Category: ktvz-local-news

Jillian Fortner

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Juniper Elementary is celebrating a big milestone: its 60th anniversary.

The school, which first opened in 1965, welcomed families, staff, and alumni for a campus celebration featuring historic photos, old yearbooks, and the school’s original plaque.

That plaque still bears the school’s original name, Pilot Butte School, before it was later renamed to Juniper to avoid confusion with another nearby school.

The milestone was extra special for Principal Dan Wolnick, who marked his birthday during the event.

“It’s actually really fun for me because I was looking forward to doing this celebration here at Juniper.” said Principal Wolnick. “The fact that it landed on my birthday, same year. I’m just as old as the school.”

Wolnick is entering his 14th year leading the school.

The festivities doubled as an open house, giving new students and their families a chance to meet teachers and explore classrooms ahead of the new school year.

Juniper students head back to school next week on September 3rd.

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KTVZ – News Team

Deschutes County has earmarked $125,000 for fuel reduction grants aimed at helping local communities reduce wildfire risk. Residents can apply for grant funds beginning Sept. 1.

Since 2022, the County has allocated $425,000 in support of the Fall Fuel Reduction Grant program, which has funded 68 communities.

Grants are intended to help communities with specific, short-term projects that reduce fuels and improve defensible space. Typical grant awards range between $100 and $5,000.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

Equipment rental

Supplies for community work parties

Contracting fees for roadside chipping, fuel reduction or defensible space creation

Debris disposal fees

Note: The County discourages grant requests for regular, annual maintenance projects, such as pine needle raking and removal.

Online applications will be accepted starting Monday, Sept. 1 through Tuesday, Sept. 30. Preference will be given to communities or neighborhoods that are working toward, or have achieved, recognition as a Firewise USA™ site and are proposing projects consistent with their Firewise action plan and community assessment.

For more information about the County’s Fuel Reduction Grant Program and to fill out an online application, visit: www.deschutes.org/forester. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

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KTVZ – News Team

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) applauds a significant investment that will help more households with low incomes pay their utility bills. In June, legislators passed House Bill 3792, doubling funding for the Oregon Energy Assistance Program (OEAP) from $20 million to $40 million. Governor Tina Kotek signed the bill, along with other energy affordability bills, into law yesterday.

“The biggest issue on people’s minds is the affordability of everyday life,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “These programs may not have broad name recognition but are a way OHCS helps people make ends meet through providing energy assistance payments. In an evolving economy, keeping families and communities stable, while creating opportunity, remains our priority.”

OEAP provides energy assistance to qualifying customers of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, based on household size and annual income. Since launching in 1999, OEAP has assisted more than 85,000 customers, helping 92% of participants to avoid energy shutoffs.

With the federal administration announcing potential cuts and elimination of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Oregon lawmakers acted to shield residents from this instability by expanding the state-funded OEAP. LIHEAP, which provides grants and energy efficiency services to millions nationwide, has become a lifeline for families like Don’s.

Don, a father of six and a seasoned welder and pipefitter, never thought he’d need help to keep his lights on. After a traumatic head injury in March 2023 left him unable to work, Don’s finances deteriorated. “I always made good money,” he recalled. But after a long recovery, an electric bill exceeding $1,100 nearly pushed him over the edge.

Through his sister, Don found Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) and learned he qualified for LIHEAP. Initially skeptical, he was met with compassion and practical support. “They were like, ‘We’ll get you hooked up and see what we can do.’ And they did. More than once.”

Don’s story reflects thousands of households across the state relying on assistance to maintain basic utilities and stability. From Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024, more than 59,100 households received LIHEAP funds.

Community action agencies and local partners providing these programs are facing more demand with fewer resources. Without sustained funding, vulnerable Oregonians could face utility shutoffs.

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Harley Coldiron

He thanked the Central Oregon community and told KTVZ News he is moving to Wyoming to join the leadership team for the Cheyenne Frontier Days – the world’s largest outdoor rodeo.

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After six years of leading the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Director Geoff Hines is departing to join the leadership team for the Cheyenne Frontier Days, which is the largest outdoor rodeo in the world.

Geoff is leaving for Wyoming with fond memories and gratitude for the relationships he’s built over the years, “It has truly been an honor to lead this amazing facility and work alongside such talented staff, a dedicated Fair Board, strong County leadership, and the supportive Central Oregon community, ” he said to KTVZ News.

A post on the website GovernmentJobs.com shows his former position is posted for applicants.

