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Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
An AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM TUESDAY…
…This includes Klamath, Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, and Lane Counties.
Today
Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 11am, then scattered showers and thunderstorms much of the day along with patchy smoke and hazy skies, high near 75 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Some evening and overnight showers, smoky skies, low near 51.
Today’s Headlines
Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels, especially in Josephine, Jackson Douglas and northern Klamath counties.
Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog oregonsmoke.org, DEQ’s Air Quality Index, or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.
– Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions.
People most at risk include infants and young children, people
with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.
– Protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high:
– Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it’s too
hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a
cooler location. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
– Use a high efficiency particulate air(HEPA) filter in indoor
ventilation systems or portable air purifiers.
– Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest
levels.
– If you have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to
follow it and keep any needed medications refilled.
For additional information…please visit the web site at https://oregonsmoke.org (source: nws office/ Medford)
The City of Klamath Falls, blinking streetlights and all, are now considering increasing parking fees and permits for those parking in an excess of two hours.
A mailer and an email were both sent to downtown businesses last week to inform them of the potential changes.
A QR code was provided on the mailer, linking downtown business owners to YouTube video. The video is not posted on the City of Klamath Falls’ YouTube site but instead was posted on the Assistant to the City Manager Aaron Snow’s YouTube channel (@AaronJacobSnow).
The video is unlisted and cannot be viewed without the QR code or a direct link.
According to the agenda for the Klamath Falls City Council meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 21, a public hearing on the change in parking permit fees will be held. Members of the public may enter their comments during the hearing.
The agenda item explains the current parking fee schedule as it stands in the City Code:
Current fees for part-time and full-time employees of downtown businesses are $30 and $50 per year, respectively.
There are currently four types of parking permits in the downtown area, including two all-day passes, one for reserved parking and one for overnight residential parking.
The council meeting agenda item lists some of the obstacles which occur with the current system, including estimates made by city staff that half of the purchased part-time employee parking permits are purchased by those who require full-time parking. The agenda report said city staff does not have the resources to enforce current permitting. (Herald and News)
Our own Oregon Tech has been acknowledged by U.S. Veterans Magazine as a 2023 Top Veteran-Friendly School.
U.S. Veterans Magazine annually ranks four-year colleges and universities based on the services they provide U.S. veterans.
According to U.S. Veterans Magazine, the annual review is an evaluation of the nation’s employers, initiatives, government agencies, and educational institutions. U.S. Veterans Magazine states the reviews are non-biased studies and valuable resources for job-seekers, business owners, students, consumers, senior management, business associations, employment agencies, and consumer groups.
For 76 years, Oregon Tech has remained dedicated to supporting active military personnel and veterans with an educational pathway that prepares them for a prosperous future.
Active military members benefit from pathways to Oregon Tech, such as Base to Bachelor’s and the Air University Associate Baccalaureate Cooperative, which promote college access and affordability.
Benefits for active military and veterans include unlimited funding for the Yellow Ribbon Program and adherence to the Section 702 Choice Act to benefit out-of-state student veterans. Oregon Tech’s on-campus resources include a Veteran Resource Center in Klamath Falls, a Veteran Lounge at Portland-Metro, and dedicated veteran and service member support.
For more information about Oregon Tech’s Student Veteran Program, visit www.oit.edu/admissions/student-veterans. (herald and news)
Klamath County Sheriff’s officers and drug enforcement teams continue to fight the illegal growing of marijuana in the county.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants on two different properties late last week. A search warrant was served at a location off of Bliss Road south of Sprague River, Oregon.
A total of 1,907 plants were destroyed located in 10 plots of land. Using current Oregon prices for the product, the value of the illegal crop was estimated to have been worth more than $11 million. The amount of water estimated to have been used was 1,029,000 gallons over the growing season. No persons were contacted at the location. Investigation into misuse of a residential well is underway.
A second search warrant was served on Meadow Lane, south east of Sprague River, Oregon. Two subjects were located and taken into custody. 908 illegal marijuana plants were destroyed in two separate greenhouses. The value of the illegal marijuana crop was estimated to have been approximately $5.25 million. Approximately 490,000 gallons of water had been used to grow this illegal crop. Investigation into misuse of a residential well is underway.
Arrested at the Meadow Lane location were:
Anthony Charles Stone (age 41)
Christopher David Mizzel (age 50)
Both individuals charged with:
Unlawful Possession of Marijuana andUnlawful Manufacture of Marijuana.
Klamath County Code Enforcement, the Oregon Water Master’s office, and Klamath County Solid Waste added additional resources in the eradication. (kcso press release)
BADGER RUN RUMMAGE SALE IS SATURDAY, Aug. 26th, Benefitting Wildlife Care in Klamath County
Around the state of Oregon
NWS says it is possible that heavy rain from Tropical Storm Hilary could cause flooding and landslides as far north into central and eastern Oregon.
Hilary made landfall along Mexico’s Baja California coast on Sunday, but the storm’s impact is likely to be felt as far away as Idaho in the days to come.
