Klamath Basin News, Thursday, 6/17 – Free Basin Transit Rides Available To Covid Shot Clinics In The Area

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Mick-insurance-2020-new-728x90-1-1024x127.jpg

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 Insuranceyour local health and Medicare agents.

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Klamath Basin Weather

Today Sunny, with a high near 92. Overnight, clear with a low of 55.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 95. West northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 94.
Sunday Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.
Monday Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Today’s Headlines

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Coronavirus-update-1-1.jpg

There are seven new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,744 the Oregon Health Authority reported today. Oregon Health Authority reported 247 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of today bringing the state total to 205,698.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (5), Benton (7), Clackamas (20), Clatsop (2), Columbia (3), Coos (3), Crook (3), Curry (1), Deschutes (15), Douglas (12), Gilliam (1), Harney (2), Jackson (27), Jefferson (3), Josephine (16), Klamath (3), Lane (18), Lincoln (4), Linn (10), Malheur (1), Marion (31), Morrow (1), Multnomah (29), Polk (5), Umatilla (13), Union (1), Washington (8), Yamhill (3).

Oregon has now administered 2,405,004 first and second doses of Pfizer,1,688,255 first and second doses of Moderna and 159,090 single doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

As of today, 2,335,586 people have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 2,065,711 have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series. The number of adult Oregonians needing vaccinations to reach the 70% threshold is 60,625.

COVID-19 Vaccination Information -

A Klamath County juvenile died Wednesday in a crash on Highway 39 near Merrill. According to Oregon State Police, troopers and emergency personnel responded to the crash about 8:10 a.m. Wednesday morning.

According to police, a Chevy Spark operated by the deceased, was traveling northbound when it crossed in the southbound lane and collided with a semi. The driver of the Kenworth semi-truck, Jim Hadd of Klamath Falls, was not injured. The juvenile was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls, where they died.

Because they are younger than 18, their name will not be released by law enforcement. OSP was assisted by the Merrill Fire Department and ODOT.

With Oregon in the final stretch of its vaccination goal, Klamath County Public Health says that it has partnered up with Basin Transit Service to get anyone wanting a COVID-19 vaccine to a clinic for free.

The program starts immediately and will continue for two months, KCPH said.

Local residents can use the service for a trip to the Sky Lakes COVID Vaccination Walk-In Center or Albertsons, both on the first and second dose. Those interested in getting the free trip can call 541-883-2877 to be picked up at their home. This effort has been funded through a grant from the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, KCPH said. As of Wednesday morning, Oregon had reached 68 percent of adults with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The goal stipulated by Governor Kate Brown for widespread lifting of restrictions is 70 percent.

It has been nearly two full years since a headlining act rocked the main stage at the Klamath County Fair.

The pandemic-stricken year of 2020 forced a scaled-back production of the Fair to only its core elements, the Youth Livestock Show and Sale.

This year, with restrictions loosening up, Klamath County Fair officials are going all-in to bring the party back to Klamath County better than ever before. Starting with two new headlining acts to the Klamath Basin, ‘90s alternative rockers Everclear and the country music legends of Sawyer Brown.

Friday night, August 6, inside the John Hancock Event Center, Everclear will perform their iconic 90’s alternative rock hits. Country music legends, Sawyer Brown will take the stage on Saturday, August 7 to perform their renowned country-pop music of the ’80s & ’90s.

Concert tickets will start at $10 and go on sale Friday June 18, 2021. Purchase them online at klamathcountyfair.com.

Making a comeback this year is the highly anticipated Demolition Derby. Featuring over $9,000 in prize money up for grabs. Vehicular carnage will be held in the outdoor arena Saturday afternoon, ending before the start of the concert. Allowing demolition and country lovers to attend both events.

Local law enforcement are urging younger, more tech-savvy citizens to keep a protective eye out for scams that have swindled older generations out of large sums of hard-earned money.

The elderly are often targets of financial scams coming over-the-phone, via the internet and sometimes door-to-door. The scams are common nationally — the FBI estimates U.S. seniors register over $3 billion in scam-related losses annually — and Klamath County is no different.

Dan Towery, a Klamath County Sheriff’s Office detective who often is tasked with investigating elder fraud, said he usually works two or three such cases on a normal basis. Because of the ability of scammers to cover their tracks, investigating the cases often leads to dead ends for law enforcement.

The prevalence of the scams has pushed the sheriff’s office to publicly enlist the help of younger family and friends to ensure their parents and grandparents are not easy targets.

If you get a COVID-19 vaccination from Cascade Health Alliance in Klamath Falls, you also get up to $100 in free groceries.

Members of CHA, 12 years old and up, will receive a $50 gift card to Grocery Outlet for each vaccination dose they receive.

The one-dose Johnson & Johnson and two-dose Pfizer vaccines will be distributed at the Sky Lakes vaccination center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.

