SISTERS, OR -- A 21-year-old Bend transient faces several charges after he allegedly stole a car, crashed it and then was hit by another vehicle he attempted to steal.

According to the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Joshua Buck requested a ride from the county's Stabilization Center to Sisters. When the vehicle stopped at the requested location, just before 3 a.m. Friday, authorities say Buck assaulted the driver and dragged him out of the car. He then drove off, heading west on Highway 20. Deputies were able to track the vehicle's location, as it turned onto Highway 126. 

At about 4 a.m., DCSO was advised by the Lane County Sheriff's Office of a multi-vehicle crash near Vida. LCSO contacted Buck at that crash site, where they say he was actively trying to steal a second vehicle. The driver of that car sped away, striking Buck in the process. 

Buck was arrested and treated at the hospital for his injuries. He's charged with Robbery, Assault and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle. 

BEND, OR -- Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler was in Washington, D.C. earlier this week, with the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors. "They have a homelessness task force that’s led by Karen Bass, who’s the mayor of Los Angeles, who is dealing with this, obviously, in her city and also is a former Congresswoman," Kebler tells KBND News.

"We talked to Senators, we talked to Representatives. We also talked to the Secretary of HUD, our housing department at the federal level, the Secretary of the Veterans Department, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and all of this was to say the federal government needs to invest more," she says, "Especially in housing vouchers, which is our main tool that we use to get people into housing. It helps pay the rent for people who can’t afford it. And we also need more vouchers to help us build things like Cleveland Commons, which is permanent supportive housing; which is one of the best ways to get chronically homeless people off the street and supported." Construction began on Cleveland Commons last fall, at SE Fourth and Cleveland in Bend. 

Kebler says it was an important opportunity for the group of nearly 50 Mayors to show a united front on the need for resources, "It was really great to be with Mayors from California, Nevada, Providence Rhode Island, all these other places in the country, and we all agree this is a top issue for our cities." 

She believes they were well-received, "There’s always politics in play at Washington, DC, and helping to move things forward. But, especially our Senator Ron Wyden, that we spoke to is very invested in making sure that we have also what are called Low Income Housing tax credits, which are what directly help us build affordable housing, and a child tax credit to put money back in the pockets of struggling families and help end child poverty, which is also a way to help people stay in their homes."

BEND, OR -- A motorcyclist was killed in a northeast Bend crash Thursday afternoon. At about 1 p.m., Police responded to Highway 20, just east of NE 27th Street and found the rider trapped under a vehicle. He was later identified as 48-year-old Chad Bernhardt, of Bend.

Investigators say he was hit by an SUV driven by 46-year-old Kyle Cofer, who made an illegal turn out of the Stonebriar Apartments onto Highway 20. Cofer faces several charges including manslaughter and driving under the influence of drugs.

Highway 20 was closed between NE 27th and Hamby Road for several hours during the investigation.

PRINEVILLE, OR -- As Crook County voters fill out their ballots for the May 21st election, some may notice information missing from the voters pamphlet for a local measure.

Crook County Clerk Cheryl Seely says she inadvertently omitted two arguments in support of Measure 7-86, which asks if Crook County should support joining Idaho. The two missing arguments are from members of the group "Move Oregon's Border." 

She says there is no way to reissue the voters guide, although information on every Crook County race is available on the Clerk's website. You can also click HERE to read all of the arguments submitted for and against Measure 7-86.

BEND, OR -- The tri-county Central Oregon Suicide Prevention Alliance launched a new public service announcement this week, encouraging gun owners to safely store their firearms. The rate of suicide by firearm in Central Oregon is higher than the statewide average. Deschutes County Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator Bethany Kuschel tells KBND News safely storing firearms is proven to reduce risk, "Creating temporary time and distance between someone and a lethal mean, when they are in a suicide crisis, can be really effective."

Kuschel hopes the PSAs will increase awareness, "For our community, for our families and that it should just be a normal conversation. When we’re talking about secure storage, it’s finding things that work for the firearm owner, often within the home, and it’s also temporary. So, we’re not talking about mandates, so law enforcement doesn’t have to be involved."

