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.
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Klamath Basin Weather
Today A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am, otherwise partly sunny, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Overnight, scattered showers and some thundershowers, low of 48. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 74. A 20% chance of showers overnight with a low near 48.
Saturday A 40% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Showers overnight, low of 44.
Sunday Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Today’s Headlines
Gas price increases are smaller this week due to a slight dip in demand, but prices are still setting records. The Triple-A reports the national average increased two cents to $4.26 a gallon.
Oregon’s average added a nickel bringing the state’s average to $5.21. Crude prices have exceeded $116 dollars a barrel, driven by fears of further global supply restrictions with the European Union reducing the amount of gas it’ll buy from Russia.
Oregon’s average price for diesel increased four cents to $5.72, which is also a new record high.
Newly identified coronavirus cases fell for the first time since the second omicron wave began in late March, with 13% fewer new infections reported during the week ending Monday as compared to the week ending May 23.
However, cases are on the rise here in Klamath County and so is the Covid impatient tally at Sky Lakes Medical Center.
Sky Lakes said yesterday they had eight COVID-19 inpatients. Three are vaccinated. Klamath County’s COVID-19 cases are rising again. Our infection rate is 0.87. Our Positive test rate is 7% and Klamath County is averaging eight new confirmed COVID-19 cases a day. The reported decline in cases ends eight consecutive weeks of rising case tallies.
The Oregonian/OregonLive calculated the decline using cumulative case numbers reported Tuesday compared to the total from a week earlier, instead of the typical Monday reporting cycle. That’s because the Oregon Health Authority declined to release cumulative counts for the Memorial Day holiday.
Meanwhile, hospitalizations have climbed to 303 and, according to an Oregon Health & Science University forecast, could max out at about 330 occupied beds next week. Average daily new cases dropped from a recent peak of nearly 1,690 per day one week ago to about 1,450.
State health officials have previously indicated they believe the current COVID-19 wave may be reaching its peak.
The Klamath Falls Downtown Association (KFDA) announced yesterday that it has received an Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant (OMSRG) in the amount of $200,000 to support the rehabilitation and reopening of the Arcade Hotel in Downtown Klamath Falls.
Forefathers Capital, an investment and development group that includes a Klamath Falls resident, completed its purchase of the property on May 31 and will begin work to restore the property back to its historic use as a hotel.
The group owns other properties in the Klamath Falls area and has experience in developing hotel properties and working with historic buildings.
The grant will provide capital for the initial stages of a multimillion-dollar renovation effort expected to be completed in 2023. When complete, the property will be reopened as a 22-room boutique hotel. The Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant Fund was authorized by the Oregon Legislature in 2015 to provide capital to stimulate downtown revitalization projects around the state.
It was first funded in 2017 with a $2.5 million allocation, which was increased to $5 million in 2019.
Team Kingsley to host a Sentry Eagle 5K Run
KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – The Health Education Awareness Team at the 173rd Fighter Wing will host a Sentry Eagle 5K walk/run on June 23, 2022 at the Crater Lake Airport. This event is open to the general public and is free to enter.
“People should come out for morale, camaraderie, and unity,” said Amy Jones, the Nutrition and Wellness Specialist with the 173rd FW Health Education Awareness Team. “It’s a fun, family friendly event that anyone can participate in.”
Tables will be set up at 9:00 a.m. and the race begins at 10:00 a.m. There is both a 5K and 2K option for all racers. Additionally, shirts are available to purchase at cost via the QR code on the flyer.
The Health Education Awareness Team is a section of the Team Kingsley Resiliency Team whose mission is to improve the overall health and well-being of the 173rd FW, Kingsley Field community members and their families by providing support, education and resources.
This race kicks off the lead up to the Sentry Eagle Open House scheduled for June 25.
“This community event speaks to the unity and spirit of our war fighting community,” said Jones, highlighting its connection to the Sentry Eagle Open House.
During the Open House the Kingsley Field gates will be open to the community, providing a behind the scenes look at what the Airmen accomplish every day at the 173rd FW. Additionally, there will be multiple aerial demonstrations, static display aircraft, flightline operations viewing opportunities, recruiting events, and local vendors.
Around the state of Oregon
Members of Siskiyou County Search and Rescue crews will soon be searching the area around Applegate Lake for 81-year-old Zed Edison IlI, who was last seen Monday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. on USFS Road 1050 in Siskiyou County, just south of Applegate Lake, OR.
