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, August 4, 2021
Klamath Basin Weather
Red Flag Warning in effect from August 4, 02:00PM until August 4, 10:00PM
Fire Weather Watch in effect from August 5, 02:00PM until August 5, 10:00PM
Today Widespread smoke, mainly after 3pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Overnight, widespread smoke with a low around 57. South wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Thursday A 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Widespread smoke. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Friday Areas of smoke. Sunny, with a high near 84. West northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 89.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 87.
Today’s Headlines
Bootleg Fire Update, August 4, 2021
Location: 28 miles northeast of Klamath Falls, OR
Fireline total: 325 miles
Size: 413,765 acres, 647 square miles
51 miles active fire edge, 274 miles of contained line
Personnel: 1,493
Containment: 84%
A Red Flag Warning and a Fire Weather Watch are in effect this afternoon and evening for the second day in a row. These conditions promote the rapid spread of wildfire and extreme fire behavior, but so far the Bootleg fire line is holding. Helicopters kept dropping water on the active fire yesterday to cool it so crews could continue to work.
Southwesterly winds yesterday brought smoke to the Bootleg Fire area from fires burning in northern California. The smoke was helpful in that it created overcast skies that allowed less solar radiation to the active fire and kept temperatures cooler.
Overcast skies, from clouds or smoke, also dampen updraft winds that fuel active fires. Think of a chimney on a wood stove. If the flue is completely open, the heat from the fireplace is drawn upward and the updraft feeds oxygen to the fire. If the flue is somewhat closed, the updraft is lessened, and more heat stays in the wood stove and the fire burns more slowly.
With fires burning across the West, more people are impacted by smoke. For most people, smoke is a nuisance. But some people are more sensitive to smoke and it can be dangerous for them. At some levels, smoke can be dangerous to everyone. The best way to mitigate the impacts is to limit your time outside, and when you are outside, avoid strenuous activity so less smoke is drawn into your lungs. If you are concerned about the amount of smoke, or if you or someone at home is especially sensitive, you can get sensors to alert you to unhealthy levels.
If you anticipate heavy smoke, there are things you can do to minimize smoke in your home. “Like anything you are concerned about, the best thing you can do is to get ready ahead of time,” says Air Quality Advisor Margaret Key. “There are simple things you can do to get smoke ready.” Some effective measures include closing up rooms in your home and putting towels around the windows to keep smoke out. Box fans covered with a HEPA filter forces air through and filters out smoke. See links below for smoke maps and tips for being smoke ready.
Community Meeting: Join us for a virtual community meeting tomorrow on Facebook live at 6:30 pm. www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo
Evacuations: Lake County expanded the Level 1 (Get Ready) evacuation boundary to include the area north of Summer Lake. The expanded area extends from Mile Post 73 on Highway 31 north to Picture Rock Pass and east of the highway to include the Ana Subdivision. A Level 2 (Be Set) evacuation remains in place from milepost 73 on Highway 31 south to Monument Rock. A Level 3 (GO NOW!) evacuation remains in place for all areas within and adjacent to the Bootleg Fire perimeter, including Yamsay Mountain, Thompson Reservoir, and the Sycan Marsh to the top of Winter Rim. The best way to view the evacuation designation boundaries and details is on the interactive map available at tinyurl.com/bootlegevac
Closures: An emergency closure order is in effect for the Bootleg Fire on the Fremont-Winema National Forest to protect public and firefighter safety. All travel or entry into the area is prohibited. The full closure order and map are available on the website under Alerts and Closures at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/fremont-winema/alerts-notices
Red Cross Evacuation Shelters: For information or assistance: 1-800-Red-Cross (www.redcrossblog.org/disaster)
Smoke: Wildland fire smoke can adversely impact your health. Be aware of the smoke near you and learn about ways to mitigate smoke impacts. See the air quality near you at https://fire.airnow.gov and learn how to keep smoke out of your home at https://www.epa.gov/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires
Inciweb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7609/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BootlegFireInfo
Meanwhile, just south of the Oregon border, Multiple areas of Siskiyou County are now under evacuation orders as lightning-caused fires throughout the Klamath National Forest continue to spread.
Those fires are roughly divided into two theaters — the River Complex fires to the west of Mt. Shasta, and the Antelope Fire to the south of Macdoel.
