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.
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Sunny, with a high near 49. Overnight low of 24.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Overnight rain mixed with snow. Low of 31. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday
A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 51.
Sunday
Snow before 2pm, then rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47.
Today’s Headlines
The Klamath County Public Health Air Advisory is Green until noon today.
COVID-19 has claimed one more life in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 19, the Oregon Health Authority reported today. They also reported 47 new cases of COVID-19.
The new COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (1), Clackamas (6), Deschutes (3), Douglas (1), Jackson (1), Lane (2), Lincoln (1), Marion (10), Multnomah (18), Washington (3), and Yamhill (1).
One case previously reported in Hood River County was identified as a resident of another state; thus, today’s statewide case count is 736.
Oregon’s nineteenth COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old woman in Multnomah County, who tested positive on March 27, 2020, and died on March 29, 2020 at her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.
We have learned that Klamath County Health officials are now investigating seven new positive cases of the coronavirus, now bringing the county total to possibly 12.
One of those individuals has since recovered from the illness.
“While it is now known that Klamath County is experiencing community spread, Klamath County Public Health remains committed to identifying additional exposures when needed to best protect our community,” the agency said.
According to the agency, two flights have been identified as possible areas of exposure to COVID-19: Alaska Airlines Flight 583 from Santa Ana to Portland and Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 from Portland to Medford on March 21.
“This was determined through contact tracing and investigation. Anyone associated with these flights who develops symptoms should contact their local public health agency,” Klamath County Public Health said.
The agency says that it is working with Jackson County Public Health to make sure everyone in the region is notified about the possible exposure on these flights.
“Once Public Health is aware of a positive case, it works with the individual to determine close contacts who might be at risk,” the agency said in an earlier statement. “Possible times and areas of exposure are also announced when known. Those individuals who may have been exposed are given instructions and next steps to prevent further exposure within the community.”
People who have had a fever, dry cough, or difficulty breathing are asked to remain home until 72 hours after the symptoms stop, without the use of medication. Anyone needing medical help is asked to call ahead so protective measures can be taken. Individuals with life-threatening symptoms should go to the emergency room.
“Our highest priority is the health and safety of our community. We will take all steps necessary to ensure safety while also holding to our core value of integrity. We will not release the name, address or other identifying information about these people,” said Jennifer Little, KCPH director. “It is a matter of patient confidentiality.”
Klamath County Health is beginning to release information on their new cases.
So far, three cases have been in the 20-29 age group, one case 30-39, three cases 40-49, two cases 50-59, and three cases 60-69.
Only two of the cases have been hospitalized, each in the 40 or older range. Three cases have been in men, the rest are all women. There are still no deaths reported in Klamath County from COVID-19.
The agency said “the expectation is that these individuals and their families be able to recover without being the targets of social media attacks and the stigmatization that has occurred in other Oregon communities.”
Positive Case of COVID-19 Reported at Oregon Tech Klamath Falls Campus
April 2, 2020
Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) learned today that an employee at its Klamath Falls campus has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). The employee has not been on campus since March 9, has been quarantined at home, and is doing well.
Oregon Tech will be working with Klamath County Public Health officials to assist the county in its standard case investigation processes. Klamath County is leading the follow-up process.
This is the second case reported at Oregon Tech; the University was notified April 1 of the first case at the University’s Portland-Metro campus in Wilsonville, Oregon. Due to the social distancing and safety precautions Oregon Tech has taken, including remote work environments for employees, the Portland-Metro employee had not been on that campus since March 13.
“As testing for Coronavirus becomes more commonplace and accessible, I expect that we will see an increase in positive cases throughout all of Oregon,” said Oregon Tech president, Dr. Nagi Naganathan. “Our thoughts are with this employee, and we wish speedy healing for anyone who has contracted the virus. We will continue to advise social distancing and stay at home precautions to our campus community.”
Oregon Tech’s Integrated Student Health Center (ISHC) continues to offer both medical and behavioral health support services to students and will be collaborating closely with Klamath County Public Health on the investigation. The University remains committed to the well-being and safety of the Oregon Tech community and will continue to communicate as new or updated information is available.
Additional information on Oregon Tech’s COVID-19 response is available at www.oit.edu/coronavirus.
The Klamath County School District is currently surveying families to see who has and doesn’t have access to internet and a computer at home, in light of plans to implement distance learning by or around April 13, following the guidance of the Oregon Department of Education.
With this data, KCSD plans to provide families in need with a laptop so students can participate in distance learning.
