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, October 20, 2023

Klamath Basin Weather

Today’s Headlines

The dam removal project along the Klamath River is running on schedule, according to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. It marks the largest dam removal project in world history.

Copco 2 was the first of four dams to be removed. The KRRC said the three remaining dams, Copco 1, Iron Gate Dam and the J.C. Boyle Dam will be removed by November of 2024.

Mark Bransom, CEO of the KRRC, says about a year from now, we will have re-established a free flowing condition throughout the hydroelectric reach on the Klamath River for the first time in over 100 years.

Bransom said there are two main goals for the project: Re-establishing a fish passage that runs both upstream and downstream of the river, and improving overall water quality.

Native tribes along the Klamath River have been advocating for dam removal for generations, hoping to see the salmon population return to the river. Bransom said the relationship between the tribes and the KRRC is an extremely important element of the project. 

Right now crews are focusing on drawdown preparation. This means crews will lower the water levels of the reservoirs, before they start chipping away at the dams. (kdrv 12)

A man and his dog were rescued after being stuck 300 feet below the caldera at Crater Lake National Park Wednesday.

Jackson County Fire District 3 says its Technical Rescue Team helped rescue the man and his dog thanks to assistance from park officials.

The Technical Rescue Team has been responding to incidents at Crater Lake for a while now, with crews taking shifts as to who was in the park and who was back at the main station in White City.

According to Battalion Chief Bryan Cohee, the man went to rescue his dog after the animal fell down the caldera.  The man and his dog were at a part of the park where pets were not supposed to be.

Chief Cohee says the dog had minor injuries to his paw and face but overall everyone involved was okay.

He added it’s a good reminder when visiting the park to keep pets on a leash and only allow them in approved pet areas.  (JCFD/CLNP)

During the next two years, health officials will test 127 drinking water systems in Oregon for 29 different “forever chemicals” and lithium under new guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Kingsley Field is listed as a possible site of contamination.

These chemicals are known or suspected by the EPA to be harmful when consumed at high levels or over long periods. The federal agency has demanded that water systems nationwide serving 3,300 or more people test for the contaminants several times between 2023 and 2025, but the agency has not adopted regulations or guidance on what to do about the findings, especially if they turn up in concentrations that can cause severe disease in adults and children.

That leaves the Oregon Health Authority in charge of overseeing the tests but in a regulatory vacuum in terms of protecting the public. The state has set thresholds for four PFAS and issues health advisories if high, but lacks the regulatory authority to enforce penalties or dictate action until the EPA sets its regulations.

Officials have alerted city water managers when their test results show detectable levels of contamination. In Molalla, where a forever chemical was recently detected, and Umatilla, where lithium was recently detected, health officials wrote to city public works managers to let them know about the results without offering any solutions, said Kari Salis, a drinking water manager at the health authority.

The agency, along with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, has since 2021 undertaken water testing in areas suspected to be near or on sites contaminated with the chemicals. Just one of the 140 sites tested in 2021 — a small water system serving a mobile home park in Albany — had levels of PFAS high enough to prompt the health authority to pressure the water system operators to alert residents. Overall, Oregon does not have the same issues with the chemicals that some other states do, Salis said.

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Defense identified 700 former or current military sites across the U.S., including five in Oregon, where the agency asked state regulators to investigate possible PFAS contamination atop aquifers that supply drinking water to the public.
Those sites include the Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Klamath Falls, the Portland International Airport, McNary Field in Salem, the Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center in Salem and military training centers at the Umatilla Depot in northeast Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority found none was at risk of causing contamination to any public water system.  (more at HeraldandNews.com)

City and county law enforcement and emergency services will soon have integrated access to all public safety reports and information.

Klamath Falls City Council entered into an intergovernmental agreement Monday evening with Klamath County commissioners, 9-1-1 Emergency Dispatch and Fire District 1, agreeing to split all costs amongst the parties and begin transitioning to the new system.

A software program from Tyler Technologies provides a platform where all public safety entities in a community can access each other’s reports and information.

The system received approval from Klamath Falls budget committee during the 2023-25 biennial budget meeting earlier this year.

Klamath Falls Chief of Police Rob Dentinger briefed the city about the system during a work session in September.

