Klamath Basin News, Thursday, June 15 – Ferguson Scholarships awarded to Eight Basin Students; Klamath County Budget Set; KCC To LiveStream Graduation Ceremonies

KCC to livestream commencement, K-CET graduation

For friends and families unable to attend in-person, Klamath Community College (KCC) will livestream its Class of 2023 Commencement, as well as its Klamath Center for Education and Training (K-CET) graduation ceremony.

The KCC Commencement Ceremony is for all graduating students and their families, taking place at 6 p.m. Friday, June 16 on KCC’s graduation lawn at Founders Hall. The keynote speaker this year is Tayo Akins, CEO and president of Cascade Comprehensive Care and Cascade Health Alliance. Attendance to the ceremony is free, there will be a reception afterward inside Building 4 on the KCC campus.

Additionally, livestreaming services will also be provided for the K-CET program, honoring students who have completed their GEDs through KCC. This ceremony will take place inside Building 4 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, and is also free to attend.

Beyond the commencement ceremony, a number of other KCC programs also host their own separate ceremonies to honor graduates. Over the first weekend of June, graduates in KCC’s Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) and Registered Nurse (RN) programs held a pinning ceremony – a long-standing tradition for new nurses. Additional upcoming ceremonies include graduates of the TRiO Student Support Services program, Highschool Equivalency Program (HEP), and high school Accelerated Learning program.

The livestream will be at www.klamathcc.edu/watch-commencement, or on KCC’s YouTube channel. For more information visit klamathcc.edu.

Klamath County is next in line for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley’s annual Town Hall meetings.

Rescheduled from March due to inclement weather, the community conversation is planned for 1 p.m., Friday, June 16 at Oregon Tech’s Danny Miles Court gymnasium, 3201 Campus Drive.

Since taking office in 2009, Merkley (D-Ore.) has annually visited every county in the state and held virtual sessions during the pandemic.

Merkley said his decisions and policies are shaped by the perspectives of Oregonians.

Klamath County’s Town Hall will be the 30th stop for Merkley so far this year.

The senator will continue his tour with a visit to Lake County the following day, Saturday, June 17. The Lake County Town Hall will begin at 5 p.m. and will be held in the Lakeview High School cafeteria at 906 S. 3rd St.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church will present Music For A Midsummer’s Eve, a concert of classical music, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18.

According to a press release, the concert is free and open to the public and will feature a program of songs and arias along with works for organ.

Performers include Onalee Melton, soprano, who will be accompanied on piano by Dan Crenshaw, and Maxim Dzul, director of music and principal organist at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the release states.

According to the release, the upcoming concert includes vocal works by George Gershwin, Eric Whitacre, Robert Schumann, Gabriel Fauré and Gaetano Donizetti as well as works for the organ by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Johann Sebastian Bach, Max Reger and Charles Widor.

Sacred Heart has presented a series of free classical concerts over the past eight years which have become increasingly popular with local audiences that enjoy classical music. Sunday’s concert will be approximately 75 minutes in length.

Klamath Falls is in the spotlight this week after being named one of America’s top 15 small towns to visit in Smithsonian Magazine.

The article, written by travel correspondent Laura Kiniry describes Klamath Falls’ rich history and vibrant downtown.  Kiniry referred to Klamath Falls as a “nature lover’s small town,” noting the usual 300 days of sunshine each year.

South-centrally located in Oregon, Kiniry listed activities for the outdoor adventurists such as rafting the white-water rapids of the Klamath River and hiking the Tomahawk Trail up Mount McLoughlin.

And come this fall, Moore Park, Upper Klamath Lake and the nearby Crater Lake National Park will serve as prime viewpoints for the next annular solar eclipse Oct. 14.

Road Construction All Summer.  Klamath County or utility companies have work crews out on roads all over the Klamath Basin and ask you to drive carefully.