The timeline for obtaining a laptop from the district will be available in the near future, according to KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak, but first the district needs to know the level of need. The district continues to encourage students to complete educational paper packets when they start to arrive on or around Monday, April 6. The district is prepared to offer distance education for as long as schools remains closed to students.
Szymoniak said it’s also important that parents and guardians understand that KCSD, which meets regularly with educational partners anyway, is collaborating with those partners on how they are responding to school closures.
“The county school district – we’re spread all over the place so how we go about solving problems might be a little bit different,” Szymoniak said yesterday.
“We’re working together to talk about solutions but how we solve them is going to look a little bit different from the city to the county just because of the demographics.”
Szymoniak has been working virtually with school administrators on how best to move from supplemental to distance learning efforts, based on a 29-page document school districts have received on distance learning.
“Essentially what’s happening here is different levels of using technology and distance learning tools,” Szymoniak said, “and some of the students obviously have different skills and experiences as well.”
Szymoniak said that the district is currently moving from having teaching face-to-face to delivering education screen-to-screen, without being in the same room.
“That’s the big difference is distance and how you do distance delivery takes special technology capacity,” Szymoniak said. “It takes special skills and abilities to be able to use that. So, with the district, we possess much of the technology and the skill to be able to do this. But our students live in situations where they either don’t have the devices or don’t have the internet access to be able to effectively use it so we’re looking at big picture solutions to overcome that so that we can deliver equitable education to all of our students.”
When asked about how distance learning could impact seniors, Szymoniak said: “There’s a whole lot of stuff that they (Department of Education) have not decided and now that we’re doing distance delivery, those classes are going to be offered online so I’m expecting the seniors would finish up their classes online, whatever classes they were signed up for.
“I believe that was a heavy factor in having all those districts go online because not only the seniors can finish their classes but juniors, sophomores, and freshmen – if they don’t finish their classes, they’ve got to play catch-up, too,” Szymoniak added.
“The idea is to offer these classes online, finish them up, get their credit, and then be ready to go again next fall.”
KCSD started a task force in early March to address district needs related to COVID-19 and its impacts on the district. The district’s principals also participated in emergency response training earlier this year to address any emergency that arises with FEMA protocols.
“We’re just applying that training that we did earlier to this,” Szymoniak said.
Look for updated information from KCSD as plans continue to evolve on a daily and weekly basis. The website can be accessed at www.kcsd.k12.or.us/.
During this time the Klamath Falls Gospel Mission is taking extra precautions to help alleviate the spread of COVID-19.
They are following recommendations of the Klamath County Health Department as they continue to provide meals and shelter. Because of limited space in their Men and Women’s Shelter they are not taking any more clients. They have closed down their Thrift Store because of the loss of revenue and have laid staff off.
Now more than ever before community support is vital to prvide food, showers, and ministry to those in great need.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19 the Klamath County Library District has extended their “pickup/dropoff only” status through April 28th.
To minimize exposure risk to volunteers and older patrons the Bookie Joint bookstore and Senior Center Branch Library are completely closed until further notice. This means that only staff members are allowed inside library facilities, but members of the public can request library materials for pickup at their local branch.
The Library will happily take your returns to book drops, but don’t worry about overdue items – the Klamath County Library District is also suspending all late fees through April 28th.
While physical doors are closed they have an enormous variety of digital content you can access for free with your library card – as well as some special videos and activities to help you and your family get through the crisis.
Visit klamathlibrary.org/emedia or follow them on Facebook for more details at www.facebook.com/KlamathCountyLibrary.
Governor Kate Brown has issued Executive Order 20-13, placing a 90-day moratorium on commercial evictions for nonpayment in light of the impacts on business owners caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
The order also strengthens Governor Brown’s previous ban on residential evictions and prohibits landlords from charging tenants late fees for nonpayment of rent during the moratorium. The Governor said that during this unprecedented public health crisis too many Oregonians have found themselves with no way to pay the monthly rent for their homes and businesses. These are difficult times.
This order will help Oregon small businesses stay in their locations without the threat of eviction.
George Earl Shipp of Klamath Falls pleaded not guilty to additional burglary and criminal mischief charges Tuesday after he was initially arrested March 19th for the burglary of Taco Bell and KFC.
Shipp is now also facing charges for the burglary of Holey Donut in downtown Klamath Falls, Chevron on Highway 97, Burger King on S 6th Street and McDonald’s and Burger King on Campus Drive, all between March 18th and 19th.
