The Akawa Butte Fire near Crooked River Ranch is more than 6,800-acres. The distance to the fire perimeter -  8 miles east of Camp Sherman, over 10 miles north of Sisters, 9 miles west of Culver and 6.6 miles southwest from Cove Palisades State Park.

The public is asked to take caution and be aware while driving in the region due to increased fire activity and equipment, especially around the Sisters Rodeo grounds which has heavy equipment and crews entering and leaving at all hours.

Fire officials and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office have updated evacuation levels for the Akawa Butte Fire as fire activity continues to shift and threaten nearby areas.

The following area is now at Level 3 (Go Now):

Northern part of Stevens Canyon Road between Forest Road 2050 and west of Wilt Road north of Big Buck Road.

Level 2 (Be Set)

Addresses on the east side of Wilt Road, north of Big Buck Road to the county line.

Sisters High School is now the shelter location for those needing assistance due to evacuations from the Akawa Butte Fire. 

The Akawa Butte virtual community meeting scheduled for 7 PM Monday, July 20^th. See the Akawa Butte Fire Facebook page for more details.

(pic from Bend Chamber)

Property-owner opposition has halted Bend’s proposed Central District Economic Improvement District. City Manager Eric King says the objection level exceeded the threshold allowed under state law, where opposition from 33 percent or more of affected owners prevents an assessment from moving forward.

The district was intended to help fund promotion, events, business development, and upkeep of public facilities in Bend’s Core Area. King says some owners felt the plan was premature, with redevelopment still in transition and projects not yet fully in place.

The City Council is expected to formally rescind the ordinance that created the district. King says broader redevelopment plans for the Core Area will continue.

pic: Chief Mike Krantz

Bend Police are offering more detail on technology used during last week’s suspect search. Officers were looking Thursday for a person who had eluded police, before making an arrest Friday. Chief Mike Krantz says Reverse 911 lets police send targeted alerts to people registered within a specific area near an active response. He says drones also help officers safely assess a scene before moving in. By getting an overhead view, police can locate a suspect, track their position, and guide officers in cautiously. Krantz tells KBND News those tools are improving safety for officers, suspects, and the community.

pic: Steve Gunnels, D.A.

Criminal cases are slowing in Deschutes County as more defendants are found unable to understand charges or help their attorneys. District Attorney Steve Gunnels says the county’s aid-and-assist docket has more than doubled in recent years — from 24 people in January 2020, to 36 in 2022, and 53 this year. Gunnels says the main bottleneck is limited space at the Oregon State Hospital, where defendants receive treatment aimed at restoring competency for trial. He says the growing strain reflects a broader rise in severe mental illness, creating delays locally and across the state.

Thursday afternoon around 4:45 pm, Saint Charles in Bend went into lockout after a phone call threatened a shooting.  Bend Police were on the way when they attempted to pull over a man near Northeast Neff Road and 27th Street who is wanted in connection with a July 7 domestic assault. The suspect ran from the vehicle into a nearby apartment complex. Officers set up a perimeter, used drones and K9s, and the County alerted nearly 2,000 nearby homes and businesses to stay indoors. The search was unsuccessful.  Police are still looking for a white man, 6-foot-1, 155 pounds, last seen wearing a black hat, black T-shirt and gray camouflage cargo shorts, with tattoos extending onto his neck. Anyone who sees him should call 911. The shooting threat to St. Charles was unrelated and unfounded.