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. Call 541-882-6476.

Friday, Sept. 22, 2023

Klamath Basin Weather

Today’s Headlines

The Morgan Fire continues to burn approximately 21 miles northwest of Lakeview, Oregon and 8 miles north of Quartz Mountain. The fire is well over a 1,000 acres and 0% contained. Fire officials urge the public to stay away from the fire area.

Northwest Team 7, Incident Commander Nate LeFevre, has assumed command of the fire and firefighters are continuing to work to build direct lines where possible on the north and east sides of the fire. On the eastern flank, fire crews worked on small scale firing operations to tie the fire to the current dozer lines that were put into place in the early hours of the fire suppression effort.

The fire was reported on September 18^th at 2:44 p.m. The cause is currently under investigation. Fire crews will continue to go as direct as possible to suppress emerging fire activity. Dozer lines and hose lays put in on the north side of the fire will continue to be secured to protect the private timberlands to the north.

On the east side of the fire, crews will continue to hold the lines that were secured yesterday to protect the private grounds to the east.

On the south and west sides of the fire, firefighters will continue to assess and work on the dozer lines that were previously put into place.

Night shift will continue to patrol for and suppress hot spots. A low pressure system is coming into the area for the next couple of days that will bring strong winds in the afternoon until about 10 p.m. Temperatures today will be in the 50’s with smoke continuing to move to the south.  Temperatures at night will be cold, with freezing and frost potential. Showers are possible with potential for thunderstorms to the east.

There is currently a Level 1 Evacuation. Evacuation maps are posted on the Morgan Fire Inciweb page and the Lake County, OR website: https://www.lakecountyor.org/  

E. Werner Reschke has filed to run for State Representative, HD 55 in 2024.

Representative Reschke has been a strong advocate for conservative values during his time in the Oregon legislature.

“It has been a privilege to represent the people of Deschutes and Klamath counties. It will be an honor to return to Salem, continuing to champion the conservative values that make our state and nation strong,” said Rep. Reschke.

Reschke was elected as State Representative in 2016 and has brought back tens of millions in state funding to Klamath & Deschutes counties. He has also worked to help Sky Lakes Medical Center with the rural medical tax credit as well as improving Internet service to Merrill and Malin businesses and residents. Reschke is a strong advocate of Klamath Community College, Oregon Tech and the US Air Force’s 173rd at Kingsley Field.

To learn more about E. WERNER RESCHKE and his values and accomplishments, visit his campaign website, WernerForOregon.com.

Ten students and two instructors from Oregon Tech’s dental hygiene program in Klamath Falls traveled to Whitehouse, Jamaica, this summer to provide dental care to underserved populations in rural areas.

The trip was part of the International Externship Program (IEP), which provides students the opportunity to travel outside the United States and deliver dental care in nontraditional settings and within new cultures.

Rural sites were selected by Great Shape! Inc., a non-profit organization that empowers children and families of Jamaica and the Caribbean by providing access to education and health care. Clinics were set up in community buildings and churches.  

At Oregon Tech’s Klamath Falls campus, students in the dental hygiene program participate in a yearlong course to provide dental assistance to Klamath County, but the IEP trip expands learning to a diverse cultural setting and a variety of situations including extreme heat, old equipment, and long bus rides to the sites on rough, narrow roads.

The skills learned during the IEP trip benefit students in future work settings such as public health, dental missions, rural health, and mobile dentistry.

The Stop Lights on Main Street in Klamath Falls are back on, rather than blinking as they have been for several months.

During a city council work session held on Monday, City Public Works Director Mark Willrett presented before the council the results from the exercise. The City’s Public Works Department had conducted a survey asking businesses how the traffic signal test has impacted them with 40% of respondents answering that they have seen a decline in customers and sales.

More than 59% of respondents said they didn’t see an impact and that their numbers are roughly the same as typical for the time of year.

One said the testing has resulted in a positive impact and that sales have increased.

Another survey question asked if the traffic pattern has been beneficial for downtown Klamath Falls as a whole; 83.81% answered no.

After a deliberation that left many council members applauding the data in regards to the increase of safety, none argued against the negative effects it’s been having on business and public feedback.

Taking the concerns of the public and local businesses into consideration, Klamath Falls City Council decided to revert and have the downtown signals back to full function yesterday. (News Release/Herald & News)

The Klamath County Veterans Service Office is asking for nominations for the oldest living veteran.

