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.
Monday – 08/24/20
Klamath Basin Weather
Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11am. Widespread smoke, mainly before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Patchy smoke before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Today’s Headlines
The state’s death toll from COVID-19 is unchanged from yesterday and remains at 417, the Oregon Health Authority reported yesterday.
Oregon Health Authority reported 231 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday, bringing the state total to 24,937. Klamath County reported two new cases.
The TRIO Student Support Services at Oregon Institute of Technology (“Oregon Tech”) has been awarded $1.47 million in federal grant funding through the U.S. Department of Education.
The competitive award allows the continuation of the program for another five years. The Federal TRIO Programs are outreach and student services programs designed to support individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Oregon Tech’s TRIO Student Support Services — called the Tech Opportunities Program (TOP) — receives funding through a competitive federal grant process, with funds awarded to colleges and universities to provide opportunities for students’ academic development as well as to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary degrees.
The goal of these programs is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants, who include students from low-income families, first-generation students, and students with disabilities. About 64 percent of Oregon Tech students on the Klamath Falls campus qualify for TOP assistance, although combined federal and Oregon Tech funding currently only enables the campus to serve 160 students each year.
Charles “Chuck” Kimbol, Sr., a long-time tribal leader and tribal rights advocate, passed away earlier this month in Chiloquin.
Known for his vocal leadership and staunch stance on tribal rights, Mr. Kimbol was an iconic leader for the Klamath Tribes. He led the efforts that restored the Klamath Tribes to federal recognition when Congress passed Public Law 99-398. President Ronald Reagan signed the Klamath Indian Tribe Restoration Act on Aug. 27, 1986. Kimbol was known for his fervent work on reaffirming tribal treaty reserved hunting, fishing and gathering rights. He was a key figure in Kimball v. Callahan, the case that garnered national attention and confirmed the tribe’s inherent rights.
The 34th annual Klamath Tribes Restoration Celebration looked a little different, with a drive-thru event Saturday instead of the traditional parade, Fun Run, Powwow and other festivities.
This year’s event also honored the late Chuck Kimbol, who was instrumental in the tribe’s restoration in 1986. With the theme of “Honoring our Tribal Men,” Chairman Don Gentry said Kimbol’s memory was heavy on this year’s event. Various agencies and vendors lined S Second Street in front of Chiloquin Elementary School while cars drove down the line to receive goodies, information, and to celebrate with the community while adhering to guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Among the organizations was a booth to ensure tribal members are counted in this year’s U.S. Census. Organizer Elizabeth Barnes said it was important to them to still get people together to celebrate however they could, and to connect by talking to people in their cars.
Klamath Falls Police Department’s three newest patrol officers recognize they are starting their careers during a tumultuous time for law enforcement.
Each said they are ready to remain committed to the job. Zack Fuller, Jaziel Ramirez and Brandon Witmer were sworn in earlier this month after graduating from the police academy. Fuller was born and raised in Klamath Falls and always knew he wanted to be a police officer. Ramirez, also from Klamath, worked her way to the department after several other positions in law enforcement. She started with an internship with Oregon State Police before working in the Klamath County Jail and then joining patrol. Witmer, from Gresham, joined up after serving in the Army. He said policing was a natural transition from his military career.
Candidates have until Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. to file in the November General Election for multiple positions open in Klamath County.
Positions up for election include Klamath Falls Mayor, Klamath Falls Ward 1 and Ward 2 council positions, three councilors and mayor of Bonanza, Chiloquin mayor and three councilors, three councilors in Malin, and mayor and two councilors in Merrill. The Klamath Falls mayoral race includes incumbent Carol Westfall and challengers Bill Adams and James Garland. Klamath Falls Ward 1 is currently between Phil Studenberg and Dylan Carlson. Mika Blain is running unopposed for Ward 2, as of Saturday, after incumbent Kendall Bell announced she wouldn’t seek reelection after moving out of the ward. Incumbent Malin councilors Ryan Bartholomew, Connie Venegas and Rafael Ivan Hernandez are seeking reelection to their seats and are currently unopposed.
