FRIDAY • February 19, 2021 • Serving Central Oregon since 1903 • $1.50 CAMERA EXPLORATION EXPLORE » B1 SPORTS PULLOUT, B3-6 Homeless camp evictions frustrate some residents BY BRENNA VISSER The Bulletin Homeless camp removal efforts have continued on land owned by the Oregon Department of Transporta- tion in Bend, despite public health guidance that warns against it and pushback from some residents. Several residents in the past week have written emails or spoken to the Bend City Council with the plea to end homeless camp removal efforts along the Bend Parkway. “That motion disconnects them from the services that could help them get them out of their circum- stances,” Mike Satcher, a Sisters res- ident who works in Bend, told the council in a virtual meeting Wednes- day. “Until we can provide affordable housing...we have to have safe, healthy managed camps where people can ex- perience some level of stability.” At the beginning of the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued public health guid- ance advising public agencies to not move homeless camps in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. The CDC also recommends hygienic fa- cilities, like hand-washing stations, be provided at camps . Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin See Homeless / A6 A cluster of tents and other debris at a homeless encampment near U.S. Highway 97 and Revere Avenue in Bend on Thursday. Coronavirus drive-thru event CITY COUNCIL Redmond gives away PPE to 36 local businesses Bend plans to fund 400-plus affordable housing units Three proposed projects will receive $1.3 million from city BY BRENNA VISSER The Bulletin Three proposed developments that will result in more than 400 units of affordable housing have been given funding by the Bend City Council. On Wednesday, the Bend City Council approved three funding recommendations from the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. These projects altogether will receive $1.3 million from the city’s afford- able housing fund, which collects a portion of building permit fees for the purpose of buying and building deed-restricted afford- able housing. “This is really so great for our city,” Coun- cilor Megan Perkins said Wednesday. See Housing / A6 Ryan Brennecke/Bulletin photos Chuck Arnold documents a participant’s information as volunteer Ron Osmundson fills a bag with items while handing out personal protective equipment to local businesses Thursday at Redmond City Hall . BY MICHAEL KOHN The Bulletin City hopes to do several more Wickiup Reservoir, which holds back wa- ter for use by the North Unit Irrigation Dis- trict, is at a record low level for this time of year, leading to renewed concerns that farm- ers in Jefferson County will need to restrict water usage again for the third straight year. As of Wednesday, the reservoir was 48% full, according to the Bureau of Reclamation website. On the same date a year ago Wickiup was 60% full. On average, Wickiup is 85% full by this time of year. BY JACKSON HOGAN • The Bulletin R See PPE / A6 TODAY’S WEATHER Snow showers High 42, Low 26 Page B5 INDEX See Reservoir / A6 Correction A letter to the editor headlined “Control im- migration” which appeared Thursday, Feb. 18, on Page A8, incorrectly stated The Source Weekly commented recently on the demon- stration of residents against ICE officials in Bend. It did not. The Bulletin regrets the error. Chuck Arnold asks Joey Podsadecki if the business he works for also needs a ther- mometer while handing out personal protective equipment to local businesses at Redmond City Hall on Thursday. Business Classifieds Comics A7-8 B6 B7-8 Dear Abby A8 Editorial A5 Explore B1-2, 9-10 Horoscope History Local/State A8 A4 A2 , 4 Obituaries Puzzles Sports A8 B8 B3-5 The Bulletin An Independent Newspaper We use recycled newsprint Vol. 119, No. 43, 18 pages, 2 sections DAILY EDMOND — Marianne McGinty drove her SUV into the Redmond City Hall parking lot Thursday morning, hoping to receive free personal protec- tive equipment for her store, Redmond Spa, Stove & Sauna. Not only did she want to use the COVID-19 protective equipment to keep her employees and customers safe, but she also planned to give it to the contractors who help install hot tubs and stoves for customers, she said. “When they go to a customer’s house, they can be safe,” McGinty told The Bulletin. Two city staffers and a volunteer were more than ready with dozens of boxes stuffed with face masks, giant bottles of hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes and more. Wickiup Reservoir at record low level, officials warn U|xaIICGHy02329lz[