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, February 2, 2021
Klamath Basin Weather
Tuesday A 30% chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 36. South southwest wind 7 to 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Overnight, cloudy with a low around 25.
Wednesday A chance of snow before 11am, then a slight chance of snow showers after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 37. South southwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 41.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 44.
See Road Camera Views:
Lake of the Woods
Doak Mtn.
Hiway 97 at Chemult
Hiway 140 at Bly
Hiway 97 at GreenSprings Dr.
Hiway 97 at LaPine
Today’s Headlines
Klamath County Public Health officials reported 20 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. The local case count is 2,655. This week’s total is 17.
There is one new COVID-19 related death in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 1,958, the Oregon Health Authority reported this morning.
OHA also reported 964 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 143,373.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Benton (18), Clackamas (92), Columbia (4), Coos (19), Crook (3), Curry (3), Deschutes (31), Douglas (14), Grant (1), Harney (1), Hood River (7), Jackson (44), Jefferson (3), Josephine (36), Klamath (20), Lake (2), Lane (105), Lincoln (3), Linn (30), Malheur (2), Marion (137), Morrow (4), Multnomah (178), Polk (32), Tillamook (1), Umatilla (17), Union (8), Wallowa (2), Wasco (9), Washington (126) and Yamhill (28).
Vaccinations in Oregon: OHA reported that 14,693 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry.
Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 438,299 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. To date, 665,325 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.
Oregon counties have new outdoor dining guidance
Outdoor dining guidance is now updated for Oregon counties. As of Friday, Jan. 29, restaurants, bars, distilleries and tasting rooms in all Oregon counties may allow the following:
- Outdoor structures that have a temporary or fixed cover, like an awning or roof, as long as there is at least 50% of the square footage of its sides open for airflow. The enclosed sides may not be adjacent (next to) each other.
See the illustration below for an example of a structure that meets the outdoor dining requirements. Read the full guidance.
Seeking to extend protections for workers against the coronavirus disease, Oregon OSHA is proposing a permanent rule that largely maintains – with some improvements – the risk-reducing measures required by the current temporary emergency rule. It would replace the temporary rule, which expires on May 4.
The proposed permanent rule will receive virtual public hearings later this month and in early March. Although the rule must be adopted as a permanent rule because the law does not allow a temporary rule to be extended, Oregon OSHA expects to repeal the permanent rule once it is no longer needed to address the coronavirus pandemic.
As with the temporary rule, which took effect Nov. 16, 2020, the proposed permanent rule maintains such requirements as physical distancing; use of face coverings; regular sanitation; employee notification and training; maximization and maintenance of existing ventilation systems; and formal exposure risk assessment and infection control planning. The proposed permanent rule would allow employers to rely upon the risk assessments, infection control plans, and infection control training already completed.
However, the permanent rule would add measures and strengthen provisions in certain areas.
Oregon is losing extended unemployment benefits after the state’s unemployment rate average fell below six-and-a-half-percent.
Officials say the change will happen three weeks from now. The program provided 13 weeks of additional payments. Oregonians who are losing benefits will be switched to the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which provides an additional eleven weeks of payments.
Local poetry group Spoken Word is going to publish an anthology of poems by Klamath County residents in partnership with the Klamath County Library, and it is open to submissions.
You may recognize Spoken Word from their poetry events at the library for the last couple of years. They’re passionate about raising awareness about the rich history of poetry and poets in Klamath County.
Poems are a way for us to pause, to think and be connected to each other, our families, our place and our world. Sharing your poems is a gift to the community during these times of personal, physical and emotional stress. Residents of Klamath County, past and present, are invited to submit poems to be considered for inclusion in the anthology. Whether you’re a previously published poet or your work has never been seen outside of a small family gathering, we want to hear from you!
A major winter storm that has already brought strong winds to the Klamath Basin will strike mainly south of our area tonight.
The National Weather service has issued a winter storm warning for North Central and Southeast Siskiyou county.
