Serving Central Oregon since 1903 • $1.50
FRIDAY • January 1, 2021
CLINE BUTTES
A DYNAMIC WINTER
MOUNTAIN BIKING AREA
EXPLORE » B1
SPORTS PULLOUT, B3-6
YEAR IN REVIEW
CENTRAL OREGON
A year that
changed
Oregon and
the world
THE YEAR IN PHOTOS
BY GARY A. WARNER
Oregon Capital Bureau
Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin
Members of the Summit track and field team run through drills during practice on Sept. 30 at Summit High School.
“What fresh hell is this?”
If 2020 were given unofficial slo-
gan it might be caustic writer Doro-
thy Parker’s quip whenever the door
bell rang.
The bell rang often — way too of-
ten — in 2020.
The impeachment of President
Donald Trump.
Nationwide demonstrations over
the killing of Black people by police
— including over 100 days of some-
times violent demonstrations in
Portland. Federal law enforcement
officers sent to the city over the ob-
jections of the mayor and local of-
ficials.
Massive wildfires burned over 1
million acres in Oregon, killing 10
and destroying 4,000 homes. The
fires spread smoke across the state
that at one point gave Sisters the
worst air quality in the world.
The death of liberal Supreme
Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
She was replaced by conservative
Amy Coney Barrett.
Another walk-out in the Oregon
Legislature, followed by three spe-
cial sessions. A failed GOP attempt
to recall Gov. Kate Brown.
See Year in review / A6
BY RYAN BRENNECKE • The Bulletin
2020
was a year of contrasts. We experienced the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also the coming together of large groups
fighting for social justice. We saw the stunning beauty of the natural world, but also the ugliness of violence and conflict. We
celebrated the big moments as best we could, but also found pleasure in the smallest acts of normalcy.
Through it all, Bulletin photographer Ryan Brennecke covered Central Oregon from behind the lens of his camera, capturing moments of
chaos, beauty, humanity and more. Here is a collection of the best of his work from 2020. See photo page, A4 »
2020: A YEAR OF CHALLENGES
Teen-led Bend 4 BLM group sparked conversations
BY JACKSON HOGAN
The Bulletin
THEY
MADE A
DIFFERENCE
W
See Challenges / A6
TODAY’S
WEATHER
There’s no question
about it: Central Oregon
residents faced unprec-
edented challenges in
2020, from a crippling
pandemic to social jus-
tice unrest to wildfires
that turned communities
to ash. But with every
development, someone
stepped forward to help,
answering a personal
calling to improve the
lives of neighbors and
strangers alike because it
was the right thing to do.
They were selfless. They
were generous. They
made a difference.
Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin
Bend teens, clockwise from left, Amanda Uri, Amy Morrison, Lilah Beck, Jace Bracelin and
Jade Jager worked together in 2020 to bring awareness about racism to Central Oregon.
Touch of rain
High 44, Low 38
Page B5
INDEX
Business
Classifieds
Comics
A7-8
B6
B7-8
Dear Abby
A8
Editorial
A5
Explore
B1-2,9-10
Horoscope
Local/State
Obituaries
A8
A2-3
A8
Puzzles
Sports
$1,000
BY GARRETT ANDREWS
The Bulletin
REDMOND — The latest dream
to die in the pandemic was that
of Heather and Greg Wales, the
now-former operators of Geist
Beerworks on SW Umatilla Avenue,
which filled its last growler Wednes-
day night.
For two years, the transplanted
Arizonans enjoyed the kind of suc-
cess founders dream about. In short
order they’d developed a core of reg-
ular patrons and a rotation of popu-
lar mainstays and seasonals.
In 2019, the couple started host-
ing paint parties, cornhole tourna-
ments, brewers guild meetings and
other gatherings, regularly drawing
upward of 60 people to their space
near Redmond Airport. Things
were going so well that by January,
they were looking at property down-
town, with plans to bottle and can
and hire their first employees.
See Last call / A6
B8
B3-6
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Pandemic pushes dining,
gyms to breaking point
DAILY
hen Jade Jager, then a junior
at Bend High School, heard
about the police killing of
George Floyd in May, she was angry.
Seeing her pain, her mother gave her
some advice.
“My mom saw me upset, and said,
‘Jade, if you’re upset, do something,’”
Jager, 17, told The Bulletin recently..
That prompted Jager to write a so-
cial media post about starting a Bend
rally against racism and police bru-
tality. Other local teens expressed in-
terest, and by early June, the Bend 4
BLM group was born.
Bend 4 BLM — the acronym stands
for “Black Lives Matter” — is a group
of about 15-20 local teenagers who
have organized protests and teamed
up with local organizations primar-
ily to educate Central Oregon about
racism.
It’s last call for
some bars and
restaurants
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