In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

⛷🚵‍♀️🛶 2025 SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle

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

📅Save The Date Section

🍻Bend Brews & Beyond

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

📰Deschutes County to allow RVs as long-term rentals on rural properties

👏Bend teacher to receive national award for defusing armed student threat

🐕‍🦺⭐Duke the Therapy Dog Joins Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

🔥⛑Fire & Rescue News

💥La Pine Man Dies in Fiery Head-On Collision on Highway 97

🚨Crime News

📰Bend Police Identify Victim in NE Bend Homicide; Suspect Remains in Custody

⚖La Pine sex offender sentenced to nearly 10 years for child porn, meth

📰Regional News

👮‍♂️Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit Identifies Victim From 1980 Murder Case - Marion County

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

❄🛣Cascade Lakes Highway, Paulina Lake Road opening dates set

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

😍Sponsors

😁 MEME of the Day

Good Morning!

BEND

What’s Up Central Oregon?

Get Ready for the 2025 SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle in Bend, Oregon

The SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle (PPP), Central Oregon’s iconic multi-sport race, returns on Saturday, May 17, 2025. This beloved event, organized by the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF), draws over 2,000 participants and thousands of spectators each year, making it one of the largest multi-sport events in the Northwest.

🏁 Race Overview

The PPP challenges individuals, pairs, and teams to complete six diverse legs spanning from the snowy slopes of Mt. Bachelor to the scenic Deschutes River in Bend. The race includes:

• Alpine Ski: A sprint uphill followed by a downhill ski on the Leeway trail.

• Nordic Ski: A 6 km cross-country course through Mt. Bachelor’s Nordic trails.

• Bike: A 20-mile ride descending Century Drive into Bend.

• Run: A 5.2-mile trail run along the Deschutes River, starting at the Athletic Club of Bend.

• Paddle: A 1.5-mile kayak leg on the Deschutes River.

• Sprint: A final half-mile dash to the finish line at Riverbend Park.

Participants can compete solo, in pairs, or as part of a team, with various categories accommodating different age groups and abilities, including adaptive and non-binary divisions.

🎉 Community Celebration

The finish line at Riverbend Park transforms into a festive hub, featuring food vendors, sponsor booths, and live entertainment. Spectators are encouraged to cheer on racers and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere. The awards ceremony will take place from approximately 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

🎨 2025 Official Artwork

This year’s official PPP artwork was designed by Caya Christiansen, a Summit High School graduate. Her vibrant design, showcasing iconic race elements and local landmarks, will be featured on event merchandise, celebrating the creative spirit of the community.

🏆 Supporting Youth Athletics

Proceeds from the PPP support MBSEF’s mission to provide affordable athletic programs to over 800 youth athletes in Central Oregon, fostering sportsmanship, self-discipline, and healthy lifestyles.

For more information, registration details, and course maps, visit the official PPP website: pppbend.com.

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.

Coming up

Bend Brews & Beyond

The event will feature 50+ Oregon breweries and cideries including—for the first time ever—every locally-owned Central Oregon hopped, appled, and honeyed beverage producer as well as over a dozen non-alcoholic beverage makers, allowing everyone to celebrate together whether they feel like drinking alcohol moderately or not at all.

The festival takes place in downtown Bend’s Drake Park (777 NW Riverside Dr.) on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25 from 12-8 p.m. The event is 21+ only and tickets are required for all attendees.

Advance online tickets for admission, souvenir mug and 7 drink tokens are $40 for alcohol and $30 for non-alcohol passes. Two-day passes will be available. Tickets are truly limited and the event is expected to sell out. If available, tickets will be $55 ALC/$45 N/A at the gates.

Beyond drinking together, attendees can greet—and thank—the people responsible for the bounty of tasty beverages from 3-5 p.m. during the Meet the Makers session. It will be followed by the Brewers Decathlon where teams of brewers will compete for the coveted Bend Brews & Beyond Mashlete Trophy awarded to the team that dominates in ten challenges designed for professional brewers only. Attendees are encouraged to don their funkiest pants to earn the title of the inaugural Bend Drinking Pants Pageant. (“The most fun you’ll have with your pants on.”) Two specialty beers will be available per hour in the Next-Tap section. Music will be provided by a combination of live musicians and a DJ. Ten of Bend’s most beloved food trucks will be on site. Everyone is encouraged to drink responsibly and make plans to arrive and depart safely with transportation options being announced soon.

