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.
Friday, July 28, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Poor Air Quality Alert in the Klamath Basin
Today
Widespread haze before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon. Overnight clear, with a low around 53. West wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable.
Today’s Headlines
Bonanza, Oregon – Here’s the latest on the Golden Fire, burning near Bonanza on Bly mountain. Containment grows to 27%, and crews remain vigilant amid hotter, windier weather.
Additional updates can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/
The hundreds of firefighters have done an outstanding job of keeping the fire in check. The winds and high temperatures expected on Friday and Saturday will test the existing holding lines. In the meantime, day and night shift crews will continue to gain depth in mop-up operations.
Crews will assess the unburned areas within and along the fire’s perimeter using infrared cameras to detect heat signatures. This will help the night and day resources during mop-up as the camera detects heat that may be unseen by the naked eye. Heat is known to linger in the duff layer under juniper trees. Removing the heat now will reduce the risk of flare ups later.
Information boards: Information boards can be found at the following locations:
• Bonanza General Store – 31919 OR-70 Bonanza, OR 97623
• Bonanza Post Office – 2899 Market Street Bonanza, OR 97623
• Cactus J Restaurant – 31771 Oregon 70’Bonanza, OR 97623
• Dairy Diner – 22121 Hwy 140 Dairy, OR 97625
• Fire Camp – 25844 Petersteiner Rd. Bonanza, OR 97623
• Longhorn Saloon & Restaurant – 2857 Hwy 70, Market St. Bonanza, OR 97623
• Red Cross Evacuation Shelter 31610 Mission St., Bonanza, OR 97623
Information boards contain daily updates and current maps. Additional updates can be
found at: https://www.facebook.com/goldenfire2023/.
The wildfire that started last weekend in southern Oregon has burned dozens of homes and caused area residents to lose 911 service and internet, state officials said Tuesday.
Contractors for Pacific Power and Lumen Technologies completed their line work on the main line through the fire area. The next step will be to restore power to individual houses from the main line. Trees Inc. is working to remove hazard trees along powerline easements.
There is currently a red flag warning issued for Klamath County. This will not affect the fire as it is issued just outside the area. It is expected to be hot, dry, and windy through the weekend. Temperatures will continue to increase into next week.
Evacuations downgraded as of Thursday, July 27 at 11:00 a.m.:
• Level 2 (BE READY)- all areas inside the fire perimeter.
All other evacuations have been lifted. While evaluations are reduced, it is always a good idea to stay vigilant and prepared during fire season. For public and firefighter safety, we urge the public to drive slow in the fire area and watch out for overhead hazards.
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.
Today, Friday, the local fire district of the South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership will increase the fire danger to extreme for Klamath and Lake counties. During these conditions fires may spread rapidly. Be sure to prevent anything that can spark a wildfire. For more information on the release and other restrictions visit: http://scofmp.org/
For several weeks now, as the morning cool turns to the heat of the day, vast swarms of voracious grasshoppers have been pouring out of the dry, largely barren Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge into the surrounding irrigated farm fields around Merrill and Tulelake. Concerns are growing that crop damage could extend into the millions of dollars.
Local farmers say they’ve never seen anything like it.
With outbreaks that coincide with warm, dry conditions, grasshoppers have been a growing problem during the extended drought across the West. In 2021, Oregon suffered its worst grasshopper outbreak in half a century, with an estimated 10 million acres impacted across 18 counties.
Last year, similar outbreaks were reported throughout northern California, including portions of Modoc County. Yet the cold, wet winter that the Klamath Basin just experienced should have knocked back numbers to some degree, as grasshoppers are susceptible to naturally occurring fungi that act as a check on populations.
Grasshoppers probably benefitted from the vegetation that grew from all the water, along with the warm spells observed in May, June, and now July, but that doesn’t explain the level of infestation being observed this year. Drive along Stateline Road, however, through the middle of Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, and the picture starts to become clearer. Passing along the only flooded portion of the refuge, Unit 2, the grasshoppers are absent. As you near the end of these wetlands, the road ahead appears to be literally moving as the hordes of grasshoppers march north out of the dry, barren portions of the refuge. Yellow stains across the asphalt mark the edge of the migration.
