Contributions from Paul Hanson at Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS 1450AM / 102.5FM and The Herald & News
FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2019
KLAMATH BASIN WEATHER
Today
Sunny, with a high near 87. Clear overnight and a low of 54.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 85.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 82.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 82.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 83.
TODAY’S HEADLINES
BTS Meeting Stirs Tensions
Tensions were high at the emergency board meeting for Basin Transit Service Wednesday afternoon.
Several current and past employees attended to voice their concerns with Paula Quinn, assistant general manager at BTS.
Earlier this week it was revealed that Quinn was being accused of using racial remarks regarding a black employee, James Barnes. The union representative filed a grievance against Quinn on behalf of Barnes June 3. Quinn has been on medical leave for the last few days.
Basin water case argued in D.C.
A longtime court case involving the shutoff of water to multiple water users in the Klamath Basin in 2001 attracted wide-ranging attention from Pacific Northwest-based organizations and those within the legal community in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
Nearly 90 minutes of oral arguments were heard Monday at the U.S. Court of Appeals at the Federal Circuit. The case, which water users lost in 2017, is being appealed.
Percentage of permit fees returned to schools
Checks were presented to representatives from four school organizations in Klamath County totaling $237,000 at the Wednesday morning County Commissioners meeting.
The money is the result of a decision by the commissioners to retroactively waive 18% of permit fees from 2015 to present day. The idea to refund the money was originally suggested in December.
The commissioners presented $57,337 to Oregon Tech, $31,550 to Klamath Community College, $64,118 to the Klamath County School District and $83,995 to the Klamath Falls City Schools district.
Crater Lake National Park will host the fourth annual Ride the Rim days Sept. 14 and 21.
On these consecutive Saturdays, East Rim Drive from North Junction to Park Headquarters will be closed to motorized vehicles from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to allow for non-motorized recreation including biking, hiking and running.
Ride the Rim participants will need to pay a park entrance fee upon entering the park.
Superintendent Craig W. Ackerman said, “Ride the Rim has grown in popularity each year. It provides an opportunity to experience East Rim Drive in a unique way, under your own power, whether you’re on a bike or on your own two feet. It is a strenuous endeavor, but the rewards of a slower pace, opportunities for quiet reflection, and healthy, vigorous recreation make it a special experience for many people.”
Last year’s event offered jerseys and T-shirts for participants to remember Ride the Rim.
Tonia Ulbricht, senior marketing manager for Discover Klamath and co-organizer of Ride the Rim, said, “We are excited to offer a no-host dinner each Friday before Ride the Rim which will be held at Biagio’s Bar and Grille in Klamath Falls.” Meal tickets can be purchased online. The evening will also include lawn games and live entertainment.
Visitors on these Saturdays should expect a large number of bicyclists on park roads. Please ride and drive with caution and patience. Cyclists should ride single-file when sharing the road with motorists.
West Rim Drive will be open to both pedestrian and cycling traffic. Park staff recommends bicyclists avoid riding on West Rim Drive if possible, because of increased traffic from Ride the Rim participants, shuttles, and other park visitors.
Denver, Colorado’s Ardent Mills, a premier flour-milling and ingredient company, has purchased the Worden grain elevator along Highway 97 for $3.3 million, according to deeds filed in Klamath County on July 1.
Ardent Mills said the purchase further enhances its commitment to organic and specialty grain sourcing.
The company bought the elevator from Henzel Brothers, a limited liability company operated by Samuel A. Henzel, of Klamath Falls, according to the Oregon Secretary of State’s website.
The grain elevator has in the past been leased by Organic Valley, a Wisconsin-based company, according to a previous H&N story.
“The location of the Klamath Falls elevator and our long-standing relationships with farmers in the surrounding area support our core business and open up specialty opportunities in the world of grain,” said Shrene White, general manager of The Annex, in a news release. “This is an exciting addition to our network of facilities and further drives our extensive grower network, public-private partnerships and commitment to innovation.”
The Annex is a business unit of Ardent Mills that is cultivating the future of specialty grains and plant-based ingredients, and exploring what is next in whole grains, pulses, mixes, custom multigrain blends and finished breads.
Klamath Falls will add to Ardent Mills locations in Stockton, California, and Arlington, in northeast Oregon.
“This acquisition enhances Ardent Mills’ ability to source grains from organic and conventional family farms in the region,” said Dan Dye, chief executive officer of Ardent Mills. “It gives us the opportunity to become the trusted partner for these growers, which is a key component of Ardent Mills’ vision.”
The company partners with universities on breeding to serve its overall customer base, according to the release.
Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a planto implement provisions from the RAY BAUM’S Act to ban malicious spoofing calls and text messages:
“Last Congress, I helped secure the passage of the RAY BAUM’S Act. The bill took needed steps to stop illegal robocalls from harassing Americans by providing the FCC with new and improved tools to protect consumers. I am pleased with the Commission’s proposal to implement these necessary tools and their commitment to stop the bad actors behind these menacing calls. This plan coincides with legislation I recently introduced, the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act, which would build on the progress we made with the RAY BAUM’S Act. I am confident that these continued efforts will ultimately lead to the end of pesky robocalls.”
Walden helped pass into law the RAY BAUM’s Act last Congress. The legislation was named after Ray Baum, a La Grande native and Walden’s former Staff Director on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Ray lost his life to cancer in February of 2018. The law prohibited spoofing calls or texts originating outside of the United States, provided the FCC with greater authority to protect consumers from robocalls, and required the FCC to work with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to educate Americans about available options to stop illegal robocalls.
Around the Basin
Klamath Trails Alliance meeting July 12
Klamath Trails Alliance will have its July trail meeting Friday, July 12, according to a news release. The meeting will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the South Portal Building, 205 Riverside Drive.
Participants are encouraged to come for all or part of the meeting. To join KTA’s meetup group for upcoming trail maintenance days, visit meetup.com/Klamath-Trails-Alliance-Meetup.
Ride the rails through the forest
Scale model train rides on the Klamath & Western Railroad are offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays through Labor Day. Food and refreshments are available, as well as a picnic area. The rides are offered free of charge, and donations to ride the nonprofit’s train are welcomed.
The railroad is at 36951 S. Chiloquin Road, Chiloquin. For more information, visit www.knwrr.org, or call 541-783-3177.
Spring Creek Kayak Tours offered at Collier
Kayak tours of Spring Creek at Collier Memorial State Park are being offered through September, according to a news release.
The tours are from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays for $25 per person. All gear is provided. Participants are asked to arrive at the Spring Creek Day Use Area 20 minutes before the tours begin.
For more information, and to register, visit store.oregonstateparks.org and click on “tours/events.”
…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.