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, your local health and Medicare agents.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Klamath Basin Weather
This Afternoon Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.Overnight a chance of rain mixed with snow, with a low of 33. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday A slight chance of snow showers after 11am, mixing with rain after 2pm, high of 48.
Overnight, rain mixed with snow, low of 33. Snow level 4800 feet lowering to 4200 feet after midnight .
Friday A slight chance of snow showers before 8am, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 8am and 11am, then a chance of rain showers after 11am, with a high near 53.
Saturday A 30% chance of showers, mainly after 11am. Snow level 5300 feet.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Monday Sunny, with a high near 71.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 75.
Today’s Headlines
For Complete Klamath County Election results from last night, CLICK HERE
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) today released updated guidance about Mask and Physical Distancing Requirements for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Under the updated guidance, people who are fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear a mask indoors, in most public settings where vaccination status is checked. In public settings where vaccination status is not checked, masks will still be required.
Finally, businesses and venue operators remain free to establish their own, more restrictive policies regarding mask usage. In addition to exempting people who are fully vaccinated from mask requirements in most indoor settings, OHA health experts announced that mask requirements no longer apply to anyone who is outdoors.
However, OHA recommends that individuals continue to wear a mask or face covering in crowded areas and large gatherings.
If a business, employer or faith institution chooses to no longer require masks and physical distancing, the business, employer or faith institution must require visitors to show proof of vaccination and review the proof of vaccination.
In that case, a business would need to have a policy for checking the vaccination status of customers and employees if they are not wearing masks. Fully vaccinated individuals would need to provide proof they’d been vaccinated if they want to remove face coverings and not observe physical distancing guidelines. The new guidance comes after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week announced that individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 could stop wearing masks and stop physical distancing in most public spaces.
Oregon reports 484 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 4 new deaths
There are four new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,594, the Oregon Health Authority reported today. Oregon Health Authority reported 484 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of today, bringing the state total to 196,390.
The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (1), Clackamas (29), Columbia (1), Coos (6), Crook (4), Curry (4), Deschutes (35), Douglas (20), Grant (4), Harney (3), Jackson (39), Jefferson (5), Josephine (4), Klamath (21), Lake (3), Lane (29), Lincoln (1), Linn (25), Malheur (2), Marion (39), Multnomah (76), Polk (5), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (26), Union (2), Wallowa (1), Washington (79) and Yamhill (17).
On Monday, May 17, 2021 at approximately 2:25 P.M., Oregon State Police Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 97 near milepost 269.
Preliminary investigation revealed a Smart Fortwo car, operated by Deborah Seaquist (67) of Chiloquin, was northbound when it went off the roadway, struck a rock and rolled. Seaquist sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. OSP was assisted by Klamath County Fire District #1 and ODOT.
A group of about 10 protesters gathered at Sugarman’s Corner in downtown Klamath Falls on Saturday, preparing to welcome a 25-car caravan of mostly Klamath Tribal members calling for solutions to the Klamath Basin’s water crisis.
A man walked by the demonstrators, eyeing their signs with statements like “Peace and Healing in the Klamath Basin,” “Water Justice is Social Justice” and “Undam the Klamath.” Especially in recent years, as extended droughts have heated up local conflicts over water — both figuratively and literally — Klamath Tribal members have tried to stay out of the debate as much as they could. Beyond tribal council issuing an occasional press release and entering into litigation to protect endangered C’waam and Koptu (Lost River and shortnose suckers) in Upper Klamath Lake, they felt the environment in the Basin was unwelcoming to Native people and their voices.
Based on the lowest inflows to Upper Klamath Lake in recent memory, the Bureau of Reclamation announced last Wednesday that no water would be available to the Klamath Project from the lake this summer. Normally, that water satisfies more than 150,000 acres of farm and ranchland, along with wetland habitat at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge for millions of migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway.
This is the first year in the Project’s 100-plus-year history that a majority of its farmers will receive no irrigated water.
Plants native to the Klamath Basin will be offered in a May 22 sale at the Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main St. The event is cosponsored by the museum and the Klamath Basin Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon. Plants will be presold through a website. To reach the site, go online to klamathmuseum.org. Customers will be asked to pick up their orders on May 22 at the back of the museum building. Upon placing their order, each customer will be assigned a time to pick up their order. Cost will be $5 each for plants in 3.5-inch pots, and $10 for larger plants in 1-gallon pots.
Around the state of Oregon
The Oregon Health Authority has posted a new webpage that shows where each county stands in reaching the goal of vaccinating 65-percent of its residents. Counties that meet that goal and provide the state with an equity plan will be moved to the COVID-19 Lower Risk category, which has the least number of restrictions. Currently, only Hood River and Benton counties are above a 65-percent vaccination rate. The new webpage also shows the state’s progress toward the governor’s goal of 70-percent vaccination statewide, which will allow most restrictions to be dropped.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday identified a Medford man who died following an explosion and fire at a White City industrial building in April.
According to the agency, 24-year-old Furious Talon Eldridge was injured in the explosion and resulting fire on Antelope Road in White City on April 21. He later died at a Portland hospital after he was taken there for treatment. During the initial investigation, the Sheriff’s Office indicated that Eldridge and at least two other people suffered injuries in the fire. Eldridge and another man were hospitalized, while the third received treatment at the scene.
Sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, and paramedics responded to reports of the explosion and fire at an industrial building in the 1500-block of Antelope Road shortly after 8 p.m. that evening. The investigation found evidence that the explosion and fire were the result of an “illegal cannabis extraction process,”
Despite an announcement earlier this month that the Boatnik festival would be canceled for 2021, organizers revealed this week that the event will still happen, perhaps with some modifications.
Organizers at the Grants Pass Active Club said in a post on social media that the Memorial Day weekend celebration will “look different” and parts of the plan are still being put together, but that the Davis Shows carnival will be returning. In addition to the iconic boat races, Boatnik usually features the carnival, a parade, concerts, and other events.
More information about the schedule, ticket prices, and other details are expected over the next several days.
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Payton Brazell Smith, age 15, a child in foster care who went missing from Portland on March 22, 2021.
She is believed to be in danger. ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find her and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her. Payton is suspected to be in the company of three adults named David Jacobsen, age 38, Tausha Hague, age 32, and Tyler Chase, age 22.
Anyone who suspects they have information about Payton’s location should call 911 or local law enforcement. A small number of children in foster care may be in significant danger when they run away or have gone missing. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and ensure their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services named the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon today as one of six recipients of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.
Three museums and three libraries nationwide were selected from 30 finalists for the honor. The 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners represent institutions that provide dynamic programming and services that exceed expected levels of service. Through their community outreach, these institutions bring about change that touches the lives of individuals and families and helps communities thrive. Now nearly in its 40th year, the High Desert Museum is the only museum in the nation devoted to the exploration of the High Desert, a region that spans across eight states.
It was a 2018 National Medal for Museum and Library Service Finalist and is the fourth Oregon institution to receive the award over the past 27 years.
The Oregon Senate is approving a bill to extend the moratorium on residential foreclosures through July 1st of this year. The bill also allows the governor to extend the moratorium for 90-day increments through the end of the year. The bill passed the Senate yesterday on a party line vote and now moves to the House for concurrence before going to the governor.
Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program Open for Applications
Oregon Housing and Community Services will distribute $204 million to qualified renters who have experienced financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic and are at risk of homelessness or housing instability
SALEM, OR – Starting on Wednesday, May 19th, qualified renters may begin submitting applications to the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) for funding to pay rent, rent arrears, future rent and certain home utility costs.
“For the first time, renters can access rental assistance through a statewide, centralized application portal,” says Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Executive Director Margaret Salazar. “Together with our community-based partners, we are prioritizing resources toward our most vulnerable households to help keep Oregonians in their homes during these challenging times.”
OHCS is coordinating with OERAP local administrators, 17 community action agencies and one public housing authority—across the state to emphasize an equitable approach in the processing of applications and distribution of funds. This coordinated partnership helps ensure OERAP makes the greatest impact on reducing housing instability and homelessness.
Every renter that applies will have their application reviewed, and relief resources will be distributed to those who meet the following federal eligibility requirements:
- have income less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI);
- have an individual in the household who has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic;
- demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability due to past-due rent or utilities.
Federal guidance requires that grantees prioritize households with incomes less than 50% AMI and households with one or more members that have been unemployed for at least 90 days.
OHCS is using four factors in addition to these two, including: household size, months behind on rent, 2020 wildfire impact, and if the household lives within a census tract identified by the nationally recognized Urban Institute Rental Assistance Priority Index as a census tract with a high prevalence of low income renters at risk of experiencing housing instability and homelessness due to COVID. A “first come, first served” model can unintentionally leave out renters most at risk of housing instability or homelessness and those who face barriers in applying for assistance, such as limited internet access or language barriers. With that in mind, the agency established a system to prioritize the highest needs households.
“The public health emergency underscores for all of us the critical importance that a safe, stable, affordable home free of discrimination plays to our health and well-being,” said Andrea Bell, Director of Housing Stabilization at OHCS. “I’m grateful we and our many community partners have taken intentional steps to direct resources towards intentionally investing in eviction prevention and long-term stability to help relieve some of the financial burden Oregonians have faced during this pandemic.”
OHCS received approximately $204 million in federal funds for this program. The City of Portland, and the counties of Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Lane and Marion received additional federal Emergency Rental Assistance allocations that total approximately $76 million and opted to accept applications from residents through their own application process. Applicants are prohibited from accepting payment from the same expense from different providers and are asked to select one program. All Oregonians are welcome to apply to OERAP. Tribal governments also received allocations directly from US Treasury. OHCS is partnering with the Oregon Human Develop Corporation (OHDC) to provide additional assistance to Spanish speaking applicants.
“The pandemics’ economic fallout has disproportionately impacted vulnerable communities. We see that each day with struggling farmworkers and many of the underserved communities we work with,” said Martin Campos-Davis, Executive Director of the Oregon Human Development Corporation. These resources will be available regardless of immigration status. I encourage families struggling with rent and utility bills who need assistance in Spanish to reach out to us. Help is available.”
Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until 2022 or until program funds run out. In most cases, payment will be made directly to the landlord or utility provider. To find out additional information about criteria or to apply to the OERAP program visit OregonRentalAssistance.org. Oregonians in need of assistance can contact their local Community Action Agency or local program administrator or contact http://211info.org or call 2-1-1.