Motorists are asked to use caution when in work areas and to watch for flaggers. Any motorists who are able to avoid the work zones, is asked to use an alternate route for their safety and the safety of Klamath County employees and contractors.

Utility work with intermittent lane closures is scheduled for the vicinity of Stearns Elementary School on Crest Street from Clinton to Denver and on Laverne Avenue from Crest to Altamont.

Bobs Excavating is slated to perform storm sewer work.

Finally, crack seal and patching work is scheduled for miscellaneous County Roads

Traffic control measures will be in place for guidance. Motorists should use alternative routes if possible.

In general, flagging stations will be set up at the end of the work zone and delays will be zero to 20 minutes for the motoring public. The county’s goal is to minimize the delay to the motoring public.

There might be adjustments of work schedules due to weather or other items outside of the county’s control such as the breakdown of equipment or lack of availability of materials or resources.

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 541-883-4696.

Around the state of Oregon

Hundreds of Oregon Legislature bills are about to be lost for the season if the stall continues by a Republican-led walkout in the Senate, if not resolved soon.  Some of those bills have both widespread political support and passionate champions in the general public.

One of the bills is House Bill 2676. The bill includes a package of reforms to crime victim compensation, the resources that Oregonians are entitled to after becoming the victim of a crime. That includes things like counseling and help with medical bills.

If passed, HB 2676 would expand the types of resources covered by the state — among them, “strangulation kits.” Like a rape kit, strangulation kits are an investigative tool used in hospitals for victims of assault, often in domestic violence situations. They help nurses collect forensic evidence that can be used in court to prosecute the suspect.

Right now strangulation kits are not used universally, and the bill would help get kits out to more counties; provided to more victims of this kind of assault.

Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.7% in May 

Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7% in May, down from 4.0% in April. This was the fourth consecutive monthly drop in the unemployment rate, down from a recent high of 4.8% in January. The May rate was similar to rates in February through May 2022, when it ranged from 3.5% to 3.7%. Oregon’s May unemployment rate of 3.7% equaled the U.S. unemployment rate, which rose to 3.7% in May from 3.4% in April. 

In May, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 3,600 jobs, following a revised gain of 500 jobs in April. Over-the-month gains were largest in financial activities (+1,200 jobs), leisure and hospitality (+1,100), and transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+1,000). Declines were largest in retail trade (-500 jobs) and government (-300). Since May 2022, Oregon has added 39,100 nonfarm payroll jobs (+2.0%). 

Leisure and hospitality, while still adding jobs, has grown at a slower rate during the past 12 months than during its rapid partial recovery during much of 2020 and 2021. Its component industry, accommodation and food services, which employed 177,000 in May, added 4,800 jobs in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, arts, entertainment, and recreation, which employed 27,600 in May, added 2,800 jobs in that time. Despite these recent gains, leisure and hospitality is still 11,900 jobs (-5%) below where it was in February 2020, just prior to the Pandemic Recession. 

Dozens of firefighters from six Oregon counties are now working to battle a pair of wildfires burning in Umatilla County.

The Hat Rock Fire broke out Tuesday morning along Highway 730 near the Juniper Canyon area, and the Mount Hebron Fire is burning near Pendleton. As of Tuesday night, the Hat Rock Fire was burning at about 10,000 acres.

Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act Tuesday night to mobilize resources and help fight the fires.  Strong gusts of 30 to 40 mph are fanning the flames, forecasters say, and the northeast flank of the fire could see some growth.

Fire Update: Thursday, June 15

Some fire activity was spotted yesterday on both fires. In mid-afternoon on the Hat Rock Fire, a flare-up was spotted near the southwest corner of the original fire. It was quickly put out by crews and kept within containment lines. A similar situation occurred in the Mount Hebron Fire; the fire made a small run on the west side within the original fire footprint. Crews engaged and stopped further fire progress. Extinguishing flare-ups immediately is a priority for crews as prevailing winds continue to be a potential instigator for the fires finding new life. 

