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 and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance, your local health and Medicare agents.
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Today Partly sunny, with a high near 47. West winds to 11mph. Overnight, mostly cloudy with a low around 28.
Friday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Light south wind becoming southwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Overnight a 30% chance of snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. South wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday A chance of snow, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 36.
See Road Camera Views around the Basin:
Lake of the Woods
Doak Mtn.
Hiway 97 at Chemult
Hiway 140 at Bly
Hiway 97 at GreenSprings Dr.
Hiway 97 at LaPine
Today’s Headlines
The annual County Health Rankings and Roadmaps were released yesterday by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Local, state and national information is available at countyrankings.org.
Jennifer Little of Klamath County Public Health says that many of the elements measured in the rankings have been monitored since 2010 and ten in particular reflect overall trends affecting health from a big-picture perspective.
The 2023 measures for Oregon (13%) and the United States (12%) were lower than Klamath County’s 16% mark. This data is from 2020, the inaugural year of the pandemic. A drop of six percentage points is significant and the measurement offered in 2024 will show if there is an on-going trend.
The measurements for those in Oregon (2.9) and the United States (3.0) were lower than Klamath County’s 3.8 days when it comes to mental health. This data is also from 2020 and reflects a full day of difference from the all-time high of five days in 2021.
The United States measure was 4.4 days, with Oregon following at 4.6. Again, the data is from 2020. It is concerning that local residents are experiencing a full work week of poor mental health days each month. Mental health is one of the focus areas of the 2022-25 Klamath County Community Health Improvement Plan.
Klamath County measures above the nation (16%) and state (14%) for smoking prevalence. Interventions are ongoing by Public Health and other community agencies, including Healthy Klamath.
In obesity rates, Klamath County is a percentage better than the nation at 32%, with Oregon at 28% overall. Obesity is an issue across the lifespan and community efforts continue to engage people to be more active. Physical activity is one of the health improvement plan focus areas.
Klamath County again ties the nation with a 19% showing for excessive drinking. Oregon measured 20% overall. Substance use prevention, including alcohol, drugs and tobacco is an element of the community health improvement plan.
For sexually transmitted diseases, Klamath County measures between the nation (481) and state (376). This data is from 2020 and sexually-transmitted infection testing at KCPH slowed during the pandemic. Sexually-active adults should be tested at least once a year.
Klamath County was tied with the nation (25%), but well above the state (21%) in respect to those with single parent households. Single-parent households tend to have more stress than those with two parents able to share responsibilities.
Oregon’s overall drug overdose rate was 16, but nationwide efforts are underway to deal with the opioid issue. The national rate was 23 per 100,000 population. Overdose prevention is a very active health promotion activity for KCPH and its partners.
Oregon’s adult diabetes prevalence is 8%, with the nation at 9%. Klamath County has improved the statistic in the last three years, but ongoing work is necessary to keep the community aware of strategies to keep Type 2 diabetes at bay.
Oregon Tech Assistant Professor Amber Lancaster, Ph.D., is always looking for ways to involve her students in innovative thinking that takes her lessons in professional writing beyond the classroom.
To address this in her winter term Project Management for Writers course, Lancaster asked students to think of a “wicked problem”on campus and create a solution, the press release states.“Wicked problems” are those that are complex due to a variety of factors, including incomplete information, too many stakeholders, contradictions or changing requirements.This makes the problem difficult or impossible to solve, and sometimes a single solution does not exist.
According to a news release, the team’s project addressed technology access and equity barriers to learning — mainly for students who live off campus and cannot afford internet, which creates learning barriers to accessing online course materials and submitting homework. The project proposed establishing a mobile hotspot program that supports and expands the Professional Writing program’s mobile usability lab and attracts, retains, and supports a diverse student population within the Communication and Professional Writing programs.
Out of that project, the students worked with Professional Writing Department Chair Franny Howes, Ph.D.,to submit an Oregon Tech Foundation equipment grant to fund a mobile hotspot pilot program.The team was awarded the full $11,700 from the Foundation for the program, the release states.
