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.
MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Today A 20% chance of showers during the day, high near 67. Overnight, showers expected, low of 42 with gusty winds at times.
Tuesday Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. High near 56. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Overnight more showers, windy with a low of 38.
Wednesday Showers much of the day, high near 57.
Thursday Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am, with a high near 58.
Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
Saturday A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Today’s Headlines
The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 60 new confirmed cases and eight new presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of this morning, bringing the state total to 3,228.
The new confirmed and presumptive cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (3), Clackamas (10), Clatsop (1), Deschutes (1), Hood River (1), Marion (14), Multnomah (22), Polk (2), Umatilla (1), Washington (11), Yamhill (2).
None of these new cases are in Southern Oregon. The streak of no new cases continues in our region. Also on a positive note, the state’s death toll has not changed from Saturday to Sunday, it remains at 127.
The reopening of many businesses in Southern Oregon counties should begin this week in the Phone One plan proposed by Gov. Brown.
Plans to Gov. Brown have been submitted and are waiting for approval for Klamath, Jackson, Josephine, Curry and Lake counties.
The governor’s office and the Oregon Health Authority will review the plans and we will track the progress for each county as the week goes along. Phase One is to begin this Friday, May 15th.
Klamath area law enforcement and fire investigators are still searching for the person or persons responsible for setting several fires at local businesses late Saturday night.
Numerous fires were reported. Fire crews were dispatched within a few minutes of each other to Diamond Home Improvement, Coastal Farm and Ranch, and other area businesses. Wood pallets were set on fire at Coastal, and railroad ties at Diamond though other damage was reported. Scanner traffic indicated all law enforcement agencies were working closely with fire investigators to solve the case. It is known that video surveillance from at least two businesses was helpful to police.
Anyone with any information that could help should call the KFPD or the non-emergency number at Klamath County 911.
Fatal car accident kills teen
Saturday night, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 66 near milepost 58 in Stewart-Lenox subdivision.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a Honda Civic, operated by 18 year old Trinity Rosas of Klamath Falls, failed to negotiate a curve, drove off the road, and into a tree. The vehicle then caught fire.
Rosas sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
OSP was assisted by Klamath Falls Police Department, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, Klamath County Fire District 4, Kingsley Fire Department and ODOT. It was the second fatality in three days on Klamath County roads.
Late Friday afternoon, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a head on motor vehicle crash on Sevenmile Rd in the area south of Ft. Klamath.
As a result of the crash both vehicles involved were on fire and fully engulfed. Fire and EMS crews from Chiloquin Fire & Rescue and Rocky Point Fire & EMS responded to this call outside their fire districts.
The driver of one of the vehicles, 49 year old Timothy Allen Lamere of Klamath Falls, was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene.
A passenger in that vehicle was air lifted to Asante Medical Center in Medford with severe injuries. The driver of the other vehicle sustained severe injuries and was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center by Rocky Point Fire & EMS Ambulance
It’s another year of disappointing news to those depending on water this year. The Klamath Project had already been anticipating an extreme shortfall in available water in 2020 but is now facing a possible water shutoff by or before July.
The water allocation of 140,000 acre feet for the Project announced in April will likely drop to a total 80,000 acre feet for the year, with an unofficial estimate of 55,000 acre feet left for the remainder of the irrigation season and potentially reaching the end of the water supply by or before July, according to Gene Souza, manager for the Klamath Irrigation District and Brad Kirby, manager and president of the Tulelake Irrigation District.
For comparison, 350,000 acre feet is a full allocation for the Project. The unofficial allocation estimates are based on the May 1 Natural Resources Conservation Service forecast, which indicates the Klamath Project is more than six inches below normal precipitation projections. Officials emphasized the magnitude of the reduction in available water, saying that many farms that have been around for generations may not survive and that this news is more devastating than the water shortage and crisis in 2001.
A previous owner of the Eternal Hills cemetery, Robert Gordon, and those he deeded some of the land at the cemetery to, filed an objection to the proposed sale of the cemetery to Klamath County and proposed an offer of their own.
