Contributions from Paul Hanson at Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS 1450AM / 102.5FM and The Herald & News
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
KLAMATH BASIN WEATHER
TODAY
Sunny, high of 77W
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 75.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 79.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 82.
Sunday (Mother’s Day)
Sunny, with a high near 82.
Today’s Basin News Headlines
T.J. Maxx, Natural Grocers,
Planet Fitness coming to South Sixth St.
T.J. Maxx, Natural Grocers, and Planet Fitness are coming to Jefferson Square on South Sixth Street sometime this year, filling a vacant building once housed by Haggen and Safeway, according to Matt Dickerhoff, co-owner of Dickerhoof Properties, a developer based out of Corvallis.
Construction started in March on the building, which will be separated into three parcels and the largest space leased to T.J. Maxx. Dickerhoof estimates the parcels will be ready to lease to the businesses within the next six months or “hopefully sooner,” with the potential for upwards of 50 total jobs or more between them.
Recreational Marijuana Shop Limits Proposed
A total of six recreational marijuana retails stores — and no more — could operate within the city of Klamath Falls if recommendations of an advisory committee is adopted by the city council.
The newly installed Marijuana Advisory Committee for the City of Klamath Falls presented a report for monitoring recreational marijuana sales in the city limits at a work session of the council Monday night.
Military spouses to transfer career licenses in Oregon
Nurses, beauticians and lawyers who follow spouses stationed at Oregon military bases may soon transfer their out-of-state job licenses to Oregon with a bill poised to pass the state Legislature.
House Bill 3030, sponsored by Rep. E. Werner Reschke, R-Klamath Falls, would allow military spouses’ work licenses from outside Oregon to be honored in the state, easing long and expensive waiting periods many face today while job searching around a new base. It passed the Oregon House with bipartisan support, and is awaiting a vote from the Senate.
U.S. Air Force Col. Jeff Smith at Kingsley and Klamath County Commissioner Kelley Minty Morris were both confident the bill would easily pass the Senate.
Klamath County Commissioners Meeting Agenda Today
1.Call To Order & Those Present
2.Approve Minutes From Last Meeting
3.Jeremy Morris – Public Works
1.Resolution To Old Fort Road Discussion
4.Brandon Friend / Fire District
Sprague River fire annexation
5.Bly Vector Control Applicant Interviews
10:30 Frances Davis
10:50 Michael Harding
6.Rick Vaughn – Tax Collector
1.In The Matter Of Issuing An ITB And Cancelling The RFP For 705 Washburn HAZMAT Removal And Demo.
7.BOCC
1.Valley Acres Special Road District Appointment
2.County School Interns
3.Klamath Works Mattress Recycling
8.Other County Business
9.Adjournment
Prescribed fire activity today on the Fremont-Winema National Forest
LAKEVIEW, Ore. – Firefighters will be conducting prescribed fire operations on the Fremont-Winema National Forest as conditions allow this week.
On the Lakeview Ranger District, work is continuing on the West Drews prescribed fire. Located near Forest Road 3940 and Secret Valley, the goal is to treat up to 800 acres. Ignitions could start as early as today and may continue through next Wednesday, depending on wind direction and smoke dispersion. Smoke will be visible for approximately 5 days and is expected to travel to the south.
On the Bly Ranger District, the West Spodue prescribed fire will be continuing through this week, conditions permitting. There are approximately 500 acres remaining on this project. Over the past few weeks area residents and visitors have likely observed smoke from this prescribed fire north of Oregon State Highway 140 between Beatty and Bly.
The Box Spring prescribed fire is located in the Upper Dairy Creek Area on the Bly Ranger District. Ignition is expected this Thursday, May 9, conditions permitting, with a goal to treat 100 acres. Smoke is expected to travel south and may be visible in the area for 3 to 5 days.
The Racoon prescribed fire is located on the Klamath Ranger District near Oregon State Highway 140 approximately 23 miles west of Klamath Falls. There are 50 acres remaining and it is expected that operations on this unit will be finishing up tomorrow.
Also on the Klamath Ranger District is the Tomahawk prescribed fire, which is expected to start this Thursday, conditions permitting. Tomahawk is expected to treat 126 acres along Highway 140 approximately 29 miles west of Klamath Falls and is located south of the Mountain Lakes Estates subdivision.
Prescribed fire is applied by trained wildland firefighters under specific conditions, including temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and fuel moisture levels. They occur when the Oregon Department of Forestry Smoke Management Office indicates weather conditions are suitable for smoke dispersal.
Current prescribed fire activity on the Fremont-Winema National Forest in Klamath and Lake Counties are not impacting air quality west of the Cascades and is minimal in local communities. Smoke is visible locally and may be visible up to a week after ignition.
Prescribed fire looks different depending on the area being treated. Area residents and visitors may notice smoke and visible fire, depending on the area. Places where prescribed fires are taking place will be well signed and may have increased fire personnel and traffic.
Firefighter and public safety are the highest priorities. The public is asked to be aware of their surroundings, use caution and watch for smoke. Those who are sensitive to smoke are encouraged to be aware of current conditions.
Fire crews monitor prescribed fires to ensure that they are staying within the project area and are meeting the objectives. There is a low probability of prescribed fires escaping. While there has already been a wildfire on the Forest this year, it was not associated with prescribed fire activity on the Forest.
Prescribed fires are an important tool used by wildland fire managers to reduce hazardous fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and from the forest as part of forest restoration efforts.
Reducing these fuels reduces the risk of devastating wildfires, as well as assisting with fire suppression efforts during the wildland fire season by moderating fire behavior. These activities also improve wildlife habitat and are part of restoring a healthy, fire-resilient forest.
The Lakeview Interagency Fire Center provides information on prescribed fire activities based on Ranger District.
For detailed information, visit www.scofmp.org/rx_fire.shtml.
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.
…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.