The OSFM Green Team assigned to the incident remains committed to a successful transfer of the contained fires back to local jurisdictions. Incident Commander Lance Lighty said, “Our job is not complete until we have confidence in the lines holding. Crews have been tested with unfavorable weather conditions and dry fuels, but favorable weather and the hard work of crews are putting us on a successful path to complete fire containment.” 

Crews worked throughout the day and night to build upon existing containment lines around the entirety of each fire. Work is continuing to protect buildings near or in the fire perimeter by providing 100’ containment. 

The OSFM continues to work in coordination with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) in firefighting efforts. Helicopter bucket drops were used in the Juniper Canyon area where rugged terrain held hot spots. ODF has also a provided hand crew, two dozers with personnel, and a unit leader from the Pendleton Unit to coordinate ODF support. 

Infrared flights yesterday gathered vital information and a better visual on the full scale of the rapid fire growth that occurred on Tuesday. The flight records heat signatures inside the fire perimeter and gives a better look at the size of the fire. The data is being used to coordinate crews and engage them in priority areas. Updated numbers are now estimating acreage to be 15,843 acres for the Hat Rock Fire and 370 acres for the Mount Hebron Fire. 

Evacuation orders are still in effect for a portion of the Hat Rock Fire. Please refer to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. 

Fatal Crash on Highway 138 in Douglas County

On Monday, June 12, 2023, at approximately 8:45 A.M., the Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Hwy 138E, near milepost 64, in Douglas County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a white GMC Sierra, operated by Donald Lee Wade (79) of Roseburg, was traveling eastbound on Hwy 138E when, for unknown reasons, it veered off the right-hand shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle traveled approximately 360 feet down the dirt shoulder of the highway before coming to an uncontrolled rest in the ditch.  The operator of the vehicle (Wade) was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Oregon Food Bank Sees Increased Demand

Oregon Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS

Interior Dept. Propose Rules to Bolster Solar and Wine Power Development 

The Department of the Interior today announced a proposed update of its renewable energy regulations to promote the development of solar and wind energy on public lands. The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed Renewable Energy Rule would reduce fees for these projects by around 80%, facilitate development in priority areas by streamlining review of applications, and deliver greater certainty for the private sector.  
 
“The Department of the Interior takes seriously our responsibility to manage the nation’s public lands responsibly and with an eye toward the increasing impacts of the climate crisis. The power and potential of the clean energy future is an undeniable and critical part of that work,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Laura Daniel-Davis. “Under President Biden and Secretary Haaland’s leadership, this Administration is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach toward ambitious clean energy goals that will support families, boost local economies, and help increase climate resilience in communities across the West.” 
 
“Our public lands are playing a critical role in the clean energy transition,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. “This proposed rule would allow the BLM to continue leading the way on renewable energy while furthering President Biden’s commitment to building a clean energy economy, tackling the climate crisis, promoting American energy security, and creating jobs in communities across the country.”  
 
The BLM today also made available updated information regarding its ongoing programmatic environmental review for solar energy development across 11 Western states. The preliminary alternatives build on robust public engagement that is helping to strengthen updated plans for responsible solar energy development on public lands.  
 
Today’s actions are part of broader Biden-Harris administration efforts to unlock the benefits of clean energy. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the middle out and bottom up – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good paying jobs, including union jobs, and building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. 
 
Proposed Renewable Energy Rule 
 
The Energy Act of 2020 authorized the BLM to reduce acreage rents and capacity fees to promote wind and solar development. The BLM initially reduced these fees through guidance in 2022. Today’s proposed rule would codify further reductions, improving financial predictability for developers pursuing long-term projects on public land.  
 
The proposed Renewable Energy Rule would expand the BLM’s ability to accept leasing applications in priority areas for wind and solar development without first going through a full auction. It would retain the BLM’s ability to hold competitive auctions where appropriate and consistent with past practice, and expand the BLM’s ability to accept non-competitive leasing applications when they are in the public interest. This update would help facilitate development in these identified priority areas while maintaining appropriate flexibility to ensure a fair return for the use of the public lands. 
 
