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.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Rain expected at times during the day with a high near 40. Snow level rising to 5600 feet. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday A 20% of rain before 10am. Snow level 5100 feet rising to 5700 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.
Saturday Rain likely before 4pm, then rain and snow likely. Snow level 5000 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday A chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level 4300 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 39.
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 winter weather advisory remains in effect until 1 p.m. this afternoon, mainly for Northern and Eastern Klamath County along with Western Lake County.
The National Weather Service warns of 3 to 6 inches of snow expected along Highway 97 from Spring Creek north to Crescent by this afternoon. They also expect wind gusts up to 25 miles per hour in exposed areas. Plan for slippery roads and low visibility in the area. The weather service suggests allowing extra time for travelling and that drivers should carry chains.
Gillian Bradley facing murder charges from a November 20th shooting at Fairview Park in which two people died and one was injured is scheduled to be arraigned at the Klamath County Courthouse on January 14th where she will be expected to enter a plea.
Bradley’s lawyers have requested her arraignment be postponed until discovery has been completed so that they can review the evidence the prosecution intends to bring against Bradley so as to better advise her on how to plead. Bradley is being held in the Klamath County Jail without bail under charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of tampering with evidence.
Eighteen Henley High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets spent two days last month at Travis Air Force Base, learning about career opportunities and visiting with Air Force personnel as part of the program’s “Curriculum in Action” trip.
Curriculum in Action trips directly support the Air Force JROTC curriculum, which includes the study of aviation history, the science of flight, leadership principles, and survival. Cadets also get to see aircraft and directly talk with various Air Force personnel. Henley’s Junior ROTC program is operated by retired Air Force Lt. Col. Jason Budnick and TSgt David Kelley. Both are aerospace science instructors. In addition to visits to Kingsley Field, Henley’s program takes sophomores and seniors on a two- to three-day trip to an active duty Air Force base and museum each year, Budnick said. Last year, cadets traveled to Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash., and visited the Seattle Museum of Flight.
Around the region a southwestern Oregon woman will serve 25 years to life in prison for shooting her estranged husband in the head.
A jury found 74-year-old Louise Richards guilty of second-degree murder in the August 2017, shooting death of her husband, 70-year-old Terry Richards, at the home they shared in Central Point. Prosecutors said Louise Richards retreated to her bedroom during an argument and emerged later with a handgun and shot Terry Richards while he was sitting in a recliner. She then called a friend and then called 911.
On Tuesday at approximately 11:50 a.m. officers from the Ashland Police Department and paramedics from Ashland Fire and Rescue responded to an injury car/motorcycle crash at the intersection of Wimer and Scenic Streets.
The driver of the motorcycle was determined to have died from severe trauma suffered during the crash. The driver of the car was unhurt. Members of the Medford Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office are assisting with the investigation. The crash appears to have been caused by excessive speed on the part of the motorcycle. Police can now identify the man as 29 year old Ashland resident Jamison Peil. He was thrown from his motorcycle when it collided with another vehicle. Peil was wearing a helmet but unfortunately still died from his injuries.
Around the state
Yesterday evening at about 6PM Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two vehicle crash on Hwy 99E and Topaz St. in Marion County.
Preliminary investigation reveals that Ford F350, operated by Alex Kalugin (52) of Salem, was stopped on Hwy 99E, waiting for northbound traffic to clear, so he could turn left onto Topaz St. when it was struck from behind by a Dodge Van operated by Delores Sams (81) of Brooks.
Sams sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. Kalugin sustained minor injuries. Hwy 99E was closed for approximately 2.5 hours..
While the open enrollment period for private health plans ended Tuesday night, open enrollment does not apply to Medicaid or the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).
Oregonians can apply for OHP at any time of the year at one.oregon.gov, and it’s free for qualifying members. OHP members get a letter in the mail when it is time for them to renew their coverage with directions on how to renew.
Though the recent Oregon Health Insurance Survey (OHIS) found that 94 percent of Oregonians have health insurance, it also found more than 200,000 Oregonians who currently lack health coverage would qualify for OHP (which is free to members) or a marketplace subsidy (which reduces coverage costs), based on their income.
“Health insurance is the first step to peace of mind in keeping your family well,” said Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen. “See if you qualify for coverage, and if you do, sign up so you can access the medical, mental health and dental care that can keep you and your family healthy.”
A U.S. Department of State employee and his spouse were arrested today for their role in an international conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of the District of Oregon and Deputy Assistant Secretary Ricardo Colón of the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service made the announcement.
Gene Leroy Thompson Jr., 53, and Guojiao “Becky” Zhang, 39, were indicted by a grand jury in Eugene, Oregon, and charged with conspiracy and trafficking in counterfeit goods. According to the indictment and other court documents, from September 2017 through December 2019, Thompson Jr. and Zhang allegedly sold counterfeit Vera Bradley handbags from e-commerce accounts to persons throughout the United States.
Thompson Jr. is employed by the U.S. Department of State as an Information Programs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea. Thompson Jr. used his State Department computer to create numerous accounts on a variety of e-commerce platforms, all from within a secure space within the Embassy designed to protect classified information. Once Thompson Jr. created these accounts, Zhang took primary responsibility for operating the accounts, communicating with customers, and procuring merchandise to be stored in the District of Oregon. Thompson Jr. and Zhang also directed a co-conspirator in the District of Oregon to ship items to purchasers across the United States.
An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Diplomatic Security Service Office of Special Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Senior Counsel Frank Lin of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Potter of the District of Oregon are prosecuting the case.
Yesterday at approximately 8:20am, Deschutes County deputies responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a 2007 Dodge 2500 pickup and a freight train in the area of the Redmond Rod and Gun Club on Highway 97.
Upon arrival, deputies found the driver of the pickup truck, David Gilbert, pinned inside the vehicle. The vehicle had sustained extensive damage and was shoved approximately 100 feet north of the crossing area. Gilbert told deputies on scene that he did not look for the train as he was crossing the tracks. Fire and medical crews worked to extricate Gilbert from the vehicle and he was transported by air ambulance to St. Charles Hospital in Bend with serious injuries.
…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.