During his time overseeing the center, the County Fair has seen consistent growth over the years, and the venue itself has to one of the most visited in the Pacific Northwest. It now hosts the Overland EXPO and the FairWell Festival. Both of which bring in tens of thousands of new visitors than before. The FairWell Festival alone hosts 20,000-30,000 people.

Like any venue, the Fair and Expo Center has seen issues at times. During the inaugural year of the FairWell Festival, concertgoers told KTVZ News it took them up to 3 hours to get home after the concert. The next two events did not see the same widespread issues after officials created parking passes, added campgrounds and exit routes, increased traffic staff, and created a park-and-ride service.

Geoff also led the Fair and Expo Center through its toughest time period ever – the COVID-19 pandemic. Local and state regulations aimed at deterring the spread of the virus made planning and operations prolonged and time-consuming, while attendance at events hit an all-time low. After a vaccine was produced, the center also became the hub for thousands to get their shots.

The 6-year Director says he was proud to build community partnerships and bring nearly 1 million visitors to the area each year, and looks forward to rooting on the center from a distance, “From Wyoming, I’ll be paying attention and cheering on Deschutes County Fair & Expo every step of the way.”

Hinds says leaving the Deschutes County Fairgrounds is a bittersweet experince, and says it’s one of the best jobs he’s ever had “… It’s truly a tremendous job.” He said, “We have the opportunity to to to to make life better for so many people in so many different ways because we do so many things, whether it’s those kids showing the animals as part of our youth livestock shows, it’s the many fundraisers we do where hundreds of thousands of dollars are generated, for important community events here, on the property or the over $100 million in economic impact, that we provide to the community annually. It’s really an honor to be a part of that.”

Besides the perks and prestige Hinds will have working at the Cheyenne Frontier Days, this move will bring him closer to his wife and family in Wyoming.

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Lynsey Harris

CRESCENT, Ore. (KTVZ) — The commercial harvest season for Matsutake mushrooms on the Deschutes National Forest runs Sept. 2 through Nov. 3. Permits are required and cost $200 for the full season, $100 for a half-season, or $8 per day with a three-day minimum. Harvesters must be 18 or older and carry both a permit and harvest area map.

Picking is banned in areas like Crater Lake National Park, Newberry Volcanic Monument, Wilderness areas, and developed recreation sites. A free campground for harvesters is open at Little Odell Industrial Camp near Crescent Lake.

The Crescent Ranger District will accept cash only for permits on opening day, Sept. 2. For details, call 541-433-3200.

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Matthew Draxton

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — With technology quickly advancing, schools are having to adjust, adapt, and evolve to the digital world by implementing technology into curriculum.

“We recognize that kids are growing up in a digital world. It is not going to go away. And so what’s really important for us is to teach them the skills to use it correctly,” says Karen Rush, Executive Director of Elementary Programs with Bend La Pine Schools.

Bend La Pine Schools is one example of integrating technology use as part of the learning toolkit for students. 

Rush said, “it’s a great supplement to teaching, but it’s not going to replace it. So what we really try to focus on in our educational technology use is finding great resources that help kids learn and demonstrate their learning.“

The primary focus? Digital literacy and digital responsibility. 

Digital literacy is “like making sure that kids know the technology and know how to use it and when to use it,” Karen rush explained. She continued, saying digital responsibility, “is really helping kids to understand what are the strengths of technology, what are the limitations, and how do you just be a really good citizen in a digital world?”

A hot topic with regard to tech use in schools is AI.

“We have to teach students how to use it,” Rush explained. She continued, “but ethics are first and foremost.”

She says teaching students about AI gives them an understanding of what it’s limitations are.

Rush explains the “limitations that we directly teach students is bias, accuracy, originality of your work and the privacy of your work.”

Bend La Pine Schools tells KTVZ with AI and technology advancing so quickly, they’re doing their best to evolve with it. 

“This August, all of our teaching staff are getting two hours of training in use of AI to make their work more effective and help them, personalized learning for students,” Rush tells KTVZ News.

Bend La Pine Schools is also implementing an AI statement on student syllabi that will describe appropriate uses of the technology.

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KTVZ – News Team

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has issued a recreational use health advisory for Ochoco Lake in Crook County due to elevated microcystin levels.

The agency says people should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the reservoir where blooms are present.

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous, and children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity.

Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to the toxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore.

Read the full press release below:

“Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use health advisory today for Ochoco Lake due to elevated microcystin levels. The lake is in Crook County.