Organizers of the Z.C.B.J. Lodge #222 of Malin are urging people to mark their calendars for the 63rd annual Czech Dinner on Sunday at the Tulelake/Butte Valley Fairgrounds Home Economics Building. The cost for dinner is $20 for those ages 12 and older, children younger than 12 eat for free. Tickets will be available at the door. Refreshments Hour from will be from noon to 12:30 p.m. and dinner from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The menu consists of: Czech sausage, pork roast, baked potato, sauerkraut, rye bread and apple strudel. At 2 p.m., The Czech Beseda Dancers will perform their dance. For more information, call Karen at 541-891-8135 or Julia at 541-274-9049 or email malin.czech.lodge.222@gmail.com.
Officials with the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument are accepting applications for its summer Artist-in-Residence program. Selected artists receive a one- to two-week residency at CSNM during early summer. Artists will create while immersed in a beautiful environment and share their works with the public.
All artists are encouraged to apply, and there is no preference given to any particular style or medium. The Artist-in-Residence program is in its eighth year and has translated the monument’s natural and cultural resources into images, objects and performances. During their stay, artists share their vision in one public presentation. Following their residency, artists donate at least one digital copy of their completed artwork to CSNM. CSNM holds a publishing copyright to donated digital artwork for promotional use to advance the residency program. The artist retains a non-exclusive use copyright.
Two artists and one alternate will be selected based on the following criteria: entry materials, residency proposal, professionalism and creative vision. Interested artists can learn more information and find the application at the Artist-in-Residence website at www.blm.gov/get-involved/artist-in-residence, by e-mailing jduwe@blm.gov or by calling CSNM at 541-618-2320. Detailed instructions are on the application form. Applications must be submitted by April 17.
Application materials and sample artwork should be submitted in a single email with attachments or links to John Duwe at jduwe@blm.gov.
Late last week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the safe and successful capture and collar of two gray wolves in Siskiyou County.
According to CDFW, the two wolves were captured on March 17 and were fitted with satellite collars, measured and sampled for DNA and disease surveillance, before being safely released back into the wild. CDFW said one of the captured wolves was “OR85”, a four-year-old black, 98-pound male originally collared by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in February 2020 in northeastern Oregon.
CDFW said OR85 dispersed from his natal pack in 2020, making it to Siskiyou County in November of that year, where he eventually paired with a gray female wolf from southwestern Oregon to form the Whaleback Pack in Siskiyou County. CDFW said the pair produced litters of seven pups in 2021 and eight pups in 2022. The other wolf captured and collared, according to CDFW, was a black, 97-pound, yearling male from a 2021 litter.
Oregon State Representatives Courtney Neron, the State House Education Committee Chair, and Rep. Emily McIntire of Klamath Falls who is the State House Higher Education Committee Vice Chair, visited Oregon Tech’s Portland-Metro Campus on March 17 to tour labs and discuss college affordability and return on investment.
Oregon ranks 45 out of 50 states in funding per full-time enrolled student in public universities and is 19% below the national average. The level of state investment in recent years has shifted the burden of paying for college from the state to students and their families.
During the Oregon Tech campus tour in Wilsonville, Neron and McIntire visited the Rapid Prototype Lab, Emergency Medical Service training facilities, Veterans Resource Center, Additive Manufacturing Lab, and Medical Laboratory Science program.
Neron and McIntire were joined at the round-table discussion by OIT President Nagi Naganathan, Board of Trustees Chair John Davis, Assistant Director of Financial Aid Suzet Petersen, Portland-Metro Student Body President Billy Kimmel, Portland-Metro Library Director Kristin Whitman, and Student Involvement and Belonging Director Thomas Arce, who serves as the university’s Career Services Interim Director.
Discussions focused on college affordability, supports for students, and the return on investment of a college degree. As the state representative for the Klamath Falls campus, McIntire shared that it was wonderful to learn more about Oregon Tech’s impact across the state.