Caroline Suiter, with Deschutes County Public Health, says gun owners were heavily involved in the campaign, "There’s been a lot of input from our communities and firearm-owning communities to help with this project." She says the ads offer different ways to keep guns out of the hands of people in crisis, "One option is just having lockboxes at home, safes at home, there’s biometric combination key locks - always changing those, periodically, if there’s youth in the home or someone who might, ongoing, struggle with certain issues. Our law enforcement agencies, it’s a location where people can go to temporarily house their firearms."

Two Spanish versions of the PSA, as well as a second one in English are expected within the next month. Click HERE to learn more about local secure storage options. 

BEND, OR -- Pertussis cases are on the rise in Deschutes County. In the past two weeks, County Public Health has identified seven cases of Pertussis, also called Whooping Cough. In all of 2023, just six cases were reported.

The highly contagious respiratory disease is transmitted through droplets from a cough or sneeze. Newborns, who are too young to be vaccinated, are at highest risk for severe illness. Complications can be life-threatening for infants under six months old. 

Pertussis vaccines - the DTaP and TDaP - are available at local healthcare providers and most pharmacies. “Getting vaccinated does not only protect you, it also protects your loved ones and close contacts, some of whom are more susceptible to complications from pertussis,” Dr. Rita Bacho, Deschutes County Program Manager for Communicable Disease Prevention and Management, said in a statement.  

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz supports a bill to remove the gray wolf from the federal Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 states. Rep. Cliff Bentz represents much of Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon and says urban lawmakers don’t know what ranchers in his district have to do to keep their livestock safe from wolves. "I don’t think I’ve encountered such an amazing display of ignorance regarding the nature of a wolf, until this afternoon. A wolf is not a pet dog. It’s not some schnauzer or golden retriever, or dachshund. It is a natural born killer." He spoke on the House floor Tuesday, during debate over a bill dubbed the Trust the Science Act. 

Bentz told lawmakers, "It’s obvious to me that those who have suggested that ranchers are apparently not to be concerned about, haven’t grown up on a ranch, as did I. They don’t have a clue about what it’s like to have to get up in the middle of the night to try to go out and protect your livelihood from nocturnal killers like wolves." He added, "The people I represent do have to deal with wolves, back in Oregon. And in some of the most awkward situations." Under current law, the protection line in Oregon is Highway 395, which goes through Bentz’s district, "It is bisected by this highway. And on one side, the wolves are listed. On the other, they are not. In some places, this highway runs right through the middle of a single-ownership ranch." 

He also cited a recent report from U.S. Fish and Wildlife showing there is no risk of wolves going extinct in the next 100 years. "The Endangered Species Act doesn’t require an abundance of these natural born killers. It requires enough that we still have them around," said Bentz, "No one’s disputing that."

The bill passed the U.S. House Tuesday, on a 209-205 vote, and goes to the Senate.

WARM SPRINGS, OR -- Kah-Nee-Ta released a number of maps Tuesday, revealing the resort's new layout. The rebuilt facility plans to reopen this summer.

Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs first opened in 1962 and was Oregon’s first destination resort east of the Cascades. It closed in 2018, due to the economy.

When it reopens this summer, it’ll feature multiple pools surrounded by cabanas, a spa and athletic center, hotel and RV park. The resort spans both sides of the river, and provides space for launching kayaks and tubes. There’s also a tribal area reserved for Natives.

BEND, OR -- May Historic Preservation Month. Local events are planned throughout Central Oregon, including walking tours, theatrical performances and even a vintage motocross event. 

Kelly Cannon-Miller, with the Deschutes Historical Museum, says preserving old buildings benefits the planet, "Demolition and wasting of resources isn’t where we need to be moving into the future. And, so you can think of preservation on the one hand as adaptive reuse and recycling of spaces and materials." She tells KBND News, "Giving historic buildings new life, and allowing them to work for you rather than ending up in a landfill and burning up the resources that it takes to create new materials."

