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 and News, and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance, your local health and Medicare agents.
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Poor Air Quality Alert in the Klamath Basin
Today
Widespread haze and smoky skies in the Basin between 8am and 11am. Sunny, with a high near 89. Light winds becoming west 9 to 14 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, mostly clear with a low of 53.
Today’s Headlines
BONANZA, Ore. – Firefighters working the Golden Fire in eastern Klamath County continue to make progress, making significant gains in extending mop-up efforts from 50-150 feet into the fire’s perimeter.
Fiber optic service has been restored in Lake County. Some services that rely on internet, like the 911 call center, may remain offline until the internal hardware is rebooted to restore full functionality. Internet lines south of Kingfisher Road are in place, and service will be restored as the power lines destroyed in the fire perimeter are repaired.
Golden Fire Daily Evening Update 072623 click here for full details from BasinLife.com
With mop-up work well beyond structures, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) will be demobilizing their remaining task forces and the Incident Management team tomorrow. OSFM would like to thank the community of Bonanza, cooperators, agency staff and firefighters for their hard work and unwavering support. The Oregon Department of Forestry Incident Management Team will continue working to increase containment and would like to thank OSFM for their partnership and efforts.
The Structural Damage Assessment has been updated as follows:
- Destroyed: 46 single residences and 69 outbuildings.
- Damaged: three single residences and four outbuildings.
Similar weather patterns are expected throughout the week, with fire behavior potentially changing to hotter temperatures, and winds at 15-25mph. Tonight favorable lower temperatures will assist mop-up efforts.
No change to evacuation orders as of July 25th at 4:40 p.m.:
- Level 3 (GO NOW)- all residence within a quarter mile around the fire perimeter and all areas inside the fire area. Evacuation is maintained along Hummingbird Drive and Sandpiper Drive.
- Level 2 (BE READY)- follows west of Bechdoldt Flat Rd, south of Racoon Lane and Jaguar Lane. It also extends east of the Golden Fire, approximately 3-4 miles to the powerline corridor.
- Level 1 (GET SET)-area now includes the west side of Hwy 140 to Golden Eagle Drive and north to Parrot Drive.
For the most current evacuation information, call the Klamath County hotline at 541-205-9730, and sign up for Klamath County alerts at http://alerts.klamathcounty.org. American Red Cross and Klamath County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) have established an evacuation shelter at Bonanza School, 31601 Mission Street, Bonanza, OR 97623.
In a related story, information and investigation suggests an illegal marijuana grow did not start the Golden Fire in Klamath County, the sheriff’s office said Tuesday.
Initial information suggested that’s what happened. The sheriff’s office says the cause is still under investigation, and it could take several weeks to figure out.
The 2,112-acre fire, burning 11 miles north of Bonanza, is still only about 15% contained. (KCSO)
(Firefighters working on hotspots on the Golden Fire in Southern Oregon’s eastern Klamath County.)
Klamath Community College has been a hive of wildland firefighter activity this week as it is serving as the operations staging grounds for fire crews battling the Golden Fire in eastern Klamath County.
Daily briefings with regional and statewide officials from fire teams, government agencies, and politicians, a bevy of firefighting equipment from across the state, and firefighter tents set up on campus lawns have become the norm as the battle to curtail the blaze north of Bonanza continues. Approximately 635 personnel were working on the 2,112-acre Golden Fire as of Wednesday, with an estimated 43 primary structure and 43 outbuildings being destroyed pending further damage assessment, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
This is not the first time KCC has served as staging grounds for emergency responders, with its prime location at the crossroads of two major highways and ample acreage making it ideal to host emergency crews when necessary. (KCC press release)
Beginning Friday, July 28, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, and all private, county, and state wildlands protected by the Klamath-Lake District, Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will be raising the Fire Danger Level to EXTREME.
With the progression of summer conditions and continued drying of forest fuels, local fire danger levels have reached “EXTREME”. Fires starting in these conditions have the potential for rapid fire spread and major damage.
Additional fire prevention requirements have been placed on industrial forest operations. High speed rotary saws and tracked felling/skidding equipment are required to shut down between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. High speed rotary saws are also REQUIRED to have an “operation area observer” visually inspecting the area worked in and also additional fire equipment. These are in addition to the normal requirements listed in “A Guide to Legal Requirements for Prevention and Controlling Fires in Operations On and Near Forest Land in Oregon.”
These additional restrictions, along with Public Regulated Use Restrictions that were put in effect by fire officials on June 12th , will dramatically reduce the chance of an accidental fire start.
