The latest and most comprehensive coverage of local News, Sports, Business, and Community News stories in the Klamath Basin, Southern Oregon and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM / 102.5FM and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance, your local health and Medicare agents.
Friday, February 17, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Sunny, with a high near 46. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning. Overnight clear with a low of just 19 degrees expected.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Cloudy overnight with a low around 23.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
Monday, President’s Day Partly sunny, with a high near 55.
Tuesday A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 43.
See Road Camera Views:
Lake of the Woods
Doak Mtn.
Hiway 97 at Chemult
Hiway 140 at Bly
Hiway 97 at GreenSprings Dr.
Hiway 97 at LaPine
Today’s Headlines
Agriculture in the Klamath Basin might be in for another dry year with little in the way of emergency water provisions. The Oregon Water Resources Department issued a news release last Thursday stating that, if a drought emergency is declared in Klamath County, it is “unlikely” the department will issue emergency use permits, also known as drought permits.
This would be the second year without the permits in the Upper Klamath Basin. Throughout previous drought-stricken years, producers in the area have often relied on these permits which grant access to and use of groundwater.
The OWRD news release stated the water levels in the Klamath Project area had dropped nearly 30 feet in the past few years due to “seasonal declines” during the 2021 and 2022 irrigation seasons.
This decline has left many domestic wells dry, the news release stated. Klamath Water Users Association Executive Director Paul Simmons said he is disappointed by the state’s decision. Simmons expressed concern for the status of the water levels as well, but said KWUA would prefer to work with OWRD on a “case-by-case basis” to determine when emergency use is acceptable.
The Bureau of Reclamation, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, announced Tuesday that it will direct “temporary adjustments” to Iron Gate Dam effective immediately.
Flows from the Iron Gate Dam, the lowest of the four Klamath River dams scheduled for removal in 2023 and 2024, are being reduced by about 11 percent, or 105 cubic-feet per second. The reductions began Tuesday and will continue through April 1.
According to a news release announcing the reduction, the agencies said, “The operational change will be informed by ongoing real-time environmental and hydrologic monitoring; further management may be implemented after considering this information.”
According to the release, the agencies “will continue Tribal Nation and stakeholder communications initiated last fall, as well as the adaptive management process they have established to consider the best available scientific information in managing risks.” The process is described in the Klamath Project January 2023 Temporary Operating Procedure, and the Klamath Project Operating Coordination, Winter/Spring 2023, released Feb. 13, 2023.
Young people between ages 15 and 18 can apply for summer jobs with the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) at Lava Beds National Monument.
YCC is a summer employment program for young men and women who “work and learn together by participating in conservation work on public lands.” Planned work projects include trail maintenance, exotic weed control, native plant care, landscape restoration and cave clean-up. Conservation education is incorporated into the YCC program, which is designed to “introduce participants to the natural and cultural history of the local area, highlight the mission of the National Park Service, and involve field trips to surrounding sites.”
The program is scheduled to begin Monday, June 19, and run for eight weeks to Friday, Aug. 11. Applications are due by April 1. Up to eight YCC crew members for the summer will be selected during a random drawing of applications April 15. Initial preference will be given to local applicants from the nearby communities of Tulelake, Newell and Tionesta areas of far northern California and Merrill and Malin in Oregon. Successful candidates will earn $16 an hour.
Program Coordinator David Hays said applicants must be in very good physical condition, noting, “This work can be fun, even adventurous, but it can also be strenuous and is performed in hot, rugged, dirty environments. If regular exercise is not already part of an applicant’s lifestyle, they are strongly discouraged from applying.”
Selected participants must bring their own lunches and be able to provide their own daily transportation to and from the park. No housing is available and carpooling is encouraged. The work schedule is 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, except on federal holidays. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have an existing bank account at time of application.
Applications for the YCC program may be emailed to David_Hays@nps.gov or mailed to the Lava Beds YCC Program, Attn: David Hays, P.O. Box 1240, Tulelake, CA 96134, and must be received no later than April 1. Interested applicants may also call Hays at 530-667-8103.
The Ross Ragland Theater is partnering with Retro Room Records to bring three of Jim Turner’s and Hurricane Andrew’s Funniest Friends to Klamath Falls.
