In this issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

🍺🛍️Fresh Hops & Pop Up Shops - River’s Place

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🏥🤝St. Charles says it's reached deal to stay in-network with Cigna and Aetna

😊3-year-old boy reunites with AirLink medical team that saved his life

🐦‍🔥🤠Mountain View Roadhouse Moving Into Former Phoenix Space

🤠🍺New country bar with live music and bull riding coming to downtown Bend

😋🍴Zydeco Owners to Open Stacks Dinner and Delicatessen in the Old Mill District

🏫Powell Butte school remodels classroom with safety and budget in mind

🚒⛑Fire & Rescue News

🚨Crime News

🚨Traffic Stop in The Dalles Leads to Major Meth Seizure in Ongoing CODE Investigation

📰Regional News

📰Oregon’s Oldest Unidentified Person Case Reopened After 80 Years

🥰Community News

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🌃 Construction begins Sunday night on the Sisters Curb Ramps Project

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

💖Sponsors

😆Today’s Meme

🧠 Test your Central Oregon knowledge!

GOOD MORNING

 BEND

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

🌆 Bend

🧠 Trivia on the Moon; Silver Moon Brewing (24 NW Greenwood Ave); Games – Trivia; Thu Sep 25, 7:00–9:00 pm; Weekly pub trivia (teams up to 8)

🎸 MXPX with The Ataris; Century Center (70 SW Century Dr) presented by Volcanic Theatre Pub; Music (Punk Rock); Fri Sep 26, doors 6:00 pm, show ~7:00–11:00 pm; Nostalgia-packed punk bill outdoors at Century Center; volcanictheatre.com / tixr.com. volcanictheatre.com+2Tixr+2

🎶 If & When (Fresh Hops & Pop-Up Shops); River’s Place (787 NE Purcell Blvd); Music + Market; Sat Sep 27, 2:00–4:00 pm; Free folk duo set alongside fresh-hop flights and pop-up vendors; riversplacebend.com/live-music. The Source - Bend, Oregon+1

🌇 Redmond

🎭 Almost, Maine (by John Cariani); High Desert Music Hall (818 SW Forest Ave); Theatre; Thu Sep 25 (opening) through Oct 18, eve curtain times; Sweet, vignette-style comedy about love under the Northern Lights; hdmm redmond listing / Visit Redmond calendar. General Duffy’s Waterhole

📚 Annual Book Fest; High Desert Music Hall (818 SW Forest Ave); Art & Lit; Sat Sep 27, day; Community celebration of books and authors; Visit Redmond calendar. General Duffy’s Waterhole

🏔 Sisters

 🎼 Americana Song Academy (SFF Presents); Caldera Arts at Blue Lake (Sisters); Music – Workshops/Retreat; Mon–Thu Sep 22–25 (multi-day); Immersive songwriting & performance instruction with SFF artists; sistersfolkfest.org/asa. SFF+1

🎻 Sisters Folk Festival (Multiple Downtown Stages incl. Sisters Depot); Music – Festival; Fri–Sun Sep 26–28 (various set times); Town-wide roots/folk festival across seven stages; sistersfolkfest.org / Sisters Depot info. SFF+1

🏜 Madras

🐮 Cowdeo – Jefferson County Kids Rodeo; Jefferson County Event Complex (430 SW Fairgrounds Rd); Kid-Friendly – Rodeo; Sat Sep 27, Opening Ceremony 8:30 am, events 9:00 am–afternoon; Beloved youth rodeo with multiple divisions and events; jeffco.net/cowdeo. Jefferson County Oregon

🌲 La Pine / Sunriver

⛳️ Putt, Pints & Putters (Gray’s Trail); Sunriver Resort – Gray’s Trail; Fundraiser – Putting Challenge; Fri Sep 26, 9:00 am–3:00 pm; Benefit event with prizes on the putting course; organizer post. Instagram

🪗 Oktoberfest Accordion Performance; The Village at Sunriver; Music – Folk; Fri Sep 26, early afternoon (see calendar); Festive polka/folk set as part of Oktoberfest weekend; Village calendar. Village Properties at Sunriver

 🍺 Oktoberfest at SHARC; SHARC (57250 Overlook Rd, Sunriver); Festival – Food/Drink/Music; Sat Sep 27, 11:00 am–5:00 pm; German bites, beers, games & live music; sunriversharc.com / Event listing.

