Category: ktvz-local-news

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Low registration numbers have prompted organizers of the Oregon High Desert Classics to cancel next month’s two-week hunter jumper horse competition.

An announcement posted Friday on the event’s web page stated:

OHDC 2025 Has Been Cancelled

“Thank you to all our 2025 Oregon High Desert Classics sponsors, vendors, contractors, exhibitors, and community members.  It is with a heavy heart that we are taking a pause this year and thus cancelling both weeks of the OHDC.  This is due to a low number of registrations, and sadly the low numbers just did not pencil out for us to be able to hold the show this year.  We hope that this year’s pause is just that – and we can look forward to 2026 for some changes and improvements.  And of course any payments/deposits made will be refunded.  Thank you all so much for all your support!

 “The OHDC is our main fundraiser for J Bar J Youth Services that raises money for all our programs serving youth, and for that reason as well, we are disappointed that there were not enough registrations this year.”

It’s not the first such pause in the annual fundraising event for J Bar J Youth Services. It also was canceled five years ago, due to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

A long-time High Desert Classics attendee told us, “Last year, the smoke from wildfires was so bad, walking through the grounds was like walking in a ghost town.  Vendors were closed, horses were being sent home etc.  Maybe stables have found competition closer to home and/or don’t want to take the chance that things will be different this year. Hope next year will be better.”

KTVZ News is working to learn more and we’ll have updates as we receive them. 

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Summit Health allergist, Dr. Adam Williams, tells KTVZ News there are actually two allergy seasons in Central Oregon – one for pine, another for grass, which is sending all that pollen our way.

Right now we’re in a grass season, and every gust of wind is blowing pollen into your face. But knowing that, there is somewhere you can go to get away.

“This time of year, heading west is great, heading into the mountains. The pollen season probably hasn’t hit up at the higher elevations yet like it is down in town,” Williams said.

There are some other things you could do to avoid an allergic reaction. You can cover up when you go outside. When you get home, take a shower and change your clothes. And if you can, always get more specialized treatment and medication by visiting an allergist.

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Jillian Fortner

(Update: Adding video)

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – From winter snowshoeing to peaceful river floats in the summer, La Pine State Park offers something in every season. The park is also home to “Big Tree,” one of the largest ponderosa pines in the world.

In this week’s Park Picks, Jillian Fortner visits the park and highlights how visitors can enjoy it responsibly.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Monday fire information)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) –The Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency Management Team on Monday morning transitioned the Ferry Fire that broke out last week along the John Day River back to the local unit with a Type 4 Incident Commander. The fire as of Monday had burned 10,458 acres and was 78% contained.

On Sunday, the fire that broke out last Wednesday had minimal smoke and was held within the fire line along the north/northwest and the John Day River bordering the east/southeast side of the fire, officials said in Monday’s update.

A helicopter reconnaissance flight flew the entirety of the fire and did not see any potential heat or smoke near the fire’s edge. Some resources were released back to their home units throughout the day and the Incident Command Post in Moro began preparations for transition and demobilization.

The Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency Management Team would like to thank everyone who contributed to the successful containment, coordination and support of the Ferry Fire.

Thank you to the Moro Rural Fire Department, Sherman County Emergency Management, Sherman County Fairgrounds, Gilliam County Emergency Management, Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Moro, Sherman County, RFPA members, local private landowners, volunteers, and all the fire resources and support units assigned to the Ferry Fire.

On Monday, the Type 4 IC, two handcrews and two engines will continue to mop up and patrol the fire. The Central Oregon Type 3 Interagency Management Team and the remaining resources will return to their home units.

Some areas well within the burned area of the fire footprint have islands of unburned fuel, and there is a possibility those fuels could potentially burn and produce smoke. Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire, and if needed, air resources will remain available to support.

Evacuation levels were lowered as of Sunday afternoon. The only remaining evacuation warnings include Level 1 in the immediate vicinity of the fire area due to ongoing fire patrols.

To sign up for and receive emergency alerts for both Sherman and Gilliam counties, go to: https://www.co.sherman.or.us/departments/emergency-services/ or https://oralert.gov/

This will be the last daily update for the Ferry Fire, officials said. For Central Oregon fire information, visit the official source for wildfire information at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.

For smoke and air quality information, visit fire.airnow.gov.

Human-sparked wildfires make up for 85% of all fire starts nationally. Most human-started wildfires are completely accidental and preventable. Be aware, be prepared, and remember, “Only you can prevent wildfires.”

nformation in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information, visit fire.airnow.gov.

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Isabella Warren

(Update: Adding new live video, fire’s cause)

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Crews working in brisk winds quickly tackled and stopped the spread of a brushfire northeast of Madras Thursday afternoon that Jefferson County Fire Chief Jeff Blake told KTVZ News was sparked by a property owner who was mowing and struck a rock.