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Deschutes Public Library Events

Local News…

Deschutes County to allow RVs as long-term rentals on rural properties

The Board of Deschutes County Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a program to allow rural county residents to use recreational vehicles as rental dwellings. The move came after the Oregon Legislature in 2023 gave counties the option to allow it locally.

Here is the criteria, according to Deschutes County:

• The property must be zoned as rural residential: RR-10, MUA, UAR-10, SR 2 ½, WTZ

• The property must be a minimum of two acres, except for areas in South County that require a five-acre minimum

• The property must contain a single-family dwelling that is occupied as the primary residence of the property owner

• There are no other dwelling units on the property besides the primary single-family residence, and no portion of the single-family residence is rented as a dwelling

• The RV cannot be used as a short-term rental

• The RV must have a working toilet and sink

• The property owner must provide electrical supply, water supply and sewage disposal to the RV

• The property owner must provide an RV parking pad made of gravel, concrete, or asphalt

• The property owner must maintain a 20-foot radius of non-combustive ground cover around the RV

Property owners wanting to establish an RV rental dwelling or correct code violations for an illegally established RV dwelling must submit an application demonstrating compliance with the newly adopted rules, the county said.

More information and a research checklist for the application process can be found at www.deschutes.org/rvrentaldwelling. For additional questions, contact Planning Division staff at [email protected] or (541) 388-6560.

Bend teacher to receive national award for defusing armed student threat

A Pilot Butte Middle School teacher, credited with getting a student who brought a gun to school out of the building and safely away, is set to be honored with a national award.

Katie Tiktin will receive the National Award of Valor from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) in July.

Bend Police said after Oct. 21, 2024, incident that the 12-year-old student brought the loaded handgun to school and had a list of targets. But the student sought out Tiktin first, according to NASRO, because the two had developed a rapport the previous year. 

"After the student showed Tiktin the gun, she escorted him out of the building and away from possible targets, putting herself between the student and other children," NASRO said in a press release. "She instructed the student to put his hands on a fence while she called the school’s SRO. The SRO disarmed and apprehended the student without incident.'

Tiktin will receive the honor at an award ceremony in Texas on July 7.

Officer Jabral Johnson, a school resource officer with the West Linn Police Department, will also receive the group's regional Exceptional Service Award.

Duke the Therapy Dog Joins Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has welcomed a new member to its team: Duke, a certified therapy dog. Trained and certified through Battle Buddies of Central Oregon, Duke will provide comfort and support to both law enforcement personnel and community members.

Duke's role involves visiting schools, community events, and the sheriff's office to offer emotional support. His presence aims to help reduce stress and foster positive interactions between law enforcement and the public.

The addition of Duke reflects the sheriff's office's commitment to innovative approaches in community engagement and officer wellness. By integrating a therapy dog into their operations, they hope to enhance trust and well-being within Jefferson County.

Fire & Rescue News…

La Pine Man Dies in Fiery Head-On Collision on Highway 97

A 25-year-old La Pine man was killed Thursday night in a head-on crash on Highway 97 that authorities suspect may have been intentional.

The crash happened just before 9 p.m. on May 8 near milepost 156 in Deschutes County. According to Oregon State Police, Anthony Buddrick Torres was driving a southbound Dodge Caravan when he crossed the centerline and collided with a northbound Kenworth semi-truck and trailer operated by 52-year-old Florentino Cruz Aguilar of Williams, California.

The impact of the crash caused both vehicles to erupt in flames. Local fire crews from Sunriver, Alfalfa, and La Pine responded to extinguish the fires.

Torres was pronounced dead at the scene. Cruz Aguilar sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital.

OSP noted that Torres had been reported as suicidal before the crash, and investigators believe the collision may have been intentional. The highway remained closed for an extended period as crews cleared the wreckage and conducted the investigation.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, ODOT, and multiple fire departments assisted at the scene.

Crime News…

Bend Police Identify Victim in NE Bend Homicide; Suspect Remains in Custody

Bend Police have identified the victim in a homicide that occurred Wednesday evening in northeast Bend as 54-year-old Robert Glenn Haston, a resident of Bend.

