum. Participants can collect a stamp at each stop before turning in their card for a chance to win a raffle prize.
This year features the new Ribbits and Hoots Station, where visitors can create frog hand puppets or owl finger puppets. At the Twilight Art Station, guests of all ages can make stenciled twilight art using scratch paper. A local face painter will also be on-site, offering designs inspired by favorite twilight creatures.
Three 15-minute owl encounters are scheduled to take place at the E. L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. During these sessions, Museum wildlife staff will share information about how owls use their large eyes, silent flight and keen hearing to hunt by day and by night.
At Cheney Pond, experts from the U.S. Forest Service will lead the Bat Detectives Station. This station will explore bats and their role in the High Desert ecosystem, teaching visitors why bats dip and dive over water and how researchers track these remarkable flying mammals.
Experts from Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory will guide visitors at the Mighty Meteor Station, uncovering the science behind falling stars, shooting stars and meteorites. Guests will also have the opportunity to peer through telescopes and explore a model solar system.
Representatives from Pollinator Pathway Bend will introduce visitors to the world of nighttime pollinators, including moths, at the Pollination Station. They will teach attendees how to create outdoor spaces that support these important pollinators. In the Desertarium, visitors can view a collection of insects and examine specimens under magnification.
DarkSky Oregon will share information about how light pollution affects not only our view of the stars, but also the health and well-being of nocturnal wildlife.
The Rimrock Café will be transformed into the Crepuscular Café, featuring food available for purchase from Luckey’s Woodsman. No-host bars will offer alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
The High Desert Museum, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, opened in Bend, Ore., in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and is a Smithsonian Affiliate. It received the 2025 Autry Public History Prize from the Western History Association and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.
Visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp, as outdoor trails will be unlit.
To learn more and purchase tickets, visit highdesertmuseum.org/welcomethenight26.
Kelsey Merison
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An important reminder from the Bend Park and Recreation District: Bridge jumping is not a harmless summer activity– and it’s extremely dangerous.
Already this summer, the district says its seen more jumpers than ever.
Bend Parks and Rec says this year’s low water levels and drought conditions make bridge jumping even more risky.
What often seems to be a fun jump can quickly turn into a serious injury—or worse.