Fire officials said Monday evening that they are prioritizing resources for the fires that pose the greatest risk to life and property.
Evacuation orders and warnings are in effect for areas surrounding the communities of Forks of Salmon, Sawyers Bar, Taylor Creek Road, Tennant, and Antelope Creek. Up-to-date information regarding evacuations can be viewed at an interactive map managed by the Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services: https://arcg.is/1nnHKm0.
Officials said that firefighting resources are stretched thin responding to the scattered fires caused by weekend thunderstorms. Resources from outside the KNF are working on the fires to help local crews — including Smokejumpers, heli-rappel modules, and contracted fire engines and hand crews. CAL FIRE’s Siskiyou Unit is also providing assistance.
Klamath Basin Growers To Get $15 Million Toward Drought Relief
Klamath Basin farmers will have another opportunity to seek aid funding to offset their losses from the current water shortage. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday that it would invest $15 million into a program that will assist growers in the drought-stricken region.
USDA referenced the closure of the Klamath Project’s “A” Canal, which means that no water from Upper Klamath Lake will go toward irrigation this year. The new block grant allows for payments to producers who agree to reduce their irrigation demand. That water then can be used for other means.
“As ongoing drought conditions in the West continue to worsen, we need to find ways to do things differently in order to provide help and assistance to producers, Tribes, and communities,” said Gloria Montaño Greene, USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation. “We recognize that current USDA programs and services are not enough to meet this historic challenge, and this pilot will help us find more tools to add to our toolbox.”
The block grant will go to the Klamath Project Drought Response Agency for distribution to producers. According to KPDRA president Marc Staunton, the organization is still working out the details of how the funds will be deployed. It may be distributed out to producers on all eligible land within the Klamath Project on a per-acre basis, though some land does not qualify.
“Unfortunately, the same as for our ‘non-irrigation’ program, land will not be eligible in districts that the Bureau of Reclamation believes is not in compliance with the 2021 Project operations plan,’ said Mr. Staunton.
The Klamath Water Users Association, which represents the interests of Klamath Project growers, said that this new grant replaces a $10 million program announced in April. There is also a $15 million Bureau of Reclamation program in effect, but KWUA says that together the two programs are “still not nearly enough.”
“Our most important priority is to have water for irrigation so producers can produce,” said KWUA executive director Paul Simmons. “But we have to play the cards we were dealt this year and do the best we can for producers who are under duress.”
Governor Kate Brown also released a statement applauding the program:
“The Klamath Basin is facing historic challenges from drought conditions that are creating hardships for the people, farms, ranches, communities, and ecosystems of the region. Today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is a great step to help agricultural producers in the region. I appreciate the partnership of Secretary Vilsack and the Biden-Harris administration in helping to relieve hardship in the region, both through this new pilot and ongoing programs.
“What is clear is that, because of the ongoing impacts of climate change on the region, the Klamath Basin will continue to face too many demands for a limited and decreasing supply of water. We must continue to work towards a long-term drought solution for the region, and today’s relief efforts are a down payment toward that goal.”
As residents made their way into city hall for a meeting focused on addressing racism and increasing equity Monday night in Klamath Falls, a man wielding a large rock threatened a city employee.
Eric Osterberg, assistant to the city manager of Klamath Falls and staff lead for the Klamath Falls equity task force, was prepared to deliver the task force’s final report to the Klamath Falls city council. But before the meeting could start, things turned chaotic.
As Osterberg sat down in the chambers, a man sat next to him holding a rock about the size of his hand.
Osterberg, sensing that something was off, decided to say hello in an effort to deescalate the situation. But the man just grew more agitated, Osterberg said.
The man was then escorted out of the building by Klamath Falls police chief Robert Dentinger, who was in the room when the incident happened.
When the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic started sinking in, alarm bells started going off at hospitals and medical centers around the country.
Federal and state emergencies were declared, cities shut down, the world slumped into a gripping fear. In Klamath Falls, Sky Lakes Medical Center CEO Paul Stewart tried to steer the organization through dire straits.
In early fall, just as the COVID-19 crisis started ramping up locally, Sky Lakes had its servers infected with ransomware — essentially crippling its entire network infrastructure in the middle of the worst pandemic in a century.
Now that Stewart is retiring, he plans to stay on the board of directors in an advisory capacity.
