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.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Sunny, with a high near 65. Overnight, mostly clear with a low around 33.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 69.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Today’s Headlines…
The Klamath County Public Health Air Advisory is Green until noon today.
Klamath Falls police are still searching for Wilman Caceres Hernandez, 26, whom they believe to be the person who shot Johnny Miller outside of Howdy Doody’s Tavern last Monday in the early morning hours.
Miller has been released from Sky Lakes Medical Center, according to KFPD Captain Rob Dentinger after he was treated for a gunshot wound to his lower body. Although police are still looking for Caceres Hernandez, whom they believed to be armed and dangerous in the Merrill or Malin area Dentinger said he doesn’t think the suspect is still in the area.
According to a press release from the KFPD last week, police believe Caceres Hernandez left the tavern in a dark-colored Dodge Ram pickup. Police ask anyone with information on the case to call the Klamath Falls Police Department at 541-883-5336 or the anonymous tip line at 541-883-5334.
At the City Council meeting one item of interest was an ordinance to change the language in the downtown parking city code.
Joe Wall, planning manager, presented the proposed change. Currently, businesses downtown are not required to purchase parking permits for employees if they work outside of regular business hours, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. The change would end that distinction and require permits for all employees in the downtown area regardless of what hours they work.
Downtown parking has drawn many passionate responses from the public in past meetings. A new downtown parking model was introduced at a past meeting but has since been tabled for the time being. The city has decided to focus on enforcing the current model before implementing major changes. Ultimately, this motion to approve the ordinance for first reading only did not go through because it did not have a second.
The matter was ultimately tabled until the next meeting, to give more time for staff to seek input for the businesses that could be affected by the change.
Tonight is McTeachers night at McDonalds to help Sterns Elementary School. You can Get your fast food fix at the Campus Drive McDonald’s between 5 and 8 p.m. tonight and help the raise funds towards the Stearns Elementary School Accessible Track Project.
McDonald’s will donate 20 percent of its drive-through and lobby sales directly to the Stearns Track Project. Plans are to build an all-weather ADA accessible 200-meter track on the grade school campus for use by all students as well as community members.
22 year old Connor Elliot Mistron was arraigned in two cases under charges of rape in the first degree, rape in the second degree, unlawful delivery of a marijuana item and coercion in each case.
Mistron pled not guilty to the charges stemming from an August 2018 incident. According to the indictments in both cases, Mistron is charged with raping two girls who were under the age of 14 at the time of the incident. Mistron was arrested in Denver and served with the warrants from these cases on September 13th before he was transported to and booked into the Klamath County Jail last week. His next court date has yet to be established, and he is being held in the Klamath County Jail.
Just days after working with six timber companies to voluntarily help with preservation of the Fisher, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list the West Coast Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of fisher as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
This revised proposed rule is based on the best scientific and commercial data available for the species. The fisher is a member of the weasel family and resides in mixed conifer-hardwood forests in southern Oregon and California. If finalized, an ESA listing would help protect the West Coast DPS of fishers against harm or “take.” Recognizing that certain management activities benefit the species and are necessary for public safety, the Service is using flexibilities inherent in the ESA to propose a special rule that would exempt certain forest management activities from the act’s take prohibitions.
Activities proposed for exemption include maintenance of existing fuel breaks,firefighting and habitatmanagement.
Modoc National Forest Christmas tree permits are on sale at Modoc National Forest offices and various local businesses through December 24th.
Permits are $10 each, with a limit of two permits per household. Permits should be in possession when cutting trees. An informational handout that includes tree cutting and safety tips goes with each permit. Permits are available for purchase at Modoc National Forest offices in Alturas, Adin, Tulelake and Cedarville, as well as various local businesses. Fourth grade students with a valid Every Kid Outdoors Pass can be issued one free Christmas tree permit.
This pass also allows free access to federal lands and waters for a full year.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he is co-sponsoring legislation that would help low-income and rural tenants of multifamily rural housing stay in their affordable housing units.
Direct federal home loans under what’s known as Section 515 help to develop affordable housing development in rural areas, but the required affordability restrictions are eliminated when those loans mature or are pre-paid. The Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2019 would give housing vouchers to residents of units with expiring affordability restrictions so they can stay in those affordable homes, and it would provide incentives to stay in the Section 515 program by offering resources to repair and restore homes.
Oregon has 178 properties primarily financed by Section 515, funding 5,765 units for low-income Oregonians in rural areas. Another 175 properties are established under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Rental Assistance program, funding 4,464 units.
Volunteer tax counselors are being sought for the AARP Tax-Aide program, which will provide a free volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service from February 4th through April 15th next year.
The volunteers will prepare federal and state returns for middle and low income taxpayers with special attention to those 50 years old and older. They are needed to assist with preparing and the electronic filing of tax returns. There is also a need for Spanish interpreters. Klamath County will have Tax-Aide locations at the Klamath Basin Senior Citizens Center, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the main branch of the Klamath County Library, and Chiloquin site to be announced. Comprehensive training in tax law, tax filing computer programs and the use of computers to file taxes in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service will be provided. All training materials will be furnished free to all volunteers.
Training will begin on January 6th. Reimbursement will be provided on a limited basis for qualified related expenses. For more information contact Donna Hill at 541-882-4362.
Around the region…
Detectives are investigating an inmate’s death by apparent suicide at the Jackson County Jail in southern Oregon.
28-year-old Scott Ashbaugh was found unresponsive in his cell by a sheriff’s deputy at 10:56 p.m. Monday during a routine cell check, according to the sheriff’s office. The deputy began life-saving efforts and Medford Fire-Rescue and Mercy Flights was called, but Ashbaugh was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy is scheduled for today to confirm the cause and manner of Ashbaugh’s death. He had been set for release from the jail Thursday.
Court records say Ashbaugh was serving time for a probation violation for failing to report as a sex offender and resisting arrest. Medford police arrested him Oct. 19. He had been lodged in a cell by himself.
For kids who have dreamed of one day becoming a pilot a free opportunity is coming to get behind the controls of an aircraft.
Hoping to inspire future aviators a collective of local Lake County pilots will offer free flights to youth ages 8-17 at a Young Eagles event this Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Lake County Airport in Lakeview. Two Cessna 182 aircraft will be provided for the event, providing 20-minute flights around the Lakeview area with kids getting the opportunity to be at the controls. Upon completion of each flight kids will be given their very own logbook to document their first flight. Hosted by Oregon Outback Aviators a Lake County flying club formed less than two years ago, the event is intended as a way to inspire future pilots and connect aeronautical principles with STEM skills taught in schools.
The event is being conducted in connection with the Experimental Aircraft Association part of a national EAA Young Eagles program offering introductory flights to youth. Registration for the event is free, and includes a pancake breakfast for participants.
Parents are permitted to fly as well, though it is preferred that if they do they are in the backseat so that kids can fly the aircraft. Back seats are also available for other youth in attendance.
…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.