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Klamath Basin News, Tuesday, July 6 – Dept of Agriculture Approves Funding for Some Farm and Land Owners Through NRCS Funding for Drought Relief

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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 Insuranceyour local health and Medicare agents.

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Klamath Basin Weather

Today Widespread haze after 11am. Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Clear overnight, with a low around 58.

Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 90. Overnight low around 55.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 90.
Friday Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.
Saturday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Today’s Headlines

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service, and the Klamath Project Drought Response Agency have funding available for landowners and producers in the Klamath Basin as part of local conservation and drought relief programs.

The NRCS funding is part of $41.8 million in conservation assistance from the federal government meant to help agricultural producers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon overcome the immediate impacts of drought.

A portion of the funds are specifically earmarked for the Klamath Basin.

The KPDRA funding is specifically for landowners or producers who have not received a drop of water since Nov. 1, 2020, according to Mark Johnson, deputy director of the Klamath Water Users Association. Federally owned land and land irrigated using only groundwater are not eligible for the program.

To learn more about eligibility for the KPDRA’s 2021 Assistance Program, the agency has provided more detailed information on its website.

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office has requested the Klamath Falls Police Department lead an investigation into the death of an Adult in Custody (AIC) which was discovered in the Klamath County Detention Center just before midnight on Thursday (07/01/21).

Detectives responded to the jail after Francisco Garcia Torres (age 38) was found by deputies to be unresponsive. Lifesaving efforts by deputies and medical personnel were unsuccessful. Mr. Torres’ family has been notified and the investigation is ongoing.

After more than a year of mask mandates, social distancing, and capacity limits, Oregon has shed its statewide COVID-19 restrictions.

Last week, Gov. Kate Brown signed an executive order lifting all remaining COVID-19 health and safety restrictions issued under the state’s emergency statutes.

The order was written to lift restrictions once 70% of the adult population had received its first dose of a vaccine, or on Wednesday, June 30, whichever occurred first. On Friday, the state reached the 70 percent vaccination threshold. However, at 12:01 a.m., the order had already taken effect and state restrictions were lifted.

Only a few restrictions remain: People will still be required to wear masks in buildings subject to federal rules, including prisons, nursing homes, hospitals and on public transport.

Federal mask requirements also apply to airports, buses, trams and trains. Businesses still have the right as to whether or not masks are required on their property.

In Klamath County, about 41.1% of people have received at least one dose of a vaccine, and 37.2% of people in the county are fully vaccinated, according to Centers for Disease Control county level data.

A team of Oregon Institute of Technology students won the grand prize at Invent Oregon Collegiate Challenge for their natural tree structure with photovoltaic solar leaves and a vertical wind turbine to generate power.

The winning team, Electerro, includes Mario Segura of Klamath Falls, a senior in mechanical engineering and Honors Program student, and Hanna Wolf of Bend, a 2021 graduate with a dual degree in renewable energy and environmental sciences, and current graduate student in renewable energy engineering.

This is the second time in the last three years that an Oregon Tech team finished at the top in the statewide competition.

Electerro’s prototype is built. With the $10,000 top prize, the team will complete the solar leaves and wind turbine of the initial prototype and apply for a legal design patent. The duo will also split the $1,500 People’s Choice Award.

A very successful cleanup on Green Diamond Resource Company property in the Keno area took place a few weeks ago on June 5th.

The event was sponsored by the Oregon Hunter’s Association, Klamath chapter. Volunteers from the Mule Deer Foundation, Pheasants Forever, OHA, OSP, Green Diamon and the general public helped. They collected 4.2 tons (8,400 lbs.) of illegally dumped trash, as well as 37 tires. Waste Management donated the use of their roll-off dumpsters to haul the trash to the dump.

Another cleanup is scheduled for June 2022. 

Crews were able to burn out the uncontrolled portion of the eastern side of the Lava Fire at the end of yesterday’s operational period.

The burn was successful and created several hundred feet of depth off of the control line.

The fire continues to consume the dead and down fuel within the 2009 Tennant Fire.

