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DCSO SAR Gears Up For Busy Season

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Search and Rescue is one of the busiest in the state, and calls typically increase over Spring Break. "Just obviously on the basis of the region in which we reside in, and all the activities that, not only do our residents take part in, but the people that come to visit," says Sheriff’s Captain Paul Garrison, who supervises the team. He tells KBND News the SAR unit used to experience down times. But the year-round appeal of our area means there is no longer a slow season, "I would estimate that we are probably 50/50: 50% of our call-outs are to residents that are in need of help, as well as those that are visiting from outside the region."

He expects DCSO's SAR team will see even more calls for service as the weather warms, "As we start to go into the summer, and people are more outdoorsy and they’re climbing Smith Rock or on the back trails or they’re climbing South Sister, we just find folks that find themselves in a difficult situation in need of some help."

DCSO recently purchased Sno-Cat, which Garrison says has been useful during the transition of seasons, when higher elevations still have a lot of snow, "We call it a tracked rescue vehicle. It’s been used several times already to deliver resources to that backcountry area." Last week, it was deployed to help Clackamas County’s SAR team rescue a family of six on Mt. Hood, "The fortunate thing is that this piece of equipment has its own plow blade on the front and it’s able to plow in and make a very travelable area to go through to rescue someone. So, this fulfilled that need and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office was greatly appreciative we were able to send that piece of equipment up to help them." 

Garrison reminds backcountry visitors to dress appropriately for changing weather conditions, carry water and always tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. 


File photo: Deschutes County Search and Rescue and Bend Fire respond to an injured OHV rider in May 2023. 


Redmond PD Identifies Theft Suspects

REDMOND, OR -- Redmond Police believe they have identified two people responsible for multiple local thefts that occurred between March 17 and 19. Detectives released photos from surveillance earlier this week, in an effort to track down a man and woman suspected of theft-related crimes at Walmart, Texaco, Wilco and Rite Aid.

RPD now says the two are not from our tri-county area and law enforcement in their hometowns are working to apprehend the pair. The agency has not publicly released the names of the suspects. 

Redmond Police thanked those who helped with the identifications.


Commissioners Consider RV Rental Dwellings Policy

BEND, OR -- Deschutes County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on allowing RVs to be used as rental housing. County staff briefed Commissioners Wednesday on the challenge of enforcing codes when someone permanently lives in a motorhome or camping trailer.

Commissioner Tony Debone wants to gauge public interest, “I support having this momentum, let's have the discussion, you know, and let's find out how complicated it is or supported it is or, or opposed.”

Commissioner Phil Chang worries about the cost of enforcing new rules, “If this is an opportunity that is important enough for our community, I want to figure out how we pay for it… Clearly, we can't just depend on permit fees to kind of make this all work.”

Commission Chair Patti Adair said it is imperative to get people permanently living in RVs to comply with current code, “That would be the ultimate goal because people don't need any extra stress in their life today. So, if that, if we could help those people, that would be, I would feel like we've done something right.”

State law allowing counties to approve codes for RV rental housing just took effect in January the board also wants to see what other counties plan to do. 

No date has been set yet for the local public hearing, but it will likely be scheduled in the next two months.

 


Paulina Could Get A Small Library

PAULINA, OR -- Paulina could soon have its own library branch. Crook County Library Director Sarah Beeler believes she’s found the perfect location next door to Paulina School. "There is an unused parcel where the school bus is parked that is owned by Crook County," she told Commissioners Wednesday. The triangular lot used to be for the county road department and, at one time had a house on it. But the building was moved off-site and those services shifted to Prineville years ago.

Beeler says the proposed library (pictured above) would be, "About 730 square feet and it is this cute little building where people would be able to use it as a meeting space and we’d have library resources there." She says the area doesn't currently have a good place for the community to gather, "The Post Grange is in a state of disrepair; currently for sale. The store is currently not a viable community option and the Pau Mau Club is for large gatherings and it takes a couple of days to heat that up to make it comfortable for people. So, a small community gathering space - we felt that out in Paulina, they could use that kind of community bonding space."

The vacant lot is across the street from property owned by County Commissioner Susan Hermreck who told Beeler Wednesday, "I think it’s wonderful that you have not forgot about us out there. This, I think, would be wonderful, it would be an asset, it would look very nice, it’s next to the school; people picking up their children could use it. I fully encourage you."

Beeler noted, "I don’t think it would cost terribly much, but then I might be surprised, to build a small branch there. And that would be done through grants and donations."

Commissioners agreed to allow Beeler to enter into conversations with the Road Department and school about the property. The unincorporated community of Paulina is home to fewer than 100 full-time residents.

 


Jefferson County Requests Drought Declaration

MADRAS, OR -- Despite a strong snowpack and recent rain, a county in Central Oregon is asking the Governor to declare a drought emergency. "Bottom line: it’s a horrible situation," says Jefferson County Commissioner Kelly Simmelink. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor (pictured), nearly all of Jefferson County is considered Abnormally Dry.

Wednesday, Commissioners agreed to request a state drought declaration, on behalf of the North Unit Irrigation District. Simmelink says, "It’s a 60,000-acre irrigated district, and we probably had about 75% of that that was fallow, meaning not planted." He says agriculture is the county’s main economic driver and the loss of acreage impacts the entire community. Two large farms went under this year, Simmelink says, "Back to back, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there’s more rearing their head here, shortly. It’s pretty desperate. We’ve got tractor companies leaving town, we’ve got everything that you can possibly conceive that could go wrong - no pun intended, but it’s a trickle down effect."

Local reservoirs are nearly full but he thinks it's too little too late, "When you’ve sucked it dry for six, seven, eight, nine, 10 years now, it takes a while to recover and one good or pretty good - it’s not even great. It’s pretty good - year is just kind of a Band Aid at best." Simmelink tells KBND News, "The crops that are in the ground right now, if we do have those extreme conditions, where it’s too hot or it gets too hot too soon, or whatever the hell it is, where no amount of water’s going to make any difference, what do you tell the guy that’s paying crop insurance that isn’t able to do anything?"

A state emergency declaration would clear the way for state and federal aid, "Whether that’s to help some folks pay their water bill that otherwise won’t be able to or- You know, the last thing I want to do is lose another farm or ranch." Simmelink adds, "If a crop fails, the first question that the feds are going to ask you, or the insurance company is going to ask you is, ‘is your county in a drought?’ And we just know that that’s going to happen." 

He plans to send a letter directly to Governor Tina Kotek to help explain the situation, in an effort to expedite the process, which typically takes a month or more. Last year, Kotek declared a drought in Jefferson County in February. 

 


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