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, JANUARY 7, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Rain and snow likely after 4pm. Snow level 4500 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Overnight, rain and show likely, low around 33 degrees. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Wednesday A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Snow showers likely, mainly between 10pm and 4am, with a low around 29. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Thursday A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Friday A chance of snow between 10am and 4pm, then rain, possibly mixed with snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39.
Saturday Snow showers likely. 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.
The January 1, 2020, streamflow forecasts for the Klamath Basin have been released.
The initial forecast values for all points in the Klamath Basin are well below normal for all forecast periods. This is due to observed snow water equivalent values being below normal at most snow monitoring locations. Additionally, 2020 precipitation values are well below normal for the year to date in the Klamath Basin. The report notes that this is the initial forecast for the 2020 water year and it is early in the forecast and snowpack accumulation season to predict if these conditions will persist through the spring.
The current 1-month long-term forecast from the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center calls for the increased probability of below normal temperatures and near normal precipitation.
The American Red Cross currently has a critical need for blood donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors to make an appointment now to give and help replenish the blood supply after the holiday weeks.
Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of type O blood. To help tackle the critical need, the Red Cross and NFL are working together to offer one lucky winner a trip to Super Bowl LIV in Miami. As a special thank-you, those who come to give blood or platelets Jan. 1-19, 2020, will automatically be entered for a chance to experience the Super Bowl live.
The Red Cross and NFL have teamed up to offer one winner two tickets to Super Bowl LIV, entry to the official NFL Tailgate, tickets to Super Bowl Experience at the Miami Beach Convention Center, round-trip airfare to Miami, three-night hotel accommodations at The Alexander – All Suite Oceanfront Resort and a $500 gift card for expenses.
Your next opportunity to donate blood in Klamath Falls is Monday, January 13th from noon to five at the Cerulean Inn on Main Street and Tuesday the 14th from 10 until 2 at the Library on North 3rd.
On Friday, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) was touring the state on his many town hall meetings and in Klamath Falls recognized the Basin Partners Internship Program at Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls.
The recognition of a local group working to better the community is customary to how the senator starts his town halls. Mazama High School teacher Benji Henslee, Tracy Tracy, of Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center, and Jeff Bullock, of Klamath County School District, were acknowledged for their work with the program through the presentation of an American flag flown above the U.S. Capitol.
According to the Senator this program is a program that connects students to the community through internships that enable them to do five to six weeks of real work and to get some compensation for it and to be introduced to real world activities that might help them guide their career after high school. It’s a win for the community and for the businesses and we have a lot of partners and it’s a win for the students. The high school internship program started five years ago as a partnership between Southern Oregon Education Service District, Oregon Extension, and Klamath County School District.
A man accused in an alleged murder-for-hire case pleaded not guilty to charges including murder Friday afternoon.
Corey Agard allegedly shot and killed Pedro Richard Padilla Jr. at a Merrill home in exchange for $10,000 on or between November 22 and December 23. Tori Hill is charged with paying Agard and arranging to have Padilla killed. According to court documents, they disposed of Padilla’s body in a body of water after wrapping it in white plastic and weighing it down.
Documents also say they purchased a UV light to “conceal and remove biological evidence” and that Agard gave the weapon used in the shooting to an unnamed person who destroyed it. A third suspect, Joshua Holloway of Chiloquin, was also charged in connection with the murder on Tuesday. The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office considered Holloway a “person of interest” on December 27, but he was charged on December 31 with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
According to court documents, Holloway accompanied Agard and Hill to the 24100 block of Wilson Road in Merrill to “conduct a murder that was prearranged between co-conspirators for a large amount of money. Holloway had knowledge of the agreement and had involvement in the execution of removing and concealing the corpse and crime scene.”
The BLM in Oregon announced today that it has deployed four to assist Australia with the prolific wildfires spread throughout the country.
These firefighters include staff from the BLM Prineville District that will accompany 13 other interagency Pacific Northwest firefighters also assisting Australia. The BLM firefighters from Oregon/Washington being deployed to Australia include expertise in air tactical support, wildland fire incident management, and firefighter crew leadership.
Fires that started to burn in August have continued uninterrupted with large areas of both New South Wales and Queensland burned, multiple property losses, and, sadly, fatalities. Fire conditions continue to challenge in New South Wales and Queensland, while new fires are causing concern further south in Victoria.
Fire conditions in Australia are extreme due to an extended drought, hot temperatures, and relative humidity in the single digits.
Around the region
Sunday night Jackson Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a serious traffic collision in Eagle Point. One vehicle was found to be a recently stolen vehicle out of Medford PD. The vehicle was reported traveling at extremely high speeds and driving recklessly prior to the collision. When the suspect vehicle ran through the stop sign at the intersection it collided with a second vehicle.
The driver of the suspect vehicle is 55 year old Alfred Lee Walker Jr. of Medford. Walker and two passengers were transported to Rogue Regional Medical Center. Preliminary information indicates the driver of the suspect vehicle had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit and faces charges including: DUII-alcohol, Assault II, Reckless Driving and Recklessly Endangering Another Person.
The suspect was cited as he was not released from the hospital for lodging.
Around the state of Oregon
A driver hit and killed a middle school student yesterday morning in Gresham near the school according to police reports.
Gresham police Sargent Tom Walker said the 11-year-old Dexter McCarty Middle School student was hit in a marked crosswalk on Southeast Hogan Road. A traffic light was in his favor at the time of the crash according to Walker.The driver who hit the boy pulled over and has cooperated with investigators. The boy died at the scene. Neither the boy nor the driver has been publicly identified.
…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.