Within the interior, the fire made short uphill runs where there was continuous stringers of timber within the burn scar, but there was little threat to the control line. The critically dry 1000-hour fuel loads continue to consume as the crews work to mop-up the already established control lines. Containment of the Tennant Fire has continued to progress as resources have begun to focus more on mop-up due to containment lines holding well over the past couple of days. The main point of heat is from the eastern flank of the fire, where a large island of unburned fuel lies. With the upcoming increase in winds and temperatures, resources will continue to watch the area for tree torching and spot fires.

As of 6 A.M. July 5th, the fire has burned 10,541 acres and has a containment level of 51%. Hot, dry, and unstable conditions are expected to continue for the upcoming week. An increase in southwesterly winds is expected on Tuesday which will result in a potential for critical fire weather conditions due to critically dry and gusty conditions. A Fire Weather Watch has been issued as a result of a Tuesday afternoon.

Another significant heating trend is expected into the weekend as high pressure builds across the West.

Around the state of Oregon

Oregon’s governor says a Pacific Northwest heat wave has killed at least 95 people in our state alone.

Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that government officials warned people about the heat, dispersed water to vulnerable people and set up cooling stations. Even so, Brown calls the death toll “absolutely unacceptable.” Hundreds are believed to have died from the heat over the past week in the U.S. Northwest and southwestern Canada.

Record temperatures included 116 degrees in Portland and 108 in Seattle. The hot weather is headed east, with temperatures well above 100 forecast Sunday for parts of Idaho and Montana.

Oregon Heatwave

Oregon’s governor says a Pacific Northwest heatwave has killed at least 95 people in that state alone. Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that government officials warned people about the heat, dispersed water to vulnerable people, and set up cooling stations.

Even so, Brown calls the death toll “absolutely unacceptable.” Hundreds are believed to have died from the heat over the past week in the U.S. Northwest and southwestern Canada. Record temperatures included 116 degrees in Portland and 108 in Seattle. The hot weather is headed east, with temperatures well above 100 forecast Sunday for parts of Idaho and Montana.

Oregon reports 209 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths

There are three new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,781. The Oregon Health Authority reported 209 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as Friday 7/2 bringing the state total to 209,035.

The new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (1), Benton (2), Clackamas (16), Clatsop (2), Columbia (2), Coos (1), Crook (3), Curry (1), Deschutes (14), Douglas (14), Gilliam (1), Harney (1), Hood River (3), Jackson (14), Jefferson (1), Josephine (12), Klamath (7), Lane (13), Linn (15), Malheur (1), Marion (22), Morrow (1), Multnomah (22), Polk (7), Tillamook (2), Umatilla (6), Union (1), Wasco (2), Washington (14) and Yamhill (8).

On July 4, at approximately 11:00 pm an Oregon State Police Trooper was investigating a single vehicle rollover crash on I-5 in the northbound lanes approximately a half mile south of exit 27.

The occupants of that vehicle needed medical attention and Mercy Flights and Fire District 5 were on scene to assist. While on scene there was a secondary accident with two uninvolved vehicles. Both of those vehicles struck the ambulance and causing injuries to two Mercy Flights crew and one of the Fire District 5 firefighters. All three were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The two occupants of the original crash were also transported to a local hospital.

The original crash is being investigated by the Oregon State Police. 

Due to the nature of the crash and limited resources the Oregon State Police requested assistance from the Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) team. The STAR team is a joint agency investigative unit consisting of representatives from the Medford Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the Ashland Police Department and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

The initial investigation into the cause of the second crash determined that neither driver was impaired, while speed is believed to be a contributing factor the case is still under investigation and at this time no criminal charges related to the second crash have been filed.

Parade in Creswell Makes the National News After Proud Boys Take Over

Major news outlets jumped on reporting after Creswell canceled it’s July 4th parade due to COVID-19, even though the celebration including far-right extremist groups reportedly went off without incident on Sunday.

Hundreds of people gathered for the unpermitted event in Creswell. Photographs show participants wearing “Proud Boys” shirts and holding “PB” signs from their trucks.

Sergeant Scott Denham from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office told the newspaper when deputies arrived on the scene, they discovered they were vastly outnumbered by hundreds of parade-goers. Instead of shutting the event down, Denham said the officers documented what happened and would later pursue citations against those who violated the law.