The show featuring Paul Conyer, Amanda Arnold and Ric James is set to start at tonight, Friday, at 7:30PM.
This show is appropriate for ages 18 and older. The event will be MC’d by Turner and Hurricane of Retro Room Records, with special guest performances from comedians all over the Pacific Northwest.
Conyer is a San Francisco Bay comedian who has been a part of comedy shows all over California and has expanded outward,” a press release states. “He won the 2020 World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas, and has even performed for benefit shows such as the benefit for San Francisco Suicide Awareness. Paul’s debut comedy special, ‘Above The Fray,’ was released in August 2020 and is available on Amazon Prime Video. Alongside Paul Conyer’s performance will be acts from Amanda Arnold from Portland and Ric James from Northern California.
The Ragland Comedy Nights partner with Retro Room Records to guarantee a night of laughter brought to the audience from some of the funniest people on the west coast.
Tickets cost $20 for adults and $40 for Vegas Box Seats which include a Meet and Greet with the Comedians in the Cultural Center from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. as well as two drink tickets per set. Go to the theater’s website at www.ragland.org to purchase tickets to the show. The box office is open from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or two hours before show time the day of any show at 218 N. 7th St.
The Klamath County Library will host an event looking for your input on charging stations for electric vehicles.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program is a federally-funded effort to establish a nationwide network of charging stations for electric vehicles over the next five years. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) wants your input on the state’s participation in NEVI, and you can learn more about the program and give your thoughts during a public meeting at the downtown Klamath County Library on Tuesday, February 28th from 3pm to 5pm.
Oregon’s proposed electric vehicle infrastructure plan) aims to place high-powered charging stations along major corridors, in order to make long road trips with an electric vehicle as easy, speedy, and uncomplicated as fueling up at a gas station. It will use NEVI funding to first implement the north-south corridors of I-5/I-205 and US-97, then the major east-west thoroughfares of I-84, US-20, US-26, as well as US-101 along the coast.
ODOT expects to use $65 million in total funding over the next five years to develop and upgrade charging stations along Oregon’s major roadways, doubling the state’s total charging stations. The department isn’t stopping there – according to their infrastructure plan linked above, Oregon will expand its charging stations to a more than 40-fold increase of its current offerings by 2035.
For more information about ODOT’s NEVI plans or to place a pin in their interactive map where you’d like a charging station, head to www.oregon.gov/odot/climate/Pages/NEVI.aspx.
The Keno Lions Club is offering a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior living in the Keno Elementary School attendance area.
Scholarship applications are due by April 17 and are available from high school counselors, or by emailing the Lions secretary at gnocchi1234@hotmail.com.. The Keno Lions have been presenting scholarships to students since 1985.
Klamath County Commissioner Dave Henslee said this week that he wants the decisions the commissioners make to be in the best interests of the county, and what the community wants.
Henslee’s comments came during the weekly Klamath County Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Feb. 14 while the commissioners discussed the need for a strategic plan.
According to county documents, the strategic plan will function both as the county’s blueprint for success and as a powerful communication tool that will incorporate the vision, values and objectives of Klamath County.
The creation of the plan will come together in four phases: Project Coordination, Fact Finding, Facilitation and the drafting of the plan itself. Moss Adams will assist county leadership in setting priorities for the strategic plan based on current budgets, challenges the county is facing and opportunities the county holds.
Moss Adams will be conducting a needs assessment to determine the county’s current and future needs by interviewing the county commissioners and other county leaders as well as key stakeholders and/or any partners.
Moss Adams said they are prepared to begin the project at contract signing and that a strategic plan of this nature typically takes upward of six months.
The County Commissioners approved an agreement between the county and Moss Adams in facilitating the creation of a five-year strategic plan for the county at a fiscal impact not to exceed $66,000.
During the meeting, the board also reviewed a request for an extension of a Tourism Competitive Grant awarded to Klamath Ice Sports in May 2022. The original grant was contractually agreed to be completed by Feb. 17.