The work session presentation listed potential benefits of the Tyler system, including across the board access to warrants, pre-bookings, citations, alerts and custody statuses.

Oregon State Police entered a 10-year contract with Tyler for statewide “CAD (computer-aided dispatch) & Mobile” in May, according to the report from city police. All Oregon law enforcement agencies with the Tyler system will have access to all of OSP’s data.

The new system is said to improve safety and efficiency for police officers in the field by providing real-time access to dispatch information and immediate updates and alerts while on a call.

Data through the Tyler system is stored in a cloud, allowing instant and continuous access to information for all incorporated agencies.

Once up and running — approximately 17 months from now — the public safety system will allow community members to view location-based reports as well.

Local agencies also have access to a “hot spots” map which shows the areas in the community where crime takes place most and least often and provides trends of crime data throughout the area.

Cost of implementation will be $606,545 with an annual fee of $362,514. Both costs will be split between all parties.  (more at HeraldandNews.com)

Chairman of the Board of Klamath County Commissioners Derrick DeGroot quashed a circulating rumor about the board’s interest in annexing the South Suburbs into the city of Klamath Falls during a weekly meeting Tuesday.

DeGroot said the county commission has been having meetings with the five municipalities of Klamath County (Bonanza, Chiloquin, Malin, Merril, Klamath Falls) to find ways to best spend county dollars to provide the “best possible” level of policing, and that the meetings have not been about annexation.

Outlined by DeGroot was the total budget of the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office for the 2023-24 fiscal year: $17,766,000. DeGroot said that the sheriff’s budget is made up of the general fund, contracts, grants and “numerous” other sources.

From Klamath County’s general fund, the Sheriff’s Office received $12,247,636; a figure DeGroot said is $2 million more than what is received from taxpayers.

The weekly business meeting also saw the allocation of $2 million from the Oregon Legislature to fund the construction of a residential treatment center for youth, the Klamath Crimson Rose facility.

Klamath Crimson Rose is a behavioral rehabilitation program for girls aged 12-20 at the Klamath County Juvenile Center. Klamath Crimson Rose serves youth needing behavioral stabilization services including mental and physical health, and substance use dependency and provides academic assistance, general structure and safety.

(more at heraldandnews.com)

Klamath County is well on its way toward having a brand new “hub.”

The Klamath Hub is the county’s project intended to “celebrate and support the working hands of the Klamath Basin.”

Designs for the hub were reviewed at the board of commissioners’ administrative meeting Tuesday afternoon.  Plans for the project place it in what was once Hanscam’s Bowling Center, located on the 3300 block of South Sixth Street.

Three organizations will occupy the space as tenants: Klamath Grown, Oregon State University Extension Office and Klamath County Event Center.

In all, the project is projected to cost a little more than $14 million, with contingencies included. Total cost is expected to rise 3% each year after 2024 should the county choose to hold off on beginning construction.

The total cost does not include a budget for the proposed roundabout in the same vicinity.  (more at HeraldandNews.com)

Following the Klamath Hub discussion, Commissioner Kelley Minty brought the topic of employment of relatives to the table regarding the current situation with county Sheriff Chris Kaber and his two sons working in the same department.

The board of commissioners recently revoked and terminated a resolution from 2018 which was created to allow the sheriff and his sons, one of whom had been working for the sheriff’s office for many years prior, to serve their community in the same department.

The resolution was revoked during a county counsel meeting which Minty was unable to attend, leaving the sheriff and his sons, Corrections Deputy Erick Kaber and Det. Sgt. Ryan Kaber, 90 days to decide which of them will resign or potentially transfer to a new department in the case of the sergeant and deputy.

Minty said she looked to departments that were struggling or in need of manpower and support. The county District Attorney’s office was the first that came to mind.  Minty said she asked the DA’s office if there was any role the sheriff’s sons could play.

Her second idea was to consider reassigning Ryan and Erick to serve on a temporary task force in the Bly Mountain area where they could collaborate with and be supervised by Lake County Sheriff’s Office.  (more at HeraldandNews.com)

Calling all volunteers!

The Moore Park Playground project is underway and is asking the public to lend some helping hands this Friday.

