Oregonians Challenge Paddleboard Permits & More From the Editor Welcome to the latest issue of Central Oregon Local Buzz, where we bring you concise summaries of key news and events in the region. This week, we're covering a range of topics including local reactions to new paddleboard and kayak permit regulations, a significant crash on Highway 97 near Terrebonne, and the distribution of laptops to students across Central Oregon. Additionally, we'll delve into creative initiatives like farm art camps, ongoing investigations within the Deschutes County Sheriff's office, and bustling community activities such as the Bend Handmade Market. Stay informed on these stories and more, including a significant audit revealing state accounting discrepancies, consumer protection against high-interest loans, and other noteworthy updates from around the area. 📰Local News Featured Oregonians Push Back Against New Permit Rules for Paddleboards and Kayaks A new Oregon law requiring permits for nearly all non-motorized watercraft has sparked a statewide backlash, with opponents racing to gather signatures to overturn the measure before it fully takes effect.
Beginning this year, paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, rafts, drift boats, and other human-powered watercraft must carry an Oregon Waterway Access Permit regardless of size. Previously, many smaller paddlecraft were exempt. State officials say the expanded permit requirement will generate funding for aquatic invasive species prevention, boat inspection stations, law enforcement patrols, and improvements to water access sites across Oregon.
The new fees range from $6 for a seven-day permit to $20 for an annual permit and $35 for a two-year permit. Paddlers found without a permit can face a $115 citation.
Critics argue the law unfairly targets human-powered recreationists who they say are not the primary source of invasive species contamination. The grassroots group "Let Us Paddle" has launched a petition drive to refer the law to Oregon voters, calling the expansion an unnecessary burden on families and outdoor enthusiasts already facing rising costs.
Supporters of the permit program point to the growing threat of invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels, which can damage ecosystems, irrigation systems, hydroelectric facilities, and recreation infrastructure. State agencies say permit revenue helps fund inspection stations and prevention programs designed to keep Oregon waterways free from those costly infestations.
The debate has become especially relevant in Central Oregon, where kayaking, paddleboarding, rafting, and floating are a major part of summer recreation on the Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius rivers, as well as local lakes and reservoirs. Opponents of the law must gather approximately 118,000 valid signatures by early July to place a repeal measure on the November ballot.
For now, Oregon paddlers should be aware that the permit requirement remains in effect, even as the political fight over the program continues to gain momentum.
Read more → ⛑️Fire & Rescue News 🚨 Serious Crash Temporarily Closes Highway 97 Near Terrebonne A serious two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 97 north of Terrebonne shut down both directions of the highway for several hours Friday afternoon. The collision occurred around 12:45 p.m. near the Ogden Scenic Viewpoint, prompting a large emergency response and the dispatch of an air ambulance to the scene.
Traffic was halted while first responders and investigators worked the crash, with both directions reopening by about 4:00 p.m. According to Oregon State Police, the investigation remains in its early stages and a possible fatality is being investigated. Additional details have not yet been released. Read more → ⛰️Bend 💻 100 Laptops Distributed to Central Oregon Students AT&T and Camp Fire Central Oregon teamed up this week to provide 100 refurbished laptops to local students, helping bridge the digital divide and ensure more young people have access to technology for school, work, and everyday life. The laptops were distributed to pre-selected students during an event at the Sunlight Solar Building in Bend.
In addition to receiving laptops, students participated in digital safety training led by facilitators from Kids Center. The training covered topics such as cyberbullying, online scams, social media safety, and recognizing online predators. The program was funded through AT&T's support of Camp Fire's Absolutely Incredible Kid Day® campaign, which encourages adults to remind young people that they matter while also helping connect them with essential resources and technology. Read more →
🌿 Farm Art Camps Bring Nature, Creativity, and Animals Together A new series of summer camps at Dragonfly Farm and Arts in Bend is giving children the chance to unplug, get outdoors, and explore their creativity through hands-on experiences with nature and farm life. Led by longtime educator Ann Boyd, the camps combine art, crafts, animal interactions, and outdoor learning on a working farm filled with rescued horses, goats, sheep, and other animals.
The camps, designed for children ages 8 to 13, include week-long sessions focused on nature-based crafts and puppet performance. Organizers say the programs emphasize small group sizes, tech-free learning, and creative projects using natural and handmade materials. Families interested in learning more can attend upcoming farm tours before camps begin later this month. Read more →
🚔 Three Deschutes County Sheriff's Employees Placed on Leave During Misconduct Investigation Three employees with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office have been placed on paid administrative leave following allegations of misconduct raised in two formal complaints submitted by community members. Interim Sheriff Ty Rupert announced the action Friday, saying the employees will remain on leave while an independent investigation is conducted.
Officials have not released the names of the employees or details about the allegations, citing the ongoing investigation. Sheriff Rupert said maintaining public trust and accountability is a top priority and that an outside investigator will review the complaints to ensure an impartial process. No criminal charges have been announced, and the employees are presumed innocent while the investigation is underway. Read more →
🎨 Bend Handmade Market Draws Crowds Downtown More than 100 artists, makers, and craftspeople filled downtown Bend on Saturday as the Bend Handmade Market returned for its third annual event. The free market showcased a wide variety of handcrafted goods, including artwork, jewelry, clothing, home décor, bath and body products, and other unique creations from vendors across the Pacific Northwest.
