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.
Friday, March 26, 2021
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Sunny, with a high near 59. Overnight low around 29. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 67. Light and variable wind. Overnight a low around 33.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 68. Light south southeast wind becoming southwest 12 to 17 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Sunday night a slight chance of rain and snow showers between midnight and 3am, then a slight chance of snow showers after 3am. Snow level 7300 feet lowering to 4200 feet after midnight with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 46, with an overnight low around 23.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 57.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 66.
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
A Wisconsin man was arrested Wednesday night in downtown Klamath Falls after he allegedly pointed a gun and fired two shots as people left The Pikey on Main Street.
According to the Klamath Falls Police Department, Raymond Havens, 22, of Edgerton, Wisconsin and Nathan Kelley, 33, of Zion, Illinois were standing across the street from the bar.
KFPD Capt. Ryan Brosterhous said Havens threatened two people as they left the bar about 8:20 p.m. and pointed his gun at them before firing two shots. No one was injured.
When police arrived, Havens had a gun concealed in his waistband. He then offered an officer $20,000 to not take him to jail, according to KFPD. KFPD said it doesn’t appear Havens was targeting anyone in particular, just people who were passing by or leaving the downtown bar.
Brosterhous said it appears alcohol was a factor. Havens is being held in the Klamath County Jail on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, disorderly conduct, carrying a concealed firearm, recklessly endangering and bribe giving. Kelley was booked into jail for disorderly conduct and released.
There are two new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,370, the Oregon Health Authority reported today. Oregon Health Authority reported 422 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of today, bringing the state total to 162,806. Klamath County reported 9 new cases yesterday.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (10), Benton (1), Clackamas (42), Clatsop (9), Columbia (7), Coos (12), Crook (1), Curry (6), Deschutes (21), Douglas (13), Hood River (1), Jackson (21), Josephine (22), Klamath (9), Lake (3), Lane (16), Lincoln (4), Linn (17), Malheur (2), Marion (49), Multnomah (69), Polk (8), Tillamook (4), Umatilla (11), Union (1), Wasco (3), Washington (54) and Yamhill (6).
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 108, which is six more than yesterday. There are 17 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is two fewer than yesterday.
A reminder that appointments are now being scheduled for three Sky Lakes COVID-19 vaccination clinics next week. Klamath County adults aged 45-64 with underlying health conditions are eligible.
First-dose shots will be given Tuesday, March 30, and Wednesday, March 31, at the Sky Lakes Medical Center vaccination clinic on the fourth floor of the original medical center. On Saturday, April 3, COVID-19 first-dose vaccinations will be given at the Sky Lakes Collaborative Health Center. Shots are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 1-833-606-4370.
No walk-in slots or on-site appointments are available. The call center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
For our nearby Modoc County residents, California is expanding vaccine eligibility to anyone 50 and over starting in April and anyone 16 and over on April 15.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday that the state expects to receive 2.5 million doses a week in the first half of April and more than 3 million a week in the second half of the month. That’s a big jump from the roughly 1.8 million doses a week the state is currently getting.
The move comes as some California counties have veered away from the state’s vaccine eligibility criteria by opening up the shots for people with a broader range of medical conditions and at younger ages than the 65 and over required in most counties.
Klamath County’s plan to purchase the Oregon 8 Motel and RV Park for transitional housing is part of Project Turnkey, the county was awarded a $1.779 million federal grant to support temporary housing for people who have been incarcerated and for veterans.
Neighbors are also concerned about the future of families that live at the RV park and motel. Multiple residents of Wocus Road and the surrounding area shared concerns yesterday with Klamath County Commissioners about a planned housing project in their neighborhood.
Commissioner Kelly Minty Morris said “We do not have the details worked out of who, what, where, because we didn’t even know if we’d get the grant. And now we have successfully gotten the grant. I know there’s a lot of questions as to why this hotel … this was the one that was available. Commissioner Donnie Boyd emphasized he is opposed to the project on separate grounds, but added that the process of purchasing the property has taken place in public meetings.
While the AARP Tax Aide service won’t be at the downtown Klamath County Library this tax season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Klamath County libraries are offering an alternative: private computer rooms for members of the public to file their taxes online.
And you’ve got more time to file – tax officials recently moved the deadline forward to May 17th this year.
Two private rooms at the downtown Klamath County Library will be available: one on a first-come, first-served basis, and the other via appointment. Each room will come equipped with its own computer, scanner, and printer, as well as supplies to sanitize between users. The library requires users to wear a face covering over their mouth and nose the whole time while using the private rooms with a Two people per room restriction.
The downtown library’s appointment-only computer will be available at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2:30 pm on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm, and 6 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, until at least Monday, May 17th.
To claim a time slot, please call the downtown library at 541-882-8894 or visit the library’s Information and Reference desk. Both rooms will close for the day 15 minutes before the library closes – at 4:45 pm on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 7:45 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
The South Suburban Branch will have a single appointment-only computer dedicated to self-service tax filing. Please call them at 541-273-3679 after February 1st to make an appointment. The Chiloquin Branch Library also plans to accommodate self-service online tax filing by appointment. Please call them at 541-783-3315 for details.