Newsweek reached out to the sheriff’s office for information on whether any citations have been issued against attendees, but didn’t receive a response before publication.

A flyer for the event, which was posted to Facebook, said it would be the “largest patriotic celebration in Oregon.” It advertised a family-friendly atmosphere, vendor booths, food, fireworks and more. But the announcement shared no details of the group coordinating the parade.

The flyer also said that the event was “an opportunity to meet many of Oregon’s finest patriot groups.”

Martha McReynolds Jr., a former member of the Creswell City Council, told the news outlets she believed the parade was just a way for far-right groups to recruit more people.

“They give this really nice facade and then if you scratch the surface at all, it becomes really clear,” McReynolds said. “Creswell does not want a far-right job fair and recruitment rally.”

Several local news outlets reported that many people in attendance were excited about the parade. The city also canceled its parade in 2020 amid the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s actually really nice to see the parade here again,” Kathryn Schartz, one Creswell resident.. “After all the shut down it’s just really nice to see everybody happy and joyful and loving each other.”

Another resident, Eli Rosenau, said that the holiday is “not supposed to be about politics, it’s about appreciating “our nation, the freedom, what was the country founded to be, and do you like that and having various freedoms.”

Creswell officials did sponsor other July 4th festivities, according to the city’s Chamber of Commerce. A military jet flyover, fireworks and an open house at the Creswell Airport were part of the approved events thrown by the city.

2 People Dead, 4 injured in Horrific NE Portland Apartment Fire – People Banding Together to Help Displaced Families

Two people are dead and four were injured in a deadly 4-alarm fire over the weekend.

The building did not have sprinklers, and by the time firefighters arrived, the fire had spread rapidly, turning the wood framed complex into a death trap. After the stairwells caught fire, some residents were forced to walk through flames and jump from windows on the second and third floors to try to escape.

The fire bureau said all residents of the complex are now accounted for and they do not anticipate further injuries or fatalities. Officials didn’t comment on the condition of people being treated at the hospital.

Witnesses have told fire investigators they heard fireworks going off before the fire started. Investigators say the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Fire Chief Boone said she would not speculate on the cause but said, “This tragedy was preventable.”

Neighbors in Northeast Portland are coming together to help people who lost their homes in a deadly 4-alarm fire over the weekend.

People who live around Heidi Manor, the apartment building that burned, have organized an online effort to get money and supplies to their neighbors who have been displaced.

On the neighborhood website, sullivansgulch.org, they’ve provided links to a community Facebook page where conversations about relief efforts are taking place. The site also lists an online spreadsheet detailing displaced tenants’ needs and links to individual GoFundMe pages. 

Spin Laundry Lounge is starting to collect donations to go to these families, encouraging people to drop off certain items at their Northeast Broadway location.

Two people died in the fire, which started early in the morning on July 4th. Several others were injured, and many tenants lost their pets.

Boathouses Destroyed By Fire At The Dalles Marina

Multiple boathouses were destroyed by a fire that started at The Dalles Marina late Saturday night.

Mid Columbia Fire & Rescue says the first call came in at about 11:59 p.m. Crews arrived at the marina, located at 101 North Basin Road, within seven minutes.

In total, eight boathouses were destroyed and at least two sunk. Officials said it’s possible a third one sunk and commercial divers have been called in to locate it.

Four people were in two separate boathouses at the time of the fire and were on the pier when firefighters arrived. Officials said they were the only occupants at the time. No injuries were reported.

Officials said they are confident the fire was not caused by fireworks, but due to the extent of the damage, the cause may never be determined.

Booms were placed in the water around the boathouses in case of fuel leaks.

Wildfires Updates

Crews were able to burn out the uncontrolled portion of the eastern side of the Lava Fire at the end of yesterday’s operational period. The burn was successful and created several hundred feet of depth off of the control line. The fire continues to consume the dead and down fuel within the 2009 Tennant Fire.

Within the interior, the fire made short uphill runs where there was continuous stringers of timber within the burn scar, but there was little threat to the control line. The critically dry 1000-hour fuel loads continue to consume as the crews work to mop-up the already established control lines.

