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.
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon…overnight low around 25 degrees.
Friday A 40% chance of snow after 10am. Patchy fog before 10am. Patchy freezing fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday A chance of snow before 1pm, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.
Sunday A chance of rain. Snow level 5700 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46.
Today’s Headlines
Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) officials reported 74 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The local case count is 1,273. This week’s count is 114.
Like most of the state, Klamath County is experiencing a surge in cases. A revised approach to contact investigations and close contact follow up is part of a statewide plan developed in response to the statewide growth in cases.
The approach incorporates a priority structure to ensure those at highest risk receive contact from KCPH first. More than half of the counties in Oregon have moved to this surge protocol, as local and state resources reach capacity in this critical pandemic response.
Statewide, COVID-19 has claimed 30 more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,110. Oregon Health Authority reported 1,243 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 today bringing the state total to 88,287.
The new COVID-19 cases are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (11), Clackamas (109), Clatsop (6), Columbia (7), Coos (18), Crook (5), Curry (1), Deschutes (51), Douglas (27), Grant (4), Hood River (16), Jackson (54), Jefferson (22), Josephine (16), Klamath (74), Lake (3), Lane (85), Lincoln (14), Linn (33), Malheur (22), Marion (192), Morrow (3), Multnomah (208), Polk (26), Tillamook (5), Umatilla (30), Union (7), Wasco (9), Washington (163), Yamhill (57).
OHA will host a webinar at 2:30 p.m. to discuss planning and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine in Oregon.
Public school students in Klamath County are receiving free water bottles thanks to a Healthy Klamath project to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Healthy Klamath, with a community outreach grant from the Oregon Health Authority, purchased nearly 10,000 water bottles for students as a way to promote hydration and reduce the spread of germs at frequently touched surfaces, such as drinking fountains. The idea is to provide water bottles for students to use at school because drinking fountains under the COVID-19 safety and health protocols are no longer accessible. District superintendents had expressed concern that not all students would have a water bottle available to bring to school with them.
Klamath Falls City Schools will distribute 2,800 blue water bottles, and Klamath County School District will distribute 6,800 white water bottles during their free grab and go meal programs. The water bottles are co-branded with the Healthy Klamath logo on one side and a school district logo on the opposite side.
Though things will look considerably different this year, Toys for Tots still plans to bring a little Christmas cheer to children in need across Klamath and Lake Counties.
The charity will be hosting a toy drive this Saturday at Lithia Ford of Klamath Falls to boost donations, especially after they received several hundred more applications to receive toys this year than in previous years. A service organization run by the United States Marine Corps, Toys for Tots collects brand new, unopened toys and distributes them to less fortunate families who may not be able to afford Christmas presents for their kids.
Klamath and Lake County Toys for Tots co-coordinator JoAnn Roberts said the pandemic-caused economic downturn has made the need for donations even greater locally. At the same time, people who would normally donate toys are now experiencing financial hardship themselves. Toys for Tots also had to cancel all of their fundraisers this year, which would have included outreach to encourage members of the community to donate toys. Many businesses that would normally have toy collection boxes also had to close amid Oregon’s most recent COVID-19 case spike. Around this time last year, Roberts said volunteers were picking up overflowing donation boxes. Now, they’re short on toys.
Salvation Army in Klamath Falls is working hard amid the global COVID-19 pandemic to continue to bring joy to youth this holiday season.
The local branch of the nonprofit is asking for the community’s help in gathering toys to distribute to local families later this month, despite the many challenges the pandemic has brought the local community.
Debi Leighton, service center coordinator for Salvation Army, said the nonprofit collected about 3,000 to 4,000 toys in 2019 and distributed them to 1,500 children. She foresees being able to give just as much this year, but due to COVID-19 and the loss of numerous giving trees and red kettles in the community, it will be a big challenge. The inability to gather in groups, and the closure of some businesses due to the pandemic, have largely reduced the presence of red kettles in local communities in the Klamath Basin and across the United States.
Rotary Club of Klamath Basin-Sunrise will provide gifts for children ages 3-5 on Friday, Dec. 11 through the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program.
Several Christmas trees provided courtesy of Mountain Valley Nursery and Santa welcomed vehicles to a drive-thru gift delivery event Friday afternoon coordinated by Rotary members as a way to assist child development in the Klamath Basin. Chartered in 1997, Sunrise Rotary Club members express their commitment to youth, “because we believe if children’s lives are improved now, they will be better citizens in our community in the future,” according to Holliday.
In keeping with this commitment to youth, their annual fundraiser Brats, Brews, & Blues Festival benefits primarily the Klamath Hospice and Camp Evergreen.