The incident happened just after 7:15 p.m. on May 7 in the 100 block of NE Emerson Avenue. Officers responded to a report of a deceased individual and found Haston at the scene with fatal injuries.

As investigators worked the case, officers were called to a nearby trespassing complaint in the 600 block of NE Irving Avenue. A homeowner reported a man wearing a backpack acting suspiciously and running through the yard. Officers located the individual, identified as 27-year-old Phillip Matthew Howard Evans of Bend, and took him into custody.

Further investigation led detectives to identify Evans as the suspect in Haston’s death. He was arrested and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon.

La Pine sex offender sentenced to nearly 10 years for child porn, meth

BEND, Ore. -- A convicted sex offender from La Pine was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography and methamphetamines, the Deschutes County District Attorney announced.

Richard Jay Jackson, 61, was sentenced to 9 years, 7 months in prison, followed by three years of post-prison supervision, District Attorney Steve Gunnels said in a press release.

Jackson was arrested in July 2024 after sheriff's detectives executed a search warrant on his La Pine home on suspicion of drug delivery and possession of child sexual abuse materials, Gunnels said. In addition to recovering about 1 ounce of meth, cash and other drug paraphernalia. Detectives also seized electronic device that were shown to have images of child sexual abuse.

Jackson pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts of first-degree encouraging child sexual abuse and one count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine.

“… “these cases – and the results – are due to the hard work and collaboration of many people at DCSO, Digital Forensics and Street Crimes, and the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. Narcotics trafficking and Internet Crimes Against Children are serious offenses that should result in serious sentences – even more so when occurring at the same time,” said Deputy District Attorneys Matthew Nelson and Andrew Doyle, who prosecuted the cases.

Regional News…

Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit Identifies Victim From 1980 Murder Case - Marion County

Marion County, OR - Almost 45 years ago, in the early morning hours of July 18, 1980, Oregon State Police responded to a report of a deceased, unidentified male along Interstate 5 near Woodburn. A homicide investigation was opened and while extensive efforts were made to identify the victim, he remained a John Doe until April 2025.

In cooperation with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office and the Orange County (California) Sheriff’s Department, OSP’s Cold Case Unit was able to positively identify the victim as Larry Eugene Parks. Parks was 30 years old at the time of his death and a Vietnam veteran. His family had lost contact with him in 1979, and was last seen in Pensacola, Florida. Until his identification last month, the circumstances of his disappearance were unknown to the Parks family.

The discovery of Parks’ body came a day after the body of Michael O’Fallon was found along I-5 near the Talbot exit, also in Marion County. Due to similarities in the evidence, investigators at the time suspected the two murders were related. Unfortunately, both investigations went cold as investigative leads dried up.

In 1983, Randy Kraft was arrested in Orange County, California, for murder. Kraft was ultimately convicted of 16 murders in California, although he’s suspected of committing more than 60 murders across the West Coast and Michigan. During Kraft’s trial and sentencing, evidence from the O’Fallon and Parks murders was transferred to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to be used in court. The evidence remained in Orange County until 2024.

In January 2024, an investigator from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department reached out to the Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit regarding evidence related to the John Doe (Parks) case from 1980 and offered to help identify the remains using Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy.  John Doe’s blood sample was sent to Parabon Nanolabs and a genetic profile was developed. Investigators were able to use this information to locate possible family members. The family members submitted DNA samples for comparison which led to the positive identification of John Doe as Larry Parks.   

With Parks' identity confirmed, investigators are now working to bring resolution to the 45-year-old case.

 City of Bend Events

Cascade Lakes Highway, Paulina Lake Road opening dates set

The Cascade Lakes Highway and Paulina Lake Road are set to open over the next couple of weeks for the summer season. Deschutes County road crews have been busy plowing snow to get the roads open.

Paulina Lake Road is set to open at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14. Cascade Lakes Highway will open May 22, also at 8:00 a.m.

Deschutes County warns that there will still be significant snow on the side of the roads when they open and parking and access may be physically restricted. Travelers are also advised to contact individual resorts to verify availability of service

Current conditions at 8a.m. Century Dr. Mt Bachelor is reporting 8 new inches of snow.

 😎 Just sayin

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