 🎵 Sleepless Truckers (Integrity Auto Services Concert Series); Wetlands Taphouse (51375 US-97); Music – Country/Rock; Sat Sep 27, 6:00–9:00 pm; Free outdoor concert on the Ed Staub & Sons Stage; VisitCentralOregon/Wetlands. Visit Central Oregon+1

🍔 Grange Open Door Day + Free Community BBQ; La Pine Grange Hall; Community – Open House; Sat Sep 27, 10:00 am–2:00 pm; Meet neighbors, learn about classes, and grab a free BBQ lunch; lapinegrange.org. La Pine Grange

📍 Prineville

🎸 Sleepless Truckers; Initiative Brewing – The Station (Prineville); Music – Country/Americana; Thu Sep 25, evening (start ~6:00 pm); Free outdoor set from regional favorites; Shazam concert listing. Shazam

 🐕‍🦺 Mt. Bachelor Kennel Club Agility Trials; Crook County Fairgrounds (1280 Main St); Sports – Dog Agility; Fri–Sun Sep 26–28, daytimes; Regional agility competition, spectators welcome; fairgrounds calendar.

🌙 High Desert Moonfest (Art + Market + Music); Pioneer Park (Prineville); Festival – Art/Music/Market; Sat Sep 27, 12:00–8:00 pm; Local vendors, food, and live tunes under early-fall skies; vendor/organizer listings.

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Local News…

St. Charles says it's reached deal to stay in-network with Cigna and Aetna

St. Charles Health System announced Tuesday it has come to an agreement to remain in-network for elective services for patients with Cigna and Aetna insurance. St. Charles and Cigna were set to cut ties at the end of September.

The announcement means 12,500 patients patients will remain in-network at St. Charles.

Here is the announcement from St. Charles:

Today, St. Charles Health System is announcing contract agreements with two insurance providers - Aetna and Cigna - that address concerns about denials, inefficiencies and administrative burden and will allow patients using those insurance plans to remain in-network for elective services at St. Charles facilities. 

“For the past several years, St. Charles has asked insurance companies to work with us to address concerns about coverage denials for medical treatments, increasing administrative burdens for our care teams, inefficiencies and delays in patient care,” said Matt Swafford, Chief Financial Officer for St. Charles. “Though not perfect, both contracts with Aetna and with Cigna include elements that better address these issues. We will remain in-network for both insurance companies.” 

The contract with Aetna was resolved recently and Aetna estimates it covers about 7,500 people in Central Oregon. The contract with Cigna was set to expire on Sept. 30, which would have affected about 5,000 patients. 

“We understand that some individuals were concerned about potentially losing or having to switch coverage, and that’s a worry we take seriously,” Swafford said. “We are moving ahead with these newly negotiated agreements because we believe it is in the best interest of patients and for preserving health care access in Central Oregon.” 

Mountain View Roadhouse Moving Into Former Phoenix Space

The former Phoenix building on Bend’s east side is about to see new life. The space is being transformed into Mountain View Roadhouse, a new restaurant and bar from the owners of Timbers East in Bend and Chambers Bar & Grill in Eugene.

The project has generated buzz not just for the fresh dining option, but also because it marks a return to the building’s roots — decades ago, this very spot operated as a roadhouse. Locals are already speculating about the menu and atmosphere, with expectations leaning toward hearty, roadhouse-style fare and a lively gathering space.

While an official opening date and details on the menu have not yet been released, renovations are underway and excitement is growing for the latest addition to Bend’s dining scene.

New country bar with live music and bull riding coming to downtown Bend

A new country bar will soon open in the heart of Bend.

The Coyote Bar, opening at the site of the former Original Logging Co. on the corner of NW Harriman Street and Greenwood Avenue, will have line dancing, live music and even a mechanical bull. There will also be two VIP areas for bachelor or bachelorette parties.

The owners are hoping to bring a vibe similar to downtown Nashville or Scottsdale, Arizona. They are aiming to open the weekend of Oct. 11-12.

Zydeco Owners to Open Stacks Dinner and Delicatessen in the Old Mill District

The team behind one of Bend’s most beloved restaurants is cooking up something new. Cheri and Steve Helt, owners of Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktails, are opening Stacks Dinner and Delicatessen in the Old Mill District, aiming to launch before the holidays. Located in the former Gap Kids space on Center Plaza, Stacks will offer a modern twist on the classic New York-style deli, blending house-cured meats and fresh Pacific Northwest ingredients with dine-in, patio, and grab-and-go options. Chef Eric Joppie will lead the kitchen, serving up dishes like in-house pastrami, beet-cured lox, rotisserie meats, latkes, and a selection of artisan cheeses and pickles by the pound.

