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.
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Today’s Basin Weather
Today A 20% chance of snow today with a high near 31. Overnight, snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Wednesday Snow likely, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Overnight, cloudy, with a low around 29. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Thursday A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Friday A slight chance of snow showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 38.
Saturday A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 40.
Today’s Headlines
There are two new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,882, the Oregon Health Authority reported Monday. Oregon Health Authority reported 435 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as well on Monday, bringing the state total to 138,587.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (4), Clackamas (46), Columbia (1), Coos (11), Crook (1), Deschutes (21), Douglas (12), Harney (1), Hood River (1), Jackson (25), Josephine (10), Lake (4), Lane (36), Lincoln (5), Linn (7), Marion (48), Morrow (1), Multnomah (105), Polk (6), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (20), Union (3), Wasco (6), Washington (50) and Yamhill (9).
On Monday, OHA reported that 7,390 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry.
Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 308,051 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
To date, 492,450 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon. The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 320, which is 10 more than yesterday. There are 75 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit beds, which is five fewer than yesterday.
Klamath County Public Health officials reported two deaths and 43 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The local case count is 2,568. Deaths now number 48.
A Klamath Falls man died Jan. 21 after losing control of his car on Highway 395 in Lake County and rolling multiple times, according to Oregon State Police.
Paul Wayne Mee, 59, over-corrected after drifting in the northbound shoulder of Highway 395 near milepost 34D for an unknown reason, according to OSP. Mee was ejected from the car when it rolled. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Harney County Sheriff’s Office, North Lake County EMS and ODOT assisted OSP on the scene.
Mee was a long time medical employee here in Klamath County.
Prepare for a strong winter storm to hit the area. Heavy Snow Likely Across Much of Siskiyou County and portions of Josephine and eastern Curry Counties today and Wednesday.
A strong, wet and cold low pressure system is expected to bring heavy snow to much of Siskiyou County, especially the Mount Shasta area, This afternoon into Wednesday. Heavy snow is expected in Josephine and eastern Curry counties as well for elevations above 1500 feet.
…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 4 AM PST WEDNESDAY…
Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches. Winds gusting to 30 to 45 mph in the valleys and 60 mph over the mountains.
The focus is in California, Modoc County including Adin, Day and portions of route 139 and route 299 at Cedar Pass. In Oregon, Northern and Eastern Klamath County including Chemult and Highway 97, and Southwestern Lake County including Valley Falls and Highways 395 and 140 at Warner Mountain Summit Pass. From noon Today to 4 AM PST Wednesday.
A winter storm warning is in effect for the southern Shasta Valley south of Grenada, including portions of Interstate 5 between Grenada and Weed. This also includes areas in the higher terrain west of Yreka. The Winter Weather Advisory is for areas from Grenada north to Hilt, including portions of Interstate 5 in the northern Shasta Valley, Yreka, and Montague.
Eastbound traffic on West Main Street between Highway 97 ramp and Payne Alley and Pine Street between 2nd and 7th Streets will have rolling closures January 28th through January 29th from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for tree pruning and removal.
Southbound traffic on Riverside Drive between Dover and Memorial Drive will have rolling closures January 27th through January 28th from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for tree pruning and removal. There will be flaggers present so please use caution when driving in areas where work is being performed.
A Klamath Falls woman had a very happy holiday after her Scratch-it stocking stuffer netted her a $75,000 prize.
The Oregon Lottery says that Contessa McConnell’s sister buys Scratch-it tickets as stocking stuffers every holiday, and this year was no different. McConnell started her “Reindeer Riches” ticket and received a pleasant surprise. Players who win $50,000 or more have to make an appointment at the Oregon Lottery office in Salem to claim their prize. McConnell made the trip to Salem on January 21 to pick up her winnings.
According to the Oregon Lottery, McConnell’s sister had bought the winning ticket at Sherm’s Thunderbird Market in Klamath Falls. Lottery officials recommend that you always sign the back of your tickets with each Oregon Lottery game you play.
Around the state of Oregon
The Oregon Health Authority was notified on Sunday that a person in Washington County has tested positive with the variant COVID-19 virus strain originally detected in the United Kingdom.
The person has a known travel history outside of the United States during their exposure period. This is the third known case in Oregon of the United Kingdom variant strain, also known as strain B.1.1.7 or SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01. Close contacts to the person have been identified and notified. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been detected in the U.S. and globally.
The CDC provides case data information in the United States. This strain is considered to be more contagious. OHA recommends that all Oregonians take the following steps to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Officials with the California Department of Public Health have lifted the stay-at-home order for all counties amid signs that Covid-19 is spreading at a slower rate across the state.
Authorities cited improving conditions in hospitals but noted that counties remain subject to the restrictive “purple tier” of guidelines for economic reopening. Individual counties, however, still are able to impose stricter restrictions than the state. It was unclear whether Los Angeles County — considered a national epicenter of the current surge in the virus — would be easing any of its restrictions.
The state’s move today may lead to a resumption of outdoor dining and some services at gyms, barber shops and nail salons, among other businesses.
The executive directors of the Eugene/Springfield NAACP and the environmental group Oregon Wild joined the CEO of the Oregon Food Bank and other civic leaders in calling on the Oregon Legislature to expel a member who allowed protesters into the secure state Capitol building on December 21, 2020.
House Speaker Tina Kotek has already stripped Rep. Mike Nearman of his committee assignments and rescinded his commission appointments. Kotek also called on the Republican lawmaker from Independence, Oregon, to resign. Now dozens of civic leaders – from organizations like the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, the SEIU union, and the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocast Education – are calling on lawmakers to expel Nearman if he does not resign.
The Portland-based parent company of local radio stations KXL-FM, KINK and KUPL, as well as 200 other stations around the country, has filed bankruptcy.
Alpha Media Holdings said none of its stations will go off the air. The company said it will use the protection afforded by the Chapter 11 bankruptcy statutes to reduce its debt and find additional capital.
In bankruptcy documents filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, Alpha told the court that it has already reached preliminary agreement to accomplish that restructuring, Alpha owns properties in 44 markets across the country.
Endeavour Capital, a Portland-based private equity firm, invested in Alpha, helping fund its growth. Alpha said in bankruptcy documents that its stations relied on “engaging live content” to cultivate a “passionate” base of listeners. But the growing popularity of streaming and other alternatives has taken a toll on the traditional radio business. Then, the pandemic hit in 2020, taking a major bite out of ad sales.