Wednesday, January 19, 2022
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REAWAKEN AMERICA TOUR
Event canceled in Redmond, moved to Salem
BY BRENNA VISSER
The Bulletin
A controversial conservative
conference called the Reawaken
America Tour scheduled for the
beginning of April in Redmond
has been canceled and moved to
Salem.
The event features high-profile
conservatives known for spread-
ing election misinformation and
COVID-19 misinformation.
Clay Clark, the organizer of
the event and host of the con-
servative podcast ThriveTime
show, confirmed on Tuesday that
the conference is being moved
to The River Church in Salem.
It was originally scheduled to be
held at the Deschutes County
Fair & Expo center.
Tickets to the Redmond event,
which were $250, will not be re-
funded, which is the event’s usual
policy, Clark said.
Clark said that statements
about Deschutes County intend-
ing to enforce the state’s mask
mandate did not play a part in
the decision to move it.
“I try to have all of (the Re-
awaken America Tour events) at
churches,” Clark said.
The decision comes days af-
ter the tour made headlines af-
ter emails showed a planner of
the event claimed two Deschutes
County commissioners assured
the event organizers that the
state’s mask mandate wouldn’t be
enforced. Deschutes County of-
ficials and Commissioner Tony
DeBone denied making any kind
of assurance, and Commissioner
Patti Adair in a text assured that
the mask mandate would be en-
forced, but did not elaborate on
her communication with event
organizers. Clark said he had no
knowledge of conversations be-
tween event staff and the venue.
The majority of previous Re-
awaken America Tour events,
which have happened all over the
country since last year, have hap-
pened in churches because they
are considered “revivals” rather
than a traditional event, Clark
said. He said The River Church
reached out to him and offered to
host it there.
The pastor of the church, Lew
Wooten, has vocally opposed
vaccines, according to reporting
from The Salem Reporter.
The event includes numerous
high profile supporters of former
President Donald Trump, includ-
ing Gen. Michael Flynn, who was
pardoned after his conviction ly-
ing about connections to a Rus-
sian diplomat, and Roger Stone,
who was convicted of obstructing
a congressional investigation and
later pardoned by Trump. It also
includes vaccine skeptics and
others known for spreading elec-
tion misinformation.
e
Reporter: 541-633-2160,
bvisser@bendbulletin.com
Ryan Brennecke/Bulletin file
Geoff Hinds, director of the Deschutes County Fair & Expo
Center, works inside the expo center in October 2020.
Volunteers critical to Redmond,
making it a more livable city
Redmond
man is
charged in
Thursday
shooting
Facing attempted
murder, Joshua
Daniel LaForest, 45,
appears in court
BY GARRETT ANDREWS
The Bulletin
Bill Bartlett photos
Numerous certified volunteer therapy dogs such as Robbie visit hospitals, care facilities and hospice patients to spread joy.
BY BILL BARTLETT • For The Spokesman
R
One Eyed
Jack was
rescued
by volun-
teers in
Prineville
and now
lives hap-
pily with
Marvin in
north Red-
mond.
EDMOND — If you are a passionate advocate for a cause
or consider yourself just an every-day worker bee with a
wish to give back to the community, then you have nearly
unlimited opportunities in Redmond to get involved.
Apart from faith communities or civic clubs such as Kiwanis, Lions or Ro-
tary, name a cause and there’s a good chance that Redmond can fulfill your
desire to lend a hand. Care about animals? Brightside Animal Center can use
you in the shelter or their Thrift Store.
Or Hooves and Halos Animal Rescue could put your heart and talents to a
good purpose. There are others, the Rawley Project, for example.
A Redmond man has been
charged with attempted mur-
der and other crimes for an
alleged shooting Thursday in
Redmond that sent a man to
the hospital.
The shooting was reported
around 7:51 p.m. in the
2900 block of SW Canal
Boulevard, according to
Redmond Police.
Officers alleged Joshua
Daniel LaForest used a hand-
gun to shoot Joshua Fischer
and fled before police arrived.
Another victim is mentioned
in court documents: Jacob Paul
Ellis.
District Attorney John
Hummel said the state alleges
LaForest was in a dispute with
a person and attempted to
shoot the person but missed
and struck Fischer.
Hummel would not confirm
if the intended target was Ellis.
Following the shooting,
Fischer was taken by ambu-
lance St. Charles Bend and by
Friday, police say he was in fair
condition.
LaForest, 45, was picked up
by police around 1:40 a.m. Fri-
day at the Holiday Hotel.
He was arraigned in De-
schutes County Circuit Court
Friday afternoon. The De-
schutes County District At-
torney’s Office is seeking
eight charges against him:
two counts of attempted sec-
ond-degree murder, two of
menacing, two of unlawful
use of a weapon and one each
of first-degree assault and at-
tempted first-degree assault.
See Volunteers / P5
Wednesday 1/19
Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting:
A regular meeting will be held; 4-5:30 p.m.; free; Redmond City Hall,
Online; redmondoregon.gov or 541-923-7710.
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.
Know Origins — Psilocybin Therapy in Oregon: Learn about
Oregon’s pioneering law to make access to psilocybin legal. You can
attend this program online or in person.; 6-7 p.m.; free; Downtown Bend
Public Library, 601 NW Wall St., Bend; deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-
1029.
Mystery Book Club: The book club will be discussing “The Man Who
Died Twice” by Richard Osman; 6 p.m.; free; Roundabout Books, Online;
roundaboutbookshop.com or 541-306-6564.
Trivia Night: Weekly trivia is open to all and hosted by Quizhead
Games; 6:30 p.m.; free; The Vault Taphouse, 245 SW Sixth St., Bend;
See Shooting / P3
The Spokesman uses
recycled newsprint
koboldbrewing.com or 541-504-9373.
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.
THursday 1/20
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.
See Calendar / P3
INDEX
Puzzles ............. 2 Obituaries ....... 6
Flashback ........ 3 Classifieds ....... 6
Volume 112, No. 21
USPS 778-040
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