According to the Healthy Klamath website, volunteers are needed this week to help install fencing around the playground area from 9 am until 12:30 p.m.

“This is your opportunity to volunteer, get your hands dirty, build and be a part of creating a playground that future generations will enjoy,” the site said.

The last volunteer day for the project, held in August, brought more than 150 community members together to help erect the ADA-approved playground structure.

To sign up and volunteer, visit healthyklamath.org and scan the QR code listed on the Moore Park Playground page.  (HeraldandNews.com)

The Ross Ragland Theater presents The Magic of Michael Grandinetti, Master Illusionist for two performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow on Saturday.

Grandinetti has become recognized globally as a talented and innovative illusionist. Through his work, he makes the art of magic modern, innovative, and exciting while showing audiences that nothing is impossible.

According to the Ragland, “Michael Grandinetti is not your ordinary magician.” He has been named by Entertainment Weekly as “a great magician who can truly communicate with an audience.”

Grandinetti has been featured on the cover of TV Times magazine, and has appeared nationally in newspapers across the U.S. His tour is one of the trending touring attractions across the U.S. and Canada.

Audiences and critics have reportedly praised the show, as Grandinetti recreates stunning illusions from his television and stadium appearances live on stage.

The Ragland playbill also notes that over the past 20 years, Grandinetti has appeared on network television in a series about people who have achieved success in challenging industries.

Showtimes are at 2 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $27 for seniors and military, $25 for students, and $10 for kids 12 & under, and can be purchased at the Ragland Box Office Monday-Friday noon to 5 p.m., by calling (541) 884-LIVE.  (ross ragland theater)

Some proposed changes to the Lake of the Woods are under discussion, to help with visitor overflow.

Lake of the Woods has seen a lot more tourism recently, especially after the pandemic.  To accommodate, the Fremont- Winema National Forest wants to make space for parking.

It is proposing multiple new recreational vehicle sites and parking spots.

These are among other different proposals, that are currently under analysis by the national forest.  Other proposals include changes to the Lake of the Woods Resort itself, like dock renovations, the installation of park model cabins and building remodels.

The lake is well known for its year-round recreational activities, fishing, lodging, winter kite festival and more.  (F/W nat’l forest)

In the midst of fall weather, it’s the time of year to get out the winter attire for the coming cold months and, if you can, help others in need.

The annual Coats for Kids campaign is underway with donations of children’s new and gently used coats are now being collected in communities across southern Oregon through October 29th.

Windermere Real Estate announced that the public can donate youth-sized coats at local Windermere branches, including one in Klamath Falls, located at 519 Main St. in Klamath Falls.

Donated coats can be dropped off between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. To donate at a different time, the release said community members can contact their local Windermere broker for more details.  Coats will cleaned and delivered to local schools every Friday for children in need, the release said.   (more at HeraldandNews.com)

Friends of the children of the Klamath Basin will launch its Annual Potato Sale fundraiser Saturday, November 4, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., in the parking lot of Klamath Falls Subaru on Washburn Way.

Beginning November 6, potatoes will be available for delivery in Klamath Falls.

The potatoes are premium russets donated by CAL-ORE Produce. They will be sold in 20-pound boxes for $25, with all proceeds directly supporting youth mentoring in the Klamath Basin.

New this year is online ordering through https://ddock.co/199bdd. Buyers can also call 541-273-2022.

Friends of the Children – Klamath Basin is a chapter of a nationwide organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through salaried, professional mentoring. We select youth facing the greatest obstacles and commit to working with those children for 12+ years. Learn more at friendsklamath.org.  (submitted press release)

Don’t forget your breast cancer screening

Early detection saves lives! This October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we urge people to get screened for breast cancer.

For individuals who are uninsured or underinsured, breast cancer screening in Oregon is free through the Oregon ScreenWise Program.

To enroll in ScreenWise, a patient must meet all of these requirements:

• Age 50 or older and needing breast or cervical cancer screening or diagnostic services; or age 21-49 and needing only breast or cervical cancer diagnostic services;
• Living or intending to live in Oregon;
• Household income at or below 250% of Federal Poverty Level;
• Uninsured or underinsured.