Gordon’s Trust offered to buy the cemetery for $175,000, outbidding Klamath County’s $59,000 offer by the required amount listed in the terms under which the bankruptcy court Trustee wouldn’t move forward with the sale to Klamath County at the end of the notice period. The Trustee must also deem the terms of Gordon’s offer acceptable.
In Gordon’s objection to the sale to Klamath County, he outlines a plan to purchase the cemetery and donate the “cemetery parcels” with internment rights to Klamath County. Gordon also states he will donate to the county all of the internment locations in the plot that houses the residence/office and the crematorium but proposes to keep ownership of those buildings.
According to Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot, the county’s intention in buying the cemetery is to work with community members and volunteers to rehabilitate the property back into good shape, at which point the county would attempt to sell the cemetery to an operator. DeGroot said the board notified the Trustee that Klamath County is not interested in participating in Gordon’s offer, which could disqualify Gordon’s offer.
A Klamath Falls church is one of ten churches from across the state have asked a judge to rule that Gov. Kate Brown’s social distancing order infringes on their religious freedoms so their congregations can resume worship as desired.
The suit was filed in Baker County for the “symbolism,’’ Hacke noted, a county that recorded its first positive case of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The churches are in Baker City, Bend, Camas Valley, Klamath Falls, Lincoln City, Newberg, Portland, Roseburg and Salem. They have so far respected the governor’s order banning gatherings of more than 25 people and discouraging Oregonians from being around more than 10 people at a time, according to Hacke. But the churches no longer believe such an order is justified, the suit says.
Following a federal decision to restrict the use of KN95-style respirators for medical use in the United States, Oregon health and safety officials advise medical professionals to stop using KN95 respirators, in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration guidance.
Under an Emergency Use Authorization, the FDA previously allowed the use of KN95s for U.S. health care workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, the FDA revoked that authorization for more than 65 of the 80 authorized manufacturers, citing poor quality. The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration want to inform Oregonians this guidance applies only to the use of KN95 respirators.
The FDA announcement does not impact other personal protective equipment, including N95 masks, which are safe to use. The previously certified KN95 respirators are in circulation in Oregon. Oregon Health Authority on Friday notified health and dental providers around the state who received KN95 respirators from the state stockpile and warned them that these are not for use as respirators.
State officials also contacted counties, Tribes, and other recipient partners about the new restriction.
Oregon OSHA will delay until June 1 enforcement of a temporary rule to increase protections against the spread of coronavirus in employer-provided housing and in labor-intensive farm operations.
The decision is in response to requests from employers for more time to comply with the rule’s requirements. Those requirements – most of which were originally slated to take effect May 11 – strengthen requirements in three areas: field sanitation, labor housing, and transportation. Meanwhile, the delay will also allow more time for Oregon OSHA to fully complete educational efforts to help employers understand and meet the rule’s requirements.
The rule, which will remain in effect until no later than Oct. 24, 2020, encompasses multiple provisions.
Just prior to the nicest weather Oregonians have enjoyed so far in 2020 over the weekend, due to health and safety hazards caused by sanitation issues, all dispersed camping is temporarily closed on Oregon state forests managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry starting Monday, May 11.
Dispersed camping areas typically do not have restrooms or garbage disposal, and campers are expected to pack out everything they bring in and properly dispose of human waste. These actions are integral to keeping campers and the forests safe and healthy, particularly as the agency currently does not have adequate capacity to manage sanitation issues at dispersed sites. Problems with trash and human waste accumulation in these areas have become insurmountable and hazardous for the public and ODF employees.
The closure applies to dispersed camping on the Tillamook, Clatsop, Santiam, Sun Pass and Gilchrist state forests as well as all other lands managed by the Oregon Department of Forestry. ODF expects the closure to last several weeks while additional resources are brought on to clean the areas and make them safe for public use again. There is no date set for re-opening dispersed camping.
The agency had previously closed ODF-managed campgrounds and day use areas. Forest roads and trails remain open.
…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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