In this issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🚔 Click It or Ticket: Deschutes Deputies Focus on Seat Belt Safety

 🛫 Crook County Teens Take Flight with New Aviation Program

 🏨 End of an Era: Shilo Inns Bend Closes Amid Bankruptcy

🛠️ COCC Awarded $2.2M Grant to Launch New Manufacturing Certificate Programs

🚒⛑Fire & Rescue News

🚨Crime News

🥰Community News

 💛 Heart of Oregon Corps Wins Big for Youth & Community

❄️ Bend Community Rallies After Avalanche Tragedy

📰Regional News

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🐶🐾Pet of the Week - SDH

🐾🐶 Meet Pickles — Your Cozy Couch Companion Awaits! 🛋️

💖Sponsors

😆Today’s Meme

👉Find the expanded answer in Friday’s Newsletter + a bonus Trivia Question!👉

GOOD MORNING

 BEND

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

FEATURED EVENT

New Events Calendar - Check it out! 👇

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…

🚔 Click It or Ticket: Deschutes Deputies Focus on Seat Belt Safety

Deschutes County deputies are ramping up enforcement from January 26 through February 8 as part of the national Click It or Ticket campaign. The effort aims to ensure drivers and passengers are wearing seat belts and that children are properly secured in car seats or boosters. In Oregon, nearly one-third of vehicle occupant deaths in 2023 involved unrestrained individuals—tragic outcomes deputies hope to prevent through education and enforcement.

The campaign highlights that motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children aged 1–12, with over 1,900 children injured in Oregon crashes last year—11% of them unrestrained. Oregon law requires all children under age 2 to ride rear-facing and mandates car or booster seats until age 8 or 4’9” tall. Deputies want the public to know this campaign isn't just about citations—it's about saving lives, one buckle at a time. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website for child seat guidance.

 🛫 Crook County Teens Take Flight with New Aviation Program

Crook County High School students are getting a sky-high opportunity thanks to a new aviation program powered by a grant from Meta. The hands-on curriculum introduces students to drone operation and flight simulators, blending science, math, and real-world flight training to prepare them for careers in aviation. Senior Holt Collins, inspired by his Air Force great-grandfather, says the program has brought his childhood dream of piloting closer to reality.

Students start with a drone piloting course and can earn certification after completing flight hours. From there, they progress through a series of simulator-based lessons that cover everything from takeoff techniques to flight physics. The program is guided by Senior Naval Science Instructor Scott Svoboda, who emphasizes how students learn vital concepts like vectors, meteorology, and magnetic variations. A large drone event open to the public is planned for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Steins Pillar Elementary.

 🏨 End of an Era: Shilo Inns Bend Closes Amid Bankruptcy

After 34 years as a staple of Bend’s lodging scene, Shilo Inns Bend abruptly closed its doors on Monday as the hotel undergoes bankruptcy proceedings, leaving guests and employees surprised by the sudden shutdown. Signs on the locked property on O.B. Riley Road apologized for the inconvenience and cited “unexpected circumstances,” while staff have reportedly experienced bounced paychecks in recent months. The hotel’s booking page is currently offline, and travelers are being advised to seek accommodations elsewhere, such as the neighboring Riverhouse Hotel. (KTVZ)

Shilo Inns, a regional chain founded in 1974 that once included 12 properties across the West, acquired the Bend location in 1992. Company representatives say this closure is temporary amid ongoing bankruptcy processes, though it marks a significant change for a long‑running local business. (KTVZ)

🛠️ COCC Awarded $2.2M Grant to Launch New Manufacturing Certificate Programs

Central Oregon Community College has received a $2.2 million federal grant to develop seven short-term, stackable certificate programs in manufacturing technology, designed in partnership with local industry leaders like Nosler, Outback Manufacturing, and BasX Solutions. The grant — one of just 22 awarded nationwide by the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education — will help expand training in high-demand areas like CNC operation, fabrication, and structural welding, with the goal of enrolling 250 students and aligning graduates with regional job opportunities.

