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.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2019
Klamath Basin Weather
Tuesday Partly sunny today with a high near 43. Overnight, rain mixed with snow at around 4800 feet. Little or no accumulation expected.
Wednesday, New Year’s Day 2020 Rain and snow likely during the day. Snow level 4500 feet rising to 6200 feet. High near 44. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Overnight low of 33.
Thursday A chance of rain and snow before 10am, then a slight chance of rain. Snow level 4200 feet rising to 5600 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Showers overnight.
Friday Rain and snow likely. Snow level rising to 4700 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45.
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 Yellow until noon today.
Tonight is New Years Eve and the 28th annual Bullmania event pitting bucking bulls and broncs against the country’s top cowboys begins with doors opening at 5 p.m. at the Klamath County Fairgrounds Events Center.
A barbecue dinner begins at 5:15 p.m. along with bull riding and saddle bronc action starting at 7:15 pm.. Also featured will be music by Union Road Music for the New Year’s Eve Dance Party. Tickets are available in advance at Coastal, Sherm’s, Albertsons, Lane’s Market, the Bonanza Store and Grange Co-op, for $18, and $20 at the door. VIP tickets are $35 and include dinner. Full details available at bullmaniaklamathfalls.com.
Tomorrow the Linkville Lopers will host its annual Hangover Handicap fun run which starts and ends at Veterans Memorial Park.
This two mile run through downtown Klamath Falls is sure to cure your indulgences from the previous evening. The race begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow and participation is free. Sweet awards will be given to the fastest male and female participant.
Collier Memorial State Park will host a First Day Hike beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the park’s Logging Museum.
Participants will hike through a pine forest along Spring Creek and the Williamson River, watch for bald eagles, ducks and river otters. Before and after the hike, participants will get to enjoy a warming fire to ward off the winter chill. The hike is rated as easy, and will cover three miles on multiple trails. Dogs must be on a 6-foot leash.
The hike is recommended for children at least 6 years old. Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy shoes, and bring water as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
Natural Grocers will open its first Klamath Falls store in the Jefferson Square shopping complex in mid-January. The first day of business at the newly renovated location will be Wednesday, January 15th.
There will be a ribbon-cutting at 8:25 a.m. at the store. The grocery chain has 157 stores in the United States and is known for its organic food. Pamela Lipshitz, public relations director for Natural Grocers said the store is bringing 22 jobs to Klamath Falls and all except for one position has been filled already.
According to the Natural Grocers website, the store only sells organic and GMO-free produce, pasture-based dairy and antibiotic and hormone-free meats. The store also carries dietary supplements, household items, pet supplies, body care products and books.
Remember starting tomorrow single-use bags will be banned in all grocery stores and restaurants in Klamath County as well as statewide.
It’s old news for some parts of the state as Portland banned the bags in July 2011, Corvallis banned them one year later in July 2012 and Eugene passed a ban in October 2012. Now the ban has gone statewide. House Bill 2509 was passed in the 2019 Legislative session. Klamath Falls grocery stores have signs posted informing customers of the switch and reactions have been mixed.
People can skip the cost of buying paper bags by using their own carrying vessel whether it be a reusable shopping bag, a plastic bag from home or a backpack.
The Yurok Tribe and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association is suing the Bureau of Reclamation and National Marine Fisheries Service in objection to the 2018 Biological Opinion, with their objections including insufficient flows in the Klamath River in May and June.
The opinion was based on faulty data provided by consultant Thomas Hardy during the writing of the 2018 Biological Opinion. Klamath Water Users Association is a defendant in the lawsuit. In the case, both the Yurok Tribes and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association claim there isn’t enough water for coho salmon using the provided data.
The Bureau of Reclamation in November announced that the federal agency would need to reconsult for a new biological opinion by April 1st due to “erroneous data” provided by an outside source.
Around the state
On Friday, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to pull over an unlicensed silver Mercedes Benz sedan on Hwy. 62 near Shady Cove, OR. The vehicle attempted to elude and drove onto a private driveway where it was stopped. The driver and a passenger were both arrested. The Mercedes was seized and towed.
The driver, Michael Bradley Herlikofer, 30 years old, Shady Cove, Oregon was lodged on three warrants for Failure to Appear; Attempting to Elude a Police Officer-Vehicle; Giving False Information to Police Officer; Distribution of Schedule II Controlled Substance; Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance and Possession of Schedule III Controlled Substance.
The passenger, Tiffany Anderson Burke, 27 years old, Eagle Point, Oregon, was lodged for a probation violation detainer initially. While being booked at County Jail additional charges for Possession of Controlled Substance Heroin and Meth were added when drugs were found on her during lodging.
As a result of evidence found during the search of the eluding Mercedes Benz vehicle, the investigation continued into this case. That lead to the service of a search warrant in the 3800 block of Antelope Rd in White City, Oregon.
Several people were at the location at the time of the warrant being served. One resident did not submit to arrest initially and hid in an outbuilding, a detached garage. The suspect did not come out of hiding despite tear gas and Flash Bang devices being used to attempt to get him to come out. Ultimately, deputies entered the building and took him into custody. A K9 was on scene but did not deploy on the suspect.
The suspect is Jaime Castro, 28 years old, of the 3800 block of Antelope Rd. White City, OR. He was lodged on an Oregon State Parole Board Parole Violation; Failure to Appear on Dangerous Drugs charges from Josephine County, Resisting Arrest and Interfering With a Police Officer.
A second occupant of the house was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance-Meth. Robin Kutala, 59 years old of the 3800 block of Antelope Rd. White City, Oregon was cited and released.
Another person was visiting the house and was arrested on a warrant for his arrest. He is Kevin Lee Hughes, 32 years, of Eagle Point, Oregon. He was lodged on a warrant for Contempt of Court.
The case remains under investigation.
A plan that would require purchasing a permit before entering three of Oregon’s most popular wilderness areas has received a largely negative response.
More than 13,700 comments were submitted on a proposal to charge $4 to $11 per day to enter the Three Sisters, Mount Jefferson and Mount Washington wilderness areas beginning in 2020. The comments, which came from across the country echo the idea that while action is needed to combat overcrowding and garbage on wilderness trails the proposal is too costly and restrictive.
The Department of Revenue is notifying taxpayers that any changes to their state withholding must be made on Form OR-W-4 beginning January 1, 2020 as the new federal Form W-4 can’t be used for Oregon withholding purposes.
The federal form doesn’t use allowances and Oregon withholding is calculated using allowances.
Previously filed Oregon or federal withholding statements (Form OR-W-4 or Form W-4), which are used for Oregon withholding, can remain in place if the taxpayer doesn’t change their withholding elections.
“We encourage Oregon taxpayers to check their withholding for tax year 2020,” said Personal Tax and Compliance Division Administrator JoAnn Martin. “Not withholding enough during the year could lead to an unexpected tax bill in 2021.”
Employers should provide Form OR-W-4 to employees anytime an employee provides them a new federal Form W-4.
While everyone should check their withholding annually, some groups of taxpayers are more at risk for under-withholding than others, including those who:
- Started a new job in 2019 or later.
- Updated their federal Form W-4 in 2018 or 2019.
- Previously claimed federal deductions that were impacted by federal tax law changes, such as the employee business expense deduction.
- Live in a two-earner household.
Oregon’s Form OR-W-4 and Revenue’s updated online withholding calculator allow taxpayers to determine the correct amount to withhold for Oregon personal income tax. Form OR-W-4 and the calculator are available on the department’s website at www.oregon.gov/dor.
Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments; call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 800-886-7204.
…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.
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