Bob Kingzett, board president of Klamath Ice Sports, requested the extension to complete the project due to product availability being hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant was to be used for the purchase of a prefabricated building that consists of two locker rooms in hopes of expanding the number of hockey tournaments and teams that could participate in such a tournament with the goal of bringing more people into the county during the months of October through March.
Aside from fiscal reasons, the need for new locker rooms also rose to allow for a space for female players to change who are currently forced to do so in either the restroom or in the ice rink’s office. There was also a need for making the locker rooms ADA compliant as the current one is only accessible via staircase.
The board agreed to grant the extension for six months expiring Aug. 17.
Last year, Crater Lake National Park was the quietest it’s been in a decade.
A total of 527,259 people visited the park in 2022, according to National Park Service data, a 19% decrease from 2021 and a 30% decrease from 2016, when a record 756,344 people visited the beautiful blue-hued lake in southern Oregon.
Last year’s annual visitor count is the smallest since 2013. Superintendent Craig Ackerman said park officials are not sure why numbers have fallen, since so many factors can influence travel.
Soaring gas prices over the summer were at the top of his list of potential reasons for the decline, as well as extreme weather patterns and the fact that several of the park’s main draws weren’t offered last year, with some campsites closed and boat tours to Wizard Island canceled.
But unlike some years past, 2022 saw no closures at Crater Lake and relatively mild impacts from nearby wildfires. In September, lightning strikes started two small fires that park officials said would not affect visitors, and smoke only briefly drifted in from the Cedar Creek fire to the north.
But unlike some years past, 2022 saw no closures at Crater Lake and relatively mild impacts from nearby wildfires. In September, lightning strikes started two small fires that park officials said would not affect visitors, and smoke only briefly drifted in from the Cedar Creek fire to the north.
Still, Ackerman said the mere threat of smoke or fire could keep people at bay. With more resources to track air quality online, travelers have become more savvy and cautious about making the long trek to the park, he said.
Sky Lakes Medical Center’s free CNA training program application is open again.
This program is funded and supported by Sky Lakes Medical Center and hosted at Klamath Community College. Sky Lakes will cover the cost of the program and required materials. Those who successfully complete the program will be offered full-time employment at Sky Lakes Medical Center.
You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school degree or earned a GED, successfully complete the interview process, and pass a background and drug screening to enroll in the program.
Learn more and apply by visiting the Sky Lakes Medical Center’s website. https://www.skylakes.org/
22nd Living Well Community Health Fair
SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023 AT 6 AM – 12 PM PST
Klamath County Fairgrounds 3531 South 6th St. Exhibit Hall 1
Sky Lakes is bringing back the Living Well Community Health Fair! Join us at the Living Well Community Health Fair for free health screenings and exhibits from Sky Lakes Medical Center and our community partners for all ages. These preventative health screenings will be available to the public for free:
- Cholesterol screening (recommended 8-12 hour fast)
- Blood glucose screening (recommended 8-12 hour fast)
- Blood pressure check
For more information, go to https://www.skylakes.org/healthfair/
The Veterans Memorial Project is ready to accept applications for more brick orders.
Spring brick orders are due by Feb. 28 for bricks dedicated to military veterans to be placed at the Veterans Memorial.
The Veterans Memorial Project is a community-wide project which honors and recognizes Veterans who have served this nation. The memorial features a pavilion, war monuments and more than 5,000 dedicated bricks meant to be a lasting legacy to military individuals. Each brick is a tribute to a military member and their service. Bricks can be ordered for $50 each and dedicated to any United States veteran, regardless of where they live and whether they are living or deceased.
A brick order form can be downloaded from the city website at www.klamathfalls.city/262/Veterans-Memorial.
For more information, contact the City of Klamath Falls Development Services Office at 541-883-4950 or email cityparks@klamathfalls.city.
The deadline for the second year of the Alleyway Activation Project is fast approaching.
In 2022, Healthy Klamath was able to install four pieces of art on the exterior wall of a building downtown thanks to the AARP 2022 Community Challenge grant. Due to the success of this initial project, Health Klamath has announced a plan to continue these beautification efforts.
