Good morning, Bend.

On March 17, a Seattle man, Benjamin Shelkey, 34, died after falling into a deep tree well while skiing at Mt. Bachelor, and the resort extended condolences while urging guests to use extra caution in the deep snowfall.

A 34-year-old Seattle man died Monday at Mt. Bachelor after being buried in a tree well when search and rescue teams responded to an SOS text just after 3 p.m. and worked for about 15 minutes to free him (official cause of death remains under investigation though evidence points to snow immersion suffocation).

A fire Sunday night destroyed a manufactured home on Pole Pine Road in La Pine where residents were away and no injuries were reported — fire crews protected nearby vehicles for about five hours using 11,000 gallons of water while an investigation is delayed due to heavy snow and the structure's condition.

Today, the Oregon Youth ChalleNGe Program became the first in the nation to earn an outstanding rating under new federal evaluation criteria—after a comprehensive four-day on-site inspection by the National Guard Bureau’s Youth Programs Division.

The program—serving 161 cadets and led by program director Frank Tallman—is showing record enrollment and rising applications despite funding limits.

Deschutes National Forest signed a final decision Tuesday for the 2,800-acre Cougar Rock Restoration Project north of Sisters.

The project will thin, mow and conduct prescribed burns to reduce wildfire risk and remove unauthorized roads and trails and may start next month while expected to produce about 4.5 million board feet of commercial timber and other forest products.

The Deschutes County Planning Commission invites community members to attend a public hearing on March 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Deschutes Services Building—1300 NW Wall St.—in Bend to give feedback on the Community Development Department’s draft work plan for fiscal year 2025-26, focusing on projects outlined on pages 26-35. People can join in person or virtually while County Commissioners plan a full work plan hearing in May or June.

Deschutes County is seeking public input on plans to build three new roundabouts on South Century Drive in Sunriver — the project aims to ease growing traffic on one of the busiest roads.

Megan Sinclair met with communications manager Maureen Dooley and lead Hospet volunteer Lynne Slauson to explain how the Hospet program gives weekly pet visits to patients in assisted living and memory care—therapy dog Willa will be featured on Partner in Care's Therapy Dogs Calendar for December. Partner in Care has served the community for 45 years by offering hospice and palliative care along with support for families.

Free Community Tour of KIDS Center

A one-hour tour of KIDS Center focused on educating the community about efforts to end child abuse and support children’s healing journeys.

Thrive Central Oregon Drop-In Consultations

This event offers drop-in social services assistance, connecting attendees with resources for housing, medical access, mental health, and veterans services.

Robert Neary Live in Concert

Experience a live performance by Robert Neary at the Tower Theatre in Bend, Oregon.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend Spring Break Program

The Spring Break Program offers children engaging activities from March 24-27, 2025, at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend.

Quiet Writing Time

9:30-11:00 a.m. | Downtown Bend Library | Free entry | Enjoy the focus of a quiet space with the benefit of others' company.

Dungeons and Dragons: Spring Break One-Shot

12-3 p.m. | Downtown Bend Library | Free entry | Engage in a fun one-shot D&D adventure with other teens during spring break.

Technology Troubleshooting

1:30-3:00 p.m. | Downtown Bend Library | Free service | Get personalized help with your technology issues in one-on-one sessions with library staff.

Travis Ehrenstrom Live Performance

6 PM - 12 AM | McMenamins Pub at Old St. Francis School | Check venue for costs | Enjoy an evening of quality musicianship and original songs from Travis Ehrenstrom.

Flea Market at Deschutes County Fairgrounds

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center — Free entry — Explore over 130 vendor tables showcasing a variety of unique items from electronics to antiques.

Not'cho Grandma's BINGO

9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Silver Moon Brewing — Reserve your seats ahead of time — Play bingo for a good cause with food, games, and laughter.