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, March 30, 2021
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Sunny, with a high near 59. Overnight, clear with a low around 25.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 70. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 69.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 67.
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
There are no new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, keeping the state’s death toll at 2,375, the Oregon Health Authority reported today. Oregon Health Authority reported 217 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the state total to 164,164.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Benton (9), Clackamas (30), Clatsop (4), Columbia (3), Coos (7), Deschutes (14), Douglas (12), Harney (2), Jackson (10), Josephine (7), Lake (1), Lane (19), Lincoln (6), Linn (16), Marion (19), Multnomah (34), Polk (6), Tillamook (3), Union (5) and Yamhill (7).
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 142, which is one fewer than yesterday. There are 36 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is four more than yesterday.
Klamath County did not report any new Covid-19 cases on Monday.
A reminder that appointments are now being scheduled for three Sky Lakes COVID-19 vaccination clinics this 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 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
Klamath Health Partnership will host a free, drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine event tomorrow at the Klamath County Fairgrounds.
The event is by appointment only beginning at 9 a.m. and will offer the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The event is open to everyone eligible under current Oregon Health Authority guidelines, which includes all groups in Phase 1A and groups 1-6 in Phase 1B. Any Klamath County resident, regardless of patient status, may register. You must pre-register to receive a vaccination. For more information, please call 541-851-8110.
The fire 7 miles west of Tulelake is holding at 873 acres and 80 % contained. Winds calmed down over night and gave firefighters help in gaining containment. A CAL FIRE Investigator has determined the cause of the Refuge Fire to be from an escaped control burn. This investigation is still on going. fire crews have stopped the growth of the fire and that the fire is 100 percent lined. They are hoping to have the fire 100 percent contained today, but that there are still plenty of hot sports within the interior of the fire.
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.
Klamath Open Door Family Practice, also known as Klamath Health Partnership, is providing COVID-19 vaccinations.
They were able to receive a grant from the federal government to provide free one shot Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccines to underserved farming communities. Klamath Health Partnership is able to go and vaccinate hundreds of farmers around the county for free with their new mobile vaccination clinic, which is a renovated ambulance that goes to different farms throughout Klamath County for free.
Amanda Blodgett the Chief Operations Officer said they re-purposed the ambulance into a mobile clinic, so they use that ambulance for our vaccine events. They always make sure that they have Spanish speakers staffing when they go to farm sites so that they can answer the farm workers questions.
Right now they’re using Johnson and Johnson for these events, so that they don’t have to worry about returning to the farms to provide that follow-up dose.” The mobile vaccine clinic can provide up to 150 vaccines per event. Right now, the clinic is only using the Johnson and Johnson one shot vaccine. Farmers do have the opportunity to receive a two-shot vaccine through appointment at the physical clinic only. The mobile vaccine clinic will contact farms directly to set up a date and time for the vaccination event.
Madison Street in Klamath Falls will be closed from South 6th to Delaware on today from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Avista Utilities will be completing relocation of gas main and services in the area.
Flaggers will be on site and detours will be posted. Motorists should use alternative routes, including Patterson Street and Homedale Road. For additional questions or concerns, please contact Tony Holcomb with Avista Utilities at 541-591-9608 or Jeremy Morris, Klamath County Public Works Director at 541-883-4696.
Around the state of Oregon
Oregon Lawmakers Against Big Budget Cuts but Want to Slash Taxpayer ‘Kicker’
With billions in federal dollars flooding the state, Oregon Democrats are taking big budget cuts off the table while slashing millions in taxpayer rebates.
Under the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed by Congress this month, the state is set to receive $4.2 billion in federal aid. About $2.6 billion of that total is bound for state coffers which Democratic state lawmakers want to stay filled.
The two-year budget framework released by Democratic lawmakers this week is largely free of the cuts last seen in Gov. Kate Brown’s proposed budget from December. The $27.2 billion plan amounts to about $2 billion more than Brown’s wishlist and preserves state services across the board. Medicaid would go untouched while the state school fund would see a $102.5 million increase in line with Brown’s budget.
Contrary to the governor’s proposals last fall, Democrats’ budget would fund the promised addiction centers included in Measure 110 and put $195.6 million towards summer learning programs backed by Brown, who originally sought $250 million for the programs.
The most controversial bullet point in Oregon Democrats’ budget framework lies in a bill that would cut some $15 million from the ‘kicker’ money flowing back to taxpayers this year.