According to court documents, Shipp, along with another person, stole over $3,600 between the five businesses he has since been charged with burglarizing, not including Taco Bell or KFC. He also allegedly caused almost $11,000 in damage to the five businesses.
According to the probable cause statement for charges filed on March 23rd Shipp admitted to all of these incidents and the unknown person has not been contacted yet.
He has pleaded not guilty to six charges of burglary, seven charges of criminal mischief, three charges of theft and one charge of attempted burglary in four separate cases stemming from that night.
If you traveled over Highway 140 and have shopped recently at Costco in Central Point, be aware The management of Costco Wholesale in Central Point notified staff after a worker tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the information that Costco circulated to employees, the store management was informed that an employee in the store’s Front End department had tested positive. That employee’s last day at work was Monday, March 23rd.
Costco said that it had contacted Jackson County Public Health and was cooperating with any directions they had, was adding additional cleaning and sanitation protocols, and would be contacting any other employees who had been in close contact with the individual.
Greg Davis was sworn in Tuesday as Klamath County Fire District 1’s Fire Chief, as the department’s chief since 2014, John Spradley, retires. Davis’s first official day as chief is today.
Davis brings with him decades of fire experience, with about 20 years of that tied to Klamath County. He began as an Air Force fire fighter before joining Kingsley Field Fire Department and holding several positions with the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s office for Klamath and Lake Counties.
While he anticipates a learning curve in familiarizing himself with the numerous services that fire district 1 provides the Klamath community, Davis said he’s excited to build on the initiative and relationships the department has throughout Southern Oregon.
“I’m looking forward to working with the team, there’s a lot of good people here,” he said.
The department’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to offer Davis the chief position in February.
Davis acknowledged the additional stakes he’s facing while taking over the department amid the coronavirus pandemic, calling this an “interesting” time, but said Klamath County’s resiliency was one of the reasons he accepted the chief position.
In terms of personal protective equipment for emergency responders, Davis said the department is doing the best it can with what it has and he thinks all of his people are being responsible and following best practices to avoid becoming sick or spreading illness. An important part of his position will be supporting leaders at the local, state and federal levels, along with healthcare providers in the community and in his department.
He’s optimistic for his new department and is looking to “maintain the strong relationships throughout the community and looking for the department to grow and develop.”
Fremont-Winema
National Forest offers free personal use firewood cutting
Personal use firewood
cutting on the Fremont-Winema National Forest will be free to the public
through June 1, 2020.
Woodcutters can collect up to 12 cords of firewood for personal use. A cord equates to a wood stack that is 4 feet wide by 4 feet high by 8 feet long.
While there is no need for permits or tags during this period, woodcutters are expected to follow the 2020 Personal Use Firewood Synopsis of Rules and Regulations.
The document, along with woodcutting maps are available online at www.fs.usda.gov/main/fremont-winema/passes-permits/forestproducts and then selecting “Firewood Permits”. Maps are also available digitally from Avenza Maps at www.avenzamaps.com.
Regulations include:
- Cut only in permitted areas. No woodcutting is allowed within 150 feet of developed recreation sites or in Wilderness Areas, Wild and Scenic River Corridors, Unique Areas, Research Natural Areas, Research Areas, Experimental Forest Areas or within posted areas including unlogged or active timber sales, contract areas and posted “No Cutting” areas.
- All trees standing or down with paint, tags or signs on them are protected and may not be cut.
- Use of mechanized skidding and/or loading equipment for removal of firewood is prohibited. The only power equipment authorized for use are chainsaws, winches and hydraulic splitters.
- Spark arresters should be on all mechanical equipment and fire prevention measures, including following Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL), should be followed.
- Maximum length of firewood allowed to be cut and transported is 6 feet.
- Cut and scatter limbs and tops. Remove all slash from roads and ditches.
- See the synopsis document for specific regulations regarding the Ranger District. This includes restrictions on cutting near streams, seeps, springs and meadows, as well as tree species allowed.
Firewood obtained is intended for personal use only and not for resale. Commercial permits are still available by contacting local Fremont-Winema National Forest offices by phone.
“We’re happy to be able to provide free firewood cutting as a service to the public during this difficult time,” said Fremont-Winema National Forest Supervisor Barry Imler. “Many of our area residents depend on wood for heat and we hope this opportunity helps them as well as our forest health.”
Woodcutters are encouraged to pay attention to weather and road conditions to avoid resource damage. Some woodcutting areas may be inaccessible due to snow or wet conditions.
