Category: ktvz-local-news

Kelsey Merison

This week’s Furry Friend is Kona, a 7-year-old black lab who is a very happy girl.

Don’t let her age fool you, Kona is still full of puppy energy.

“She’s a pretty typical lab, so she loves to chase a ball, play with a toy. She loves snacks, and she’s just a happy girl. She’ll make a great partner for most homes,” said Paige Kidd, the development and volunteer manager at Brightside Animal Center. “She’s still got some puppy energy, so she’ll be a great walking buddy. She doesn’t need a ton of exercise because she is seven. She’d love to go for walks and then just hang out with her people for the rest of the day.”

Right now at Brightside, the adoption fee for dogs over the age of one is just $20.

Click here to view Kona’s profile on Brightside’s website.

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KTVZ – News Team

Are you looking for something to do this weekend in Central Oregon? Matthew Draxton highlights three local events, from Mother’s Day celebrations to a 3-in-1 expo center show.

For many more and to submit your own events, visit https://events.ktvz.com.

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Barney Lerten

(Update: OSP releases crash details)

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fatal head-on crash on Highway 97 involving a minivan and semi-truck killed a La Pine man Thursday night. The crash investigation and removal of the vehicles closed the highway until midday Friday.

Oregon State Police released details Friday afternoon of the crash that occurred shortly before 9 p.m. near milepost 156, near Vandevert Road and about 12 miles north of La Pine.

A preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Dodge Caravan driven by the 25-year-old La Pine man crossed the center line and struck a northbound Kenworth commercial motor vehicle and trailer, driven by a 52-year-old man from Williams, Calif.

The collision caused both vehicles to become engulfed in flames and required local fire crews’ efforts to extinguish the fires.

The minivan driver died at the scene, OSP said. The truck driver reportedly suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.

The highway was impacted for an extended period of time during the investigation and cleanup of the vehicles.

OSP was assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Sunriver Fire, Alfalfa Fire, La Pine Fire, and ODOT.

Earlier Friday, Oregon Department of Transportation Region 4 Public Information Officer Kacey Davey told KTVZ News, “There are some contracted crews there now cleaning up fluids from the vehicles (oil, etc). ODOT is providing traffic control and assisting with clean-up.”

The highway closure and detour onto Vandevert Road made for some lengthy commutes Friday morning. One driver said her trip from La Pine to Bend, which normally takes about 40 minutes, took over two hours. Drivers also encountered smoke from a nearby prescribed burn.

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Cami Porter

SISTERS, Ore. –(KTVZ)– A water company in Sisters is adding an extra $100 a month to customers’ bills, and it’s not sitting well with some residents. Indian Meadow Water Company is a volunteer owned company serving several subdivisions in Sisters.

The system it inherited is decades old, with crumbling infrastructure and 50 year old asbestos lined pipes. The company has hired an engineer to estimate estimate the cost of repairs, but even before that report is complete, customers are already seeing an extra $100 a month on their water bills, and some are not happy about it.

Steven Huillet, a Sisters resident told KTVZ news ” They are preempting even though because they have no idea what it’s going to cost, but they’re already deciding what this assessment’s going to be. And they have not and will not put an end of when the assessment will end.”

Terry Buchholz, from the Indian Meadow Water Company told KTVZ news “We have been very proactive in trying to figure out how to fund this, and we just have to, I hate to say pull off the band-aid, but we need the funding in order to move forward. The pipes continue to break at a more frequent basis, and we need to move forward.”

Both the company and the neighbors complaining about the increase agree on one thing. 90% of the pipes need to be replaced. Failures have already caused several outages and boil orders. Neighbors want the company to find grants to pay for the repairs. The company says it’s tried and continues to look for them. Neighbors also suggested the private water companies sell to a larger company.

Indian Meadow Water Company says the amount of required maintenance would discourage another company from buying it. On top of that, the asbestos-laced pipes are a liability and make buying the company unappealing.

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Cami Porter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– While Catholics around the globe celebrate the new pope, KTVZ News discovered a unique connection between our area and Pope Leo XIV at the headquarters of the Baker Diocese here in Central Oregon.

There was excitement and hope surrounding the new pope. We sat down with Bishop Liam Carey, who was surprised by how quickly the new pope was chosen.

While Bishop Carey had some knowledge of Cardinal Prevost before his election, he’s learning more about him now. The bishop says Pope Leo brings a strong background in Catholic canon law and left a powerful first impression. 

