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About The Redmond spokesman. (Redmond, Crook County, Or.) 1910-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 2021)
Inside: Land purchase for Wild Mike’s pizza headquarters closes » WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 Redmond, Oregon • $1 redmondspokesman.com A special good morning to subscriber Sandra Faulk @RedmondSpox ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REDI reports progress in year of the pandemic The Spokesman It wasn’t a game show, but it felt a little like one for the audience attend- ing the annual Redmond Economic Development Inc. luncheon last week. “It was one of the best luncheon’s we’ve ever had as it gave people a sense of normalcy coming out of this pandemic,” said Jon Stark, REDI ex- ecutive director. “All tides rise when the economic development tide rises.” To kick things off, Stark gave the audience a sort of pop quiz, telling the gathering at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds — and others viewing online, “I want you to remember a few numbers: 700,000, 34, $133 million and 136 and then the grade A+.” His answers to the pop quiz: • Industrial development square footage in Redmond grew by 700,000 in just three years under REDI’s watch. “We built 1.5 million square feet in 100 years of being a city, yet we’ve added nearly 50% in just three years,” Stark said. • Property taxes have grown by $1 million a year to go for needed com- munity services and that doesn’t in- clude the jobs going into those build- ings producing income to be spent in the community, Stark said. • “2020 was the strongest year in our 34-year history in terms of num- ber of projects we’ve supported — 10 — and tied for the best year in capital investment at $20 million since 2004 when T-Mobile came to town, Stark said. “Further, our project pipeline indicates even stronger years ahead particularly with pending job creation of 546 jobs and investment of $133.5 million, which are deals pretty-well sealed in our minds as a ‘going to hap- pen,’” Stark said, “ “given the fact sev- eral of these companies have already started their projects, by breaking ground, purchased property or apply- ing for permits.” • The number 136 is the number of individuals, businesses and gov- ernment agencies unwriting the work of REDI through direct investment, sponsorship or in-kind support of our mission, he told the gathering. “Today’s luncheon is meant to be a celebration of that and our resil- iency as a community to weather this storm created by a new swear word — COVID-19.” • Finally the A+ is the grade for the community’s support of economic de- velopment, he said. See REDI / P5 Fire danger increasing statewide A PUSH TO ‘GET INVOLVED’ Oregon Public Broadcasting Hot, dry conditions coupled with thunderstorms and potentially gusty winds in the forecast are increasing fire danger across much of Oregon. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning in Southern Oregon covering most of Klamath and Lake counties, as well as sliv- ers of Jackson, Douglas and Harney counties. A red flag warning means forecasters are confident fire weather is oc- curring or will soon. Lightning strikes on dry fuels in that part of the state could spark wildfires, said National Weather Service Medford meteorologist Marc Spilde. Gusty winds could then cause those fires to spread rap- idly. “Those things could over- whelm initial attack … and so that’s why we issue this red flag warning, so we can get those (firefighting) resources into the positions they need to be,” Spilde said. “Folks should familiarize themselves with any evacua- tion plans,” Spilde said. “Obvi- ously, we had some significant fires in the area last year.” The red flag warning comes as fire crews in the area are working to suppress the Cutoff Fire north of Bonanza in Klamath County. The fire, which measured at 1,150 acres Monday morning, threatened about 125 structures, according to a release from the incident command team. The American Red Cross and Klamath County Com- munity Emergency Response Team established an emer- gency shelter at the Living Springs Fellow Church in Bo- nanza. SENIOR PROFILES BY SHEILA MILLER • Redmond School District Editor’s note: This is part of an ongoing series focused on graduating seniors. Scout Bale orn and raised in Redmond, Scout Bale is about to go east to one of the most prestigious pub- lic universities in the United States. Scout will attend the University of Virginia this fall. She picked the presti- gious, Thomas Jefferson-founded pub- lic university for two main reasons — its excellent engineering programs, and its polo team. She’s been riding horses since before she could walk, and she started showing them in the seventh grade. In high school, Scout was on the equestrian team, showed horses at 4-H, and worked at Thunderhawk Farm Arabians, a horse farm in Sisters. Polo combines her love of horses and her desire to participate in a team sport. This year’s Ridgeview High School’s valedictorian, 18-year-old Scout has a 4.391 GPA. Her final GPA would likely have been higher except for last spring’s COVID-19 outbreak, which resulted in pass/fail grades rather than the tradi- tional weighted grading system. “I’ve never let myself not get A’s,” she said. She’s not worried about going far away for school — though she was born and raised in Redmond and went to Tumalo Community School for kindergarten through eighth grade before arriving at Ridgeview High School, Scout’s extended family lives in Tanzania. “I’m ready,” she said. “I already have that whole ‘being separated thing’ from my family, and with technol- B Scout Bale, Ridgeview High. ogy it’s not really all that far away. … I know I can call my mom or hop on a plane and go home at some point.” That logical mind extends to her in- terest in engineering and math, which was her favorite subject in school. She intends to use an engineering degree and continued work with horses to go into sustainable agriculture, and to show, train and breed horses. In addition to equestrian, Scout also played on the soccer team, wrestled, showed horses and goats at 4-H, was in Future Business Leaders of America and the fiddle club, and this year participated in a new club called Girls Who Code. Though she was heavily involved at Ridgeview, Scout described herself as an introvert who thrived when school was virtual during COVID-19. She would complete her online coursework in the evenings and train horses at her job during the day. She advises that incoming freshmen join activities, even if they’re intro- verted like she is. “Get involved, it’s a really great way to meet new people,” she said. That’s not all. “And don’t procrastinate. Just get it done. It’s really helpful, especially once you start taking harder courses.” Rebekah O’Neill idgeview High School salutato- rian Rebekah O’Neill has trav- eled a lot through the United States, and she found the perfect fit for college just down the road. R See Seniors / P5 Rebekah O’Neill, Ridgeview High. See Fire / P5 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. WEDNESDAY 6/23 the wine shop; 5:30-7 p.m.; $15; The Good Drop Wine Shoppe, online; go.evvnt.com/802577-0 or 541-410-1470. Redmond Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting: The committee will review and discuss community development block grant applications; 4-6 p.m.; online; go.evvnt. com/807930-0 or 541-504-3046. Rediscovered Reads Book Club: Discussing “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats” by Jan Philipp-Sendker; 6-7 p.m.; online; go.evvnt. com/781369-0 or 541-306-6564. Soul in Motion Online Gathering: Mindfully move and dance with guidance and support online; 4:15-5:30 p.m.; registration required; online; go.evvnt.com/797830-1 or 541-948-7015. THURSDAY 6/24 Crooked River Roundup Kickoff Stampede Street Party: The annual cattle “stampede” and block party will take place featuring food, music, dancing shopping and more; 5-9 p.m.; Fourth and Main streets, Prineville; go.evvnt.com/803507-0 or 541-447-6304. Elana Walch Winery Virtual Tasting: Mitch Schroeder from the Italian winery will host a virtual tasting. Pick up the tasting package from The Spokesman uses recycled newsprint INDEX Puzzles ............. 2 Obituaries ....... 5 Police log ........ 2 Classifieds ....... 6 Crooked River Roundup: The 75th annual rodeo will take place featuring a free morning slack session then a paid performance at 7 p.m. Online sales have ended but tickets can be purchased at Prineville Men’s Wear and Bayberry. Tickets may be available at the gate if seats are still avaialble; 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; $25; Crook County Fairgrounds, 1280 Main St., Prineville; go.evvnt.com/808182-0 or 541-447-4479. See Calendar / P4 Volume 111, No. 43 USPS 778-040 U|xaIICGHy02326kzU