Organized by Urban Craft Uprising, the event gave shoppers the opportunity to meet the people behind the products and support small creative businesses directly. Organizers say the market continues to grow in popularity as consumers seek out one-of-a-kind, locally made items and enjoy the personal connections that come from buying directly from the artists and makers themselves. Read more →
🦆 Pink Duck 5K Raises Awareness for Human Trafficking Prevention Dozens of runners and families gathered at the Athletic Club of Bend on Sunday for the third annual Speak Up Pink Duck 5K, an event focused on raising awareness about human trafficking prevention and supporting local youth education programs. Hosted by In Our Backyard, the family-friendly fundraiser benefits the nonprofit’s Teens Against Trafficking program, which helps students recognize unsafe, exploitative, and grooming behaviors.
Participants collected pink rubber ducks at mile markers along the course, each representing a trusted adult in a young person's life. Organizers emphasized the importance of teaching children and teens about online safety and encouraging them to build strong support networks. The event served as both a fundraiser and a community conversation about the risks of exploitation, particularly through social media and other online platforms. Read more → 🪶Madras 🏆 Madras Manufacturer Honored for Global Growth Madras-based KEITH Manufacturing has been recognized with a 2026 Global Trailblazer Award from the Oregon Consular Corps, honoring the company's success in expanding Oregon-made products into international markets. The family-owned company was recognized alongside several other Oregon businesses at the annual Celebrate Trade Gala in Portland for its growing presence in global agriculture and material-handling industries.
Founded in Madras and rooted in Central Oregon agriculture, KEITH Manufacturing is known for its WALKING FLOOR® unloading systems used to move bulk materials such as grain, compost, cotton seed, and other agricultural products. The company now operates subsidiaries in Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Australia, and India, with another international location expected to open later this year. Company leaders say the award reflects decades of innovation and the partnerships that have helped the business grow from a local manufacturer into a global operation. Read more →
🏥 Madras and Prineville Hospitals Receive Maternal Care Funding Two Central Oregon hospitals will receive nearly $1 million each to help strengthen maternal healthcare services in rural communities. St. Charles hospitals in Madras and Prineville are among 21 Oregon hospitals selected to receive state and federal funding aimed at improving access to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.
The funding comes after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved a state proposal developed following recommendations from a Medicaid advisory group convened by Governor Tina Kotek. Smaller rural hospitals, including the Madras and Prineville facilities, are eligible for up to $963,000 each. State leaders say the investment is intended to help rural hospitals maintain and expand critical maternal health services for families across Oregon.
🐎Prineville 🎓 Prineville's Graduation Parade Tradition Rolls On Crook County High School seniors celebrated graduation Friday with one of Prineville's most beloved traditions—the annual Graduates Parade. Seniors decorated everything from work trucks and big rigs to classic cars before cruising through town, where family members, friends, and community supporters lined the streets to cheer them on.
The parade gave the Class of 2026 one final opportunity to celebrate together before commencement later that evening. Graduates waved to spectators, tossed candy, and enjoyed a festive sendoff as they traveled through Prineville, continuing a tradition that has become a highlight of graduation season in Crook County. Organizers say the event reflects the strong community support that surrounds local students as they move on to their next chapter.rineville, where community involvement is a cherished value. Read more → 📍Regional News 📊 Oregon Audit Finds $2.5 Billion in State Accounting Errors A new state audit found that Oregon agencies made approximately $2.5 billion in unintentional accounting errors during fiscal year 2025, an increase of about $700 million from the previous year. Despite the errors, auditors issued a clean opinion on the state's financial statements, meaning Oregon's overall financial reports were still considered reliable after corrections were made.
The audit also identified concerns involving federal spending, including roughly $15.6 million in questioned costs that may not have fully complied with federal requirements. State officials noted that the accounting errors were corrected before the financial statements were finalized, but auditors continue to urge agencies to strengthen financial controls and oversight to reduce future mistakes Read more →
🚗 Oregon DMV Online Services Going Offline for July Upgrade If you need to renew a registration, replace vehicle tags, or complete other DMV transactions, don't wait until the Fourth of July weekend. The Oregon DMV announced that its online DMV2U system and all DMV Express Kiosks will be unavailable from July 3 through July 5 while the agency completes a major software upgrade. In addition, all DMV offices will be closed on July 3 for the Independence Day holiday.
The upgrade is part of ongoing improvements to DMV's Oregon License Issuance and Vehicle Registration (OLIVR) system, which replaced the agency's decades-old computer system in 2019. DMV officials say the update will help keep services current, improve integration with partner systems, and make future enhancements easier to implement. Customers are encouraged to complete any needed transactions before the holiday weekend to avoid delays Read more →
🐾 Help Name Oregon’s New Conservation K-9 The Oregon State Police is asking Oregon youth ages 9–17 to help name the newest member of its Fish and Wildlife Conservation K-9 team—a one-year-old red Labrador Retriever currently training to become a conservation detection dog. Suggested names should be inspired by wildlife, fish, or the outdoors, and entries will be accepted through June 14 via an online submission form.
The new K-9 will join specialized conservation teams that help investigate poaching cases, locate evidence, track missing persons, and support other criminal investigations across Oregon. Once training is complete, the dog will be stationed in La Grande, joining existing conservation K-9 teams based in Bend and Springfield. The winning name submission will earn its young creator a chance to meet the new K-9 and receive special recognition from OSP.
Contest Rules:
Entries may be submitted now through June 14, 2026
Entries must be submitted using the OSP online entry form
The contest is open to Oregon youth ages 9-17
One entry per youth
Suggested names must be wildlife, fish, or outdoors-related
Finalists will be selected from the submitted entries for statewide voting
The youth with the winning entry will get a chance to meet the K-9 and receive other recognition items from OSP Read more → Thank you for keeping up with Central Oregon's vibrant and sometimes challenging news. The community continues to show resilience and growth, even facing new regulatory challenges or adapting to new technologies. We hope you stay informed and engaged with the happenings around you. |
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