Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Annual campfire restrictions go into effect on Sunday, June 1 on some BLM-administered lands in Central Oregon. Campfires will be prohibited along portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day and White rivers, as well as along Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus.

Here’s the full announcement received by KTVZ News:

“Our No. 1 goal is protecting public and employee safety,” said James Osborne, Fire Management Officer for the BLM Prineville District. “We are excited that people are getting out and enjoying the rivers. Reducing the risk of human-caused wildfire helps us be good neighbors.”

The closures prohibit campfires, charcoal fires. or any other type of open flame. That includes a ban on the use of portable propane campfires and wood pellet-burning devices.

Commercially manufactured lanterns and metal camp stoves used for cooking are allowed, when fueled with bottled propane or liquid fuel and operated in a responsible manner. Under the restrictions, smoking is not allowed, except inside vehicles or on the water.

“The river canyons present a combination of limited access, grassy fuels that dry out quickly, and steep slopes that allow wildfires to spread rapidly,” Osborne added.

The restrictions will remain in effect until October 15. A violation of this closure is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than 12 months.

For details on campfire closures and specific locations on BLM lands, call the Prineville BLM District Office at (541) 416-6700. People can also visit https://www.blm.gov/orwafire or https://centraloregonfire.org/ for more information about these closures and other fire restrictions throughout Oregon.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Construction is scheduled to begin next week on the Bear Creek & 27th Street Improvements Project, including Bend’s next roundabout, the city said Tuesday.

Here’s the full announcement, including a chance to learn more and ask questions later this week:

Full closure of the intersection at Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road and Purcell Boulevard starts Monday, June 2 for utility installation and construction of a new roundabout. Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to use the posted detour route.

The city will be hosting a Preconstruction Information Booth 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 at Desert Streams Church Parking Lot, 62010 SE 27th Street.

City staff will be available to describe elements of the project, including what to expect during construction and how access to the area will be impacted. Community members are invited to stop by to ask questions and learn more about the construction project.

Project information, including a detour map, is available at bendoregon.gov/bearcreek27th.

The city says the Bear Creek Road and 27th Street Improvements Project will provide safer connections for pedestrians and bicycles traveling between neighborhoods, schools, parks and trails, and add a new roundabout at Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road and Purcell Boulevard to improve traffic flow and safety.

The project will construct the following improvements:

A new roundabout at the intersection of Bear Creek Road, Pettigrew Road, and Purcell Boulevard

Water and Sewer Improvements

Shared-use path for bikers and pedestrians on the north side of Bear Creek Road from Cessna Drive to the Bend Urban Growth Boundary

Shared-use path for bikers and pedestrians on the west side of 27th Street between Bear Creek Road and Reed Market Road

Trail connection between the 15th Street and Bear Creek Road roundabout and the Coyner Trail to connect the existing Larkspur and Coyner trails.

For more information about the project, visitbendoregon.gov/bearcreek27th.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sisters Athletic Club, an award-winning business and facility, is for sale at a $7.1 million price tag, the listing real estate broker said Tuesday. Founder and owner Tate Metcalf has decided to hang up his running shoes so that he and his wife can spend quality time traveling the country and exploring new opportunities. 

Here’s the full announcement KTVZ News received Tuesday:

The Sisters Athletic Club was established in 2001 and has operated in its present location since 2004. It has a membership of over 1,600 satisfied Central Oregon residents and a long-term staff of fitness professionals. The building is approximately 24,000 square feet and is located on 1.4 acres in the idyllic FivePine development, just east of downtown Sisters. 

The club was chosen as the International Health Club of the Year for Community Service in 2018, out of 9,000 clubs worldwide and was awarded the Sister’s Chamber Business of the Year and Central Oregon Realtors Building of the Year. For decades, patrons have supported this financially successful business by enjoying its state-of-the-art fitness offerings and engaging with its warm and professional employees in a true community ambience. Simply, this place is a Central Oregon icon. 