Flood watches are in effect from Sunday evening through Tuesday afternoon for portions of eastern and central Oregon, including the Grande Ronde Valley, Northern Blue Mountains, Southern Blue Mountains, Wallowa County, Baker County, Harney County, Malheur County, the Lower Treasure Valley, John Day Basin and Ochoco-John Day Highlands, according to the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.
People in these areas should stay alert and travel with extreme caution by assuming roads are unsafe, especially at night. Highly destructive landslides known as debris flows travel faster than humans can run and may carry boulders and logs that put people and structures at serious risk, a spokesperson for the geology department said. (oregon news)
The Crescent City, CA area is still without power. With continued wildfire activity impacting transmission lines, Pacific Power is closely monitoring the situation in Del Norte County.
For the safety of the public and emergency responders, Pacific Power has de-energized a transmission line serving the Crescent City area. At this time, the restoration timeline is yet to be determined. Customers should continue to prepare for multiple days without power.
On August 20, 2023, Pacific Power provided a large commercial generator for businesses in coordination with the Del Norte County Emergency Operations Center, and residential generators continue to be deployed for Medical Baseline Program customers. The commercial generator serves essential businesses including grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies. The company is deploying additional residential generators to serve customers with medical needs, and more are enroute into the area. Pacific Power is closely monitoring all fire activity in the area and will turn the power back on for all customers when it is safe.
Two community resource centers have been established (open 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.) for impacted customers who are without power and need assistance (charging electronics, receiving information, water and ice, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, non-perishable snacks, seating, security, etc.):
The Happy Camp Complex of wildfires in Northern California now covers more than 11,000 acres.
Size: 11,308 acres
Containment: 0%
Total Personnel: 2,193
People Evacuated: 755
Structures Threatened: 1,609
Structures Destroyed: 9
Structures Damaged: 2
Fatalities: 1
Start Date & Time: Wednesday, 8-16-2023, 10:27 a.m.
Cause: Under Investigation
Location: Multiple locations across the Forest
Suppression Strategy: Full Suppression
Unified Command Agencies: California Incident Management Team 5, CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit
The Happy Camp Complex is comprised of 13 fires all burning on the Klamath National Forest over a large portion of Siskiyou County. The west side of the complex includes the Canyon, Three Creeks, Elliot, Ufish, and Malone Fires. Additionally, the incident management team assumed command of the Swillup Fire this morning at 6 a.m. The Canyon, Three Creeks, Elliot and Swillup are burning on the west side of Highway 96. Firefighters worked on prepping the structures along Highway 96 today.
The Oregon State Marine Board is asking boaters to avoid power loading during low water at reservoirs.
Power loading is when the boat’s motor is used to push the boat onto the trailer. The prop wash causes the dirt to wash out from under the end of the boat ramp. The concrete cracks and breaks apart. They want boaters to kill their motors and use a bow line and winch to get their boat on the trailer. (oregon news)
Gov. Tina Kotek has ordered the Oregon Department of Corrections to act immediately to improve conditions for female inmates at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility amid the release of a new state-ordered report that detailed hostility and retaliation at the state’s only women’s prison.
Kotek also plans to convene an advisory panel to discuss findings of the 229-page report and enact its recommendations. Kotek has directed the corrections agency to determine immediate actions it can take without additional resources within 60 days. Coffee Creek is a 508,000-square-foot facility, located on 108 acres in Wilsonville with about 870 female inmates.
The report found staff and inmate concerns about retaliation for reporting wrongdoing, including sexual misconduct, and inadequate mental health staffing for inmates on suicide watch. Suicide attempts among women housed at the prison are disproportionately higher than at men’s prisons.
“In the wake of national, systemic shortcomings in meeting the needs of women who are incarcerated, I am resolved to confront these issues head on,” Kotek said in a statement. “The GIPA report was sobering to read. It is incumbent on Oregon’s corrections system to ensure that the use of carceral settings yield the best possible public safety outcomes and set people up for successful re-entry.”
State lawmakers ordered the Gender Informed Practices Assessment report in 2022. It cost nearly $100,000 and was compiled in part by the Women’s Justice Institute, a Chicago-based advocacy group focused on female incarceration. (herald and news)
A 31-year-old Medford man was arrested on Saturday for harassing several Mercy Flights Ambulance medical crews and then leading police on a chase.
According to a Monday news release from the Medford Police Department, the man — Parker Joseph Latham — harassed medical crews by blocking the ambulances with his car and “disordering himself to crews.”
“Medford Police patrol officers investigated these cases and were unable to locate Latham until at about 3:05pm, when we received another report of the same suspect vehicle boxing in and harassing another Mercy Flights crew in the area of the Olive Garden at Crater Lake Hwy and Delta Waters Road,” the release said. “Medford Police located the suspect vehicle in that parking lot.”
When police made contact with Latham, he drove away and proceeded to drive recklessly throughout the city, the release said. At one point, the suspect vehicle collided with a Sheriff’s Department vehicle near the roundabout at Springbrook Road and Cedar Links Drive. Officers and Deputies were then able to take Latham into custody without further incident.