Industrial Fire Precaution Level III (IFPL) will be implemented on public lands administered by the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District, and Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
((SCFMP press release))
Klamath County based state representative Dennis Linthicum says he plans on running again for reelection.
Late on Monday, a group of Oregon Senate Republicans announced their plans to run for re-election, despite the fact that some of them ran afoul of a voter-approved measure during this year’s legislative walkout that bars them from holding office next term.
State senators Tim Knopp and Dennis Linthicum each participated in the Senate Republican walkout that held up business in the chamber for a record six weeks, and each exceeded 10 unexcused absences. Under Measure 113, passed overwhelmingly by voters in November 2022, this means that they are disqualified from serving in the same seat in the coming term.
Regardless, Senate Republicans have said that they plan to test the law, taking it to court if they have to. First, Knopp said that he’s asking Oregon’s new Secretary of State for a ruling on their eligibility to run.
Under the Oregon Constitution, each chamber of the legislature must have a two-thirds majority present in order to reach a quorum and conduct floor votes. By avoiding roll call, lawmakers from both parties have in the past successfully denied a quorum and halted business, despite being in the minority, in order to lodge a protest and gain leverage.
Once a relatively rare tactic, minority Republicans have weaponized Oregon’s quorum rules in recent years — staging walkouts in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
(Oregon News/SR Lithicum)
Klamath Community College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Small Business Management Program (SBM) is accepting applications for a limited number of participants.
Entering its 10th year, the nine-month SBM program is designed for established business owners who have filed at least two years of taxes and are ready to begin further business development. This unique combination of once-amonth classroom sessions, one-on-one advisor coaching, and networking, is aimed at improving each business – from marketing to managerial skills – with a focus on annual goals.
The SBM program covers management topics with customized curriculum and helps identify and prioritize outcomes, and develop plans to achieve them. Topics include: business and personal skills assessment, strategy and planning, employment law for small businesses, marketing essentials, digital marketing management, finance and accounting for decision-making, leadership skills for customer service, and lean operations.
Monthly three-hour classroom sessions are a combination of instructor-led learning and discussion at the Klamath IDEA Center, 803 Main St., Suite 103. Sessions begin Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Additional monthly networking opportunities with entrepreneur peers will also be offered. Limited space is available for the SBM program, which costs $795. To enroll, or for more information, contact Estella Woodley at 541-205-5404 or email sbdc@klamathcc.edu. (KCC press release)
As they say in the business, “the show must go on.” Despite wildfires that have destroyed dozens of homes in the area this week, the 20th annual Bonanza Extravaganza is scheduled to be held as planned Saturday, July 29, at Big Springs Park.
The Extravaganza begins with a parade at 10 a.m. The Oregon State Chili Cook-Off will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with The Kurt Van Meter Band the headline act at 6 p.m.
Daytime musical entertainment will be provided by The Glass Hearts and author Rick Steber will be signing books. Other offerings include a show and shine car show, a homemade hobby festival, a dunk tank and children’s carnival, a children’s art festival, a cornhole tournament, a pie and cobbler bake-off, cannon demonstrations by the Cascade Civil War Society, an antique tractor showcase, food vendors and a town-wide garage sale. (Herald and News)
Coming to The Ragland Theater, Klamath Falls…. Disney’s THE LION KING!
Around the state of Oregon
The biggest fire in Oregon, the Flat Fire, continues to burn as well in the Rogue River-Siskyou National Forest, south of Agness and east of Gold Beach in Curry County.
The fire has grown to over 24,000 acres and is now just 3% contained.
While that may not seem like much, fire officials tell us that a lot of work went into getting containment to this point.
Firefighters have continuously set up fire lines and controlled burns to slow the fire’s activity. Firefighters are also very critical of what areas are considered contained. (RR/Sisk NF)
Two Arrested for Murder in Douglas County
Press release from the Major Crimes Team- Douglas County
Two arrests have been made in a month-old murder case. On June 25, 2023, a deceased male, with an apparent gunshot wound, was located near the I-5 milepost 101 interchange, near Canyonville, in Douglas County.
The Douglas County Major Crime Team was activated and the Oregon State Police was designated as lead investigating agency due to the crime scene being located within an ODOT right-of-way. The deceased male was identified as Joshua Alexander (34) of Roseburg. After an extensive investigation, two suspects were identified in the case.
On July 20, 2023, Allen Lloyd Swindler (36) of Sutherlin was arrested and on July 26, 2023, Sierra Sioux Jennings (34) also of Sutherlin was arrested. Both Swindler and Jennings were charged with Murder and lodged at the Douglas County Jail.
