La Pine woman arrested after crash

An allegedly intoxicated woman driving on U.S. Highway 97 struck and injured a pedestrian Thursday at the Huntington Road intersection in La Pine, according to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheri Lynn Barnes, 53, of La Pine, was driving a red 2012 Kia Rio southbound on the highway about 10:15 a.m. when she allegedly hit 77-year-old Harold Headrick, of La Pine, who was walking west to east across the highway, according to the sheriff’s office, which received reports that Barnes was driving erratically.

Barnes stopped after the crash and remained at the scene. The sheriff’s office says she was under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the crash.

She was arrested on charges of second-degree assault, unlawful possession of methamphetamine, driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and reckless endangering.

Headrick was transported to St. Charles Bend with life threatening injuries.

The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation, and La Pine Fire Department.

Sisters city manager plans to resign

Brant Kucera, city manager of Sisters, is resigning.

Kucera has accepted a position as city administrator in Ashland, Wisconsin, and will formally resign Aug. 18, according to a news release from the city of Sisters. Kucera said the decision was made in part to be closer to his son, according to the release.

Kucera was hired as the city manager of Sisters last summer. Before moving to Sisters, he worked as the city manager of Cannon Beach. He also served as the borough manager of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and the city manager of Gladstone, Michigan before moving to Oregon, according to The Bulletin’s archives.

Sisters Mayor Chuck Ryan will work on a transition plan for the replacement of the city manager with the city council and staff, according to the release.

Fire restrictions coming to Crater Lake

With warm, dry weather on the horizon, Crater Lake National Park will implement fire restrictions.

Beginning Friday, fireworks will be prohibited at all times, and smoking will be allowed only in vehicles with an accompanying ashtray, or in areas with at least 3 feet in diameter with no flammable materials present, according to a news release from the National Parks Service.

Wood and charcoal fires are permitted only within established grills or fire rings, or in portable self-contained grills in Mazama Campground or residential areas within the park, according to the release. Gasoline and propane camp stoves and gas grills are permitted in campgrounds, picnic areas, backcountry areas and residential areas.

The national park received less snow than usual last winter, and has seen below-average precipitation overall this year. Those factors, plus the coming heatwave, have contributed to increased fire danger at the park, according to the release.

People who fail to comply with these restrictions may be cited or arrested, according to the release.

Little League official appears in court

The La Pine Little League official and umpire accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the South Central Little League made his first appearance in Deschutes County Circuit Court Thursday morning.

Casey K. Zampelli, 44, has been out of custody since the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office sent him a letter in July notifying him of the eight felony charges against him. He’s facing four counts of first-degree theft and four of fraudulent use of a credit card.

Zampelli was president of the South Central Little League from September 2016 to March 31. He’s also volunteered for years as a league official and umpire for other youth sports associations in the area.

Zampelli is accused of skimming at least $4,000 from donations and registration fees to the South Central Little League for his personal use, according to the Deschutes District Attorney’s Office. The alleged offenses came to light after the league hired a treasurer, who noticed irregularities.

Zampelli has retained Bend defense attorney Shelby Thomas.

Thomas recently submitted paperwork with the court for Zampelli to attend training sessions related to his employment this weekend in Oroville, Calif.

— Bulletin staff reports