They will be taking nominations through October 31^st. To nominate a veteran you can go to the office at 3328 Vandenberg Road or call 541-883-4274. You can also email information to rgthompson@klamathcounty.org. The chosen veteran will be honored Saturday November 11^th during the Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.

Fall Mushroom season permits are now available for the Klamath National Forest. Mushroom collecting on the Klamath National Forest requires separate permits for Spring and Fall season. 

Fall mushroom permits are now available at Forest Service offices in Happy Camp, Macdoel, and Fort Jones. Three different mushroom permits are available for purchase depending on quantity. A $20 permit allows up to eight gallons of mushrooms, collected over four consecutive days, a $50 permit allows up to 20 gallons, collected over 30 consecutive days, additional days may be purchased for $5 a day and a $100 season permit allows up to 40 gallons for the season. 

If you reach your gallon limit you can buy another permit. Each permit is only valid for collecting mushrooms from National Forest land within the Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District, Goosenest Ranger District, and the Salmon/Scott Ranger District. 

In order to ensure the sustainability of fall mushroom harvest, each permit has additional conditions and restrictions intended to regulate harvest. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to read and understand those conditions. Ranger districts can also provide information on mushroom harvesting, camping, or fire restrictions.

Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) will host the 2023 Klamath Basin Oktoberfest this Saturday from 12 noon to 9 p.m. at the Bill Collier Ice Arena at the Running Y Ranch Resort.

People of all ages are welcome. There will be games, activities, live entertainment and food to accommodate all interests and palates. Attendees are encouraged to dress in Oktoberfest attire.

The event promotes Southern Oregon’s brewing products. Local and regional brewers will be in attendance. Oktoberfest’s food options showcase some of the region’s top restaurant vendors. A portion of proceeds from the Klamath Basin Oktoberfest will be donated to SMART Reading South Central and Klamath Ice Sports at the Bill Collier Ice Arena.

Event attendees can look forward to many games and Oktoberfest-inspired contests such as “Best Dressed,” the People’s Choice Award for favorite drink, and beer stein holding competition. Kids can enjoy a Kids Fun Zone provided by 541 Jump. There will also be a Nerf gun arena, Connect 4, corn hole, Jenga, hula-hoops and more. (Herald & News)

Registered Klamath County residents can expect ballots in the mail soon for the upcoming special election.

The only item on the ballot will be a measure for a tax levy to fund local museums.

Measure 18-131 asks whether county residents are willing to increase the five-year tax levy from 5-cents per $1,000 assessed property to 10-cents. The measure states that the budget for the Klamath County Museum, Baldwin Hotel and Fort Klamath Museum is not funded from the county’s general fund, and instead relies on voter-approved levies for financial support since 2011.

According to the measure summary, the museums are the county’s primary means of preservation and sharing of historical documents and artifacts.

Should residents vote to approve Measure 18-131, the estimated total revenue is $646,223 for the first fiscal year from 2024 to 2025. Expected revenue increases each of the five years with the final fiscal year 2029-30 estimated to bring in more than $3.4 million.

A news release from the county said the ballots will be mailed to registered voters Oct. 18 and must be dropped off by 8 p.m. on Nov. 7. (Herald & News)  

A free event will be held for families at the Klamath County Museum at 5:00 p.m. Saturday.  The museum, 1451 Main St. in Klamath Falls, will present a showing of the 2006 film “Night at the Museum” starring Ben Stiller.

Other activities offered for children and youth will include rubber band boat racing, archaeological digging, and train track building for toddlers.

“Working with children is one of the best parts of our job here at the museum,” said Matthew Voelkel, curator of the Klamath County Museum. “They are our future, and we need them to take an interest in history. Activities like this can help them find that interest. We are excited to offer this program for them.”

The activities will start at 5:00 p.m., and the movie will begin at 6:00 p.m. The event is free, and all are welcome to attend. For more information contact the museum at (541) 882-1000.

For the 11^th rendition of the Klamath Independent Film Festival, Oregon’s lone film fest that exclusively showcases Made-in-Oregon shorts and feature-length films, over 50 selected films will be presented in-person and online Sept. 22-24.

The festival has garnered a reputation as the premier Oregon-centric film fest, welcoming visitors to the Klamath Basin from across the Pacific Northwest for a multi-day celebration of Oregon’s diverse landscapes and artistic endeavors.