The restaurant promises to be more than just a sandwich stop — with riverfront views, a stylish setting, and an upscale yet casual menu, Stacks is designed to be a lively gathering place for locals and visitors alike. As construction wraps up, the Helts are grateful for the work of local tradespeople helping bring their long-envisioned project to life. The opening marks a new chapter for the couple, who recently celebrated 20 years of Zydeco and were featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. You can follow their progress on Instagram and Facebook at @stacksdinneranddelicatessen.

Powell Butte school remodels classroom with safety and budget in mind

Powell Butte Community Charter School has just seen some major upgrades.

The first grade classroom has been remodeled with a new roof, windows, and flooring. The new flooring in place is designed to be as quiet as possible to walk on. It’s also easy to repair and durable.

The administrator at the K-8 charter school says the remodel will add years of life to the classroom. The renovations were designed with student safety and a tight budget in mind.

“That’s kind of the Powell Butte way. This old building is a model of that. We want things to last, we want things to be very functional. We’re pretty pragmatic around here. We know that our students and staff deserve everything that everyone else has. We want things to look nice but we do really care about that dollar going far and we want things to last," said Meridith Foley, school administrator.

The charter school is hoping to eventually secure funding to get rid of modular classrooms and bring all students into one building.

Fire & Rescue…

Crime News…

Traffic Stop in The Dalles Leads to Major Meth Seizure in Ongoing CODE Investigation

A long-term investigation by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team culminated on Friday, September 19, with the arrest of 48-year-old Jefferson County resident Theodore Ernest Jokinen and the seizure of approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Jokinen was reportedly transporting the drugs from Washington to Central Oregon for distribution in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties. He was stopped on I-84 near milepost 85 in The Dalles after officers observed traffic violations. A drug-sniffing K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting a judge-approved search warrant and subsequent discovery of the meth.

Jokinen was lodged at the Wasco County Jail and faces charges of unlawful delivery and possession of methamphetamine. The CODE Team was assisted by The Dalles Police Department, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and the Mid Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force. This multi-agency task force is part of the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program, which works to dismantle drug trafficking organizations throughout the region.

Regional News…

Oregon’s Oldest Unidentified Person Case Reopened After 80 Years

The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office has exhumed the remains of “Oak Grove Jane Doe,” the victim in Oregon’s oldest unidentified person case, in hopes of finally putting a name to the nearly 80-year-old mystery. The woman’s partial remains were first discovered in April 1946 in a burlap sack in the Willamette River near Oak Grove, with more found in the following months around Willamette Falls and the Clackamas River. Investigators at the time determined she was a petite white woman between 30 and 50 years old who died from blunt-force trauma before her body was dismembered and discarded. Despite national attention, her identity was never confirmed, and in the 1950s much of the case evidence vanished, stalling progress for decades.

Now, nearly eight decades later, modern forensic science could succeed where earlier investigations could not. Working with Clackamas County officials and Mountain View Cemetery, the Medical Examiner’s Office recovered the long-buried remains for advanced DNA and forensic analysis. “For decades, this case was presumed impossible to resolve, and now we are hopeful we can restore this victim’s name and return her identity to history,” said State Forensic Anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder.

Community News…

 City of Bend Events

Construction begins Sunday night on the Sisters Curb Ramps Project

Expect nighttime lane closures and construction noise in Sisters 

Sept. 23, 2025

SISTERS, OR - Crews will soon begin upgrading curb ramps to meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards at several locations on U.S. 20 in Sisters. These improvements are part of the Bend and Sisters Curb Ramps Project.

Construction is scheduled to begin the evening of Sunday, September 28, starting with curb ramps at West Rail Way and Barclay Drive. Work will take place overnight between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. to help reduce traffic delays during the day. During this construction hours, nearby residents and businesses may notice overnight construction noise and temporary lane restrictions.

We encourage community members to visit our website for more information and to sign up for weekly updates on construction activity.

We understand that construction can be inconvenient and appreciate your patience as we work to make our transportation system safer and more accessible for everyone.

 😎Just sayin

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