A good guide for drivers is if they can see their tracks on the road in the rearview mirror, conditions are too wet and they should pull over or turn around to avoid resource damage. Minimizing damage to roads helps ensure continued public access and reduces the impacts to natural resources.
Additionally, woodcutters should practice good forest safety, including:
- Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, enough water for everyone for 3 days, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, flashlight, flares and/or something to start a fire with, camp saw or hatchet, and cold weather sleeping bag or blankets.
- Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains and high desert! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
- Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources.
- In snowy conditions, if the snow on the road is 3 inches or greater, turn around – conditions are not likely to improve ahead.
- Do not count on technology – GPS can steer drivers onto impassable roads and there is not cellphone service across most of the Forest.
For more information on the free personal use firewood cutting, please contact your local Fremont-Winema National Forest Office during regular business hours between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
They can be reached at: Supervisor’s Office – 541-947-2151; Bly Ranger District – 541-353-2427; Chemult Ranger District – 541-365-7001; Chiloquin Ranger District – 541-783-4001; Klamath Ranger District – 541-883-6714; Lakeview Ranger District – 541-947-3334; Paisley Ranger District – 541-943-3114; Silver Lake Ranger District – 541-576-2107.
Please bear in mind that all Forest offices are currently closed to the public, but virtual services are provided, including map and permit sales.
For more information on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/fremont-winema, follow the Forest on Twitter @FremontWinemaNF or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/R6FWNF.
According to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Klamath Falls Parks Manager John Bellon, many people have not been practicing social distancing while spending time at parks, so stricter measures have been implemented at most parks.
The 100-mile OC&E trail that runs from Klamath Falls to Sycan Marsh is within the Oregon State Parks system and is thus closed along with many other parks in the state.
The Oregon State Parks website details that the entire state parks system will remain closed until at least May 8th.
Moore Park is now closed to motorized vehicle traffic. People are still allowed into Moore Park but are expected to practice social distancing and only spend time with people living in their household.
All eight of the county parks have water access, and the ramps to those water bodies will remain open for activities like fishing.
From the Klamath County Clerk’s Office: The May 19th Primary Election in Oregon is on schedule.
1) Official Drop Sites are listed on the backside of the ballot and on the Klamath County Website. Please check the website or call for updates on locations as the COVID-19 may affect the access, hours, and availability of the non 24 hour drop sites.
2) We now have ballot secrecy sleeves (these do not have to be sealed and your ballot still remains secret). If you chose to tape your return envelope closed, it will be accepted.
3) Ballots will be mailed April 29. Remember that postmarks DO NOT count on ballots, and that voted ballots must be received in the Elections Office or in any official drop site by 8pm on Election Day. All ballots now have pre-paid postage return envelopes (please mail no later than Wednesday, May 13).
4) The last day to register as a new voter or to change party affiliation is April 28. If a voter changes parties after the original ballots are processed, they may receive two ballots. The first ballot is inactivated and cannot be voted when the second ballot is issued. Please call if you are unclear which ballot to vote.
5) Nobody in Oregon will receive all of the candidates on their ballot. Oregon has a closed primary, this is a nominating election for the major parties. Registered Democrats receive Democratic candidates; registered Republicans receive Republican candidates; nonaffiliated voters receive only those races that are nonpartisan.
6) The order of the names on the ballot is determined by a random drawing done by the Secretary of State.
7) Order of parties in Voters’ Pamphlet, major political party candidates appear before nonpartisan candidates and every two years the order in which major political party candidates appear is rotated.
8) You can still observe the election, but no more than two at a time, to adhere to be best practices for the prevention of the COVID-19 virus. Please call or email to schedule a time to observe.
9) The Government Center is currently locked through April 28, but we are still available during normal business hours for all our regular duties.
Call for assistance. Contact the Klamath County Clerk’s Office with any questions (541) 883-5134.
Around the state of Oregon
Governor Kate Brown has issued a new executive order banning commercial evictions in Oregon while the state of emergency for coronavirus continues.
“During this unprecedented public health crisis, too many Oregonians have found themselves with no way to pay the monthly rent for their homes and businesses,” said Governor Brown.
“These are difficult times. This order will help Oregon small businesses stay in their locations without the threat of eviction.”
The new order bans business owners from being evicted for non-payment in addition to residential renters. It also expands on both — prohibiting landlords from charging late fees for non-payment while the orders are active.
Executive Order 20-13 also provides some much-needed clarity on the previous, residential eviction moratorium. Though it does bar late fees, it says that tenants are still obligated to pay rent as soon as they have the ability to do so.