If a member receives both Pfizer vaccine doses before July 10, they will receive two $50 Grocery Outlet gift cards. The incentive will be offered through August. Space and gift cards are limited, so register in advance to secure your vaccine slot and gift card by calling 1-833-606-4370.

Ella Redkey Pool brings zumba glow to the Klamath Basin on Wednesday, June 16 from 8–10 p.m.

The low-impact, high energy workout is good for beating the midweek blues. Bring an appetizer and join in the pool time fun from 8-9 p.m. with the workout from 9–10 p.m.

Space is limited, so register now in person at the pool or at EllaRedkeyPool.com. The cost is $15 per participant and includes glowing accessories and two hours of pool time.

Modoc Point Irrigation District has received funding from the Oregon Water Resources Commission to study ways to increase its water storage, according to an OWRD news release.

The 6,000-acre district, which has been impacted by droughts and water calls in recent years, has been awarded $26,400 “to evaluate the feasibility of building one or more aboveground reservoirs to store off-season run-off from the Upper Klamath Lake Basin,” the release read.

MPID has been working with the Hood River-based Farmers Conservation Alliance to put together a modernization strategy, intended to serve as a holistic plan to improve the district’s water conservation. The strategy is still in development, and could include things like converting canals to pipes, building reservoirs or bolstering natural infrastructure. The OWRC funding will help the district and FCA determine what aspects of irrigation modernization are feasible.

Terry said the district has also received funds for modernization through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the tune of $500,000.

Citing increased drought-driven wildfire risk, Collins Pine Company will halt public use of the company’s lands in California and Oregon later this month. 

The Oregon-based wood products manufacturer — which has locations in Klamath Falls and Lakeview — will close its publicly accessible lands on June 28 at 5 p.m., a Wednesday news release from the company stated.

When open, Collins lands are generally available for recreational uses like hunting or mushroom gathering. Those lands include tracts of more than 63,000 acres in Klamath and Lake counties, as well as 33,789 acres in Modoc County, California.  This year, there have been three fires on Collins land, the company release stated.

According to the Collins website, the company also typically offers public access to the 94,000-acre Collins Almanor Forest in Tehama and Plumas counties in California. That too will be closed.

After the absence of fun and festivities due to COVID in 2020, the annual Tulelake Shindig Street Fair & Bazaar will return in 2021 in August. The events will be at Otis Roper Park in Tulelake on Saturday, August 14 from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. It will include live music, vendors, food trucks, informational booths and more, according to organizers. Funds raised from the event will help Tulelake High School students attend vocational and two-year colleges. For more information, contact Lydia Gil on Facebook or email love@cot.net.

On Monday, at approximately 10:35 P.M., Lake County 911 received a call advising Lawrence Mann from Lakeview had been shot

Mann was treated on scene by initial responding Lake County Deputies and transported by ambulance to the hospital and later transported to St. Charles in Bend.    Investigation revealed that Wade Alvis (48) from Alturas, CA. was the suspect.   On Wednesday, June 9, 2021 Oregon State Police Troopers and Lake County Deputies located Alvis in Lakeview.  Alvis was arrested and lodged at the Lake County Jail.   

Alvis was charged with Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon.

Around the state of Oregon

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill passed by the Legislature legalizing human composting.

Brown signed House Bill 2574 on Tuesday, which will legalize what’s also known as natural organic reduction, according to local media reports. It also clarifies rules surrounding alkaline hydrolysis, known as aqua cremation.

The law goes into effect July 1, 2022. Rep. Pam Marsh, from in Southern Jackson County, who co-sponsored the bill with Rep. Brian Clem, said she decided to sponsor the bill because her constituents are interested in alternative after-death options. The  state plans to have its rules in place for natural organic reduction facilities by 2022.

Rain Rock Casino in Yreka will soon be joined by an 80-room hotel and other additions to the development, the Karuk Tribe announced on Wednesday.

The plan for a hotel resort has been in the works for the last three years, the Tribe said. The project includes a 48,000 square-foot, 80-room, 3.5-star hotel and more than 15,000 square-feet of landscaped grounds around an outdoor swimming pool. In addition to the hotel and pool, the Tribe said that improvements will include a 4,000 square-foot event center, more casino gaming space, enclosing the existing restaurant, and a new sports bar. The existing casino will get a face-lift as well.

The project is expected to begin later this year, with an estimated finish date in late 2022 or early 2023. Rain Rock Casino opened its doors in April of 2018 after a hiring event that drew hundreds of applicants.

Raid On Illegal Marijuana Grow Near Eagle Point Seized 52,804 Plants

Investigators from Oregon State Police raided an illegal marijuana grow operation that stretched across two properties between Eagle Point and White City last Thursday, seizing and destroying almost 53,000 plants.

OSP said that local law enforcement in Jackson County has been working with the area water masters and code enforcement officers to sift through the proliferation of illegal operations in the midst of those that are legal and licensed.