The proposed rule would also continue the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to creating American manufacturing jobs while helping to build a clean energy economy. The proposal seeks input on additional incentives to promote public lands’ renewable energy projects developed with American-made parts and materials or constructed using union labor. 

The proposed rule opens a 60-day public comment period, which will include three public meetings.  
 
Next Steps on Solar Programmatic Review 
 
In addition to the proposed rule, today the BLM posted preliminary alternatives for the ongoing update to its planning for Western solar development, another step to support responsible renewable energy development on public lands. The BLM is undergoing a process to update its programmatic environmental review for solar energy development across 11 Western states, building on the 2012 Western Solar Plan. 
 
The expanded review would provide updated analysis to support identification of areas with a high potential for solar energy development, as well as expedite permit processing and improve permit management for development in priority areas. The preliminary alternatives made available today provide the public an opportunity to consider emerging options for this planning process. Information about this ongoing planning effort is available on the BLM National NEPA Register, and further information on the preliminary alternatives are in the Federal Register notice. 
 
Continued Progress on Responsible Clean Energy Development 
 
The steps announced today complement the BLM’s proposed Public Lands Rule, which would provide further support for siting projects in appropriate locations while putting conservation on an equal footing with other uses. The Public Lands Rule would provide consistent direction and new tools for compensatory mitigation, allowing developers to offset the impacts of projects with restoration or mitigation efforts on public lands, for the public’s benefit. 
 
Taken together, these actions are helping advance the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to support the efficient and environmentally responsible development of renewable energy on BLM-managed public lands, provide greater clarity and consistency in permitting, and allow continued acceleration of project reviews and approvals, all while balancing the BLM’s multiple use mandate. 
 
Since January 2021, the BLM has approved 35 renewable energy projects, including 10 solar projects, 8 geothermal projects, and 17 transmission gen-tie projects connecting renewable projects to the grid, on approximately 23,396 acres of BLM-managed public lands. These projects are expected to produce 8,160 megawatts of electricity — enough to power more than 2.6 million homes.  
 
The BLM is currently processing 74 utility-scale onshore clean energy projects proposed on public lands in the western United States. This includes solar, wind and geothermal projects, as well as interconnected gen-tie lines that are vital to clean energy development on non-federal land. These projects have the combined potential to add over 37,000 megawatts of renewable energy to the western electric grid. The BLM is also undertaking the preliminary review of over 150 applications for solar and wind development, as well as 51 applications for solar and wind energy testing.  
 
The BLM manages vast stretches of public lands with the potential to contribute significantly to the nation’s renewable energy portfolio and provides sites for environmentally sound renewable energy projects. Efficient deployment of renewable energy on our nation’s public lands is crucial in achieving the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, as well as Congress’ direction in the Energy Act of 2020 to permit 25 gigawatts of solar, wind, and geothermal energy on public lands by 2025

A fruit company based in Salem, Oregon is voluntarily recalling several of its frozen fruit items that contain strawberries.

Willamette Valley Fruit Company says the strawberries were grown in Mexico and could be contaminated with hepatitis A.

The company is recalling the following products out of an abundance of caution. They include Great Value Sliced Strawberries, Great Value mixed fruit, Great Valley Anti-Oxidant Blend, Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend, and Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio.

The products were sold at Walmart, Costco and HEB.

So far, there are no reports of anyone getting sick from the items.

Consumers who own any of the recalled products should either throw them out or return them to a store for a refund.

Repair to a pipeline that supplies gasoline to Oregon is causing gas prices to soar.The Triple-A reports Oregon’s average increased 17 cents a gallon to four-47 over the last week.