This order will help Oregon’s restaurants and businesses stay in their locations without threat of eviction.
“Nothing . . . relieves a residential tenant’s obligation to pay rent, utility charges, or any other service charges or fees, except for late charges or other penalties arising from nonpayment which are specifically waived by and during this moratorium,” the order reads.
Also in the fine print is a higher bar for businesses — while nothing obligates a residential renter to do so, commercial renters have to supply their landlords with documentation that the non-payment was caused by COVID-19, either directly or indirectly, within 30 days of unpaid rent being due.
“During this moratorium, any residential or non-residential tenant who is or will be unable to pay the full rent when due under a rental agreement or lease, shall notify the landlord as soon as reasonably possible; and shall make partial rent payments to the extent the tenant is financially able to do so,” the order adds.
The order is effective immediately and will remain in effect for 90 or until Governor Brown decides to extend or terminate it.
CDC says: “Wear a mask”. Medical researchers are learning new things about covid-19 or coronavirus every day.
CDC’s original recommendations advised against wearing masks unless you are already infected, that appears to be changing. Now, the Centers for Disease Control is considering recommending people wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus.
In Medford, Jackson County’s health officer Dr. Jim Shames says that it would be a good idea for families to get one or two cloth facemasks, per person, for use when going out in public. They can be washed after use, allowing them to be used repeatedly.
“Jackson County Public Health is NOT recommending that you purchase manufactured surgical masks, please save them for the healthcare workers that rely on them for protection,” the agency said.
Dr. Jim Shames said, “when we both wear a face mask, I protect you and you protect me.'”
Regardless, the health agency says that social distancing, frequent hand washing, and avoiding others if you are sick remain the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 — no one should assume that wearing a mask is a proper substitute.
Over the past week, Jackson County Public Health has said that the area is now in the phase of “rapid community spread” of coronavirus.
In a statement on Tuesday, officials said that these cases did not indicate any hot spots in the county — rather they are equally distributed throughout, demonstrating “spread that is widespread.”
He says there are a number of good reasons to wear a mask:
- Some people are contagious before they ever get symptoms or feel sick.
- Droplets transmit the disease, whether through coughing, sneezing, or talking to the person next to you.
- You are less likely to touch your nose and mouth.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has signed a final decision to construct and maintain a system of up to 11,000 miles of strategically placed fuel breaks to control wildfires within a 223 million- acre area in portions of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
Local Bureau of Land Management district and field offices will use manual, chemical and mechanical treatments, including prescribed fire, seeding and targeted grazing, to construct fuel breaks along roads and rights-of-way on BLM-administered lands.
The fuel breaks will minimize new disturbance and wildlife habitat fragmentation and maximize accessibility for wildland firefighters.
Blue Zones Project, Klamath Falls – “Tips for Working From Home”
In the spirit of supporting our organizations across the state as many offices navigate a transition to remote work and virtual meetings, Blue Zones Project – Healthy Klamath wants to provide you a few helpful tips for working from home:
- Set up a designated work area and working schedule.
It can be hard to ‘turn off’ from a day at work when your living and working space are the same. Be sure to designate a space for work equipment and time on the clock to ensure you still maintain a work-life balance. Be sure to turn off work notifications when you’re done working for the day.
- Wake up and get ready for the day as usual.
Be sure to wake up with enough time to continue your morning routine and get in the right headspace for work. Sleeping in and not giving yourself enough transition time can make your morning feel rushed and stressful. Don’t forget to include a healthy breakfast!
- Continue to take regular breaks.
Taking time for a short walk, standing up for a few minutes and having a scheduled lunch break are important to your routine and can ensure that you’re downshifting just enough to refocus and complete your work in a timely manner. Microbreaks, such as resting the eyes for 60 seconds, are made easy by this free Chrome extension, Break Timer.
- Communicate to people in your household when you are working and request quiet time.
It can be easy to be distracted by family members at home, chores that need to be done and other everyday things. Be sure to communicate with your family when you need quiet time for working and conference calls to decrease stress.
Regular stretching during the day can help reduce stress and increase productivity. Download our desk stretches flyer for easy tips to incorporate stretching into your day!
MAKE WORKING FROM HOME WORK FOR YOU
Is working from home new for you? Many offices are navigating a transition to remote colleagues and virtual meetings. Here at Blue Zones Project – Healthy Klamath, we are also working remotely so we’ve included some best practices in colleague onboarding. Find more on our website to guide you through these coming days and weeks.
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