The must anticipated show, “Motown with a Twist” — a new twist on classic Motown —has been canceled for this weekend at the Ross Ragland Theater.
The show was expected to have performers from “So you think you can dance”, “The Voice”, “America’s got talent” and “American Idol” with the previously announced spring break timed family-friendly night. However, one of the performers reportedly was diagnosed with Covid-19 and the company had to cancel.
RRT officials say an advance of over 500 tickets were already sold for the show. The theater says you can get a full refund, or use your purchase for future shows, and they ask you to contact the theater at 541-884-LIVE or at ragland.org if you haven’t already been contacted by e-mail regarding the cancellation.
The box office is open from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or two hours before show time the day of any show.
Around the state of Oregon
Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would put most of Ballot Measure 114 into effect. The voter approved ballot measure would put restrictions on gun purchases, but it’s been placed on hold in the courts. Senate Bill 348 would add a 150-dollar gun fee permit, require training, limit purchases to people older than 21 and implement many other aspects of Measure 114. Two hours of public testimony were taken Monday night with most comments in opposition to the bill.
The federal government is sending nearly 50-million dollars to programs in Oregon that prevent homelessness. 54 nonprofits will receive money from the Continuum of Care Program. The grants support nonprofits and local government programs that work to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma of being houseless. They work to help families and individuals become self-sufficient.
Nurses, hospital workers and hospitals in Oregon have reached agreement on a bill in the legislature to manage staffing levels. Key components of the bill include the nation’s first nurse-to-patient ratios in a state statute. They include emergency departments, intensive care, labor and delivery, and operating rooms. Committees will be established to determine staffing levels for other hospital care providers including respiratory therapists, psychologists, pharmacists and other workers. The bill remains under consideration in the legislature.
Scientists and energy executives are pursuing capturing carbon emissions produced in Oregon and storing them underground, a novel process that could reduce the effects of climate change some day.
The project, located in Hermiston, would involve capturing carbon dioxide emitted by the town’s natural gas facility and storing it in rock thousands of feet below the earth’s surface. Putting carbon dioxide below-ground instead of releasing it into the air would help bring Oregon and Washington closer to their carbon reduction goals to fight climate change, project leaders said.
The university is leading the project in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the oil company Oxy Low, and the natural gas company Calpine, which runs the Hermiston natural gas facility. The facility burns natural gas to create energy, which is sold to power companies in Oregon, Washington and California.
The Department of Energy has awarded researchers $10.5 million to determine how feasible it would be to store the carbon emissions from the facility underground. The Hermiston area is rich in basalt, a type of rock that can store carbon. When carbon dioxide is injected into basalt, it solidifies and turns into a rock, a process that takes about two years.
Officials would insert carbon emissions from the Hermiston natural gas facility through wells drilled deep into the basalt layer. If greenlighted by the Department of Energy, the Hermiston project would be the first location in the country to offer carbon-emitting industries the option to store carbon dioxide in basalt on a commercial scale, project leaders said.
The Hermiston project is currently in phase two of a four-phase implementation process. A 24-month long study will begin this summer to determine how feasible the project would be. Researchers will drill a well into the basalt to understand what would happen if millions of tons of carbon dioxide were injected into the rock. Researchers will also determine whether the project could affect the area’s groundwater or overlap with earthquake fault lines.
Researchers at Oregon State said this year’s snowpack had a positive impact on our drought conditions.
An associate state climatologist said this years snow pack is 50% above average compared to the last 30 years. He said the La Nina winter and cooler than average temperatures led to above average snow packs for the last two years.
At the beginning of the water year in October, just about all of Jackson County was in exceptional or extreme drought.
Associate State Climatologist Nick Siler said, “the most recent drought monitor has actually none of Jackson County in extreme or exceptional drought and only 8% of the state is in extreme or exceptional drought. So it’s certainly decreased the percentage of the state that’s experiencing severe drought.”
