The latest and most comprehensive coverage of local News, Sports, Business, and Community News stories in the Klamath Basin, Southern Oregon and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM / 102.5FM, The Herald & News, and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance
Klamath Basin Weather
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 9 to 14 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Today’s Headlines
The U.S. Air Force’s newest fighter jets will soon fly the skies above Klamath Falls.
The F-15EX will fly training missions at Kingsley Field starting in 2022. The new planes will replace the F-15C/D Eagles that pilots in the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing have been training on, but are approaching the end of their service life. Some of those models still in use at Kingsley were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The new F-15EX will be built by Boeing.
The company designed, developed and manufactured the first eight F-15EXs at a cost of $1.2 billion. The entire program could cost $23 billion, according to Defense News. According to Boeing, the F-15EX is a two-seat fighter. It includes a deep magazine that can carry a load of advanced weapons. Kingsley Field, located about 4 miles southeast of Klamath Falls, is the home of the U.S. Air Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing. The 173rd trains F-15 pilot and supports combat operations.
The history of Moore Park in Klamath Falls will be explored in a walking history tour slated for Saturday, Aug. 22, according to a news release.
Land for the park was donated by members of the Moore family, which had extensive land holdings west of town in the early 1900s. The hour-long tour will examine clues that shed light on forgotten chapters in the park’s history. The free event is cosponsored by the Klamath County Museum and the Klamath Falls City Parks Department. The walk is free, but space is limited, and registration is required. For more information contact the Klamath County Museum at 541-882-1000.
Klamath Tribal Council last week honored Native American Rights Fund Attorney Don Wharton, as well as key tribal health employees, during the regular Tribal Council meeting in Chiloquin, according to a Klamath Tribes news release.
Wharton was honored for his dedication and commitment to the Klamath Tribes, deemed a “life-long friend.” His work over many years was deemed instrumental in helping secure Klamath tribal treaty rights. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Wharton was not present in-person, but joined the meeting via phone. Wharton will be provided with a plaque, honor blanket, and thank you letter for his services.
Wharton graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1973. He was recruited by the Native American Rights Fund to become a VISTA Volunteer attorney with the Organization of the Forgotten American, a community organization of the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin Band of Snake (Paiute) Tribes. While representing members of the Tribe in an array of consumer protection and civil rights matters, Don also was council in Kimbol v. Callahan, a lawsuit to vindicate the Tribes treaty reserved hunting, fishing, gathering, and later water rights.
Around the State of Oregon
The state’s death toll from COVID-19 is unchanged from yesterday and remains at 388, the Oregon Health Authority reported on Monday.
Oregon Health Authority reported 192 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. Monday bringing the state total to 23,451. Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) officials report six new cases of COVID-19 in the community on Monday. Two of the cases were from Saturday, which brings last week’s total count to nine. Today’s new cases bring the local count to 214.
A group of protesters beat a man bloody and unconscious in the street after he crashed a truck during a confrontation that unfolded near a Black Lives Matter demonstration in downtown Portland late Sunday night, according to police and multiple videos.
Several people kicked, punched and pushed the man to the ground after his Ford truck slammed into a light pole about 10:30 p.m. near Southwest Broadway and Taylor Street, just blocks from a rally outside the Multnomah County Justice Center, videos show. As the driver sat on the ground, a person wearing a vest with “SECURITY” written on the front and back ran from behind and kicked the driver in the face, apparently knocking him unconscious, multiple videos show. The driver remained still on the ground with his eyes closed. Portland police said in a news release early Monday that they received a report of protesters chasing the truck before its driver crashed — and that the group attacked the driver afterward. It wasn’t immediately clear what spurred the violent confrontation, and police have released few details.
The Crane Fire is estimated to be approximately 1,900 acres with no containment.
The fire, burning on Crane Mountain on the Fremont-Winema National Forest Lakeview Ranger District southeast of the town of Lakeview, was discovered yesterday afternoon. The cause is under investigation. The fire is generally burning in mixed conifer on steep terrain. Fire behavior has included some torching. There is a Red Flag Warning in effect for abundant lightning on dry fuels in the area, including over the Crane Fire. Fire managers will be closely monitoring weather conditions throughout the day and related fire behavior.
…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 Local Klamath Basin News Here
The latest State of Oregon Covid-19 News & Preparedness Information Here
Our Basin Life Facebook page Here