He also plans on sticking around in the community he loves, but also plans on going on a mission or two with the local LDS church he attends in town.
A Klamath Falls man was arrested Sunday in connection with an alleged smash-and-grab theft from mid-July.
Joshua Adam Green, 39, is accused of smashing in the driver’s side window of a car parked in the 3300 block of S. 6th Street at about 2:30 p.m. on July 18, a probable cause statement in Klamath County Circuit Court shows.
Green allegedly stole a Michael Kohrs purse that contained approximately $26,000 worth of “jewelry and controlled substances,” court documents show. The car’s owner estimated it would cost about $300 to replace the window.
The stolen items were not recovered, said Operations Lieutenant Randy Swan of the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office.
Green was charged with aggravated theft in the first degree, identity theft, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, criminal mischief second degree and theft third degree, court documents show.
Upper Klamath Lake is once again turning toxic for the summer. On July 30, the Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use advisory for Eagle Ridge County Park due to a cyanobacteria bloom present on the lake’s western shore.
The bloom, comprised of Microcystis aeruginosa, produces the liver toxin microcystin, which can cause skin rashes, stomach issues, diarrhea and vomiting if ingested. Dogs who come into contact with the toxin can experience even more severe symptoms and even death. In a news release, OHA recommended that people and their pets not swim or boat in the affected area on the northeast shore of Shoalwater Bay.
Microcystin mainly causes harm through drinking or inhaling affected water, so land-based activities at Eagle Ridge County Park are still safe. Those who choose to boat in the area should minimize wake to avoid dispersing the toxin through water spray, the release read.
Upper Klamath Lake is naturally eutrophic, meaning it contains a relatively high amount of nutrients that lead to the high production of aquatic organisms like algae and cyanobacteria. But due to the draining of the lake’s wetlands, logging and agricultural runoff (particularly phosphorus) from its tributaries, Upper Klamath Lake has become hypereutrophic, home to more nutrients than would have been present naturally in the system.
Union Pacific has restored and reopened the fire-damaged Dry Canyon Bridge a month ahead of schedule. The bridge, which was damaged by the Lava Fire in June, caused delays of both freight and passenger trains while it was offline.
Another set of rail infrastructure damaged by the Dixie Fire, which is currently burning north of Oroville, Calif., also reopened Sunday after it was damaged last week.
From July 15, through Tuesday, Sept. 7, the Coast Starlight will continue to operate only between Seattle and Klamath Falls. Passengers traveling southbound will be bused from Klamath Falls to Sacramento, then board another train from Sacramento to Los Angeles, Amtrak said in an update from Amtrak.
Starting Sunday, August 8, through Monday, August 23, the train between Sacramento and Los Angeles will be canceled, and no alternative transportation between Klamath Falls and Los Angeles will be available.
The train from Los Angeles to Seattle will also be canceled during that time. Service will continue between Klamath Falls and Seattle with no alternative transportation provided between Los Angeles and Klamath Falls, the Amtrak update added.
Around the state of Oregon
Oregon reports 1,575 new confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases, 9 new deaths
Today we’re reporting 1,575 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. today, bringing the state total to 223,364.
The new cases reported today are in the following counties: Baker (21), Benton (21), Clackamas (96), Clatsop (19), Columbia (16), Coos (35), Crook (22), Curry (32), Deschutes (42), Douglas (83), Grant (2), Harney (2), Hood River (6), Jackson (253), Jefferson (4), Josephine (41), Klamath (27), Lane (127), Lincoln (11), Linn (43), Malheur (25), Marion (164), Morrow (5), Multnomah (116), Polk (39), Tillamook (9), Umatilla (96), Union (11), Wallowa (6), Wasco (11), Washington (160), Wheeler (4) and Yamhill (26).
There are nine new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 2,872. More information on COVID-19 related deaths are available here: oregon.gov/oha/erd/pages/covid-19-news.aspx
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 379, which is 39 more than yesterday. There are 119 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is 17 more than yesterday.
Oregon to Receive Nearly $35 Million In Federal Grants For Wildfire Recovery
Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have announced that nearly $35 million in federal grant funding is headed to five counties in Oregon, including Douglas, to help cover the cost of wildfire debris removal efforts.
