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.
Friday, April 17, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 67.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 67.
Sunday
A slight chance of rain at times with a high near 65.
Today’s Headlines
Klamath County Public Health officials report three new cases of COVID-19 in the community, bringing the total to 29. The total includes 10 active cases and 19 recoveries.
In addition to these positive lab results, there have been 1,088 negative tests in Klamath County.
Governor Brown announced a framework this week for lifting “Stay home. Save lives.” There is no indication that what she calls “reopening Oregon” will happen soon, as the intent is to prevent a spike in cases.
She did indicate that lifting the “stay home” order will involve the input from local leaders and business people throughout the state. Meanwhile, community members are asked to continue isolating best practices. It is important that community members continue to stay home, practice social or physical distancing of six feet, disinfect surfaces, and frequently wash their hands. Now that COVID-19 is in the community, these actions are urgent to prevent further spread.
COVID-19 has claimed six more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 64, according to the Friday morning figures with the Oregon Health Authority.
There are 73 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, bringing the state total to 1,736.
The new COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (2), Clackamas (8), Deschutes (4), Douglas (2), Klamath (3), Lane (1), Linn (1), Malheur (1), Marion (15), Multnomah (18), Umatilla (5), Washington (12), and Yamhill (1). To see more case and county-level data, Oregon Health updates its website once a day: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.
Oregon’s 59th COVID-19 death is an 84-year-old man in Multnomah County, a 56-year-old man in Multnomah County, a 78-year-old man in Multnomah County, a 69-year-old man in Multnomah County, a 74-year-old woman in Benton County, and a 92-year-old man in Marion County.
Coronavirus Cases Regionally
1736 in Oregon
Klamath County 29
Jackson County 48
Josephine County 19
Douglas County 22
Siskiyou County 5
Closer to home, the Klamath Basin Senior Center has begun a curbside food delivery service intended for residents 60 years and older, according to a news release.
Food boxes are prepared as a replacement for congregate meals previously provided at the Klamath Basin Senior Center, with boxes being created thanks to support from the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank.
Food boxes are available for pick-up outside the Klamath Basin Senior Center at 2045 Arthur St. in Klamath Falls. Individuals interested in acquiring a food box should call 541-883-7171 to reserve a box.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office deputies took Ty Antonio Golden, 27 of Klamath Falls, into custody Wednesday afternoon. Golden was sought as a person of interest in the Summers Ln. shooting that took place on February 28, 2020 where two people were injured.
Golden was taken into custody in the 1800 block of Fargo St in Klamath Falls and is lodged in the Klamath County Jail on charges including: Recklessly endangering x6, Unlawful use of weapon x6, Assault 1st degree x2, Attempt to commit crime x2 and Felon in possession of weapon Golden currently resides in the Klamath County Jail.
KLAMATH COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MAJOR WORK FOR THE WEEK, STARTING MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2020
Klamath County will have work crews at the following locations. Please use caution when in these areas and watch for flaggers. If you are able to avoid the work zones, please use an alternate route for your safety and the safety of Klamath County employees and our contractors.
Old Fort Road Paving and Shoulder Work:
Loma Linda to End of Pavement Estimated Duration:
April 22nd – May 1st (may include weekend work) · Daytime travel lane closures w/flaggers.
In general, flagging stations will be set up at the end of the work zone and delays will be 0 to 20 minutes for the motoring public. Our goal is to minimize the delay to the motoring public. Other minor work is occurring through the County but we are only listing the major items in this announcement.
There may be adjustments of work schedules due to weather or other items outside of the County’s control (breakdown of equipment, material/resource availability, etc.) Please do not contact the County if you do not see work occurring, it could be finished already or will be rescheduled.
Klamath County Public Works and the Board of County Commissioners appreciate the motoring publics’ patience during the repair season for our local roads and bridges. If you have any questions regarding work, please contact the Public Works Department at (541) 883-4696.
Rogue Klamath Transfer and the Klamath County Solid Waste Department have made the difficult decision to cancel the annual Community Clean-Up Day this year.
Scott Fowler, General Manager at Rogue Klamath Transfer said “As we all work together to help slow the spread of COVID-19, Rogue Klamath Transfer is making sure that we are doing everything we can to keep our employees, their families and all members of our community safe. At this time, they do not plan to reschedule the event in 2020. Fowler adds, “While we are disappointed that we could not offer this opportunity to dispose of your spring cleaning clutter, we are already working to ensure that the Klamath Spring Clean-Up Day is back and better than ever in 2021.”