Oregon’s tax rebate, or kicker, is a rebate calculated for individual and corporate taxpayers when state revenue exceeds state forecasts by 2%. This tax season, the kicker is expected to total $571 million if the state’s current projections hold. Under Senate Bill 846, $15 million of that total would be redirected to the state’s Department of Justice and Insurance Fund.
Opponents of the kicker law say it prevents the state from achieving better fiscal footing and leaves it at risk of cutting invaluable state services, but supporters say the rebate amounts to faster financial relief.
The idea of more taxpayer rebate cuts is a sticking point for Oregon Republicans still sore over the state’s decision to cut $108 million from the state’s $1.4 billion 2019 kicker.
On the vaccine front OHA reported that 18,191 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Oregon has now administered a total of 872,230 first and second doses of Pfizer, 824,313 first and second doses of Moderna and 39,092 single doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
The Oregon House canceled its Monday floor session, after another confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported at the Capitol. Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek decided on Monday’s House cancellation “out of an abundance of caution,”. The next House floor session is expected to be this morning, unless there are additional COVID-19 diagnoses. Floor sessions were canceled last week as well due to coronavirus concerns. The Capitol building has been closed to the public since March as part of a COVID-19 safety measure. Only authorized personnel, which includes lawmakers, staff, police and reporters have access to the building.
On Sunday events were held by two separate groups intending to meet at the state capitol grounds.
The Oregon State Police along with the Salem Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office were actively monitoring the protests. The first event billed as the Freedom Rally appeared on social media streams in February. A second event appeared soon after, named Fascist Free 503, indicating a counter response to the Freedom Rally. Social media posts connected to the group indicated their intention to prevent the Freedom Rally caravan from meeting at the state capitol. 4 people were arrested yesterday and lodged at the Marion County Correctional Facility on charges related to criminal activity during the event: There are open criminal cases and the investigation is continuing.
Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a vehicle crash on Hwy 199 over the weekend.
Preliminary investigation revealed a Toyota Tacoma, operated by a 17 year old, was southbound when it hit the back of a Honda Civic, that was stopped for traffic turning left, operated by Bronson Stickler (21) of Grants Pass. The Honda Civic was then pushed into a Dodge Dart operated by Jonathon Durocher (26) of Crescent City, CA. An infant in the Honda Civic was transported to Rogue Regional Hospital in Medford and later to OHSU in Portland.
The infant sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at OHSU.
On Sunday morning, Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 238.
Preliminary investigation revealed a Toyota SR5 pickup was traveling westbound when it left the roadway, crashed and caught on fire. The operator of the vehicle sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. The name will be released at a later time.
In Bend, level three evacuations were issued near parts of Bend after multiple fires were sparked because of high winds in the area. The Bend Bulletin reports the evacuations were ordered Sunday afternoon for a neighborhood in the southwest part of the city as well as a rural area west of the central Oregon community.
Bend Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to a brush fire about 3:42 p.m. The fire had rekindled from a burn pile that was lit Saturday and spread quickly, driven by gusty winds.
Convicted Child Molester Sentenced to Another 17 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography
A Portland man who previously served 12 years in California state prison for sexually abusing a child was sentenced to federal prison today for enticing an adolescent boy to produce sexually explicit videos of himself and share them via Facebook Messenger, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.
Scott Andrew Lawrence, 57, was sentenced to a total of 17 years in federal prison and a life term of supervised release after pleading guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography.
“Scott Lawrence is a sexual predator who posed online as a woman to prey on a vulnerable teenager,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Asphaug. “Online sexual exploitation is a grave threat to children and families, even older children. We implore parents and guardians everywhere to talk frankly with their children about the risks posed by online predators, and to monitor their children’s use of social media.”
“Seventeen years is a rightfully long sentence for a man who has repeatedly abused children. The victims targeted by Scott Lawrence, however, are the ones who will pay a higher price as they must live with the effects of that exploitation for a lifetime,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon.
According to court documents, in April 2001, Lawrence was convicted in San Diego County Superior Court of sexually abusing a child and sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison. He was paroled in 2013 and completed his parole term three years later. In September 2018, Lawrence was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon of failing to register as a sex offender and, at the end of February 2019, was sentenced to time served plus five years of supervised release.