Around the State of Oregon
Representative Greg Walden sent a letter to Governor Kate Brown on Thursday, urging her to take up the enhanced unemployment benefits approved by President Donald Trump via executive order.
Walden cited states like Idaho and Colorado, which have taken up the $400 benefit stipulated by President Trump. However, Oregon is far from alone in being wary of taking on the benefits. As of Thursday, only 11 states had taken up the offer, Forbes reported. Some other states, like California and New York, have already indicated that they will decline. The CARES Act gave unemployed workers an extra $600 per week benefit, but that program has since run out for workers who began receiving benefits early in the pandemic. Democrats in Congress have been pushing to extend the full $600, but both Republicans and the White House have largely dismissed the idea.
A man accused of firing at several vehicles since May on Interstate 5 is due in court today.
OSP spokesman Captain Tim Fox said that troopers arrested 49-year-old Kenneth Ayers in connection with the shootings at 11 p.m. on Thursday, though an earlier statement said that he was taken into custody the day prior. Troopers closed in on Ayers after the shooting north of Central Point on Wednesday night, when a local woman was injured. By that night, investigators learned that a UPS truck may have been involved. Investigators tracked a UPS semi-truck about an hour (60 miles) north of the August 19 shooting, to the Roseburg area — allowing troopers to seize and execute a search warrant on the truck and trailer. The search found a gun “consistent with the type used” with several of the shootings. Ayers was also located in the Roseburg area, and later booked into the Jackson County Jail.
Oregon Liquor Control Commission issued an Order of Immediate License Suspension to the licensee of Coos Bay Speedway Enterprises in Coos County.
The suspension is for violating public health social distancing and face covering requirements. The business is not allowed to sell any alcoholic beverages. On Friday, August 14, 2020 the operators of the Coos Bay Speedway staged an event with a crowd OLCC compliance staff estimated to be over a thousand people. Under Oregon’s Phase 2 Reopening Guidance venue and event operators are required to limit outdoor gatherings to 250 people and Coos County is currently in Phase 2. OLCC inspectors also saw that there was an absence of social distancing between spectators, and that few of the race track staff or patrons were wearing face coverings, including people serving alcohol.
Teams of Oregon firefighters arrived in California to help with the response to a massive complex of lightning-caused wildfire’s that have ravaged areas around Napa Valley.
As of Friday morning, the LNU Lightning Complex covered more than 219,000 acres — bigger than the deadly 2018 Camp Fire at its largest, and presently the 10th largest in California history — and was only 7 percent contained. Cal Fire says that it has destroyed 480 structures and damaged 125 more. At Cal Fire’s request, the Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) mobilized five task forces to send south. Three groups from Linn, Marion, and Clatsop counties embarked on August 19, with two more from Lane and Klamath counties joining the journey on August 20. Together, the task forces include 86 Oregonian firefighters, meant to help provide structural firefighting and all-hazards assistance. This year marks the fourth in a row that the OSFM has mobilized task forces to support firefighting efforts in California, the agency said.
There will be virtual community information meetings about the Crane Fire today, Monday, August 24.
The first meeting will be held over Facebook Live in English starting at noon and then in Spanish starting at 12:45 p.m. The meetings will have the same key information shared, although questions may vary. The meeting will be conducted by Northwest Incident Management Team 12 in partnership with the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, the Fremont-Winema National Forest and the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP).
At noon, the Facebook Live event can be found at www.facebook.com/allaboutlakecounty. At 12:45 p.m., the Facebook Live event in Spanish can be found at www.facebook.com/camaradecomerciolake.
After the meeting, the video will be posted on both Lake County Chamber of Commerce sites, as well as on the Fremont-Winema National Forest page at www.facebook.com/R6FWNF and the SCOFMP page at www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO for those who would like to view the meeting later.
The Crane Fire is currently burning approximately 10 miles southeast of Lakeview. Fire information from members of the Type 2 Incident Management Team will be shared, including weather, fire behavior and operations. The Incident Commander will be available for both events.
Questions can be provided in advance by messaging the Lake County Chamber of Commerce on Facebook. Questions in the comments section will also be answered as time allows.
The meeting content will be available, both live and recorded, on all four pages without logging onto Facebook or having a Facebook account.
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