Governor Tina Kotek made her first visit to Central Oregon this week and Redmond was a lynchpin during her multi-day trip. I got to chat briefly with the governor on Thursday, after a roundtable discussion at the under-construction Shepherd’s House homeless shelter.

Kotek had previously lunched with Redmond mayor Ed Fitch, sat down with Redmond’s Latino Community Association, and spent Friday morning at the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. That the governor would spend so much time in Redmond during her swing through Deschutes County is a testament to the rising power of the city.

U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer will visit Hub City next week, too. We’ve become a must-stop spot for state and national politicians moving through the region. A far cry for a city that, as you will learn in this upcoming paper, didn’t reach 4,000 residents until 1973.

Reporter Joe Siess kept an eye to the sky watching the MX13 Jump Show out front of Wildride Brewing on Thursday night. What a fun, free show for Redmond families. And for a good cause, too. The show raised $10,000 for the Redmond Senior Center, which will use the money to buy new dining chairs for its clients.

One of our most read stories this week at redmondspokesman.com has been a sad one. A recent graduate of Ridgeview was found dead after a gym accident last week. Read the story here.

Need something to do this weekend? Check out this fundraiser Sunday to benefit victims of the wildfires on Maui. Feeling artsy? Art in the High Desert runs Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds — the massive fine arts festival’s first time operating in Redmond. 

We’re getting ready for school reopening and the new prep sports season taking off. How about you? Ready for the change of seasons? Reach out at ttrainor@redmondspokesman.com to chat 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.