Inside Deschutes County

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. On this episode of Inside Deschutes County, Caroline Suiter and Bethany Kuschel from the Deschutes County Suicide Prevention team discuss how to recognize when someone may be struggling, start a conversation and help prevent suicide. They also highlight local prevention efforts, upcoming events and resources available in our community.

In this bonus episode, Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert and Emergency Manager Ben Duda discuss how decisions are made during a wildfire emergency. They explain how agencies work together, what factors influence emergency response and evacuation decisions, and what residents should know when conditions change quickly.

In this bonus episode of Inside Deschutes County, we take a closer look at how emergency alerts reach you during a wildfire or other emergency.  Deschutes County Emergency Manager Ben Duda and Deschutes County 911’s Chris Perry join us to explain how information moves from first responders in the field to the public, from a deputy knocking on your door to Deschutes Alerts, Wireless Emergency Alerts and social media.  We also discuss lessons from recent wildfires and what you can do now to make sure you receive critical information when it matters most.

In this bonus wildfire update episode of Inside Deschutes County, Deschutes County Emergency Manager Ben Duda and Al De Vos with the Oregon Department of Forestry use the Akawa Butte Fire as a starting point for a discussion about wildfire response, preparedness and public safety in Central Oregon. They explain how agencies work together during a wildfire, what residents should know about evacuations and emergency notifications, and where to find trusted information throughout fire season.

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, Fair & Expo Director Jeff Curtis counts down the 10 things you need to know before the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo returns July 29 through Aug. 2. From new attractions and entertainment to longtime traditions, Jeff shares what visitors can expect and highlights some of the biggest changes and additions for 2026. Whether you're planning your first visit or you've attended for years, you'll come away with a better understanding of what makes this year's fair a community tradition worth experiencing.

In this special bonus episode of Inside Deschutes County, the first in a series of wildfire season updates, Deschutes County Emergency Manager Ben Duda is joined by Heather Miller with the Oregon State Fire Marshal to discuss current fire conditions, fireworks safety and what residents should know heading into the Fourth of July weekend. They also share where to report fireworks concerns and simple steps everyone can take to help reduce wildfire risk.
Fireworks reporting:• Deschutes County (county jurisdiction): Non-emergency, 541-693-6911• City of Bend: 541-322-6380 | fireworks@bendoregon.gov• City of Redmond: 541-504-3040 | reportfireworks@redmondoregon.gov

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, Gary Costa and Jesse Kratz from Behavioral Health join Jeff Pickens from Community Justice to discuss their collaborative approach to supporting people on parole and probation.  Learn how this partnership connects clients with behavioral health services, improves outcomes and strengthens public safety through coordinated care.

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, we catch up with Road Department Director Chris Doty to talk about the ongoing transportation funding conversation happening across Oregon and what it could mean locally for roads, maintenance and future projects.  We also discuss how this year’s mild winter impacted operations, what’s ahead as budget season arrives and Chris’s recent appointment with the National Association of County Engineers.

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, Tanya Saltzman, Senior Planner with Deschutes County Community Development, joins us to talk about the Terrebonne Community Plan. She explains how the plan guides future growth in Terrebonne, what priorities have been identified through community input, and how those ideas are translated into policies and development standards.

In this episode, Deschutes County Clerk Steve Dennison joins us to share 10 things voters should know ahead of the May 19 Primary Election. We talk about why this election is getting extra attention in Deschutes County, including the move from three to five county commissioners and how those seats will be filled. Steve also walks through key dates and deadlines, what else will appear on the ballot and where voters can find reliable election information.