In this issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

🚘🥃🍸Driven Through the Decades: Car Show & Anniversary Party

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🤔If it walks like a Duck, quacks like a Duck…. it is obviously a Chicken

🚫⛔BLM shuts down fire-prone area in La Pine after encampment concerns

🛞New roundabout near Ridgeview High School set to open this week

🌲🌲New urban forester in Bend focuses on saving trees as city grows

📰Deschutes County Fair director leaves for Cheyenne Frontier Days role

📰SHOCKING RETIREMENT: Prineville Police Chief retires after less than 1 year on the job (KTVZ)

🚒⛑Fire & Rescue News

💥Big Boom Bada Boom

🚨Crime News

📰Regional News

🕵️ While you were enjoying Labor Day Weekend:

🥰Community News

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

💖Sponsors

😆Today’s Meme

GOOD MORNING

 BEND

REDMOND

Ochoco Reservoir

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

Featured Events

Driven Through the Decades: Car Show & Anniversary Party

Saturday, September 6th, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Located at Bendistillery - 19330 Pinehurst Rd Bend, Oregon

Admission is free to the public!

Car show entries are $20 with a portion of proceeds being donated to Furnish Hope
Car show check-in: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate 30 years of Crater Lake Spirits and 10 years of Ablis at our Driven Through the Decades Car Show & Anniversary Party!

Kick things off with our classic car show, where entries will roll in from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM before the event officially opens at 3:00 PM. While you check out the cars, enjoy live music from multiple acts, full-sized cocktails featuring Crater Lake Spirits, beer from Bridge 99 Brewery, and an N/A bar with refreshing offerings from Ablis and Humm Kombucha.

Savor delicious tacos from Fresco & Fryed, browse local vendor booths, challenge your friends to lawn games, and enter for a chance to win exciting giveaways.

We’re also proud to partner with Furnish Hope, a local nonprofit that helps furnish homes for those in need. They’ll be on-site with a cozy lounge space to relax in, and a portion of all event proceeds will go directly to support their mission.

Whether you’re here for the cars, the music, the drinks, or the community spirit, this is a celebration you won’t want to miss. Car show participants can sign up and submit their entry donation below—space is limited, so register early.

If you would prefer to pay for your car show entry with cash please email us at [email protected]

📌 Bend

• 🎶 Raptors of the Desert Sky (Birds of Prey Flight Program)
  📍 High Desert Museum, Bend • 🎭 Kid-friendly / Nature • 🕒 Mon, Sept 1 · 11:30 AM–12:30 PM
  📝 Outdoor raptor demonstration with naturalists—great for all ages; last day of the season.
  🔗 More info/tickets. (River's Place)

• 🎲 Bingo with Bren
  📍 Bevel Craft Brewing, Bend • 🎭 Games – Bingo • 🕒 Mon, Sept 1 · 6:00–8:00 PM
  📝 Weekly community bingo night at the taproom; prizes + food trucks on site.
  🔗 Details.

• 🧠 Trivia Mondays at Bridge 99
  📍 Bridge 99 Brewery, Bend • 🎭 Games – Trivia • 🕒 Mon, Sept 1 · 6:30–8:30 PM
  📝 General-knowledge pub trivia with teams—low-key and social.
  🔗 Listing (roundup includes Bridge 99 Monday trivia). (The Source - Bend, Oregon)

• 🧠 Trivia: The Four Elements (Bunk+Brew)
  📍 Bunk+Brew, Bend • 🎭 Games – Trivia • 🕒 Tue, Sept 2 · 7:00–9:00 PM
  📝 Weekly themed trivia under the lights; arrive early for a table.
  🔗 Listing (weekly Tuesday entry). (The Source - Bend, Oregon)

• 🧠 Trivia on the Moon (Juniper Preserve)
  📍 Juniper Preserve (Pronghorn), 65600 Pronghorn Club Dr, Bend • 🎭 Games – Trivia • 🕒 Tue, Sept 2 · 6:00–8:00 PM
  📝 Monthly trivia night in the Pavilion at the resort; food & drink available.
  🔗 Event listing. (Visit Redmond Oregon)

