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In this issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

 🧠 B.R.A.I.N.S. Technique Foundations Course

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

 🚧 Crook County Leaders Push for Safer Roads in Powell Butte

  🚗 Speed Limit Reduction Proposed for Helmholtz Way Near Redmond

 🌉 Bend Shares Public Feedback on Reed Market Bridge Project

 🍀 Cascade Relays Brings Back the St. Patrick’s Day Dash in Bend

 🔥 Madras McDonald’s Closed for Months After Fire Damage

♻️ Jason Jordan Named CEO of Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative

🚒⛑Fire & Rescue News

 🔥 Garage Fire in Bend Displaces Family; Smoke Alarms Credited With Saving Lives

 🎿 Portland Skier Dies After Crash at Mt. Bachelor

🚨Crime News

 🚔 Bend Police Arrest Man Accused of Pointing Gun Outside Cascade West

🥰Community News

📰Regional News

 🚧 ODOT Avoids Layoffs and Service Cuts After Lawmakers Address $297M Shortfall

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

💖Sponsors

😆Today’s Meme

👉Check back in Friday for the Expanded Answer!👉

GOOD MORNING

 BEND

Check Trip Check Before you travel over the Passes ⬇

Santiam Pass Conditions This Morning

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

FEATURED EVENT

Register Now:

🧠 B.R.A.I.N.S. Technique Foundations Course

Where: Epic Energy Center – Energy Room, Bend
When: Fridays — May 1, May 8, and May 15 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Looking for a powerful way to reset your mind and body heading into summer? The B.R.A.I.N.S. Technique Foundations Course is a three-part immersive series designed to help participants quickly interrupt stress, regulate emotional responses, and restore calm and clarity.

Held inside the Energy Room at Epic Energy Center, this concentrated course teaches simple somatic tools that can help rewire the brain’s response to stress, trauma, and emotional overwhelm — often in just 5–7 minutes. These practical techniques are designed to be used anywhere, helping you rebalance your nervous system in the moment and build resilience long after the class ends.

Your registration includes all three sessions, live Q&A opportunities, and a total of six hours inside the Energy Room, creating a focused and supportive environment to learn and practice the method.

Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve emotional balance, or boost overall well-being, this course offers tools you can carry with you every day.

More Info / Registration:
https://bend.epicenergycenters.com/events

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Local News…

🚧 Crook County Leaders Push for Safer Roads in Powell Butte

Crook County officials say improving traffic safety in the Powell Butte area is becoming increasingly urgent as population growth and heavier traffic put pressure on rural roads. County leaders noted that several intersections and corridors — particularly around Powell Butte Highway and Highway 126 — have become more congested and potentially dangerous, prompting calls for upgrades and safety improvements.

Officials say the biggest obstacle to making meaningful changes is funding. While potential fixes such as intersection improvements, better traffic controls and road upgrades have been identified, the county must secure state or federal funding before projects can move forward. For now, local leaders say they will continue pushing for resources to address safety concerns as traffic volumes in the Powell Butte area continue to grow.

 🚗 Speed Limit Reduction Proposed for Helmholtz Way Near Redmond

A proposal to lower the speed limit on Helmholtz Way west of Redmond from 45 mph to 40 mph will be reviewed by the Oregon Speed Zone Review Panel during a virtual meeting on March 17 at 1 p.m. The change would apply to the stretch of NW Helmholtz Way/SW Helmholtz Way between NW Coyner Avenue and SW Canal Boulevard, an area that runs through unincorporated Deschutes County and briefly within Redmond city limits. The request for the speed reduction was submitted jointly by Deschutes County and the City of Redmond.

The meeting will be open to the public, with the panel hearing testimony from ODOT, local officials, and community members before making a decision. In Oregon, speed zone changes are typically determined through investigations conducted by ODOT and the governing road authority. If the agencies cannot reach agreement, the matter is referred to the Speed Zone Review Panel, which makes the final determination. Residents can attend the meeting virtually through Microsoft Teams or by phone.

 🌉 Bend Shares Public Feedback on Reed Market Bridge Project

The City of Bend has released community feedback gathered during a recent open house about the planned Reed Market Road railroad bridge, a major project aimed at eliminating long traffic delays caused by trains. The proposed overcrossing would carry vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians over the railroad tracks, improving safety and helping traffic move more smoothly along the busy east-west corridor in southeast Bend.

The planned bridge would span from SE American Lane past SE 9th Street and include four travel lanes, buffered bike lanes, sidewalks, and a pedestrian tunnel connecting sections of the Central Oregon Historic Canal Trail. City officials say trains currently block Reed Market Road six to eight times a day, often stopping traffic for up to 20 minutes. Final design work and right-of-way acquisition are expected over the next couple of years, with construction projected to begin in 2027 and wrap up around 2029.

 🍀 Cascade Relays Brings Back the St. Patrick’s Day Dash in Bend

Runners and walkers are gearing up for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Dash in Bend, returning Saturday, March 14, with a festive afternoon of fitness and celebration along the Deschutes River. Organized by Cascade Relays, the family-friendly event features three course options — a 10K, 5K, and a shorter 1.5-mile route — making it accessible for participants of all ages and abilities. The chip-timed races encourage both casual participants and competitive runners to join the fun. (Cascade Relays)

After crossing the finish line, participants and spectators can head to the lively “Post-Dash Bash,” which includes local food vendors, Irish dancers, bagpipers, live music, and a beer garden featuring green beer. Costume contests for the best St. Patrick’s Day outfits add to the festivities. Event organizers say the dash is more than just a race — proceeds from the event help support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend. (Cascade Relays)

♻️ Jason Jordan Named CEO of Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative

The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC), the organization that runs the state’s BottleDrop network, has named Jason Jordan as its new CEO. Jordan previously served as president of the cooperative and brings years of experience in the recycling and solid waste industry. In his new leadership role, he says he plans to continue supporting and strengthening Oregon’s Bottle Bill, one of the nation’s longest-running container deposit systems.