Around the state of Oregon
Oregon mistakenly scheduled COVID-19 vaccine appointments for 11,000 people who are not currently eligible to receive the shot until April 19, officials said Wednesday.
Administrators of the Oregon Convention Center clinic said they will honor appointments made by any of the 11,000 ineligible people. According to the Oregon Health Authority, on Monday their partner All4Oregon sent an email invitation to schedule vaccination appointments at the Oregon Convention Center to the thousands of ineligible people. Officials say the mistake was “based on erroneous information supplied” by the health authority.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) has approved debt relief programs to benefit residential customers of investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities with past due balances caused by COVID-19.
Portland General Electric’s (PGE’s) plan was approved on February 11, 2021, while the debt relief plans for PacifiCorp, Idaho Power, NW Natural, Avista, and Cascade Natural were approved by the PUC on March 23. The debt relief programs must be in place no later than April 1, 2021, with the exception of NW Natural, whose program goes into effect May 3. These programs will be ratepayer funded, following an agreement among a broad group of utilities, stakeholders, and PUC Staff to make one percent of each utility’s 2019 retail revenues in Oregon available for debt relief. This amounts to approximately $39 million in total available funding across the six investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities.
As of January 2021, there were more than 91,000 customers of investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities who had past-due balances and were more than 90 days behind in paying their energy bills. This is a 252 percent increase when compared to data prior to the pandemic. Additionally, the total amount of past due balances for residential customers has increased to $76.3 million, a 155 percent increase when compared to January 2020.
Bodies Found in Burning Car Near Lake Selmac and Officer Involved Shooting
CASE NUMBER: 21000569 and 21000568
INCIDENT DATE AND TIME: March 24th, 2021 @ 12:56pm and March 25th, 2021 @ 12:06am
REPORTING DEPUTY: Sheriff Dave Daniel
DETAILS:
On Wednesday March 24th, 2021 at 12:56pm the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a fully involved vehicle fire in a remote wooded area off McMullen Creek Rd. approximately 7 miles from Lake Selmac. Illinois Valley Fire personnel, Josephine County Sheriff Deputies and Oregon State Police Troopers responded to the scene. Due to poor road conditions, fire personnel could not get to the vehicle.
As the fire began to extinguish itself, two bodies were discovered in the vehicle. As of the time of this press release, the identities of the victims are unknown. This incident is being treated as a homicide investigation. The victims have been transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.
As a result, the Josephine County Major Crimes Team consisting of law enforcement personnel from the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Oregon State Police, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office were summoned.
During the course of this investigation, on March 25th, 2021 at 12:06am a second separate incident took place. As law enforcement personnel from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police were at a staging area 1.9 miles from the burnt vehicle, two vehicles drove up. While attempting to contact the first vehicle, an Officer Involved Shooting or “OIS” took place. A Deputy from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office discharged their firearm at the vehicle. The first vehicle fled the scene and is at large at this time.
Being there were both members from the Oregon State Police and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office present at the OIS, a mutual aid request was made to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to take lead in the investigation which they are currently conducting. The Deputy involved in the OIS is currently on paid administrative leave per Sheriff’s Office policy.
“As of the time of this press release, the identities of the victims are unknown,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “This incident is being treated as a homicide investigation. The victims have been transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.”
With two deaths linked to the fire, the Sheriff’s Office activated the Josephine County Major Crimes Team to begin an investigation of the scene — bringing in resources from multiple law enforcement agencies. Just after midnight on Thursday, the shooting happened.
A little less than two miles away from the fire scene, deputies and state troopers were posted at a staging area when two vehicles drove up, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“While attempting to contact the first vehicle, an Officer Involved Shooting or ‘OIS’ took place,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “A Deputy from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office discharged their firearm at the vehicle. The first vehicle fled the scene and is at large at this time.”
Because officers from both OSP and the Sheriff’s Office were at the scene, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was called in to lead an investigation into the shooting. The deputy who fired was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard policy for these cases.
The Sheriff’s Office said that both investigations are still active, with the county District Attorney now handling any further release of information.
Rural Metro Fire also responded to a vehicle fire on Highway 199 near the base of Hayes Hill in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Flames consumed a minivan that was believed to be abandoned, and no one was located at the scene. The source of the fire is considered suspicious.
According to Rural Metro, investigators are now looking at this vehicle fire as potentially connected to the one off McMullen Creek Road.
All further requests for information should be directed to the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office, as both investigations are active. – Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office
Mt. Ashland Ski Area have ski hill managers planning to extend their season by offering a bonus weekend of April 17-18, a week past the area’s scheduled closing time because of excellent show conditions.
Mt. Ashland’s snow base is more than five feet deep and they’ve received more than two feet of snow so far this month. Mt. Ashland’s dummy downhill event is returning on April 11. Guests are asked to create “dummies” on two skis or one snowboard. At the event, as onlookers cheer, the dummies are launched off a massive ramp.