The next front will be colder and affect the area late Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon with snow levels falling to 2000 feet. Travel could be very difficult to impossible during the height of the storm Heavy wet snow could damage trees and powerlines.
Last week, over 25 inches of snow fell in a short four hour period in the Mt.Shasta-Weed-Dunsmuir area, precipitating a complete shutdown of I-5 between Weed and Reddning.
Around the state of Oregon
Search and rescue teams successfully tracked down a cross-country skier who became lost in the Mt. Ashland area on Saturday evening, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office received a report of the missing skier just before 5:45 p.m. on Saturday. The cross-country skier was reportedly dressed for the weather, and was last seen on the Pacific Crest Trail near Grouse Shelter about two hours prior. JCSO Search & Rescue teamed up with Mt. Ashland Ski Patrol on the search, which included two Sno-Cat teams and two snowmobile teams.
Rescuers found the skier, a 21-year-old woman from the Eugene area, just before 10:45 p.m. She said that she had lost the trail amid blizzard conditions, and her phone died in the process. She took shelter at the base of a tree while waiting for help to arrive.
Police in Oregon can no longer arrest someone for possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone and other hard drugs as a ballot measure that decriminalized them took effect on Monday.
Instead, those found in possession would face a $100 fine or a health assessment that could lead to addiction counseling. Backers of the ballot measure decriminalizing hard drugs, which Oregon voters passed by a wide margin in November, hailed it as a revolutionary move for the United States. Ballot Measure 110’s backers said treatment needs to be the priority and that criminalizing drug possession was not working.
Besides facing the prospect of being locked up, having a criminal record makes it difficult to find housing and jobs and can haunt a person for a lifetime. Two dozen district attorneys had opposed the measure, saying it was reckless and would lead to an increase in the acceptability of dangerous drugs.
Governor Kate Brown’s plan to close three Oregon state prisons would be a “grave mistake,” according to state lawmaker E. Werner Reschke, who represents much of Klamath and Lake counties.
Governor Brown’s most recent budget proposal includes the closure of Warner Creek Correctional Facility in Lakeview, Shutter Creek in North Bend, and Mill Creek in Salem — reviving and expanding on a proposal that originated in July of last year. The July push to close Warner Creek drew fierce resistance from the Lake County community, which considers the prison to be a vital part of the local economy.
On Monday, Representative Reschke issued a statement decrying the negative economic impact that the closures would cause. But facing what may be an inevitability, the lawmaker is proposing an alternative. Reschke says that he has joined Senator Lynn Findley in proposing a bill that would transfer Warner Creek to the administration of Lake County, allowing the county a one-time land use change.
This would allow the County to either directly use the facility, or find a private entity to buy or lease the property.
Online Girl Scout Cookie Ordering Now Available
With the Girl Scout Cookie Finder, customers can purchase cookies online from local troops—a safe, contact-free alternative to traditional booth sales
For the first time ever, consumers who don’t know a Girl Scout can now purchase Girl Scout Cookies online from a local troop for direct shipment to their door. Online ordering through the Girl Scout Cookie Finder officially opened February 1, offering a contact-free method that supports local girls while keeping safety and skill building top of mind. Online ordering will be available through March 14, 2021.
Pandemic conditions in Oregon and Washington mean that customers won’t see the traditional Girl Scout Cookie booths they look forward to this year, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get their hands on the Thin Mints®, Samoas® and Tagalongs® they love. With the Girl Scout Cookie Finder—used in past years to locate a nearby cookie booth—customers can enter their ZIP code to find a local troop to purchase from through the Digital Cookie platform for direct shipment to their homes or donation to local organizations such as Meals on Wheels People.
Though social distancing measures may keep families and friends apart, cookie customers can share joy and stay connected this season through a gift-box option that ships directly to others via the Digital Cookie platform.
