The latest news stories in the Klamath Basin and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM/102.5FM, BasinLife.com and The Herald & News.
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Rain at times, with a high near 47.
Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46.
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Road Conditions
Traveling? Click and check these cameras below for the latest road conditions.
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
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday she is closing the state’s bars and restaurants and banning gatherings of more than 25 people, in the latest set of drastic actions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
At the same time, President Trump at The White House on Monday urged all older Americans to stay home and everyone to avoid crowds and eating out at restaurants as part of sweeping guidelines meant to combat an expected surge of coronavirus cases.
His task force released new recommendations to try to blunt the impact of the virus, racing to bolster testing and aid even as financial markets fell and Americans scrambled to reorder their lives.
Among the new recommendations: Over the next 15 days, Americans should not gather in groups of more than 10 people, schooling should be at home and discretionary travel and social visits should be avoided. If anyone in a household tests positive for the virus, everyone who lives there should stay home.
Here in Oregon, Gov. Brown says restaurants can continue take-out and delivery options and the prohibition on gatherings will have an exemption for grocery stores and retail outlets. The ban starts today and is scheduled to last at least four weeks.
She also urged Oregonians to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people.
The governor’s order comes after she faced increasing calls in recent days from health care professionals and business owners to shutter bars and restaurants and reduce large gatherings. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Sunday night that bars and restaurants should close.
Earlier in the day, Brown told reporters more drastic social distancing measures would be coming.
“It may seem like we’re in the middle of this, but in terms of timeline and impact we are really just in the beginning,” Brown said.
She added: “There’s no vaccine. There’s no medicine for coronavirus. And we know the virus is in our communities. The only thing we know to do is slow the transmission through social distancing and expand and support hospital capacity to support the sick. Guidelines on social distancing is a matter of life and death.”
The Number Of Coronavirus Cases Growing in Oregon
As of Sunday afternoon, Oregon had a total of 39 reported cases of the novel coronavirus, with new cases in Yamhill, Deschutes and Linn counties. According to the Oregon Health Authority, the Yamhill and Deschutes cases are believed to be community acquired.
The Linn County case is a staff member at the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, which has nine residents who have tested positive as of Sunday afternoon. The staff member has remained in isolation in accordance with infection prevention protocols and public health guidelines, according to the OHA.
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the OHA are prioritizing testing for residents and staff at the Veterans’ Home.
Ten of the state’s 39 cases are linked to the Veterans’ Home in Lebanon.
There were 182 pending COVID-19 tests in Oregon as of Sunday afternoon.
More than 60 people have died of the virus in the U.S. Most of those deaths have been in the Seattle area.
Gov. Kate Brown announced late last week that all K-12 public schools in the state of Oregon will be closed through the end of March.
Brown also granted a request from Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to immediately declare an “abnormal disruption of the market” in the state. The declaration allows Rosenblum to take legal action against any business or online vendor that resells essential goods with a price hike higher than 15%.
In a letter to the governor, Rosenblum said her office has been hearing from consumers about overpriced items, like toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
“During this COVID-19 public health emergency, I want Oregonians to know that my office is open for business, and we want to hear from Oregonians as to what is going on in the marketplace,” Rosenblum wrote.
Other law enforcement agencies had even stronger words for price gougers during the crisis. Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel urged Oregonians to contact the state Department of Justice consumer protection phone line if they saw overpriced goods.
“I will have a zero tolerance policy toward offenders. If you’re putting our community at risk to make a buck during a time of crisis, in addition to rotting in hell, you’ll face the full weight of the legal power granted to me by the people of Oregon,” Hummel said in a statement.
Since fears of the Coronavirus have set in as Oregonians have been stocking up on soap, nonperishable food and a lot of toilet paper. But gun sales are also up so much that the Oregon State Police background check system can’t keep up.
Normally a background check to buy a firearm takes about 10 minutes. Oregon State Police said they don’t have updated numbers for how many background checks they’ve run this past week. But according to multiple gun stores, the wait time for a background check was up to two hours. Other times, the computer system simply didn’t work.
One gun store owner said that most of the people are buying a weapon to feel better in uncertain times.
The Klamath Tribal Council approved a resolution on Monday afternoon to declare a state of emergency, which will make the tribe eligile for federal relief to help the impact on the tribal economy.
