In this issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 What’s Up Central Oregon?

 🌼 30th Annual High Desert Garden Tour - July 19th

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

✈️Breeze Airways to Begin Service in Redmond-Bend

👮Madras Police Chief Tim Plummer fired following heated city council meeting

🦫🧮OSU–Cascades to Launch New Bachelor’s in Accountancy

🚴‍♂️High Cascades 100 Hits the Trails This Saturday

 🚒⛑Fire & Rescue News

🔥🚙RV Fire Contained in Juniper Ridge Thanks to Quick Response and Fire Prevention Efforts

🚙🔥Woman Arrested for Arson After Fire Destroys Two Trailers in Redmond RV Park

🚨Crime News

📰Regional News

🥰Community News

🍰What you need to know about the Deschutes County Fair baking contest

📆City of Bend Calendar of Events

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥Central Oregon Fire Info

🏘️Real Estate News

🏘️📊 Central Oregon Market Report by Reed Melton

🏡 Tour of Homes Continues This Weekend!

🏬Old Mill District to Expand with New Buildings and Apartments

💖Sponsors

😆Today’s Meme

✅ Correct Answer: C) Deschutes River

🌊 Expanded Answer:
The Deschutes River is one of the rare rivers that flows northward, winding its way from the Cascade Mountains through Central Oregon and eventually joining the Columbia River. This unique flow pattern, combined with the river’s historical role in irrigation and transportation, makes it a vital part of the region’s identity.

Good Morning

 BEND

SISTERS

REDMOND

What’s Up Central Oregon? 

Featured Events 

July 11-13 & July 18-20

Fridays: 12:00pm–6:00pm
Saturdays & Sundays: 10:00am–5:00pm

Free Event – Open to the Public

Central Oregon’s best in home design, featuring stunning craftsmanship and innovative ideas from top local builders & their teams of subcontractors and suppliers.

🌼 30th Annual High Desert Garden Tour

Get ready to explore six beautiful private gardens across Bend during this self-guided tour celebrating 30 years of high desert gardening inspiration! 🌿

🗓 Saturday, July 19
⏰ 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Various locations around Bend
🎟 $15/person (18 & under free)
🔗 Full Details & Tickets
📞 Info: 541-548-6088

Presented by OSU Extension & Master Gardeners, this is a must-attend for garden lovers, designers, and anyone who enjoys a summer day among blooms and beauty!

📅 Events: July 14 - 20, 2025 - Bend

🌱 30th Annual High Desert Garden Tour
📍 Bend, OR
🗓️ Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly / Garden
Explore six stunning private gardens showcasing sustainable high-desert landscaping guided by OSU Master Gardeners. 🔗 More Info & Tickets (Cascade Business News)

🥍 Oregon Lacrosse Classic
📍 Multiple Locations (Pine Nursery Park & Big Sky Park)
🗓️ Friday–Sunday, July 18–20, 2025 | All Day
🏟️ Sports / Tournament
Regional youth lacrosse tournament featuring boys and girls divisions across two premier community parks. 🔗 Details & Schedule (Adrenaline Lacrosse)

🎵 The Fretliners
📍 Tower Theatre
🗓️ Sunday, July 20, 2025 | 7:30 PM
🎶 Live Music / Bluegrass
Catch the high-energy bluegrass sextet The Fretliners for a night of soaring fiddles and foot-stomping rhythms. 🔗 Tickets & Info (towertheatre.org)

🛍️ NWX Saturday Farmers Market
📍 NorthWest Crossing Saturday Farmers Market
🗓️ Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 10 AM – 2 PM
🛒 Family-Friendly / Market
Discover fresh produce, artisan goods, and local vendors in the vibrant NorthWest Crossing neighborhood. 🔗 More Info (allevents.in)

📅 Events: July 14 - 20, 2025 – Redmond & Nearby

 🎪 Crooked River Ranch Summer Recreation Program
📍 Crooked River Ranch Clubhouse
🗓️ Mon–Fri, July 14–18 | 9:00 AM – 11:45 AM
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-Friendly / Youth Camp
A week‐long rec program offering arts, outdoor games, and swimming for kids (ages 6–12). Limited spots—register early! 🔗 Details & Registration (Crooked River Ranch OR)

🎸 Live at the Vineyard: The Sound of Sidney
📍 Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards
🗓️ Friday, July 18 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
🎵 Live Music / Blues Rock
Experience rock & soul folk fusion under the stars—enjoy signature vineyard wines and vibrant tunes. 🔗 RSVP & Tickets (Faith, Hope, Charity)