As of 6 A.M. July 5th, the fire has burned 10,541 acres and has a containment level of 51%. Hot, dry, and unstable conditions are expected to continue for the upcoming week. An increase in southwesterly winds is expected on Tuesday which will result in a potential for critical fire weather conditions due to critically dry and gusty conditions.

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued as a result of a Tuesday afternoon. Another significant heating trend is expected into the weekend as high pressure builds across the West. Smoke is drifting across much of Southern Oregon.

Jack Fire Growing in Douglas County

Persistent winds that have been challenging firefighters over the past several days finally calmed and allowed crews to hold the fire in check overnight. The fire is now estimated at about 440 acres. While an overnight infrared flight detected heat close to containment lines, firefighters have established hose lays along much of the fire’s perimeter and are beginning to mop-up towards the interior to prevent spot fires.

Crews are also working against the clock as thunderstorms are expected to develop over the area this afternoon ringing the threat of lightning and erratic winds. Some crews will be at-the-ready should additional fires spark from the predicted lightning.

Oregon state fire officials said Sunday that crews had reached 85% containment on the Sunset Valley Fire burning near The Dalles, roughly doubling the progress made on the wildfire compared to Saturday. The fire remains at 987 acres.

The active early fire season under extreme fire danger conditions gives fire officials cause to spread the fire prevention message. Preventable human-caused fires have the potential of pulling much-needed resources away from fires sparked by lightning. The public is required to follow fire season restrictions such as campfires, small equipment use and off-road driving.

Information can be found here posted by the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in partnership with Public Information Officers that work for federal, state, and local fire agencies and is drawn from official sources within the wildland fire community. http://nwccinfo.blogspot.com/

A man fishing near Ashland on July 11, 1963, stumbled across the body of a 2-year-old boy, concealed under multiple blankets, tied with wire and held down by heavy pieces of iron.

The little boy went unidentified for 58 years — until Monday, when the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office announced his identity in a Facebook post. A DNA match and some genealogical sleuthing revealed the boy was Stevie Crawford, who was born in New Mexico on Oct. 2, 1960.

Investigators working on the case believe the body to be the oldest known unidentified remains in Oregon. According to the sheriff’s office post, the boy’s remains were found by a Rogue River man in the mountains east of Ashland as he was fishing in the Keene Creek Reservoir along Oregon 66. The investigation went cold a month later, in August 1963.

Fatal Crash on Biddle Road Near Airport

Medford Police Sergeant Steve Furst confirmed a man in his 30s died in a two-vehicle crash near the Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport Monday evening.

Next of kin has been notified, but Medford Police is not releasing the name of the man at this time.

Furst said the crash happened when a woman in her mid-40s was driving north on Bullock Road approaching a curve. The man in his 30s was driving the other direction into the curve and crossed into the woman’s lane. Furst said that caused a near head-on collision between the two cars.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene while the woman had minor injuries.

The crash caused traffic to be blocked off on Bullock Road from Highway 62 to the airport entrance with plans to remove the road blockage by midnight.

Female Bicyclist Killed In Hit-And-Run Near Phoenix

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office announced that a female cyclist was killed after she was struck by a car that fled the scene Saturday morning. The suspect later returned to the scene and is now in custody.


The incident took place around 6:41 Saturday morning on Pioneer Road near Phoenix, Ore.

JCSO Detectives, Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team, Medical Examiners, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s (DA) office are assisting with the investigation. The victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Car Goes Over 100-Foot Cliff and Driver Survives

A driver is now in the hospital with serious injuries after they somehow miraculously survived a nearly 100-foot fall down a vertical embankment Sunday afternoon.

Sheriff officers say that the solo motor vehicle crash happened on a Bureau of Land Management road in the Murphy Gulch area near Rogue River around 12:46 p.m.

Crews on the scene believe that the driver was ejected after leaving the roadway and crashed down that nearly 100-foot vertical embankment.

The driver was the only person in the vehicle and had to be short-hauled out by a helicopter. The driver was then flown to a local hospital by Mercy Flights with serious injuries. The crash is under investigation. 

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