For the Love of our Community Heroes 2021 - Winners Week 2

We Invite You to Follow Along Our 10 Week Campaign and Read All About Our Amazing Oregon Heroes!

Sunriver Resort's “For the Love of Community Heroes” campaign invites community members to privately nominate their Oregon hero. In appreciation, we are offering a complimentary two-night stay at Sunriver Resort for some well-earned time to relax & unwind, amidst all the beauty Central Oregon offers.10 winners are selected each week, for 10 weeks. Below are just a few of the stories that our nominees have allowed us to share, more stories to come. We invite you to follow along our 10 week campaign and read all about our amazing Oregon heroes!

RUTH'S STORY
My wife Ruth is a resilient and selfless person. She owns and operates two salons in Assisted Living and Memory Care. She is considered an essential worker and because she loves her clients she has been there for them through the entire pandemic. She will assist her clients in any way they need, from doing their hair to personal care or washing their hair twice because they can’t remember that she already did it. Pre-Covid (and will again after) she gifted kids in need free back to school haircuts and for Mother’s Day she gifted their mom’s free haircuts. Through the Women’s group she started at her church, Amen Sister, she gleaned food from local grocery stores for single income families and raised money for children to go to camp and scholarships for AWANA clubs. All that and she cares for me and our three son’s ages 10,12 and 14. She’s humble and a dedicated wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend who deserves everything good the world has to offer.

BRIAN'S STORY
I’m nominating my husband, Deputy Brian with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. Where do I begin to tell you about my husband and what he’s done in his 22 years of service? I’ll tell you he’s dedicated, selfless, courageous, fearless and so many other words I could go on and on. I am so proud of his accomplishments but mostly what he did over the last year (2020). Being an officer and taking an oath to protect and service the communities for most is just a job and my husband would say it’s his job. He isn’t the type to look for a pat on the back or recognition for things he does. This last year I saw his fire was a little less bright. It broke my heart because I know he loves what he does. From protests to riots to literally watching his childhood go up in flames back in September (Holiday Farm Fore) it was truly heart wrenching. My husband was born and raised on the beautiful McKenzie. If the protest and riots weren’t enough for any officer to endure the fire was truly was extremely devastating.

It all started the night of September 7th. We were sitting at home when we heard there was a fire that had started at mile marker 47 on McKenzie Highway. At that moment, neither of us imagined what the next several hours and weeks would look like for us and so many more. My husband had just gotten home from a 12 hour shift when he got the call to respond to the McKenzie community to help evacuate families. Families who he had grown up with and families that would endure so much loss. After he left I received a call from him and his words sent chills down my body. He said, “I love you, please start packing bags for the kids and yourself and be ready.” It didn’t register right away as we had just moved from the McKenzie Valley to Marcola the year before.He said he was at mile marker 35 and the fire was moving fast (4 miles per hour). Then he said, “Kim it’s bad, really bad”. I knew from his tone the outcome was not good. As a LEO wife you always tell them goodbye knowing you might not see them again. It’s one of the hardest things to do and to even imagine. When he called me is was about 1 am (he left at 9:30 pm on the 7th). That would be the last time I would talk to him until the next day at 7 pm). During his journey to help evacuate he came a tossed a car that appeared to have wrecked. So, he stopped to investigate. He heard children crying coming through Bluetooth on the wrecked car. Then, he saw a lady running towards hm yelling you have to help me my babies are trapped and I can’t get to the. She went on to explain her sister, sister’s daughter and her daughter were all trapped in their house with flames surrounding them. She said my daughter is only seven. We have a daughter who is seven so this hit home. My husband without skipping a beat said get it!!! They drove up to her house but couldn’t make it down the driveway because flames were completely surrounding the house and the house was on fire. Right then two volunteer fire fighters showed up and got them out. Once they all were safe or at least they thought they were they found the road was blocked in both directions so my husband knew the only safe place would be to have everyone (30+ people) evacuate to the high school track. He along with his baseball couch from high school, several fire personnel and community members fled to the track. This is where they would hunker down for almost 20 hours until other emergency personnel could make it up to clear the roads. This whole time I had no idea if he was safe or what was going on but he didn’t know that we were getting ready to evacuate because the fire was still moving fast now at almost 7 miles an hour. We hit a level two evacuation the next day at about 11 am and it went to a level 3 within two hours. The fire made it a mile from our new home in Marcola. The next day when my husband and the community members were freed I received a call and he again said I love you and I’m on my way home. Little did he know we were in a parking lot in my sister’s trailer. We weren’t able to go home for 12 days when the fire had finally slowed down. The entire time we were evacuated he went to work 12+ hours and he continued to work the fire. The days that followed we weren’t sure if we’d have a home to go back to but he continued to do his job selflessly. I could go on and on and tell you so much more of his accomplished but this is one that hits home. Our kids and I along with our friends and family are so proud of him and all who protect and serve.

