Central Oregon's Latest: Accidents, Closures, and Wins From the Editor Welcome to this edition of Central Oregon Local Buzz. This week, we cover a series of noteworthy events and incidents, beginning with first responders in Bend rapidly addressing a vehicle rollover on NE 3rd Street. Other stories include the tragic death of a Redmond woman in a Highway 97 crash, the rescue of a stranded dog by Bend firefighters, and growing concerns over rodent poison following the discovery of dead raptors. We also report on the closure of Juniper Ridge Camp, the passing of a Redmond firefighter after a leukemia battle, and La Pine's completion of a major water and sewer system upgrade. Additional topics include the approaching deadline for the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund, significant job cuts at PacificSource, ongoing road work in Bend, a Prineville resident's lottery win, damage affecting Pine Mountain Observatory, an opportunity to meet Madras city administrator finalists, and a close encounter with a black bear near Bend. ⛑️Fire & Rescue News 🚗 Vehicle Rolls Over on NE 3rd Street in Bend Emergency crews responded to a rollover crash at the intersection of NE 3rd Street and NE Marshall Avenue in Bend around noon on Monday. Bend Police and Bend Fire & Rescue arrived to find a vehicle overturned in the roadway, prompting a temporary response and traffic impacts in the area.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the crash. Details about what caused the rollover have not yet been released, and officials worked to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow shortly after the incident. Read more →
🚨 Redmond Woman Dies Following Highway 97 Crash Near Peter Skene Ogden Rest Area An 82-year-old Redmond woman died following a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon on Highway 97 near the Peter Skene Ogden Rest Area in Deschutes County. According to Oregon State Police, the crash occurred around 12:44 p.m. when a northbound Nissan Titan attempted to turn left into the rest area and was struck by a southbound Honda Passport after failing to yield to oncoming traffic.
Mary Lou Dooms, a passenger in the Nissan, was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries and later died. The driver of the Nissan, Thomas Dooms, 64, of Redmond, was also seriously injured and taken to the hospital. Two passengers in the Honda sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver was reportedly unharmed. Highway 97 was impacted for approximately three hours as emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene. Read more →
🐕 Bend Firefighters Rescue Stranded Dog From Cliffside A Bend dog named Maverick is safely back home after a weekend adventure ended with a dramatic cliffside rescue. According to Bend Fire & Rescue, Maverick's leash broke during a walk, and despite an overnight search by his owner, the dog remained missing until he was spotted perched on a narrow ledge the following day.
Firefighters responded and located Maverick tucked into a recessed area on a steep cliff, making him difficult to see and challenging to reach. Using a high-angle rope rescue system, a firefighter was lowered to the stranded dog, secured him with a leash, and carefully coaxed him from the ledge. Maverick was able to scramble safely back to the top without injury. Bend Fire & Rescue said the rescue provided valuable training for crews and highlighted the department's commitment to helping all members of the community — including the four-legged ones. Read more → ⛰️Bend 🦉 Dead Raptors Raise Concerns About Rodent Poison Use in Bend A Bend resident's discovery of multiple dead birds of prey has sparked concerns about the potential impacts of rodenticides on local wildlife. Jim Winkle found a dead Great Horned Owl in his yard in December, followed by a dead Cooper's Hawk a month later. After reporting the incidents, neighbors began sharing similar reports, and several rodent bait boxes were reportedly found nearby, raising questions about whether secondary poisoning may be affecting local raptor populations.
Wildlife experts say birds of prey can be exposed to rodenticides when they consume poisoned rodents. Because raptors may eat several rodents each day, toxins can accumulate in their systems over time. While it can be difficult to confirm poisoning as the cause of death, organizations such as Think Wild encourage residents to consider alternatives, including snap traps or wildlife-friendly rodent control methods. The nonprofit also offers raptor perch installations, which help attract natural predators that can assist with rodent management without the use of poison. Read more →
🏕️ Juniper Ridge Camp Closure Creates Uncertainty for Residents The City of Bend has officially closed one half of the Juniper Ridge Safe Stay Area, commonly known as "Dirt World," requiring residents living in the restricted section to relocate to the remaining approved camping area. City code enforcement staff have been assisting some residents with moving belongings, but many say the transition has been difficult, particularly for those with disabilities, health issues, or limited transportation options.
