▶️ Man convicted in 1987 murder of Terrebonne couple granted 5th trial

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 25, 2023

A man convicted and sentenced to death four times for the 1987 murder of a Terrebonne couple will get a fifth trial.

KOIN-TV in Portland reports lawyers for Randy Lee Guzek convinced a retiring judge Tuesday that the case should start from scratch, despite efforts by the Oregon Attorney General to keep the most recent verdict.

Guzek was sentenced to death for murdering Lois and Rod Houser in their home with two other men when he was 18.

Guzek’s death sentence has been overturned three times and he had to be re-sentenced.

This time, the entire trial was overturned on procedural grounds — including that the Oregon Attorney General’s office didn’t use correct numbers in documents disputing Guzek’s arguments for a new trial.

“No case in Oregon should be decided by virtue of obvious typos in a pleading document, much less a post conviction matter where the underlying crimes involve two counts of aggravated murder,” said Greg Rios with the Oregon Attorney General’s Office.

“We are here today your honor because of the state’s choices. They chose not to submit a sufficient answer,” said Karen Steele, Guzek’s attorney.

The judge also ruled one of Guzek’s original lawyers should have asked for more time to prepare for trial back in 1988.

The Oregon Attorney General’s office says it will appeal.

A new factor in the current case is that former Oregon Gov. Kate Brown commuted the death sentences of everyone on death row. It’s possible Guzek could be eligible for an immediate parole hearing even if his sentence is reinstated, based on the law in effect at the time of the murders.

Redmond announces three new elementary school principals

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 24, 2023

The Redmond School District announced three new elementary school principals Wednesday. They are replacing two principals who are retiring and another who is moving out of state.

M.A. Lynch Elementary Principal Rayna Nordstrom and Sage Elementary Principal Carolyn Espinosa are retiring. Vern Patrick Elementary Principal Jennifer Hesse has accepted the same job at a school in Colorado.

Chris Wyland (at left in the photo above) will be the new principal at M.A. Lynch after five years in the same role at Madras Elementary. He’s also served as an athletic director, dean of students and a history teacher during his career.

Colleen Chamberlain takes over at Sage Elementary. She has been Student Services Coordinator at Sage for the past six years.

Doug Taylor will take over at Vern Patrick. He’s the current assistant principal and athletic director at Redmond High School and has been a teacher at Elton Gregory Middle School. He’s also an alumnus of Vern Patrick.

▶️ Deschutes Co. Houseless Response Director Purrington resigns after 9 months

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 23, 2023

The director of the Coordinated Houseless Response Office (CHRO) in Deschutes County is stepping down less than nine months after taking the job.

Deschutes County announced Tuesday night that Cheyenne Purrington’s last day will be June 9. Central Oregon Daily News obtained a copy of Purrington’s resignation letter.

“As the sole Office employee for many months, I gained important insights into the Office’s functions and dysfunctions – as it moved from concept to reality. I’m mindful that ours is just one of several pilot communities funded as part of an untested idea, with the goal of determining what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change. I accepted this position in that spirit of learning, collaborating and bending the curve on homelessness at a regional scale,” Purrington wrote.

The letter includes a number of recommendations Purrington has for the office going forward.

“So, in conjunction with this repositioning plan and after careful consideration, I’m resigning from the role of Director. I’ve been honored to serve the residents of Deschutes County and will continue to champion the incredible work underway throughout our community,” she wrote.

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Purrington stepped into the leadership role of the new office last September. It’s stated goal was to make Central Oregon’s houseless response system stronger.

“We thank Cheyenne for her service and her work to establish the Coordinated Houseless Response Office,” said Nick Lelack, Deschutes County Administrator.

Deschutes County and the Cities of Bend, La Pine, Redmond and Sisters are recipients of House Bill 4123, which is providing $1 million in grant funding for houseless response. But certain goals must be met.

Purrington told Central Oregon Daily News Monday the office is on track with the grant requirements. She claims over half of the goals are completed, but more could be done if she had more help. Purrington said she is the only full-time member of the office and said she has requested two full-time staff members aside from herself.

We also spoke with the CHRO board’s chair and vice-chair, Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair and Bend City Councilor Megan Perkins, who gave varying answers as to how effective Purrington and the office has been.

Purrington previously served as the Executive Director of the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless in California.

▶️ Air Force Huey visits Redmond High School

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 23, 2023

Redmond High School students got a loud visit from the U.S. Air Force Tuesday.

A UH-1N Huey helicopter from the 341st Missile Wing in Montana landed at the school practice field. They stopped by while en route to California.

Redmond High’s ROTC watched as they touched down.

The Air Force unit visited with staff and students and gave special messages to this year’s graduates.

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▶️ Petersen Rock Garden is back open to the public Friday

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 23, 2023

The Petersen Rock Garden — a classic Central Oregon roadside attraction dating to the middle of the 20th Century — will fully reopen this weekend.

The garden, located along Highway 97 between Bend and Redmond, will be open to the public Friday through Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

It fell into disrepair for years, but volunteers have cleaned it up and the new owner says to come on down.

