In this issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

🎶 Dad Bods 80’s Cover Band at Northside Bar & Grill

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🏂 Bend’s Hunter Hess Qualifies for 2026 Winter Olympics 🇮🇹

 📉 Central Oregon Jobless Rates Hit Post-2016 Highs (Excluding COVID Era)

 🚧 Olney Avenue Project in Bend Delayed After BNSF Crews Deployed to Flood Response

🚒⛑Fire & Rescue News

 🚨 Pedestrian Fatally Struck on Hwy 97 in Jefferson County

🚨Crime News

 🚨 Bend Police ID and Arrest Hit-and-Run Driver Who Struck Child Cyclist

 🚓 Armed Suspect Arrested After Search in NE Bend Neighborhood

🥰Community News

📰Regional News

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🐾Pet of the Week - HSO

🐶Meet Jake

💖Sponsors

😆Today’s Meme

GOOD MORNING

 BEND

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

FEATURED EVENT

 🎶 Dad Bods 80’s Cover Band at Northside Bar & Grill

Get ready to rock out to classic hits and nostalgia! On Saturday, January 17 from 8–10 pm, Dad Bods, Bend’s high‑energy 80’s cover band, returns to Northside Bar & Grill with a free live show that’s sure to get you dancing. The band will spin your favorite 80’s rock anthems — with a few fun throwbacks from other decades — in a night of music, good vibes, and sing‑along fun. (Visit Bend)

Where: Northside Bar & Grill, 62860 Boyd Acres Rd, Bend
When: Sat Jan 17 • 8 pm–10 pm
Cost: Free
More Info/Tickets: VisitDadBods.band (Visit Bend)

Perfect for a Saturday night out with friends — don’t miss this local live music event!

HAVE an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

Deschutes Public Library Events

Other Event Sources:

Visit Central Oregon Event Listings

Bend Magazine Event Listings

Local News…

🏂 Bend’s Hunter Hess Qualifies for 2026 Winter Olympics 🇮🇹

Bend native Hunter Hess has clinched a spot on the U.S. Olympic freeski halfpipe team for the 2026 Milan‑Cortina Winter Games after delivering a clutch performance at the final Olympic qualifier in Aspen. Hess finished second in the men’s halfpipe final, securing his first Olympic berth and continuing a breakout season that’s seen him rise to one of the top halfpipe skiers in the world. (KTVZ)

A product of Mt. Bachelor and the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, Hess has already earned multiple World Cup podiums this season and enters the Olympics as a medal contender in men’s freeski halfpipe. The Games kick off in February, where he’ll represent Team USA on the big stage. (KTVZ)

 📉 Central Oregon Jobless Rates Hit Post-2016 Highs (Excluding COVID Era)

BEND, Ore. – Central Oregon’s unemployment rates have climbed to their highest levels in a decade—excluding the COVID-era recession—according to new data from the Oregon Employment Department. As of November 2025, Deschutes County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.9% (up from 4.1% a year prior), while both Crook and Jefferson counties hit 5.9% (up from 5.1% and 4.6%, respectively).

The region saw a net loss of 560 jobs between October and November, with declines in professional and business services, construction, public sector work, and hospitality. However, gains were seen in trade, transportation, private education, and health services. Over the past year, the leisure and hospitality sector has continued to grow, while fields like information, finance, and business services reported declines.

 🚧 Olney Avenue Project in Bend Delayed After BNSF Crews Deployed to Flood Response

BEND, Ore. – The long‑awaited Olney Avenue Improvements Project has hit a temporary bump in the timeline after Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway crews were pulled from the site in late December to assist with emergency flood response efforts in Washington state, city officials say. The railway signal work is critical to the project because the upgraded crossing arms and flashing lights must be installed before Olney Avenue can fully reopen. (KTVZ)

BNSF crews have since returned and plan to focus on the signal work through the rest of this week, with additional work scheduled later this month. City engineers expect the signal improvements to be wrapped up by early February, after which paving and concrete work will continue. A portion of Olney Avenue between First and Third streets has already reopened with a new safer crossing at Second Street, and drivers are reminded to obey posted closures and detours until the entire project is finished. (KTVZ)

Fire & Rescue… 

 🚨 Pedestrian Fatally Struck on Hwy 97 in Jefferson County

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ore. – A tragic crash on Saturday, January 10th, claimed the life of a Madras man after he was struck by a vehicle on Highway 97 near milepost 101. According to Oregon State Police, 38-year-old Jared Elijah Cooper was hit by a Ford Explorer while the driver, 63-year-old James Edwin Legore of Sandy, Utah, was merging back into the northbound lanes from the highway shoulder. Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene. Legore was reportedly uninjured.

The highway was closed for approximately five hours during the investigation. Oregon State Police were assisted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and ODOT. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Crime News…

🚨 Bend Police ID and Arrest Hit-and-Run Driver Who Struck Child Cyclist

BEND, Ore. – An earlier plea for public help has led to a swift resolution in Tuesday morning’s hit-and-run involving a child on a bicycle. Around 7:26 a.m. on Jan. 13, a child was struck by a vehicle while riding through the crosswalk at the Brosterhous and Murphy Road roundabout. The vehicle, described as a light blue or gray older-style Honda sedan, hit the back tire of the bike, causing the child to fall. The driver briefly stopped, then fled the scene. The child suffered minor injuries and was treated by Bend Fire medics.

UPDATE: Thanks to tips from the community, Bend Police identified the suspect vehicle and driver by 5:55 p.m. the same day. Officers arrested 61-year-old Tracy Michael Wood, a Bend resident, at his home. The vehicle was located nearby. Wood was lodged at the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of failure to perform the duties of a driver.

 🚓 Armed Suspect Arrested After Search in NE Bend Neighborhood

BEND, Ore. – A man wanted for menacing with a firearm was arrested Tuesday afternoon following an extensive search in a northeast Bend neighborhood. Joel Twobulls Caubet, 27, was taken into custody after fleeing on foot from a vehicle near NE Boulderfield Avenue and Meridian Place. He had reportedly brandished a firearm during a disturbance the night before at the Quickway Market on NE Butler Market Road.

The red 1997 Land Rover carrying Caubet was spotted around 1:42 p.m. on Jan. 13, leading to a brief pursuit before Caubet fled on foot. Police detained the driver, 27-year-old Marjorie Deleen Eyle, who was cited for reckless driving and released. Officers, with the help of drones and K-9 Buck, located Caubet hiding in a backyard just before 2:30 p.m. He was bitten by the K-9 and taken to St. Charles for minor injuries before being booked on multiple charges, including menacing, unlawful weapon use, and being a felon in possession of a weapon. A replica handgun was recovered nearby.

Community News…

Regional News…

City of Bend Events Here

Road Construction

Meet Jake!

Jake came to us as a stray a few days ago and was sadly never claimed. This handsome fella would make someone a great companion as he’s just the sweetest thing out there. Jake can be a little timid at first but it takes a few sniffs and he’s all over you!

Jake was tested with dogs today and he did great! Jake also got to meet some cats and he was pretty curious but wasn’t mean. This guy is ready to light up your home!

 😎Just sayin

Follow us on facebook