After a canceled event in the spring of 2020, Oregon Tech’s Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge is back and ready to serve the Klamath community.
Over the past six years, student/alumni teams have competed for over $70,000 in prize money and services. The 2021 event is made possible through generous sponsorship and donations from AVISTA, the City of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Gaucho Collective, Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA), Klamath IDEA Center for Entrepreneurship, Oregon Small Business Development Center, VertueLab and the Wendt Family Foundation.
The 2021 Catalyze Klamath Falls Challenge will celebrate those students and alumni who have innovative ideas that will meet user-centered needs and be viable in the Klamath community. Catalyze 2021 will follow a similar format to previous years, with teams competing for cash prizes, receiving coaching and technical assistance from business professionals, participating in a Shark Tech pitch session, and developing a business plan to commercialize their ideas.
From Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, Chris Kaber:
Christmas 2020 and New Year’s 2021 High, buzzed, stoned, wasted — no matter the term, If You Feel Different, You Drive Different.
“Keep the holidays merry and bright: Stay safe and sober by refusing to drive while impaired. Remember: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. This holiday season, from December 16th through January 2nd, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the national If You Feel Different, You Drive Different awareness campaign to help keep impaired drivers off the road. Always designate a sober driver to get you home safely if you’re impaired so you don’t wind up with coal in your stocking — or worse. If You Feel Different, You Drive Different”.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), in association with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), awarded the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office grant funds for traffic safety during 2020-2021 totaling $19,500.
The grants are being used to increase traffic enforcement with focused patrols for Distracted Driving, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII), Occupant Protection (Safety Belts), Pedestrian Safety and Speed Enforcement during the below specified events.
Distracted Driving Grant Amount = $5,000
• High Visibility Enforcement Now – 9/30/2021
• National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 4/1 – 4/30/2021 DUII High Visibility Enforcement Events Grant Amount = $5,000
• High Visibility Enforcement Now – 9/30/2021
• Thanksgiving 11/26 – 11/29/2020 • Christmas 2020 / New Year’s 2021 12/16 – 1/2/2021 – SCHEDULED • Super Bowl 2/7/2021
• Labor Day 8/18 – 9/6/2021 Occupant Protection (Safety Belt) Blitz Periods Grant Amount = $5,500
• High Visibility Enforcement Now – 9/30/2021
• Blitz #1: 2020 “Click It or Ticket” 11/16 – 11/29/2021
• Blitz #2: Belts / Child Restraints 2/1 – 2/14/2021
• Blitz #3: 2021 “Click It or Ticket” 5/17 – 5/30/2021
• Blitz #4: Child Seats / Fitting Station Referrals 8/23 – 9/5/2021 Pedestrian Safety Grant Amount = $2,000
• High Visibility Enforcement Now – 9/30/2021
• Klamath County Fair 8/5 – 8/8/2021 Speed Enforcement Grant Amount = $2,000
• High Visibility Enforcement Now – 9/30/2021
Around the state of Oregon
Weekly cases, hospitalizations set new pandemic highs
OHA’s COVID-19 weekly report released today, set weekly highs for COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations for the third consecutive week.
OHA reported 10,355 new daily cases during the week of Monday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 6, a 14% increase over the previous week and the seventh consecutive record high weekly case count.
Hospitalizations associated with COVID-19 increased to 494, a 24% increase and an average of 70 per day.
There were 133 reported COVID-19 reported deaths, up from 86 the previous week and an average of 19 per day – the highest since the pandemic began.
People aged 20 to 49 have accounted for 55% of the cases, while people 70 and older have accounted for 76%of the deaths.
Finally, During the week of Nov. 29 to Dec. 5, the number of COVID-19 tests administered to Oregonians increased significantly to 170,964. The percentage of positive tests was 8.1%.
After months of uncertainty, Gov. Kate Brown made it official on Dec. 1: she plans to shut down the Warner Creek Correctional Facility in Lakeview. According to the governor’s proposed budget, Warner Creek is one of three minimum-security prisons to be closed across Oregon — the others are Shutter Creek and Mill Creek. Warner is slated for closure in June 2022. During a press conference announcing her budget and legislative priorities for the 2021-23 biennium, Brown said the number of adults in custody has declined over the years and has recently fallen below 13,000. This is not the first time that WCCF has faced the threat of closure. Each state department is asked to submit how it would cut its budget by 5 and 10% each biennium. And for the Department of Corrections, it often means closing prisons.