On June 10, OSP’s Drug Enforcement Section Southwest Region marijuana team served a search warrant at two adjacent properties in the 1500-block of Alta Vista Road and the 700-block of Riley Road, both Eagle Point addresses.

Officers found and detained the two property owners while others searched through the properties. OSP said that a total of 74 greenhouses, two barns, and two outdoor growing areas were filled with marijuana plants.

Investigators seized and destroyed 52,804 plants at the end of the operation. OSP said that five guns and some cash were also seized in the search.

Jackson County code enforcement issue one of the property owners with a citation for the unpermitted greenhouse structures and electrical infrastructure. The fine for those violations could total $300,000.

Authorities from the Oregon Water Resources Department also cited one of the men for enlarging his existing water rights “due to unapproved diversions of surface water,” OSP said.

The raid in included marijuana enforcement teams from Jackson and Josephine Counties.

ABC’s Good Morning America Highlights Oregon This Morning

North Bend High Bowling Team is First Oregon Team to Ever Head To Nationals

The North Bend High School bowling team is headed to the national tournament. North Bend is the first team from Oregon to go to nationals. The Bulldogs got the nod after placing second in a Covid-altered state tournament this year.

North Bend will be going up against 32 teams from across the nation. This is the first time the Bulldogs have gone to nationals, and their goal is to win it all.

Getting to this point has not been easy because of the pandemic.

“Last year they had the bowling alley shut down and we were practicing with plastic bowling balls, carpet rug as a lane, and we were practicing out in the back parking lot,” recalled North Bend bowling coach, Rod Duryee. “Just recently, as everybody knows, they’ve lightened up on a lot of restrictions so our boys are inside any time now bowling.”

After placing second in a Covid-altered state tournament, the North Bend bowling team is off to nationals in 2021.

With the hard work and dedication put in by his team and a lot of support from the community, he’s excited to see the Bulldogs get a chance to compete for a national title.

Oregon Lawmakers Pushing Through Bill To Crack Down On Catalytic Converter Thefts

A bill aimed at curbing thefts of catalytic converters in Oregon has been sent to Governor Kate Brown’s desk.

Senate Bill 803 would greatly limit who metal recycling companies can purchase catalytic converters from. Thefts of the auto part have been on the rise, as it’s easy to remove from the outside of vehicles. Sen. Chris Gorsek says the bill has plenty of support and he’s looking forward to it slowing down theft. He added that the governor’s office is “fast-tracking” the legislation.

“I think she knows – as many of us do that have worked on the bill or folks like yourself that have reported on this – that this is a serious problem all across the state, so the sooner that this gets signed, the better,” Sen. Gorsek said.

He was unable to provide a timeline on when the bill may be signed. We reached out to Gov. Brown’s office for comment, however, as of Wednesday afternoon we’ve yet to hear back.

The legislative session ends on June 27.

The High Desert Museum’s signature fundraiser, High Desert Rendezvous, returns on Saturday, August 28, at 7:00 pm.

The lively evening this year will take place in the virtual world with an in-person viewing party for a number of supporters at the Museum. This marks the 32nd High Desert Rendezvous, making it one of the longest-running fundraisers in Central Oregon.

The event will include special programming, auction items and a raffle, and it’s free to all to attend online. Last year, Terri, Robert and Bindi Irwin of Crikey! It’s the Irwins and actor Sam Waterston sent video messages for the celebration. The Irwins, longtime supporters of the High Desert Museum, will return with another message during this year’s online program. The fundraiser on August 28 will include appearances from more surprise guests.

Oregon added 69-hundred jobs in May and the state’s unemployment rate was unchanged at five-point-nine-percent.  Most of the new jobs were in Private Education and Professional and Business Services.  Hiring in the restaurant and hotel sector was flat in May.  The Leisure and Hospitality industry is about 46-thousand jobs behind where it was prior to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, The Oregon Employment Department’s website for posting economic data went away over the weekend, apparently because the state didn’t renew the registration for its doman name. The loss of Oregon’s qualityinfo.org page didn’t affect unemployment claims, which are managed on a separate website. After an inquiry from the newspaper, the department said it renewed the domain name and the site was back by Monday evening. But the outage is another embarrassing technological lapse for the department, which stumbled repeatedly last year amid a flood of jobless claims triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Back to the BasinLife.com Homepage

Must Read

Klamath Basin News, Wednesday, Feb. 7 – Sheriff Chris Kaber Says He Won’t Run for Re-Election; Research Showing Vast Portions of Northern Hemisphere Water Supply at Risk Due To Human-Caused Climate Change

Brian Casey

Construction Contractors Board Enforcement Sweep of Southern Oregon Nets Highest Number of License Violations in Recent History

Brian Casey

Oregon Tech Vascular Professor Receives Regional Award for Excellence in Field

Brian Casey