News

fire burns three levels of deck: An early-morning fire Feb. 4 burned three levels of an exterior wood deck at a northwest Redmond house, according to Redmond Fire and Rescue. Firefighters found the back deck burning after the fire was reported at 1:28 a.m. but were able to extinguish it before it entered the house in the 3200 block of NW Lynch Way, officials said. No injuries were reported, but officials said fighting the blaze was difficult because the house was built into the side of a hill with rock outcroppings and cliffs. Officials said the probable cause of the fire was a cigarette that was not properly extinguished and placed into a plastic flower pot on the upper level of the deck. The fire caused an estimated $7,000 in damage.

RDM runway to close Feb. 26: Construction on Redmond Airport runway 11-29 is scheduled to begin Feb. 26 and wrap up Oct. 4, according to a Jan. 31 airport news release. Commercial air service is expected to continue without interruption during the $10 million construction project, with the terminal and primary runway 5-23 remaining open. That is a change from 2016 construction on the intersection of two runways, which caused the airport to close for several weeks. “Due to the cross-section work completed as part of our 2016 primary runway reconstruction project, we will not have to close the airport to work on secondary runway 11-29,” Airport Director Zachary Bass said in the statement. The airport says the work, which is being done by High Desert Aggregate and Paving of Terrebonne, is needed to keep the growing airport up to date with current FAA design standards. The Leading Edge Jet Center fixed-base operator will also remain open during construction. Airport passengers are asked to arrive to the airport 90 minutes to two hours before a scheduled flight.

County seeks volunteers to fill investment advisory committee: The five member committee is made up of people with experience as bankers, security brokers, accountants or CPAs. Members meet with the Deschutes County treasurer at least twice a year and review the investment portfolio checking for compliance with the county’s investment policy. The committee also makes recommendations about policy changes and investment procedures Anyone interested in filling the positions, which are for two year terms, must submit an application by 5 p.m. March 13. Applications can be found at www.deschutes.org/jobs and click on Volunteer/Committee Openings. Please submit of a letter of interest, including qualifications and experience valuable to the Committee, with your application.

Events

Oregon hunters association annual fundraiser: The Redmond chapter will hold an annual fund raiser, auction and raffle Feb. 24 at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. About 70 percent of the funds raised by the chapter will benefit wildlife habitat and hunters in Redmond. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, range from $115 to $225 for dinner, drink coupons and raffle tickets. The association is among Oregon’s largest pro-hunting organization with more than 10,000 members and 26 chapters. For more information, call 541-383-1099.

Eagle Watch celebration: The 23rd annual Eagle Watch celebration will take place on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Round Butte Overlook Park. The free event will include eagle watching and information on other raptors of the Lake Billy Chinook area. A free hot dog lunch will be served both days with donations supporting Madras High School’s JROTC program. A silent auction will be hosted with proceeds benefiting the Oregon Eagle Foundation. Indian fry bread will be sold; proceeds will go toward sending local kids to the rodeo. Only cash and checks will be accepted; no ATM is on site. For more information, call 541-546-3412 or visit www.oregonstateparks.org.

Education

Ridgeview to perform “The Sound of Music”: The hills of Redmond are expected to be alive with the Ridgeview High Performing Arts Department’s eight performances of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic “The Sound of Music,” which take place Feb. 15-17 and Feb. 22-24. Senior Kaylee Keininger plays the role of Maria Von Trapp, junior Ryan Schultz plays Captain Von Trapp and senior Carly King plays Mother Abbess, according to a news release. The production is directed by teacher Jerry Capson, with Nathan Gosselin-Sebens directing the vocal music and Jamie Gregory conducting the orchestra. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students in grades 6-12 and $3 for children in grades 5 and earlier. They can be purchased at ridgeviewhs.seatyourself.biz.

Redmond student makes dean’s list: Hailey McMichael, of Redmond, made the fall 2017 dean’s list at Muhlenberg College, a private liberal arts school in Allentown, Pa. Students must have a term grade point average of 3.5 to receive the honor.

Business

Fourth-generation family member joins Eberhard’s Dairy: Emily Eberhard has accepted the position as quality assurance and laboratory technician in the quality control department at her family’s Redmond dairy, Eberhard’s Dairy Products announced in a Feb. 1 news release. Eberhard, the daughter of company President Mark Eberhard, is a fourth-generation family employee of Eberhard’s, which John Eberhard started in 1951. She has a degree in product development from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and certifications in Safety Quality Foods and Hazards Analysis Critical Control Points. Eberhard’s has around 50 employees based out of its headquarters off Evergreen Avenue in Redmond.