Klamath Tribal Chairman Don Gentry said the tribal council also voted Monday to close Kla-Mo-Ya Casino to indoor dining until further notice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The casino’s Peak-to-Peak Restaurant will continue to offer carry-out services only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The Klamath Tribes will be working with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, (D-OR) and others on obtaining funds in the days to come, that could help the tribal economy. Funds could come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Crater Lake Junction Travel Center remains open, with carry out only for fast food orders.
Kla-Mo-Ya’s Sleep Inn Hotel remains open and available for reservations. The hotel’s eatery will likely box carry-out orders, according to Gentry.
All Tribal sanctioned events have been postponed until further notice, including the C’waam ceremony. It’s the first time in more than 30 years that the public ceremony will be canceled.
As we noted yesterday, the Klamath Falls City Schools are offering students a sack lunch all this week. The Klamath County School District is offering a free meal program for students 18 years old and younger through Wednesday, March 18.
Meals are being offered on dates that were scheduled school days prior to the statewide closure order. For updated information during the closure, go to the district website at www.kcsd.k12.or.us.
Following are the meal pick-up locations and times:
Shasta Elementary, 1951 Madison Ave. 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Stearns Elementary, 3641 Crest St. 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Peterson Elementary, 4856 Clinton Ave. 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Ferguson Elementary, 2901 Homedale Road 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Malin Elementary, 2153 Third St., Malin 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Merrill Elementary, 406 West 2nd St., Merrill 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Gearhart School in Bly, 11 a.m. to noon
Keno Elementary, 11110 Keno-Worden Road, 11:30 a.m. to noon
Chiloquin Elementary, 548 2nd Ave., Chiloquin, 11:30 a.m to noon
Bonanza Elementary, 31601 Mission St., Bonanza, 11:30 a.m. to noon
Sprague River Library, 23402 Sprague River Rd., 11:30 a.m. to noon
Gilchrist Schools, Plans are pending, Check district website
Henley Elementary, Plans are pending, Check district website
Fifteen years after it opened its first Klamath Falls branch, Rogue Credit Union is set to open a second local branch — something its customers have been requesting for years. The community is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the new branch April 9 at 12:30PM.
“Our members were the drive behind the decision to open up a second location in Klamath Falls. Our current branch on Washburn Way is extremely busy, and members have been asking for a location on the other side of town for years,” Rogue Credit Union Marketing Manager Kelsey Esqueda noted.
The new Klamath Falls branch is located near the Oregon Tech campus, which was a strategic choice. “When choosing new branch locations, we look for convenient locations for our members. Our goal is to be able to serve more of the Klamath Falls community, and we looked for a location that would be convenient for our members, in a high-traffic area of town,” Esqueda explained.
“The proximity to one of the large employers in Klamath Falls, where many of our members work or go to school, was a consideration,” she added.
Additionally, the new branch’s drive up features Rogue Credit Union’s express teller machines with live video tellers. The machines are open extended hours to better serve members.
Today, according to Rogue Credit Union’s website, it serves over 135,000 members with an asset base of over $1.6 billion. The website adds, “But what’s most important is not our assets, but holding true to our DNA by giving back to our members and our communities.”
Around the state
Notifying the state late last night, four additional residents of the Oregon Veterans’ Home in Lebanon have tested positive for presumptive cases of COVID-19.
Oregon now has a total of 47 people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The Oregon Health Authority announced eight new cases of the novel coronavirus as of 10:30 a.m. today.
OHA is reporting 2 new cases each in Benton and Deschutes Counties; and 1 new case in each of the following counties: Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah and Washington.
“I know it’s difficult to learn that we are seeing more active community spread of COVID-19, but this is something we’ve been expecting,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed, State Health Officer and Epidemiologist, OHA Public Health Division. “It’s a good reminder to take steps to protect yourself, and vulnerable friends and family members, by washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and staying home and away from others if you’re sick.”
Officials continue to urge all Oregonians to take steps to protect themselves, their families, and those who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. Those considered “high risk” include adults 60 and older, or anyone with a serious health condition, including lung or heart problems, kidney disease, diabetes, or anyone who has a suppressed immune system.
People vulnerable to complications should follow federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to stay home as much as possible and avoid gatherings.
Every resident should take these basic steps to protect themselves and those most at risk:
- Never visit a hospital or long-term-care facility if you have a fever or cough.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces like bathrooms, desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, faucet handles, toys and cell phones.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Stay home and away from others if you are ill.
