The latest News around the Klamath Basin from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS 1450AM/102.5FM, BasinLife.com and The Herald & News.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Sunny, with a high near 81. Overnight, mostly clear with a low around 48
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 83.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 75. A chance of overnight rain or showers into Monday.
Monday
Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Cold overnight, low of around 39
Tuesday
A slight chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
TODAY’s HEADLINES…
Containment of the 5,737 acre Lone Fire has reached 92-percent. No further growth of the incident is expected.
The current type-3 management team transferred command of the fire to a type-4 team at 6 a.m. yesterday. The incoming team is a smaller organization formed to manage incidents of a lower complexity. Smoldering fuels within the perimeter are expected to produce smoke for a few more days. The fire is expected to be contained later today.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program Advisory Committee will meet in Klamath Falls on Thursday September 19th.
The meeting will occur from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Best Western Plus Olympic Inn located at 2627 S 6th Street and is open to the public. The agenda includes review of mini-grant applications, STEP program planning and program updates. On Friday, Sept. 20, the Committee will tour Wood River Wetlands, Tecumseh Spring Restoration Project, Klamath Fish Hatchery, Spring Creek Restoration and the Klamath Tribes Fish Hatchery.
The group will be leaving the Kla-Mo-Ya Casino parking lot at 8:00 am. Members of the public may accompany the group during the tour but must provide their own transportation. For additional information on the field trip, contact R&E Program staff prior to Sept. 18 at (503) 947-6211.
Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee included $8.5 million in the Department of Defense appropriations bill to train National Guard Members to fight wildfires.
The funding is a $1.5 million increase over last year and the previous year, when Merkley first secured the additional resources to fight wildfires across the West. The bill passed out of committee today. Between fiscal years 2018 and 2020, Merkley has secured $22.5 million for training National Guard members to combat wildfires. In Oregon, the funding this past fire season allowed training for 355 members to assist with wildfire fighting.
Representative Greg Walden has released a statement applauding the Environmental Protection Agency for repealing the Obama-era rules concerning “Waters of the United States”.
Walden: There were many concerns from many farmers and ranchers across Southern Oregon that the 2015 Obama Administration WOTUS ruling was overreaching and would negatively impact their work. It greatly expanded the EPA’s jurisdiction and control over local land use decisions. Under the 2015 ruling, the EPA could potentially regulate bodies of water such as irrigation and drainage ditches on farmland here in the Basin, causing uncertainty for farmers who potentially faced litigation or onerous permit requirements under the previous “Waters of the United States” definition. The EPA’s release of the final rule which abolishes the Obama-era rule is welcome news across rural Oregon and the Klamath Basin.
The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) is conducting prescribed fire operations with the Fremont-Winema National Forest within these nearby areas:
- Long Prescribed Fire – Located in Lake County, 10 miles east of Bly near Lantern Flat. Planned acreage up to 1,000 acres.
- West Drews Prescribed Fire– Located in Lake County, 6 miles west of Drews Reservoir. Planned Acreage up to 1,570.
- Crooked Mud Honey– Located in Lake County, 12 miles NE of Lakeview in the North Warner’s near Vee Lake. Planned acreage up to 1,000 acres.
- Coyote– Located in Lake County, 25 miles southwest of Silver Lake west of Sycan Marsh. Planned acreage up to 1,000 acres.
Ignitions may start as early as Thursday September 12, 2019.
For visitor and firefighter safety:
- Hunters and other recreational users are encouraged to check current conditions for the areas they plan to visit, especially in the upcoming months for prescribed fire activity.
- Be aware of smoke in the area, which may affect visibility on area roads
- Prepare for increased traffic from fire personnel and vehicles operating in the area
For more information, please contact:
Long Prescribed Fire-Contact Bly Ranger District Leland Hunter at 541-353-2427
West Drew’s and Crooked Mud Honey-Lakeview Ranger District Coley Neider or Sam Tacchini 541-947-6375
Coyote- Winter Rim Zone Karl Krauter 541-576-7524
The most recent updates are available at:
twitter.com/SCOFMPFireInfo
A deadline of September 27, 2019, has been set for the Fall Brick Order for bricks dedicated to military veterans to be placed at the Veterans Memorial by Veterans Day in November.
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 over 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.
For more information, contact the City of Klamath Falls Development Services Office at (541) 883-4950 or email at kburg@klamathfalls.city. A brick order form can also be downloaded from the city website at www.klamathfalls.city.
The 2020 election is upon us. Candidate filing for offices on the May 19, 2020 Primary Election opened today.
We will be voting for President, US Senator, and US Representative. Oregon offices up for a vote include Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and Attorney General. Sixteen of Oregon’s thirty State Senator seats will be on the ballot and all sixty State Representative seats will be up for election.
We will also vote on members of the Oregon Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Circuit Court. Twenty-one county District Attorney positions will also be voted upon. There will also be local offices and measures that will appear on your ballot.
…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.