People should avoid swimming and high-speed water activities, such as water skiing or power boating, in areas of the reservoir where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion of water. Toxins are not absorbed through the skin. However, those with skin sensitivities may get a puffy red rash.

OHA encourages people to visit Ochoco Lake and enjoy activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, canoeing and kayaking. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxins.

Drinking water

Drinking water directly from areas of the lake affected by a bloom is especially dangerous. Toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water with camping-style filters. Contact campground management or the local health department with questions about water available at nearby campgrounds or day use areas.

Not all private treatment systems are effective at removing cyanotoxins. People who do not use a well or public water system and draw in-home water directly from an affected area are advised to use an alternative water source.

Children and pets

Children and pets are at increased risk for exposure because of their size and level of activity. Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore. This is regardless of a recreational use health advisory in place.

Dogs can become ill and die from water intoxication after drinking excessive amounts of water while swimming or fetching objects for long periods of time. Intoxication is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain function resulting from an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. Water intoxication and heat stroke can cause similar symptoms as exposure to cyanotoxins.

Symptoms

Exposure to cyanotoxins can be serious and cause a range of symptoms. Symptoms may be similar to food poisoning such as stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.

Fishing

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacteria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs before cooking or freezing. Toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 1-877-290-6767, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.”

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Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The City of Bend is preparing for a major expansion of its Outback Water Facility—an estimated $50 million project aimed at keeping up with the city’s rapid growth and ensuring safe, reliable drinking water for years to come.  Bend’s dual-source water system pulls from the Upper Deschutes Basin, serving not only city residents but also regional needs like irrigation and in-stream flows.

City officials say the Outback site is critical to the entire system—and expansion is no longer optional.  The project would add: • New pretreatment systems to improve water quality • Additional reservoirs and wells • In-conduit hydroelectric generation • A wildfire water fill station • Security upgrades to meet federal standards  To make it possible, Bend is also working to acquire 48 acres of nearby Deschutes National Forest land through the Townsite Act. 

The City’s Principal Engineer, Brittany Barker said, the expansion project has been, and will continue to be, a lengthy process as the plan looks to sustain what we see in 50, even 100 years. As to when the expansion project will break ground? Barker said:  

“We’re hopeful in that 12-to-18-month period that we can work with a design team and a contractor and start developing those plans and getting ready to hit the ground as soon as we get the paperwork signed, then if we’re able to start construction right away, it would probably be a two-year long construction duration until everything’s operational. I’d say, we’re looking at maybe three years, best case scenario.” 

Who pays for it?  The City is aggressively pursuing outside funding, including FEMA support, state and federal grants, and loans. But officials are warning that if full funding doesn’t come through, residents may see higher water bills to help cover the cost. 

City leaders say the expansion is about more than just infrastructure—it’s about protecting the community’s water supply against future demand, environmental pressures, and wildfire risks.  City council members agree that, growth isn’t slowing down, and neither is the need for reliable water. This investment ensures Bend has the infrastructure it needs, but that local leadership is doing everything possible to limit the cost to ratepayers.

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John Carroll

This week we share with you three really special gardens. A garden with a breathtaking view of the sunsets each night, another with a towering sunflower watching over everything and a driveway lined with color and beauty.

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Claire Elmer

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — First-time mom from Bend, Amanda Grippin, is turning to the public for help as her infant daughter battles life-threatening illnesses and terrifying unknowns.

Baby Bobbi was just a month old when her mom noticed she had the sniffles. After an alarmingly fast progression, Bobbi’s symptoms worsened, and she was rushed to Saint Charles Redmond, then quickly flown to OHSU.

Bobbi’s condition continued to decline, with the infant developing sepsis and experiencing heart failure. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection.

Her mom, Amanda Grippin, spoke with KTVZ News about their experience and how the community has supported their family during this unimaginable time, “Watching her go from being a really healthy, healthy baby to…you know, really sick…especially as a first-time mom has been really hard.”

Amanda added how crucial the Central Oregon community has been, “It’s hard to watch your kid have a hard time. This community has really come together and made it as easy as it can be. We’re here, and pray for her. Prayers are the biggest thing. It’s huge for us. Prayer is huger”.

Now, at just five weeks old, infant Bobbi is on a ventilator, with fluid around her heart, lungs, and liver. 

A team of doctors is working hard to determine the extent of the virus, if something larger is at play, and if Bobbi will need a heart transplant. 

If you would like to help Bobbi and her family, you can email Amanda at: a_grippin@yahoo.com

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