It features animation, documentaries, and narrative films spanning many genres and topics. Festivities commence on Friday, Sept. 22 with an opening night gala and showcase of four films similarly themed around water – a topic all too timely in the Klamath Basin following years of drought and work underway to remove four dams in the region.

Saturday, Sept. 23 will showcase selected feature-length films, followed by a Q&A with each filmmaker.

Sunday, Sept. 24 begins with a showcase of student films, including those produced by Klamath area students in an annual summer film camp coordinated by Klamath Film, and continues with shorts (films under 40-minutes in length) culminating in the KIFF2023 Awards Ceremony that evening.  

A total of $5,100 in cash prizes will also be distributed across seven award categories.

This year the festival is also adding an annual career achievement in film award celebrating individuals with Oregon roots who have had a profound impact on the film industry.

Tickets for the Klamath Independent Film Festival vary from single-day passes for $25, weekend passes for $40, a Friday pass for $15, or a full festival pass for $50. There are also livestream and online access festival passes for $40, which allow access to all of the festival’s films for two weeks.

Klamath Film members receive a 50% ticket discount. For more information and to purchase tickets in advance visit www.klamathfilm.org/festival.  

The Ross Ragland Theater is offering opportunities for high schoolers and adults to get involved in theater! Arts education is a great way to build connections with other theater lovers and find your community.

Teen Theater Auditions

Rehearsals: Mondays, September 25- January 20th

Times: 4:00-7:00pm

Performances: January 18th, 2024 at 10AM & 12:30PM, January 19th, 2024 at 6PM, and January 20th, 2024 at 2PM

For students enrolled in High School

Ross Ragland Theater will begin their annual four month long Teen Theater Program calling all local high school thespians to the stage. These actors and actresses will be trained by a director in all of the aspects of theater including performances, backstage, costumes, and more.The Play: Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel PlayKamala attempts to boost Ms. Marvel’s fledgling super hero profile by writing her own fan fiction. But when building a fandom becomes an obsession, Kamala’s schoolwork and relationships begin to suffer. To become the Jersey City hero of her dreams, Kamala must learn to accept herself just as she is – imperfections and all.This is a great opportunity for High School teens to Audition and get experience in performing for a large audience, a stipend will be paid to each student, with no heavy time commitments until the last 2 weeks before the show. We will be looking for students for another great year of this program.

Contact the Ross Ragland Theater, 200 N. 7th St., Klamath Falls. 541-887-8637 or email Education@Ragland.org

Around the state of Oregon

Police raided 14 illegal pot grow sites during July/August and recovered about 24,681 plants, 1,531 pounds of processed marijuana, 20 firearms and more than $20,000 in cash, according to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in the Rogue Valley. 

“The search warrants led to six arrests so far with investigations open and ongoing and further charges pending from the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office,” the release said. “Jackson County Code Enforcement issued citations to the landowners totaling $784,620.”

On July 6, police searched a grow site in the 1000 block of Sardine Creek Road in Gold Hill, the release said, and found electrical issues that presented a fire risk. They also found “unpermitted dwellings,” illegal camping and solid waste.

Police also discovered a grow site on Aug. 3 in the 7100 block of Wagner Creek Road in Talent, the release said, which had been on the Watermasters’ radar for a couple of years due to concerns that the grow site was stealing water from Wagner Creek, which affected local irrigation. The suspects were given violations for unlawful appropriation of surface water and groundwater for irrigation and storage without a water right at an illegal commercial cannabis operation. (kdrv 12 tv)

Oregon Schools as a whole are still failing as Oregon students’ performance on reading, writing and math tests remains stuck at dismal post-pandemic lows, despite the billions of state and federal dollars aimed at helping them recover in the two years since the pandemic shuttered school buildings across the state.

The results, based on tests given last spring and released Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education, are virtually identical to 2022′s abysmal outcomes, with students across the board showing miniscule improvement in math and a slight backsliding in English.

The data show only about 40% of students scored as proficient on Smarter Balanced reading and writing tests, far below even the relatively anemic pre-pandemic levels of 51%. The picture is bleaker yet in math, where just 30% scored proficient, an enormous drop from the pre-pandemic low point of 40%. Proficiency in this context means that the student is on track to be ready for college or the workforce once they graduate from high school.

