Contributions from Paul Hanson at Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS 1450AM / 102.5FM and The Herald & News
Monday, May 6, 2019
KLAMATH BASIN WEATHER
Today
Sunny, with a high near 76. Overnight, clear and low around 43.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 74.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 77.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 75.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 82.
See Road Camera Views:
Lake of the Woods
Doak Mtn.
Hiwy 97 at Chemult
Hiwy 140 at Bly
Hiwy 97 at GreenSprings Dr.
Hiway 97 at LaPine
Today’s Basin News Headlines
From the Klamath County School District
Bonanza, Lost River, Mazama, Henley equestrians qualify for state – Oregon High School Equestrian Team State Championships coming May 9-12th!
Competing:
- Abby Orella, Bonanza: gold medalist in breakaway roping, silver medalist in barrel racing, bronze medalist in steer daubing and keyhole race, a state qualifier in birangle
- Grace Orella, Bonanza: bronze in individual flags, a state qualifier in birangle
- Katie Schroeder, Bonanza: state qualifier in barrel racing and birangle
- Shelby Gibbs, Bonanza: state qualifier in birangle
- Kayden Spicher, Henley: state qualifier in barrel racing.
- Janah Moorer, Mazama: silver medalist in steer daubing and trail.
In addition to the individual qualifications, the athletes qualified in several team events:
- Abby Orella, Shelby Gibbs and Breanna Blodgett of Lost River: district champions in the team penning.
- Abby Orella, Shelby Gibbs, Katie Schroeder, and Breanna Blodgett: reserve champions in Canadian flags
- Madelyn Bloom, Kaitlyn Bloom, and Grace Orella: reserve champions and district record-breaking time in team penning (automatic state qualification)
- Abby Orella, Grace Orella, Kaitlyn Bloom, Madelyn Bloom, Janah Moorer: bronze medalist in freestyle 5+ drill team.
- Abby Orella was named the district reserve champion for all gaming events. Bart Fleming, cattle coach for all of the basin teams was named Coach of the Year for the Southern District.
- The state competition will be May 9-12 at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond.
Katie Schroeder of Bonanza, Shelby Gibbs of Bonanza, Breanna Blodgett of Lost River, and Abby Orella of Bonanza pose with their district medals.
More Klamath County School News… click here.
More Klamath Falls City Schools ….click here.
It’s Wildfire Awareness Month – a reminder from Basin Life Magazine
…Let’s be careful in our beautiful woods.
When it comes to preventing wildfires, there’s a lot at stake – lives, personal property, and the many values provided by Oregon’s forests and rangelands. During the 2018 wildfire season, Oregonians were responsible for starting 1,330 wildfires that consumed over 329,000 acres.
Wildfires in the wildland-urban interface are often started by human activity, such as debris burning or lawn mowing, and then spread to the forest. Once underway, a fire follows the fuel, whether it is trees or houses. Springtime is a perfect time to trim trees, limbs, and shrubs around your property. Have a safe Summer!
Beginning Monday, May 13, office hours will be changing at both the Paisley and Silver Lake Ranger District offices on the Fremont-Winema National Forest.
The offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, instead of opening at 7:45 a.m.
Visitors should be aware that both offices may be closed for 30 minutes midday for visitor information staff to take a lunchbreak.
Forest managers cited a lack of business and visitor traffic between 7:45 and 8 a.m. as the reason for the change.
The Paisley Ranger District office is located at 303 Highway 31 in Paisley and can be reached at 541-943-3114. The Silver Lake Ranger District office is located at 65600 Highway 31 in Silver Lake and can be reached at 541-576-2107.
Both locations provide visitor services including map and permit sales, as well as information on recreational opportunities on the Fremont-Winema National Forest.
For more information on the Fremont-Winema National Forest,
visit www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema, follow the Forest on Twitter @FremontWinemaNF or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/R6FWNF.
From the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office
Eve Costello, District Attorney
Mr. Cheney Hardt pled guilty but for insanity to the Murder of his mother, the attempted murder of his father and brother, three counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and one count of First Degree Assault. Mr. Hardt will be committed to the Psychiatric Security Review Board for life. He will be transported to the State Hospital shortly.
The Hardt family, their friends, as well as many in the Klamath Falls community were devastated by this tragic crime. Ms. Julie Hardt was a generous and giving woman whose loss was and is felt by many.
This case brings attention to the significant need for greater mental health services and intervention within our community. Early identification and treatment of mental illness provides for the greater protection of community and can avert tragedy.
The Klamath County District Attorney’s office extends our deepest sympathy and condolences. We know that while sentencing begins closure, the ramifications of this event will live on with all of those impacted for the rest of their lives. We know that closing the criminal matter is a far cry from being able to provide healing. Our thoughts and sympathy remain with you all.
