BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners are tightening policies around unsanctioned encampments. Assistant County Legal Counsel Kim Riley says new guidelines outline the procedure for removing homeless camps on county-owned property. "Previously, a policy was approved by the board, relating to the removal of unsafe encampments. But this is follow-up that is necessary based on the board’s prior action in August." The update mirrors the previous policy, but applies to any county-owned property declared closed to the public, not only those deemed "unsafe." It still requires campers be given notice and that the county store personal property taken from a site.

Commissioner Phil Chang worries it opens the county up to a lawsuit, "If people who are defending an unhoused person’s right to sleep in a public place, for example, might come forward and legally challenge us." But Riley explained Wednesday campers still must be offered another place to go, "We anticipate that you would have to identify an alternative location, just as we did with the code."

A sanctioned campsite for people displaced from encampments has not been developed, although a location is under consideration on the east side of Redmond, near Oasis Village. Commissioner Chang said Wednesday, "I’m really concerned that we have not made more progress for creating alternative places for people to go. I think we certainly could have in this timeframe." But added, "I will vote yes on this motion, because I hope adopting this policy will help us become even more focused and get more serious about really doing what’s necessary to establish alternative places for people to go."

Commissioners Patti Adair and Tony DeBone also approved the update. DeBone said, "I do support putting this on paper. This is what it would look like as we try to proceed and work together in the community to improve the situation, public safety, offering resources for people in need, and not having unsanctioned encampments where it’s very impactful."

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POWELL BUTTE, OR -- The Oregon National Guard’s base in Powell Butte hosts night flight- training missions. The crews flew in Wednesday night.

“You may hear or see Black Hawk helicopters, about 3 to 4, that will be coming through from Washington into the Redmond area. Just the normal rotary aircraft that you, that you would hear,” Biak Training Area Manager Michael Paul says it’s a standard drill, “It’s an active-duty army aviation unit out of joint base, Lewis-McChord out of Tacoma Washington, its active-duty post. They've just asked to do some training in our training area down here to keep their pilots and their back seaters as well mission ready for any real-world missions that they might have.”

He tells KBND News night-training missions are important, “They do have to fly in blackout conditions because obviously real-world missions, combat environment sort of requires that. So that does get them ready for those type of events. That's why they're flying at night. It gets not only the pilots situated to that but also their soldiers in the back seat as well.”

Operations were scheduled all week but due to forecasted weather conditions, they expect to only go out again Monday night, April 29th.

People may hear or see the helicopters from sundown until Midnight in the Powell Butte Area and at the Redmond airport, where they re-fuel.

BEND, OR -- Teens can learn about careers in law enforcement this summer. Central Oregon Women in Law Enforcement hosts the first ever Junior Women's Law Enforcement Academy on July 10. It's open to young women ages 13-18. Register by calling Redmond Police Lt. April Huey at 541-504-3474, or email. Topics covered include defensive tactics, dispatching and the judicial process.

The following weekend, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office offers its Youth Academy for kids between 14 and 17 years old. "It’s a great time for young people to come in and get some hands-on experience and some classroom training," says Sheriff Shane Nelson. "We just want to make sure we have that connection with young people, and get them excited about the profession now." 

DCSO’s youth academy is July 16 and 17, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. "It’s not super intense. They’ll learn how to do some crime scene investigations, they’ll get some introductions to our Corrections Division and our jail, and some of the calls that patrol deputy sheriffs go on," says Nelson. There's also a K9 demonstration and a discussion with SWAT. 

"We’re very aware that we usually see people at the worst moment of their lives. So, we just want to provide more opportunity where there’s a positive connection," Nelson tells KBND News, "You get 15-20 young teens and young adults that come into your youth academy once a year, that’s 15-20 more folks that might be applying with your office in the future."

Applications for the Youth Academy are due by May 31. Click HERE for more information.

PRINEVILLE, OR -- Several sheds and other outbuildings were destroyed in a Wednesday afternoon fire, in Prineville. Crook County firefighters were dispatched just after 2:15 p.m., and arrived on NE 5 1/2 Street to find fire spreading rapidly. They got it under control before flames reached to a nearby triplex.

VALE, OR -- A Redmond man was involved in a fatal crash in Eastern Oregon Tuesday afternoon. According to State Police, 22-year-old Hunter Brucker was eastbound on Highway 20 near Vale, and moved into the westbound lane to pass a commercial truck, just before 4:30 p.m. Brucker drove into the path of a westbound pickup, driven by a 17-year-old.

In an attempt to avoid the crash, both vehicles swerved onto the shoulder. However, the SUV and pickup collided head-on. The teen driver died at the scene. His 13-year-old passenger was flown to a local hospital. Brucker suffered only minor injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.