On Thursday, actors portraying members of Redmond's founding families offer a glimpse into the past, while on a walking tour of historic downtown buildings that have been repurposed for local businesses. 

Cannon-Miller says preservation can also be artistic, "One of the things that we have in this month’s programming is a theater piece based on a story that’s 100 years old this year: the Lava Lake murders; and trying to figure out who the second murderer was in that horrific incident."

National Historic Preservation Month is spearheaded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Each community celebrates in their own way, and you can find a variety of things happening around the country. A lot of effort goes into drawing attention to endangered places, which we very much still have that. For us, in Central Oregon, we’re always at risk of losing a resource," says Cannon-Miller. 

She notes archiving the past, "Can inform you about what your community needs to be working on - why are you the way you are? It can give you the materials to make art, it can give you a building a new building for a new purpose and keep your landfill clean. Historic preservation can be a lot of different things."

Click HERE for a schedule of events hosted by Historic Landmarks Commissions in various communities around the High Desert. 

MADRAS, OR -- Seven candidates are running for one open Jefferson County Commissioner seat, to replace the retiring Wayne Fording. They each addressed hot-button issues at a forum this week, hosted by the Madras Chamber of Commerce. You'll find videos of the event HERE. 

Contractor Ara Erdekian says he supports funding the animal shelter, which lost its county contract earlier this year, "They’re running a $50,000 a month sanctuary for $20,000 out of Jefferson County taxes. They have 13 part time employees, who all live in Jefferson County. These people are doing a thankless job." Small business owner Cindy Brockett says pet owners should take responsibility for their animals, "Yes, we do need to have better management. But we also need to ask for better spay and neuter instruction and demand that they follow those rules."

When asked about addressing the homeless crisis, special education teacher Seth Taylor says existing drug laws should be enforced, "This is a created problem by the failed policies of Salem. When we allow drugs to be used in our state legally, we attracted homeless or people who want to abuse drugs from around the nation."

CPA Brandie McNamee was asked about the Greater Idaho Movement and shifting Oregon’s border, and said, "I would support the concept, but it’s going to be incredibly difficult to move the border. Talk about state [legislature], your taxes, I mean there’s so much more to it than just drawing a new line."

Candidates also discussed economic development throughout the county. Truck driver George “Wes” Curtiss suggested the rural economy would benefit if the area stopped growing, "Do we really want to make Madras a Bend? Do we want to make Madras a Redmond? I kind of like it here. I kind of like my property taxes. The property values are cheaper here because there’s less population. If we get another four, five or 10,000, then it’s just going to cost more." While retiree Shawn Stanfill believes the key to rural economic development lies with Congress, "We need people to lobby, go back to Washington to lobby and speak on behalf of our farmers, who are the endangered species."

When asked about managing growth, former School Superintendent and business owner Rick Molitor says he supports affordable housing projects, "Those houses, those people, those new jobs will bring additional resources and taxes for us."

This is a non-partisan race, so if no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote on May 21st, then the top two advance to the November election. 

BEND, OR -- Bend Fire and Rescue says a recent commercial fire highlights the need for defensible space around every building, not just homes. Exterior walls of two warehouses at NE First and Olney caught fire late Sunday. Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki says firefighters’ efforts were hampered by material stored outside by the buildings’ tenants, "That storage material was a bunch of wood, pallets and windows, that made it nearly impossible for our firefighters to get around and get to the back. They had to climb over all that material to get to it, and it just allowed the fire to burn a little bit longer."

It also camouflaged a small homeless camp, which is believed to have been the source of the fire. "It was very, very hard to see this encampment from the street, or even the parking lot, Derlacki tells KBND News, "That area, where this encampment was, is only 10-feet separation between it and buildings to the west and to the south."

Derlacki urges property owners to consider defensible space around every type of building, whether it's a house, garage, barn or business, "So much of the wildfire safety that we talk about is about people’s homes and the vegetation. But, walk around all buildings you have. And look for that flammable vegetation, but also where are you stacking up wood? Do you have extra pallets there? Do you have stored extra fence posts, things like that that could catch on fire if an ember landed into it." He adds, "Looking at what’s right next to your building. If that caught on fire, how could it spread to your building? The lucky part about these buildings is most of them are all metal sided, versus a wood-sided, like most homes are. That helped prevent the fire from getting inside."