The partial closure is part of the city's plan to eventually shut down the entire Juniper Ridge site by June 30, 2027. Residents expressed concerns about losing pets, accessing belongings left behind, and finding alternative places to live once the site closes completely. While some are exploring housing options in Bend or neighboring communities, many say they remain uncertain about where they will go next and are hoping city leaders will better understand the challenges faced by those living at the camp. Read more → ✈️Redmond 🕊️ Redmond Firefighter Dies After Battle With Leukemia Redmond Fire & Rescue is mourning the loss of Firefighter-Paramedic Michael Kienzle, who passed away Sunday at the age of 30 following a battle with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. According to the department, Kienzle was surrounded by family and close friends when he passed. His death came just one day after his wife, Lisa, helped lead the Caldera High School softball team to its first-ever state championship.
Kienzle began his firefighting career as a volunteer in Corvallis in 2015 before becoming a full-time firefighter in 2019. He joined Redmond Fire & Rescue in 2024. Diagnosed in early 2025 with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia after initially seeking treatment for what appeared to be a respiratory illness, Kienzle faced months of intensive treatment with determination and courage. He is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their son, Logan. To honor his memory and raise awareness, Redmond Fire & Rescue will host community blood drives on July 24 and September 22 at the Redmond Fire Station on NW Dogwood Avenue. Read more → 🌞La Pine/Sunriver 💧 La Pine Completes $34 Million Water and Sewer System Upgrade After nearly a decade of work, the City of La Pine has completed a major overhaul of its water and wastewater infrastructure, a project totaling more than $34 million. City, state, and federal officials celebrated the milestone Tuesday, noting the improvements will help protect groundwater quality, improve public safety, and support future growth throughout the community. Funding came largely from grants and loans provided through the USDA Rural Development program, along with support from state and federal partners.
The project connected approximately 300 homes to reliable municipal water and sewer services, reducing concerns about private well contamination and protecting the region's shallow groundwater table. Improvements also included more than 150 new fire hydrants, expanded water storage capacity with a new 500,000-gallon tank, upgraded distribution and sewer lines, and nearly 40 million gallons of additional septage treatment capacity. City leaders say the upgrades will improve reliability for residents while providing critical infrastructure needed for continued residential and economic growth in La Pine and surrounding rural communities. Read more → 🏘️Real Estate 🏠 Deadline Nears for Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund Applications Oregon homeowners facing foreclosure may have only a short time left to apply for assistance through the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), a federal relief program administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services. The program can provide eligible homeowners with up to $50,000 in mortgage assistance paid directly to their loan servicer, helping households avoid foreclosure and remain in their homes. Applicants generally must be significantly behind on mortgage payments and meet income and hardship requirements.
State officials are encouraging homeowners who may qualify to act quickly, as funding is limited and the program is expected to wind down as remaining funds are allocated. Housing counselors are available to help residents determine eligibility and complete applications. Homeowners concerned about falling behind on mortgage payments are encouraged to seek assistance as soon as possible rather than waiting until foreclosure proceedings advance. Read more → 📍Regional News 💼 PacificSource Announces 130 Job Cuts Amid Industry Challenges Oregon-based PacificSource Health Plans is laying off 130 employees as the company responds to what it describes as increasingly unsustainable conditions in the health insurance market. Company officials said the workforce reduction is part of broader structural changes driven by rising health care costs and ongoing financial pressures. PacificSource has not yet disclosed which offices or regions will be affected by the layoffs, including whether positions in Central Oregon will be impacted.
The announcement follows several recent changes for the insurer, including its withdrawal from the Montana insurance market and its exit from the individual health insurance market. The move also comes just weeks after Providence Health revealed plans to leave the insurance business altogether, a decision expected to affect more than 400,000 Oregon policyholders. PacificSource says it remains committed to serving its members while adapting to challenging market conditions. Read more → Thank you for joining us on this issue of Central Oregon Local Buzz. We hope these updates keep you informed and connected to the community. Stay tuned for more local news and happenings in our future editions. | 
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