The Bottle Bill, first passed in 1971, allows Oregonians to receive a 10-cent refund for returning eligible beverage containers and has helped the state achieve one of the highest container recycling rates in the country. Jordan says maintaining a convenient and efficient redemption system remains a top priority as the program continues to evolve to meet the needs of communities across Oregon.

 🔥 Madras McDonald’s Closed for Months After Fire Damage

The McDonald’s restaurant in Madras is expected to remain closed for several months after a fire damaged part of the building on February 20. According to fire officials, two employees arriving for work noticed smoke coming from the restaurant and called 911. Crews with Jefferson County Fire & EMS responded and found flames near the drive-thru window. Firefighters quickly knocked down the blaze and prevented it from spreading throughout the rest of the structure. No injuries were reported.

The restaurant’s owner says the location will stay closed while repairs and renovations are completed, though a specific reopening timeline has not yet been set. In the meantime, most employees have been offered positions at other McDonald’s locations operated by the same ownership group. The Madras restaurant originally opened in 1991 and was remodeled in 2018.

Fire & Rescue…

🔥 Garage Fire in Bend Displaces Family; Smoke Alarms Credited With Saving Lives

A late-night garage fire in southeast Bend displaced a family Tuesday after flames broke out in a single-car garage on the 700 block of SE Douglas Street around 10:43 p.m. Bend Fire & Rescue says the occupants were alerted by their smoke alarms and were able to evacuate safely and call 911 while the fire was still small. Fire crews arrived quickly and were able to keep the flames largely contained to the garage, preventing the fire from spreading further into the home.

Investigators determined the fire started after woodstove ashes were disposed of in the trash inside the garage. The blaze spread to items stored in the garage and had just begun reaching the home when firefighters extinguished it. The house is currently unsafe to occupy, and the Red Cross is assisting the family while repairs begin. Damage to the structure and contents is estimated at about $50,000. Fire officials also emphasized that ashes from wood-burning appliances can remain hot for several days and should always be cooled thoroughly and stored in metal containers away from combustibles. Bend Fire & Rescue noted that the home’s working smoke alarms — which the occupants had checked with firefighters in 2025 — played a critical role in helping the family escape safely.

🎿 Portland Skier Dies After Crash at Mt. Bachelor

A 65-year-old Portland man died Monday afternoon after crashing while skiing at Mt. Bachelor. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Bachelor Ski Patrol responded around 2:22 p.m. to a report of an injured skier on the Wanoga Way trail, an intermediate run located on the mountain’s east side off the Cloudchaser Lift. When patrol arrived, they found the skier — later identified as Nigel Barry Young — without a pulse and not breathing.

Despite extensive life-saving efforts by Ski Patrol and medics from Bend Fire & Rescue, Young was pronounced dead at 2:56 p.m. Officials said he had been skiing with three friends who were ahead of him and did not witness the crash. Young was wearing a helmet, but authorities believe the injuries he sustained were not survivable. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to coordinate with Mt. Bachelor staff as the investigation continues.

Crime News…

 🚔 Bend Police Arrest Man Accused of Pointing Gun Outside Cascade West

Bend Police have arrested a 32-year-old Bend man accused of threatening a security guard with a firearm outside Cascade West on SW Century Drive. Officers say the incident began around 12:09 a.m. on March 1, when a man who had been denied entry to the bar got into a physical altercation with security before walking away. According to police, the man then threatened to shoot the guard, cocked a handgun and pointed it into the air before leaving the area.

After identifying the suspect as Zachary Lee Coelho, officers located him during a traffic stop on March 6 near NE 15th Street and U.S. Highway 20. Police later executed a search warrant at Coelho’s home on SE Tempest Drive, where they say they found two firearms, ammunition, a significant amount of cocaine packaged in smaller bags, and materials commonly used to measure and distribute drugs. Coelho was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on multiple charges, including menacing, unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, and possession, manufacture, and delivery of cocaine.

Community News…

 Regional News… 

🚧 ODOT Avoids Layoffs and Service Cuts After Lawmakers Address $297M Shortfall

The Oregon Department of Transportation will avoid layoffs and major service disruptions after state lawmakers approved legislation to address a $297 million budget shortfall for the agency’s maintenance and operations work. The funding shift means highway maintenance crews will remain on the job, storm response operations will continue, and DMV offices across the state will stay open. The plan redirects about $218 million from existing transportation funds to keep essential services running through the current budget cycle.

While the move stabilizes operations for now, officials say it comes with tradeoffs. Some transportation programs will see delayed or reduced funding, including Safe Routes to School and Connect Oregon grants that support student safety improvements and aviation, rail, and marine infrastructure projects. ODOT leaders say the action provides short-term relief but does not solve the long-term funding challenges facing Oregon’s State Highway Fund, which supports transportation work for the state, cities, and counties. Lawmakers are expected to revisit the issue during the 2027 legislative session.

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