I guess what I am trying to say is no matter what he loves his job through the good and the bad (worse). It’s his calling! I know so many others put their lives on the line each day and we appreciate each and everyone of them!!! He is truly my HERO!!! - Kimberlee

Brian received a total of 3 nominations. Below are 2 additional stories:

Brian is a deputy with the Lane County Sheriff's Office. He works hard for his community and his family. On September 7, 2020, Brian was at home with his family and was called into work around midnight. Brian was told there was a large forest fire that had started in the Blue River area, the Holiday Farm Fire. He immediately suited up and drove to Blue River to help where he could.

When Brian arrived in Blue River, he immediately went to work evacuating residents in the area while the fire was encroaching on him. He also encountered a running vehicle on the side of the road. There was nobody inside and he could not see anyone nearby as the smoke was so bad. Shortly after this, Brian encountered a female, who was the driver of the vehicle, who was distraught and asking for help as her child was at home near where the fire was. Brian took the female to her child and rescued them.

Due to how large the fire was by this point and the roads being block by debris, Brian escorted the woman and her child to the track at the Blue River school. Not long after they arrived at the track, Brian and several others, were surrounded by the flames of the forest fire. They were trapped at the track for several hours as the fire was burning around them and the roads were heavily obstructed by down trees, powerline's and rocks.

Brian is the definition of a Hero. He saved many lives that day and he should be recognized for his heroic actions. - Mickie

When I saw this opportunity to nominate an Oregon Community Hero, I could not hesitate to tell you about Brian. Brian just celebrated 22 years of service as a Lane County Sheriff Deputy. As you can imagine he has served the community in many ways but this last year has been the hardest and most challenging year ever. Law enforcement positions are hard enough, but you add protests, riots, covid19 and fire devastation to the mix and it is a recipe for disaster. You see, Brian is not only a member of the Eugene Bomb Squad but a trained Bomb technician and SRT member. Those credentials are impressive for sure on their own, but what truly makes him a candidate to be recognized as "Community Hero" is his most recent and courageous acts that occurred the night of Sept 7, 2020 when the Holiday Farm Fires broke out on the beautiful and majestic Mckenzie River. Brian was called out on duty to respond to the fires. He was no stranger to this area and landscape of where he needed to go. Brian grew up on the Mckenzie and has been and will always be known as a "local boy". It was this local boy's first hand knowledge of Blue River and keen sense of direction that would be his best weapons of defense. He needed to personally escape the blazing fire and help evacuate another 20 plus lives. While on duty, Brian, came across a wrecked car and a distraught mother attempting to evacuate her daughter and niece before the blaze engulfed the house. Brian told the woman to get in his patrol car and as fast as they could drive through the thick black smoke. Embers arrived to the house but couldn’t make it down the driveway because flames were completely surrounding the house and the house was on fire. Right then two volunteer fire fighters showed up and got the family members out. Once they all were safe or at least they thought they were, they found the road was blocked in both directions and had nowhere to go...except the local boy knew the only safe place to go would be the high school track! He, along with his old baseball coach from high school, several fire personnel and community members fled to the track! Now, he himself also needed to be rescued. For nearly 20 hours this group was stuck on the track not knowing what the future would hold for them. They had lost all radio communication at this point to down power lines and cell towers that were taken out by the fires. Eventually, other emergency personnel made it up to clear the roads. This whole time, while Brian was helping strangers in need and trapped himself , his own family was hearing the evacuation alerts and had to leave their home. Brian has a family of his own, a wife and two elementary aged children that could use there own Dad's reassurance during evacuation, but an officer on duty puts his own life on hold and must assess the immediate. Brian is obviously loyal to his job, selfless, and a true role model that protects and serves others above himself and his family. He is truly a HERO!! Brian was one of the Emergency Responders that was highlighted in an interview about their first hand experiences of surviving the Holiday Farm Fire. (You can view this video footage on the Lane County Sheriffs Facebook Page and learn more about Brian in the story.) Thank you for acknowledging the many Heroes of Oregon! - Molly

STACI'S STORY
Staci is a wife, mother of an adorable 2 year old and a passionate, dedicated IC Nurse at Legacy Hospital in Gresham Oregon. She continuously helps out her fellow nurses by taking extra shifts and going above and beyond to contribute to the team. Since Covid she's shown love and support to many families while taking care of the most fragile patients out there. Comforting families while they are dealing with unthinkable loss is a rare gift she brings day in and day out. What I find most remarkable is how Staci allows her heart to be forever imprinted by the patients she cares for. She knows their stories, their lives and their families. Outside of work Staci shines as well, always a beautiful smile and warm hug. I know how much she loves Sunriver Resort and feel it would give her a nice break to just relax, take in the beauty and go back to her busy life refreshed.