Despite challenges this year, Girl Scouts throughout the region are showing resilience and creativity as they embrace their entrepreneurial spirits. From distributing thousands of door hangers in their neighborhoods, to virtual cookie booths and community presentations via video conferencing, to vehicle displays and more, girls are thinking outside the cookie box as they stay connected, learn and have fun through the cookie program. 100% of the proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie Program stay local with the troop and Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington to power essential leadership programming and meaningful community impact.
Other Ways to Safely Purchase Girl Scout Cookies This Season
In addition to the Girl Scout Cookie Finder, customers who know a Girl Scout are encouraged to reach out to her to find out how she’s selling cookies in ways that meet local and state safety protocols. And starting February 19, customers can visit www.grubhub.com/food/girl_scouts to order via contact-free delivery from Grubhub in select areas including Portland, Eugene and Medford. Availability may vary based on location.
About the Girl Scout Cookie Program
A little more than a century ago, Girl Scouts began participating in what would evolve into the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world: the Girl Scout Cookie Program. The program helps girls fund life-changing experiences and learning for themselves and their troops all year long, while gaining valuable life skills like goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. To learn more about the history of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, visit girlscouts.org.
About Girl Scouts of Oregon
In partnership with more than 6,500 adult members, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington prepares more than 11,500 girls in grades K-12 for a lifetime of leadership, adventure and success. GSOSW’s programs in civic engagement, financial literacy, the outdoors and STEM serve girls in 35 counties in Oregon, and Clark, Klickitat and Skamania counties in Southwest Washington. The Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. For more information, please visit girlscoutsosw.org.
A trumpeter swan in central Oregon that produced 15 young and was a key part of an effort to repopulate the threatened species has died.
The Bend Bulletin reports that Pete died last week of a bacterial infection. Pete and his mate Eloise had produced their offspring, or cygnets, over the last three years at their home at the Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters. The cygnets were captured and sent to live in the wild at the Summer Lake Wildlife Area in south-central Oregon that has ideal wetlands for swans. Officials say they’re searching for a new mate for Eloise.
The central Oregon trumpeter swan breeding program suffered an earlier loss in October when another swan was killed at the Sunriver Nature Center. Officials suspect a coyote snuck up on Gracie, whose body was found in thick brush a week after she went missing.
OREGON STATE POLICE IS REQUESTING PUBLIC’S ASSISTANCE WITH POSSIBLE UNLAWFUL TAKE AND WASTE OF DEER – WASHINGTON COUNTY
Last week Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Trooper received information that an antlerless deer carcass had been dumped in front of a gate on Stimson Lumber Property in Washington County, Oregon.
The carcass had all four legs removed, back strap cut off, and was wrapped in a green tarp. There was a significant amount of meat left to waste on the animal.
There is no current season for antlerless deer in this unit.
The Oregon State Police is requesting that any person with information about this incident contact the TIP line and leave information for Trooper Ben Turner. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous may also contact the Oregon State Police through the Turn in Poachers line at;
TIP Hotline: 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (677)
TIP E-Mail: TIP@state.or.us (Monitored M-F 8:00AM – 5:00PM)
Or the Oregon Hunters Association TIP reward fund also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of Mountain Sheep, Mountain Goat, Moose, Elk, Deer, Antelope, Bear, Cougar, Wolf, Upland Birds, Waterfowl, and Furbearers. Cash rewards can also be awarded for the unlawful take of Game Fish and Shellfish and for Habitat Destruction.
On Monday, February 1, 2021 at approximately 12:37 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 26 near milepost 17.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a Kia, operated by Kenneth Rislow (77) of Astoria, was eastbound when it traveled off the road.
Several citizens performed CPR on Rislow, but he was eventually pronounced deceased.
It is believed Rislow had a medical emergency before the Kia traveled off the road.
On Sunday, January 31, 2021, at approximately 11:14 A.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a three vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near mile post 67.
Preliminary investigation revealed that three vehicles were southbound on I-5 when a collision occurred. Southbound vehicles were a Toyota Sienna, operated by Denise Watts (37) of Medford, a Buick LCR, operated by Rolland Wytcherley (85) of Wolf Creek, and a Dodge Avenger operated by Wendy Lynn (58) of Grants Pass. Investigators are still attempting to determine the exact sequence of events but believe poor visibility from rain and fog was a factor.
