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THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Sunny, with a high near 80 degrees. Overnight, clear with a low around 44.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 87.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 90.
Today’s Headlines
COVID-19 has claimed four more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 224, the Oregon Health Authority reported.
According to the OHA, no new cases were reported in Klamath County. However, five new cases were announced in Jackson County, and there are four new cases of COVID-19 identified in Josephine County. county’s total number of cases to 62.
Oregon Health Authority reported 217 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday bringing the state total to 10,817.
Southern Oregon County Covid-19 Cases:
Klamath 131 ( with 81 recovered)
Jackson 157
Josephine 62
Douglas 56
Lake 22
Once again, Multnomah County had the most diagnosed cases in the state in the past 24 hours with 35.
KLAMATH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RELEASES PLANS FOR REOPENING
Students in the Klamath County School District likely will be returning to class this fall under a hybrid-learning model that balances in-person classroom instruction with distance learning.
“Based on parent feedback, our goal is to maximize face-to-face learning with as much student-teacher contact as possible while safely reopening schools,” said Glen Szymoniak, superintendent of the Klamath County School District.
Szymoniak said the district’s plan gives the schools flexibility to fully reopen once they can meet all state guidelines and determine their distance-learning program is successful for every student.
“We know that guidance and state mandates can change overnight, and we want our students to be set up for success if we are ordered to provide remote learning fulltime,” he said.
Schools statewide have been closed since March 16 to limit the spread of COVID-19. Districts are working on plans to safely reopen this fall.
The Klamath County School District created its reopening plan in accordance with the following priorities: 1) the safety of students and staff; 2) quality instruction for all students; and 3) avoiding a COVID-related shutdown. It follows current Oregon Department of Education Ready Schools, Safe Learners Guidance that provides clear health and safety reopening protocols as well as social distancing mandates that limit the number of students school districts can accommodate in classrooms and on their buses.
KCSD says letters about the plan were mailed to families this week. The 2020-21 school year for students is scheduled to begin Aug. 31.
In addition to hybrid-instruction, the school district’s plan includes online and distance learning programs for students who are not able to, or would prefer not to, return to a school campus.
“Our plans to reopen schools this fall set students up for success academically, emotionally, and socially,” Szymoniak said.
Under what the district is calling its A-B hybrid plan, students will be with their teacher in the classroom two days a week and participate in distance learning the other three days. Each school will divide students into two groups – A and B. Within those groups, students will remain in small cohorts throughout the day. The cohort attends classes and other activities together, enabling schools to limit and track day-to-day intermingling.
For three days a week, each group will continue learning remotely. The district will provide training to students and their parents in its online and distance platforms. Ongoing tech and academic support also will be available. Students will receive standard letter grades and credits for their classes.
The district also has full-distance learning options. The district’s Great Basin Academy includes a long-standing, accredited virtual school for 7th-12th graders and a homeschool for K-8. Under development is a comprehensive distance learning program that will allow students to take remote classes and remain enrolled in their neighborhood school.
Community support for families will be vital during this time, Szymoniak said.
“We are encouraging parents to form cooperative groups of family and friends who can collaborate to provide supervision, activities, and homework assistance during days students are not in school,” he said.
Klamath County School District schools will host forums in late July and early August so parents can ask questions, provide input, and learn about school cleaning and safety protocols. Updates and the dates and times for parent forums will be posted on school websites.
Over the next few weeks, each school in the district is creating an Operational Blueprint for Reentry that specifically addresses health protocols, equity, instruction, family and community engagement, response to outbreak, mental, social and emotional health, and staffing and personnel. The district will be sharing and asking for input on schools’ reentry plans.
“We need to continue to work together to navigate the state’s evolving efforts to mitigate COVID-19,” Szymoniak said, thanking parents and community members for their ongoing support.
A FAQ link and any updates will be posted on the district’s website at www.kcsd.k12.or.us. The public can ask questions or provide input via email at kcsd_covid19@kcsd.k12.or.us. Parents who want to discuss their student’s options for this fall are encouraged to call Tia Powell at the District Office at 541-851-8740.
Here is a look at KCSD’s reopening plans and options:
- Blended/Hybrid Learning: A balance of face-to-face classroom instruction and remote learning.
