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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
Redmond, Oregon • $1
redmondspokesman.com
A special good morning to subscriber Trish Ober
@RedmondSpox
DESCHUTES COUNTY
Irrigators seek drought declaration
County is experiencing its
driest spring in 127 years
BY MICHAEL KOHN
The Bulletin
Deschutes County is going through
its driest spring since records started
127 years ago. That fact combined
with low levels of water in the Central
Oregon reservoirs has prompted irri-
gators to seek a drought declaration
from the state.
On Wednesday the Deschutes Ba-
sin Board of Control sent a letter to
the Deschutes County Commission
requesting the drought declaration.
The commissioners will consider
the request when they meet this De-
schutes County declared a state of
drought last year.
An official declaration of drought,
recognized by the governor, allows
farmers to tap into state and federal
financial assistance programs. The fi-
nancial assistance could help farmers
who aren’t able to plant on all their
acres due to water restrictions.
The Deschutes Basin Board of Con-
trol comprises eight irrigation dis-
tricts, including Arnold, Central Ore-
gon, Lone Pine, North Unit, Ochoco,
Swalley, Three Sisters and Tumalo.
Collectively they convey water to over
150,000 acres of farms and ranches, as
well as local cities, parks, and schools.
The letter, written by basin board
president Craig Horrell, requests that
county commissioners declare a state
of drought and they, in turn, ask Gov.
Kate Brown to issue an executive or-
der recognizing the severe drought.
“The DBBC believes County action
and support from the state is needed,”
Horrell stated in the letter. “This may
include assistance from the Oregon
Water Resources Department and
other Oregon executive branch agen-
cies, operating within their statutory
authorities.”
Horrell added that the dry condi-
tions could cause “widespread and se-
vere damage” to a number of sectors
and industries, including agriculture
and livestock and tourism.
For farmers, the tight water supply
reduces the number of acres on which
they can plant crops, leaving them
less revenue at the end of the year. A
drought declaration allows farmers to
CENTRAL OREGON BUSINESS INDEX
‘The shock ... is behind us’
receive funds through their crop in-
surance plans.
Precisely how much is available
varies based on the farmer and his or
her situation, said Rob Rastovich, a
Deschutes County rancher. Rastovich
said he attempted to apply for gov-
ernment assistance last year but did
not qualify. But the amount of money
wasn’t much, he added — less than
$5,000. That sum was a fraction of the
amount he had to spend to buy hay
for his cows. Rastovich said he doesn’t
have crop insurance.
See Drought / P3
Redmond
School Board
races close in
initial results
BY JACKSON HOGAN
The Bulletin
Central Oregon’s economy shows more signs of recovery, index shows
BY SUZANNE ROIG • The Bulletin
C
entral Oregon’s economy has firmly put the shock of the COVID-19 restrictions behind it, according to the quarterly business
index. Lodging revenues are up. The housing market is growing, despite a low level of inventory. Even initial unemployment
claims are near pre-pandemic levels.
But plane travel is lagging and job
recovery still has not recovered all
that was lost due to shutdowns de-
signed to control the spread of the
virus.
Those are the conclusions of the
quarterly Central Oregon Business
Index, which provides a snapshot
of business activity by examining
nine variables, which are adjusted
seasonally.
The index rose 5.3% in the first
quarter of the year over the fourth
quarter of 2020 and now stands
6.8% above the same time the
year before, said Tim Duy, author
of the index and a University of
Oregon professor of practice in
economics.
The index was at 136.7, com-
pared to the fourth quarter of 2020
when it was 131.5, which has been
adjusted downward from what was
previously reported.
The number of jobs climbed by
1,200 in Central Oregon during the
first quarter, Duy said.
See Index / P5
Most of the four races for Redmond
School Board were extremely close in early,
unofficial results last Tuesday, with only
one leader, Jill Cummings, having a margin
greater than 750 votes over the next candi-
date.
Final results are:
• Shawn Hartfield
55.72% for a total 4,632
• Stephanie Hunter
43.97% for a total 3,655
• Write-in 0.31% for a
total 26
Salinas
• Total: 8,31
• Michelle Salinas
40.02% for a total 3,314
• Michael Summers
39.49% for a total 3,270
• Lacey J Butts 11.26%
for a total 932
• Rachel M Visinoni
8.90% for a total 737
Hartfield
• Write-in 0.33% for a
total 27
• Total: 8,280
• Jill Cummings
46.54% for a total 3,923
• Lavon Medlock
31.38% for a total 2,645
• Ron Osmundson
21.84% for a total 1,841
Lopez
• Write-in 0.24% for a
total 20
• Total: 8,429
• Keri Lopez 34.26% for a
total 2,838
• Carmen Lawson 21.89%
for a total 1,813
• Oscar Gonzalez 21.87%
for a total 1,812
• Bob Perry 21.64% for a Cummings
total 1,793
• Write-in 0.34% for a
total 28
• Total: 8,284
e e
Reporter: 541-617-7854,
jhogan@bendbulletin.com
The Spokesman uses
recycled newsprint
WEDNESDAY 5/26
Events in and around Redmond
The Redmond Spokesman welcomes event information for
its community calendar. Submissions are limited to nonprofit,
free and live entertainment events. Deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday
for the following Wednesday’s paper. Items are published on a
space-available basis and may be edited. Contact us at
news@redmondspokesman.com or fax 541-548-3203.
Darlingside: The indie-folk quartet will perform via livestream;
5-8 p.m.; $15; online; go.evvnt.com/785165-1 or 541-317-0700.
Native American Virtual Salmon Bake — ‘Salmon is Ev-
erything’: Central Oregon Community College students of the
First Nations Student Union will present a reading of the play
“Salmon is Everything” based on the Klamath people and the
loss of salmon; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.com/785237-0
or 541-318-3782.
Rediscovered Reads Book Club: Discussing “Empire of the
Summer Moon” by S.C. Gwynne; 6-7 p.m.; online; go.evvnt.
com/769993-0 or 541-306-6564.
Know Islands — Islands in Time: Learn about the geologi-
cally young volcanic islands we live amongst; 6-7 p.m.; registra-
tion required; online; go.evvnt.com/769145-1 or 541-312-1029.
THURSDAY 5/27
Native American Virtual Salmon Bake — ‘Smoke Signals’:
The 1998 Chris Eyre film will be available to screen online. Email
Michelle Cary mcary@cocc.edu with “Smoke Signals” as the
subject line to receive a passcode to view the film; registration
required; online; go.evvnt.com/785238-0 or 541-318-3782.
Chimney Rock Wildflower Hike: This hike will focus on na-
tive plants, including wildflowers, and we will hike slowly and
See Calendar / P3
INDEX
Puzzles ............. 2 Obituaries ....... 5
Police log ........ 2 Classifieds ....... 5
Volume 111, No. 39
USPS 778-040
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