He says vegetation and combustible materials should be at least five feet away from buildings, "Keeping that material away not only protects the building from any sort of fire, whether it be wildland fire or a neighboring building’s fire, but it it also makes it where it’s harder for people to hide and set up encampments in those areas."

That Sunday evening fire caused about $50,000 in damage. While investigators believe it started in the encampment and was accidental, the exact cause was undetermined, due to the extensive damage to the camp. 

photo courtesy of Bend Fire & Rescue

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County 911 and the Sheriff’s Office will test the Deschutes Alerts system Wednesday, May first. A test message will go out at 1 p.m. to everyone signed up for the local emergency and evacuation alert system, to make sure profiles are current. Messages are sent by smart phone app, text, email or phone call.

Sign up for Deschutes Alerts and update your information HERE. Subscribers who receive the test don’t need to take further action. Those who don't get the message within a couple hours of the test and are signed up for Deschutes Alerts should contact the Sheriff's Office at 541-550-4888. That call center is open Wednesday, 1-5 p.m.

Outside of that time, questions can be asked by calling 541-388-6501. DCSO can help confirm or make changes to your profile over the phone. 

BEND, OR -- The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office arrested 47-year-old Jeffrey Kingsbury Sunday, following an investigation into online sexual corruption of a child. Investigators say he engaged in overtly sexual conversations over social media, with a girl he believed to be under the age of 16. The person he was talking to was actually a DCSO deputy. He allegedly sent imntimate images of himself and described acts from the girl.

On Sunday, DCSO says Kingsbury offered to meet the "girl" near the Riverwood's Country Store. He also sent photos of his vehicle. Investigators spotted the vehicle at about 8:15 p.m. Kingsbury was taken into custody without incident. 

During his arrest, deputies found he had a criminal amount of methamphetamine. He's charged with Online Sexual Corruption of a Child, Luring a Minor, Attempted Sexual Abuse and Meth Possession. 

BEND, OR -- A country music legend is coming to the High Desert, to raise money for Stroke Awareness Oregon. "A stroke does not care about age, race, gender, economic standing," says SAO co-founder Carol Stiles, "Stroke can affect anybody, any time, anywhere." Even a country superstar like singer/songwriter Randy Travis, "He had a stroke in 2013 that was very serious. He nearly died. He is recovering," says Stiles, "His wife is absolutely steadfast as a caregiver and as a support person."

On May 13th, Travis and his wife Mary will take part in a fireside chat in Bend, "To share with our audience their life, their experiences with stroke, their challenges, their resilience and hope." She tells KBND News, "This evening will be uplifting and inspirational for anybody. Plus, how many times do you get the opportunity to be in a room with a superstar and his wife?"

The event is a fundraiser for SAO, to help educate people about the signs of stroke, the importance of quickly seeking medical attention and the resources available for families. Travis was 54 at the time of his stroke. But Stiles says a disturbing trend has emerged in recent years, "The issue of strokes in young adults, ages 15 to 50, is increasing in this country. In fact, it’s puzzling and they are doing research. But the supposition is it’s lifestyle choices."

An Evening with Randy and Mary Travis is May 13th at Westside Church in Bend. Visit StrokeAwarenessOregon.org for more information. 

To hear the full conversation with Stroke Awareness Oregon co-founder Carol Stiles, visit our Podcast Page. 