The Fremont-Winema NF Klamath Ranger District in coordination with the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) will be conducting prescribed fire operations starting Friday May 3, 2019 as conditions allow.
The units are all northwest of Klamath Falls, OR, smoke will be visible from Hwy 140. Once ignitions begin smoke may be visible for 3-7 days. The following areas will be treated:
- Raccoon RX (underburn) – Located 23 miles northwest of Klamath Falls, OR along Hwy 140 near the Odessa area, Klamath County. Approximately 114 acres of prescribed fire is planned on this project.
- Tomahawk RX (underburn) – Located 29 miles northwest of Klamath Falls, OR, along Hwy 140, south of the Mountain Lakes Estates Subdivision, Klamath County. Approximately 126 acres of prescribed fire is planned on this project.
- Cold RX (underburn) – Located 30 miles northwest of Klamath Falls, OR, along Hwy 140 at the Cold Springs Trailhead turnoff. Approximately 111 acres of prescribed fire is planned on this unit.
- The prescribed fire activities will:
- Improve firefighter and community safety in the event of future wildfires
- Remove hazardous fuels
- Improve wildlife habitat and create more resilient forests
For visitor and firefighter safety:
- Watch for prescribed fire signs in the area
- Be aware of smoke in the area during and after ignitions, which may affect visibility on area roads
- Prepare for increased traffic from additional fire personnel and vehicles operating in the area
For more information, please contact Klamath Ranger District at 541-885-3410.
Prescribed burn updates are available at www.scofmp.org/rx_fire.shtml.
The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) consists of the Fremont-Winema National Forest, BLM Lakeview District, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, Crater Lake National Park and Oregon Department of Forestry.
Follow SCOFMP on Twitter @scofmpfireinfo or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/scofmpfireinfo.
The Fremont-Winema NF Lakeview Ranger District in coordination with South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) will be conducting prescribed fire operations again this week, which could last through Friday, May 10th, as fuels and weather conditions allow.
The following area will be treated:
- West Drews RX (underburn) – Located at Township 39S Range 16E Sections 11 and 14, Lake County (6 miles west of Drews Reservoir). Approximately 400 acres of prescribed fire is planned on this project. Once started the duration of ignition and smoke production may be 3-7 days. Estimated direction of smoke travel is N/NE.
The prescribed fire activities will:
- Improve firefighter and community safety in the event of future wildfires
- Remove hazardous fuels
- Improve wildlife habitat and create more resilient forests
For visitor and firefighter safety:
- Watch for prescribed fire signs in the area
- Be aware of smoke in the area during and after ignitions, which may affect visibility on area roads
- Prepare for increased traffic from additional fire personnel and vehicles operating in the area
For more information, please contact Lakeview Ranger District 541-947-3334.
Prescribed burn updates are available at www.scofmp.org/rx_fire.shtml.
May is Wildfire Awareness Month
The governors of eleven western states have signed a proclamation recognizing May 2019 as Wildfire Awareness Month.
The chief executives of Oregon, Washington, Nevada, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota encourage all citizens to “take steps to better prepare their home and communities for wildfires and work toward becoming a fire-adapted community.” These states, in partnership with federal, state and local fire prevention agencies and organizations, are working together to increase awareness of wildfires with programs, public service announcements, and opportunities for people to participate in community fire prevention projects.
At stake: lives, property, forests
When it comes to preventing wildfires, there’s a lot at stake – lives, personal property, and the many values provided by Oregon’s forests and rangelands. During the 2018 wildfire season, Oregonians were responsible for starting 1,330 wildfires that consumed over 329,000 acres.
”It’s incredibly important that all Oregonians work with their neighbors to plan and prepare for fire season now, “ said Kristin Babbs, president of the Keep Oregon Green Association. “Educating yourself about how fires can get started will be key in reducing accidental wildfire ignitions this summer.”
Wildfires can start at home
Wildfires in the wildland-urban interface are often started by human activity, such as debris burning or lawn mowing, and then spread to the forest. Once underway, a fire follows the fuel, whether it is trees or houses.
“Simple and inexpensive prevention strategies can make your home, family and community much safer,” Babbs said. “Spring is the perfect time to remove dead, flammable vegetation and limb up trees around the yard.”
To get an early start on Wildfire Awareness Month, join your neighbors in reducing your community’s wildfire risk by taking part in National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 4. The National Fire Protection Association has teamed up with State Farm Insurance to encourage residents to commit a couple of hours, or the entire day, to raising wildfire awareness and working on projects that can protect homes and entire communities from the threat of fire.