• 🎲 Bingo at Cascade Lakes Brewing – Bend Pub
  Where: 21175 SE Reed Market Rd, Bend, OR 97702
  Type: Games – Bingo
  When: Thu, Sept 4, 6:00–8:00 PM
  What: Weekly brewery bingo with prizes; great for groups.
  Info/Tickets: See event listing. (Visit Bend)

• 🎨 First Friday Art Walk (Downtown Bend)
  Where: Start at Downtown Bend (Visitor Info: 916 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97703)
  Type: Art/Community
  When: Fri, Sept 5, 5:00–8:00 PM
  What: Galleries, live music, merchant specials in the downtown core.
  Info: Event details. (Visit Bend)

• 🎸 Free Breedlove Guitars Music Night @ Volcanic Theatre Pub
  Where: 70 SW Century Dr, Bend, OR 97702
  Type: Music
  When: Fri, Sept 5, 5:00–9:00 PM (drop-in)
  What: Showcase with local players and Breedlove demos.
  Info: Event page. (Visit Bend)

• 🚂 Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Club – 28th Annual Open House (Kid-friendly)
  Where: 21520 Modoc Ln, Bend, OR 97702
  Type: Family/Kid-friendly, Hobbies
  When: Sat–Sun, Sept 6–7, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
  What: Ride-on outdoor trains, indoor HO layouts, food vendors. Free admission.
  Info: Club site and listings. (Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Club, Visit Central Oregon)

• 🥕 NorthWest Crossing Saturday Farmers Market (Live music + demos)
  Where: NW Crossing Dr (two blocks east of Mt. Washington Dr), Bend, OR 97703
  Type: Market/Community
  When: Sat, Sept 6, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
  What: Seasonal produce, artisans, and music sets.
  Info: Market site & date listing. (NorthWest Crossing Farmers Market, Step Outside)

• 🎻 Sam Grisman Project @ Tower Theatre
  Where: 835 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97701
  Type: Music (Americana/Acoustic)
  When: Sun, Sept 7, 7:30–9:30 PM (doors 6:30)
  What: David “Dawg” Grisman/Jerry Garcia songbook tribute led by Sam Grisman.
  Tickets: Tower Theatre. (Tower Theatre)

📌 Redmond

• ❓ Trivia Night @ Elements Public House
  Where: 1857 NW 6th St, Redmond, OR 97756
  Type: Games – Trivia
  When: Tue, Sept 2, 6:30–8:30 PM
  What: Weekly team trivia; arrive early for seats.
  

• ❓ General Duffy’s Trivia
  Where: General Duffy’s Waterhole, 404 SW Forest Ave, Redmond, OR 97756
  Type: Games – Trivia
  When: Wed, Sept 3, 6:00–8:00 PM
  What: Weekly pub trivia in the tap house. 

• 🐴 Cascades Futurity & Aged Event (Cutting Horse Show)
  Where: Deschutes County Fair & Expo, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR 97756
  Type: Sports/Equestrian
  When: Tue–Sun, Sept 2–7 (runs through Sept 14; multiple sessions daily)
  What: Regional cutting-horse competition; vendors, food & bev on site.
  Info: Event calendars. (Deschutes Expo)

• 🎪 Venardos Circus – “Decade of Dreams” (Animal-free, Broadway-style)
  Where: Deschutes County Fair & Expo, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR 97756
  Type: Theatre/Circus, Kid-friendly
  When: Thu–Sun, Sept 4–7
  Showtimes: Thu 7 PM; Fri 7 PM; Sat 11 AM, 2 PM, 5 PM; Sun 2 PM & 5 PM
  What: Classic circus artistry with live music and aerial acts under the big top.
  Tickets/Info: Expo listing & official tour page. (Deschutes Expo, Venardos Circus)

• 🚗 41st Oregon High Desert Swap Meet & Car Show
  Where: Deschutes County Fair & Expo, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR 97756
  Type: Festival/Car Show (All ages)
  When: Sat, Sept 6, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM
  What: Large annual auto swap meet + car show; free public admission.
  Info: Expo calendar & event pages. (Deschutes Expo, 925 The Ticket, Mafca)