The Alleyway Activation Project is designed to beautify alleyways in the downtown corridor of Klamath Falls. Recruiting from the abundantly creative regional community, a selected artist’s work will be mounted to one of the historical buildings off Main Street. This is an opportunity to be a part of the effort to make Klamath falls a livelier and more beautiful place.
Artists will be given a 4-foot-by-8-foot space to paint on that will be mounted to a steel frame. Taking great care, these frames will be mounted to the building in a safe and preserving manner so the integrity of the brick and mortar remains intact.
Each artist will be given a $600 stipend for their time and creativity spent on the piece as well as an allowance for paint. To apply, artists must provide a conceptual drawing of what they plan to create.
Applications are due Feb. 28 and selected artists will be notified by March 2 with a mandatory meeting March 6. Paintings must be completed by May 22.
If artists fail to complete their paintings, they will forfeit their stipend. Artists are responsible for purchasing their own paints and will be reimbursed for any costs associated with creating their piece.
Artists will have to coat the final product in a sealant to preserve the paint from fading and moisture. Artists will be asked to paint on plywood, but multi-media art is welcome, as long as the wood is coated with a sealant. Plywood and marine varnish will be provided at the mandatory meeting with the project coordinator.
Healthy Klamath is looking for a range of artistic styles, themes, techniques and experience levels. The organization asks that if painted, make the design picture based, not word-based. Designs that include logos, copyrighted or trademarked images, advertisements, or political, commercial, religious or sexual symbols, themes or messages will not be accepted; however, special exceptions may be granted for logos that connect the community to existing themes. Designs should be appropriate for a diverse, broad-based audience.
Around the state of Oregon
Many Drug Busts and Arrests in the Rogue Valley
Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Madge Detectives and the OSP led a two year drug investigation and began serving search warrants on Jerret Hooey and his co-conspirators. In five days’ time these agencies and the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) team, Grants Pass Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and Medford Police Detectives served over 24 search warrants at various locations within Jackson County.
In total, Detectives seized over $165,000 in U.S. currency, 86 firearms, over 1 ½ pounds of cocaine, over ¼ pound of methamphetamine, over ¼ pound of fentanyl, and over 90 pounds of marijuana and/or marijuana extracts.
Four males believed to be main suspects in this case were arrested and lodged at the Jackson County Jail:
- Jerret Hooey, age 34
- Jesus Ledesma, age 35
- Nicolas Carrillo-Ortiz, age 38
- Lucas Palomarez, age 27
The subjects involved were arrested for Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine, Unlawful Manufacturing of Cocaine, and Unlawful Possession of Cocaine among other charges. An additional 20 subjects were contacted and/or arrested in conjunction with the drug trafficking organization.
MADGE Detectives have been investigating Jerret Hooey and his drug trafficking organization (DTO) since February 2020 for selling large amounts of cocaine in Jackson County. In November of 2022, MADGE Detectives began monitoring Hooey’s phone calls via a Title III wire intercept. During the investigation, Detectives began monitoring two additional phone lines in connection with the case.
Through the investigation, MADGE Detectives were able to confirm the cocaine was being distributed from the Mexico border at the ports in California and Texas. The source of these drugs were confirmed to be the Mexican Cartel. The drugs were transported from Tijuana, Mexico and Juarez, Mexico to Oregon where they were distributed. Detectives with MADGE continue to investigate leads from this case in an attempt to arrest and prosecute individuals involved with this cocaine drug trafficking organization.
If you have any information regarding subjects involved in this case, please contact Detective Schwab with MADGE at 541-292-6035 or 541-774-2231.
Fatal accident on I-84
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, the Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 217, in Umatilla County.
The preliminary investigation indicated a silver Honda Pilot, operated by Zoe Ann Marshall (53) of Bonney Lake (WA), was eastbound on I-84 when the vehicle lost control and rolled multiple times. Marshall was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and was declared deceased at the scene.
The highway was closed for approximately 4 hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash has not be determined. OSP was assisted by the Umatilla Tribal Police Department, the Umatilla Tribal Fire Department and ODOT.
State to Reopen Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund Program Portal to New Applications
Homeowners urged to seek free guidance from housing counselors
SALEM, ORE. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) will resume accepting new applications for the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Program on March 8, 2023. The agency estimates there are enough funds to support about 700 additional eligible homeowners.
