Inside Deschutes County

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, Solid Waste Director Tim Brownell reflects on his career in public service and the evolution of Deschutes County’s solid waste system as he prepares for retirement. The conversation covers how the system works day to day, key milestones during his tenure, and the challenges of managing waste for a growing community. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of how local waste management affects daily life and the long-term planning needed to keep the system running effectively.

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, Ben Duda, Emergency Manager with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, explains how the County prepares for winter storms, wildfires and other large-scale incidents. Even when winter is slow to begin, planning and coordination continue behind the scenes to keep the community ready. The discussion also covers how alerts and warnings are issued and practical steps community members can take to stay informed and prepared.

In this episode, Jackie Wilson from Deschutes County Solid Waste shares updates on the County’s expanding recycling options and the broader recycling modernization effort underway. The conversation also looks at why this is such a busy time for Solid Waste, with more waste and recycling generated during the holidays, and wraps up with a fun Recycle or Trash quiz to help clear up some common recycling questions.

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, we talk with the County’s new Health Services Director, Holly Harris. She shares what drew her to the role, her background in behavioral health, and how those experiences shape her approach to leading one of the County’s largest and most complex departments. She also offers her perspective on the work ahead and her vision for how Health Services can best support the community.

How dark should the night sky be in Deschutes County? In this episode, we talk with Tanya Saltzman from the Community Development Department about new lighting standards that take effect Dec. 23. Then, Chris Hill and Bill Kowalik from Dark Sky Oregon join the conversation to share why protecting our night skies matters for wildlife, human health, and our view of the stars.