🛒 Redmond Farmers Market
📍 Centennial Park
🗓️ Friday, July 18 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
🌽 Family-Friendly / Market
Pick up farm‐fresh produce, artisan foods, and crafts—live music kicks off at 5 PM! 🔗 Vendor & Music Lineup (Redmond Oregon Farmers Market, Visit Redmond Oregon)

🎡 FairWell Festival
📍 Deschutes County Fairgrounds
🗓️ Fri–Sat, July 18–19 | All Day
🎵 Festival / Country Music
Country music’s biggest names descend on Redmond—Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Tanya Tucker & more. 🔗 Lineup & Tickets (fairwellfestival.com, People.com)

🌄 Events: July 14-20, 2025 - Sisters

🧘 Creekside Yoga
📍 The Suttle Lodge
🗓️ Friday, July 18, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
🧘 Wellness
Wind down your week with grounding outdoor yoga steps from the lodge, taught by Ulla Lundgren. 🔗 More Info

🎸 Pendleton Hwy at Hardtails Free Concert Series
📍 Hardtails Bar & Grill
🗓️ Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
🎶 Live Music
Enjoy Americana-tinged country rock under the stars with Pendleton Hwy. 🔗 More Info

🛒 Sisters Farmers Market
📍 Fir Street Park
🗓️ Sunday, July 20, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🛒 Farmers Market / Family-Friendly
Browse fresh local produce, artisan goods, live music, and weekly kids’ activities at this vibrant community market. 🔗 More Info

🌲 Events: July 14–20, 2025 – Sunriver & La Pine

 🌱 Summer Nature Camp: Wildlife Wonders
📍 Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory
🗓️ Mon–Fri, July 14–18, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🐾 Family-Friendly / Nature Education
Dive into a week of games, hikes, and hands-on activities exploring Sunriver’s native flora and fauna. 🔗 More Info & Registration (snco.org)

🎤 Sunriver Resort Summer Concert Series
📍 The Backyard at The Lodge at Sunriver Resort
🗓️ Friday, July 18, 2025 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
🎵 Live Music
Local musicians rock the stage every Friday night—pack a picnic and enjoy free tunes by the lake. 🔗 More Info (sunriverresort.com)

🔭 In-Depth Observatory Nighttime Visit
📍 Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory
🗓️ Sunday, July 20, 2025 | 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
🌌 Astronomy / Tours
Gaze at the cosmos through high-powered telescopes, enjoy an educational presentation, and embark on a guided constellation tour. 🔗 Tickets & Info (village-properties.com)

🐴 Events: July 14–20, 2025 – Prineville, OR

🛍️ CROP Farmers Market
📍 Stryker Park (NE 4th & Elm)
🗓️ Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
🥕 Farmers Market / Family-Friendly
Browse fresh produce, artisan foods, and handmade crafts from local vendors at Prineville’s weekly market. 🔗 More Info (Crop)

📚 Third Saturday Book Sale
📍 Crook County Library
🗓️ Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📖 Community / Fundraiser
Fill a $5 bag with books at the Friends of the Library sale—the perfect chance to support library programs and discover great reads. 🔗 More Info (Central Oregonian)

🛍️ Events: July 14-20, 2025 Madras

🛒 Madras Saturday Market
📍 Sahalee Park
🗓️ Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🛒 Farmers Market / Family-Friendly
Mark your calendar for a vibrant open-air market beneath the shade of Sahalee Park’s trees—fresh produce, berries, honey, eggs, teas, soaps, and one-of-a-kind artisan goods from Central Oregon vendors. 🔗 More Info (Madras Saturday Market, Travel Oregon)

🛩️ Erickson Aircraft Collection Public Tours
📍 Erickson Aircraft Collection
🗓️ Tuesday–Sunday, July 14–20, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
🛫 Museum / Tours
Step inside a World War II aviation museum at Madras Municipal Airport to see restored warbirds—the P-38 Lightning, P-51 Mustang, B-17 Flying Fortress—and more, all lovingly maintained in flying condition. 🔗 More Info (en.wikipedia.org, Travel Oregon)

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Local News…

Breeze Airways to Begin Service in Redmond-Bend

Central Oregon Daily News announced on X that Breeze Airways will launch nonstop service from Redmond-Bend to Las Vegas, Burbank and BreezeThru one-stop service to Provo-Salt Lake City starting March 13, 2026, with fares from $49 one-way on Mondays and Fridays. The airline’s Airbus A220 aircraft will offer premium seating, fast onboard Wi-Fi and power at every seat—bringing Seriously Nice service to Central Oregon travelers.

