Klamath Basin News, Wednesday, Nov. 13 – Local Brixner Student Threat Resolved

The latest Klamath Falls News around the Klamath Basin from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM/102.5FM, BasinLife.com and The Herald & News.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Klamath Basin Weather

Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Overnight, cloudy and a low of 36 degrees.

Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 62.

Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

TODAY’s HEADLINES…

The Klamath County Public Health Air Advisory is Green until noon today.

A threat made toward Brixner Junior High School on a bus at the end of the school day Friday was resolved over the weekend following a Klamath County Sheriff’s Office investigation.

The student who heard the threat reported it to their parent according to a statement by Klamath County School District. The sheriff’s office received notification of the threat Saturday evening. School administrators were then notified and witnesses were interviewed by law enforcement. The responsible student was apprehended Saturday evening school officials said. It was determined by law enforcement that the student did not have the means to carry out the threat. However, because of the seriousness of the threat  measures were taken by both law enforcement and school administrators.

Monday evening the sheriff’s office determined the student was no longer a threat and planned with the district to have a law enforcement presence at the school yesterday when classes resumed following the Veterans Day holiday.

Southern Oregon native and former state lawmaker Jason Atkinson announced yesterday that he will join the race for U.S. Representative Greg Walden’s seat in 2020 as a Republican.

Atkinson won a bid for Oregon state representative at the age of 26 before winning three successive terms as a state senator. He withdrew from politics in 2013 to spend more time with his family. Representative Walden announced at the end of October that he would not seek re-election in 2020 for leadership of Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District despite winning a commanding lead in every election since his first race roughly 20 years ago. Since Walden’s announcement, there has been a flurry of speculation over who might run to replace him.

Former state rep and Kate Brown challenger Knute Buehler has said that he would consider running, while Walden’s last adversary Jamie McLeod-Skinner said that she won’t run for the 2nd District seat again. Prior to Atkinson’s filing, state Sen. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) and Mark R. Roberts had filed to run as Republicans in the May 2020 primary. Roberts previously ran as an Independent in the 2018 election, garnering 4.2 percent of the vote against Walden and McLeod-Skinner.

Democrats John P. Holm, Raz Mason, and Isabella Tibbetts have also filed to vie for the 2nd District seat.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) invites Oregonians to ditch the shopping bags and lace up their hiking boots to celebrate “Green Friday” Nov. 29. OPRD will waive day-use parking fees that day in 25 state parks across Oregon. 

“Fall weather brings a different flavor to many state parks and we’re encouraging folks to get outside and explore,” said Lisa Sumption, OPRD director. “This is our fifth year celebrating Green Friday and we’re excited to continue the post-holiday tradition.”

Parking is free year-round at almost all state parks; the waiver applies to the 25 parks that charge $5 daily for parking. The waiver applies from open to close on Nov. 29, except at Shore Acres State Park, where it expires at 3 p.m. for the Holiday Lights event that runs Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. A list of parks that charge the $5 parking fee is available online.

Learn more about Oregon State Parks on oregonstateparks.org.

A special firewood cutting area now open on the Fremont-Winema National Forest Chiloquin Ranger District. 

The firewood cutting area is located east of U.S. Highway 97 and north of Collier Memorial State Park and will be open until roads are too wet to be used without rutting.  The area will reopen in the spring.The firewood is primarily dead and down lodgepole pine that is pre-bunched and stacked in small decks to allow for a safe place for the public to collect firewood.  The area is accessed by pre-created access lanes which require a high clearance vehicle. Personal Use Firewood Permits are required to cut and gather firewood in the area. 

Permits are $5 per cord with a minimum purchase of four cords and are available at Fremont-Winema National Forest offices including the Chiloquin Ranger District office.

The Board of Directors of EagleRidge High School, an Oregon Nonprofit Corporation, will hold a Board Meeting on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at 4:00 pm at EagleRidge High School, 677 South Seventh Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon. 

The meeting agenda includes discussion of fundraising, policies, Continuous Improvement Plan and CTE Revitalization Grant.  The Board may also consider other business brought before the board. 

The Governor’s Task Force on the Outdoors will hold their fifth meeting of the year November 15th at the Running Y Ranch.

The meeting is open to the public. Governor Brown established the task force earlier this year with the directive to explore long-term strategies for elevating outdoor recreation in the state. Task force members were appointed by the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission. The governor tapped the Office of Outdoor Recreation to guide the task force.

The meeting is the latest in a planned series with subsequent meetings to be held throughout Oregon. The group met for their inaugural meeting in May at Silver Falls State Park, near Silverton. 

Demand for gasoline in the U.S. is dropping to levels more typical for autumn which is helping pump prices fall or stabilize.

For the week, the national average holds steady at $2.61 a gallon. The Oregon average loses three cents to $3.31. Oregon is one of 24 states and the District of Columbia with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is three cents less and the Oregon average is 6 cents more than a month ago.

Klamath Falls News from partnership with the Herald and News, empowering the community.

…For complete details on these and other stories see today’s Herald & News.  Wynne Broadcasting and the Herald and News…stronger together to keep you informed.

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