He said he doesn’t expect cooler temperatures to continue next year. Since this year is the 3rd consecutive La Nina winter, the chances of another above average snow pack next year is much lower.
The federal government is sending nearly $50 million to Oregon nonprofits, counties and other entities to address homelessness.
The money — from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — adds to a $200 million investment approved by the state Legislature this month to help hundreds of Oregonians find housing. At least 18,000 Oregonians are homeless, according to the U.S. housing department and many more live precariously, struggling to make rent or mortgage payments on unaffordable homes. Addressing the crisis is one of Gov. Tina Kotek’s top priorities.
The federal funding program supports efforts by nonprofits and state and local governments to get homeless individuals and families quickly into homes. The program also aims to help homeless individuals and families gain access to support programs in an effort to get them stabilized.
Oregon’s two Democratic senators — Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden — announced the funding in a release.
Earlier this month, Wyden reintroduced a bill that died in a previous congressional session to get people on the streets into housing and make homes more affordable by increasing the supply and making the purchase of a new home easier through a tax credit. The bill has been referred to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, which Wyden chairs.
In Oregon, Home Forward, a Portland-based nongovernmental housing authority that relies on the federal government for funding, will get the biggest grant from the federal government, more than $7 million, followed by $4.6 million to the Washington County Department of Housing Services. The housing department awarded Central City Concern, a Portland-based nonprofit, $4 million.
Nine other entities got at least $1 million:
There is no denying that Oregon is one of the most beautiful States in the nation. Oregon has something for everyone including endless recreational activities and areas. The Oregon Coastline is just one of those popular recreational areas. The Oregon State Police partners with the Oregon State Parks to help keep those areas safe and accessible. OSP Troopers not only patrol the thousands of miles of Oregon Highways but also many of these recreational areas.
In some locations in Oregon, you can drive a vehicle directly on the beach. Oregon’s beaches were originally designated as a “public highway” in 1913, which set the stage for the more well-known “beach bill” years later. While the beach is now a state recreation area, driving is allowed only in some places. Official Oregon State Highway Maps can be obtained from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) that depict those areas where driving is allowed.
Only street-legal vehicles may drive on the beach except for areas designated for off-road vehicles.
ATVs are allowed in designated areas only. ATV operator permits are required. Operators of vehicles may not disturb wildlife or other natural resources or block access, use, or the safe and uninterrupted passage of others on the ocean shore.
Know before you go by ensuring you know all the rules and laws around vehicle access on Oregon’s beaches. Details can be found in the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Oregon Administrative Rules.
On March 17, 69-year-old Glendale resident Adam Lampert was found guilty for 21 misdemeanor charges related to trespassing and wildlife violations, according to a Monday morning news release from Oregon State Police.
The charges stemmed from an elk decoy operation that occurred in November 2020 by OSP Fish & Wildlife Troopers from the Roseburg and Coos Bay Area Commands,” the release said. “The investigation was concluded in January 2020 with a search warrant being served at Mr. Lampert’s residence.”
On March 23, Lampert was sentenced to 30 days in jail, five years of probation, a $2,100 fine and a three-year hunting license suspension, the release said. He also had to surrender his rifle.
During his five years of probation, Lampert cannot hunt, be in the woods with a centerfire rifle or accompany anyone else who is hunting, the release said. If he violates probation, he will receive an additional six months of jail time.
Portland resident and lung cancer survivor Glenna Marshall will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with his members of Congress during the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day. As a part of the nationwide event, long-term lung cancer advocate Marshall will join more than 40 other people across the country who have been impacted by lung cancer to ask lawmakers to support $51 billion in research funding for the National Institutes of Health, $11.6 billion in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to support and protect Medicaid.
Marshall, whose family has been touched repeatedly by lung cancer, is a passionate advocate for education and awareness about the disease. During Advocacy Day, Marshall will speak with members of the Oregon Congressional delegation, or their staff, to share her personal experiences with lung cancer and explain why investments in public health, research funding and quality and affordable healthcare are important to her and so many like her.
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