Bishop Kerry told KTVZ News, “I was impressed and kind of moved very much moved by the person on the screen. There’s something about his personality that came through. I’ve read one place that he was not a flashy person, he’s kind of a quiet person, but when he speaks, you know that he means what he says.”

When a new pope is selected, he gets to choose his new name, and it turns out the Baker Diocese has some history with the last Pope Leo. Pope Leo XIII was the one who ordered the creation of the Catholic diocese in our area. The bishop showed KTVZ News the documents from 1903 bearing the pope’s signature and seal.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Council on Aging of Central Oregon is celebrating new support from partners across the region to expand and sustain critical nutrition services for older adults.

Thanks to recent grant funding and in-kind support, the council says it’s better equipped to meet the growing demand for Meals on Wheels and Community Dining programs in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties.

Nutrition programs play a vital role in helping older adults maintain their health, independence, and well-being. Home-delivered Meals on Wheels ensures that those who are isolated or have limited mobility receive healthy meals and a friendly visit from a volunteer. Community Dining locations offer opportunities for older adults to gather, share a meal and connect with others, reducing the risk of food insecurity and loneliness.

New funding demonstrates the power of local commitment to aging adults:

● In Deschutes County, the Clabough Foundation awarded $7,500 to support the expansion of Meals on Wheels services.

● In South County, the Sunriver Women’s Club granted $4,500 to sustain local Meals on Wheels routes serving seniors in Sunriver and La Pine.

● In Sisters, a collective investment is helping to keep services moving: 100 Women Who Care Sisters contributed $9,200 to strengthen Meals on Wheels deliveries, and Les Schwab provided a crucial in-kind donation of new tires for the Council’s vehicle serving the Sisters community.

● Across the tri-county region, Pacific Power contributed $2,500 toward general nutrition programming, ensuring that more meals reach more older adults where the need is greatest.

“This wave of support reflects how deeply each community cares about its older residents,” said Cassie Regimbal, Executive Director of the Council on Aging of Central Oregon. “We are grateful to these partners for helping us provide not just meals, but also meaningful connections that allow older adults to thrive.”

As Central Oregon’s population ages, demand for nutrition services continues to rise. The Council on Aging remains committed to working closely with community partners to ensure that no older adult is left behind. To learn more about Meals on Wheels, Community Dining, and other services for older adults, visit www.councilonaging.org or call 541-678-5483.

About the Council on Aging of Central Oregon

Since 1975, the Council on Aging of Central Oregon (CoA) has served as the designated Area Agency on Aging for Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties, offering adults aged 60 and older and their loved ones a range of support services. CoA advocates for, empowers, and guides older adults and their loved ones to live with independence and well-being. To find out more about the Council on Aging of Central Oregon, visit www.councilonaging.org or call (541) 678-5483.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — High Desert Food & Farm Alliance is thrilled to kick off its 10th season of Grow & Give. This program collects locally grown fresh produce from farm gleans, farmers markets, community gardens and home gardeners from May through November.

The program serves the dual purpose of reducing food waste and delivering nutritious produce to our regional hunger relief agencies for our Central Oregon neighbors experiencing food insecurity.  

Grow & Give is the largest program of its kind in Central Oregon, with a strong track record of food recovery and redistribution. In 2024 we collected over 31,000 pounds of produce that might otherwise have gone to waste, contributing to a total of 214,121.77 pounds – the equivalent of approximately 152,000 meals – recovered  since the program’s launch in 2016.

We also support Central Oregon’s agricultural sector by reimbursing local farms for the produce they provide.  Over the past five years, HDFFA has distributed more than $79,000 in payments to our Grow & Give farming partners.  

This year, we’re aiming to increase program donations by 15%—and our community’s support couldn’t be more important. Our regional food bank partner, NeighborImpact, is seeing a 17% drop in food from the Oregon Food Bank due to funding cuts, with fresh produce being hit the hardest. This reduction trickles down to each local food bank and hunger relief agency in Central Oregon. Together, we can fill the gap and ensure families in our community still have access to healthy, nourishing food. 

We invite you to participate in Grow & Give in its 10th season (and beyond)!  Ways to get involved include: 

Volunteering for glean teams! Register at www.hdffa.org/volunteer to get notified of gleaning opportunities on beautiful farms throughout Central Oregon this growing season. 

Donating your own garden’s bounty! Gardeners can bring excess produce from their own gardens to HDFFA’s booths at the Downtown Bend and Northwest Crossing Farmers Markets. Don’t let your carrots and zucchini go to waste – HDFFA will get them to our partner hunger relief organizations. 