After someone contracts COVID-19, illness usually develops within 14 days. Symptoms mirror those of the flu, including fever, cough, runny nose, headache, sore throat and general feelings of illness.
Stay informed
Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.
United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.
Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.
The Oregon Bankers Association (OBA) and banks serving Oregon communities are proactively addressing the rapidly developing issues related to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The highest priority of the banking industry is the health and safety of employees, customers and communities. As such, banks are taking many precautions and proactive measures. Fortunately, banks have well-developed risk management practices and business continuity plans, which means they are prepared to respond to the evolving pandemic response while delivering uninterrupted service to their customers.
Moreover, current capital and liquidity levels in the banking industry are very high, which means banks are well-positioned to withstand the economic impact of this challenging time and to help their customers do the same.
Some of the steps banks are taking include enhancing cleaning and sanitation practices, implementing remote work policies for non-customer facing staff, increasing social distancing measures for all customer-facing staff and restricting staff travel. When possible, customers are encouraged to use online and mobile banking to monitor their accounts, check balances, make payments, transfer funds and deposit checks. Additional options include using ATMs, night depositories, drive-thrus and calling your bank directly for assistance. Customers can also take advantage of their debit and credit card when making payments.
Many banks are also taking steps to accommodate impacted customers through small business support, select payment deferrals, hardship loan programs and other measures based on individual circumstances. We encourage any customer who is experiencing a hardship due to the pandemic to contact their financial institution as soon as they can to specifically discuss their individual financial situation and understand what assistance may be available to them. Customers can also check their financial institutions’ website for updates and options.
“We know this is an extremely challenging and uncertain time,” said OBA Chair Craig Wanichek, president and CEO of Summit Bank. “Talk with your banker, share your plan. We are here to help you address the financial impacts of COVID-19 on your business or personal financial situation.”
OBA’s website includes a page – www.oregonbankers.com/coronavirus-response – with information and links related to the Oregon banking industry’s coronavirus response. The association and its member banks will continue to closely monitor the situation and take additional measures as advised to protect and support employees, customers and communities.
Credit Unions Feeling Impact
As not-for-profit, cooperative financial services providers, credit unions stand by their members in good times and in challenging times. This is a challenging time.
While communities are coming together in efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus, disruptions in everyday life may create inconveniences, anxiety, and financial difficulty for Oregonians. Credit unions are helping members and employees through those challenges. Afterall, the credit union philosophy is “People Helping People.”
Your Health and Safety Comes First
Helping members and credit union employees stay healthy is of the utmost importance. If you’re concerned about being in public places, find convenient solutions to navigate your financial transactions, including online and mobile technology, ATMs, and drive-through windows. Questions? You don’t have to go to your credit union branch. Contact your credit union’s call center for expert guidance. If you aren’t a credit union member, and unsure where to start, visit YourMoneyFurther.com to learn more and find one near you.
Credit unions are following guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control to help their employees remain safe in the workplace, and are allowing team members in some positions to work remotely to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Your Financial Well-Being is Important
Your credit union community recognizes the financial hardship that closed schools, canceled events, and a slowdown in business can put on families. If you are experiencing a change in your financial circumstances during efforts to contain coronavirus, contact your credit union. Chances are good they can help. Services for you at this time may include options to temporarily skip loan payments, emergency loans, lower-interest credit cards, and financial counseling to help you make the decisions that are in your best interests.
We as credit unions understand the difficulty this situation presents, and we are working through this together.
Oregon Lottery – Winning $1 Million Top Prize Number: 080948
To check the winning Raffle numbers for all 1,801 prizes, players can use the Lottery’s smart phone app, go to www.oregonlottery.org or visit a participating Oregon Lottery retail location.
The $500 and $100 prize winners can claim their prizes at any Oregon Lottery retail location. In addition, players can claim their prize by mail – visit oregonlottery.org/about/claim-prizes for instructions.
The $1 million prize winner must come to the Lottery office in Salem to claim their prize.
Prizes for the St. Patrick’s Day Raffle include:
- One $1 million top prize
- 300 prizes of $500
- 1,500 prizes of $100
The Raffle offers the best odds of any Oregon Lottery game of winning $1 million – 1 in 250,000. Overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 138.8.
The Oregon Lottery’s Raffle game went on sale with 250,000 tickets available and all tickets were sold.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned over $12 billion for economic development, public education, state parks and watershed enhancements, veteran services and Outdoor School. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org
…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.
More Klamath Local News Here.