Klamath Basin News, Tuesday, 4/20 – State To Propose Masks inside Businesses Indefinitely

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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, April 20, 2021

Klamath Basin

Today A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then partly sunny with a high of 67 degrees.

Tuesday Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 66. Overnight low around 35.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 68. Overnight mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 68.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Saturday A slight chance of rain. Snow level 6100 feet rising to 7200 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 65.

Today’s Headlines

There are no new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, so the state’s death toll remains at 2,460.  Oregon Health Authority reported 473 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of yesterday, bringing the state total to 175,592.

No cases were reported in Klamath County yesterday.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (3), Clackamas (63), Clatsop (4), Columbia (6), Coos (3), Crook (1), Deschutes (44), Douglas (2), Hood River (2), Jackson (15), Jefferson (3), Josephine (3), Lane (65), Lincoln (3), Linn (15), Marion (65), Multnomah (135), Polk (16), Tillamook (1), Wasco (8), Washington (1) and Yamhill (15). 

OHA reported that 25,474 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 17,649 doses were administered on April 18 and 7,825 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on April 18. The 7-day running average is now 35,522 doses per day.

Oregon has now administered a total of 1,333,009 doses of Pfizer, 1,126,590 doses of Moderna and 88,547 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. As of today, 1,033,175 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series. There are 1,600,343 who have had at least one dose. The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 243, which is 28 more than yesterday. 

There are 57 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is nine more than yesterday. Meanwhile, eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine expands to everyone ages 16 and up in Oregon.  Health officials caution there’s still a shortage of vaccine, and there won’t be enough for everyone to get a shot until June 1st.  

Currently, around a quarter of all Oregonians are fully vaccinated.

Click on graphic for pdf.

Masks inside all businesses in Oregon? As states around the country lift COVID-19 restrictions, Oregon is poised to go the opposite direction and many residents are fuming about it. A top health official is considering indefinitely extending rules requiring masks and social distancing in all businesses in the state.

The proposal would keep the rules in place until they are “no longer necessary to address the effects of the pandemic in the workplace.”

Michael Wood, administrator of the state’s department of Occupational Safety and Health, said the move is necessary to address a technicality in state law that requires a “permanent” rule to keep current restrictions from expiring.

On Thursday, April 15th, at approximately 10:52 p.m., members of the Klamath Falls Police Department responded to 2660 Shasta Way, the High Lakes apartment, on a report of gunshots being heard in the area.

Officers arrived and discovered Nathan Robbins, a 41-year-old male, had been shot in the abdomen. The victim was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center, where he was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Investigators obtained information from Mr. Robbins that there had been a separate incident prior to the shooting. Mr. Robbins reported the suspects attempted to run him over earlier in the evening in the 3000 block of South 6th Street, while driving a black Jeep Cherokee.

Investigators located video in the 3000 block of South 6th Street that confirmed a portion of Mr. Robbins’ statement, as well as provided a better vehicle description. Officers searched the area for the suspects who were reported to have driven away from the scene in the black Jeep Cherokee.

Officers canvassed the surrounding area, and searched for Jeep Cherokee throughout the evening, but were not able to locate it.  On April 16th, Officers responded to a reported an abandoned black Jeep Cherokee parked in a business parking lot. The abandoned vehicle matched the description of the vehicle seen in the video from the 3000 block of south 6th Street.

Through further investigation, James Henry Wilson and Robert William Edwin Metcalfe were developed as suspects. On April 17th James Wilson was located walking in the 2500 block of Wiard Street, where he was taken into custody without incident.  Robert Metcalfe was located at 2838 Crest Street; he was also taken into custody without incident.  The firearm used in this incident was also located and recovered by Investigators.

Both are being held on numerous charges, including attempted murder.

Though it’s only April, fire season has started in Klamath County. Firefighters made significant progress overnight on the Ponina Fire, which is still burning approximately 5 miles north of Beatty.  

As of Monday, the fire was estimated at 1,400 acres and 10 percent containment.  Two structures have been lost. The fire’s cause is under investigation. It was first reported around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Area residents, who were told to evacuate as the fire grew Sunday night, are now able to return if they want. However, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office  noted people should be prepared to evacuate if conditions change. Smoke is highly visible in the surrounding area, including Highway 140. 

Around the state of Oregon

A proposed gun storage law that would be among the toughest in the U.S. is headed for a vote in the Oregon Legislature, with backers saying it will save lives and opponents contending it could lead to deaths.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, a less sweeping gun storage bill was signed into law Monday by Gov. Jared Polis., who said: “It’s a sensible measure to help avoid immeasurable heartbreak.” Colorado’s new law creates the offense of unlawful storage of a firearm if a person stores a gun knowing that a juvenile could access it without permission or if a resident of the premises is ineligible to possess a firearm. Oregon’s bill generated testimony from hundreds of people, mostly in writing because there wasn’t enough time to take all the oral testimony.

A vote in Oregon’s House of Representatives on the bill, initially scheduled for Monday, was pushed back by a week to enable Democratic representatives to work with the Senate “to guarantee the bill is on track to pass and be enacted,” said Hannah Kurowski, spokeswoman for the majority House Democrats.

Law enforcement is on the lookout for a 55-year-old suspect in the shooting another man Friday night in Eugene.

Authorities say the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. The 56-year-old victim is in stable condition, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies are now looking for a suspect in the case, identified as Darren Lee Woods. Wood was last seen driving a 1998 Dodge 1500, the sheriff said. Oregon license plate 125MEA. The truck has a sticker across the back window with black lettering. The wheels on the truck were described to be chrome and the truck is lifted and “sporty.”

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