The investigation is active and ongoing- no further information is available for release at this time.
Participating agencies of the Douglas County Major Crime Team include; the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police, and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab.
Gas prices are up across the country, but not in Oregon at the moment, although Oregon gas prices are much higher than many states already. AAA reports the national average price for a gallon of regular increased seven cents last week to 3.64 a gallon. Try to find that in Oregon.
Rising crude oil prices and heat related problems at refineries are causing prices to rise. Oregon was one of only five states to see a price decline. The average price of gas in Oregon declined two cents to 4.58 a gallon.
(AAA Oregon)
Josephine County Sheriff’s Bust Another Illegal Grow Site
REPORTING DEPUTY: Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET), July 25, 2023
ARRESTED: Jesus Mario Arizmendi, 29 years-old
Alberto Garcia-Mendoza, 34 years-old
CHARGES: 1- Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana
2- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana
DETAILS:
On July 24, 2023, the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) with the assistance of Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety, executed a search warrant in the 500 block of Verde Lane, Merlin, regarding an illegal marijuana grow site.
During the execution of the warrant, 1,500 pounds of processed marijuana was seized and destroyed.
The property also had multiple water and solid waste code violations. These violations could result in the criminal forfeiture of the property.
Jesus Mario Arizmedni and Alberto Garcia-Mendoza were both taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. At the time of this press release the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released.
Lane County Sheriff’s Office Busts Illegal Butane Hash Oil Operation off of Prairie Road
Lane County Sheriff’s Office Detectives served a search warrant at an illegal butane hash oil operation (BHO) in the 29800blk of Kelso St. Monday morning. Authorities found extremely dangerous conditions that included the use of highly volatile chemicals within the immediate proximity of poorly constructed and unpermitted electrical work.
“It’s a miracle that this lab has not exploded yet”, stated an LCSO detective that wishes to remain anonymous at this time. This lab was located in very close proximity to residences and businesses including a large lumber mill.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an explosion of a very similar lab in the Fall Creek area in January of this year. Clandestine labs such as these pose an extreme hazard to the communities in which they operate. Misuse of hazardous chemicals not only carry the risk of explosion but poison the environment when not properly maintained and disposed.
During the execution of the warrant, large quantities of BHO in various stages of processing were seized. The site also contained a large-scale psilocybin mushroom manufacturing operation.
Investigators took 47-year-old Brandon Dylan Whitmer into custody for a warrant out of Linn County for Arson in the First Degree. This warrant is related to a butane hash oil lab explosion that occurred in May of 2021 in Linn County. Whitmer had also been injured in a BHO lab explosion in Eugene in August of 2021.
A search warrant was also served on Whitmer’s residence in the Coburg area. Additional processed marijuana and evidence related to the manufacturing of marijuana products was discovered.
Whitmer received new charges today for the illegal manufacture of marijuana products and unlawful possession of marijuana related items. He was lodged at the Lane County Jail. Lane County Land Management has been involved in the investigation and will be following up regarding the multiple code violations located at the site.
Oregonians Can Start To Apply For Paid Work Leave Next Month
Oregon workers can apply for benefits through the state’s new paid leave program starting Aug. 14, with benefits starting in September. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Oregon workers can apply for benefits through the state’s new paid leave program starting Aug. 14.
The program, Paid Leave Oregon , covers family leave, medical leave and safe leave for Oregonians with jobs. Oregon is the 12th state in the nation with paid family and medical leave for workers, due to a bill the Legislature passed in 2019. Oregonians can qualify for leave for reasons that include:
- A child arriving in their family, whether through birth, adoption or a foster care placement.
- Caring for themselves due to a serious health condition.
- Caring for a family member with a serious health condition.
- If they or their child experience sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment or stalking. This is called “safe leave.”
Oregon Employment Department officials determined the trust fund, which collects employee payroll deductions and employer contributions, will be solvent and ready to launch benefits the week of Sept. 3. As a result, this will be the first week workers can start their paid leave. Payments will go out within two weeks of when their leave starts, state officials said.
To apply for leave, employees will use the Oregon Employment Department’s new online system called Frances Online .
Employees can now go to the employee overview page and find many resources, including a guidebook.
Detailed information for employees, including eligibility requirements, tutorial videos, a benefits calculator, and much more, will be available on the Paid Leave website on Aug. 14.
“We’re opening up the application process a little early so we can handle that big influx of initial applications we expect,” said Karen Madden Humelbaugh, director of Paid Leave Oregon.