Edison is reported to have left his residence riding a black and green 2003 Artic Cat ATV, most likely wearing a flannel shirt and blue jeans. According to his daughter, Zed Edison suffers from high blood pressure and COPD. If anyone finds Ellis, they are asked to call the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 841-2900.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives are investigating an attempted murder that occurred Monday night on the 9600 block of Wagner Creek Road in Talent.
The female suspect stabbed and beat the 87-year-old female victim before stealing her car and fleeing the scene. The suspect was known to the victim. A concerned relative discovered the victim around 9:00 yesterday morning when she failed to show up for a daily coffee date. The victim is in stable condition at a local hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.
The suspect, Christy Robertson, 47, of Keizer, Ore., has been charged with attempted murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, three counts of first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon.
After fleeing the scene in the victim’s stolen car, Robertson drove to the coast and crashed while attempting to elude the California Highway Patrol (CHP). She was admitted to a local Gold Beach, Ore. hospital under Oregon State Police guard until JCSO detectives arrived and transported her to the Jackson County Jail.
The case is under investigation and will be prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney’s office. No further information is available for release.
The Coast Guard says it rescued three people and their dog from the Umpqua River on Saturday.
Their boat grounded after becoming disabled. Local emergency responders weren’t able to reach them. A Coast Guard helicopter crew from North Bend lifted them from their boat and took them to safety. No one was injured.
Free Fishing Weekend! Grab your crab pots, fishing rods and your bait! Oregon celebrates Free Fishing Days this weekend. You don’t need a license to fish, clam or crab in Oregon Saturday, June 4, or Sunday, June 5.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife designates the first weekend in June for free fishing.
Area closures, bag limits and all other fishing regulations still apply. Families who would like to practice together can attend one of ODWF’s Family Fishing events.
On Sunday,locals from Klamath Falls/Medford are invited to, Lake of the Woods, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. : Lake of the Woods is located off of State Rte. 140 mid-way between Medford and Klamath Falls. Free fishing opportunities are available for both state residents and non-residents.
In less than a month, students and teachers will be on summer break following another school year impacted by the coronavirus.
But by the fall, how many teachers will return? While the Oregon Education Association outlined concerns over a possible exodus of educators at the end of the year, some districts that are struggling to balance an ongoing exodus of students are suggesting the impact will not be that large.
The Beaverton School District has seen a steady increase in retirements through the course of the coronavirus pandemic. At the end of the 2019-2020 school year, 109 district employees had retired. At the end of the 2020-21 school year, that number was up to 166. Similar numbers have been reported over much of the state.
ODOT is filling two senior positions this month.
Erika McCalpine, an experienced diversity, equity and inclusion professional who most recently led diversity efforts at Oregon State University – Cascades, will serve as the new Assistant Director for the Office of Social Equity at the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Carolyn Sullivan, who has spent the last decade managing operations at the international transportation consulting firm Alta Planning + Design, Inc. headquartered in Portland, will join the agency as the Chief Administrative Officer.
Equity is a key priority in ODOT’s Strategic Action Plan, a roadmap for how the agency will evolve. The goal is to improve the state’s transportation system while being mindful of the benefits and burdens our work creates. ODOT is building a more diverse workforce and strong partnerships with businesses owned by those who have been historically underrepresented including women and people of color. Sullivan said she is also excited to be joining the agency at such a pivotal time. She received her degree from the University of San Francisco in 1990, and has worked in Portland since 1995. Sullivan has more than 20 years’ experience at the executive level in finance, accounting, human resources and operations.
The severe drought in California threatens to significantly undermine the state’s ability to generate hydroelectric power, raising costs for families and driving up planet-warming emissions, according to a federal government forecast.
Assuming drought conditions persist, California’s hydroelectric generation would be 48% less this summer than if water conditions were normal, the US Energy Information Administration said in a blog post on Wednesday.
The EIA flagged that as of April 1, California’s snowpack was about 40% below the median value from 1991 through 2020. That is significant because it means less snow will melt and flow into the state’s reservoirs this spring. Under the EIA’s drought scenario forecast, which is part of the agency’s Short Term Energy Outlook released last month, hydropower would make up just 8% of California’s total power generation. That’s down from 15% under normal water conditions.
If the drought persists, which is expected according to NOAA’s summer forecast, California will need to import more electricity from other markets and use more in-state natural gas-fired power generation, the EIA said.