🌟 Get the Central Oregon Local Buzz VIP Wallet Pass!

✅Add it to your Apple or Google Wallet and never miss a thing!
🎉 Instant event alerts📰 breaking local news, 💥 special VIP perks — all sent right to your phone.

Stay connected. Stay local. Stay in the know. Find it HERE

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?

 🚨 Bend Issues Scam Alert Over Fake Permit Payment Emails

 🔥 La Pine Halts Debris Burning Amid Rising Fire Risk

 🎓 Redmond Students Earn National Academic Honors

🎓 Redmond JROTC Team Advances to National Championship in Washington, D.C.

 🏫 Powell Butte Charter School to Rejoin Crook County School District

 🚌 Dial-A-Ride Service Expands to Deschutes River Woods, Improving Rural Access

🗳️ Crowded Primary Election Field Takes Shape Across Central Oregon

🏕️ Rob Imhoff, Deschutes County Commissioner Candidate, Proposes 6-Mile ‘No Camping’ Buffer Around Central Oregon Cities

 🏈 Oregon Lightning Kick Off 2026 Season with Fan Event in Prineville

🚒⛑Fire & Rescue News

 🧗‍♂️ Climbers Rescued After Getting Stuck 400 Feet Up at Smith Rock

🚨Crime News

🥰Community News

📰Regional News

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

💖Sponsors

😆Today’s Meme

BONUS Question:

👀 Remember to look for the Expanded Answers in Friday’s Issue 👉

GOOD MORNING

 BEND

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

FEATURED EVENT

HAVE an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

Event Sources:

Deschutes Public Library Events

Visit Central Oregon Event Listings

Bend Magazine Event Listings

Visit Redmond Event Listings

Local News…

🚨 Bend Issues Scam Alert Over Fake Permit Payment Emails

The City of Bend is warning residents and contractors about a phishing scam targeting people making permit payments. Officials say scammers are sending emails that appear legitimate, asking recipients to submit payments through fraudulent links that are not connected to the city’s official system.

City staff emphasize that Bend will never request payments through unofficial links or suspicious email requests. Anyone receiving these messages is urged not to click links or send payment and instead verify directly through the city’s official website or by contacting staff.

🔥 La Pine Halts Debris Burning Amid Rising Fire Risk

The La Pine Rural Fire District has temporarily halted all debris burning due to increasing wildfire risk and warmer, drier conditions across the region. Officials say the move is a precaution to reduce the chance of human-caused fires as spring conditions begin to shift.

Residents are being asked to follow the restriction immediately and look for alternative methods of yard cleanup. Fire officials say even small burns can quickly get out of control this time of year, especially with unpredictable wind patterns.

🎓 Redmond Students Earn National Academic Honors

Students in the Redmond School District are being recognized for earning academic honors through the College Board’s national programs. The awards highlight high-performing students across various academic categories, including those demonstrating strong achievement and dedication in their studies.

District leaders say the recognition reflects both student effort and the support of teachers and families. The honors place these students among top performers nationwide and bring positive attention to Redmond schools. (KTVZ)

🎓 Redmond JROTC Team Advances to National Championship in Washington, D.C.

A team of cadets from Redmond High School is heading to the national stage after earning a top spot in the Marine Corps JROTC Academic Bowl. Competing against more than 100 teams from across the country, the Redmond trio advanced through multiple rigorous rounds to become one of just eight teams nationwide selected for the championship event.

The team will travel to Washington, D.C. this June for an all-expenses-paid trip to compete at The Catholic University of America, where they’ll face off against the nation’s best. The competition tests students across a wide range of subjects—from math and science to leadership and current events—highlighting both academic excellence and teamwork as these Redmond cadets represent Central Oregon on a national level.

🏫 Powell Butte Charter School to Rejoin Crook County School District

After operating independently for more than 15 years, Powell Butte Community Charter School will rejoin the Crook County School District, marking a major shift for the small rural school east of Redmond. The move is largely driven by the need to fund critical facility repairs and stabilize long-term operations, something school leaders say has become increasingly difficult as a standalone charter.

The K-8 school originally transitioned to a charter model in 2009 to avoid closure during budget cuts, relying heavily on local fundraising and grants to stay open. Now, by rejoining the district, the school is expected to gain more consistent funding and support while continuing to serve the Powell Butte community. Officials say the change is intended to preserve the school’s future while maintaining its role as a central hub for local families.