• 🍷 Live at the Vineyard: Kurt Silva (solo) — Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards
  Where: 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr, Terrebonne, OR 97760 (just N. of Redmond)
  Type: Music/Wine
  When: Thu, Sept 4, 5:00–8:00 PM
  What: Americana/folk/country with wood-fired pizza & wine available.
  Tickets/Info: Event page. (Visit Bend)

• 🎉 Summer Groove Party Band + Jackson Michelson — Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards
  Where: 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr, Terrebonne, OR 97760
  Type: Music/Dance
  When: Fri, Sept 5, 5:30–9:00 PM
  What: High-energy dance party night at the vineyard.
  Tickets/Info: Event page. (Visit Bend)

• 🎤 Summer Kickin’ Concert Series: Corey Kent
  Where: General Duffy’s Waterhole, 404 SW Forest Ave, Redmond, OR 97756
  Type: Music (Country)
  When: Sat, Sept 6, 3:00–9:00 PM
  What: National touring country artist outdoors at Duffy’s.
  Tickets/Info: Listing. (Visit Bend)

• 🕺 Karissa & The Loose Screws — Faith, Hope & Charity Vineyards
  Where: 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr, Terrebonne, OR 97760
  Type: Music/Country
  When: Sat, Sept 6 (see event listing for schedule)
  What: Country-rock dance night at the vines.
  Tickets/Info: Event page. (Visit Bend)

📌 Sisters

• 🎶 Big Lawn Series (Live Music)
  📍 The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse (near Sisters) • 🎭 Music • 🕒 Mon, Sept 1 · 6:00–8:00 PM
  📝 Relaxed outdoor show on the lawn—bring a blanket; food & drinks available.
  🔗 Calendar entry.

• 🎲 Bingo Night (Sisters Saloon)
  📍 Sisters Saloon, Sisters • 🎭 Games – Bingo • 🕒 Tue, Sept 2 · Evening (time listed on page)
  📝 Community bingo; proceeds split with local nonprofit Sisters GRO.
  🔗 Event page. (Sisters Oregon)

📌 Madras

• 🎪 PNW Freedom Run (Labor Day Wrap-Up)
  📍 Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Madras • 🎭 Festival / Community / Live Music • 🕒 Mon, Sept 1 · All day (event ends Sept 1)
  📝 Motorcycle/ATV camp-out weekend with music & vendors; Monday is the last day.
  🔗 Event info. (Facebook)

• 🍔 “MHS Buffs Are Back” BBQ
  📍 Madras (Madras High School community event) • 🎭 Kid-friendly / Community • 🕒 Tue, Sept 2 · Time on listing
  📝 Back-to-school community barbecue; families welcome.
  🔗 Chamber calendar. (Madras Chamber of Commerce)

📌 Prineville

• 🌌 Dark-Sky Stargazing at Prineville Reservoir (self-guided)
  📍 Prineville Reservoir State Park • 🎭 Kid-friendly / Nature • 🕒 Mon–Tue evenings
  📝 While ranger-led laser tours resume later in the week, the park is an International Dark Sky site—prime for DIY stargazing these nights.
  🔗 Park info & dark-sky details. (Travel Oregon)

📌 Sunriver

• 🐦 Birding Without Barriers
  📍 Sunriver Nature Center • 🎭 Kid-friendly / Nature • 🕒 Mon, Sept 1 · 9:30–11:30 AM
  📝 Accessible birdwatching program led by SNCO staff; great intro to local species.
  🔗 Details/registration. (SNCO, Facebook)

• 🔭 1-Hour Nighttime Observatory Visit
  📍 Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory • 🎭 Kid-friendly / Science • 🕒 Tue, Sept 2 · ~9:00–10:00 PM
  📝 Telescope viewing with staff at the Oregon Outback’s beloved observatory; book ahead.
  🔗 SNCO calendar (Sept).