- Students at each school will be assigned to one of two groups. Each group attends school two days a week, receiving face-to-face instruction with classroom teachers. Students will remain in small cohorts of about 10-20 students throughout the day. The cohort attends classes and other activities together, enabling schools to limit and track day-to-day intermingling.
- Each group participates in online and distance learning three days a week, using synchronous and asynchronous delivery methods.
- Parents and students will receive training on the school’s online learning platform.
- The district will provide ongoing distance learning and tech support to students and parents.
- Schools will follow strict cleaning and hygiene protocols.
- Full Distance Learning: Students who are not able to, or would prefer not to, return to a school campus can stay connected to their schools and continue their education through our quality online and distance learning programs.
- Great Basin Academy: Under our current virtual and homeschool programs, students are enrolled in the Klamath County School District and have access to nutritional and special services, extracurricular activities, and specialized academic programs in our schools.
- Great Basin Virtual Academy: This online school for 7th– through 12th-graders is a long-standing, accredited program with certified teachers. Students will have access to support from KCSD teachers.
- Great Basin Homeschool: The district’s Great Basin Homeschool Center provides a full academic curriculum for K-8th graders. Parents are responsible for their student’s academic progress.
To find out more about these options, call Great Basin Academy at 541-883-6699.
- Comprehensive Distance Learning: The district is working to develop a districtwide online school with certified district teachers delivering instruction. Participating students would remain enrolled in their neighborhood school. The program is under development and more information will be available in August.
Klamath County Fire District #1 was not without fireworks related incidents on this July 4th holiday weekend.
On Saturday, July 4, at approximately in the 4400 block of Homedale Rd, a grass field was set ablaze by fireworks. It burned under an acre and luckily, it did not burn more. The efforts of the citizens in the area and the crews from KCFD1 kept this fire to a smaller size.
Another call came into dispatch for a house on fire because of fireworks in the 2100 block of Herbert St. Multiple crews from KCFD1 responded and quickly extinguished the fire. No one was injured, but the occupant has been displaced from her residence. The fire was caused by illegal fireworks that were being shot in the neighborhood. The shrubbery outside the residence was dry and caused the fire to burn quickly into the residence.
Proper use of legal fireworks and a good area cleared from dry grasses or shrubbery would have stopped these fires from taking off and causing the damage they did. We are currently having warmer temperatures and dry conditions, which means it does not take much to start a fire that could be devastating. Be safe and responsible while having fun with your summer time activities.
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team members spent Friday July 3, 2020 performing community outreach on Mt. McLaughlin. KCSO SAR members talked with hikers, distributed water, and helped educate people on the need to be prepared when hiking the area.
In addition, KCSO SAR Team members Michael Schaaf, George Mulleneix, Vicky Jack, and Alden Goebel also worked to clear the trails of deadfall trees. This effort was in cooperation with Jackson County Search and Rescue, who performed community service work on July 4th and 5th.
KCSO SAR Commander Brian Bryson said that the public education is vitally important. The conditions on Mt. McLaughlin can change rapidly and can catch people off guard if they’re unprepared.”Also, the public needs to be aware that the bridge from the upper parking lot is out and to use caution.
AROUND THE STATE OF OREGON
The president of the police union in Portland, Oregon, said Wednesday he has “no confidence” that city leaders will move to stop the nightly violent protests that have wracked the Northwest city.
Protesters in Portland have demonstrated for 41 consecutive nights following the death of George Floyd and are increasingly focusing their actions on federal properties in the city’s downtown core, including the Hatfield Federal Courthouse. Authorities have several times declared riots and used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney in Oregon announced federal charges against seven protesters who are accused of defacing a federal courthouse and assaulting federal officers during protests in Oregon’s largest city against racial injustice and police brutality.
Gov. Kate Brown has said she wants police to de-escalate the situation with the protesters. Media reports that Turner invited her to come downtown to view the situation herself, which she did not, staying away from the area this entire time.
In Grants Pass, last week a shooting occurred at Pinecrest Drive and Tiffany Way. Detectives located Theodore Homer Robison (55) from Josephine County there, shot several times and he was pronounced deceased..
Investigators identified the suspect as Bret Alan Hagenno, who was found yesterday and was taken into custody. The details of the arrest will be posted when they are available.
Hagenno is know to frequent Josephine and Jackson Counties. Hagenno will be charged with Murder II in Josephine County. If anyone has information about him, they are asked to contact the Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-664-4600 and reference case SP-20-173329.