Merkley said when the Labor Day fires hit last year, he criss-crossed the state to meet with impacted communities and assess the damage. Merkley said, “It’s impossible to put into words how heartbreaking it is to see the rubble of cherished homes and businesses that got caught in the flames, and it takes real courage to clean up the debris and start anew”. Merkley said he will continue to do all he can to help Oregonians get back on their feet, “…while also addressing the climate chaos that is causing these catastrophic wildfires in the first place”.
Wyden said, “The devastating losses from last year’s fires throughout our state came through in painful and powerful detail from Oregonians who both showed and told me how these blazes destroyed their homes, businesses and communities”. Wyden said one common theme in Oregonian’s work toward a full recovery and rebound “…is the urgent need to cover the often-punishing costs of removing debris from that destruction”.
Douglas County will receive over $2 million of the funds, to remove debris from 65 homes and structures throughout the county that were destroyed by the Archie Creek Fire. The other counties receiving help include:
*Nearly $12 million for Marion County
*Over $10 million for Jackson County
*Nearly $7 million for Lane County
*Over $3,5 million for Lincoln County
Moving Fraud Identified
Grants Pass Department of Public Safety is currently working with other local, state and federal agencies to investigate a significant increase in a crime commonly referred to as Moving Fraud.
Moving Fraud occurs when citizens are defrauded by false moving companies. These companies engage in criminal acts such as theft of belongings, damage to household goods and/or holding property hostage while demanding extra money from customers.
During these investigations, GPDPS was able to recover approximately $500,000 in household goods belonging to several victims across the Rogue valley and from neighboring states. GPDPS suspects more unreported victims of this scam may exist.
If you or someone you know has recently moved, have not received your delivery after the agreed-upon date and believe they may be a victim of Moving Fraud, we urge you to take the following steps:
1) Make a police report to the local law enforcement agency where you moved from
2) Report the incident to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA)
3) Compile photos, contracts, and other documents and retain records of any future communications with the moving company or broker
If you are planning to move, please visit the FMSCA website below for information on how to protect your move, learn how to find a legitimate moving company, learn your rights and responsibilities during your move and more.
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move/moving-fraud — Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety
‘Operation Ship Shape’ Targets Lapsed Motorboat Registrations Around the State
The Oregon State Marine Board will be partnering with 32 county sheriff’s offices and the Oregon State Police, looking for expired motorboat boat registrations as part of a targeted annual “Operation Ship Shape” exercise, Aug. 7-8.
If you own a motorboat in Oregon, it’s time to check your “OR” numbers on the front of your boat (bow) and make sure you’ve applied your current registration decals. The OR numbers are a boat’s license plate, and registration decals are the tags that tell marine officers if your boat is legally registered and to whom it belongs, similar to motor vehicles. Registrations are valid for two calendar years.
“Oregon’s recreational boating infrastructure is funded entirely by boaters, so it’s really important for every boater out there to be currently registered,” Randy Henry, boating safety program manager for the Marine Board, said. “On Aug. 7 and 8, we’re checking everyone whose decals are expired or numbers are unreadable.”
The Marine Board is funded by registration, title fees, and marine fuel taxes paid by motorized boaters. No lottery, general fund tax dollars, or local facility parking fees are used to fund agency programs. These fees go back to boaters in the form of boat ramps, docks, trailered parking spaces, restrooms, construction and maintenance, and for boating safety marine law enforcement services.
“Any boat that is powered by a motor — electric, gas, diesel, or steam — and all sailboats 12 feet and longer must be currently registered when on the water, even when docked or moored,” Henry said.
This includes drift boats, inflatable rafts, stand-up paddleboards, or float tubes with an electric motor.
Henry added, “Each boat registration brings in additional funds from motorboat fuel tax and federal boating dollars. Registering a 16-foot boat provides $100.20 of funding, but results in additional matching funds of nearly $190, so this registration fee results in $267 of revenue available to fund facilities and marine enforcement.”
Henry reminds boaters that, if they’ve just purchased their boat or are in the process of registering it, they should be sure to carry the temporary registration and present it to marine officers, just like vehicle registration.
Boaters can renew their motorboat registration online or by visiting their local registration agent. Boaters can print a temporary permit after successfully completing their transaction online. A registration agent will issue a temporary permit for an additional fee. If you need assistance renewing online, please contact the Marine Board at marine.board@oregon.gov or 503-378-8587.