News

Redmond Police officer among three injured in collision: Three people, including a Redmond Police officer, were injured in a June 28 collision on Highway 126, a half-mile east of SE Veterans Way, according to Oregon State Police. Officer Chris Wooten was attempting to turn left from the highway into the driveway of the old Redmond Rod and Gun Club around 5:15 p.m. when a 2008 Chevrolet full-size pickup, driven by Kelsey Dixon, 24, of Powell Butte, crashed at high speed into the back of the 2012 Dodge Charger Wooten was driving, police said. The impact vaulted the police car forward and the Chevy went into oncoming traffic. The Chevy collided head-on with a 2015 Dodge Ram pickup, driven by Christopher Lane, 43, of Redmond, who was driving west, police said. Lane was flown to a hospital with serious injuries, while Wooten and Dixon were transported by ambulance for injuries not considered life threatening. Wooten, the resource officer at Ridgeview High School, was treated and released for minor injuries to his back, neck and arm at St. Charles Redmond, according to a Redmond Police news release. He remained conscious, alert and able to communicate after the crash, police said. Wooten was setting up a perimeter in the pursuit of another pickup when the crash occurred, police said. The suspect police were searching for, Jonathon Eveland, 34, of Redmond, was arrested June 30 and faces charges of attempting to elude a police officer and reckless driving, as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.

Two killed in weekend collisions: Two people died on Redmond-area highways in the days leading up to July 4. On June 30, a 9-month-old infant was killed in a collision on Highway 97 at the Culver Highway Junction near Juniper Butte. The infant was a passenger in a 2012 Ford Escape SUV driven by Brandon Shaw, 26, of Culver, who was turning from the northbound lane left onto Culver Highway when he drove into the path of a 2015 Ford F-750 truck, driven by Douglas Dean Jr., 41, of Redmond, according to Oregon State Police. Dean attempted to avoid the Escape but struck its passenger side, causing the Escape to roll onto its side. The infant was pronounced dead at the scene after medical personnel attempted to save the child’s life. Shaw was flown to St. Charles Redmond, while Dean was not injured. Passengers were wearing seat belts, and alcohol is believed to be a factor in the collision, which happened just before 5 p.m., OSP said. In a July 2 crash, Angela Diane Sousa, 35, of Redmond, was killed when the 2000 Ford Mustang she was driving failed to negotiate a curve on Highway 126, west of Redmond, OSP said. The car left the road and rolled several times in the 1:18 a.m. crash, striking multiple large rocks, OSP said. Sousa was pronounced dead after medical personnel tried to save her life at the scene.

Events

crawfest 2017: The 10th Annual Crawfest Musical Festival from July 13-16 takes place in Powell Butte at 16065 SW Alfalfa Road. The Crawfest Music Festival is a multi-genre musical festival that was started in 2007 by Jake Crawford and was named after the Crawford family. It takes place on Crawford’s 40-acre parcel of private land in rural Powell Butte. Participants get to enjoy live bands and solo acts including country, bluegrass, rock, pop, punk, reggae and metal. The festival also features regional and national-level comedians and alternative dance groups. Early-bird tickets can only be purchased online at crawfest.net. Full event camping passes are $50 and single-person event tickets and an RV pass are $150. Email crawfestmusicfestival@gmail.com for more information.

Wild Ride Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s research: Wild Ride Brew Co. is playing host to a benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association from 4-8 p.m. July 6 at 332 SW 5th St., Redmond. One dollar of every pint sold will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association through the Wild Violets team that is participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sept. 16 in Bend. Contact Lauren Hinton with questions at 503-358-7676 or lauren.j.hinton@gmail.com.

Final centennial Park Expansion open house: The Centennial Park Expansion Task Force is inviting Redmond residents to review the preferred design for the expansion of Centennial Park at a final public open house at 4 p.m. Aug. 2 at City Hall, located at 411 SW Ninth St. The plan that will be presented is the result of public input from previous open houses and an online survey. For more information, contact Troy Rayburn at troy.rayburn@ci.redmond.or.us.

The decemberists’ chris funk to play at eclipse festival: Chris Funk of The Decemberists has invited bands from Portland’s music scene to play outdoors in a two-day music festival to celebrate the eclipse at the Suttle Lodge and Boathouse in the Deschutes National Forest. The festival will be from noon to 10 p.m. Aug. 19 and 20 at and will be all ages and free to the public. Central Oregon is expecting large crowds and parking will be limited, so attendees are encouraged to hike or bike their way in. The Suttle Lodge & Boathouse will have food and drink for purchase throughout the property. No outside food or drink will be allowed.

Kudos

Local Students Earn Degrees from George Fox University: Six local students were among the more than 900 undergraduate, adult degree and graduate-level students who received diplomas in commencement ceremonies at George Fox University this spring. Michaela Conley, Bachelor of Arts in Theatre; Kellie Eldridge, Master of Arts in Teaching; Raechel Morelli, Bachelor of Science in Engineering; Aleecia Moss, Master of Arts in Teaching; Jeanelle Stone, Master of Arts in Teaching; and Kristi Wheaton, Doctor of Education — all of Redmond — received their degrees in the university’s main undergraduate commencement ceremony April 29. George Fox University is ranked by Forbes among the top Christian universities in the country and is a Christian college classified by U.S. News & World Report as a first-tier regional university. More than 3,900 students attend classes on the university’s campus in Newberg, and at teaching centers in Portland, Salem and Redmond.