The program offers federal temporary COVID-19 emergency mortgage relief intended to support homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardships due to the pandemic. It provides funding for past-due mortgages and other housing expenses, as well as ongoing payment assistance, to a limited number of homeowners with low to moderate incomes.
“Keeping families in their homes has been a collaborative effort with Oregon’s housing counseling agencies, which provide advice and advocacy for struggling homeowners across the state,” said Ryan Vanden Brink, assistant director of Homeowner Assistance Programs. “If you are a homeowner falling behind, don’t delay, reach out to a state approved homeownership center right away.”
HAF will reopen with a focus on homeowners in active foreclosure and those traditionally underserved by mortgage markets. Homeowners can learn more about eligibility requirements and, if eligible, apply online starting March 8, 2023, at oregonhomeownerassistance.org.
HAF funding is limited. The state is prioritizing Oregon households that are at the highest risk of foreclosure. Once the $72 million of funding available for homeowners is gone, the program will close. Even if homeowners are eligible, there is no guarantee their application will be funded. Other loss mitigation options depend on a homeowner’s mortgage and their servicer. Homeowners should evaluate all their options.
Search the full list of free certified housing counselors by county. Homeowners should be aware that some housing counseling agencies take longer to respond due to remote working policies.
Possible Expansion To The Pipeline That Runs Through Southern Oregon
Canadian-based TC Energy is looking to expand the Northwest Pipeline that runs through Southern Oregon by adding new compressors in Oregon and Washington to increase its production potential.
Activists from Rogue Climate in partnership with other environmental groups hosted a community meeting Monday evening to inform residents about the project.
“There wasn’t a lot of opportunity for public engagement. Because it’s an expansion project and not a new pipeline, the timeline is very quick. A lot of people actually just don’t even know that this is happening and that this is being proposed,” said Maig Tinnin, spokeswoman for Rogue Climate.
The project has been opposed by both Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley. Merkley spoke at Monday night’s meeting.
“The last thing we should do is continue building more fossil fuel infrastructure. In doing so, we’re not only creating infrastructure that will facilitate the burning of fossil fuels for a generation to come, but was also facilitating the donations that flow from that to corrupt our political system,” Merkley said.
Because it is an expansion of an existing pipeline and not the construction of a new one, the regulatory hoops are much smaller. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which will make the decision, downplayed the risks involved in an Environmental Impact Statement late last year, saying
“Staff concludes that modifying and installing the project facilities would result in limited adverse impacts on the environment. Most adverse environmental impacts would be temporary or short-term and would have minimal impact on existing land use.”
The Attorneys General from Oregon, Washington, and California are all in opposition to the project, while Republican legislators from Idaho have shown support. There was a chance that FERC was going to decide on Thursday. As of Wednesday, it’s not on the meeting agenda. The next possible decision point could be March 16th.
Oregon Bill Would Require Law Enforcement Officers To Have Higher Education
Amid a renewed national focus on police qualifications following the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, an Oregon lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require law enforcement officers to complete at least two years of higher education.
Police departments have wrestled for years with officer education requirements. Many say that raising them would worsen current staffing shortages and make it harder to recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds. But reform advocates say that continuing education past high school can equip officers with critical life skills that could help improve their interactions with the public.
“You’re learning, you’re reading about other communities, you’re reading about other people, you’re getting a sense of respect for people who you do not know, communities that you do not know,” said Democratic Oregon state Sen. Lew Frederick, the bill’s chief sponsor.
The bill, which was introduced last month, would push back against the recent trend of lowering police hiring standards by requiring two years of higher education for departments with less than 50 officers and a bachelor’s degree for departments with more than 50. It would apply to police, corrections, parole, probation and reserve officers.
The bill would set police education requirements in state law. Generally, these requirements are determined by municipalities or individual departments.
Nationwide, about 80% of police agencies only require a high school or GED diploma, according to a 2016 survey of more than 2,700 agencies by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics. The number requiring a two-year degree hovers around 10%, while just over 1% require a bachelor’s degree.