Grasshoppers can eat more than two times their body weight in a single day. Thirty pounds of grasshoppers can eat an equivalent amount of grass as a 600-pound heifer. Beyond damage to crops and pastures, they strip forages that deer and other wildlife depend upon.
Local farmers anticipate potentially millions of dollars in crop losses and additional production costs at this rate. (KWUA press release)
The corners of Third Street and Klamath Avenue were filled with the sounds of silence Tuesday afternoon by silent protesters demonstrating against a decision made by the Board of Klamath County Commissioners to temporarily halt a library book club.
Before the weekly board business meeting, demonstrators lined up with signs reading “let our professional librarians do their jobs,” “libraries are the backbone of democracy,” “free people read freely,” and one that read “censorship sucks.”
The social justice book club came under the commission’s eye after a citizen called in to complain about the club discussing a book titled, “No More Police: A Case for Abolition.”
Only one member of the book club attended the discussion that month.
As a result, Commissioners Dave Henslee and Derrick DeGroot argued there should be no political programming in Klamath County libraries, which use taxpayer-funded county staff in the role of moderators.
A solution offered by the board is to have volunteers act as moderators, but many demonstrators view that as equally problematic.
Chuck Wells, former chairman of the library advisory committee for nearly 25 years, said he also foresees issues arising if volunteers are used in place of employees.
As time for the business meeting was approaching, the protesters migrated into the government center to share their opinions on the matter face-to-face with the commissioners. (Herald and News)
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)
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
Flat Fire Holding at 23,687 Acres With 4% Containment
The acreage of Oregon’s largest wildfire, The Flat Fire, bumped up a little to 23,687 acres by Thursday morning, but it marked yet another day when the fire had seen very little growth. It increased containment slightly to 4%.
Fire crews continue to work on mop-up and burn-out operations on the southwestern perimeter of the fire, helping to prevent growth to the south. Buildings are also being assessed along the Illinois and Rouge rivers by structure protection groups.
“Firefighters on the northeastern section of the fire are preparing firelines for firing operations, potentially on Friday,” a Thursday morning update said.
More than 1,500 fire personnel are now working the blaze. As of Wednesday, drones and helicopters were also playing an important part with firing operations.
The fire is burning near the town of Agness near the confluence of the Illinois and Rogue rivers. In Sunday’s report, the fire was listed as “human caused” for the first time. The fire ignited at Oak Flat Campground. No other details were released.
Human remains recovered by Lincoln County Search and Rescue
On 07/25/2023, two hikers from out of the Lincoln County area located human remains in a dispersed campsite outside Yachats, OR. The hikers collected a dog from the campsite, returned to their vehicle, and reported the incident to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the area and were directed to the campsite, which was located approximately a half-mile into thick foliage, through rough terrain. The remains appeared to have been exposed to the environment for a prolonged period. Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and Detectives conducted a death investigation before the Lincoln County Search and Rescue Team removed the remains. The remains have been tentatively identified, but will undergo advanced testing to make a final determination.
No identifying information is being released at this time. No suspicious circumstances have been determined and there is no concern for community safety. The dog from the campsite was retrieved by an Animal Services Deputy and remains at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter.
Two Arrested for Murder- Douglas County Major Crimes Team- Douglas County
Two arrests made related to month old murder case in Douglas County — 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.
Linn County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Two Vehicle Crash
Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports that yesterday, July 25, 2023, at 3:26 p.m., Linn County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call reporting a two-vehicle motor vehicle crash in the 26000 block of Peoria Road near Halsey. Initial reports suggested it was a fatal crash.
Upon arrival, Deputies found a green 2011 Toyota Camry had a near head-on collision with a green 2006 Ford F-450 utility truck pulling a trailer. The investigation revealed the Toyota Camry was traveling north on Peoria Road and crossed the centerline while negotiated a right-hand curve, striking the oncoming Ford F-450 occupied by Diogenes Diaz-Perez, 36, of Springfield, and Jose Reyes-Castro, 34, of Springfield.
The driver of the Toyota Camry, a 17-year-old male from Idaho, sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The two occupants of the Ford F-450 were evaluated for minor injuries. A 15-year-old juvenile male passenger in the Toyota Camry was also evaluated for minor injuries.
At this time, it is unknown what caused the Toyota Camry to cross the centerline, and there is no indication of impairment or excessive speed. The investigation is ongoing.