Madras Police Chief Tim Plummer fired following heated city council meeting

Madras City Council voted 4–1 on Wednesday to relieve Police Chief Tim Plummer of his duties following a closed‐door session and a sharply contested public hearing. Only Councilor Whitney Bell opposed the move, as the other members sided with City Manager Wil Ibershof’s recommendation, which cited persistent leadership and accountability concerns—among them dropped criminal charges and unmet performance benchmarks flagged in Plummer’s March review and a follow-up memo. During the hearing, Plummer accused Ibershof of retaliating against him for filing HR complaints on behalf of his staff and criticized the city manager’s conduct and temper. With Plummer’s departure effective immediately, the council has begun the search for a successor. When asked afterward how he’d respond, Plummer quipped that he planned to “go fishing,” though he acknowledged he has other options. Central Oregon Daily News

OSU–Cascades to Launch New Bachelor’s in Accountancy

Oregon State University–Cascades will offer a bachelor’s degree in accountancy starting this fall to address a statewide shortage of CPAs. The program, led by Associate Professor Logan Steele, is backed by a new $1 million needs-based scholarship fund and aims to prepare graduates for a projected 1,300 annual openings for accountants and auditors in Oregon through 2032.

High Cascades 100 Hits the Trails This Saturday

One of Central Oregon’s toughest and most iconic endurance races returns this Saturday, July 19th. The High Cascades 100 challenges mountain bikers to complete a 100-mile course featuring nearly 10,000 feet of elevation gain and roughly 70% singletrack—all set against the scenic backdrop west of Bend.

Now in its 17th year, the race starts bright and early at 5:30am from the Athletic Club of Bend and draws riders from across the country. With over 80 volunteers, multiple fully stocked aid stations, and mechanical support along the course, riders are well-supported as they push their limits.

The High Cascades 100 is part of the National Ultra Endurance Series and known for its demanding terrain, strong community vibe, and high finish rate—typically between 85–89%. Top riders will compete for a share of $4,000 in prize money, while everyone gets to celebrate the effort with food, drinks, and post-race camaraderie.

Spectators are welcome to cheer along the route or at the finish line. Whether you're racing or just watching, this is a true Bend summer classic.

More Info

 Fire & Rescue…

RV Fire Contained in Juniper Ridge Thanks to Quick Response and Fire Prevention Efforts

BEND, Ore. – A fast-moving RV fire broke out Tuesday afternoon in the Juniper Ridge area, prompting a rapid multi-agency response that helped prevent a potentially larger brush fire.

Bend Fire & Rescue responded just after 2:30 p.m. to the area east of Highway 97 near Wiley Circle (MP133), where Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies arrived first and found a camper and nearby vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The fire had already started to spread into the surrounding grass, but neighboring campers acted quickly, using shovels to slow the flames until fire crews arrived.

Firefighters were on scene within eight minutes and managed to contain the RV fire quickly, preventing further spread despite temperatures in the upper 80s and winds between 6–13 mph. The RV and car were both destroyed, and one dog tragically perished in the fire. The surrounding brush fire was held to under a quarter acre.

Cloverdale Fire District provided a water tender—initially misidentified as Redmond Fire during interviews—and the U.S. Forest Service supplied an engine crew that removed burning juniper trees that posed a rekindling hazard.

Fire prevention work on city and county-owned land in Juniper Ridge played a key role in keeping the brush fire from spreading. This past winter, crews had trimmed lower branches and thinned out brush in the area. As a result, flames were largely prevented from moving from grass into the trees, and most of the fire damage remained concentrated near the RV.

Bend Fire & Rescue and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire. Crews plan to monitor the site over the coming days due to ongoing hot and breezy conditions that could reignite smoldering hotspots.

Woman Arrested for Arson After Fire Destroys Two Trailers in Redmond RV Park

REDMOND, Ore. – A devastating fire at Green Acres RV Park just south of Redmond was determined to be arson, and a woman has been arrested in connection with the blaze that destroyed two trailers and claimed the life of a small dog.

The fire broke out just before noon on Wednesday near Tomahawk Avenue. When Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found one trailer fully engulfed in flames, with fire quickly spreading to a neighboring trailer and threatening nearby propane tanks.

Redmond Fire & Rescue responded swiftly, using two water tenders to haul in 6,000 gallons of water, as the area lacks fire hydrants. Crews were able to knock the flames down before further damage occurred.

Redmond Fire Marshal Tom Mooney confirmed Thursday that the fire was intentionally set. Jodie Wakeman was taken into custody and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on multiple charges, including first-degree arson, first-degree animal abuse, reckless endangering, and criminal mischief.

One of the trailers belonged to Kim Paris, who lost her home and her beloved dog in the fire.

“My little dog died, and that devastated me,” Paris said. “Everything else can be replaced, but she can't.”