📌 La Pine

• 🎲 Monday Night Bingo (La Pine Senior Activity Center)
  📍 16450 Victory Way, La Pine • 🎭 Games – Bingo • 🕒 Mon, Sept 1 · Doors 4:30 PM; Bingo starts 5:30 PM (end time varies)
  📝 Weekly community bingo; affordable dinner available 4:15–5:30 PM before games.
  🔗 Details. (La Pine Senior Activity Center)

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Local News…

Opinion -

If it walks like a Duck, quacks like a Duck…. it is obviously a Chicken

Some of the leaders of Central Oregon are doubling down on the lack of information about the origins and cause of the Flat Fire that has devastated over 23,000 acres, property and homes.

This is what they do agree on:

✅The fire started on private property

✅It was human caused

Here is where it gets muddy. Phil Chang Deschutes County Commissioner says the origin of the fire was not a homeless encampment, they were ‘people living off-grid in a poverty state’ (paraphrasing). My question is why does he not want to admit to what it most likely was - a homeless encampment? We don’t know if the property owners gave them permission to be there, if they were paying rent, if they even somehow owned this property - they will not give us this information and if it is because they do not have it, why don’t they have it? Then there is the Jefferson County Sheriff Jason Pollack, he puts out on Social Media a press release to basically say - ‘hey all you people on social media quit speculating on the cause of the fire, we don’t know anything yet so you don’t either’. Why do they care if people on social media are speculating, that’s what happens when information is not forthcoming or slow to being released. The Oregon Fire Marshall had this to say - ‘it …. could …. take…. a …. really… long ….. time to know …. what …. happened.’ (paraphrasing). My question to these ‘leaders’, why? Why do you not want us to know? There were witnesses that called in the fire, the origin is accessible and if you’ve seen the video from citizen journalists, it kind of looks like a homeless encampment (a Duck). Has the ‘regular’ news done anything with this story, have they tracked down the owner of the property, interviewed the occupants of origin on the property, talked to the people who called in the fire? Answer is no, they just continue to be social media reguritators and make sure the powers that be get there talking points in.

Why it’s important. We have a homeless problem in Central Oregon and the counties and cities want to pretend it doesn’t exist by ignoring the issue/s and thereby make us forget about it. Sure they’re giving them plots of land that tax payers have paid, to stay on, they have the pretend metrics to show that what they are doing is helping - helping who exactly. They give them shovels and fire extinguishers so that when they start a fire in their encampment someone may have the wits to put it out before it spreads to tax paying home owners’ property. They would prefer that they stay in the forest so they would not have to deal with the problem at all. All while they blame homeowners for their homes not being fire safe enough. 63 fires from August 24’ to August 25’ have originated in homeless encampments. When is enough going to be enough? I don’t have the answers to be honest, it’s a murky situation, the only thing clear thing to me, is the situation somehow benefits the people in charge to keep it the way it is. This isn’t just about the threat of fire to towns, forests and homeowners, it is so much bigger than that and no easy answers, yet I have to ask, would it have gotten this bad if certain policies were not put into place statewide, that then trickled into our own communities? If you want to find the truth of a matter always follow the money.

BLM shuts down fire-prone area in La Pine after encampment concerns

Central Oregon Daily News Staff

Aug 29, 2025

The Bureau of Land Management has shut down a section of northeast La Pine after multiple fires tied to encampments. The closure may last a year.

LA PINE, Ore. -- A problem spot for fires on La Pine's northeast side is being closed to the public by the Bureau of Land Management.

The closure area includes BLM-managed land between Darlene Way and Forest Service Road 2205 south of Rosland Road to La Pine city limits. The closure is expected to remain in effect for up to a year or until the area is cleaned up.

BLM says long-term homeless encampments have led to a large build-up of trash. 

Two fires in June prompted brief evacuation warnings in the area and raised concerns for residents.

New roundabout near Ridgeview High School set to open this week

REDMOND, Ore. -- A new roundabout near Ridgeview High School in Redmond is almost done.

The final phases of work are now underway for the roundabout at the intersection of Badger Avenue and Canal Boulevard. The single-lane roundabout is just north of the Ridgeview High School campus.

Construction started back in June. The new roundabout will be open next week as construction crews shift their focus to striping and adding street signs.

New urban forester in Bend focuses on saving trees as city grows

BEND, Ore. -- The city of Bend is taking new action to protect its urban tree canopy. Ian Gray has been hired as the city’s first ever urban forester.