Many police agencies that do have college credit requirements waive them if a candidate has military or law enforcement experience. These include departments in major cities, such as New York City, Dallas and Washington, D.C. Tulsa’s police department is among the few requiring a bachelor’s degree.
Many agencies, however, have dropped degree requirements in recent years because of recruitment difficulties stemming partly from a crisis of public trust, according to the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington-based think tank. Its executive director, Chuck Wexler, said that while many departments may want more educated entry-level officers, they can’t raise the bar when a shrunken hiring pool means they already have less applicants to choose from.
While a college education doesn’t automatically make a good officer, it can help people develop critical thinking and communication skills, Wexler said.
“I think merely requiring a high school degree is hugely inadequate for the complexities associated with a very complicated and important position in America,” he said.
The Portland Police Bureau in Oregon is among the agencies that have struggled to recruit. The city was gripped by months-long protests in 2020 following the racial justice demonstrations sparked by Floyd’s death, and has seen record numbers of homicides the past two years.
The police bureau only requires a high school or GED diploma. But that minimum requirement, it says, doesn’t necessarily result in hiring candidates with less education. While testifying against the Oregon bill on Tuesday, PPB Capt. Greg Pashley said that about 70% of the bureau’s sworn employees have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and that 46% of applicants have a two-year degree or higher. Echoing other agencies around the country, he also said that requiring college courses excludes lower-income candidates who aren’t able to afford them and makes police forces less diverse. Another hearing for the Oregon bill has yet to be scheduled.
State warns of risks for buy now, pay later
SALEM – Across the country, including Oregon, more retailers are offering options to purchase items now and pay later. This may sound like using a credit card, but it is different and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) wants people to understand the benefits and risks that come with it.
How it works – Buy now, pay later is basically an installment loan that is set up over several weeks or months with a set payment amount – think of it like a car loan or other personal loan. If a payment is missed or late, there is often a fee associated.
Things to consider before using buy now, pay later
- Buy now, pay later loans often lack consumer protections
While lenders that provide an open line of credit must obtain a license from DFR, companies that only make installment loans do not need to be licensed in Oregon as long as the loan is for the purchase of a specific product. Also, these loans do not offer the same protections as credit cards if there is a problem with what you purchased. There may be difficulties with returning products, and, unlike credit cards, there are not typically investigations conducted should fraud occur regarding your purchases.
- The debit or credit card used will be set up for auto pay
Generally, buy now, pay later loans have auto pay set up after you make the first payment with a debit or credit card. Also, if you use a credit card when you signed up, you may end up paying interest if you don’t pay the full amount on your credit card statement. Also, some businesses may have other payment alternatives such as payment through their own online portal or by phone. However, consumers may not get to make this choice.
- Buy now, pay later loans carry late fees
Most of the companies that offer these loans charge late fees if you miss a payment. This could block you from future purchases until you make the past payments. Also, the company could send your debt to a collection company if you fail to repay.
These fee structures are different with each company, so it is important you review the terms and conditions before agreeing to make a purchase.
- Buy now, pay later loans can affect your credit score
Buy now, pay later companies generally do not report your payment history to credit bureaus, so if you are hoping to do this to build your credit, that will not happen. However, it could hurt your credit if the company performs a credit check because these inquiries typically reduce your credit score for a short period. In addition, if you are late or missed a payment, the company will likely report the poor payment history to the credit bureaus, harming your credit history.
How you can protect yourself
- It is important to do your research if you are going to use a buy now, pay later option. Know what the payment schedule is and make sure you can afford it. Buying now and paying later can be a tempting option because it seems easy to get an item today without having to pay full price.
“As with anything regarding financial decisions, we encourage people to do their homework,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “Know what your payments will be, what you can afford, and make sure you are able to make those payments if you’re going to use a buy now, pay later opportunity.”
- Let us know if you have been misled
If you believe you have been misled or treated unfairly, the division has advocates ready to help at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free). The DFR website also has references available for you to file a complaint, check for licenses, and much more. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has information on its website regarding buy now, pay later loans.
### About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and www.dcbs.oregon.gov.
Multnomah County Study Shows Record Number Of Homeless Deaths
Troubling new data released by Multnomah County Health Department released Wednesday found in 2021, the number of deaths from people experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County was the highest it’s ever been, with the leading cause being drug overdoses. After drug overdoses, homicides were the second leading cause.
