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 26, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Sunny, with a high near 37. Overnight, clear with a low of just 20 degrees.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Overnight low of 24.
Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Overnight, a 30% chance of snow flurries. Low of 30. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Sunday A chance of snow showers before 10am, then snow likely, mainly between 10am and 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 41. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday Sunny, with a high near 41.
Today’s Headlines
The Klamath County Public Health Air Advisory is Green until noon today.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to 6.5 percent in November from 6.7 percent in October.
The rate was 6.8 percent this time last year, not a statistically significant drop over the past year. Klamath County shed 270 jobs in November, fairly typical losses for this time of year. The county lost 510 jobs over the past year. These losses were largely concentrated in professional and businesses services, which lost 530 jobs from this time last year. Manufacturing also posted a loss of 70 jobs.
The bright spot over the past year was health services, which added 130. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in November, down from 5.8 percent in October. The rate was 6.2 percent in November 2018.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office employees presented a check for $1,000.00 to Marc Kane, Executive Director of the Klamath Basin Senior Citizens’ Center.
KCSO employees and volunteers throughout November and December purchased raffle tickets for items donated by individuals and local businesses with the proceeds of those raffles being donated to the Klamath Basin Senior Citizens Center Meals Program. KCSO employees were moved to help after learning the senior center prepares, serves and delivers over 250 meals per day for a total of 89,000 to 93,000 meals per year.
In recent years the state cut their funding which normally would have resulted in ending the program however the Senior Center chose to ‘foot-the-bill’ and is paying the full cost of $6 per meal every day for every meal.
A viewing of the planets Venus and Saturn and a thin crescent moon will be offered Saturday by the Klamath County Museum.
The free event will run from 5 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of Foothills Christian Fellowship, at the north end of Patterson Street in Klamath Falls. Large portable telescopes will be set up for viewing of the planets. According to Klamath County Museum manager Todd Kepple this weekend we’ll see a very thin new moon positioned right next to Venus and it will be a great time to set up a camera for a beautiful shot.” Venus is very bright in the southwestern sky for about an hour after sunset. Saturn appears a little lower in the southwestern sky, and sets shortly after sundown.
Anyone who would like help setting up their own telescope for the event is invited to come about an hour early to receive assistance. For more information contact the museum at (541) 882-1000.
Around the region
A former Oregon police officer filed a lawsuit saying he faced retaliation within the department for reporting a former police chief struck him with his arm while holding a metal sign according to court records.
Joseph Patnode is suing the Sunriver Police Department, current police Chief Cory Darling, Sunriver Service District board administrator and a department deputy. The defendants violated Patnode’s free speech rights and retaliated against him for whistleblowing, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Eugene. The former Sunriver police sergeant is seeking $2.5 million in damages for lost wages and benefits, lost economic potential, harm to reputation, emotional distress and other reasons.
Former Police Chief Marc Mills struck Patnode in the chest with his forearm while holding a metal citizens patrol sign during an altercation while both men were on duty in December 2017, Patnode said.
Bend Police officers initiated a human trafficking investigation Christmas eve in Bend. Bend Police Officers conducted traffic stop on a stolen vehicle.
Occupants of the vehicle included Jennifer Johnson (40 year-old Portland resident), Tyler Ford (29 year-old Gresham resident) and a 15 year-old juvenile female. The 15 year-old female was a missing person out of the Portland area. Heroin and Methamphetamine were seized from the vehicle, along with numerous stolen and forged identification documents. Several of the recovered documents were linked to thefts in the Portland area. Among other crimes, Ford was found to be in violation of a restraining order, for being in contact with the 15 year-old juvenile female in the vehicle.
Throughout the course of the investigation, Bend Police developed reason to believe that the 15 year-old female was being groomed for work in the commercial sex trade. No one was injured during this investigation and the juvenile is now safe.