The funds will support faculty hiring, equipment upgrades, and new student support services at COCC’s Redmond campus, which is also preparing for a major remodel adding 13,000+ sq. ft. of workspace. Local employers will help shape the curriculum and offer internships, aiming to prepare students for modern, tech-driven manufacturing jobs. The grant program runs through 2029, with strong outcomes projected: 85% of students completing a certificate and 75% entering the workforce. Learn more at cocc.edu or contact Redmond campus director Amy Ward at 541‑504‑2902.

Fire & Rescue… 

Crime News…

Community News…

💛 Heart of Oregon Corps Wins Big for Youth & Community

Heart of Oregon Corps was honored as the 2025 Non‑Profit Partner of the Year by the Central Oregon Builders Association at its annual Excellence Awards on January 15, recognizing the nonprofit’s leadership and impact across the region. The award comes as Heart of Oregon Corps edges toward its fundraising goal for Central Oregon’s first youth workforce development campus in Redmond — a 3.4‑acre, $7.3 million center that will offer hands‑on job training in construction, conservation, childcare and other in‑demand trades. To date, the campaign has raised 84 % of its goal, with plans to open the campus by September 30, 2026. (mycentraloregon.com)

The Builders Association highlighted the campus project as a long‑term solution to regional workforce shortages and economic challenges, and Heart of Oregon Corps is now teaming up with COBA on a series of public events to spotlight major donors and build momentum toward the grand opening. This recognition reflects not just community support for youth workforce development, but also a shared commitment to strengthening Central Oregon’s future. (mycentraloregon.com)

❄️ Bend Community Rallies After Avalanche Tragedy

The Central Oregon community is coming together to support the family of Chris Thomason, a 42‑year‑old Bend resident who was killed in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe on January 5 while snowmobiling with friends. Thomason, a well‑known local outdoorsman and co‑owner of Thomason Auto Group, was pulled from the snow by companions and emergency responders, but did not survive his injuries.

In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to assist Thomason’s partner and young daughter as they navigate the difficult weeks ahead. Community members and visitors alike are encouraged to contribute and share the campaign to help provide financial support during this heartbreaking time. (Facebook)

Regional News…

City of Bend Events Here

Road Construction

🐶 Pet of the Week: Pickles — Your Cozy Couch Companion Awaits! 🛋️

If your dream dog is a sweet, snuggly sidekick who brings instant calm to your home — meet Pickles, a 1.5-year-old Beagle/Hound mix with the heart of a lapdog and the manners of a seasoned dinner guest.

This 36-pound sweetheart is currently in a loving foster home in Bend, where she’s quickly earned the title of “professional napper.” Her favorite place? Curled up by the fireplace under a cozy blanket, snoozing contentedly while the world goes by. But don’t let her laid-back lifestyle fool you — Pickles is also social and incredibly polite. She recently attended a dinner party with eight guests and handled it like a champ: quiet, calm, and content to rest by everyone’s feet without begging or fuss.

Pickles is great on walks (with a little leash-training tune-up), gentle in the car, quiet around the house, and happy to sleep by your side at night. She does fine when left alone for short periods — no crate needed, no destruction, and no accidents. She's shy about mealtime but gaining confidence with a little hand-feeding and reassurance.

Originally rescued from a South Carolina shelter, Pickles is spayed, vaccinated, microchipped, and ready for her forever home. Her ideal match? A peaceful household that embraces a cozy lifestyle and values quiet companionship. She’s shown nothing but love for people and other dogs — cats and kids are still an unknown.

💚 Pickles is available now through Street Dog Hero
📍 Location: Foster home in Bend, Oregon
💲 Adoption Fee: $575
🔗 Learn more & apply: streetdoghero.org/rescue-dogs-for-adoption

Could you be the lucky hero she’s been waiting for?

 😎Just sayin

Follow us on facebook