As of today, Rogue Klamath Transfer is still operating normally Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Around the State of Oregon
A new executive order issued by Governor Kate Brown directs local governments and state agencies to do whatever they can to keep the public involved in decision-making, in spite of current statewide social distancing measures.
The order mandates that agencies “take necessary measures to facilitate public participation in decision-making, helping ensure the continued operation of local government and the delivery of essential services during the COVID-19 outbreak.”
The Governor’s office underlined that many local governments will begin drawing up budgets this month, and the order will give them the “authority and flexibility” to keep the public engaged in order to approve spending on essential services. Governments throughout Oregon are directed to hold public meetings and hearings by telephone, online, or through in-person meetings with “appropriate social distancing measures.” It also waives any requirements for in-person public testimony if it can be made by any other means.
Cities, counties, school districts, and other special districts are authorized to hold budget hearings — getting public participation through remote means in order to complete budgets on time. The Governor’s office cited police, fire, emergency response, street maintenance, water and sewer access, and building permits as essential services that need to be budgeted for.
During the week of April 5 to April11, the Oregon Employment Department received 53,800 initial claims for unemployment benefits. That’s in addition to a revised total of 243,000 initial claims filed during the prior three weeks.
The Oregon Employment Department continues to prioritize efforts that can get the most benefits to the greatest number of affected Oregonians the fastest.
Those who have been able to successfully file an unemployment claim in Oregon over the past several weeks will at last begin getting the additional funds heralded by the federal CARES Act, the Oregon Employment Department announced on Friday.
OED hinted on Thursday that the CARES payments would begin coming out within the week, even as initial claims skyrocketed for the third week in a row. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 was signed into law on March 27. The CARES Act allows payment of extra federal unemployment benefits of $600 per week.
OED says that it began issuing those payments on Friday. Oregonians who are already eligible for regular unemployment benefits and the federal funds will receive two weekly payments — one for regular UI benefits, and an additional $600 payment. Individuals will be receiving the CARES benefits using the same payment method as their regular benefits for the week.
The CARES payments will be paid for each week someone is eligible from March 29 through the week ending July 25. The $600 payments are supposed to be retroactive for those eligible for payments.
In order to received the $600 benefit, you must have an existing unemployment claim, continue to claim weekly benefits, and remain eligible to receive benefits.
TO FILE AN ONINE CLAIIM FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS GO TO: Oregon.gov/employ or call 1-877-FILE-4-UI.
For help finding jobs and training resources, contact your local WorkSource Oregon center or go to WorkSourceOregon.org. Equal Opportunity program — auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact: (503) 947-1794. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711 Telecommunications Relay Services.
In Central Point, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has announced two arrests in a homicide case from January this year.
The investigation began on the morning of 011020 when JCSO was dispatched to a report of a deceased person along the roadside on Cobleigh Road near Butte Falls. The victim was later identified as Cody Joseph Baize, 28 years old, of Grants Pass, Oregon. The case was investigated by the Jackson County Major Assault Death Investigation Unit.
Further investigation over the last 3 months lead investigators to arrest Joshua Wayne Bull, 32, of Grants Pass, Oregon and Theodore Stacey Johnson, 33, of Grants Pass, Oregon They are both lodged at Jackson County Jail for the crimes of Murder in the Second Degree, Kidnapping in the First Degree, Robbery in the First Degree, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Bull had been lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a Post Prison Supervision Sanction on an original charge of Delivery of Controlled Substance to a Minor. He was arrested there and taken to Jackson County Jail.
Johnson had been lodged in Jackson County Jail for Parole Violation on an original charge of Robbery II. Additional charges in this case were added today.
JCSO thanks the following agencies for their valued assistance in this investigation:
The Jackson County District Attorney’s Office; Oregon State Police; Medford Police Dept., Ashland Police Department; Jackson County Probation, Josephine County Probation; Grants Pass Department of Public Safety and the Albany, Oregon Police Department.
If anyone has information that may further assist this investigation, please call the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Tip line at 541-774-8333.
On April 14, 2020 at 10:30am in Medford, a female victim reported she had been abducted and sexually assaulted by an unknown male who threatened her with a knife. The assault took place during daylight hours in the 3000 block of Crater Lake Avenue.
