Source Warmup

Central Oregon Gives Garners Over $1 Million in Donations

The Source Weekly’s 2023 Central Oregon Gives campaign, which is known for its end-of year philanthropic efforts, amassed over $1 million in donations for the second consecutive year. Since its first campaign in 2018, the campaign has helped raise nearly $4 million benefiting over 100 local nonprofits.

Over the seven-week campaign, Central Oregon Gives raised $1,028,126 in donations. The top fundraiser this year, and last year’s runner-up, was Saving Grace, a support organization for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, which earned $252,292. The campaign had a total of 2,723 individual donations, 1,142 of which were under $25.

— Julianna LaFollette

[page]

Bend Police Arrest Armed Robbery Suspect

Bend Police identified armed robbery suspect, 38-year-old Ethan Russell Christensen, and took him into custody on Jan. 16. Bend Police offered a reward for information on the armed robbery suspect on Jan. 12. The robbery took place two days prior at the Red Carpet car wash at approximately 10:45pm.

The victim, who had parked in a car wash bay to clear snow off of his truck, reported that two men parked next to him and approached him. One suspect pointed a gun at him and demanded his wallet and money. After a struggle, the victim was able to enter his truck and drive away. Police identified Christensen as a suspect and located him on Jan. 11 driving eastbound on Arizona Avenue, near Wall Street. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, it sped away into oncoming traffic and hit two vehicles. Bend Police found Christensen at the Home 2 Suites hotel.

— Julianna LaFollette

[page]

80,000

— The number of electric vehicles registered in Oregon as of September 2023, from this week’s Feature story, “Charged and Ready for Travel.”

[page]

“This move-in marked an important step in each person’s journey to build a better life for themselves, but it is also a symbolic day for Redmond and indeed for all of Oregon.”

— Eleanor Bessonette of Oasis Village, from this week’s News story, “Remond’s Oasis Village Houses 20 Individuals.”

[page]

Tens of thousands of Oregon homes and businesses remained without power as of Tuesday following a spate of winter weather across the state, and the National Weather Service is warning that the days to come won’t be much easier. Freezing rain was expected to fall across the western part of the state starting Tuesday, snarling roads already covered with significant snow in some areas. Over 50,000 customers were without power as of Tuesday. At least six people have died from cold or falling trees during the recent storms, OPB reported, with two men in Multnomah County suspected of dying from hypothermia. Meanwhile, authorities believe a 38-year-old man in Redmond died from hypothermia after he was pinned between his car and some rocks, OPB reported Tuesday. ODOT is warning people to stay off the roads and avoid unnecessary travel this week as crews work to fix power lines and remove felled trees.

— Nicole Vulcan

This article appears in Source Weekly January 18, 2024.