To learn more about ScreenWise and how to enroll, visit OHA’s website, or call (877) 255-7070.

Oregon has its fair share of spooky stories to delve into for the Halloween season. 

Constructed in 1905, the Baldwin Hotel Museum is the oldest public building in Klamath Falls and remains haunted by the story — if not the spirit — of former proprietor and local photographer Maud Baldwin.

Todd Kepple of the Klamath County Museum likes to begin the Baldwin Hotel Museum’s popular evening flashlight tours from outside, near the street.

In September and October, the museum offers special guided tours of the historic hotel.

Kepple says touring via flashlight offers a different sensory experience than just viewing the museum in the daytime, allowing visitors a chance to focus on each object: 

Most nights, a glowing light appears from Maud’s former fourth-story room. From the road below, that single light may look eerie — but as Kepple explains, there is a rational explanation. “We always leave a light on in Maud’s studio. It’s just our way of paying our respects.”

The guest register includes names like John Muir, Zane Grey and four presidents: James Garfield, William Taft, Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt, the last of whom visited several times on his way to Crater Lake.

For more information on flashlight tours at the Baldwin, contact the Klamath County Museum  (heraldandnews.com)

Around the state of Oregon

FBI’s Portland Field Office is closely monitoring for local threats of violence, following the bombings in Israel and Gaza.

Special Agent in Charge Kieran Ramsey says that, “We just saw something pretty brutal, pretty barbaric happen halfway around the world, and unfortunately, it does have consequences locally.”

He says Israel – and everyone – was caught off guard by Hamas, leading to big questions here, “Are we being vigilant enough? Are we being forward-looking enough to make sure that we are not going to be surprised here, in the United States?”

And, specifically for the FBI teams in Oregon- Are we doing everything we can to make sure that we are not surprised in Oregon?”

Those concerns escalated after a “call to action” by Hamas was echoed by Al Qaeda and Hezbollah, Ramsey says they’re working closely with faith communities, And, they’re watching for misinformation and disinformation that can sow discord among some populations,

The FBI works with local law enforcement around the state, Ramsey says, to gather intelligence and share resources as needed. If you see or experience something with immediate safety concerns, call 911. If it’s not a life-threatening emergency, you’re encouraged to report it to local law enforcement or directly to the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI or the at TIPS.FBI.gov.

(Oregon news/FBI Oregon)

Federal regulators have approved the expansion of a natural gas pipeline in the Pacific Northwest over the protest of environmental groups and top officials in West Coast states.

The route through Oregon starts at the border, stays on the west side of the Cascades near Medford, then heads into central Oregon near Bend.  It continues eastbound towards Pendleton and into the Tri-Cities area of Washington.

The project, known as GTN Xpress, aims to expand the capacity of the Gas Transmission Northwest pipeline, which runs through Idaho, Washington and Oregon, by about 150 million cubic feet (4.2 million cubic meters) of natural gas per day. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave it the green light in a vote on Thursday.

The pipeline belongs to TC Energy of Calgary, Canada — the same company behind the now-abandoned Keystone XL crude oil pipeline.

TC Energy plans to modify three compressor stations along the pipeline — in Kootenai County, Idaho; Walla Walla County, Washington; and Sherman County, Oregon. Compressor stations help maintain the pressure and flow of gas over long distances in a pipeline.

The company says the project is necessary to meet consumer demand.

The 1,377-mile (2,216-kilomter) pipeline runs from the Canadian border through a corner of Idaho and into Washington state and Oregon, connecting with a pipeline going into California.

Officials from Washington, Oregon and California called on federal regulators to reject the project, saying it would undermine their states’ efforts to reduce emissions to combat the effects of climate change.

(kdrv 12)

Oregon’s economy added 81-hundred jobs in September and the state’s unemployment rate increased a fraction to three-and-a-half percent.

September was the fourth consecutive month where the unemployment rate was between three-point-four and three-point-five percent. The U.S. unemployment rate is higher at three-point-eight percent. Construction topped the list adding 32-hundred jobs in September followed by professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

(Oregon news)

Want to learn to be more aware of scams?

