BEND, OR -- It’s kindergarten registration season. Families in the Bend-La Pine School District with kids who will be five years old on or before September first are invited to events this Saturday at a variety of local parks. 

Lisa Birk, Executive Director of Elementary Programs, tells KBND News asking parents to register kids this early allows schools time to plan, “We can set students up in classrooms appropriately. We can make sure that parents are connected so that they are up to date on any of the events that are upcoming in their own schools. And they can just make sure that their student has all of the things in place to help them be successful on day one.” She says it benefits kids, too, “It just gets them connected with other adults. What we want our students to know is that every adult, whether it's your teacher or anybody who's kind of tall at your school, they are there to support you in whatever way is necessary. And so, we want them to feel comfortable both in our parks. But then also when they're coming to school. Parks are a really easy way for students to come in. Have the adults be able to meet with adults and get some paperwork done or other things done while kids are having fun climbing on a school bus, and looking through a little swag bag of all things related to getting ready for kindergarten.”

Registration and orientation events are in Bend, Sunriver and La Pine. Staff can also provide details on school boundaries and required enrollment documents.

Families can find the yellow school bus at the following locations on April 20:

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

• Hollygrape Park - 19489 Hollygrape Street, Bend
• Sun Meadow Park - 61141 Dayspring Drive, Bend
• Pilot Butte Neighborhood Park - 1310 NE Highway 20
• Sunriver/Three Rivers area - Oregon Water Wonderland 1 Mailboxes (South Century and Snow Goose)

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

• Education Center - 520 NW Wall St., Bend
• Ponderosa Park - 225 SE 15th St., Bend
• Canal Row Park - 1630 NE Butler Market Rd., Bend
• Frontier Heritage Park - 16405 First St., La Pine/Rosland area

Bend-La Pine Schools also hosts "Kinder Fiesta," a Spanish language kindergarten kick-off event, on Saturday, May 18 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall St., Bend.

Click HERE to learn how to register online. When you’re ready to register, use THIS LINK link to get started. Find your neighborhood school through the district's Attendance Area page. Those who are not sure about their child’s school of attendance or who have additional questions about kindergarten registration can call 541-355-6820 to reach district staff who can answer questions in English and Spanish.

This story has been edited to include comments from Elemntary Programs Executive Director Lisa Birk

BEND, OR -- Following passage of HB 4002, Deschutes County is moving ahead with plans to create a deflection program for people caught with user-amounts of illicit drugs.

"It is essentially a goal to divert people who are willing to engage in some time behavioral health or substance use disorder treatment, to divert them from entering the criminal justice system and having that on their record long term," Behavioral Health Deputy Director Holly Harris told County Commissioners on Wednesday. "We would like to implement a Law Enforcement-Assisted Diversion program, otherwise known as LEAD. So, similar to what Marion County has in their community; similar to what Seattle has done in their community. These are evidence-based programs. And they really can be tailored to your community’s resources and needs, and what your community desires to do with these types of programs." She added, "When law enforcement encounters somebody out in the community that is now in possession of small amounts of drugs - deflection-eligible amounts - they can be offered deflection."

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Harris says unlike in Marion County, where efforts are driven by the Sheriff's Office, the Behavioral Health division would lead Deschutes County's program. She told Commissioners Best Care and Ideal Options have already signed on to help provide staff when someone is caught with drugs, "So, those two partners will be able to respond 24/7 to the scene with law enforcement, if that’s what’s appropriate, to really make that initial connection - which is what the legislation was all about: making that point of contact, starting to build rapport and engagement, and offer follow-up services." Harris says, "If the individual is willing to accept that and they do the follow-up requirements, that are still yet to be developed as part of the program, then their charges can be dismissed and their record expunged."

Deschutes County was one of the first to notify the state of plans to create a deflection program under the new law. Because of that early adoption, Harris expects the county to receive more than $756,000 in state funding, with the first half allocated for development and roll-out of the program.

BEND, OR -- Mount Bachelor will now provide year-round on-site daycare for employees, "So, not only winter and summer season, when we’re operational, but also during the shoulder seasons when we are preparing for either winter or summer operations," says President and CEO John Merriman, "It was really important for us to do it year-round. Because if you don’t then your employees get into a bit of a bind at certain parts during the year. And daycare in town is difficult to get and extremely expensive." He adds, "They can either do a monthly rate or a daily rate. And they can just drop off their child, not worry about it. They’re professional, licensed childcare providers that we have here." 

The ski resort expanded the existing winter child care this past year to serve employees; in the past, it was primarily for guests, "We are lucky in that we already have the space. And since we provided it in the winter to both guests and employees, we’re already licensed." The rate paid by Bachelor employees will be subsidized by the company. Merriman says, "It was fairly easy to ask the manager if she could stay year-round, and ask the teachers if they could also stay year-round. So, it was certainly a benefit for them as well; now they don't have to look for a different place to work over the summer."
Merriman says it builds on other recruitment and retention efforts to address the high cost of living in Bend, "We added the employee housing earlier this season, and this is kind of another area where we feel like we can help make our employees’ lives easier." He tells KBND News one of his workers cried when she heard the news, "Because she was so stressed about what she was going to do for daycare for her less than year old child over the summer."

Daycare is available seven days a week for ages six weeks to 10 years old. For another few days, hours are 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Spring operations begin April 22nd, when child care closes at 1:30 p.m. Summer hours begin June 27th, when child care is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

photo courtesy of Mount Bachelor

BEND, OR -- A Bend couple is accused of illegally growing marijuana and selling it to east coast buyers. The investigation into 50-year-old Michael Bradford and 49-year-old Automne Glasow began when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package of pot destined for Virginia.

Glasow was arrested during a Thursday morning traffic stop. At the same time, the Deschutes County SWAT team executed a federal search warrant at the couple's house on Manzanita Lane and arrested Bradford. The operation was a collaboration between the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Team and the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team. 

Detectives also seized about 69 pounds of processed pot, 160 marijuana plants, packaging materials and cash.

The pair is charged with possessing 32 times the legal limit of marijuana and attempted delivery.

BEND, OR -- A Bend woman is charged with felony animal neglect and 15 misdemeanor counts of second degree animal neglect. Jean Poirier was indicted by a Deschutes County grand jury earlier this week.

The case began in March, when deputies responded to a tip about the condition of animals on the 66-year-old's rural property. After several days of investigation, 15 horses were seized. Veterinarians determined they were in dire need of medical care and proper feed. Poirier's 17 dogs were  in better condition and allowed to remain.

The horses are now at the Sheriff’s Office rescue ranch. They range in age from 13 to 29 years old and consist of one stallion, four geldings and 10 mares.

Poirier was arraigned Tuesday and is due back in court in mid-May.