Category: ktvz-local-news

Gregory Deffenbaugh

(Update: Bend Fire & Rescue update on cause, losses)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The fire that destroyed a garage/shop in Woodside Ranch south of Bend Monday evening appears to have been accidental in nature, but the damage was too extensive to find a specific cause, a fire official said Wednesday.

Here’s Wednesday morning’s update from Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki:

“Updated information – The fire appears to be accidental in nature, but the exact cause of the fire was not able to be determined due to the extent of damage.

“The 3,000-square-foot, two-story shop was still under construction. Its walls were made of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) that were filled with concrete and the roof had been installed. The building is valued at $300,000, with the building being a complete loss. The owner is working with his insurance company on the next steps.” 

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) July 28 – First responders are on the scene of a large structure fire on Ridgeview Drive Monday evening. Multiple fire units were dispatched, and crews are actively working to contain the blaze.

Update – Bend Fire & Rescue:

Bend Fire and Rescue responded to a reported structure fire on Ridgeview Drive East in the Woodside Ranch neighborhood at 6:28 pm Monday evening. Fire crews found a large garage/shop on the back of the property fully involved.

The owners and neighbors had hoses, including a water truck from a local contractor, spraying water on the fire to keep it from spreading. The fire was difficult to extinguish due to the size and access to the building. Crews had the fire under control after about an hour.

The fire threatened the detached garage on the same property but was kept from burning. The house sustained minor damage from the heat as well as several trees were burned. The garage/shop building was under construction at the time of the fire.

The cause is still under investigation at the time of this release. The extent of the damage and value lost will be determined after further investigation. The building was not occupied at the time of the fire.

As we are in fire season, defensible space is key to helping protect your home from wildfire. But its also important for all types of fires. The detached garage that was spared had pine needles in the gutters that had started to ignite as crews arrived. They were extinguished before they could do any damage.

Keeping gutters cleared, as part of creating good defensible space around all your buildings and vehicles on your property, will help protect your home from not only wildfires.

More information on defensible space can be found at www.bendoregon.gov/own-your-zone

Video captured by KTVZ News shows firefighters rushing toward the burning structure as smoke billows into the sky. At this hour, the full extent of the damage and any possible injuries remain unknown.

Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of the fire or whether the structure was occupied at the time.

This is a developing story. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Click here to follow the original article.

Isabella Warren

(Update: Adding video, comments from commissioners, new interim sheriff, KTVZ.COM Poll)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County has a new sheriff. Deschutes County commissioners on Tuesday morning chose – on a split vote – Sheriff’s Office Detective and Special Services Commander Ty Rupert to serve as interim sheriff through next year’s election, after Thursday’s planned retirement of embattled Sheriff Kent van der Kamp. 

Later, Rupert told KTVZ News, “It’s a big day for our office. Big day for our community. It’s a big day for me.”

Commission Chairman Tony DeBone and colleagues Patti Adair and Phil Chang all praised the quality and experience of the five applicants to serve in the position. But Chang abstained when it came time for a vote to appoint Rupert to serve as sheriff for up to 18 months, until a new sheriff is elected by voters next year.

“I’m not opposed to putting Captain Rupert into this role,” Chang said, but he noted that in a poll of the Deschutes County Sheriff Employees’ Association members, DCSO Detective Lt. James McLaughlin “ranked a little bit higher” than Rupert. 

While acknowledging that the association ranking is “not the only factor we should be considering,” Chang said, “If our priority is to give the sheriff’s office employees a leader they can get behind, I think they have spoken. I’m not quite ready to vote for that motion yet.” 

Chang later told KTVZ News, “We are all hopeful that Interim Sheriff Rupert is going to help us turn the page on some of the problems that emerged when Sheriff Van der Kamp became sheriff. “

DeBone praised the decision: “Pride, history in the organization – he’s from Deschutes County proper. He’s worked up through the ranks, and is just so proud to be able to serve the people of Deschutes County.”

Rupert has been with the office since 2005 and currently leads the sheriff’s investigative units.

He says his term will be focused on the team, creating a more positive culture and gaining the trust of the community.

“We’re here to serve them. And I think that’s been lost over the years. It’s important that we get back to the citizens and talk to them,” Rupert said.

The selection ends a months-long saga, after van der Kamp allegedly lied on his resume and on the witness stand about his past education.