Both Oregon and California have joined a massive, multi-state lawsuit against Facebook, alleging that the corporation has illegally stifled competition to protect its monopoly power in the tech sector. The lawsuit, brought by a bipartisan coalition of 48 attorneys general across the U.S., claims that Facebook illegally bought competitors “in a predatory manner” or blocked the growth of others — depriving “the benefits of competition even as the company backtracked on consumer privacy protections.” The complaint specifically charges that Facebook violated federal antitrust laws to build and maintain a monopoly. Rosenblum’s office compared those tactics to the way telecom companies formerly forced customers to change their phone numbers in order to change carriers. Rosenblum’s office cited Facebook’s purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp as examples of buying up competition to reduce the threat to its growth.
The Josephine County District Attorney’s office has identified the two people killed when gunfire erupted during a standoff on Monday near Cave Junction. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies, including the Oregon State Police SWAT team, descended on a property on Pinewood Way south of Cave Junction on Monday morning. for a reported domestic violence incident that became a hostage situation. According to a statement from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, a woman called 911 to report that her husband had threatened her with a gun. While she was able to escape the property, another person was still inside with the husband. Among the officers deployed to the scene were Grants Pass hostage negotiators, but the Sheriff’s Office said the standoff ended on Monday afternoon when both the gunman and law enforcement officers opened fire. Two people inside the house were killed — both the gunman and the hostage. District Attorney Josh Eastman identified the suspected gunman on Wednesday as 56-year-old Donald J. Guest. The other fatality was 70-year-old Sandra Jo Reynolds. County tax records indicate that she was the owner of the property.
The Medford Police Department says that a local woman is missing and may be in danger of harming herself. 47-year-old Jennifer Backes-Allred was reported missing and possibly suicidal on Sunday. She was last seen in the Medford area on Saturday. Backes-Allred was last seen driving a 2005 GMC Sierra with Oregon license plate number 828JWF. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Hull (541) 774-2283, reference case number 20-20131.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a teenage girl who went missing this week after leaving home late on Monday night. According to the agency, 15-year-old Hazel Ray Isaksson left her home in Cave Junction around 11 p.m. on Monday. Isaksson reportedly told her younger sister that she was leaving to visit with a friend, but that friend’s identity is unknown. Her phone was left at the house, with her mother. Isaksson left the house wearing a matching pair of navy blue sweatpants and sweatshirt with yellow lettering, and a pair of black slippers with white logos on them. She’s described as being about five-foot, seven-inches tall, weighing 125 pounds, with blonde hair cut short into a Mohawk, and blue eyes. She has a small scar on the right side of her forehead, and large gauge earrings in both ears.
One person was shot and killed in an incident involving a Linn County deputy and at least one Oregon State Police trooper southeast of Salem, according to the Linn County sheriff. The shooting happened just before midnight Tuesday on Highway 22 near the small town of Gates, Linn County Sheriff Jim Yon said. Neither the trooper nor deputy was injured, KOIN-TV reported. No further information was immediately released about the person killed or the circumstances leading up to shooting. Highway 22 was closed from Gates to Detroit. The Salem Police Department is investigating the case.
An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody (AIC) died December 9, 2020. He was incarcerated at the Deer Ridge Correctional Institution and passed away at a local hospital.
He tested positive for COVID-19. He was between 75 and 85 years old. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the Medical Examiner will determine cause of death. Department-wide, this is the nineteenth AIC to die who tested positive for COVID-19.
For more information on COVID-19 cases inside Oregon’s prisons, please visit DOC’s COVID-19 website. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 13,100 adults in custody who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has declared Dec. 10 as Get Covered Oregon Day to focus on the importance of staying healthy by getting covered.
Get Covered Day is aimed at two priorities – to help Oregonians stay healthy and protect communities from COVID-19 by wearing a mask and get insured for 2021 before the Dec. 15 deadline to enroll.
Oregonians who do not get health insurance through their job or a program such as the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare can go to HealthCare.gov to see if they may qualify for help paying for 2021 coverage. Even if people are temporarily uninsured, they can sign up for help. The deadline to sign up to get health insurance for next year is Tuesday, Dec. 15.
“The pandemic has placed a renewed focus on the importance of staying healthy and safe,” said Gov. Brown. “During this open enrollment period for private health insurance, it’s critical for all of us to seek insurance coverage, not just because of COVID-19, but for preventive care and financial protection in case of serious illnesses and chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. We owe it to ourselves and our families to get covered in order to have access to life-saving services.”
“Oregon is proud to be a part of the Get Covered 2021 coalition to advance efforts to protect against COVID-19, and to close the coverage gap by getting all eligible Oregonians enrolled in health insurance,” said Chiqui Flowers, administrator of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “We are proud to work alongside all of the partners in the Get Covered 2021 coalition to send the message in Oregon and across the nation that we are standing together to help Americans stay safe and healthy, and that coverage and financial help is there for them during a time they need it the most.”