Middle schools emerged as a particular disaster zone. Seventh and eighth graders lost ground in English; seventh graders demonstrated only the barest hints of growth in math, and eighth graders’ performance was statistically stagnant in that subject, with only 25% of them hitting proficiency targets.  (oregon news)

An investigation is ongoing into a fire that engulfed an airplane hangar housing a dozen classic cars in Douglas County. Firefighters responded to the blaze near Felts Field Monday night.

Crews managed to contain the fire to half an acre. It’s not yet clear what sparked the blaze.  (oregon news)

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is announcing plans to step down at the end of her term. Rosenblum announced yesterday she will not be running for reelection next year, saying three terms is enough.

Rosenblum has been serving as state attorney general since 2012. She says the role has been incredibly rewarding and that she has loved being Oregon’s attorney general. Rosenblum will go on to serve as president of the National Association of Attorneys General.  (oregon news)

The chair and longest serving member of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission announced Thursday he will step down as of Oct. 1^st, 2023.

Marvin Révoal, an insurance executive from the Eugene area, was Gov. Tina Kotek’s pick to lead the citizen board overseeing the embattled agency that regulates liquor and cannabis.

He took over in February as the OLCC faced fallout from revelations that top managers had diverted sought-after bourbon for themselves.  The Oregonian/OregonLive reported last month that Révoal had asked a state employee to help a friend get a case of the popular bourbon, Elmer T. Lee, in 2016. The bourbon is released in limited amounts several times a year. Kotek’s office has not answered questions about when the governor first became aware of Révoal’s efforts to secure booze on behalf of a friend.

At least one other board member, Matt Maletis, sought bottles of liquor while serving on the panel. Last year, Maletis asked for Pappy Van Winkle and other high-end bourbons on behalf of the Classic Wines Foundation, which wanted 10 bottles of bourbon for an auction. He said the agency did not respond to his request.

In May, OLCC adopted a policy prohibiting employees and board members from setting aside bottles of liquor for themselves or other people. Under the policy, they may request bottles for nonprofits and charities but those must be approved by the executive director.  (oregon news)

2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines are here

The next round of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines is here, and the guidance for who should get it, and when, is much simpler than before.

Most people ages 5 and older should receive one dose of the updated shot, while recommendations for children under 5 and those with compromised immune systems are slightly different. The vaccine will be available at no cost to the public through providers, pharmacies, local health centers, and tribal or territorial health departments.

Find an updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine near you by searching at Vaccines.gov.

At a press conference today, experts from OHA and Kaiser Permanente Northwest presented a summary of expectations and safety guidance for the upcoming respiratory virus season, including COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The man awarded $10.5 million in court last year after he was paralyzed while mountain biking down the slopes of Mount Hood faces a manslaughter charge in Clackamas County for allegedly killing a woman in a drunken crash.

Court documents accuse Gabriel B. Owens of mixing alcohol and painkillers when he got behind the wheel of a Tesla Model S sedan and collided head-on with another driver on Southeast Jennifer Road at the railroad overpass near 82nd Avenue about noon on Sept. 8.

First responders extricated Kira Haston, 36, from her crushed pickup and transported her by helicopter to OHSU Hospital, where she was declared dead, according to her older brother and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s office.

Her rescue dog, Rigby, was thrown from the crash and survived with serious injuries, according to the brother, who said Owens was operating the Tesla with a medical device designed for people with paraplegia.

Owens, 44, has been charged with DUII three times before, in 2001, 2006 and 2014, court records show. The first case and second cases were diverted to a treatment program, while Owens was sentenced to probation and 10 days in jail for his third offense.   (oregon news)

Today, the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) announced they will pause Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) program enrollment and open a waitlist due to increased demand and limited funding.

Families who believe they are eligible for ERDC should apply by November 3, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Families currently receiving ERDC support will continue to receive benefits after November 3, 2023.

Enrollment in the ERDC program, which is funded by both federal and state investments, has grown by 52% in the 2021-2023 biennium due to expansions in family eligibility and program improvements.

Enrollment has grown 22% in the last two months alone due to changes that include lower copays, enrollment-based pay for child care providers, opening the program to non-working students, extending eligibility timeframes, and minimizing the number of reasons a family may lose their ERDC benefits.

Paid Leave Oregon released new data this week, and some helpful tips for Oregonians who plan to file a claim. 

The data through Sept. 17, which is on the Oregon Employment Department’s dashboard, shows about 19,000 people have applied for benefits since Aug. 14.