District Attorney Steve Gunnels earlier this year placed Van der Kamp on the Brady list, barring him from testifying at trials. Van der Kamp is currently at risk of losing his credentials as an officer in the state permanently, though he is challenging the action. 

Rupert told us, “We’ve been through a lot. I don’t want to talk about the past. We can’t change it. But the future – we have the opportunity to change the direction in the future and move forward.”

DeBone said Rupert’s swearing-in ceremony is set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Courtroom C, although Adair said she could not attend due to a funeral for an uncle, while Chang said he also would not attend due to a meeting related to his role on the state Transportation Commission. 

Commissioners held no public or group interviews with the applicants, deciding to meet with them privately and individually before making their choice.

The other three applicants were Undersheriff Aaron Wells, former DCSO Captain Deron McMaster, and COCC Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Cory Darling.

Speaking to the turmoil of recent years, Chang said, “It will be really important for the interim sheriff to assure employees are not punished for throwing their hat in the ring and say they want to run ( for sheriff), and important for the interim sheriff not to use the office to promote their choice for sheriff. I hope all the candidates keep those things in mind.”

Adair supported DeBone’s choice of Rupert, saying, “I think it’s important to have someone steady at this point.”

All spoke highly of all five applicants and said it’s important for all to work together to move the department forward.

“We have great teams, amazing people,” Adair told the sheriff’s office employees in the audience. “Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Chang also praised all the candidates, saying, “I’ve learned how much valuable experience, background and insights they all have on the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and where it can go.” And he said of the pick, “I know Captain Rupert is really good at listening to people.”

Here is Rupert’s letter of interest to the county for the role:

rupert_letter_of_interestDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– It wasn’t just high heat and fire risk today, we also saw strong wind gusts. One gust nearly destroyed a beloved Bend fruit stand. One of our viewers, Bill Moore, took this video at Farmer Brown’s fruit stand on Knott Road. You can see strong wind gusts blowing the entire stand over and destroying many items. In the aftermath, the tent and most of the stand are broken or blown out of place. We were not able to reach Farmer Brown’s for comment. The stand carries products from more than 50 Pacific Northwest farms and has been a staple in Bend for decades.

Click here to follow the original article.

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– There’s a new food destination in Bend with Southeast Asian flavor.

Tekka Tiger is just across the street from the last Blockbuster Video on Earth. It’s owned by a family from Singapore who wanted to bring a variety of different dishes to Bend.

Its cart features a rotating menu from Laos and Indonesia, Malaysia and many other countries. Authenticity is key, when it comes to the food served.

Khly Dhillon, Owner of Tekka Tiger told KTVZ News, “So I make everything from scratch. We use a lot of big, bold flavors -lots of galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, shrimp paste, fish sauce, so we’re not shying away from those big, bold flavors. When you come to Tekka Tiger, you’re going to taste the dishes the way it should be in Southeast Asia.”

The family often travels in backpacks in these countries, looking for new dishes, ingredients and flavors to bring back to Bend. Tekka Tiger wants people to contact them on their Instagram and suggest authentic dishes that they’d like to see.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — There will be plenty of friendly animals on display at this week’s Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo, but only one “Super COW” – and this tall addition is all about the cellphone in your pocket.

AT&T says it’s bringing its largest “Super COW” (Cell on Wheels) to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds for three events over the next couple of months, part of what the company calls its “effort to supercharge wireless capacity at Oregon’s major festivals this season.”

This mobile cell site will enhance connectivity for customers at three upcoming events. Along with the county fair, the mobile cell tower will help keep signals strong at the Reggae Rise Up Oregon music festival, August 29-31 and the Cascade Equinox Music Festival, Sept. 19-21.

“The Super COW helps keep people connected by handling lots of phone and data use at once, even outdoors — so visitors can enjoy a smooth and reliable experience all festival season,” said Suzanne Trantow of AT&T Regional Media Relations.

Fair & Expo Center Director Geoff Hinds told KTVZ News, “AT&T has had a COW on site for the last two years, but sounds like this one is an even bigger, better, more enhanced version.”

“When we reach full capacity on grounds, we can more than double the number of people in the area of Redmond, so cell service can sometimes be a bit spotty,” Hinds said. “So the COW provides additional service options for both fair attendees, as well as people in the local region.”

“No other cell company brings a COW or device on site,” the fairgrounds manager added, “but we do work with other providers, who increase their service in other ways.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — What began as a peaceful morning walk turned into a 12-hour rescue mission in Bend on Saturday that showed the community coming together to find a partially blind and deaf dog named Buddy.

