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Klamath Basin News, Friday, Oct. 11 – Potato Festival Chooses Queen Saturday Night at Kickoff Party

The latest Klamath Falls News around the Klamath Basin from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM/102.5FM, BasinLife.com and The Herald & News.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Klamath Basin Weather

Today
Sunny, with a high near 64.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.

Monday, Columbus Day
Partly sunny, with a high near 64.

Today’s Headlines…..

The air quality alert today in the Klamath Basin until noon is Green.

Five people have been charged for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin manufactured in Mexico in and around Klamath Falls.

Rogelio Gomez-Arias, 23, Irving Beas Ceballos, 34, Alexis Chavez-Franco, 22, and Domingo Matias-Hernandez, 36, are each charged by indictment with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine between May and October.

Additionally, Ceballos is charged with possessing methamphetamine and heroin with the intent to distribute and the other three are charged with distributing methamphetamine. Juan Rodriguez-Ramirez, 62, is charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

All defendants are known to reside in and around Klamath Falls and Dorris, California.

The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association and the Oregon Department of Transportation awarded the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office grant funds for traffic safety during the year totaling $17,500.

The grants were used to increase traffic enforcement with focused patrols for Distracted Driving, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Occupant Protection (Safety Belts) and Speed Enforcement. During the year deputies conducted High Visibility Enforcement, in addition to regularly assigned responsibilities which resulted in 250 Citations, 377 Warnings and 13 Arrests.

Queen candidates for the 82nd Klamath Basin Potato Festival at the kickoff dinner held on Sept. 9 were Lost River High School’s Jaselyn Story, Tulelake High School’s Briseyda Chavolla, Bonanza High School’s Breanna Mestas, Triad High School’s McKenzie Simono, Mazama High School’s Brook Weidman, Butte Valley High School’s Sophia Vercellot along with the junior princes Priscilla Fernandez and Paisley Crawford. Not Pictured were grand marshals Bill and Shirley Beasly. Judges will choose the 2019 Klamath Basin Potato Festival queen during the Saturday, Oct. 12 banquet.

The annual Klamath Basin Potato Festival will start off with a banquet Saturday night.

The banquet will include the talent show and the queen coronation. The Klamath Basin Potato Festival pageant is a tradition originated in 1937. The winner and runner up will receive a cash prize from on behalf of the festival as well as an additional cash prize from a group consisting of former queens, called Former Potato Festival Royalty. Additional prizes are gifted to the winner and runner up from community partners.

The judges will choose the winner from a pool of local ladies from high schools in the Basin. The judging is based on an essay each contestant is required to write as well as the talent show, personality and poise.

The banquet and pageant will take place at the Merrill Civic Center Gym at 4 p.m.

Do you live, work or recreate in the area around Kingsley Field and the Crater Lake Klamath Regional Airport?

The City of Klamath Falls in cooperation with Klamath County, Kingsley Field and other organizations completed a joint land use study to address compatibility around the airfield and to limit encroachment. The overall goal is to protect the viability of current and future missions at Kingsley Field while accommodating regional growth and protecting public health and safety.

To provide an overview of the process and its implementation and to receive public input, the City of Klamath Falls is hosting an Open House October 15 at 6:00pm at City Hall.

Around the state: Early yesterday the St. Helens Police Department responded to a shooting incident at the St. Helens Chevron located at 115 N. Columbia River Highway.

St. Helens Officers responded and located the vehicle suspected of being involved in the shooting incident.  When officers attempted to contact the operator of the vehicle it fled on Hwy 30 towards Deer Island and officers pursued.  The suspect vehicle became disabled on Hwy 30 near milepost 35 and the suspect fled on foot.  An officer from the St. Helens PD used force resulting in the suspects death.

The deceased is being idenitifed as 32 year old Michael Thomas Veatch of Washington. As per policy this officer has been placed on administrative leave.

Detectives are investigating the report of shots being fired from the suspect vehicle prior to and during this pursuit.

Yesterday Oregon State Police and emergency personnel responded to the I-5 southbound offramp at Delaney Road. for a two vehicle crash. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that a Dodge Intrepid, operated by 56 year old Anthony Fisher of Turner, was southbound on the I-5 offramp and failed to stop at the intersection with Delaney Road. 

The Dodge was struck by a westbound tow truck operated by 37 year old Christopher Helige of Aumsville. Fisher was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Helige was transported to the hospital for injuries.  

Klamath Falls News from partnership with the Herald and News, empowering the community.

…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.

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