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.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Rain at times today. 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 has voted to enter into a development agreement with Confluence Klamath Falls for the Balsiger block property at the corner of Main and Esplanade.
Currently, the developer envisions a hotel, rooftop restaurant, townhouses/condos, retail space, apartments and some open gathering spaces. 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. 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 first 30 high school students were welcomed into Oregon Institute of Technology’s Diploma to Degree program Wednesday which will provide a gateway to college for Oregon high school students interested in business.
The first of many scheduled launches were held at Mazama and Henley high schools as Oregon Tech presented checks for $1200 to each school to support the Future Business Leaders of American or DECA program at the high schools. Students at participating high schools who are active participants in business clubs and take dual credit courses can apply for this accelerated pathway to a college degree.
High school graduates in the program who enroll in an Oregon Tech bachelor’s degree program in Business will receive tuition discounts on their first and last terms at Oregon Tech. The program guides students into early credit opportunities while in high school, resulting in considerable savings of time and money, with seamless transfer and zero loss of credit for those who pursue a business degree at Oregon Tech. Dual credit courses taken as part of the program will also transfer to other Oregon colleges and universities.
The Officers and Members of VFW Post 1383 announce a Ceremony of Remembrance of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941. The Ceremony is scheduled to commence at 10:00 am, Saturday at the VFW Post at 515 Klamath Avenue.
Guest Speaker is Karen Johnson, COL. US Army Retired and Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, District 5. Included in the Ceremony is the honoring of those who are or were POW’S/MIAS. The Color Guard consisting of Members of The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and the Marine Corps League will preform Taps and a Rifle Salute. The event is open to public and free admittance.
Lost River Junior-Senior High School students received an early Christmas gift this week from FastBreak Convenience Stores — $1,700 worth of new P.E. equipment for their gym and weight room.
High school students on Monday helped six FastBreak area store managers unload a trailer full of P.E. equipment into the school gymnasium. The FastBreak donation included balls, ball storage carts, weights, resistance bands, and safety equipment such as lifting belts for weight room users.
Josh White regional manager of FastBreak Convenience Stories said the idea to help the Lost River-area community came from the managers of his FastBreak store in Merrill. From there White saw a social media post by Lost River teacher Katey Limb about the need for P.E. equipment.
Great news for Klamath County kids! The Friends of the Klamath County Library has received an Oregon Community Foundation grant to expand the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to more children in Klamath County.
The Friends underwrite the library which mails a free age-specific book monthly to any Klamath County child from birth to 5 years of age who registers regardless of economic situation location in the county, or whether their parents have a library card.
In the last year, over 12,000 books have been sent to Klamath County children with nearly 1500 youngsters participating in the program. This grant, made up of funds from the GreenSprings Fund and the Oregon Public Library Innovation Fund will allow the Friends to offer this service to even more youngsters across the county.
Want to give your favorite businesses and individuals a chance to be honored for their impact on our community? At the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce’s 99th Annual Awards Gala, you can! Nominations are currently open for Gala 2020.
This Hollywood-style awards show is scheduled for January 11th, 2020 at the Ross Ragland Theater. We are currently accepting nominations for the following awards: Big Idea Innovation Award, Environmental Leadership Award, Commitment to Community Award, Best Place to Work, Spirit of Entrepreneurism, Lifetime Achievement and Pathfinder Award. For more information and to purchase tickets, please call the Chamber at (541) 884-5193.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department invites Oregonians outdoors on New Year’s Day for the annual First Day Hikes event. Visitors can choose from 37 hikes in 31 parks across the state.
All hikes will be guided by a park ranger or volunteer who will share stories about the park’s history, geology, wildlife and plants. All hikes are free and day-use parking fees will be waived at all participating parks January 1st only. Hikers can register for specific hikes online at the Oregon State Parks Store. While online registration isn’t required for participation, visitors are encouraged to register. It helps park staff plan the hike and provides them with participant contact information should hike details change.
OPRD advises visitors to plan for inclement weather, dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, bring water and remember to carry binoculars for viewing wildlife. Participating parks include Collier Memorial State Park at 9 a.m. Participants should meet at the Logging Museum.
Time is running out for people who want health insurance in 2020 but do not get coverage through their job or the Oregon Health Plan.
Sunday, December 15th is the last day to enroll in a health plan through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace which is the state’s pathway to subsidized coverage. About 100,000 uninsured Oregonians may be eligible for help paying for their health insurance, but signups in Oregon are lagging so far this year.
The Board of Directors of EagleRidge High School, an Oregon Nonprofit Corporation, will hold a Board Meeting on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at 4:00 pm at EagleRidge High School, 677 South Seventh Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon.
The meeting agenda includes presentation of the annual audit and review of policies and procedures. The Board may also consider other business brought before the board.
The Board of Directors of EagleRidge High School will also hold their annual board meeting on Wednesday, December 11, 2109, at 4:00 pm at EagleRidge High School, 677 South Seventh Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon. The meeting agenda includes election of board members to new terms and election of board officers.
EagleRidge High School was established to create and implement an autonomous, high achieving and equitable small high school in collaboration with the Klamath Falls City School District pursuant to the Oregon Charter School law.
The meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Oregon Public Meetings law.
Around the state of Oregon
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has identified the third man killed in a crash near Salem Friday night when a van full of Christmas tree workers collided with a pickup truck.
The worker identified Thursday is 18-year-old Lucas Felipe Diego. The other two Christmas tree workers killed were 41 year old Andres Alonzo Canil, and 39 year old Miguel Alonzo Lucas. Ranging in age from 14 to 64, more than a dozen workers were headed home when the collision happened killing the three workers and sending three others to the hospital.
A Washington County man who murdered an Aloha woman and dismembered her body after trying to use her to lure another drug dealer to his parents’ home has been sentenced to a minimum of 65 years in prison.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office said 37-year-old Jeremiah Ward Johnston was sentenced Wednesday by Washington County Judge Ricardo Menchaca immediately after entering a guilty plea in the death of 28-year-old Sara Zghoul. Her remains were found inside two suitcases in a car near Johnston’s parents’ home. He was arrested after he told a friend about the crime and the friend called authorities.
While in jail, Johnston offered another inmate $50,000 to kill the person who went to the police, but the plot was discovered by investigators according to documents in the case.
…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.