Three months into his supervised release term, Lawrence began communicating via Facebook Messenger with a 16-year-old boy from South Dakota whose family Lawrence lived with previously. During one exchange, Lawrence confirmed the boy’s age. In online conversations with the boy, Lawrence posed as an adult female named “Mary,” sent the boy several sexually explicit images, and repeatedly asked for videos of the boy masturbating in return. During at least three separate chat conversations, the boy sent Lawrence a total of six videos and one image of himself masturbating. Lawrence sent the image to at least two other people.
FBI agents arrested Lawrence on October 24, 2019. He admitted to chatting with the boy while posing as a woman and asking him for sexually explicit images and videos. He also admitted sending an image of the boy to two other people.
On November 19, 2020, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a nine-count indictment charging Lawrence with production, receipt, and distribution of child pornography, and committing a felony offense involving a minor while registered as a sex offender. On December 21, 2020, he pleaded guilty to distribution and receipt of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Gary Y. Sussman, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the District of Oregon.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. — U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Oregon
Drain, Oregon, Man Arrested for Sex Abuse
A Drain man was arrested on Sunday for sex abuse. On Sunday, March 28, 2020, Deputies became aware of a report of sex abuse which had occurred at a residence in the Drain area.
The investigation ultimately lead to the arrest of 24-year-old Caleb Phillips Hartman. The victim, an adult female, was known to Hartman.
Hartman was taken into custody and transported to the Douglas County Jail where he was lodged on a single count of Sex Abuse in the Third Degree. — Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office
Deadly Virus Confirmed In Oregon Feral Rabbit Population
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) has confirmed rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) in a feral domestic rabbit found dead in Milwaukie, a suburb of Portland.
RHDV2 is a viral disease that causes sudden death in rabbits. The virus is highly contagious among rabbit populations and can spread through contact with infected rabbits, meat, fur or materials coming into contact with them. RHDV2 poses no human health risk. The virus only infects rabbits.
On March 14, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) received a report from a veterinarian in Portland that eight domestic or feral rabbits were found dead in Milwaukie. Dr. Ryan Scholz, Oregon’s State Veterinarian, was immediately notified and had one of the rabbit carcasses delivered to Oregon State University for further testing. On March 24, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the rabbit tested positive for RHDV2.
“At this point, we are confident that all eight of the rabbits died from RHDV2, and the virus has taken hold in the feral rabbit population,” said Dr. Scholz.
To prevent the virus from spreading further into the domestic rabbit population, the state will be collecting and testing feral rabbits in the vicinity where the eight deceased rabbits were found.
ODFW is concerned about this disease spreading to wild rabbits such as cottontails because infections in other states have caused high mortality in wild rabbits and hares. Wild rabbits and hares have an important role in the ecosystem.
ODA and ODFW are asking the public to report rabbit mortalities to track the virus’s presence and movement. Please call 1-800-347-7028 or visit https://oda.direct/RHD to report domestic or wild rabbits which are suspected to have died from RHDV2. Domestic rabbit owners should contact their veterinarian for more information on preventing RHDV2.
How can I prevent the spread of RHDV2?
- Wash and disinfect hands, clothing, gloves, footwear, cages, and equipment between rabbits from different sources.
- Quarantine new rabbits away from existing ones for 30 days.
- Keep pet rabbits inside to avoid exposure to environments potentially contaminated by wild/feral rabbits or by people, vehicles or implements that can spread the disease.
- Immediately contact ODA (800-347-7028) if you suspect RHD or have sick or freshly dead rabbits.
- If you have animals not freshly dead, double plastic bag them and dispose of in a landfill.
Rare Great Gray Owl Released Back Into Central Oregon Wilderness After Injury
A rare great gray owl, Oregon’s largest owl species, is back in the wild after it crashed into a glass window in the Sunriver area and was nursed back to health.
Dr. Donna Harris, a retired veterinarian, saw the owl fly into the window and helped take the injured bird to Think Wild, an animal hospital and conservation center in Bend.
The owl suffered an eye injury but was otherwise in good health.
Think Wild Executive Director Sally Compton said the owl was given anti-inflammatory treatments for a few days and a live-prey test to make sure it could hunt on its own before its release.
On Friday night, staff released the owl back into the wild.
“The story of its injury, its capture, its transport to, and ultimate care at Bend’s Think Wild was seamless, thrilling, and heartwarming in the end to all of us who love and value the wildlife around us. It could not have ended better for the Great Gray Owl and for those of us who treasure our wildlife,” said Harris. “Attending its release was one of the brightest spots for me in this past year of uncertainty and sadness.”
According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), great gray owls are an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. The designation means a species has a small or declining population and is at risk.