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Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Redmond, Oregon • $1
redmondspokesman.com
A special good morning to subscriber Kathryn Outwater
@redmondspox
COVID-19: Redmond schools
Board passes new mask resolution
Decision came hours before Gov. Brown announced
state would lift its indoor mask mandate March 12
BY BRYCE DOLE
The Bulletin
The Redmond School District on
Monday passed a resolution making
masks optional in schools when Or-
egon lifts its indoor mask mandate,
nullifying a previous and controver-
sial decision to defy the state’s mask
mandate.
The board’s unanimous decision,
approved during a special meet-
ing, came just hours before Gov.
Kate Brown announced that Oregon
would join California and Washing-
ton in lifting its indoor mask mandate
March 12.
That means Redmond students can
shed their facial coverings in the class-
room March 14.
Board members welcomed the
state’s recent decisions to move up the
end of indoor mask mandates in Or-
egon, which comes during a steady
statewide decline in coronavirus cases.
But the board’s latest move came
amid mounting pressure from state
agencies, and employee unions, after
the board passed a resolution Feb. 16
that would take pandemic mitigation
from the district’s control and hand
it to the discretion of parents and
guardians.
That resolution, in effect, would
have made masks optional starting
Wednesday, well ahead of the state’s
previous March 31 deadline for lifting
masks.
Superintendent Charan Cline told
the board during the Feb. 16 meeting
that the district was asking teachers to
break the law.
See Masks / P5
REDMOND
‘PASSION PROJECT’
Council
OKs bond
measure
for police
station
Junction Roastery and Social Club now open in historic Patrick building
$40M measure will
be on May 17 ballot
BY JOE SIESS
The Bulletin
Gerry O’Brien/The Spokesman
Mitch Thisius and Bo Olson, from left, opened the Junction Roastery and Social Club in Redmond two weeks ago. It is located in the Patrick building, 708 SW
Deschutes Ave. in Redmond.
BY GERRY O’BRIEN • The Spokesman
R
eviving hospitality is the key ingredient at the heart of Junction Roastery and Social Club in Redmond.
The coffee shop in the historic Patrick building opened two weeks ago to crowds of folks in downtown Redmond
seeking coffee and conversation. But plans are to make it so much more.
Owners and operators Bo Olson
and Mitch Thisius have been look-
ing for the right venue to put their
vision into action — bring people
back together again in person, post
pandemic that is.
“All of it boils down to hospital-
ity,” said Olson. “It’s human nature
to socialize, and we’ve seen over the
last couple of years how pent-up
people are. We want to provide a
place for coming out of the pan-
demic, getting people back together
again to socialize. It’s sort of our
passion project.”
“That’s the idea of the name,
Junction,” said Thisius. “We want
people to experience a place where
there’s a meeting of the minds,
lower their guard, getting together
over a cup of one of the world’s old-
est beverages — coffee.”
And not just any coffee, but a
specialty brew closely monitored by
the baristas. (Barista training takes
up to 40 hours to ensure it’s right).
The Redmond City Coun-
cil voted to put a $40 million
bond measure on the May 17
election ballot, asking taxpay-
ers if they are willing to fund
the construction of a new po-
lice station
The resolution passed 5-2
Tuesday night at the council’s
regular meeting, with counsel-
ors Ed Fitch and Clifford Eve-
lyn voting against it. The two
councilors expressed their de-
sire that the council commit to
a $49 million budget cap for the
project, which is the amount
it is expected to cost when it is
completed by 2024 or 2025.
The resolution states the
general obligation bond,
which will be used to fund only
the construction of the build-
ing, is “not to exceed $40 mil-
lion.” The rest of the $9 million
funding will come from the
federal government and the
city’s general fund.
Keith Witcosky, Redmond
city manager, said discussion
about the $49 million budget
cap question will be revisited
during the council’s meeting
March 8.
If accepted by voters in May,
the city will have the authority
to tax Redmond homeown-
ers an average of around $12 a
month, or $148 a year to help
cover the costs of building the
new police station.
e
See Junction / P5
Reporter: jsiess@bendbulletin.com,
541-617-7820
The Spokesman uses
recycled newsprint
Wednesday 3/2
Toast & Jam: The roots band will perform; 5-8 p.m.; free; Wild
Ride Brewing Co., 332 SW Fifth St., Redmond; wildridebrew.
com or 541-610-2520.
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.
Thursday 3/3
Thrive Central Oregon Walk-In Consultations: Walk-in
social services assistance that connects you with resources;
1-4 p.m.; Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Red-
mond; deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-1050.
Parks Committee Meeting: A regular meeting will be held;
3:30-5:30 p.m.; free; Redmond City Hall, Online; redmondore-
gon.gov or 541-923-7710.
Paint the VFW Pint Night: The brewery will be donating
$1 per pint sold to help buy the paint. There will also be a si-
lent auction and an opportunity to make a direct donation;
5-8 p.m.; Wild Ride Brewing Co., 332 SW Fifth St., Redmond; vis-
itredmondoregon.com or 541-610-2520.
The Ballybogs: The Irish traditional music band will perform;
6-8 p.m.; free; Porter Brewing Co., 611 NE Jackpine Ct. 2, Red-
mond; porterbrewingco.com or 541-504-7959.
INDEX
Puzzles ............. 2 Sports .............. 3
Flashback ........ 3 Classifieds ....... 6
Volume 112, No. 27
USPS 778-040
Friday 3/4
First Friday: Art will be on display at participating businesses
as well as local musicians and makers playing music and
See Calendar / P5
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