P4 THE SPOKESMAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022
BMX competition attracts crowd to Redmond
BY TIM TRAINOR
Redmond Spokesman
REDMOND — More than 1,000 BMX racers,
and many more family and fans, packed the First
Interstate Bank Center for an event that attracted
riders from throughout the region.
USA BMX’s Great Northwest Nationals kicked
off Friday morning with open practice and pre-
liminaries, continued through Saturday with
qualifiers, and commenced on Sunday with a
slate full of finals in the Deschutes County Fair &
Expo Center indoor arena.
Competitors came from as far as Southern
California and British Columbia to take part in
the event, which was canceled the last two years
due to COVID-19. They ranged in age and ex-
perience — from toddlers navigating an obsta-
cle-filled course for the first time, to seniors who
have long-toured the northwest BMX circuit.
“It’s too much fun to get back and see every-
one,” said Larry Kopperud, who brought his
children down to compete in Redmond before
the pandemic and was happy to be back for the
2022 edition. The family travels to a number of
races throughout the Pacific Northwest — but
the Great Northwest Nationals is one of the high-
lights.
Kopperud rode bikes recreationally around
the Southern California neighborhood where
he grew up. Now living in Bremerton, Wash.,
his children got into the sport at a young age.
At 12 and 14 years old, they plan their summers
around BMX competitions.
“They like this more than the team sports and
the school sports,” said Kopperud. “They get to
kind of lead themselves, compete how they want
to.”
Locals are competing as well. They include Jet
Arzaga, 15, of Redmond, Banyon Howell, 16, of
Bend, and 50-year-old Bend rider Michelle Goo-
din.
Competitors rip through the course Saturday at the Great Northwest Nationals competition at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center.
Tim Trainor/The Spokesman
FLASHBACK
Forest Service ups fire suppression funding in 1972
The Spokesman
75 YEARS AGO
April 17, 1947 — VFW In-
stallation Set for Friday At
Air-Base Hall
Deschutes post No. 4108 of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars
will be host to the district No.
14 posts and auxiliaries at the
joint installation of incom-
ing officers Friday, April 18.
Starting at 8:30 p.m., the joint
installation will be held in the
Legion-VFW hall at Roberts
field.
Installing officer will be
Francis G. Gates of Bend, se-
nior vice commander of the
department of Oregon, and
other department officers
will also be present, it was an-
nounced this week by Don F.
Ross, acting commander of
the Redmond post. The joint
installation will be an open
meeting with posts and aux-
iliaries from Bend, Prineville,
Calendar
Continued from P1
Northern Paiute Storyteller Wil-
son Wewa: Hear Northern Paiute
Storyteller Wilson Wewa speak;
7-8 p.m.; free; High Desert Music
Hall, 818 SW Forest Ave., Redmond;
deschuteslibrary.org or 541-527-
1387.
Friday 4/15
Coffee Clatter: Join for a morn-
ing of business networking and
check out MountainStar Family
Relief Nursery; 8:30-9:30 a.m.; free;
MountainStar Family Relief Nursery,
2724 SW Timber Ave., Redmond;
visitredmondoregon.com or 541-
923-5191.
Phillip Austin: The country musi-
cian will perform; 6:30-9:30 p.m.;
free; General Duffy’s Watering Hole,
404 SW Forest Ave., Redmond; gen-
eralduffys.com or 541-527-4345.
DJ NellyNice: Dance the night
away with good vibes and pop
disco, house and party jams;
7-10 p.m.; free; General Duffy’s Wa-
tering Hole-Annex, 404 SW Forest
Ave, Bend; generalduffys.com or
541-527-4345.
Madras, Redmond and Sisters
participating. Ross has urged
all incoming and outgoing of-
ficers to be present.
Following the installation, a
program of dancing has been
scheduled. Refreshments will
be served by the auxiliaries,
Ross said.
50 YEARS AGO
April 12, 1972 — Bend fire
station planned by Forest
Service
Plans for increased federal
funding for Oregon forest fire
prevention and suppression
include $13,000 for survey and
design of a Bend fire station,
announced Sen. Mark O. Hat-
field.
Oregon’s increase in U.S.
Forest Service appropriations
from $2,611,000 for the cur-
rent fiscal year to $2,693,000
represents an increase of
$82,000, which overall USFS
Marble, The Color Study & Night
Channels: All three alternative rock
bands will perform; 8 p.m.; $12;
High Desert Music Hall, 818 SW For-
est Ave., Redmond; highdesertmu-
sichall.com or 541-527-1387.
Saturday 4/16
Spring Gardening Seminar —
Native Bees and Plants: OSU
Master Gardener Toni Stephan will
offer their insight into the world
of bees in Central Oregon; 10 a.m.;
$5-$35 Choose 1 class ($5) or up
to 7 ($35); OSU Extension Service,
Online; gocomga.com or 541-548-
6088.
Spring Gardening Seminar —
Composting: OSU Master Gar-
deners Rocky Bessette and Toni
Stephan will offer their insight into
the world of composing in Central
Oregon; 1 p.m.; $5-$35 Choose 1
class ($5) or up to 7 ($35); OSU Ex-
tension Service, Online; gocomga.
com or 541-548-6088.