As if COVID-19 wasn’t enough of a problem, public health officials in Oregon are monitoring four people who recently visited the West African countries of Guinea and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Regions in each of these countries are currently experiencing outbreaks of Ebola virus disease.
There is low risk for people in Oregon. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and local public health departments have been in contact with these individuals, who are considered “persons under monitoring,” since they arrived in the state earlier in March. The goal of this contact is to determine their risk, if any, of being exposed to Ebola and ensure their safety, as well as the safety of their families and the community. Again, OHA said there is low risk for people in the state.
Streak of Lights Seen over Pacific Northwest was Falcon 9 Rocket Debris
People across the Pacific Northwest watched in astonishment Thursday as a fiery ball of light streaked across the night sky. Social media posts were going crazy over it and wondering what the heck they were seeing.
While many speculated they were seeing a meteor, astronomer Jonathan McDowell at the Center for Astrophysics said the streaking light actually came from the Falcon 9 rocket launched by SpaceX on March 4.
On Twitter, McDowell said the rocket “failed to make a deorbit burn,” and the event people witnessed around 9 p.m. Thursday was the rocket reentering Earth’s atmosphere after 22 days in orbit.
Minutes following the event, the National Weather Service in Portland tweeted that McDowell’s assessment appeared correct, but stressed that it was only speculating.
“We have been getting a number of calls about this! This looks like what we have seen in all of your videos,” referring to McDowell’s tweet. “Not official, but this fits the bill.”
Dr. James Davenport, research assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Washington, confirmed to KING 5 the lights were caused the rocket coming back down from orbit. He said the debris was likely about 30 miles into the atmosphere and it was unlikely any substantial pieces would reach the ground.
People reported seeing the flashing lights across from across the region, including the Oregon Coast, Salem, the Portland metro area, Southwest Washington and the Seattle area. Some people reported hearing explosions in the sky as they went by.
Vancouver Man Wins $1 Million Oregon Lottery Raffle Prize
By having the 2021 Raffle ticket number of 171474, Joshua Park became the Raffle’s newest $1 million top prize winner when he claimed his prize at Lottery headquarters March 23.
Park, of Vancouver, had purchased 20 Raffle tickets over the course of time since the 2021 Raffle went on sale in early January. “I started checking my tickets with the Lottery’s app the morning the winning numbers came out,” said Park. “I was hoping to win a $100 or $500 prize. When I scanned the winning ticket and it said I’d won $1 million, it was pretty unbelievable.”
Park is no stranger to winning big prizes playing Oregon Lottery games. Prior to winning his Raffle prize, Park had claimed a $150,000 “Holiday Party” Scratch-it top prize on Dec. 24, 2020.
Park purchased his winning Raffle ticket at the Holgate Market on 112th Ave. in Portland.
With more than 1,800 prizes, Oregon Lottery Raffle winners can be found in every corner of the state. From the $500 winner in Merrill who purchased a ticket at Martin’s Food Center, to the three $100 winners who got their tickets form the Woodburn Fast Serv.
With 300 prizes of $500 and 1,500 prizes of $100, players should check their tickets as they still have a good chance at winning a prize.
To check the winning Raffle numbers, players can use the Lottery’s smart phone app, go to www.oregonlottery.org or visit a participating Oregon Lottery retail location.
The $500 and $100 Raffle prize winners can claim their prizes at any Oregon Lottery retail location.
To protect the health and safety of its employees and the public, the Oregon Lottery has temporarily closed the Salem and Wilsonville Lottery offices. Officials with the Lottery continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely.
Lottery officials recommend that you always sign the back of your tickets with each Oregon Lottery game you play, to ensure you can claim any prize you may win. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned more than $12 billion for economic development, public education, Outdoor School, state parks, Veteran Services and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org — Oregon Lottery
OSP Seeks Information on 3 Blacktail Bucks Shot and Left to Waste in Coos County
Oregon state authorities are asking for information from the public after three young Blacktail bucks were found dead along the side of a road in Coos Bay.
State police said a citizen found the remains of the animals on Tuesday, March 23, alongside a road on the North Spit. All three deer had been shot in the head “from relatively close range,” said Oregon State Police.
Authorities said the animals were likely killed sometime between March 19 – 21, with the help of artificial light at night.
The season is currently closed for hunting Blacktail deer and the three that were found had been left to waste.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact OSP through the “Turn in Poachers” line at 1-800-452-7888 or *OSP (677).
The TIP program offers preference point rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation for the unlawful take/possession or waste of big game mammals. Or the Oregon Hunters Association TIP reward fund also offers cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation.
4.1 Earthquake off coast of Oregon… Earthquake update 3/25/2021
Moderate magnitude 4.1 earthquake at 10 km depth
26 Mar 01:18 UTC: First to report: USGS after 42 minutes.
26 Mar 01:21: Magnitude recalculated from 3.9 to 4.1.Date & time: 26 Mar 2021 00:36:48 UTC – 16 hours ago
Local time at epicenter: Thursday, 25 Mar 2021 3:36 pm (GMT -9)
Magnitude: 4.1
Depth: 10.0 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 43.5152°N / 130.1677°W