A lot of Oregonians have read books by Redmond resident Jake Kirkpatrick. It was fun to meet with her in the Redmond suburbs and talk about her process, her life in Central Oregon, and her philosophy on success and homesteading.

A lot got left out of this story, but plenty made it in — including the plane crash that left her bruised and broken, the people that came to her aid, and how she made the transition from mental health work to writing. She’s working on a screenplay now too, so you may soon see her first book and life story on the big screen.

Here’s a wild Redmond story. A local man, driving drunk, wiped out a fence and a fire hydrant and ruined a six-year-old’s birthday party in the process. 

And here’s some welcome good news for local anglers! Fish returns are solid enough on the Deschutes to keep steelhead season available through the fall. Where’s your favorite steelhead spot? I promise I won’t tell — and I’ll trade the trout fishing holes where I’ve been slaying fish on dry flies all summer long.

Loads more in this week’s edition, including the next run of a history feature about when the Rajneeshi took over the town of Antelope. If you’re a long time Central Oregonian, what do you remember about that time? Would love to hear from you about it. Reach out at ttrainor@redmondspokesman.com or call 541-548-3203.

Please consider purchasing an annual subscription to the Spokesman — either for digital access or home print delivery. Call 541-923-1370 or go to redmondspokesman.com and we’ll get you signed up at an affordable price. That’s the best way to support our work and stay informed about your community.

— Tim Trainor is editor of the Redmond Spokesman.