Exciting Updates in Arts, Safety, and Community Growth From the Editor Welcome to Central Oregon Local Buzz. We provide concise updates on local news and events. This edition explores a diverse range of topics affecting our community, including new digital parking permits from Oregon State Parks and the introduction of volunteer opportunities for families by Think Wild. Additionally, we'll discuss the upcoming closure of free yard debris disposal at Knott Landfill, Redmond's plans for a downtown ice rink, and the opening of a new substance abuse treatment facility in Madras. 📰Local News Featured 🌲 Oregon State Parks Launches New Digital Parking Permits Oregon State Parks is making it easier to hit the trails and beaches without worrying about forgetting your parking permit. Starting May 21, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is offering digital daily and 12-month parking permits that are tied directly to your vehicle’s license plate. The annual permits cost the same as physical permits — $60 for Oregon residents and $75 for out-of-state visitors — and work at all Oregon State Park day-use parking lots.
Drivers can register up to two license plates under one annual permit, and no physical pass needs to be displayed. Visitors can purchase permits online through the Oregon State Parks website, by scanning QR codes posted at some parks, or by calling 1-800-452-5687 during business hours. Existing physical permits will remain valid through their expiration dates, but they cannot be exchanged for digital versions. Read more → ⛰️Bend 🦉 Think Wild Launches New Volunteer Opportunities for Kids and Families Bend-based wildlife nonprofit Think Wild is rolling out a new series of hands-on volunteer opportunities designed specifically for kids, teens and families interested in conservation and wildlife care. The new programs give young volunteers a chance to help with projects like preparing food for animal patients, building enrichment items, maintaining pollinator gardens, assisting with habitat restoration and supporting community education efforts.
The volunteer sessions will take place throughout the year at Think Wild’s wildlife hospital campus in Bend, with different opportunities tailored to specific age groups. Families can also participate in outdoor restoration projects across Central and Eastern Oregon, including a July event in the Ochoco National Forest where volunteers will help build beaver dam analogs to support local ecosystems. Think Wild says the expanded program is aimed at helping younger generations connect directly with wildlife conservation while giving back to the community. Read more →
🔥 Free Yard Debris Disposal Ends Soon at Knott Landfill Central Oregon homeowners looking to reduce wildfire risk around their property still have time to take advantage of free yard debris disposal at Knott Landfill in Bend — but the program wraps up Saturday, May 24. Bend Fire officials are urging residents to focus first on the area closest to their homes by clearing flammable vegetation, pine needles and bark mulch that can hold dangerous embers for days after a fire.
The FireFree program allows residents to dispose of grass clippings, branches, pine cones, weeds, stumps and other yard debris at no cost as part of a broader effort to encourage defensible space before wildfire season ramps up. Additional free disposal weekends are also planned June 5-6 and June 8-13 at transfer stations in Redmond, near Sisters and near La Pine, giving more Central Oregon residents a chance to clean up their properties before summer fire danger increases. Read more → ✈️Redmond ⛸️ Redmond Moving Forward With New Downtown Ice Rink Plans The City of Redmond is taking the next step toward bringing back a downtown ice rink, with plans now moving into the design phase for a new community gathering space at the site of the former Redmond Police Station. Early concepts include a 7,000-to-9,000-square-foot skating rink, concession area and flexible park space designed for year-round use during warmer months.
City leaders say the previous temporary rink became a major attraction for families while also boosting foot traffic for nearby downtown businesses during the winter season. Community open houses are expected as part of the design process before a final concept is selected, with the city hoping to have the new rink open by Thanksgiving weekend in 2027. Read more → 🪶Madras 🏥 New Latino Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Coming to Madras BestCare Treatment Services has officially broken ground on a new 8,000-square-foot residential treatment facility in Madras focused on helping Latino men struggling with substance abuse. The new campus will provide live-in treatment for up to 16 patients and is designed to offer culturally and linguistically specific care — something program leaders say can play a major role in long-term recovery.
Organizers say the program aims to help people reconnect with their identity, culture and sense of belonging while receiving treatment. The new facility will be built next to an existing BestCare housing project in Madras and is expected to cost between $6.5 million and $8 million, with $3.4 million in public funding already secured. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2027. Read more →
🫡 Highway 97’s Giant Barn Flags Have Become a Central Oregon Landmark If you’ve driven between Redmond and Madras lately, you’ve probably spotted them — massive red, white and blue American flags mounted on barns and buildings along Highway 97. The growing collection of patriotic displays is the work of Madras resident Daryl Booren, who has spent the past nine years handcrafting and installing the metal flags in honor of veterans and active service members.
Each flag is painstakingly made by hand, with every star individually measured and cut by Daryl, who volunteers his nights and weekends for the labor-intensive project while working full-time at Bright Wood in Madras. The first flag went up on Army veteran Dan Comingore’s barn as a surprise coordinated by Dan’s wife, and since then, Daryl has installed more than a dozen across Jefferson County and beyond. Community response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many drivers now recognizing the flags as a unique and heartfelt part of the Central Oregon landscape. Read more → 🌲Sisters 🦇 Rabid Bat Found in Deschutes County Prompts Public Health Warning Deschutes County Public Health is urging residents to take precautions after a bat in Sisters tested positive for rabies following contact with a dog. Health officials say rabies is a serious viral disease that can spread through bites or scratches from infected animals, and while rare, it can be fatal if left untreated.
Officials are reminding residents to avoid touching bats or other wildlife, keep pets vaccinated and monitor children and animals closely if a bat is found nearby. Oregon law requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats, and unvaccinated pets exposed to rabies may face lengthy quarantine or euthanasia. Anyone who believes they or their pet may have come into contact with a bat is encouraged to immediately contact Deschutes County Animal Control or Environmental Health. Read more → 🏘️Real Estate 🏡 Affordable Home Fair Aims to Help Central Oregonians Become Homeowners Central Oregon residents interested in buying a home or learning more about affordable housing opportunities will have a chance to connect with local experts at an upcoming Affordable Home Fair in Bend. The event will feature information on down payment assistance programs, affordable housing resources, financing options and homeownership guidance for first-time buyers and families looking to enter the housing market.
Organizers say the fair is designed to help make the homebuying process less intimidating by bringing lenders, housing agencies and community organizations together in one place. Attendees will be able to ask questions, explore available programs and learn about resources that could help make owning a home in Central Oregon more attainable. Read more →
🏘️ Hayden Homes Bringing New $375K Housing Options to Northwest Redmond Hayden Homes has officially launched a new housing development in northwest Redmond that aims to offer more attainable homeownership options in Central Oregon’s competitive housing market. The new “Hearthstone at Redmond Ranch” community will feature attached townhomes starting around $375,000, with floorplans ranging from roughly 800 to 1,200 square feet.
The larger Redmond Ranch development is expected to eventually include about 400 homes, helping expand housing inventory in one of Central Oregon’s fastest-growing cities. Hayden Homes leaders say the project is designed to provide more affordable entry points for buyers while still offering modern features, outdoor access and proximity to Redmond amenities. Read more → | 
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