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 13, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Friday
Morning Rain and snow showers, then rain showers during the day, high near 40. Snow level near 4700 feet. Overnight, snow at 4600 feet with little accumulation expected, low of 27.
Saturday
A chance of snow showers before 4pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.
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.
A child remains in intensive care at a Portland-area hospital following an incident Friday evening at a Lake County hot springs that nearly resulted in a drowning.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeview Disaster Unit responded to an emergency call on Friday evening of reports of a 4-year old child unresponsive at Hunters Hot Springs, located just north of Lakeview. According to a Probably Cause Affidavit released by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the child was transported to Lake District Hospital and intubated for ventilation, then airlifted to Portland, where they remain in intensive care.
The child at the time had been under the supervision of Sheila Ray Foster, according to the report, who was in the deep end of the hot springs pool with a friend, Gregory Holcomb. The adults reported they were on their own in the deep end while the 4-year old child was in the shallow end of the pool. The mother of the child arrived on scene at lake District Hospital while the child was being treated, and reportedly told law enforcement at the time that Foster was aware that the child could not swim. Foster was arrested in regards to the incident early Saturday morning.
It has not been announced whether or not the Lake County District Attorney’s office would pursue a Grand Jury indictment.
People of all ability levels are wanted to help in Saturday’s Annual Klamath Falls Christmas Bird Count sponsored by the Klamath Basin Audubon Society.
Even though the weather outside might be frightful organizer Kevin Spencer believes experienced and beginning birders will find the experience delightful. Beginners will be paired with knowledgeable birders with organizers saying anybody who participates can learn a lot. The bird counting area will be within 15 miles of the Klamath Falls Regional Airport. The region includes town and rural locations. Within the 15-mile radius, Old Fort Road and the historic World War II Marine Corps Barrack/original Oregon Institute of Technology is the northern boundary while Round Lake is the west, Spring Lake the south and near the Olene bridge is the eastern boundary.
During past Christmas Bird Counts, anywhere from 105 to 115 bird species have been identified, usually the largest number of bird species seen east of the Cascades. Most counters will begin about 7:30 Saturday morning and shuttle around recommended locations until about 4 or 4:30 p.m. Afterward, the counters will gather at a to-be announced location to eat, socialize and review lists.
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed passage of legislation by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to ensure much-needed funding for rural counties like Klamath County. The Committee passed S. 430 to authorize the Secure Rural School Program for two years. The program expired at the end of FY2018. The Committee also passed an amendment, negotiated by Wyden that ensures counties receive a ten percent increase in funding efficient and timely appointments to Secure Rural School Resource Advisory Committees and that no program funds are used for lobbying. The Committee also passed an amendment to allow Secure Rural School funds to support rural broadband projects.
A holiday-themed model train show opens Saturday at the Klamath County Museum. A variety of train layouts, including N, O, HO and G-scale model sets will be displayed by the Klamath Rails model railroad club.
The show runs through December 28th with hours the same as the museum’s normal schedule, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday each week. Entry to the train show is free with regular paid admission to the museum. Admission fees are $5 for adults, and $4 for seniors, military and students. Youth 12 and under are free. Santa Claus will be available to visit with children attending the train show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day through Dec. 24, with the exception of Dec. 19.
A free session for families with special needs children will be provided from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. For more information contact the museum at (541) 882-1000.
The pile of socks in Dena Morosin’s fourth-grade class room keeps growing.
So far, Morosin’s students at Shasta Elementary School have collected 446 pairs of socks to donate to the Klamath Falls Gospel Mission this holiday season. Their goal: At least 600 pairs. A student suggested calling the mission to find out what was needed. Turns out socks are needed. Socks of all sizes, colors and styles. So the students created the Shasta Scorpion Sock Drive Challenge, and challenged each student in their school to donate at least one pair of socks to the cause – there are 606 students who attend Shasta Elementary – in the hopes of reaching 600 pairs by Dec. 20.
Anyone who wants to join the Shasta Scorpion Sock Drive Challenge, can drop off new socks at Shasta Elementary School, 1951 Madison St. Business who want to join can email Morosin at morosind@kcsd.k12.or.us.
Around the state
A jury in Dallas, Texas, has awarded $20 million in damages following the death of a man who was killed by a Greyhound bus as he ran to catch it at a southern Oregon rest stop.
The jury found Greyhound Lines, based in Dallas responsible for Hunter Brown’s death. They awarded his parents, Paula Becker and Dr. Barry Brown, $18 million in compensatory damages, finding that Greyhound’s negligence caused their son’s death. Brown, 25, was riding a Greyhound bound for San Francisco on June 29, 2017. The Seattle resident got off the bus at a truck stop around 1 a.m., and the driver, Arthur Coley, told passengers they would depart at 1:30 a.m. At some point before 1:30 a.m., Coley honked the horn and started driving away. Brown ran up, banged on the door and begged Coley to let him on. Coley looked at him and continued turning the bus toward him, the suit said. The bus ran him over.
Authorities say a 21-year-old man died at a hospital Wednesday night after being shot at a MAX light rail station parking lot in suburban Portland.
According to reports shots were fired in the parking lot of the Quatama MAX station in Hillsboro and a man was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Hillsboro Police later Thursday identified the person killed as Kevin Marshall of Hillsboro and said an autopsy showed he died of a gunshot wound to the head.
A person of interest who had been detained was released without charges, police said. No further details have been released and an investigation continues.
…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.