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), along with partners from AARP, the Oregon Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division, Oregon Department of Human Services, Aging & People with Disabilities, Construction Contractors Board, and the Federal Trade Commission, will be presenting a fraud prevention workshop in southern Oregon.

Those in attendance will learn from experts on how to spot scams and gain prevention tips and tools to protect against fraud.

Scam Jam will be held Friday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Rogue Valley Country Club, located at 2660 Hillcrest Road in Medford.

Breakfast will be provided and pre-registration is encouraged. People can register for the event online at https://events.aarp.org/SOScamJam or call 1-877-926-8300.

If you believe you may have been scammed, DFR has resources to help you. Consumer advocates are available by calling 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or emailing dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov. DFR’s website is also a good resource for information or help. (ODFR press release)

OSP and PPB Cooperative Enforcement effort at Governor Kotek’s direction nets 7 Arrests for Delivery of Controlled Substances in a single day

On Wednesday, October 18, a cooperative effort as a part of Governor Kotek’s directive to enhance strategic fentanyl enforcement between the Oregon State Police (OSP) and Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) Central Bike Squad resulted in several arrests and citations related to criminal drug sales and weapons possession. OSP and PPB were joined by members of the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Justice Department (AUSA) to assist.

This joint operation resulted in seven arrests for the Delivery of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl), one arrest for the Possession of a Controlled Substance (fentanyl), and two of the arrestees had an additional charge for the Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Additionally, several thousand dollars in currency and approximately 500 grams of powdered fentanyl were seized.

All of these enforcement actions took place in an area of approximately 12 blocks with a concentration of these arrests in a much smaller area.

All the arrested suspects were lodged in the Multnomah County Jail. Of the suspects, all were male- seven adults and one juvenile.

“Collaborative patrols between PPB and OSP are having some success. We remain committed to supporting our partners at PPB and helping in their efforts to bring a sense of safety to the downtown core by disrupting and deterring dangerous criminal actions and working to break the deadly grasp of fentanyl in our communities. We are also grateful for the assistance of our county and federal partners in this effort.” – Superintendent Casey Codding.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has appointed Colonel Alan Gronewald as The Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard.

He’ll replace Michael Stencel who is retiring after a 39-year-long military career and eight years as The Adjutant General. Gronewald graduated from West Point and has served for 27 years with deployments in Kuwait, Germany, Afghanistan, and Iraq where he led teams of up to five-thousand people across wide geographic regions.

(Oregon news)

New Oregon data dashboards will allow people to better track trends in activity of respiratory viruses – including COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – in communities.

Oregon’s Respiratory Virus Data dashboards, published on Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) website, have been updated for the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season to help connect people with the latest COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) trends in Oregon. The agency’s Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Program (ACDP) launched the interactive data dashboards, which include reported data for all three respiratory viruses.

Understanding these trends will help the public, state and local agencies, and community organizations prepare for and respond to COVID-19, influenza and RSV activity this season, said Melissa Sutton, M.D., medical director for respiratory viral pathogens at the OHA Public Health Division.

OHA continues to report on COVID-19 hospital bed use, COVID-19 variants and COVID-19-associated deaths. Links are provided to COVID-19, influenza and RSV hospitalization rate and emergency department visit data for Oregon, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To subscribe to the weekly influenza and RSV reports, visit the FluBites and RSV-Oregon websites.

(Oregon health authority press release)

Fire Season Comes To An End in Oregon

Salem, Ore.—With temperatures cooling and widespread rain soaking the state, all Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) protection districts have terminated fire season restrictions, marking the end of the 2023 Oregon fire season declarations. 

Year to date, there have been 975 fires on ODF-protected lands resulting in 17,968 acres burned. Three ODF Type 1 Incident Management Teams (IMT) were deployed this season: one to the Golden Fire in the Klamath-Lake District, and two to the Tyee Ridge Complex in the Douglas Forest Protective Association district. Statewide to date, regardless of jurisdiction, there have been 1,909 fires that have burned 190,507 acres.

“This year, I would say was the year of partnership,” Mike Shaw, Protection Division Chief, said. “We had several opportunities this year to help to our local, state, and federal partners keep Oregon safe from wildfire, and vice versa,” said Shaw.