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies earlier said Incident 267 was reported on private property shortly after 3 p.m., quickly leading to a Level 3 Go Now evacuation for Zone NE 8 and a Level 2 BE SET alert for zones NE 6 and NE 4, areas north of the Deer Ridge state prison.

But around 4 p.m. came word that Zone NE 8 had been downgraded to Level 2 Be Set to Evacuate, where Zone NE 6 remained. Zone NE 4 had been removed and is no longer in an evacuation zone. Those two remaining zones were dropped to Level 1 Be Ready to Evacuate before 4:30 p.m.

The sheriff’s office had this update at 5:17 p.m.: “Roads are now open and there are currently no more zones in an evacuation level. Our team couldn’t have done it without Jefferson County Fire & EMS so thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to the county! “

Evacuation map from Frontier 911; Level 3 GO NOW zone in red, Level 2 GET SET in yellow, Level 1 GET READY in green; all have now been dropped

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Due to increasingly hot and dry conditions, as well as increased fire starts, the Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, and Prineville District Bureau of Land Management will move into Stage 1 public use fire restrictions on Monday.

Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 16, Stage 1 public use fire restrictions prohibit open fires, including wood stoves and charcoal briquette fires, on Central Oregon public lands, except within the Deschutes National Forest Wilderness Areas (Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Three Sisters, Diamond Peak and Mt. Thielsen Wildernesses) and in the following designated areas:

Ochoco National Forest

Lookout Mountain Ranger District: Antelope Flat Reservoir, Ochoco Divide Campground, Ochoco Forest Campground, Walton Lake Campground and Wildcat Campground

Paulina Ranger District: Cottonwood Pit, Deep Creek Campground, Sugar Creek Campground, Wolf Creek Campground,

Crooked River National Grassland

Haystack Reservoir Campground and Skull Hollow Campground

Deschutes National Forest

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District: Big River Campground, Big River Group Camp, Bull Bend Campground, Chief Paulina Horse Camp, Cinder Hill Campground, Crane Prairie Campground, Cultus Lake Campground, East Lake Campground, Elk Lake Campground, Fall River Campground, Fall River Guard Station, Gull Point Campground, Lava Lake Campground, Little Crater Campground, Little Cultus Lake Campground, Little Fawn Campground & Group Camp, Little Lava Lake Campground, Mallard Marsh Campground, McKay Crossing Campground, Newberry Group Camp, North Twin Lake Campground, Ogden Group Camp, Paulina Lake Campground, Point Campground, Prairie Campground, Quinn Meadow Horse Camp, Quinn River Campground, Rock Creek Campground, Sheep Bridge Campground, South Campground, South Twin Campground, Wyeth Campground, West South Twin Campground

Crescent Ranger District: Crescent Lake Campground, Odell Lake Resort and Campground, Princess Creek Campground, Shelter Cove Resort and Campground, Simax Group Camp, Spring Campground, Sunset Cove Campground, Trapper Creek Campground, Whitefish Horse Camp, Windy Group Site

Sisters Ranger District: Allen Springs Campground, Allingham Campground, Blue Bay Campground, Camp Sherman Campground, Candle Creek Campground, Cold Springs Campground, Driftwood Campground, Gorge Campground, Graham Corral Horse Camp, Indian Ford Campground, Jack Creek Campground, Lava Camp Lake Campground, Link Creek Campground, Lower Bridge Campground, Lower Canyon Creek Campground, Perry South Campground, Pine Rest Campground, Pioneer Ford Campground, Riverside Campground, Scout Lake Campground, Sheep Springs Horse Camp,

Smiling River Campground, South Shore Campground, Three Creek Meadow Campground & Horse Camp, Three Creek Lake Campground, Whispering Pines Horse Camp

Prineville District BLM

Castle Rock Campground, Chimney Rock Campground, Cobble Rock Campground, Lone Pine Campground, Palisades Campground, Poison Butte Campground, Post Pile Campground, Still Water Campground

Additionally, under Stage 1 public use fire restrictions, smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. Traveling off developed roads and trails also is not allowed, except for the purpose of going to and from a campsite located within 300 feet of the open developed road. It is prohibited to possess or use a motor vehicle off National Forest System roads except when operating in compliance with travel management rules and the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).

Liquid and pressurized gas stoves, lanterns and fire pits with an on and off switch are allowed outside of designated campgrounds. The exception to this is BLM-designated campgrounds along portions of the Crooked, Deschutes, John Day, and White Rivers, as well as on BLM-administered lands along Lake Billy Chinook and Lake Simtustus. These public use restrictions do not replace the annual river corridor restrictions which were implemented June 1, 2025. These restrictions prohibit campfires, charcoal fires, or any other type of open flame. This 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.