The Jordan Cove LNG energy project received another federal vote of confidence on Monday, but local environmental organizations say the project is a long way from coming to fruition.
The Department of Energy granted Jordan Cove a 20-year authorization to export liquefied natural gas (LNG), primarily to customers in Asia, from a proposed terminal in Coos Bay. The fracked gas would be extracted from shale formations in the U.S. and Canada, delivered via existing pipelines to a compression station near Malin and sent through the proposed 229-mile Pacific Connector Pipeline (also part of the project) to the Coos Bay terminal.
The pipeline, which would impact more than 2,000 acres of forest and cross more than 300 streams, lakes and rivers between the Klamath Basin and Coos Bay, along with the dredging and construction required to build the proposed terminal, has drawn criticism from landowners and environmental groups in southwest Oregon. Various state agencies have yet to grant Jordan Cove the necessary authorizations it needs to begin construction on the project, including a water quality certification, coastal zone dredging permit and easements on state land.
A ballot measure that proposes legalizing the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the active chemical in hallucinogenic mushrooms, has officially made the statewide ballot for Oregon’s election in November.
Sponsors of the petition said in June that they anticipated making the ballot after turning in 164,782 signatures. Just over 112,000 verified signatures are required to make the ballot. The sponsors said that they received official confirmation from the Secretary of State’s office on Wednesday.
Supporters have cited studies that suggest psilocybin can help in treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
If approved by voters, the measure would begin a program to allow the licensed cultivation of psilocybin, and regulate the use of psilocybin therapy. Therapy recipients would have to go three a three-step process — a screening for risk factors, a supervised therapy administration session, and an evaluation following the session.
Governor Brown on Wednesday named her picks for the newly-formed “Public Safety Training and Standards Task Force,” a group charged with examining how Oregon trains and certifies law enforcement officers, with a focus on racial bias and use of force training.
Brown’s public safety policy advisor, Constantin Severe, will chair the task force. Other members include lawmakers, current and former law enforcement officials, and leaders from communities of color.
The task force is supposed to provide a list of recommendations on how to improve Oregon’s law enforcement training and certification process to the Governor by November of this year.
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld two Trump administration rules that allow employers and universities to push their religious or moral beliefs on employees and students by denying them access to insurance that covers birth control.
Employers and universities will be able to decide — based on their own objections — if their health insurance plans cover birth control.
The Affordable Care Act’s birth control benefit expanded contraceptive coverage with no out-of-pocket costs for more than 62 million women, including 17 million Latinas and 15 million Black women. Because of this decision, many more businesses and universities will have the opportunity to opt out of providing this critical coverage.
Oregon is among 26 states that have passed laws to provide critical protections of contraceptive coverage.
The Reproductive Health Equity Act, which was passed in 2017, requires commercial health plans regulated by the State of Oregon to continue covering birth control at no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of what happens at the federal level. However, the law does not apply to federal health plans, such as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), TRICARE or Civilian Health or Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), nor does it apply to self-funded plans or other plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is working with coalition partners and state leaders to determine the scope of the ruling’s impact on Oregonians.
The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) has created and published a statewide, online database of DPSST Professional Standards actions in accordance with HB 4207 which passed during the 2020 Special Session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly.
The database will include the names of all public safety officers who have been the subject of a DPSST certification action, their employing agency (when applicable), and a link to the DPSST investigation and Final Order once issued (which will include a description of the facts underlying the denial, suspension or revocation action) occurring on or after June 30, 2020 (The effective date of HB 4207). A sample case has been uploaded as a placeholder.
For broader transparency, a listing of all individuals who were the subject of a DPSST professional standards action prior to June, 2020 has also been published, along with a list of open, pending DPSST professional standards cases.
The database can be found on-line at https://www.oregon.gov/dpsst/cj/pages/professionalStandards.aspx
DPSST’s Director Eriks Gabliks said “Today’s announcement is the latest step in Oregon’s ongoing efforts to strengthen trust between law enforcement and community. DPSST, in partnership with the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (BPSST), over the past few years has implemented a number of transparency initiatives including the implementation of Information Resource Inquiry System (IRIS) to show officer training, certification and employment history, the installation of equipment allowing livestreaming of Board and Policy Committee meetings, the publishing basic curriculums on DPSST webpage and the continued monthly publication of DPSST Ethics Bulletins as an educational resource.
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