Financially supporting the local food system. Your donation will help HDFFA sustain this vital program for the next 10 years, expanding food access through locally sourced produce. www.hdffa.org/donate,  

Grow & Give is made possible with support from Republic Services, Chrysantha Foundation, and our partnership with NeighborImpact. 

Have questions? Contact us at growandgive@hdffa.org  

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Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After a five-year hiatus, the National Association of Letter Carriers is bringing its Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive back to Central Oregon on Saturday. As the largest single-day food drive in the country, this nationwide effort makes it easy for residents to support their neighbors in need. 

To participate, community members are encouraged to leave bags of non-perishable food items next to their mailboxes before mail delivery on Saturday, May 10.

Letter carriers in Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville will collect the donations during their regular routes and deliver them to NeighborImpact’s Food Bank, where the food will be distributed to local individuals and families through a network of partner pantries. 

“This drive is incredibly important to our region,” said Carly Auten, Food Bank Director at NeighborImpact. “Every can or box of food collected through Stamp Out Hunger goes directly to Central Oregonians who are struggling to put meals on the table. With record levels of need and shrinking food resources, this support could not come at a better time.” 

Held annually on the second Saturday in May, the Letter Carriers’ food drive spans 10,000 cities and towns across all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. The return of this event to Central Oregon comes at a critical moment, as food pantries across the region face rising demand and limited supplies. 

NeighborImpact serves as the regional food bank for Central Oregon, distributing more than 6 million pounds of food annually through 57 partner agencies across Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties, as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Over the past year, NeighborImpact’s Food Bank has supported an average of 78,815 individuals per month. Simultaneously, the food bank is grappling with a 17 percent drop in federal food supply due to reduced commodity distribution from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

This vital community effort would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of local letter carriers, whose commitment to collecting donations while delivering mail makes the food drive a success. NeighborImpact and the communities it serves extend their deepest gratitude to these carriers for their time, energy, and continued service. 

Those who are unable to donate food but still wish to help can make a monetary donation at neighborimpact.org/donate. Every contribution supports the fight against hunger in Central Oregon. 

About NeighborImpact: NeighborImpact is a private non-profit governed by a board of directors drawn from across the community. Since 1985, NeighborImpact has led the region in developing solutions and bringing resources to Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. We help meet the basic needs of Central Oregonians, build economic security and create a community where everyone thrives. NeighborImpact receives federal, state and local grants, foundation grants and donations from individuals and businesses in our community. To learn more about NeighborImpact, please visit www.neighborimpact.org. 

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Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild Animal Hospital is calling for awareness and more hunters to switch from lead ammunition, as a Bald Eagle fights for her life after suffering from lead poisoning. In 2024, more than 20 animals passed away at their hospital after suffering lead poisoning.

Right now a Bald Eagle is fighting for her life at Think Wild Animal Hospital after being poisoned by lead ammunition. But there is some good news – her lead levels are going down.

Think Wild got a call from a Redmond family that said a Bald Eagle in the backyard was acting unusual. The eagle likely ate from a carcass killed by a hunter using lead ammunition.

Lead poisoning kills nearly all animals it affects, but this eagle is tougher than most. Tests today showed her lead levels way down.

Think Wild says it had 20 animals died last year from lead poisoning. Their Executive Director Sally Compton encourages hunters to make the switch away from lead ammunition, “Unfortunately, the use of lead ammunition when it enters an animal, it can splinter. I think I’ve seen studies that say that just one lead bullet can splinter up to 112 inches away from the entry site”.

Hunters often cite the cost of ammunition as the reason for using lead. Bullets that aren’t made up of lead typically cost 3 times as much as lead ammunition. Sally has had good experiences working with hunters and believes it’s all about awareness, “Hunters are typically one of the greatest conservationists. Hunters love fish and wildlife, and so I think the more that we can educate and make accessible opportunities for not using lead, the better”.

The Problem Solvers are working on an in-depth story on lead ammunition, and why hunters do or don’t use these types of bullets.

For now, Think Wild stresses it gets no government funding and relies on private donations. If you want to help out, visit their website.

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Barney Lerten

BLACK BUTTE RANCH, Ore. (KTVZ) — Our thanks to Jane Lindquist for sharing this scene of several elk traveling through the Black Butte area on Wednesday.

Feel free to send us your great videos or photos of Central Oregon’s natural beauty from the Share tab on KTVZ.COM and our app.

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