Starting in May this year, ODF deployed firefighter IMT members to Alberta, Canada through the Northwest Compact—an agreement created to facilitate assistance in wildland fire pre-suppression and suppression efforts between member agencies. In August, an ODF Type 3 IMT was deployed to manage the Wiley Creek Fire to assist our partners at The Willamette National Forest. ODF also supported local fire service agencies and the Oregon State Fire Marshal multiple times throughout the summer by deploying aircraft when called upon and sharing personnel and other resources. Lastly, the department remained engaged with partners during long-term fire events and offered resources or advice wherever needed.

ODF and association firefighters responded to nearly the same number of fires this year as the 10-year average, but kept the acres burned at approximately 16% of the 10-year average, which was 119,526 acres burned. This is due to the agency’s aggressive approach to initial attack to preserve natural resources, protect communities, and increase firefighter safety, as well as investments of additional staffing and aircraft resources from the 2021 Legislature.

Overall, the department put out 94 percent of fires at 10 acres or fewer this year. 

The start and end of fire season restrictions and regulations are set by each forest protection district based on the conditions in their area including drought, climatic forecasts, and season trends. These restrictions and regulations of activities prone to start wildfires, such as debris burning and certain equipment use, are intended as preventative measures during times with elevated wildfire risks. The arrival of steady, soaking rain coupled with cooler temperatures and shorter days usually triggers the closure of fire season. The end of fire season removes ODF imposed fire restrictions on ODF-protected lands. However, many structural fire departments in Oregon still require a permit for debris and slash burning, so check with your local fire department before starting a burn.  

As Oregon transitions out of fire season, ODF districts across the state are shifting their attention to wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts. Clearing vegetation, creating defensible space around homes, and safely burning debris piles are just a few ways ODF is working with local landowners, members of the public and fellow fire response agencies to mitigate wildfire risk.

For more tips on how to keep yourself, your loved ones and your property safe from wildfire at any time of year, visit ODF’s Fire Prevention website or Keep Oregon Green’s website.

ODF protects about 16 million acres of private, county, state and federal forest and grazing lands in Oregon.

Oregon lawmakers want to look at the state’s drug addiction crisis — and seek solutions — from all angles before the next legislative session starts in February.

That work starts in earnest at 1 p.m. Wednesday, when the new Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response meets for the first time. Legislative leaders announced the eight-member committee in September amid concerns about drug addiction, deadly overdoses and what role Oregon’s drug decriminalization law plays after voters in 2020 passed Measure 110, which also put marijuana revenue toward addiction programs throughout the state.

The committee will look at the addiction crisis from a wider perspective than Measure 110 alone, said Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, who is co-chairing the committee with Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend.

In four monthly meetings from Wednesday through January, lawmakers will hear from addiction treatment providers, law enforcement and others about the factors driving the crisis and potential solutions.

Lieber, a former Multnomah county prosecutor and the Senate majority leader, said the first meeting will focus on behavioral health and the public health response to the crisis. The committee wants to aid prevention and increase treatment options so people can get off drugs, she said.

The first meeting’s agenda includes presentations on addiction prevention and the treatment system from the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, the Oregon Health Authority and providers throughout the state, from Portland to rural Coos County.

The committee’s second meeting in November will focus on law enforcement and public safety, Kropf said. From there, additional meetings will look at potential immediate solutions and long-term goals.

Fentanyl is a game-changer, as the cheap, highly-addictive opioid has flooded the streets. In 2022, 934 Oregonians died from opioid overdoses, up from 280 in 2019, according to Oregon Health Authority data.

Sen. Tim Knopp of Bend, the Senate Republican leader, has said his caucus will ask the committee to refer a bill that sends Measure 110 back to voters to accept or reject. (more at heraldandnews.com)

Mill City Man Claims $1 Mil Powerball Prize!

Salem, Ore. –  A Mill City man claimed his $1 million Powerball win this week with a ticket from the October 9 drawing. Thomas Willard, 77, said he plays when the jackpots grow to large amounts and only missed the record prize by one number – the Powerball. 

“At our age, this is just about right,” Willard said of the $1 million win that will be enjoyed with his wife of 49 years, Nancy.