Buddy bolted from his walker near the Deschutes River trailhead at Meadow Park on Saturday.

Despite being with other dogs and an experienced walker, Buddy took off, eventually disappearing near Widgi Creek Golf Course.

And that launched a massive search effort on Saturday afternoon. Friends, strangers, even kayakers and drone pilots joined in scouring the trails, canvassing neighborhoods and tracking sightings.

At one point, Buddy was seen swimming across the Deschutes River, as daylight faded. Hope dammed until someone spotted him on a small lava rock island in the middle of the river.

With help from local dog searcher Katie Albright and her drone, rescuers crossed slippery rocks and lit their path to reach Buddy.

Twelve hours after it began, he was found – exhausted and thirsty, but safe.

Buddy is now back at home, thanks to a community that dropped everything to bring him back home.

You can read more about how it all happened and the community’s response at this post, “The Lost and Found Gratitude Club,” on Reddit’s Bend subreddit.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tyson Beauchemin

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Wednesday marks the start of the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo. Through next Sunday, you can enjoy games, food, rides, and more at the Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Redmond.

It’s also kicking off the Kendall Toyota of Bend free summer concert series, with Brothers Osborne. A full list of performing artists and times is on the fair’s website.

Driving and parking at the fairgrounds should be easy. All the gates on Southwest Airportway will be open. A parking crew will be out there to guide you to a free parking spot. Once you’re there, you could buy tickets at any of the three fairgrounds gates.

Your general admission ticket gets you access to everything: the fair, the rodeo, and all of the concerts. The only extras are rides and food. And there will be some exciting new food vendors to check out this year.

Deschutes County Fairgrounds Director Geoff Hinds said, “Whether it’s the brand new Wahlburgers stand that’s making its debut for the first time ever. We’ve got a Wahlburgers owned by the Wahlberg brothers, Mark, Donnie and that family. They’re having their Oregon debut here in just a few days, or some of the other stands that we’ve got, a lot of the traditional fair food, but some new, fun opportunities as well.”

This year, there is no official shuttle to the fair, but the bus is running to the airport, which is within walking distance. Bend’s party bus is also selling tickets for its shuttle service.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gregory Deffenbaugh

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — .A fire Sunday afternoon heavily damaged a home atop a hill off U.S. Highway 26 south of Madras, and water shuttles to fight the blaze closed the highway for a time.

Jefferson County Fire & EMS crews were dispatched after the fire was reported around 2:45 p.m. at a home in the 2500 block of Highway 26.

Fire Chief Jeff Blake told KTVZ News the 4,500-foot home was built with materials such as a tile roof and stucco, which, along with high winds led to a rapid spread of the fire.

Despite fire crews’ swift response, most of the home was destroyed, Blake said. No one was home at the time, and no injuries were reported.

Jefferson County Fire called in other fire agencies, including Redmond, Crook County, Crooked River Ranch and Cloverdale, for assistance at the scene, Blake said. They all helped with opening up the structure to get to the fire and conduct mop-up operations.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office will conduct an investigation into the cause, Blake said.

Track LIVE traffic conditions by clicking here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

HILLSBORO, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek on Monday commemorated the signing of House Bill 2138, House Bill 3031, House Bill 2258, Senate Bill 684, and House Bill 3145, “bipartisan bills aimed at building the housing that Oregonians need with the urgency they deserve.”

“These bills are an essential component of the Governor’s work to break down barriers to more housing construction and bring down the costs of housing across the state,” according to a news release from the governor’s office, which continues in full below:

“Families struggling with the high cost of living are forced to make impossible choices, between staying in the communities they love or finding a place they can afford. This affordability crisis is the stubborn engine of our homelessness crisis,” Governor Kotek said.

“Solving this decades-old problem demands that we bring creative, practical solutions to increase the supply of all kinds of homes as fast as we can. We have to cut red tape and get out of our own way. We have to invest in affordable housing projects. We have to help our cities and counties build the infrastructure they need to start building new homes.”

Habitat for Humanity hosted the event at their site in Hillsboro, Century Commons. Construction at Century Commons will soon be complete, with 18 affordable homes, including townhomes and single-level, ADA-accessible homes. The governor spoke at the event with Deborah Flagan, Vice President of Hayden Homes; Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar, and Brett Dery, a homeowner. 