Watts sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Wytcherley and his passenger, Maria Wytcherley (72) of Wolf Creek, were transported to the hospital with injuries. Lynn and her passenger were not injured. OSP was assisted by Rural Metro Fire, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, AMR, and ODOT.
OHA sets first hospital community benefit floor
Oregon Health Authority announced the first minimum spending floor for hospital community benefit on Feb. 1, as envisioned by HB 3076 (2019). Each tax-exempt hospital or hospital system in the state will receive a floor for community benefit spending based on their revenues, prior expenditures, financial health, and the needs of the population served.
Because of differing fiscal years, the first to receive a spending floor is Legacy Health System. Its floor will be approximately $253 million for fiscal year 2022 based on its previous levels of unreimbursed care; its direct spending on the social determinants of health, health equity, and other community benefits; and its operating margin.
“After a long and thoughtful process, we arrived at our first community benefit spending floor, which marks a step forward in Oregon’s health system transformation and transparency efforts,” said Jeremy Vandehey, director of the Office of Health Policy and Analytics. “Our hospital system partners are working to align their community benefit activities with the needs of their communities through the community health needs assessment process. Now with a more transparent system of setting minimum spending expectations we will continue to build towards meeting the unique unmet health needs and health inequities in communities around the state.”
As OHA assigns minimum spending floors to hospitals and health systems throughout the year, each floor assigned will be subject to a 30-day public comment period in which members of the public may review the spending floor and comment. Current spending floor notifications, and information on when other hospitals in the state will be assigned, can be found at https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/ANALYTICS/Pages/Hospital-Reporting.aspx under “Community Benefit Reporting.”
Non-profit hospitals are required to engage in community benefit activities in return for their tax-exempt status. They report on these activities to the IRS and to the state annually. Community benefit generally is defined as programs or activities that hospitals provide in response to identified community needs and incur a financial loss. Examples of community benefit include providing free or discounted care to people living in poverty, conducting education or research to promote community health, or donating funds or services to community groups.
House Bill 3076 (2019) introduced significant changes to hospital community benefit policy. The bill created new standards for financial assistance to patients including increasing the income thresholds for charity care, limited medical debt collection and interest, instituted new data reporting requirements, and introduced a new community benefit minimum spending floor program. Under the spending floor program, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) must every two years set the minimum amount each hospital must spend on community benefits.
In January, OHA published its community benefit minimum spending floor methodology for hospital fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
State offers help for Oregonians with wildfire-affected domestic wells
Vouchers for free well testing available to eligible property owners, well users
Well users in Oregon whose properties were affected by wildfires can get help paying for water testing so they can stay safe from contaminants in their drinking water.
In October, the Oregon Legislature allocated funds to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to support domestic well water testing for an estimated 2,000 households that rely on wells for drinking water and were affected by the 2020 wildfires. If demand exceeds supply, people with low income and communities of color will be prioritized.
Well users can find steps needed to access the funds at healthoregon.org/wells. Well owners will find guidance about how to first assess damage, then take actions to protect their wells, and finally test their well water to confirm it is safe to drink.
Curtis Cude, manager of the OHA’s Domestic Well Safety Program, urges well owners to “follow recommendations in the well damage assessment. Make sure you know what work you are authorized to do and when you need to hire a licensed professional.” Actions may include:
- Repair and replace damaged well components.
- Re-pressurize and refill the well.
- Flush water lines.
- Treat the well for microbial contaminants.
- Test (apply for free testing).
OHA will provide testing vouchers to well owners now through May 15, 2021. Well owners can select from a list of approved environmental laboratories in Oregon that will honor the vouchers for testing services. The tests will look for presence of bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, lead and chemicals that are hazardous byproducts of fire.
Applications can be found at healthoregon.org/wells