Flashback inside » Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Redmond, Oregon • $1 Shots and more school news redmondspokesman.com @redmondspox ANALYSIS | STATE LEGISLATURE Pandemic, politics cloud prospects in 2022 BY GARY A. WARNER Oregon Capital Bureau COVID-19, lame-duck leaders, power shifts, political bitterness, elec- tions and a possible stall could com- bine to kneecap the 2022 session of the Legislature. Legislative leaders on Monday moved ahead with a business-as-usual tone, beginning 37 informational vir- tual hearings on Tuesday in prepa- ration for a Feb. 1 start to the 35-day “short session” of the Legislature. But with three weeks to go, large questions loom over whether the ses- sion will start on time and if it does, how long it can go without collapsing like the 2020 session. COVID-19: The Feb. 1 start date is five days after the Jan. 27 forecasted peak for daily hospitalizations in the current omicron spike of COVID-19. Oregon Health& Science University forecasters predict an estimated 1,650 patients — more than twice the cur- rent 650 patients — at the peak. The Salem ZIP code where the Capitol is located has been a top COVID-19 hot spot during the pandemic. Limited leeway: Over the one reg- ular and five special sessions held since COVID-19 arrived in Oregon, the Legislature has moved committee hearings online. But lawmakers must come to the Capitol to begin the ses- sion and for floor votes on passage of each bill. Earlier sessions were dis- rupted and delayed by positive test cases among lawmakers and staff. Unyielding clock: There’s no over- time in regular sessions of the Leg- islature. Once the session starts, the Oregon Constitution requires ad- journment after 35 days, including weekends, illness, weather or other disruptions. If lawmakers start Feb. 1, they must end March 7. End of an era: The session will fea- ture a lame-duck governor, lame-duck Senate president, and a brand new House speaker chosen before the ses- sion starts. Brown cannot run again because of term limits. She’ll leave office when the governor elected in November is sworn in next January. House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Port- land, announced last week she would leave the Legislature on Jan. 21 to fo- cus on her campaign. Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, announced Thursday he would not seek re-election. His term ends next January. See Capitol / P5 REDMOND MAN ARRESTED Redmond Future is grounded in high-tech firms Woman escapes alleged kidnapping BY GARRETT ANDREWS The Bulletin Bill Bartlett/photos for The Spokesman Fabricating parts at Stratos Aircraft in Redmond for a $2.5-million, six-seat jet. BY BILL BARTLETT • For The Spokesman R EDMOND — With its 100-plus-year deep roots in agriculture, it might not be obvious that Redmond is surrounded by high-level technology in business, education and the professions. Nowhere is that truer than Stratos Aircraft on SE Franklin, whose campus comprises three buildings with a total footprint of 40,000 square feet. Simply put, they build airplanes. Right in Redmond. From start to finish. You don’t put a six-seat jet into the sky without a huge amount of technology. Stratos builds its 716X using the identical technology as the most prized airliner in the sky — the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The only difference is scale and market with the 716 catering to the executive or elite flyer. The level of tech know how and sophistica- tion at Stratos is what you’d expect in Seattle or Los Angeles, legendary aircraft manufac- turing centers. Precision is an understate- ment. The equipment to make their jet is as futuristic as the plane itself. You name it, they have it from 3D printers to 5 axis cutting tools. Stratos CEO Carsten Sun- din verifies engineering specifications for the flag- ship plane 716X. A Redmond man is facing attempted murder, rape and other charges after a woman said she was held for weeks against her will. Around 9 a.m. Monday, Redmond Police responded to a report of a domestic violence assault in a home in the 2800 block of SW Peridot Avenue in Redmond. A person told po- lice that Bernardino Martinez Jr. had been holding a woman against her will for several weeks and that he’d threatened to kill her if she tried to leave. Redmond officers contacted the alleged victim via phone and told her to leave if she could and they would pick her up, according to Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel. “Redmond PD then saw the victim run from the residence, and they picked her up,” Hum- mel told The Bulletin. “The victim had visible injuries.” Martinez Jr. was arrested Tuesday night when a vehicle he was riding in was stopped by police. Assisting in the ar- rest was the regional SWAT team, the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, according to Redmond Police. Martinez Jr. was arraigned Wednesday afternoon on 18 criminal counts, including first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping, coercion and at- tempted murder. His indictment states he al- legedly threatened his victim with a handgun and struck her knowing she was pregnant. Martinez Jr.’s next court date is Wednesday. e Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com Redmond officers contacted the alleged victim via phone and told her to leave if she could and they would pick her up. See Tech / P5 The Spokesman uses recycled newsprint 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 1/12 THursday 1/13 Out of This World Book Club: The book club will be discussing “The Witch’s Heart” by Genevieve Gornichec; 6 p.m.; free; Roundabout Books, Online; roundaboutbookshop.com or 541-306-6564. Thrive Central Oregon Walk-In Consultations: Connect and get help with housing, medical, mental health, veterans services, social security resources, and more; 1-4 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond; deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-1050. Know Origins — Kingfisher Stories: Settle in for virtual storytelling of Kingfisher tales and the origin of “halcyon days”; 6-7 p.m.; free; Deschutes Public Library, Online; deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-1029. Blues and Brews: Get a chance to show off your guitar or vocal skills and join Casey Hurt and The Goodnights, The General Duffy’s house band, who will prepare a setlist of classic and modern blues songs; 7-10 p.m.; free; General Duffy’s Watering Hole, 404 SW Forest Ave., Bend; facebook.com/Generalduffys or 541-527-4345. INDEX Historic Landmarks Commission Meeting: A regular meeting will be held; 4:30-6 p.m.; free; Redmond City Hall, Online; redmondoregon.gov or 541-923-7710. The Ballybogs: The Irish traditional music band will perform; 6-8 p.m.; free; Porter Brewing Co., 611 NE Jackpine Ct. 2, Redmond; porterbrewingco.com or 541-504-7959. See Calendar / P3 Puzzles ............. 2 Obituaries ....... 6 Flashback ........ 3 Classifieds ....... 6 Volume 112, No. 20 USPS 778-040 U|xaIICGHy02326kzU