Live at The Tasting Room —
Gritts & Gravy: A smaller ver-
sion of the full band Dry Canyon
Stampede will perform their
folksy country music; 5-8 p.m.;
$15 adults, children 12 and under
free; Faith Hope & Charity Vine-
yards, 70450 NW Lower Valley
fire fighting funding will drop
by $833,000.
Bureau of Land Management
plans and increase of $315,000,
of which $134,000 will be used
in eastern Oregon.
Eastern Oregon increases
include $70,000 for pre-sup-
pression funds above last
year‘s tally of $376,000 for the
purchase of new equipment
and temporary personnel. It
also includes funds for con-
struction of a new $27,000
communication center in
Lakeview and $37,000 for
planning new fire control sta-
tions and lookouts, including
the one in Bend.
25 YEARS AGO
April 16, 1997 — Students
to warn against drain dump-
ing
Fourth and fifth grade stu-
dents at Vern Patrick Elemen-
tary School will participate in
Drive, Terrebonne; faithhopean-
dcharityevents.com or 541-526-
5075.
Sunday 4/17
Sunday Brunch and Karaoke:
Join for brunch and then later Ka-
raoke; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; free; General
Duffy’s Watering Hole, 404 SW For-
est Ave., Redmond; facebook.com/
Generalduffys or 541-527-4345.
Monday 4/18
Central Oregon Retired Educa-
tors Meeting: All interested in ed-
ucation are welcome to attend and
help work on projects that bene-
fit local organizations; 11:30 a.m.;
lunch is $10; Zion Lutheran Church,
1113 SW Black Butte Blvd., Red-
mond; facebook.com/centralore-
gonretirededucators or 541-548-
3490.
Planning Commission Meeting:
A regular meeting will be held;
6:30-8:30 p.m.; free; Redmond City
Hall, 411 SW Ninth St., Redmond;
redmondoregon.gov or 541-923-
7710.
D N
“Jim” Edgar James Parker III
of BEND
March 30, 1938 -
March 16, 1922
Arrangements: Niswonger-
Reynolds
https://www.bendfuneralhomes.c
om/obituaries/Jim-Edgar-James-
Parker-III?obId=24398615#/obit-
uaryInfo
Services: Buried at Greenwood
Cemetery after a graveside serv-
ice on March 26, 2022
OBITUARY DEADLINE
Call to ask about our deadlines
541-385-5809
a storm drain marketing proj-
ect Saturday morning, in co-
operation with the Redmond
Public Works Department.
Storm drain marketing is an
educational program design
to inform citizens about the
ecological hazards of dump-
ing household chemicals into
storm drains.
The project involves paint-
ing a stencil next to the storm
drain to remind people that
everything that goes into a
storm drain ultimately affects
groundwater. The stencil says
“Dump No Waste — Protect
Your Groundwater.“
Students will target storm
drains only around Vern Pat-
rick school.
The project also involves
distributing a brochure to
homes in the area where
drains have been marked.
In a related project, the stu-
dents raised rainbow trout and
kokanee salmon in their class-
rooms. The fish were released
into Fireman’s pond.
OBITUARY
Kenneth G. Ross Sr.
December 12, 1929 - March 7, 2022
Kenneth Gordon Ross Sr. passed away on
March 7th, 2022 at the age of 92. Ken was born
in Bothell, Washington December 12th, 1929
along with a twin brother, Keith, to William and
Olga Ross. He lived a full and interesting life.
Ken worked for Boeing for a short period prior
to entering the US Army in 1951, where he
served for approximately two years. After being
discharged he went to work for Pacific Power
and Light Company in Seattle. It was there he
met the love of his life, Mary. They married
in 1955 and lived in Redmond, Washington
where they began raising two sons. In the
early 60’s they moved to Dryden, Washington
where Ken worked with his father-in-law in
construction. In 1965 they moved to Leavenworth, where he began a long career with
the US Forest Service as a wildland firefighter. His career with the Forest Service took
him and the family to many locations over the years. From Leavenworth, they moved
to Glide, Oregon, and later to Walla Walla. In 1981 they moved from Walla Walla to
Laurel, Montana, then to Orofino, Idaho where he retired in 1986. After retirement,
they moved to Chelan, Washington, and promptly started a complete remodel/rebuild
project on an older home which kept them busy for the next few years. In 2015 they
sold their home in Chelan and moved to Redmond, Oregon, to be closer to family.
During his lifetime he and Mary made many lasting friendships.
Ken loved hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, traveling, and feeding the birds. He was
able to hunt with family until he was 90. He also loved music and enjoyed working on
his 1937 Ford pickup that he acquired in the mid-’50s.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, and 3 sisters. He is survived by
his loving wife Mary, his sons Ken Jr. (Karen), Karl (Traci), three step-grandchildren, 2
brothers, Dick and Jerry, along with many nieces, nephews, and close friends who were
like family.
Ken was a devoted husband, wonderful father and father-in-law, and friend to many.
He will be deeply missed by all.
No services are planned at this time. A celebration of life will be planned at a later date.