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Central Oregon Local Buzz | Central Oregon Local Buzz May 13, 2026 | Bend Celebrates Culture Amid Busy Season Ahead From the Editor Stay informed with Central Oregon Local Buzz. This issue covers the recent fire that destroyed an RV in Prineville, new roundabout construction on NE Wells Acres Road in Bend, and the official opening of Bend’s Central Library. Check out the LEGO Landmark contest at the Deschutes Historical Museum and the Newberry Volcano Arts and Culture Celebration. Discover the Base Camp's new food truck lineup, BLM's campfire restrictions, and the proposed La Pine data center facing opposition. Also, USFS gears up for an active wildfire season. ⛑️Fire & Rescue News 🔥 RV Destroyed in Prineville Fire Sunday Evening An RV parked in the 1900 block of NW Industrial Park Road in Prineville was destroyed in a fire Sunday evening, according to Crook County Fire and Rescue. Crews were dispatched around 5:36 p.m. on May 10 and were able to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby structures.
One person was staying inside the RV at the time of the fire but was not injured. Officials say the RV was a total loss, and the fire was determined to be accidental, likely caused by a failed plug strip inside the vehicle. Crook County Sheriff's Office and Prineville Police Department also assisted at the scene. ⛰️Bend 🚧 Roundabout Construction Begins on NE Wells Acres Road in Bend A new roundabout project at NE Wells Acres Road and Butler Market Road is now underway in northeast Bend, bringing traffic changes expected to last about three months. The work began Monday and includes the closure of part of Wells Acres Road at Butler Market as crews continue a larger safety and infrastructure improvement project in the area.
Drivers who normally use the intersection are being detoured to Purcell Boulevard. The project is designed to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety while also replacing a sewer main along Butler Market Road. Officials say the intersection has become increasingly difficult for drivers attempting left turns as northeast Bend continues to grow. Westbound Butler Market Road remains closed between Brinson Boulevard and Broken Bow Drive, though eastbound traffic is still allowed through. Full completion of the overall project is expected this fall. Read more →
🧱 Deschutes Historical Museum Launches LEGO Landmark Contest The Deschutes Historical Museum is inviting Central Oregonians to put their creativity on display with a new LEGO Landmark Contest celebrating iconic local locations and history. Community members are encouraged to build recognizable Central Oregon landmarks out of LEGO bricks, with entries set to be displayed at the museum this summer.
The contest is open to a variety of age groups and aims to highlight the region’s history through hands-on creativity and imagination. Organizers say submissions can range from famous buildings and natural landmarks to historic sites tied to Central Oregon’s past. Winners will be selected in multiple categories, and selected builds will become part of a public exhibit at the museum. Read more →
📚 Bend’s Massive New Central Library Officially Opens The new Deschutes Public Library Central Library has officially opened in southeast Bend, bringing a massive new community hub to the Stevens Ranch area near Reed Market Road and SE 27th Street. The three-story, 100,000-square-foot facility opened May 11 and is now the largest library branch in the county system, featuring expanded collections, maker spaces, study rooms, coworking areas, children’s discovery spaces, outdoor patios and even a Thump Coffee café inside the lobby.
The project was funded through the voter-approved 2020 library bond and represents more than $135 million in construction costs. Officials say the new library was intentionally placed in one of Bend’s fastest-growing areas and is designed as an all-electric, net-zero facility built to LEED Platinum sustainability standards. The opening also comes as the Downtown Bend Library undergoes a major remodel expected to continue into 2027. Read more →
🍔 Base Camp Reveals 12 Food Trucks Joining New West Bend Food Cart Hub A new food truck lot and event space coming to Bend’s west side has announced the lineup of vendors set to open this June. The new Base Camp development, located next to Powder House Ski & Patio, will feature a wide variety of food options including smashburgers, sushi, Thai street food, pizza, ceviche, Italian comfort food, tacos, coffee and pho.