House Bill 2138 legalizes and speeds up the production of middle housing, to give Oregonians the housing options that suit their needs and lower the price of housing for everyone. The bill builds on the governor’s long history of right-sizing state housing policy to better meet Oregon’s needs and turn back the impacts of exclusionary and discriminatory zoning policies.  

“I never thought I’d be able to say this, but I’m a homeowner in Bend, Oregon, and that’s because affordable housing is finally being prioritized,” Central Oregon Homeowner Brett Dery said. “The legislation Governor Kotek signed will help families like mine find stability, freedom, and a real place in their community. It means living where we work, biking through our neighborhood, and building a future with confidence. I’m grateful for the governor’s leadership and commitment to making homeownership possible for more Oregonians.”

House Bill 2258 will provide a series of pre-approved building plans, streamlining approval processes and eliminating barriers to building small apartments, single-unit dwellings, duplexes, townhomes, and other middle housing options. The bill would also create land use and design standards for the plans, providing clarity and predictability for developers, cities, and counties.

“At Hayden Homes, we’re committed to building homes that the area median wage earner can afford. This year, we opened new communities in Albany, Cottage Grove, and Bend, with homes starting between 90-100% average medium income,” Deborah Flagan said. “These communities are a direct result of past bipartisan legislation allowing for zoning reform and the integration of mixed housing types. I want to thank Governor Kotek for her unwavering leadership. Today’s bill signing reflects the continued commitment to tackling Oregon’s housing shortage head-on.” 

House Bill 3031 creates the Housing Infrastructure Project Fund, which is designed to reduce infrastructure barriers to development with strategic investments. It would provide loans, forgivable loans, and grants to cities, counties, special districts, and federally recognized tribes to fund transportation, water, wastewater, stormwater, and site development projects that are directly linked to housing development.

“When I started working on housing in Tillamook County, we hadn’t seen a new affordable development in nearly 20 years. We needed homes for families, seniors, and our workforce, not just vacation properties,” Tillamook County Commissioner Erin Skaar said. “One thing was clear: this work needs a champion. For Oregon, that’s Governor Kotek. Thanks to her leadership, communities like ours are finally making real progress.” 

Senate Bill 684, introduced by Senator Khan Pham, creates the Construction Revolving Loan Fund, a new tool to provide long-term financing for mixed-income residential housing.

“Senate Bill 684 allows us to take the first steps towards building a revolving loan fund that in the future can get subsidized construction loans in the hands of developers eager to build both market-rate and affordable housing in communities across the state,” Senator Khanh Pham (D-Outer SE & NE Portland) said. 

“Housing is a bipartisan problem and requires bipartisan solutions,” Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City) said. “It is clear Governor Kotek and the Legislature are committed to finding solutions to our housing crisis.”

House Bill 3145, introduced by Representative Pam Marsh (D-Southern Jackson County), sets aside $25 million in Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) funds to build factory-produced housing. These modular homes can be built faster and at a lower cost than traditional construction, positioning them as a crucial tool to urgently meet the state’s housing goals.  

“Getting out of this housing hole requires us to re-examine our conventional ideas on so many fronts, including land use, permitting, design, and financing. The use of factory-based components that can get homes on the ground more quickly and, perhaps, more inexpensively, needs to be a pillar in our state’s housing strategy,” Representative Marsh said. “House Bill 3145 provides Oregon developers, builders, factory operators, and communities the chance to test new approaches that could help us break through barriers to housing production.”

Since Day One of her term, the Governor has been laser-focused on solutions to create a healthy housing market, where everyone can afford a home. As a result, the state estimates that in the Governor’s first biennium in office, 2,800 affordable housing units were financed and infrastructure for over 25,000 affordable and market-rate housing units were provided. Additionally, tools have been established to continue to accelerate the development of more housing, including the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO), a moderate-income revolving loan (MIRL) fund, and a state land inventory.

Click here to follow the original article.

Barney Lerten

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — KTVZ viewer Brad Baer shared with us a video of a black bear sighting just before 2 p.m. Monday, ambling along in the woods near Huntington Road, south of Sunriver.

According to Baer, the bear was “slow-moving and minding its own business.”

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon is home to about 25,000 to 30,000 black Bears, North America’s most common bear species. By the way, while generally black in color, they can also be brown, cinnamon or blond.

Read more about them at this ODFW web page.

Click here to follow the original article.