The Multi-Agency Investigation Team (MAIT) was called out to assist with the investigation. Deputies were assisted by the Halsey Fire Department and the Linn County Road Department.
Benton County Fair returns bigger and better in 2023
The excitement is building for the annual Benton County Fair! From Aug. 2-5, the Benton County Fairgrounds will be transformed into a vibrant hub of entertainment, fun, and community spirit.
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The 2023 Benton County Fair promises to be bigger and better than ever before with an extensive lineup of attractions, competitions, exhibits, live performances, and mouthwatering treats, this year’s fair is all set to captivate the hearts of locals and visitors alike.
Key highlights of the 2023 Benton County Fair include:
- Thrilling Rides and Amusements: Get ready to scream with delight as we present an exhilarating carnival filled with classic rides, thrilling roller coasters, and fun games that will delight thrill-seekers of all ages.
- Livestock Exhibits and Competitions: Agriculture and farming are at the heart of Benton County, and we are proud to showcase the finest livestock exhibits and competitions that celebrate the hard work and dedication of our local farmers and ranchers.
- Culinary Delights: Indulge your taste buds in a gastronomic adventure with a diverse selection of food vendors offering everything from classic fair favorites to international cuisines.
- Entertaining Performances: The Benton County Fair stage will be graced with talented performers, including live music concerts, dance troupes, magicians, and more, promising entertainment for everyone.
- Art and Craft Exhibitions: Immerse yourself in the creativity of local artisans and crafters as they display their remarkable works, adding a touch of culture and artistry to the fair.
- Family Fun Zone: Families will find a special haven of activities, including interactive games, educational exhibits, and fun challenges that will create lasting memories for parents and children alike.
- Community Engagement: The Benton County Fair is more than just a celebration; it’s an opportunity to foster a sense of community spirit. Local organizations, charities, and businesses will be actively participating, strengthening community bonds.
“We are thrilled to present the 2023 Benton County Fair, an event that holds a special place in the hearts of our community members,” said Benton County Natural Areas Parks & Event Director Tomi Douglas. “This year’s fair will highlight our community spirit with a commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.”
For media inquiries, interviews, and press passes, please contact Benton County Public Information Officer Cory Grogan at 541-766-6843 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.
The Benton County Fair is an annual event celebrating the diverse culture, heritage, and accomplishments of Benton County, Oregon. Drawing thousands of visitors each year, the fair serves as a platform to showcase local talent, agriculture, arts, and community engagement.
Benton County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring and employment practices. This document is available in alternative formats and languages upon request. Please contact Cory Grogan at 541-745-4468 or pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov.
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)
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.
Mega Millions Jackpot Builds To Over $900 Million
Salem, Ore. – If you are feeling envious of the California Powerball winner who took the top prize last week, you’re in luck. Players have another chance to win a jackpot almost as large. Mega Millions is projected to be $910 million for Friday’s drawing – the fifth largest in the game’s history.
The Mega Millions jackpot was last won on April 18. Since that date, Oregon Lottery has sold more than $12 million in tickets. Approximately a third of sales from the game are returned to state beneficiaries to support economic development, education, veteran services, state parks and more.
Shari Daniels owns the King City Liquor Store and started working in the store decades ago when her father ran the business. With the two recent jackpots, her sales have grown by more than 40% in the past two weeks.
“I see the excitement from our customers,” said Daniels. “We have a lot of regulars, and they know we’ve had winning tickets purchased in our store. Big jackpots also help drive our walk-in traffic.”
Oregon retailers who sell lottery tickets earn commissions from the boost in ticket sales and bonus payments for lower-tier wins. For instance, an Oregon retailer who sells a $1 million ticket would earn a $10,000 bonus.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Oregon Lottery recommends that you always sign the back of your ticket to ensure you can claim your prize. In the event of winning a jackpot, players should consult with a trusted financial planner or similar professional to develop a plan for their winnings. Players have a year to claim their prize.
Since the Oregon Lottery began selling tickets on April 25, 1985, it has earned nearly $15 billion for economic development, public education, outdoor school, state parks, veteran services, and watershed enhancements. For more information on the Oregon Lottery visit www.oregonlottery.org.
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