His primary focus will be preserving trees in a fast growing city that continues to see plenty of new development. A big part of Gray's job is working with contractors to enforce protections for trees within construction zones.

The urban forester is also in charge of making sure that trees are healthy and are not in danger of falling. 

Deschutes County Fair director leaves for Cheyenne Frontier Days role

REDMOND, Ore. -- Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center Director Geoff Hinds is moving on, accepting an offer from Cheyenne Frontier Days, the largest outdoor rodeo in the world.

Hinds has been the county's fairgrounds director since 2019.

He said the Wyoming job was one he couldn't pass up, especially given the fact his wife lives in Wyoming.

SHOCKING RETIREMENT: Prineville Police Chief retires after less than 1 year on the job

BEND, Ore (KTVZ) -- Chief Profio is retiring after 31 years in law enforcement in a surprising moment.

He leaves having only joined the department last November.

Last year, Chief Profio went through a rigorous process that lasted several months following the resignation of both former Police Chief Larry Seymour and Captain Rob Gray.

KTVZ spoke to Chief Profio when he started the job last year.

Chief Profio told KTVZ, "For me, the focus is got, you know, turning the page for this department and moving it forward and putting the past behind us, and really looking at ways that we can take that next step and improve the way we police this community, the way we interact with this community and provide the best professional police services that we can for the community.

Chief Profio moved here from San Jose, California with the widely held expectation of being here for a while.

KTVZ has reached out to Chief Profio and the city of Prineville for comment but have not heard back.

Captain Shane Wilson will assume responsibilities until a new chief is selected.

KTVZ is trying to learn more and are submitting public records requests.

Fire & Rescue…

Big Boom Bada Boom

From the Bend Fire Dept:

Early in the morning of Friday, August 29, 2025, multiple 911 callers across Bend reported hearing a loud explosion, but there was no identified location or source for the explosion.  A few minutes later, at 5:34 am, a 911 caller reported multiple cars striking debris on the Bend Parkway, with one of the vehicles sustaining a punctured fuel tank.  Fire crews arrived on scene and were able to mitigate the fuel leak.  The source of the debris was found to be a large explosion that occurred at Kercher Electric, 132 NE Yale Avenue.  A shipping container located outside the business had exploded, resulting in several businesses in the area sustaining damage to windows, doors, and walls.  Two businesses, Kercher Electric and the neighboring Arbor Builders, sustained significant structural damage and were tagged "Do Not Occupy" by the City of Bend Building Department.  A total of six businesses received some degree of damage as a result of the explosion.  All the businesses were unoccupied at the time of the explosion due to the early hour.  

Upon investigation, it was found that an oxygen - acetylene welding setup inside the shipping container leaked, causing the closed shipping container to fill with the highly flammable mixture of oxygen and acetylene.  There was also an upright freezer in use, powered by an extension cord running into the shipping container.  This energized equipment provided an ignition source for the flammable vapors, causing the subsequent explosion.  

Bend Fire & Rescue would like to remind the community to store flammable gases safely.  Gas cylinders should be stored in well-ventilated areas away from direct sunlight and high temperatures, clear of any ignition sources, and secured upright to prevent tipping over. Always store cylinders with the valve in the "off" position.  For more safety information regarding compressed gases, visit the OSHA website at https://osha.oregon.gov/oshapubs/factsheets/fs09.pdf

Crime News…

Regional News…

While you were enjoying Labor Day Weekend:

The special convening of the legislature continued to decide whether or not to pass the govenor’s biggest tax hike of Oregon’s citizens (legal citizens) to date. On Saturday, they decided that the testimony that was received for Monday’s hearing on the matter would not be used and only new testimony would be considered and it had to be in person, on zoom or received by 12noon on Sunday, even though over 95% of the testimony that was already received was against this tax increase. All this while the governor again was MIA, having a holiday in Astoria, even though she called the legislature in on a holiday weekend for her tax bill, she apparently doesn’t seem it’s important enough to address the citizens who had to change their plans to ‘show up’. Exactly who does she work for?

Community News…

 City of Bend Events

Current updates for the Flat Fire can be found in CO Fire Info above⬆️

 😎 Just sayin

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