In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

❤️‍🩹🌿 A Smarter Approach to Wellness!

💖Treat Yo’ Mama

📅Save The Date Section

🎶Redmond Community Choir Presents "Celebrating the Great American Songbook"

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

⚠️Countywide Deschutes Alerts Test Scheduled for May 7

📰 New Meat Processing Plant Coming to North of Madras

🥒🎾🍺Coming Soon to Bend: Ballers & Brews, a Pickleball Taphouse Like No Other

🔌🚫Brief Power Outage Planned Thursday Night for Over 6,500 in NE Bend

📰Deschutes County releases proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026

😔 900 Wall Restaurant in Bend Closes After 17 Years

🚨Crime News

📰Level 3 Sex Offender in Custody Faces New Child Exploitation Charges

🎦Madras Police Seek Public’s Help in Vandalism Investigation

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🐶Pet of the Week - SDH - Sirena

😍Sponsors

😁 MEME of the Day

Good Morning!

BEND

What’s Up Central Oregon?

 🌿 A Smarter Approach to Wellness!

Mothers Day Event

River's Place in Bend, Oregon, is set to host its annual "Treat Yo' Mama" event on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025. This festive celebration offers a delightful mix of local artisan vendors, live music, and a curated rosé wine tasting experience, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for families to honor the special women in their lives.

Event Highlights:

• Local Artisan Market: Explore a diverse selection of handcrafted goods, including jewelry, home décor, and unique gifts from talented local makers.

• Live Music: Enjoy performances by local musicians, providing a lively soundtrack to the day's festivities.

• Rosé Wine Tasting: Savor a variety of rosé wines, perfect for toasting to moms everywhere.

• Family-Friendly Atmosphere: With a spacious outdoor area, food trucks, and a welcoming environment, it's an ideal spot for families to gather and celebrate.

For more details and to stay updated on the event schedule, visit River's Place Live Music.

Coming up

Redmond Community Choir Presents "Celebrating the Great American Songbook"

Mark your calendar for a musical afternoon as the Redmond Community Choir presents their spring concert on Sunday, May 18th at 4 PM. This special performance, "Celebrating the Great American Songbook," will feature the 75-member choir singing timeless classics from legends like George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and more.

Adding to the program, the choir will perform Bob Chilcott’s "A Little Jazz Mass," accompanied by a stellar rhythm section of Central Oregon musicians and special guest artist Richard Tuttobene on piano.

The concert will be held at Redmond High School and is free to the public, with donations gladly accepted. The Redmond Community Choir is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and part of the COCC Community Education program.

For more information, visit redmondcommunitychoir.org.

LOCAL EVENTS

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Deschutes Public Library Events

Local News…

Countywide Deschutes Alerts Test Scheduled for May 7

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Deschutes County 911 will conduct a countywide test of the Deschutes Alerts emergency notification system on Wednesday, May 7, around 1 p.m.

Residents signed up for Deschutes Alerts can expect to receive a test message via text, email, phone call, or app notification. Officials say the goal is to ensure subscriber profiles are up to date. No action is needed upon receiving the test.

Deschutes Alerts is used to send critical emergency and evacuation notices to people who live or work in the county. To sign up or update your profile, visit deschutesalerts.org.

If you have questions or don’t receive the test message, you can call 541-550-4888 between 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on May 7. After hours, you may leave a voicemail, and staff will follow up. The Sheriff’s Office is also available at 541-388-6501 to help update profiles.

New Meat Processing Plant Coming to North of Madras

Symons Beef Co. is building a new meat processing facility on a 78-acre site just north of Madras, with construction expected to start this summer. The plant will process up to 50 head of cattle per day and is designed to help local ranchers avoid out-of-state processing. It’s projected to create 40–50 jobs in its first year, growing to 70 in three years.

The project has received required permits and will benefit from a three-year property tax abatement through an expanded Enterprise Zone. The facility aims to open by June 2026.

Symons Beef is also partnering with the Oregon Department of Corrections to offer supervised work experience to low-risk inmates, with hopes of rehiring them post-release.