This number is lower than the forecasted 41,000 applications the program expected to have within the first month of applications being open.

So far, more than 5,800 applications have been approved and about $2.3 million in benefits have been paid. Benefit payments started going out to Oregon workers with approved claims on Sept. 13. Paid Leave Oregon Director Karen Humelbaugh said there are a few things people can do to speed up their claim process. 

After submitting an application, employees should check their Frances Online account regularly and respond to any alerts or notifications. The program cannot approve benefits until it receives a complete application, which includes the correct supporting documents. Humelbaugh said “When you don’t attach the correct supporting documents we need to approve your specific type of leave, it takes longer to process your claim, Please use Paid Leave’s official forms whenever possible and make sure to use our employee toolkit to see what official documents you need to have ready.”

Monday at approximately 11:38 P.M., the Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 5, near milepost 44, in Jackson County.

The preliminary investigation indicated a Ford Mustang, operated by Charles Melvin Cole (85) of Central Point, was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5. The Ford struck a Dodge Durango, operated by Carl Melborne Dewitt Jr (67) of Grants Pass, head-on. After the crash, a Dodge ProMaster, operated by Evan Ryle Miller (30) of Bellingham (WA), struck debris and was damaged. %

OSP was responding to the report of a wrong way driver approximately 3 minutes prior to the crash being reported.

The operator of the Ford (Cole) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Dodge Durango (Dewitt Jr) and passenger, Jeffrey Adam Dewitt (43) of Grants Pass, were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment of what is expected to be minor injuries. The operator of the Dodge ProMaster was not injured.

The highway was impacted for approximately 3.5 hours during the on-scene investigation.

An invasive insect from Europe and the Middle East that attacks oak trees has recently been found in several Oregon white oaks in Wilsonville. 

The Mediterranean oak borer transmits multiple fungal species to the trees it infests. Some fungal species may cause a disease called oak wilt, which may kill oak trees in as little as two to three years.

Mediterranean oak borer (MOB) is a tiny woodboring beetle called an “ambrosia beetle” because instead of feeding on wood, it eats fungus grown in galleries created in the wood of branches and trunks. The fungus grows, robbing tree canopies of water necessary for growth and survival.

This insect was first found in North America when it turned up in 2017 in California, where it has been responsible for the decline and death of many native oak trees. In Europe, it has also been reported from elm, maple, and walnut trees, although damaging attacks have not been reported for these other tree types.

OSP and Oregon Fish & Wildlife Dept Asking For Help in Buck Shot on Hood River Property 

On September 3, 2023, at about 6:20 P.M., a Trooper responded to a call of a dead buck that was shot and left on Hood River County property not far from Odell, Oregon.

A second doe deer, which was also shot and left, was reported that evening in the same area. No meat was salvaged from either deer.    

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Oregon State Police Dispatch at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677), or email at TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Reference case number SP23-281043.

***Report Wildlife and Habitat Law Violators***

The Turn in Poachers (TIP) program offers preference points or cash rewards for information leading to an arrest or issuance of a citation, to a suspect, for the unlawful killing of wildlife, and or waste of big game. Cash rewards can also be awarded for turning in people who destroy habitat, illegally obtain licenses/tags, and for unlawful lending/borrowing of big game tags. Learn more: https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/fw/Pages/tip.aspx

PREFERENCE POINT REWARDS:

* 5 Points-Mountain Sheep

* 5 Points-Rocky Mountain Goat

* 5 Points-Moose

* 5 Points-Wolf

* 4 Points-Elk

* 4 Points-Deer

* 4 Points-Antelope

* 4 Points-Bear

* 4 Points-Cougar

 Oregon Hunters Association Cash Rewards:

* $2,000 Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, and Moose

* $1,000 Elk, Deer, and Antelope

* $600 Bear, Cougar, and Wolf

* $300 Habitat Destruction

* $200 Illegally obtaining Oregon hunting or angling license or tags

* $200 Unlawful Lending/Borrowing Big Game Tag(s)

* $200 Game Birds or Furbearers

* $200 Spotlighting

* $200 Snagging/Attempting to Snag

* $200 Game Fish and Shellfish

 Oregon Wildlife Coalition (OWC) Cash Rewards:

Birds

$500 Hawk, Falcon, Eagle, Owl, Osprey

All other protected avian species: see category below for listed species

Mammals

$500 Cougar, Bobcat, Beaver (public lands only), Black bears, Bighorn Sheep, Marten, Fisher, Sierra Nevada Red Fox

Species listed as “threatened” or “endangered” under state or federal Endangered Species Act (excludes fish)

$1,000 (e.g. wolf, wolverine, kit fox, red tree vole, Canada lynx, sea otter, Columbian white-tailed deer, California brown pelican, western snowy plover, California least tern, northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, short-tailed albatross, streaked horned lark, yellow-billed cuckoo, leatherback sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, Oregon spotted frog, green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle) 

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) announced today that it has joined a multi-state settlement with Robinhood Financial LLC, which will pay up to $10.2 million in penalties for operational and technical failures that harmed investors, including some in Oregon.

The settlement stems from an investigation spearheaded by state securities regulators in Alabama, Colorado, California, Delaware, New Jersey, South Dakota and Texas coordinated through the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) regarding Robinhood’s operational failures with respect to the retail market.

The investigation was sparked by Robinhood platform outages in March 2020, a time when hundreds of thousands of investors were relying on the Robinhood app to make trades. In addition, before to March 2021, there were deficiencies at Robinhood in its review and approval process for options and margin accounts, weaknesses in the firm’s monitoring and reporting tools, and insufficient customer service and escalation protocols that in some cases left Robinhood users unable to process trades even as the value of certain stocks was dropping.

“This multi-state settlement is another example of states working together to protect investors,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “DFR is committed to holding companies like Robinhood accountable when it failed to protect those who have entrusted them.”

The order sets out the following violations:

• Negligent dissemination of inaccurate information to customers, including regarding margin and risk associated with multi-leg option spreads.
• Failure to have a reasonably designed customer identification program.
• Failure to supervise technology critical to providing customers with core broker-dealer services.
• Failure to have a reasonably designed system for dealing with customer inquiries.
• Failure to exercise due diligence before approving certain option accounts.
• Failure to report all customer complaints to FINRA and state securities regulators, as may be required.

Robinhood neither admits nor denies the findings as set out in the orders. Robinhood will provide access to a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)-ordered compliance implementation report to settling states. Robinhood retained an independent compliance consultant who made recommendations for remediation, which Robinhood has generally implemented.

One year after the settlement date, Robinhood will attest to the lead state, Alabama, that it is in full compliance with the FINRA-ordered independent compliance consultant’s recommendations or has otherwise instituted measures that are more effective at addressing the recommendations.

If you have questions or concerns about your investments or financial professional, please contact DFR at 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

###

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and  www.dcbs.oregon.gov.​​

Police arrested a Salem jewelry store owner on Friday on allegations he swapped customers’ diamonds with fake stones or passed lab-grown gems off as all natural.

Douglas Wayne Gamble, 57, was booked in the Polk County Jail on suspicion of aggravated theft and remained in custody on Monday, according to jail records. He was the owner of Timeless Jewelers, which police say closed last October without notifying customers or giving their property back.

In a news release, Salem Police estimated customers who contracted with Gamble to design, repair or consign jewelry lost at least $250,000. Ten people reported to police that Gamble sold them lab-grown stones as natural diamonds, swapped diamond jewelry with synthetic stones, or never received items they’d left with Gamble to repair.

Police are asking any clients who have had similar experiences with Gamble to file a police report online or by calling the non-emergency line at 503-588-6123. Gamble’s bail was set at $100,000 on Monday, court records show. (OregonLive)

PORTLAND, Ore, — The Bureau of Land Management is waiving recreation day-use fees for visitors on September 23, 2023, in celebration of the 30th annual National Public Lands Day.

NPLD is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. To recognize 30 years of care and community and increase recreation access to public land, BLM leaders invite people to explore our unique and diverse natural landscapes and visitor facilities.

“National Public Lands Day serves as a connection between people and public lands,” said Barry Bushue, BLM Oregon and Washington State Director “Whether it’s your first time on public lands or your hundredth, we invite everyone to get outside and enjoy these national treasures across Oregon and Washington.”  