🚌 Dial-A-Ride Service Expands to Deschutes River Woods, Improving Rural Access

A new Dial-A-Ride pilot program is coming to Deschutes River Woods this spring, bringing expanded transportation options to the community just south of Bend. Operated by Cascades East Transit, the curb-to-curb service is set to launch May 4 and is designed to help residents—especially seniors and people with disabilities—access essential services like healthcare, jobs, and shopping.

The pilot is part of a broader regional expansion of Dial-A-Ride services across Central Oregon, including larger service areas in Redmond, La Pine, Madras, and Prineville. The flexible, on-demand program allows riders to schedule trips in advance within their community, offering a key transportation lifeline in areas without fixed bus routes. Officials say the goal is to improve mobility, independence, and connectivity for residents who have historically had limited transit options.

🗳️ Crowded Primary Election Field Takes Shape Across Central Oregon

Central Oregon is heading into a busy May 19 primary election, with a packed slate of local and statewide races already drawing a wide range of candidates. In Deschutes County alone, multiple commissioner seats are up for grabs, with several candidates competing in each race—including crowded fields for Positions #3 and #5. Other local offices like assessor and sheriff are also on the ballot, while some races with fewer candidates will move straight to the November general election.

Beyond local races, voters will also weigh in on major statewide and federal contests. Oregon’s U.S. Senate seat is up for election, with incumbent Jeff Merkley seeking another term, while multiple candidates from both parties are competing in congressional and gubernatorial primaries. With ballots set to begin mailing in late April and voter registration deadlines approaching, election officials say this cycle is shaping up to be one of the more active and competitive primary seasons in recent years—giving Central Oregon voters a significant say in both local leadership and broader state direction.

🏕️ Rob Imhoff, Deschutes County Commissioner Candidate, Proposes 6-Mile ‘No Camping’ Buffer Around Central Oregon Cities

Deschutes County commissioner candidate Rob Imhoff is proposing a new policy that would create a six-mile “no camping” buffer around every urban growth boundary in the county, including Bend, Redmond, and Sisters. The plan would prohibit unauthorized camping, vehicle habitation, and long-term storage of derelict RVs and trailers in rural areas, particularly across the region’s juniper forests.

Imhoff says the proposal is aimed at reducing wildfire risk, improving public safety, and addressing the growing impact of dispersed camping outside city limits. The plan builds on an existing Oregon rule that restricts new campgrounds within three miles of urban areas, effectively doubling that distance. As part of his broader campaign platform, Imhoff argues the policy would push people toward services located in town while curbing what he describes as unsafe and unsanitary conditions in rural areas—an approach that is likely to spark debate as the county continues grappling with homelessness and land use challenges.

 🏈 Oregon Lightning Kick Off 2026 Season with Fan Event in Prineville

Central Oregon’s Oregon Lightning are gearing up for the 2026 arena football season with a community kickoff event this Friday in Prineville. The team will host fans from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Les Schwab Tire Center, giving the public a chance to meet players, connect with the team’s Hype Squad, and get a first look at what’s ahead this season.

The event will feature a “Lightning Caravan” rolling through town, interactive fan stations, giveaways, autograph opportunities, and a photo booth experience with team gear and props. Fans can also learn more about youth programs and grab tickets for the upcoming season, as the team looks to build excitement and strengthen its connection with the Central Oregon community.

Fire & Rescue… 

🧗‍♂️ Climbers Rescued After Getting Stuck 400 Feet Up at Smith Rock

Two climbers were safely rescued Monday night after becoming stranded nearly 400 feet above the ground at Smith Rock State Park. The men, visiting from Eugene and Salem, ran into trouble during their descent when their ropes became lodged in rocks along a route known as “Wherever I May Roam,” leaving them unable to continue down.

Deschutes County Search and Rescue teams were called in around 8 p.m., launching a complex nighttime operation in steep, exposed terrain. Highly skilled volunteer climbers navigated the route in cold conditions, reached the pair, and safely lowered them to the base by 1 a.m. Tuesday. Neither climber was injured, though both were unprepared for the overnight conditions—an incident that highlights both the risks of technical climbing and the expertise of Central Oregon’s SAR teams.

Crime News…

Community News…

 Regional News… 

City of Bend Events Here

Road Construction

 😎Just sayin

Follow us on facebook