REDMOND, OR -- Candidates for Deschutes County Commissioner met up for their final candidate forum Friday. At the event, hosted by the Redmond Executive Association, Rotary Club of Redmond and Kiwanis, the four candidates were asked if the new non-partisan race changes how they campaign, and if it’ll make a difference in how the board functions in the future. Small business owner Rob Imhoff says he’s glad parties are no longer involved, "The issue that I have with non-affiliation, though, is that it allows someone to maybe attempt to deceive the electorate by claiming to be something that they’re not." Sisters Chamber Director Judy Trego has come to terms with the shift, saying, "I wasn’t real happy about it in the beginning. The reason I like it is because it creates more engagement." Incumbent Commissioner Phil Chang says he fought to make the position nonpartisan, so the 65,000 Deschutes County voters not registered as a Democrat or a Republican get to vote in the primary, "Now, everyone who’s a registered voter in Deschutes County has a say in who is going to be their county commissioner." And, retiree Brian Huntamer notes he is a registered Independent, "And it’s very important that we are able to work with everyone and serve the best interests of the community." 

When asked about the county's budget, Chang called a property tax reduction six years ago a "political stunt," adding, "The problem is that by last year, that reduction in assessed property tax rate meant that the county was receiving $2 million less per year." Trego, who sits on the Deschutes County Budget Committee, said, "The biggest priority is probably with our Health Department. They have an $80 million budget and they’re funding is pretty unstable." Brian Huntamer and Rob Imhoff both said their private sector experience is valuable. "I would look at what have they funded, what’s available, are there excesses in other departments," said Huntamer. Imhoff noted, "Live within your budget, where a tight belt, trim where you can, figure out if there’s redundancy and then let’s work from there, and see if we can give a little bit of money back to our constituents."

At the end of the forum, candidates were allowed to ask one question of one of the others. Chang asked Trego why, as a member of the county’s budget committee, she approved a pay raise for County Commissioners, which he believed was unnecessary amid budget cuts. She said their salary is not the big-ticket item, "PERS is the real problem. When you talk about compensation, PERS is a huge piece of that."

Huntamer then asked Chang why he opposes a pay raise, but wants to add two Commissioners to the board, which would incerease the overall budget, "I think five Commissioners would do a better job of managing our $400 million operating budget than the current three. That’s worth a little bit of extra salary. I would actually think that if we had five, we could be part time and we could sort of even it out." Imhoff asked Chang about his stance on getting rid of juniper trees and Trego asked Chang how he would work with his fellow Commissioners in a respectful way.

Learn more about the candidates in the online voter pamphlet HERE. If none of the candidates receive more than 50% of the vote no May 21, the top two will advance to the November General Election. 

BEND, OR -- A 38-year-old wanted man from Turner, Oregon was arrested Friday afternoon in Bend, during a multi-agency operation. Ryan Gossett has three outstanding warrants for Robbery from Marion County. At about 2:30 p.m., the U.S. Marshals Service notified the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Gossett was likely in Bend and possibly armed.

Through a surveillance operation, deputies, detectives and members of the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team determined Gossett and a woman were together at the Cascade Village Shopping Center. 

Officials say they saw the woman in a vehicle associated with Gossett; she circled the shopping center several times, in what they believed to be "counter-surveillance." Just before 4:45 p.m., Gossett came out of a store, the woman moved into the passenger's seat and he took over as driver. DCSO used patrol cars to pin in the suspect vehicle and arrested Gossett.

According to DCSO, he was armed with a handgun and a "criminal quantity of suspected fentanyl" at the time of his arrest. He was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on the outstanding warrant and several new charges. The woman was released. 

file photo: Cascade Village Shopping Center

BEND, OR -- Bend Parks and Recreation is getting a $300,000 grant from the Oregon State Marine Board to build a non-motorized water craft launch at Miller’s Landing.

“What's really exciting about this project is the focus has been from the very beginning that we want to provide safe dedicated river access to folks, regardless of their age, regardless of their ability,” BPRD Landscape Architect Ian Isaacson says construction on the $695,734 ramp could begin at the end of this year, or the start of next year, “This project aims to improve the usability and the accessibility at both access point one, which is the existing boardwalk and access point two, which is just downstream. What the Oregon State Marine Board just helped fund specifically is focused primarily on watercraft launching. So, launching of kayaks, canoes, stand up paddle boards, things like that.”