Humelbaugh said the state cannot retroactively pay people who took leave before Sept. 3.
State officials expect the demand to be high initially and level out. They project about 41,000 workers will file claims for leave during the initial launch and that figure will eventually level out to about 12,000 claims a month.
One reason why the initial period will see more claims is because workers can take leave due to the birth or arrival of a new child into the family within the first year.
“You do have all those folks who maybe their child is 10 months old, so they could take the last two months or something like that,” Humelbaugh said.
How it works
In January 2023, employers and employees started contributing to a trust fund that will pay for employee paid leave benefits. Workers will be eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid leave annually, or 14 weeks for pregnancy-related medical leave.
In 2021, state lawmakers delayed the start of contributions for one year, from January 2022 to January 2023, as the Oregon Employment Department worked on a project to modernize its technology during the pandemic.
Employers and employees fund Paid Leave Oregon with a combined total contribution of 1% of gross payroll. Employees pay 60% and large employers with 25 or more employees will contribute the remaining 40%.
For an employee who makes $50,000 in annual gross wages, the worker’s share is $300 annually and the employer will contribute $200.
Employers with fewer than 25 employees are not required to contribute, but their workers still pay into the program and are eligible.
Part-time employees, or those with multiple jobs, are eligible.
The program will pay benefits on a sliding scale, based on how much employees make. Many low-income Oregonians will be eligible for all their paychecks while on paid leave. For example, Oregonians making minimum wage will receive 100% of their regular pay while on paid leave.
It’s a smaller share for high-income Oregonians. For example, someone earning $2,555.78 a week – about $133,000 annually – would get $1,469.78 a week in paid leave.
Most employees are covered, with the exception of tribal governments, independent contractors and self-employed business owners. However, they can choose to participate in the program.
Federal government employees are not eligible. Employers that offer equivalent paid leave benefits can opt out of the state’s program.
During the 2023 legislative session, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 31 , which requires the Oregon Employment Department to make sure the Paid Leave Oregon trust fund is solvent before starting any benefits.
“Just like any new statewide program of this size, we know we will have to adjust along the way,” Humelbaugh said. “SB 31 was good contingency planning, and we will continue to work with the Legislature and other key partners as we monitor the program’s progress after launch.” (SOURCE)
Those that travel often to Medford, and use Foothill road to enter the backside of Medford from the East and highway 140 from the Basin, take note of the heavy construction in that area now.
Foothill Road is undergoing one of the biggest reconstruction projects in Medford history to widen and re-pave roads for public safety. Foothill Road will be closed from East McAndrews Street to Hillcrest Road starting Monday, July 31. It will open temporarily for a construction break in November.
Open and closing dates have not been announced yet because it will depend on the construction and weather capabilities.
The project is the going to take three years to complete. There will be a total of 5 stages. The City of Medford is wrapping up stage one which is reconstructing the ramp on foothills road. Starting Monday there will be complete closure of Foothill Road from East McAndrews Street to Hillcrest Road. The road is used by many that have medical appointments at or near Asante Rogue Valley Regional Medical Center. (KDRV 12)
Salem, Ore. – A new, more user-friendly Oregon Arts Commission website will launch the week of Aug. 21, 2023. The url will be artscomission.oregon.gov (not live until after launch). Visitors to the old website will be automatically redirected after the new site launches.
“The new website is a simple, straight-forward design with easy access to grant opportunities, information and timely news items, including community impact stories made possible by Arts Commission funding,” said Arts Commission Executive Director Brian Rogers. “It also features photographs depicting the arts throughout Oregon.”
The homepage will include links to all grant programs and resources for arts organizations and individual artists. Economic impact data of the arts and a focus on art-based community development will also be featured.
The new site also will mark a transition from a .org to a .gov platform, ensuring ongoing recognition as an official Oregon state agency website.
The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts.
Thanks for reading BasinLife.com from Wynne Broadcasting. Enjoy articles, news and weather updates, music, entertainment news, recipes, business offers, contests and much more right here every day.
Ready to Advertise? We’re ready to help you with the best digital advertising in Southern Oregon. You can receive Daily Radio Mentions across our 6 stations, Articles, direct link Banner Ads, floating Banner Ads on hundreds of article pages daily, Social Media Posts, Email Blasts to thousands of local residents, and the latest smart digital marketing strategies for 2023 for your business. For information or prices on plans, simply call us today at 541-363-7503 or email us at Info@BasinLife.com. Let us keep your business top-of -mind!