According to the data, in Multnomah County in 2021, 193 people died while experiencing homelessness, which equates to nearly four deaths every single week. In 2020 that number was 126, and in 2019, 113 people. About 60 percent of all the 2021 deaths were from drug overdoses, with meth and opioids leading the way. Officials are also alarmed about what they say is a dramatic rise in fentanyl overdoses.
Program manager Jon Seibert at Blanchet House, says it’s not surprising to see deaths on the streets dramatically increasing because of meth and opioids.
“Anyone who has been following the point in time counts and has seen the number of homeless individuals and unsheltered homeless individuals has gone up the way it has, it’s not surprising deaths have gone up.”
Free Fishing Weekend This Weekend In Oregon
Make fishing part of your three-day weekend plans. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Saturday and Sunday of President’s Day Weekend, Feb. 18-19, 2023.
No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag or Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required those two days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free.
All other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions. See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for rules and remember to check for any in season regulation changes at the Recreation Report especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. Click on the zone where you want to fish and then click the “Regulation Updates” tab to see the in-season changes.
The Recreation Report is updated weekly and features the best bests for fishing for the upcoming week. For beginners, Easy Angling Oregon is a great guide to getting started fishing in Oregon, and if you live near Portland, Bend, Medford, Roseburg or in Lane County, there are lots of nearby options.
Prefer to crab or clam instead? MyODFW has all the information you need to get started clamming or crabbing. Remember to check ocean conditions and take safety precautions—always clam with a friend and never turn your back on the ocean.
As of Feb. 14, crabbing is open coastside but razor clamming is closed along the entire Oregon coast due to biotoxin levels. Remember to call the ODA Shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check their Shellfish page before you go clamming or crabbing. The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests shellfish and closes areas when naturally occurring biotoxins get to levels that make crabs and clams unsafe to eat. MORE INFO: https://myodfw.com/articles/2023-free-fishing-days-and-events
BLM Waives Day Use Fees For Washington’s Birthday
In honor of George Washington’s birthday and to increase recreational access to public land, the Bureau of Land Management is waiving recreation standard amenity and day-use fees for visitors on February 20th.
A release said the BLM is inviting the public to visit unique and diverse natural landscapes and visitor facilities on BLM-managed lands to celebrate the life of the first U.S. President George Washington.
This marks the second of the BLM’s fee-free days of 2023. Fee-free days refer to the waiver of standard amenity fees and day-use fees, such as visitor centers, picnic/day use areas, and National Conservation Land units where fees are charged. Expanded amenity fees and other fees, like group day use, overnight camping, cabin rentals and individual special recreation permits, will remain in effect unless the authorized officer determines it is appropriate to waive them.
MORE INFO: Winter adventure in the Pacific Northwest – Our top locations for recreation in the snow, rain, or ice https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/766c58075f574db2b52f3d2e13b75bb8
Human Remains Found in 1986 in Josephine County Finally Identified
In June, 1986, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Quartz Creek area regarding human skeletal remains being located on a homeowner’s property.
The homeowner was in the process of putting in a new septic system when the owner discovered the remains in the ground approximately 4 feet deep and notified law enforcement. The homeowner had only owned the property for approximately 10 years.
With the remains, other items were located within the gravesite such as, fabric believed to be from a dress, a worn set of dentures and two rubber implements, believed to be from a walker or crutches.
At that time, law enforcement was unable to identify the decedent and forwarded the remains to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination and DNA processing. It was believed based on the condition of the remains that the decedent may have been in the ground for approximately 15 to 25 years.
Between 1986 and 2016, the investigation into the identification of the remains was attempted multiple times by detectives and forensic examiners. No leads were ever discovered to help with the identification.
Ultimately, due to the poor condition of the remains, in 2018 the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office was awarded a grant allowing the office to send the remains to Parabon NanoLabs for further DNA and genetic genealogy processing. With Parabon NanoLabs assistance, it was discovered that the remains may be of a missing person from 1959 out of the Rogue River area named, Elsie Baker, who went missing under suspicious circumstances.