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You can check out the work of Danish immigrant Rasmus Petersen, who built the place rock-by-rock starting in 1935.

“We can truly see that Rasmus Petersen understood that we’re all here just to soak up the beauty of life and allow it to shine through us. And that’s it. That’s what each of us are all here to do in life,” said owner Marci Wayman.

And, of course, the famous Petersen Rock Garden peacocks are still there.

They would appreciate a $10 donation if possible. Cash is preferred. They’re not set up for cards or electronic transfer just yet.

They’ll continue to be open 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekends for the time-being.

Pacific Power holds local home energy saving workshops this week

by The Associated Press
May 22, 2023

Pacific Power and Energy Trust of Oregon plan to hold four workshops across all three Central Oregon counties this week to show customers how to save energy at home. The first is on Tuesday.

“The workshops will cover ways to evaluate household energy use with ideas for improving savings and comfort through insulation and weatherization, heating and cooling, water heating, appliances and lighting,” Pacific Power said in a statement.

Attendees will also learn about cash-back incentives for new appliances, lighting and other energy-efficient products.

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Pacific Power customers can make a reservation at PacificPower.net/events for one of the following dates:

Bend: Tuesday, 12-2 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m., Riverhouse on the Deschutes, 3075 N Highway 97
Redmond: Wednesday, 12-2 p.m., Eagle Crest Resort, 1522 Cline Falls Rd.
Prineville: Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Meadow Lakes Golf Course, 300 SW Meadow Lakes Dr.
Madras: Thursday, 12-2 p.m., Erickson Aircraft Collection, 2408 NW Berg Dr.

Spanish interpretation will be available onsite.

▶️ ODFW: Metolius wolves kill steer in Deschutes County; 1st wolf depredation

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 19, 2023

Deschutes County has its first confirmed case of wolf depredation since the wolves’ return.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) confirmed Friday that the Metolius group, consisting of two known wolves, killed a steer on private land in the Lower Bridge area. The investigation into the killing was dated Wednesday.

According to the ODFW website, “If depredation becomes chronic and lethal control become necessary, ODFW’s ability to lethally remove depredating wolves will be dependent on the extent that non-lethal measures have been used and documented.”

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Here is a look a brief timeline of the Metolius group from ODFW:

April 19, 2022 – A new AKWA (Area of Known Wolf Activity) has been designated in the Metolius wildlife management unit (Jefferson and Deschutes Counties). Since August of 2021, there have been public reports of two wolves. ODFW documented that the wolf use appeared to be resident, prompting the designation of the AKWA. These two wolves were counted for the 2021 annual count.

April 18, 2023 – Two wolves were documented in the Metolius AKWA during 2022. No pups were observed, and the group was not designated as a breeding pair.

▶️ General Duffy’s to pay $2,250 fine over failed ID check

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 19, 2023

General Duffy‘s in Redmond will pay a $2,250 fine to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission instead of facing a suspension of their liquor license during the upcoming summer concert season.

The popular food truck lot and concert site admitted a mistake in failing to adequately check an identification last November.

Since that incident, the owner says General Duffy’s has done staff training and passed an undercover spot check by the OLCC.

New Council on Aging executive director on expectations for future

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 19, 2023

Cassie Regimbal, the new executive director for the Council on Aging of Central Oregon, joins us in studio to talk about her expectations for the organization’s future and programs she’s excited about.

▶️ Your video and photos: Central Oregon thunder, lightning and rainbows

by Central Oregon Daily News Sources
May 18, 2023

You’d have to be in a soundproof dungeon not to have heard or seen the thunder and lighting rolling through the High Desert Thursday night.

Here are just some of the dozens of photos and videos you sent us via weather@centraloregondaily.com and info@centraloregondaily.com.

The video above was taken from northeast Bend, looking east. You can make out the double rainbow with a vertical lightning strike going through it.

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RELATED: Your 7-Day Forecast

Jesse Jerome Blythe messaged this to us on Instagram — a super slo-mo of the lightning moving across the sky.

Next, we see lightning strike behind Pilot Butte courtesy of Bill Breneman.

Back to northeast Bend, where Kristina Grubb snapped this beauty.

Eddie DeBoy got another great shot of it from the Pilot Butte neighborhood.

Another crack of lighting from Pete McCracken.

Let’s see what this looks like from a higher perspective. Preston Paranada sends this one to us from atop Pilot Butte.

And Stacy Abena sent us this side-by-side rainbow and lightning bolt.

Our former Central Oregon Daily News colleague Allen Martin sent us this hail video from Three Rivers.

And some more hail from La Pine, courtesty of T.G.

This is one of our favorite shots. Look how the rainbow seems to act a border, surrounding the orange beneath it. Thanks to Marisela Berlanga for this one.

Thanks to Phyllis Van Etten for showing us a glorious rainbow behind Old Glory.

Heidi Hadley brings us Rey, enjoying the weather from Dayspring Drive Park.

We apologize, but there was so much, we couldn’t get them all in. Anytime there is some spectacular weather you want to show us, please send it to weather@centraloregondaily.com.