Full Story Here

Coming Soon to Bend: Ballers & Brews, a Pickleball Taphouse Like No Other

A new kind of hangout is headed to Bend this summer—one that serves up cold drinks, hot food, and plenty of pickleball. Ballers & Brews, founded by local Leslie Koegler, will be the city's first pickleball taphouse, blending the energy of the courts with the laid-back vibes of a food truck lot and taproom.

Located on Redside Court, this all-season, family-friendly venue is set to become a favorite for locals and visitors alike. The space will feature a cozy 2,500-square-foot taphouse with TVs and fire pits, a 750-square-foot heated rooftop deck, and covered pickleball courts open daily from 7 a.m.—complete with a breakfast cart to start your day right.

Expect 20 beers on tap, along with wine, spirits, and mocktails. Six rotating food trucks will offer curated eats from across the Pacific Northwest. Even your pup is welcome at the “Barking Bar,” complete with fresh water taps for furry friends.

Adding to the space’s creative flair is a custom mural by local artist Janessa Bork of Vivi Designs. With plenty of parking, kid-friendly play areas, and a laid-back location away from downtown bustle, Ballers & Brews promises to be more than just a place to play—it's a place to gather, unwind, and enjoy the best of Bend.

📍 20869 Redside Court, Bend, OR
🔗 ballersandbrews.com
📱 @ballersandbrews

Opening later this summer—stay tuned!

Brief Power Outage Planned Thursday Night for Over 6,500 in NE Bend

Pacific Power has scheduled a brief power outage late Thursday night for 6,530 customers in northeast Bend. The interruption, expected to last up to 15 minutes, will begin around 11 p.m. and is necessary to complete maintenance work.

This is the second planned outage in the same area in less than two weeks. The affected customers are served by the Pilot Butte Substation, in the area near Highway 20, north and west of Mountain View High School. Pacific Power will notify customers directly.

Deschutes County releases proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026

Deschutes County has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which limits expenditure growth and maintains the County’s fiscal structural balance and long-term financial stability. Information Here

900 Wall Restaurant in Bend Closes After 17 Years

900 Wall, a beloved fixture in downtown Bend's dining scene, has closed its doors after 17 years of service. The restaurant, known for its modern American cuisine with Italian and French influences, announced the closure on social media, expressing gratitude to its employees, guests, and local producers. The sudden shutdown has prompted an outpouring of memories and support from the community.

Located in a historic two-story brick building on NW Wall Street, 900 Wall was celebrated for its seasonal menus and commitment to responsibly sourced ingredients. The restaurant's closure reflects broader challenges faced by independent eateries in the region.

For more information, visit their official website: 900wall.com.

Crime News…

Level 3 Sex Offender in Custody Faces New Child Exploitation Charges

A Level 3 sex offender already jailed in Deschutes County is facing new felony charges after investigators found child sexual abuse material on a seized tablet.

Emily Fawkes, also known as Jeffrey Yaeger, 45, was arrested in November 2024 for violating parole. Bend Police took Fawkes into custody at Bi-Mart in Bend, where officers also found a tablet—something prohibited under Fawkes’ supervision terms.

A forensic analysis later revealed the device contained child sexual abuse material and evidence of attempts to contact minors online. On April 29, 2025, Fawkes was charged with three counts of Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree.

Fawkes remains in custody at the Deschutes County Jail. Investigators say Fawkes was already under post-prison supervision for a prior child sex crime.

Madras Police Seek Public’s Help in Vandalism Investigation

The Madras Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect involved in a vandalism incident that took place early Friday morning, May 2.

Surveillance footage captured around 12:13 a.m. shows an individual throwing a concrete block through the window of a local business, causing significant property damage. The suspect fled the scene, and police are now working to identify the person responsible.

Anyone who recognizes the individual in the footage or has information related to the case is urged to contact the Madras Police Department at 541-475-2424.

Authorities say community assistance is critical in helping resolve the case and maintaining public safety. See Video Here

 City of Bend Events

Let’s find this sweet girl a HOME!

 😎 Just sayin

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