Aligned Commercial Real Estate has listed the property and business for sale for $7,100,000. Ken Streater, Principal Broker, notes: “I have known Tate and his real estate partner for nearly 30 years. Tate has built and runs a world-class business that operates in an exceptionally nice facility. It is an honor to help him find a new owner to continue the Sisters Athletic Club legacy.” 

For additional information, please contact Ken Streater at Aligned Commercial. 

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Barney Lerten

Madras, OR – Over the course of the Memorial Day weekend, the Madras Police Department conducted enhanced traffic enforcement as part of the national “Speeding Catches Up With You” safety initiative. The department’s efforts were focused on curbing dangerous driving behaviors, particularly speeding, distracted driving and Move Over Law violations.

Between Friday and Monday, Madras officers issued a total of 38 citations, seven warnings, and made two arrests.

Enforcement Totals by Date:

Friday, May 23

Speeding: 12 citations, 1 warning

Driving While Suspended (DWS): 2 citations, 1 arrest

Distracted Driving/Cell Phone Use: 2 citations, 1 warning

Equipment Violations: 1 citation

Other Violations (including registration, insurance, etc.): 7 citations, 2 warnings, 1 arrest

Monday, May 26

Speeding: 13 citations, 1 warning

Driving While Suspended (DWS): 2 citations, 1 arrest

Other Violations: 1 citation, 2 warnings

“We want to thank the drivers who made safe and responsible choices this weekend,” said Police Chief Tim Plummer. “Unfortunately, too many motorists continue to take unnecessary risks — speeding, driving on suspended licenses, or using their phones behind the wheel. Our officers are committed to addressing those dangers head-on.”

Keeping Our Roads Safe

This targeted enforcement was part of a broader effort to remind drivers that speeding remains one of the leading causes of fatal crashes in Oregon and nationwide. In 2023, nearly 12,000 people lost their lives in speeding-related crashes in the U.S., with a vast majority occurring on non-interstate roads.

The department also reinforced Oregon’s Move Over Law, which requires motorists to move over or slow down for any vehicle stopped roadside with hazard lights activated—including emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and civilian vehicles.

“Holiday weekends bring increased travel and traffic,” Chief Plummer added. “But that doesn’t mean the rules go on vacation. We’ll continue to enforce the laws that save lives — every day, not just on holidays.”

For more information about safe driving campaigns, visit👉 www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding

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John Carroll

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) – KTVZ Chief Meteorologist John Carroll was in the Sunriver area on Tuesday, visiting with the fifth-grade class at Three Rivers Elementary.

The students asked a number of great questions about global warming and how clouds impact the forecast. They also discussed the water cycle and recycling and became “weather detectives” while solving the mystery of the weather.

It was a great group of students, and we thank Mr. White for reaching out to our team and setting up the visit!

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Harley Coldiron

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Students at Sisters Elementary busted out the gloves last week and dissected owl pellets to learn more about the owl’s digestive system, and its bones. The hands-on learning experience was put on by Think Wild and the Sisters School Foundation.

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Harley Coldiron

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Madras High Senior known for her leadership and tenacity, has won the 2025 Amazing Kid for Jefferson County. Her photo and writeup is featured in the local paper, The Madras Pioneer.

Congratulations to Yashira for making Jefferson County proud!

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Six vocalists from Bend will participate in several D-Day commemoration events June 3–9 in Normandy, France, with a final stop to perform in Paris.  

The singers will perform with the All-American Choir and a mass band at Utah Beach as part of a D-Day event, as well as participate in Le Concert de Liberation and a D-Day Memorial Parade in Sainte-Mere-Eglise.  In addition, they will sing at the chapel in Sainte-Mere-Eglise Church.  

The All-American Choir features singers from across America who perform “musical salutes to the fallen in Normandy, France.” After singing in Normandy, they travel to Paris for a final performance at La Madeleine Cathedral. 

Participating singers from Bend include Cathy Hendricks, Laurie Henning, former Marine Brian Senner, retired Army/Navy veteran Hank Zielinski, Kelly Pence and Dawn Cheney.  The six singers regularly perform with area choirs, including the Central Oregon Mastersingers, Opera Bend and their church choirs. 