During the assault, the suspect stole the victim’s cell phone and debit card before fleeing the area on foot. Investigators worked to identify the unknown assailant and a search of the crime scene provided evidence of the assault.
On Wednesday detectives located video surveillance from a local business which visually identified the suspect as he attempted to use the victim’s debit card. Additional information from Jackson County Parole and Probation led investigators to a possible suspect who matched the victim’s description and the man identified in the surveillance video.
As detectives and officers searched for the suspect, a Medford Police Officer contacted Marc Alan Burnett, 65, on an unrelated call for service. Investigators responded and Burnett was transported to the Medford Police Department where he was interviewed and subsequently charged with the following crimes:
- Kidnap 1st Degree
- Robbery 1st Degree
- Sexual Abuse 1st Degree
- Sexual Penetration 1st Degree
- Assault 2nd Degree
- Identity Theft
Burnett was lodged at the Jackson County Jail and is being held on $957,050.00 bail.
The Board of Josephine County Commissioners voted April 15 to allow meetings for county advisory boards and committees to be conducted electronically.
Josephine County canceled most meetings of advisory boards, committees, councils and commissions last month due to the restrictions imposed by federal and state mandates regarding COVID-19.
The electronic meetings of these groups will be coordinated through Josephine County staff of the relevant department for each group, or that group’s chairperson. More information will be provided by each board or committee in their future public notices.
Josephine County continues to be extremely appreciative of the ongoing service provided by its advisory board volunteers.
Purple Up! Day is a worldwide event in all communities and all military installations. Show your support for Military Youth (those that have a loved one serving in the Armed Forces) by wearing Purple all day today, Friday, April 17th, 2020.
“Many military youth are unnoticed and unrecognized for their incredible strength and resilience due to having a parent serving in the military,” said Hank Bauer, Lead Child and Youth Program Coordinator for the Oregon National Guard.
“They experience deployments of a loved one, extra stress in their household, and other challenges that go along with being part of a military family. They also are more mature than their peers due to increased responsibility in their household and they have a greater respect for service and sacrifice,” he said.”
Purple Up! for Military Youth is an annual campaign during April, to help celebrate the Month of the Military Child. Community members are encouraged to wear purple on April 17th as a visible way to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. Purple represents all branches of the military as it is a combination of colors with Army ‘green’, Marine ‘red’, and the Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy ‘blue.’
This year marks the 34th year that April has been designated as the Month of the Military Child. Oregon alone has 10,000 military connected youth that has a loved one currently serving in a branch of the Armed Forces. Show your support for these youth and families!
“As a teenager who is dealing with a deployment of a parent right now, I know it is extremely hard for me and for my family,” said Lexi, an Oregon teenager from Hillsboro.
“Being a military teen means more responsibility especially when you have younger siblings since they don’t understand that a parent might be leaving for a long period of time and for what reason. You have to be strong to support your younger siblings and the rest of the family,” she said.
Take a picture of yourself or a group of friends, family, and co-workers and post it on your preferred social media page along with the hashtags: #MOMC, #PurpleUp, and an Oregon specific hashtag: #ORPurpleUp.
State wildlife biologists counted 158 wolves in Oregon this past winter, a 15 percent increase over last year’s count of 137, according to the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management 2019 Annual Report released today.
This annual count is based on verified wolf evidence is considered the minimum known wolf count, not an estimate of how many wolves are in Oregon. The actual number of wolves in Oregon is likely higher, as not all individuals present in the state are located during the winter count. A total of 22 packs were documented during the count, up from 16 packs in 2018. Nine other groups of 2-3 wolves were also identified.
Nineteen of Oregon’s wolf packs successfully reproduced and had at least two adults and two pups that survived through the end of 2019, making them “breeding pairs,” a 27 percent increase over last year’s number.
Today, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust released its Winter 2020 Quarterly Grants Report, detailing 96 new capacity building grants to nonprofits serving the Pacific Northwest.
The grants, totaling $14.8 million, were awarded across five sectors of community service – Arts and Culture, Health, Human Services, Education and Scientific Research. This includes $4.3 million for nonprofits serving Oregon communities.
The full Winter 2020 Quarterly Grants Report can be found online here. In addition to our Quarterly Grants encompassing projects proposed through the Trust’s Strategic Project and Initiative Grant Programs, the Murdock Trust has awarded emergency support grants to nonprofits addressing community needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
…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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