Individuals making up to $51,040 per year and families of four making up to $104,800 may get help paying for coverage. In 2020, more than seven in 10 Oregonians who chose plans through HealthCare.gov got financial help for monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. These savings lowered the average premium to just $145 per month.
Oregonians who want help from an insurance agent or community partner organization that can help them complete the application and enroll should visit OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp. Insurance agents and community partners provide local, one-on-one assistance at no charge to the client. This help is available virtually and over the phone.
For over 20 years the Yachats Lions Club has held an “all the Crab you can eat” event in Yachats, Oregon. The annual trek to Yachats to eat Dungeness Crab is a tradition for families and groups from across Oregon and Washington.
This years’ crab feed will be a little different due to covid-19, we will be selling crab
meals available for take-out only. It will consist of one whole local crab, cole slaw,
and homemade bread. Meals will be available for pick-up (scheduled times) at the
Lions Hall, 344 4th Street, Yachats, Oregon.
The $25 per person tickets are available for sale online at
https://yachatslionsclub.org/ You can select your pickup time and order as many
meals as you like. Email for more information at Lionscrabfeed2021@gmail.com.
Kevin Yorks, coordinator of the popular crab feed this year says, “We get great
support from the community and local businesses in Yachats, Waldport and
Newport. South Beach Fish Market cooks and cleans the best tasting local crab you
ever ate.”
All proceeds from the annual crab feed fundraiser supports Lions Community
service projects with scholarships to graduating seniors, food pantries, the
Preschool and after school programs of the Yachats Youth and Family program,
South Lincoln Resources programs, eyeglasses for children and adults.
With the motto “WE SERVE,” Yachats Lions Club is celebrating 71 years of service to Yachats
and South Lincoln County. The Yachats Lions Thrift Store across 4th Street from the
Yachats Commons, has served our community for more than 40 years.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization, with a
network of 1.3 million men and women in more than 200 countries and
geographical locations. We serve where we live, as well as globally, and we have fun
doing it.
UMPQUA BANK PROMOTES ASHLEY HAYSLIP TO LEAD NEWLY FORMED COMMUNITY & BUSINESS BANKING DIVISION
Umpqua Bank is promoting a new business & community banking division that reflects the bank’s commitment to reinvent how financial institutions support an underserved segment of businesses whose continued resiliency is critical to economic recovery and future growth.
According to Umpqua Bank President Tory Nixon: There’s an important segment of commercial enterprises that are vital to our economy yet need a financial partner with a robust combination of capabilities, creativity and personalized, hands-on support. Particularly at this critical moment in our economy, with disruption around every corner, I’m thrilled to have Ashley lead Umpqua’s new community & business banking division,” said Nixon. “Throughout her career, Ashley has demonstrated a passion for businesses of all sizes. From roles in small and mid-sized companies to experience within financial institutions, Ashley has spent her career working to help businesses at different stages of growth. Her leadership and experience will be tremendous assets as Umpqua accelerates our investment in supporting businesses as they adapt to the rapidly changing landscape around us.”
Hayslip brings more than 15 years of diverse experience to the position, including leadership roles at West Coast regional banks and in the finance departments of emerging businesses. Since joining Umpqua in 2016, she has served as senior vice president of strategy, leading growth and transformation initiatives in the commercial space. Most recently, Hayslip managed Umpqua’s bank-wide pivot to deliver more than $2 billion in financial relief to 17,000 small businesses through the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Under her leadership, Umpqua was one of the first financial institutions in the country ready to accept applications and helped save an estimated 250,000 jobs across the West Coast.
“Umpqua is uniquely positioned to support an important segment of commercial enterprises that need our size and sophistication, as well as our passionate focus on personalized expertise and service,” said Hayslip. “When leveraged in new, innovative ways, these qualities can make a significant difference in helping businesses remain competitive in today’s economy. I look forward to building a division that combines human expertise and connection with customized, creative banking solutions for our business customers.”
Hayslip graduated with honors and a BA in Economics and Communications from the University of California Davis, where she was captain of the Division I tennis team. About Umpqua Bank Umpqua Bank, headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation, and has locations across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine’s list of the country’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” and was recently named by The Portland Business Journal the Most Admired Financial Services Company in Oregon for the fifteenth consecutive year. In addition to its retail banking presence, Umpqua Bank also owns Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc., a nationally recognized commercial finance company that provides equipment leases to businesses.