Operating equipment powered by an internal combustion engine, specifically chainsaws and portable generators, is regulated under certain conditions. Chainsaw use is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., with usage allowed at all other times. Saw operators must possess a long-handled round point shovel with an 8-inch blade (size 0) and a fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of ABC 8 oz. Additionally, a one-hour fire watch is required after ceasing saw operations. Generators are permitted when fully contained in the bed of a truck or securely attached to a vehicle, provided that they are lifted off the ground or placed in an area cleared of all flammable materials within a 10-foot diameter and equipped with an approved spark arrestor.

Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device or using an explosive is always prohibited on National Forest System lands in Central Oregon and currently prohibited on BLM-administered lands in Central Oregon.

Information on current restrictions or the current Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) can be obtained by contacting your Central Oregon Fire Use Information Line at 1-800-523-4737.

For current wildfire information, the public can visit centraloregonfire.org or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: Utility confirms ‘enhanced safety settings’ caused outage; most have it back)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nearly 2,000 Pacific Power customers on Bend’s north end lost power Thursday afternoon, an outage caused by the utility’s “enhanced safety settings” that officials said could last into the evening.

Pacific Power’s outage map said 1,975 customers were affected by the outage that began around 2:55 p.m. The initial estimate said it could take until 6 p.m. to fully restore power, but most had it back by about 5 p.m., with 265 customers still out at that time.

The utility said crews had been notified and investigated the cause of the outage affecting residents and businesses in the 97701 and 97703 ZIP codes.

Pacific Power spokesman Simon Gutierrez confirmed to KTVZ News that the area is on the recently announced enhanced safety settings, put into place for some areas during fire season to reduce the risk of wildfire – but also increase the chances of more and longer power outages.

We’re tracking updates and will have them online and on the air as soon as we can, including the KTVZ app.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After a long, snowy winter, Oregon Department of Transportation crews have cleared McKenzie Pass, and the gates will open for all travelers next Monday morning.

The scenic, twisting highway, also known as OR 242, closed for the winter season on Nov. 1 last year. 

As travel resumes, drivers are reminded to share the road with cyclists and pedestrians. The pass is a popular scenic route for a variety of users. Due to its narrow, winding design, vehicles longer than 35 feet are prohibited.

McKenzie Pass has a rich history. Originally built as a private wagon toll road in the 1870s, it transitioned to a seasonal scenic highway in 1962 following the completion of Oregon 126.

Even when it served as the main route between the southern Willamette Valley and Central Oregon, the road’s steep elevation — peaking at 5,325 feet — and sharp curves made the highway too difficult to maintain and keep clear for much of the year.

Here’s the rest of ODOT’s Thursday announcement:

Each year, we typically close the pass the Thursday before Veterans Day and reopen it the third Monday in June, though snow conditions may alter these dates. 

When we close the road, it is closed to all vehicles and is not maintained. We do not open it early for non-motorized travel. Even after the snow melts each spring, our crews have a lot of work to do before the road is safe for travel. Each winter trees come down and the heavy rain and snow moves rocks and debris onto the road. All of this is cleaned up and the pavement patched before we open. 

Together with our partners, we worked closely this past winter to improve how we communicate about the closure and clarify expectations. While the messaging has been updated, the seasonal management approach remains the same. The seasonal closure applies to all vehicle traffic—including bicycles, which are defined as vehicles under Oregon law. The only exception is for snowmobiles, which are permitted on snow-covered highways under specific conditions in ORS 821.200.

Anyone who chooses to bypass the closed gates to access the highway when it’s closed does so at their own risk. It’s important to remember that the seasonal closure affects the highway itself—not the surrounding public lands.

To learn more about what it takes to prepare the pass for reopening each year, visit our website for photos and videos of the cleanup and repair process.

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Lynsey Harris

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and each week we’re sharing stories and resources to support those impacted by memory loss. In our second interview with Bend neurologist Dr. Gregory Ferenz, we focus on what comes next after diagnosis — and why there’s hope for families navigating Alzheimer’s disease.

Ferenz says early diagnosis is key. “If we catch somebody in the early stages, they’re still able to function and participate in their own care and decision-making,” he said. New medications can now slow the disease’s progression, giving patients more time with preserved memory and function. One drug has been shown to offer nearly a year of cognitive preservation over a three-year span.

But medication is just one part of the plan.

Ferenz takes a four-part approach to care: disease-modifying treatments and lifestyle changes; cognitive support, including rehab and memory-enhancing drugs; managing behavioral and physical symptoms like apathy, sleep issues or bladder decline; and finally, safety and long-term support planning.

“Alzheimer’s is daunting and scary, but there are many treatments available to help,” Ferenz said. “Many people — and their caregivers — go on to live good, meaningful lives.”

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Kade Linville

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — From the latest efforts to create affordable housing development, to gasoline taxation, traffic updates and wildfire risks, KTVZ speaks with Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler and asks 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.

And be sure to tune in next Thursday at Sunrise for the debut of our exclusive Ask the Mayor monthly segment with Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch. You can also submit questions for those segments, at this page. Submissions may remain anonymous.

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