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.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Tuesday
Mostly sunny today with a high of 69.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of rain during the day. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. 50% chance of rain, with a low of 37.
Thursday
A slight chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 52.
Saturday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 49.
Today’s Headlines…
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate a double homicide reported Monday morning in Dorris. At 2:05 a.m. on Monday, deputies and a sergeant responded to a call of a possible robbery involving a shooting.
California Highway Patrol were initially dispatched on a report of females shot during a robbery in the area of “Big Stump” and Dorris-Brownell Road, a mountainous area approximately three miles northwest of Dorris, commonly referred to as Pleasant Valley Orchards. The CHP relayed the original emergency call to the county’s dispatch center.
A woman was found deceased by fire personnel inside a structure on Hilltop Road, in the vicinity of Buckhorn Flat Road. Another woman was found alive but, despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to injuries sustained in what appears to the sheriff’s office at this time to be a firearms-related attack.
No suspect has been identified as of press time in the shooting, but Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Major Crime Unit are speaking to two “associates” of the women.
“As previously mentioned, this case is still under investigation,” said Jon Lopey, Siskiyou County sheriff. “Since a firearm was used during what appears to be a deliberate and callous attack against those occupying property, we are urging anyone with information about this incident to contact the SCSO 24-hour Dispatch Center at 530-841-2900.
“There is a good chance someone heard something or saw something that could be useful to investigators working this case. On behalf of the SCSO and its members, our thoughts and prayers are extended to the victims, their family members, and friends. An autopsy will be conducted this week to help detectives confirm the causes and manners of death in this tragic case.”
The Oregon Department of Forestry in conjunction with Klamath County Fire District #1, US Forest Service, and City Parks staff plans to conduct a prescribed fire within the boundaries of Moore Park beginning today.
The primary objective of the prescribed burn is to safely reduce the buildup of dead/down fuels to provide an area that is less susceptible to severe impacts from future wildfire. Favorable weather conditions may create a window to treat up to 15 acres in Moore Park. Smoke may be visible during and after ignitions for several days. Fire managers are working closely with local air districts to mitigate the effects of the smoke to the public and local air sheds. Firefighter and public safety are the highest priorities.
Signs will be placed in the Moore Park and Lynnewood areas. Fire personnel, vehicles and equipment may be present. The main roadway from the entrance to exit (the lower loop by the soccer fields and playground) will remain open. The upper gated loops in proximity to the burn will be signed and closed. The public is asked to watch for prescribed fire signs, be aware of fire operations and drive safely.
Schools throughout the Klamath County School District will be participating in “give back” activities today and Wednesday.
Various schools activities include food drives, clean-up activities, thank-you letters to community businesses, leaders and organizations and coin drives for the Humane Society. Some schools are very creative with $1.00 to wear a hat day to raise money for the Assistance League and raking leaves for those residents that need help in the school neighborhood.
Farm work is a whole lot safer than it used to be. But as far as SAIF is concerned, even one injury or illness is too many.
SAIF is offering 29 free ag safety seminars in 17 cities across Oregon including Klamath Falls. Last year, more than 2,180 workers and employers attended SAIF’s seminars. According to Courtney Merriott, senior safety management consultant at SAIF and presenter at this year’s seminars they purposely hold these in the off-season to encourage attendance and said their goal is to provide the latest safety content for the industry, so that every ag worker goes home safe and healthy each night.
This year’s seminars will focus on four topics: respiratory personal protective equipment, working at elevation, safety leadership for anyone, and incident analysis—a structured process for identifying what happened and reducing recurrence of injuries moving forward.
The seminars are designed primarily for people working in agriculture but are open to anyone interested in ag safety and health—they don’t have to be insured by SAIF. Scheduling for the In-person seminars to be held in Klamath Falls will be announced shortly.
The Mills Neighborhood Association’s Annual Business Meeting is tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the IYS Building across the street from Mills School.
They will be electing new officers and board members. There will also be a presentation concerning winterizing your home and a presentation by Mills School concerning their centennial celebration. Refreshments will be served.
Around the state, backers of rejected ballot measures proposed by environmentalists to tighten Oregon’s forestry have filed a lawsuit contending Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno broke with legal precedent and based her rejection on bad advice from political appointees.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in Marion County Circuit Court and asks a judge to overturn the rejection and award attorneys’ fees. The ballot measures described as Initiative Petitions 35, 36 and 37 are largely the same. They call for tightening the state’s aerial herbicide spraying laws, for more logging restrictions in steep, landslide-prone areas and they would prohibit conflicts of interest for state forestry board appointees, who today can set policies that benefit their own companies.
All Oregonians are encouraged to join the ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:17 a.m. on October 17 and to practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
For more information, and to register for the ShakeOut, go to: www.shakeout.org/oregon.
“Earthquakes are one of the natural hazards we face in Oregon and “The Great ShakeOut is a safe and fun way to practice what to do when seismic activity occurs,” says Althea Rizzo, geologic hazards awareness program coordinator at Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management.
A 34-year-old Oregon State Hospital psychiatric patient, Peace Wickham, was reported missing yesterday in Junction City.
Wickham is not considered to be an imminent danger to himself or others. He is accused of unauthorized departure. OSP is conducting an investigation to help locate him. Wickham was admitted from Lane County to the Junction City campus of Oregon State Hospital in September of 2016. Wickham was found guilty except for insanity on the charges of assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and felon in possession of a restricted weapon.Hospital officials reported the missing patient to state and local law enforcement agencies and described him as a male, 6 feet 2 inches tall, 255 pounds, with a shaved head and brown eyes. He has two tattoos, the state of California on his right forearm and Hawaii on his left forearm.
When last seen, he was wearing a gray fleece sweat shirt, tan pants, and tan hiking shoes with rubber laces.
…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.