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In this issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

 🥣 SOUPer Bowl Serves Up Flavor and Community Support in Bend

 🏨 Iconic Shilo Inn in Bend Hits Market for $14 M After Sudden Shutdown

 🔥 Redmond Begins Wildfire Mitigation in Dry Canyon Park

 🦌 Oregon Wildlife Officials on the Lookout for Chronic Wasting Disease

 📵 ODOT Warns of Scam Texts Pretending You Owe Money

🚒⛑Fire & Rescue News

 🚨 Lost Hikers Safely Rescued Near Green Lakes Trailhead

🚨Crime News

  🚨 Pedestrian Killed in Crash in Sisters; Driver Arrested

 🚓 Stolen Vehicle Crash Leads to Burglary Arrest in Redmond

🥰Community News

📰Regional News

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

💖Sponsors

😆Today’s Meme

GOOD MORNING

 BEND

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

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Local News…

 🥣 SOUPer Bowl Serves Up Flavor and Community Support in Bend

The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance’s annual SOUPer Bowl fundraiser brought flavor and friendly competition to Bend on Saturday, as over a dozen local restaurants—including returning champ Dear Mom—ladled out their best soups for a sold-out crowd. Guests voted for their “People’s Choice” winner, while a culinary panel featuring local food pros like Taste This host Emily Kirk chose a “Culinary Panel” favorite. One overall winner will take home the coveted trophy.

The event, which sold 400 tickets across two seatings, is HDFFA’s largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds support food access programs across Central Oregon. “Last year alone, we collected 34,000 pounds of produce for local food banks,” said HDFFA Executive Director Kristin Points. Raffles sweetened the day with prizes like Mt. Bachelor passes and Brasada Ranch getaways, making it a delicious win for everyone.

 🏨 Iconic Shilo Inn in Bend Hits Market for $14 M After Sudden Shutdown

The long-standing Shilo Inn hotel on Bend’s riverfront has abruptly closed its doors and is now up for sale with a $14 million asking price as part of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. The 7.5-acre property — one of three Oregon Shilo Inns locations recently shuttered — was quietly taken off booking listings after a sudden “temporary” closure, and bankruptcy attorneys are pushing for offers to be reviewed by mid-February. Prospective buyers will have a tight timeline to inspect the site and submit bids, with hopes the new owner can breathe fresh life into the locally familiar property.

Despite needing significant upgrades from leaky roofs to infrastructure fixes, the riverfront site is being marketed as having “good bones,” with real estate professionals emphasizing its potential. The sale marks a major shift for a fixture of Bend’s lodging scene and has stirred interest among investors and community watchers alike as the future of the hotel hangs in the balance.

 🔥 Redmond Begins Wildfire Mitigation in Dry Canyon Park

The city of Redmond is kicking off wildfire risk reduction work in Dry Canyon Park the week of February 9, using a roughly $750,000 grant from the Oregon Department of Forestry to help protect nearby homes, trails, and natural areas. Crews from the City Parks Division and Heart of Oregon Corps will thin vegetation, limb trees, remove deadfall, and mow and maintain wide firebreaks along key paths — efforts designed to slow potential wildfire spread through the canyon’s brush and forested sections.

Officials are scheduling the project during winter to limit environmental impact and help prevent the spread of invasive grasses in spring, and all active work areas will be temporarily closed for public safety. Redmond residents can check the city website for updates and details as the work progresses. (redmondoregon.gov)

 🦌 Oregon Wildlife Officials on the Lookout for Chronic Wasting Disease

Oregon wildlife managers are sounding the alarm about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) — a fatal, always-fatal neurological illness that affects deer, elk, and other cervids and has been confirmed in neighboring states like Idaho, Washington, and California. While no confirmed cases have yet been found in Oregon, officials say the disease continues to spread across North America and could eventually reach the state, making vigilance a top priority. Hunters are being urged to have any harvested deer or elk tested at check stations or through ODFW testing programs to help monitor and catch the disease early if it appears here. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

CWD is caused by misfolded proteins called prions that can linger in the environment and pass between animals long before symptoms like drastic weight loss and disorientation appear. There’s no cure, so prevention and early detection are key to protecting Oregon’s wildlife herds. Officials also warn against transporting certain animal parts from regions with confirmed CWD and encourage hunters to follow state guidelines to help keep the disease out of Oregon for as long as possible. (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife)

 📵 ODOT Warns of Scam Texts Pretending You Owe Money

Oregon officials are alerting residents to a new wave of phishing text scams falsely claiming to be from the Oregon Department of Transportation or Oregon DMV and insisting you owe money for an unpaid traffic fine or toll. These messages often use urgent language and phony links that may look official but are designed to steal your personal and financial information. Agencies say they will never request payment or sensitive details through unsolicited texts, emails, phone calls, or third-party websites. (GovDelivery)

To stay safe, don’t click any links, don’t respond, and delete suspicious messages immediately — you can even block the sender’s number. If you’ve clicked a link or shared info, secure your accounts and dispute unfamiliar charges with your bank, and consider filing a complaint with the Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection. For peace of mind, you can always verify communications by calling ODOT or DMV directly. (ktvz.com)

Fire & Rescue… 

🚨 Lost Hikers Safely Rescued Near Green Lakes Trailhead

Two young men, ages 18 and 20, were safely rescued Saturday evening after getting lost near the Green Lakes Trailhead off the Cascade Lakes Highway, just beyond Mt. Bachelor. Deschutes County 9-1-1 received the call around 6 p.m., prompting an immediate response from Deschutes County Search and Rescue volunteers, who deployed by snowmobile and snowshoes to reach the pair. Once located, volunteers provided warming supplies, checked for injuries, and safely transported the hikers back to their vehicle. No serious injuries were reported.

Officials say the incident is a reminder that winter conditions in the backcountry can change quickly. Anyone heading outdoors is urged to plan routes ahead of time, check the weather, dress for conditions, and carry a reliable way to contact emergency services. Deschutes County SAR also thanked its volunteers for their quick and effective response—and reminded recreationists to put safety first when exploring Central Oregon’s winter landscapes.

Crime News…

 🚨 Pedestrian Killed in Crash in Sisters; Driver Arrested

An 81-year-old Bend woman, Colleen Rose Greene, was fatally struck by a vehicle Friday evening, February 6, while crossing Cascade Avenue (Highway 20) in downtown Sisters. The crash occurred around 7:24 p.m. in front of Rancho Viejo. Greene was treated on scene and transported to St. Charles Bend, where she later died.

The driver, 21-year-old Emily Alexis Pickhard of La Pine, was arrested at the scene and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide, DUII, and Reckless Driving. The highway was closed for approximately 3.5 hours during the investigation. Authorities are asking any witnesses or those with photos or video to contact the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at (541) 693-6911.

 🚓 Stolen Vehicle Crash Leads to Burglary Arrest in Redmond

A stolen vehicle crash into a power pole early Sunday morning set off a chain of events that ended with an arrest in northwest Redmond, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were dispatched around 2:24 a.m. to NW Poplar Avenue after a vehicle struck a power pole, causing a power outage in the area. The vehicle was later confirmed to have been reported stolen, but an initial search did not locate a suspect.

Several hours later, around 9:32 a.m., a nearby homeowner reported a burglary after discovering a man asleep inside a motorhome parked within their shop. Deputies arrested 31-year-old Tucker Lee Tyree without incident. He was lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail on charges including a parole violation warrant, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and burglary. The response was assisted by the Oregon State Police and a K9 unit from the Bend Police Department.

Community News…

 Regional News…

City of Bend Events Here

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