Latham has been lodged at Jackson County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct, driving while suspended, attempted assault, attempted assault on a police officer, attempting to elude and first-degree criminal mischief. (kdrv 12)
Arson Investigation of Rogue Valley Fires
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – Over the past week a total of 10 small fires have started along the northern end of the Bear Creek Greenway. Fortunately, firefighters have stopped all the fires before they had a chance to spread.
Law enforcement and fire officials are investigating the possibility of a potential arsonist on the loose. Fire officials and law enforcement need the public’s help. If you see any suspicious activity along the Greenway, please report it immediately so law can investigate.
The best way to report criminal activity is through the Sheriff’s App “Submit a Tip” feature. Download the App here: https://apps.myocv.com/share/
You can also call the JCSO Tip Line at (541) 774-8333. To report a crime in progress or if you see a fire start, call 911.
Gov. Tina Kotek on Friday appointed a retired Army officer to lead the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and oversee the state’s response to disasters ranging from wildfires to pandemics to the homelessness crisis.
Erin McMahon, a retired Army brigadier general who most recently worked as a senior adviser at the Virginia-based McChrystal Group, needs to be confirmed by the state Senate when it meets in September.
McMahon says after over 15 years of supporting emergency management operations at the national level – including during the COVID-19 health emergency and dozens of climate-related catastrophes – she will capitalize on her prior work with FEMA and other federal partners to develop a strategic plan for emergency management that will help our communities before, during and after disaster,.
McMahon previously served as principal deputy general counsel for the U.S. National Guard Bureau, where she supervised a team of 60 attorneys and advised top Department of Defense leaders on critical issues, including Oregon’s 2021 wildfires.
While that season wasn’t as destructive as the 2020 fires that burned more than a million acres, the state had more than 1,000 fires that burned close to 520,000 acres in 2021. (herald and news)
Moderate to extreme fire behavior was observed on the Smith River Complex. The 2 fires that are impacting SW Oregon are the Holiday and Kelly Fires.
Significant growth occurred on the Kelly fire extending its footprint North, South and West.
Heat signature mapping shows that the Kelly and Holiday fires could combine soon. The Holiday Fire has crossed into Oregon as of early this morning. Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) resources continue to be proactive by reopening old fire containment features and identifying areas of opportunity in protection of life and property.
All efforts continue to be a joint effort by RRSNF, Medford BLM and ODF. An additional order for resources was placed last night by RRSNF and Medford BLM for varying types of specialized heavy equipment and additional hand crews, as good work continues by all cooperating agencies across SW Oregon. The Flat Fire remains in the same footprint as previously reported. (blm/odf press release)
Three samples collected Aug. 15 from mosquitoes in Medford and Phoenix tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to a news release from the Jackson County Vector Control District.
“Residents are advised to take basic precautions against mosquitoes since WNv is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes,” the release said. “People should consult their health care providers if they experience any flu-like symptoms, especially in people over 50 years of age with underlying conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.”
Authorities suggest taking the following precautions:
- Eliminate/treat standing water in your home.
- Avoid outdoor activities at dawn or dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shorts and pants outdoors.
- Make sure screen doors and windows are in good condition.
- Use repellants containing DEET, lemon/eucalyptus oil or Picardin.
“The virus also affects wildlife and domesticated farm animals,” the release said. “Horse owners should get their horses vaccinated for WNv and horses with neurologic disease should be examined by a veterinarian. West Nile testing is available at Oregon State University.” (kdrv 12)
TUALATIN, OR – The Alliance and its undergraduate private, nonprofit college and university members welcomed nearly 1,100 student visits during Oregon Private College Week (OPCW) July 24-28, 2023.
Demonstrating the growing appeal of independent higher education, the event saw a nearly 10% increase in student visits compared to the previous year. Notably, prospective students and their networks travelled from 28 different states, showcasing the allure of Oregon’s private colleges and universities.
Among the attendees, less than half of visiting students were Oregon residents, underscoring the widespread appeal these Alliance member institutions hold. Impressively, even international candidates journeyed from places like Japan and The Netherlands to explore the offerings of Oregon’s esteemed private educational institutions.
A pivotal aspect of OPCW is the inclusion of various community-based college access programs, which serve as instrumental platforms for fostering educational opportunities. This year, Alliance campuses welcomed students from community-based college access programs such as Oregon GEAR UP, Latino Network, and ProjectYouth+. The week-long event facilitated engaging campus visits, allowing participants to delve into academic programs, financial aid options, interactive discussions with admissions personnel and current students, and comprehensive campus tours.
The member campuses who participated, include:
- Bushnell University
- Corban University
- George Fox University
- Lewis & Clark College
- Linfield University
- Multnomah University
- Pacific Northwest College of Art
- Pacific University
- Reed College
- University of Portland
- Warner Pacific University
- Willamette University
The next iteration of Oregon Private College Week, July 29 – August 2, 2024, holds the promise of welcoming an even greater number of prospective students, alongside valued community partners, as Oregon’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities continue to exemplify excellence in education and inclusivity.
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