Food trucks joining the lineup include Midcity Smashburger, Luckey’s Woodsman Trailside Kitchen, Let’s Roll, Jazzy Joe Coffee Co., Chonie’s Pizza, Mundrelli’s Italian Kitchen, ThAiPAS Thai Street Food, P53 Fresh, Pho 88, I Love Ceviche, Love Italian Comfort Kitchen and El Taquero. The new venue will also feature a 7,000-square-foot indoor building, 5,000 square feet of outdoor space, a covered heated patio, 36 taps, a full bar, private event space, an 18-foot projector screen and a sports watch hub focused on Pacific Northwest teams. An official opening date has not yet been announced.
Read more → 🐎Prineville 🔥 BLM Announces Campfire Restrictions Across Central Oregon New seasonal fire restrictions are taking effect across Central Oregon as officials prepare for what could become a severe wildfire season. The Bureau of Land Management announced annual campfire restrictions beginning May 13 and 14 on certain BLM-managed lands throughout the region, including areas overseen by the Prineville District. Restrictions include bans on fireworks, exploding targets, tracer ammunition, sky lanterns and other fire-starting materials.
Fire officials say the restrictions come amid unusually dry conditions, low snowpack and growing concerns that the 2026 wildfire season could rival some of the worst on record in the Pacific Northwest. Violators could face steep fines and even jail time, while anyone responsible for starting a wildfire may also be billed for suppression costs. Residents and recreationists are encouraged to check current restrictions before heading outdoors as conditions continue changing rapidly across Central Oregon. Read more → 🌞La Pine/Sunriver ⚡ Proposed La Pine Data Center Drawing Growing Community Opposition City leaders in La Pine confirmed discussions are underway for a proposed 20-megawatt data center in the city’s industrial area off Reed Road, but the project is already facing backlash from some residents ahead of Wednesday night’s city council meeting. Developer BoxMiner presented plans to the council in March, outlining a closed-loop cooling system designed to reduce water use and wastewater discharge. The council later voted unanimously to continue discussions surrounding a possible land sale, though officials emphasized the vote was non-binding and no final agreement has been approved.
Supporters say the project could bring franchise fee revenue, property taxes, internships for La Pine High School students and future jobs to the area. However, opposition group “Say No to the La Pine Data Center” argues the proposed cooling technology lacks a proven track record and could dramatically increase energy demands. Meeting minutes also show questions were raised about inconsistent financial projections and whether Midstate Electric could support a potential future expansion to 100 megawatts. A protest is expected during Wednesday’s 5:30 p.m. meeting at La Pine City Hall. Read more → | |
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The Biggest Art Auction Month of 2026 Opens This Week. Why 71,105 Investors Are Watching Closely.
Sotheby's and Christie's open their New York spring sales this month. High auction house estimates have $45 million for a Basquiat. $70 million for a Rothko. $100 million on a Pollock at Christie's.
This is coming off the heels of a US art market that grew 23% in Q1 2026 over the same period last year. Sotheby’s ended 2025 with 17% year-over-year growth. Their CEO called last year's bidder demand "the highest we have ever experienced."
The people filling those auction rooms are billionaires, family offices, institutional collectors -- they've held blue-chip art through various market cycles.
71,000+ investors are now in the same market through Masterworks. Former Sotheby's and Christie's specialists on the acquisition committee. 29 exits to-date and $68M in distributions back, including amount invested, from their 525+ works offered. Net annualized returns like 16.5%, 17.6%, and 17.8%, not including those unsold.
Investing involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. See important disclosures at masterworks.com/cd.
Road Construction Information
BendRedmond | Deschutes CountyOregon Department of Transportation Region 4 |
One More thing…
🍻 Happy hour hunters, this one’s for you.
A new app called Happy Hour Radar is helping Central Oregonians track down the best food and drink specials across the region — all in one place. From Bend breweries and Redmond tap houses to cocktail spots in Sisters and beyond, the app makes it easy to discover what’s happening nearby in real time.
Browse active happy hours, search by drinks or food specials, save your favorite spots, and even coordinate meetups with friends. Coverage already includes Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, and more, with new deals and locations being added regularly.
📱 Available now for both iPhone and Android.
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