The latest Klamath Falls News around the Klamath Basin and the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM/102.5FM, BasinLife.com and The Herald & News.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Areas of dense freezing fog before 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 42. Tonight, mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. East winds around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday
A 40 percent chance of rain after 10am. Snow level 5800 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 45. Overnight, rain mixed with snow at 5900 feet. Low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday
Showers. Snow level 5800 feet. High near 45. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday
A 40 percent chance of showers. Snow level 5200 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43.
ROAD CONDITIONS
Traveling? Check our cameras below for the latest road conditions from BasinLife.com.
Lake of the Woods Hiway 140
Greensprings Drive at Hiway 97
Doak Mountain looking east
Chemult, Oregon
LaPine, Oregon
Bly, Oregon
Medford at I-5 -Biddle Road & Crater Lake Parkway
Today’s Headlines
The Klamath County Public Health Air Advisory is Green until noon today.
The Klamath Falls City Council Monday voted to enter into a development agreement with Confluence Klamath Falls, for the Balsiger block property at the corner of Main and Esplanade streets.
“Currently, the developer envisions a hotel, rooftop restaurant, townhouses/condos, retail space, apartments and some open gathering spaces,” the agenda states.
The city will pay up to $749,000 to help develop the property, which was the site most recently of the Balsiger Ford building, demolished in 2016. The developer will contribute multiple millions of dollars, according to the agenda.
This is not the first time a developer has shown interest in the property. The city was previously in negotiations with Portland-based developer, Tokola Properties.
The city has been in negotiations for several months with Confluence Klamath Falls, under its Portland-based parent company, Project^, which has local Klamath investors interested in the property. Project^ formed the LLC Confluence Klamath Falls specifically for this project.
The council also voted to adopt an ordinance that will limit camping on private property.
The ordinance allows camping on private property for seven days without a permit but stays between eight and 21 days require a permit which must be posted on the entrance to the property.
Camping for more than 21 days in a 12 month period is prohibited.
According to the ordinance, camping is limited to the property owner or those who have written permission from the property owner, and no more than one shelter and a maximum of four people are allowed.
One section of the ordinance was taken out at the request of Councilman Matt Dodson. The section would have required campers to have proof of a porta-potty or gray water sump or recycled gray water.
“I don’t think, when I think about our city, we want to see a porta-potty placed in someone’s backyard,” Dodson said.
He said most people will probably use the restroom on the property they are camping on or use public restrooms so that part of the ordinance is not necessary.
The council unanimously voted to omit the section regarding porta-potties and to adopt the ordinance.
The council also unanimously voted to change the wording in the downtown parking regulations, an issue that has been the topic of discussion at the last two meetings.
Currently, businesses only need to pay fees for employees who work regular business hours, which excludes people who work between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., the change ends the distinction and businesses will pay for all employees the same.
This years Snowflake Festival is in full swing this week with the annual Snowflake Festival Parade downtown on Main Street, starting at 7PM. You can watch the parade LIVE on Facebook on Wynne Broadcasting’s Basin Life Magazine page.
A Pack Rat Christmas which is an evening of music and fun take place at 7 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Ross Ragland Cultural Center. And of course the big Snowflake Parade will get underway along Main Street Thursday night starting at 7pm.
There are many other events as well including the Santa Freeze from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Ella Redkey Pool and Saturday starting at 9 am it’s the Ugly Sweater Run at Harbor Isles, 601 Harbor Isles Blvd.
For more information and full details you can visit klamathsnowflake.com.
Pump prices are showing little movement following the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. More than half of the states, including Oregon, are seeing prices tick down.
For the week, the national average remains at $2.59 a gallon. The Oregon average dips three cents to $3.18. Meanwhile the second of four planned increases in the gas tax goes into effect January 1st. The increase is part of House Bill 2017 the Keep Oregon Moving legislation passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2017.For the first time, Oregon lawmakers set requirements that ODOT and Oregon cities and counties must meet in order to trigger the increase. The Oregon Transportation Commission sent the Legislature a report outlining how ODOT and local governments have met those requirements on November 26, 2019. Two more 2 cent gas tax increases in 2022 and 2024 are also on deck—but only if ODOT meets additional accountability requirements.Of the nearly sixty million dollars this increase will raise, 20% goes to Oregon counties, 30% to Oregon cities and 50% to ODOT.
The town of Bonanza is hosting their 4th annual Hometown Holiday Celebration and are in need of more parade entries which are free of charge.
Mayor Betty Tyree and the Town of Bonanza host a hug event to help bring in some holiday cheer. They will have a parade along with a lighting ceremony and of course Santa will be at the fire station! please contact town hallfor more information or call 541-545-6566.
Around the region
On Wednesday evening, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 730 near milepost 202.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a 1999 Ford F-150 PU was westbound on Hwy 730 when for unknown reasons crossed into the eastbound lane and collided with a 2011 Volvo Semi Truck with flatbed trailer loaded with metal products, operated by Steven Unruh (64) from Nampa. ID.
The operator of the Ford F-150 sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. Name will be released after next of kin has been notified.
Unruh was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston.
Hwy 730 was closed for approximately 4 hours.
OSP was assisted by Umatilla Fire District #1 and ODOT
The city of Cave Junction plans to enhance its diminished police presence by installing eight security cameras that a group of vigilant volunteers will monitor.
Cave Junction’s mayor and City Council recently approved the public safety proposal and are awaiting final authorization from Josephine County which would provide the bulk of the project’s funding.Declining timber revenues in the county and other parts of rural Oregon have triggered dramatic budget cuts in recent years, including in local law enforcement agencies. Voters have repeatedly rejected ballot measures that would increase taxes to fund police.
Sheriff’s deputies currently patrol Cave Junction during the day Monday through Friday. For several years the town has relied on a watch group made up of volunteers who haven’t had any type of background check to help thwart crime at night.
Patton says the town would likely require background checks for any citizen who monitors the cameras.
…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.