The Olympic Pipeline runs from Blaine, Washington to Portland and moves gas from Washington’s four refineries. Planned maintenance will temporarily reduce gas supplies, and that, combined with rising summer demand caused prices to jump.

Is an epic rainy system headed for the Pacific Northwest? Cliff Mass thinks so.

Mass is a professor of atmospheric sciences with a popular weather blog and some unpopular opinions, both weather-related and not. He is, however, well-respected when it comes to day-to-day weather reporting.

In a post from Sunday titled, “The Northwest Will Soon Share California’s Fate,” Mass makes the case that the precipitation that has led to a cold, wet spring in California is coming for Oregon and Washington.

So, what does the National Weather Service say about this?

Jon Bonk, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland, said he couldn’t comment on Mass’s post or theory.

According to the weather service, some of that cooling will come even sooner, when “temps may test record lows,” especially on Wednesday night.

If you have young plants, they may require a cover if the lows get too low.

As far as drought goes, things aren’t perfect but they are looking up.

School’s Out, Summer Jobs Are Starting

Money tips from Umpqua Bank…Teach your teens about money in five easy steps from Southern Oregon bank manager. 

We all have money goals. Today’s movie and snacks with friends or first car could be tomorrow’s college tuition or down payment on a house. And the path toward those goals is really the same: save money from the start, spend less than you make. 

“Getting kids used to saving money now will set them up for a stronger financial future as an adult,” says Neal Brown, EVP/Market Region Manager at Oregon-based Umpqua Bank. “And if they need a little extra incentive, you could offer to match what they save each month.” 

Whether your kids earn an allowance at home, work odd jobs for neighbors (think lawn care or babysitting), or have a job that earns an actual paycheck, here are five tips to help them spend their money smarter and learn life’s financial lessons early.

1. Help them set goals. When you have the “why,” saving money is easier. Work with them to identify a short-term, mid-term, and long-term goal. Maybe it’s Saturday shopping with friends, new clothes in the fall and a new-to-them car. Work out a plan identifying a percentage to save from each paycheck or job, and how much can be used for “fun” money. Then make them earn it. The less you dole out cash, the more they’ll learn its value. 

Now’s also a good time to teach generosity by encouraging them to set aside a small amount for charity — whether tithing at church, buying a bag of food to donate to a food bank, or contributing to a younger sibling’s school fundraiser. 

2. Find a bank. Go with them to open an account. Umpqua Bank, for example, offers accounts ideal for customers under 18. 

“Ask your bank what they offer for those just beginning to learn to manage their money,” suggests Justin Burns, Product Manager at Umpqua Bank. Look for features like whether the account includes an ATM card only or an ATM debit card and check writing, and even whether there is the ability to earn interest. More robust accounts, Burns adds, are ideal for older teens who are “ready to begin banking and saving for their next stage of life.” 

Also ask about linking your accounts so you can transfer money into or out of their account and have visibility into their spending habits. Don’t worry, you can set it up so you can see into their account, but they can’t see into yours.

3. Sign up for direct deposit. If their employer offers it, have them sign up, with some of their money going directly into a savings account where they’re less likely to spend it. Many experts recommend starting with 10% of their income going into savings. After all, when else will they have their basic food, clothing and shelter needs covered by someone else? 
4. Use a budget app. Their world is on their phone, so why not make budgeting a part of your teen’s daily screen routine? There are a ton of free apps out there. Just make sure they enter every expense every day so they can quickly see where their money is going. Some banks also feature budget tools that are often free and will automatically track and categorize spending.
5. Teach the grown-up stuff. If they earn enough, Uncle Sam will come calling. Make sure they’re aware that their actual paycheck will have taxes withheld. You can estimate how much they’ll bring home and adjust the savings percentages as needed. You might also consider opening a Roth IRA (custodial for minors) if they will have earned income from a job. Even if they only contribute a little each month, they’ll learn about compound interest and can add more as their income increases throughout the years. Look for institutions with low-cost, low-minimum-to-open options.