Within Oregon and Washington, the BLM’s standard amenity day-use fees will be waived at the following:

• Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area  
• Cape Blanco Lighthouse 
• Wildwood Recreation Site   
• Hyatt Lake Recreation Area  
• Gerber Recreation Area 
• Yakima River Canyon 
• Loon Lake Recreation Site  
• Alsea Falls Recreation Site  
• Shotgun Creek Recreation Site 
• Edson Creek Recreation Site 
• Spring Recreation Site  

The standard amenity fee waiver does not guarantee admission to some busy recreation areas where reservations for day-use, group sites, and overnight camping are recommended. Please contact the local BLM office if you have any questions about a recreation site you are interested in visiting. 

You can search all available BLM recreation opportunities to explore on your public lands at https://www.blm.gov/visit.

Want to join one of BLM’s events and help restore America’s public lands? You can find a volunteer event near you at https://www.neefusa.org/npld-event-search.

Know before you go:

Be fire aware. Check for local fire restrictions and active fire closures.

Practice Leave No Trace principles and leave your public lands cleaner than you found them.

The fee waiver only applies to standard amenity fees for day-use at the recreation sites listed. The waiver does not apply to any expanded amenity fees for overnight camping, group day-use, and cabin rentals or individual Special Recreation Permit fees along permitted rivers.

Fee-free days occur each year in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.

The remaining fee-free day in 2023 will be on November 11 in celebration of Veterans Day.

Republicans Barred From 2024 Elections File Papers Anyway

State senators in Oregon with at least 10 recorded absences in the Legislature have filed candidacy papers, despite potential disqualification.

Following record-setting walkouts by Republicans in 2019, 2020, and 2021, voters in Oregon backed a constitutional amendment, known as Measure 113. It disqualifies legislators seeking reelection if they missed 10 or more legislative floor sessions without a valid excuse or permission. 

%Nine Oregon Republicans with 10 absences in this year’s session have now reapplied, as well as one independent candidate.

GOP members have staged walkouts in recent years, not only in Oregon, to block Democrat bills covering a range of topics, including transgender health care, abortion, gun rights and more.

This prevented a quorum, the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the procedures of that group.

Statehouses in Tennessee and Montana have also been affected. “It is clear voters intended Measure 113 to disqualify legislators from running for reelection if they had 10 or more unexcused absences in a legislative session,” said Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade in August.

“My decision honors the voters’ intent by enforcing the measure the way it was commonly understood when Oregonians added it to our state constitution.”

The Associated Press has reported that GOP Senate leader Tim Knopp went to the election offices in Salem early on Thursday and submitted a candidate filing form for the 2024 primary election, paying the $25 fee. Sen. Dennis Linthicum and Sen. Art Robinson also filed, having both exceeded the limit on absences.

All three have said that the way the amendment is written means they are permitted to seek another term. Measure 113 states that 10 or more unexcused absences “shall disqualify the member from holding office as a Senator or Representative for the term following the election after the member’s current term is completed.”

Five Republican senators in the northwestern state are hoping to fast-track a lawsuit over the case. If successful, it could force state officials to allow them another shot at reelection. This could go all the way to the Supreme Court after lawmakers and Griffin-Valade filed a joint motion requesting the case head directly to the Oregon Supreme Court, which would move the process along more quickly.

A joint motion filed in August states: “Immediate review by the Supreme Court is the only effective way to resolve this dispute in a timely manner.” The motion was filed by Knopp, Linthicum, and Robinson, as well as Daniel Bonham and Lynn Findley. “Petitioners and other similarly situated legislators need to know whether they can file for re-election and serve if elected; the Secretary needs to know whether those legislators must be listed on the ballot (and, if so, whether they would be eligible to serve if elected); other potential candidates need to know whether incumbent legislators are running for re-election; and Oregon voters have great interest in the proper construction of a constitutional amendment that was enacted by the voters last fall,” the motion reads, as reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting. (SOURCE)  

Imagine taking an intimate look into the lesser-known lives of wild wolves through the lens of a decorated National Geographic photographer. Set to debut at the High Desert Museum on Saturday, October 21, the travelling exhibition Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan offers Museum visitors that remarkable opportunity. 

The stunning exhibition, created by the National Geographic Society and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming, will feature Donovan’s images and videos of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and on Ellesmere Island in the high Canadian Artic.

Since 2014, the National Geographic Explorer and photographer has examined the relationship between wild wolves and humans to better understand the animals, our shared history and what drives the persistent human-wolf conflict.

Wolves is the kickoff to a series of exhibitions and programs over the next year at the Museum that will explore the Endangered Species Act, which was signed into law 50 years ago.

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