Her son, Peter Caswell, described the helplessness of watching the tragedy unfold over the phone as flames overtook his mother’s trailer.

Despite the loss, Paris is trying to stay hopeful. “Whenever something bad happens, God makes it good, so I’m waiting for Him to get me somewhere,” she said.

An investigation is ongoing. Central Oregon Daily News Video

Crime News…

Regional News…

Community News…

What you need to know about the Deschutes County Fair baking contest

Fairgoers often overlook the competitive exhibits, especially the baked-goods and confections categories, which span six youth divisions and multiple adult classes (cookies, breads, pies, cakes, scones, tortillas, etc.). This year’s Cake Fest theme requires all entrants to bake the same pink-lemonade-stand cake recipe, yielding a fun array of variations The Bulletin

 City of Bend Events

Friday’s

Real Estate News

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 Central Oregon Market Report | July 16, 2025

by Reed Melton from “EnjoyBendLife Real Estate Group”

Mortgage rates are trending downward ever so slightly, inventory growth is slowing, and activity is increasing. For those of you looking to buy or sell in 2025, the next several weeks are shaping up to be a busy period. For buyers, the presence of motivated sellers is making life easier, as increased competition from inventory has altered the landscape. For sellers, as has been the case for most of this year, accurately pricing for today's market is key, which requires careful analysis of individual properties to gauge marketability.

Activity in Deschutes County pending sales this week exceeded every week of this year and is the highest since October 2, 2024, with 87 pending sales. The median number of days listed for pending sales was 33, with an average list price of $935,158. Sixty-seven transactions closed this week at an average of $931,876. Inventory rose slightly to 1,582 single-family listings, up by seven from last week.

Crook County pending sales were modest this week at four with an average sale price of $1,273,000. All four pending sales are in Powell Butte, with two of those homes situated in Brasada Ranch. Five closed transactions averaging $508,180 were recorded last week, with one in Powell Butte and the rest in Prineville. The inventory increased to 248 single-family listings for this week, up by four from last week.

There were seven pending sales in Jefferson County this week, averaging $418,841, with a notable average price decrease of 10.08% before securing a contract. The three closed transactions also had an average price decrease of 10.5%. In each case, the list price dropped, and buyers negotiated an even lower price below that. Inventory declined by one to 119 single-family listings. As competition with increased inventory has put pressure on prices, sellers are eager to sell properties before year-end, creating some of the best buying opportunities in Central Oregon. I caution anyone inexperienced in fixing and flipping homes in today's market, but for experienced builders or a buyer willing to take on some work themselves, opportunities are emerging.

As new inventory slows heading into the last stretch of peak buying seasons, buyers who have been evaluating the market begin to pick away at the best opportunities. The increased inventory over the previous several years is creating some great opportunities, and homes still on the market as we approach fall are very likely to go for considerably less than the asking price. Of course, not every property is a candidate for extreme negotiation, but savvy buyers who know the market are in a strong position. Now is still a good time to list, thanks to the increased activity; however, sellers need to be very cautious about pricing, unless they are comfortable riding out the season and listing through the winter. It is anyone's guess what the spring market will bring, but Central Oregon real estate remains remarkably stable. 

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Active Listings

🏡 Tour of Homes Continues This Weekend!

The 38th Annual COBA Tour of Homes is back for its second and final weekend, and it’s one of Central Oregon’s favorite free summer events. With 43 new homes on display across Bend, Redmond, Sisters, La Pine, Madras, and Sunriver, there’s something for everyone—from affordable energy-efficient homes to multi-million dollar luxury builds.

Homes are open Friday 12–6pm and Saturday & Sunday 10–5pm, no tickets or RSVP required.

Get inspired by everything from spa-like bathrooms and chef’s kitchens to cutting-edge solar-ready systems and custom woodwork. You’ll find homes ranging from $325k in Madras to a $4M estate in Tetherow with golf course views and a hot tub-ready patio.

🏘️ Builder Highlight: Curtis Homes is showcasing multiple properties this year, including a prairie-style home in the new Talline neighborhood (with a community block party on Saturday!) and a modern Scandinavian build in Discovery West.

Whether you’re dreaming, designing, or just love to browse, this is a great way to see what’s possible—and meet the people who build it. Plan your route with the official Tour app or grab a free guide from COBA.

👉 More info at cobatourofhomes.com

Old Mill District to Expand with New Buildings and Apartments

William Smith Properties revealed plans for a northward expansion of Bend’s Old Mill District, including three new mixed-use buildings totalling 8,742 sq ft each. Building Z alone will house one to three ground-floor shops with nine furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments above—marking the first new construction in the district since 2010, with completion targeted by late 2026. The Source

 😎 Just sayin

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