Senner, a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps who was honorably discharged, says he is touched to sing in the commemorative events.

“Every time I hear the Star-Spangled Banner, I get a little teary-eyed,” he shared. “When I think about all the men who stormed those beaches in Normandy, sacrificing their lives for my freedom, I feel a sense of gratefulness.” 

Thinking about those who lost their sons in battle, Senner said he can imagine the “loss” and “pride” of family members. 

“When we sing at Utah Beach on June 6th, I am not sure exactly how I will feel, but I do know it will be powerful,” he concluded.  

Hendricks, whose father served in WWII and spent 20 years in the Air Force, is organizing details for the Bend contingent, in memory of her Dad. 

“Although he was in the Pacific theatre of operations (battlefields) during WWII, I have a strong sense of pride and admiration for our military, and humble gratitude for the sacrifices they selfishly make to protect and serve this great nation,” she said. “It is such an honor to participate in a tribute to the fallen heroes at Normandy.”  

The singers leave for France on Saturday. More information is available on the D-Day Events website at https://www.ddayparade.org/. 

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — As spring ushers in the warmer weather, now is an ideal time to clean out the garage and safely dispose of items that are considered household hazardous waste.

This June, Deschutes County Solid Waste will be hosting HHW collection events for the communities of Redmond, Sisters and La Pine, giving community members an opportunity to drop off their hazardous items free of charge.  

“For the health and safety of our community, it’s important to keep household hazardous waste out of the county landfill,” said Greg Brady, Deschutes County Hazardous Waste Supervisor. “Because rural transfer stations aren’t currently equipped to accept household hazardous waste, the county holds free, one-day collection events so residents can discard old paint, cleaning chemicals and other household hazardous waste safely and responsibly.”

Items that will be accepted at the collection events include:

Oil and latex paints and stains

Thinners, solvents, fuels

Oil soaked rags and absorbents

Pool and spa chemicals

Garden products (herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.)

Vehicle fluids (coolants, lubricants, fuels, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc.)

Propane tanks and camp stove cylinders

Aerosols (paints, garden sprays, cleaners, etc.)

Mercury and Mercury-containing items (thermometers, thermostats, etc.)

Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs

Rechargeable batteries

Household cleaners

Items that will not be accepted include:

Business-generated hazardous waste

Medical waste

Explosives, fireworks, ammunition

Compressed gas cylinders (propane tanks and cylinders are accepted)

Barrel

Collection event location, date and hours of operation for each community are listed below.

Redmond – Negus Transfer Station 

2400 NE Maple Ave, Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

La Pine – South County Services Center (*New location*)

51340 U.S. 97, in the front parking lot, Saturday, June 14, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Sisters – Sisters Recycling Center  

328 W. Sisters Park Drive, Saturday, June 21, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Household hazardous waste is also accepted free of charge at the Knott Landfill HHW Facility every Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The facility is located at 61050 SE 27th St. in southeast Bend. To learn more about common hazardous waste materials, visit the Solid Waste Department website.

For questions about the HHW collection events, please call the Department of Solid Waste at (541) 317-3163.

You can learn more about the HHW collection program by listening to episode 51 of the Inside Deschutes County Podcast on the podcast platform of your choice, or at deschutes.org/podcast.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes County Road Department is actively seeking community input to enhance transportation safety on rural county roadways. As the department works to update its 2019 Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP), it is hosting a virtual open house where community members can provide their feedback and insights.  

Deschutes County has a goal of zero fatal or serious injury crashes on county roadways. The TSAP is a planning document that helps the Road Department achieve this goal by identifying safety issues and opportunities for location-specific and systemic safety improvements to the county road system. The TSAP update focuses on county roads located in the unincorporated, rural areas outside of the cities of Bend, LaPine, Redmond, and Sisters.

Pedestrians, cyclists and drivers are all encouraged to participate in the virtual open house and provide their feedback. To participate in the virtual open house and share your feedback, please visit the TSAP website from Tuesday, May 27 through Wednesday, June 9.

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