He tells KBND News the Miller’s Landing launch will be unique, “From what we've been able to gather from around the country. This is going to be first of its kind in terms of the breadth and the scope of accessibility that we're designing and going to be implementing at Miller's Landing.”

Isaacson says the district has received a lot of support and encouragement, “We've been awarded grants from Visit Bend, Oregon State Marine Board, Visit Central Oregon's Future Fund.”

The Miller’s Landing project should be complete by next summer.

PRINEVILLE, OR -- Prineville is developing its next 20-year Transportation System Plan. Josh Smith, City Planning Director, says immense growth has caused significant issues with its five highways, "We have a lot of coordination with ODOT in those five highways that come through our community. And, to try to figure out what those solutions are to those issues, is the challenge." He tells KBND News, "Specifically with the O’Neil intersection. [It’s] Very dangerous. We’ve had some fatalities there that needed to be corrected, so we need to have a comprehensive plan on how that gets addressed." Smith says the last TSP was finalized in 2013, and was supposed to address the O'Neil intersection. But problems remain. 

Smith also hopes an update will consider changes to Third Street, which is the main arterial through downtown. A previous plan proposed a couplet, "Kind of like Madras, where they have the two one-way streets. It doesn’t really work very well in Prineville because of our topography, but we want to solve that problem. Is that a thing or is it not? We want to make that decision. Because, if it’s going to be a thing, we need to plan for that."
And, he wants to see work on the west "Y," at the bottom of the Prineville grade, "It’s all ODOT right-of-way; it’s the intersection of Highway 26 and 126. We need a solution to that. It’s essentially a roundabout that’s poorly designed and it’s just at capacity." There are also smaller projects in the proposed TSP aimed at improving connectivity and safety for all users. Smith says any work must maintain Prineville’s personality, "It still has a small-town feel. But we do have big-city issues."

The public is asked to weigh in on the draft plan next Thursday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Golden Coffee Company on Fourth Street. For those unable to attend the open house, an online survey is also available through May 17.
 

PORTLAND, OR -- The Oregon Public Utility Commission wants to hear from Pacific Power customers about a proposed 18% rate increase. It would push the average residential power bill up by more than $30 a month. Households in multi-family units would see an average increase of over $18 a month. 

Pacific Power is asking for the large increase to cover power grid improvements, wind generation, customer service improvements and a proposed catastrophic fire fund. A similar fund was created in California. All utilities pay in and it compensates fire victims. Pacific Power is paying out nearly $400 million for the 2020 Labor Day wildfires.  

A virtual public hearing on the rate increase will be held Tuesday, starting at 6 p.m. Access the Zoom link and phone-in details at: https://bit.ly/44bnMi6. 

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners are tightening policies around unsanctioned encampments. Assistant County Legal Counsel Kim Riley says new guidelines outline the procedure for removing homeless camps on county-owned property. "Previously, a policy was approved by the board, relating to the removal of unsafe encampments. But this is follow-up that is necessary based on the board’s prior action in August." The update mirrors the previous policy, but applies to any county-owned property declared closed to the public, not only those deemed "unsafe." It still requires campers be given notice and that the county store personal property taken from a site.

Commissioner Phil Chang worries it opens the county up to a lawsuit, "If people who are defending an unhoused person’s right to sleep in a public place, for example, might come forward and legally challenge us." But Riley explained Wednesday campers still must be offered another place to go, "We anticipate that you would have to identify an alternative location, just as we did with the code."

A sanctioned campsite for people displaced from encampments has not been developed, although a location is under consideration on the east side of Redmond, near Oasis Village. Commissioner Chang said Wednesday, "I’m really concerned that we have not made more progress for creating alternative places for people to go. I think we certainly could have in this timeframe." But added, "I will vote yes on this motion, because I hope adopting this policy will help us become even more focused and get more serious about really doing what’s necessary to establish alternative places for people to go."

Commissioners Patti Adair and Tony DeBone also approved the update. DeBone said, "I do support putting this on paper. This is what it would look like as we try to proceed and work together in the community to improve the situation, public safety, offering resources for people in need, and not having unsanctioned encampments where it’s very impactful."

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