JON'S STORY
Jonny has worked tirelessly to help start popup picnics for our houseless community. Thanks to his efforts and continued dedication, one popup kitchen serving 30 meals per week, has turned into 5 popup kitchens bringing 200 warm meals, sack lunches and mutual aide supplies to houseless camps in 3 Bend locations, as well as Redmond & Warm Springs. Jon is a backbone of this effort, which has led him to create the non profit group Helper's. He has purchased a water tank and brings fresh water to the houseless camps each week, as well as driving back into BLM to make sure folks receive the aide that they need. He also hauls trash away for the camp's residents at least once a month. He has been able to purchase a community shower truck and is working on getting it to the picnic locations each week as well. He is inspirational and brings out the best in all of our group, offering wisdom, compassion, and hope to everyone who crosses his path.

TESSA'S STORY
Why is Tessa a community hero? She is the definition of a community hero. Tessa has lived in Bend, OR since 2005 and has worked at J Bar J youth services for the past 6 years. She has always gone above and beyond to support local businesses, local families and her community. Between 2015 and 2019 her family of 3 had a major disruption with her husband's cancer diagnosis. Even amongst the cancer diagnosis of her husband, she continued to show compassion and empathy towards juvenile offenders. Tessa has always left her personal struggles at home, and continues to provide exceptional care for the well being of the juveniles making sure all needs are met. In late 2019 her husbands cancer was deemed in remission. A few short months later, the Covid 19 pandemic was in full effect. In October 2020, J Bar J youth services was hit with a outbreak amongst the facility. Through this scary time, Tessa was persistent with being at work and making sure the juveniles' needs were met, all while putting a smile on and bringing the upmost joy to work. Tessa has always put others ahead of herself and continues to show her heart of gold. She continues to support local businesses and community members throughout this pandemic. Tessa is not just my community hero or her families community hero, but also all of Central Oregon's community hero. - Erik

Tessa is a co worker of mine at J bar J youth services in Bend. She has worked tirelessly through the pandemic, working directly with juvenile youth. She is one of the most caring persons I’ve ever met, always will lend a hand. She would enjoy and deserves a weekend staycation more than anyone I know, especially if it has a pool! - Tosh

HUMBERTO'S STORY
My father Humberto, turned 67 over the summer, and has been fighting wild fires for nearly 35 years. He spends most summers fighting the flames in our home state of Oregon, but often times he is sent to other states across the U.S. Many summers he is away from home from June to October, depending on how bad the fire season is. The summer of 2020 was particularly difficult, with the diagnosis of my mothers stage 4 cancer. My father had such a busy fire season, I decided to move home to care for my mother. My dad was dispatched to so many Oregon fires, he could no longer keep up with my moms care. Sadly, my mother passed away while he was away this summer working in Detroit, Oregon. He is feeling incredible guilt for being away. They've been married for 33 years! I would love to see him escape for a weekend to relax his busy mind. I can't think of anyone more deserving.

KEVIN'S STORY
Kevin has been a volunteer scuba diver for Deschutes County Sheriff Search and Rescue Team for over 20 years. He has spent countless hours scuba diving in cold, dark, and dangerous conditions to recover drowned victims, search for evidence, and recovery vehicles in Deschutes and many other counties in Oregon. He is on-call to do this for our community (all volunteer work) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and at the drop of the hat, he will drop everything he is doing to go on a mission. This has led to missed family events, mostly in the summer months, and resulted in many hours of me worrying about his safety. He has had to dive in dangerous caves, rapids, lakes, ponds, canals, and treacherous river canyons to complete water searches or bring tragically lost victims of drowning out of the water. When people ask how and why he would want to do underwater search and recovery he says that it is because it is important for the families to have closure and have their loved ones found so they can be laid to rest. He often sees the family's waiting on shore while he is searching. He says that the hardest, but most rewarding part is getting hugged and thanked by the sobbing family member.