The circumstances were deemed suspicious after law enforcement learned that family and friends of Elsie Baker had not heard from her for a period of time. Law enforcement responded to Elsie Baker’s home and found her wheelchair but no sign of her. An investigation between 1959 and 1960 was started and numerous individuals were interviewed. It was discovered that Elsie Baker was being treated for cancer and would have needed assistance to leave her home as she was mainly wheelchair bound. It was also discovered that approximately $10,000 was missing from the home. Unfortunately, law enforcement was unable to come up with any leads regarding the missing person case.
In 2022, Parabon NanoLabs suggested that through combining genetic genealogy, DNA Phenotyping and kinship analysis, if the remains were Elsie Baker, she may have a living grandson who was believed to be in the Utah area. If this were true, the grandson would be the closest genetic match and would possibly solve the missing person case, identifying the remains.
Josephine County Detectives contacted the grandson and explained the case and circumstances leading law enforcement to contact him. With consent from the grandson and assistance from Emery County Sheriff’s Office, Utah, the grandson provided an oral DNA swab sample for comparison which was submitted for review. In early January, 2023, Parabon NanoLabs and the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office were able to positively identify the decedent as Elsie Baker based on the matching DNA from the grandson.
At the time of this press release, no further details are being released.
A group of seniors in Brookings are asking Oregon lawmakers to step in and adjust the rent cap increase formula.
The seniors live in a 55 and older mobile home park in Curry County, and all 44 of the spaces rented by a senior received a 14.6% rent increase last month. That is $100 per month increase this year.
“For senior citizens, you don’t expect to work so hard, this group, we have put in a lot of time, effort, research, talking, writing letters,” Robbin McMain said. “We are exhausted, but we are scared enough that we will keep going, we are fighting for our homes.”
The 68-year-old, along with 66-year-old John Canalin and a group of other seniors residing on the coast are advocating for lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 611.
The bill would drop the rate of allowable rent increase to 3% plus the consumer price index with a total maximum increase of 8% per year.
Currently, the law, which was passed in 2019 through Senate Bill 608, allows annual rent increases at 7% plus the consumer price index that adjust each year with inflation.
“We are looking at $100 just this year alone, we have several people that are already wanting to know what to do because social security gave us a little boost this year, which was nice, it got us through this year,” McMain said.
McMain explained although the slight increase in social security will help her and her husband survive this year’s rental increase, that isn’t the case for the seniors in the park living on a fixed income.
“Some people are now saying, although we got a small social security increase now that our rent is going up, they are now $12 in the hole, they lost the increase all to rent,” she said.
McMain and Canalin explained they are both lucky enough to have a spouse, but not everyone in their mobile home park can rely on more than one income.
The group is pleading with lawmakers, including Governor Tina Kotek to change the trajectory rental prices are headed before it is too late.
“If you want to talk about dealing with the homeless issue in the state, this is a way to not add more to it, if they can somehow adjust the rent increases and adjust the eviction reform,” Canalin said.
If the rent cap increase formula is not adjusted, the two said it will lead to more seniors becoming homeless across the state or force them to move and lose the life they have created.
“We are barely getting by this year, but next year could be devastating to many people, things need to be done this year.”
Both, McMain and Canalin, said many of the mobile homes are owned by the individual who rents the space from the park.
They said a majority have added to the manufactured home, including adding porches, garages, and an additional room. All the additions would be lost if the tenants were forced to relocate due to the rent increases.
“We would lose quite a bit of money that we invested in our home to come here,” Canalin said.
One thing the two said would be irreplaceable, is the community they have created during their retirement years.
“We already have a lot of senior citizens who are homeless,” McMain said. “We need to stop the rent increases here or see the consequence all elderly people living in tents, or living with their kids that is then a burden on their children, or going to head and getting rental assistance which is a burden on the state, so all the way around the state is losing, the state is not winning anything, the owners and their profits are going up.” (source: https://ktvl.com/news/local/seniorsmobilehomepark-oregon-lawmakers-adjustrent-capincrease-formula-senatebill611-oregonlaw-rentallaws-housingcrisis-seniorhousing-renterrights-renters)
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