Thank you for subscribing to the Inside Deschutes County E-Newsletter! Here's what's making news across the County:

On Feb. 7, The Deschutes County commissioners voted to declare a 90-day state of emergency to address Central Oregon’s growing fentanyl crisis. The Board issued an emergency order, recognizing the growing threat to public health. Commissioner Phil Chang abstained from the vote, stating he thought it was not fully developed yet.

Overdose deaths increased by 100% between 2018 (six deaths) and 2022 (twelve deaths) in Deschutes County. In early January, Deschutes County Health Services identified four overdose fatalities within a six-day period that appeared to be linked to the use of fentanyl and in combination with other substances.

Despite these local increases, overdose fatalities in Deschutes County remain lower than statewide averages.

AJ Tucker Facade Being Dismantled

This month, crews began dismantling and cataloguing the blocks of the front facade of the historic AJ Tucker building, which is located at the corner of NW Greenwood and NW Harriman in downtown Bend.



The stone from the front facade will be stored for potential future reconstruction. The remainder of the building will be demolished. Work is expected to continue through March. The County sought the approval from the Landmarks Commission to accommodate the expansion of the Deschutes County Courthouse, which was unanimously approved in November.

While work is occurring on the AJ Tucker building, adjacent sidewalks and one crosswalk (at the corner of Greenwood and Harriman) will be closed. Pedestrians are encouraged to seek alternate routes.

Construction on the courthouse expansion project is expected to begin later this spring and continue through the fall of 2025. 

DEQ is offering free well water testing in southern Deschutes County as part of a groundwater quality study. Well users may volunteer to have DEQ collect water samples and receive a free water quality laboratory report.

Well users can apply by visiting this website or by contacting DEQ at Groundwater.Monitoring@deq.oregon.gov or 503-693-5736.

The deadline to apply for volunteering your well is March 10, 2024.

Over the past two years, Deschutes County has received and allocated more than $38 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds in support of key community projects.

Our new video series will help to highlight some of the Board’s key investments. This first video highlights the County’s largest ARPA investment of $2,550,000 to support the new NeighborImpact food warehouse in Redmond.

This award is just part of the more than $3.75 million that was allocated by the County to support food assistance projects in our region.

To learn more about this important project and the work NeighborImpact is doing locally, visit www.neighborimpact.org/construction.

"I Voted" Sticker Contest

The winner of the elementary school (K-5) Deschutes County "I Voted" Sticker Contest is Ivy Sapp, a second grader from Lava Ridge Elementary. Congratulations, Ivy!

Deschutes County employees voted to determine the winner. To view all the K-5 submissions, please click here.

Middle-high school (6-12) sticker design submissions will be accepted through the end of June.

The two winning sticker designs will be used during the 2024 Presidential Primary and General elections and featured in each election's Voters' Pamphlet.

Contest details at this link.

David Doyle, in-house legal counsel for Deschutes County, discusses his various responsibilities. Plus, we talk about his experience with Johnnie Cochran, his love of the Pittsburgh Pirates and his many ties.

And winter is not quite done with us yet. We also talk to Michael Johnston who leads the SkidCar Training program with Deschutes County. He talks about the class, the vehicle used and the hardest thing for people to learn when it comes to stopping your vehicle from sliding.



You can listen to both episodes at deschutes.org/podcast or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Deschutes County relies on volunteers to support many important committees which benefit Deschutes County residents. Click on the links below for a list of current volunteer openings or for a list of committees and their members appointed by the Deschutes County Commissioners.

Earlier this month, Deschutes County Health Services confirmed a case of human plague in a local resident. The individual was likely infected by their symptomatic pet cat.

Symptoms of plague usually begin in humans two to eight days after exposure to an infected animal or flea. These symptoms may include a sudden onset of fever, nausea, weakness, chills, muscle aches, and/or visibly swollen lymph nodes called buboes.

If not diagnosed early, bubonic plague can progress to septicemic plague (bloodstream infection) and/or pneumonic plague (lung infection). These forms of plague are more severe and difficult to treat. 

Fortunately, this case was identified and treated in the earlier stages of the disease, posing little risk to the community. No additional cases of plague have emerged during the communicable disease investigation. 

New Public Health Mobile Services

Deschutes County Public Health is launching mobile services.

WIC (Women, Infants & Children) will be at various locations around the county offering nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, nutritious foods, and help accessing health care for pregnant women, new mothers, and young children up to 5 years old.

Public Health will also be offering free and low cost reproductive & sexual health services including birth control, STI testing & treatment, and HIV prevention.

The van will be in Bend, Redmond, La Pine, Sisters and Terrebonne.

Coming soon: a calendar on the Health Services webpage showing where, when and what services are being offered throughout the month.

Employee Spotlight: Ryan Dunning

Ryan Dunning embodies the essence of his surname. That’s because he’s ‘done’ a lot in his life.

Dunning is currently a Property Analyst for Deschutes County Property Management. He’s been there since April of last year after spending five years in Tax & Finance.

Dunning’s role primarily revolves around enhancement of processes and procedures to drive efficiency and effectiveness.

“That’s really one of my strengths is to sift through everything and find all the holes and implement new strategies,” says Dunning.

Dunning served in the Marine Corps for five years. His time at sea and number of equator crossings earned him a “Golden Shellback” certificate.

Post military-service, Dunning worked as a correctional officer and created and managed luxury golf events. He also worked in sales and marketing.

“It enabled me to look at things differently, do a good job and take care of the people that were with me. We tried to find ways to make things better.”

Dunning is an identical twin. His twin brother is a police officer.

A devoted father of three, Dunning also plays in a band called ‘Rigby Pass.’ Music runs in the family. His mother was a professional singer.

“She played and sang with Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers and Sammy Davis, Jr.”

Whether it’s music or helping various Deschutes County departments, Dunning loves to collaborate and find ways to improve. 

“I wanted to be somewhere where you have a sense of belonging to something,” says Dunning. “Not only that but providing a service. I’ve always been service focused.”

And whether it’s serving his colleagues, his community or his country, Dunning has ‘done’ each of those well.

We're hiring!

We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,200 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices. 

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

We hope you’ll consider joining our talented team!

If you received this email but you would not like to continue receiving it, you can unsubscribe at any time using the link below.

To request this information in an alternate format, please call (541) 322-7444 or email info@deschutes.org.