The couple plans to buy a new pick-up truck and a riding scooter for Nancy to get around easier. They bought their winning ticket at the 7 Star Convenience Store in Mill City. The business will receive a $10,000 commission for selling the prize.

Nancy discovered the win by checking their numbers online the morning following the drawing. She initially thought they had won $100,000 but realized it was the $1 million prize and told her husband, “Wake up, you have to see this!”

The second-largest Powerball jackpot of $1.765 billion was won by a California player in the October 11 drawing. Since the jackpot run up began on July 22, smaller prizes won in Oregon total $7.75 million. Approximately a third of sales from Powerball will be returned to state beneficiaries to support economic development, education, veteran services, state parks and more.

Powerball is a multi-state jackpot operated by 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The largest prize won in Oregon was a $340 million jackpot in 2005.

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 $15.5 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. 

About 99,000 children in Oregon will receive $43 million in pandemic food benefits, the Oregon Department of Human Services said in a news release. 

The benefits will go to children whose families received SNAP benefits between Sept. 1, 2022 and May 11, 2023, the release said. The children must have been five years old or younger during this time period.

“Families will receive the additional food benefits for every month during this period that one or more children in their household were ages 5 and younger (and) the family was receiving SNAP benefits,” the release said.

ODHS will give families $67 per child for every month between September 2022 and April 2023, and $30 for May, the release said. Families can receive up to $566 for every eligible child.

Families receiving SNAP benefits at this time will receive these P-EBT benefits on their EBT card today, the release said. If the family is no longer receiving SNAP benefits, they will receive a P-EBT card “within the coming weeks” with the food benefits on it.  (kdrv 12)

Jobs. Forest Service officials announced Monday that they are accepting applications for permanent seasonal jobs between October 19 and November 22 with 436 positions opening in Washington and Oregon, including 30 on the Willamette National Forest.

Positions available include trail work, recreation facilities, and helping manage wilderness areas, off-highway vehicle usage, and winter recreation programs, the Forest Service said. Forest officials said that permanent seasonal positions are offered on a 13 pay periods of six months on and 13 pay periods off. As career positions, they may be increased to 18/8 (18 pay periods working with eight pay periods off) or a full 26 pay periods of work dependent upon needs and funding, the Forest Service said. Officials said that eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals at least 18 years old.

Live webinars will be held on October 17 from 2 to 3 p.m. providing tips for job seekers and on October 18 from 9 to 10 a.m. to help applicants navigate the USAJOBS website where job postings are listed, the Forest Service said.

More information can be found online at the U.S. Forest Service’s website.

(USFS press release)

The Oregon Health Authority has started publicly tracking transportation deaths and injuries via a state dashboard, which state officials hope will lead to safety improvements on Oregon’s roads.

The dashboard includes transportation-related emergency department and hospital stays and fatality rates for the whole state and by county.

Data shows that overall transportation deaths are on the rise, particularly for motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists. In 2022, there were 606 transportation-related deaths – a slight uptick from the previous year and a steady climb over the past decade.

The state health department’s numbers are slightly higher than those than those reported by the Oregon Department of Transportation, which focuses only on car-related deaths on public roads. The state health department looks at any type of transportation, including deaths on boats, airplanes, ATVs and e-scooters. In 2022, ODOT reported 575 car-related deaths.

(Oregon news)

Oregon Department of Transportation budget cuts will mean less snow removal and winter maintenance on our roads this winter.

Declining gas tax revenue is the reason for the 5% drop across all programs; services and materials are slashed by 15%.

ODOT’s Kacey Davey says high volume roads, those seeing over 3,000 vehicles per day will still get plowed,

She says it won’t be the same for roads that see less than 3,000 cars a day,

In central and south central Oregon, almost 60% of our roads are considered low volume, even popular traveled roads like the road up to Mount Bachelor..” She says drivers will need to be alert.

The mayor of Bend Kebler last week on the issue, and suggested they may ask the State to get involved.

(ODOT)

Flu season is officially underway in Oregon. In the first week of October, labs report 22 positive tests in the state. Of those, 18 were for Influenza A and four for Influenza B.

Six cases are in Central Oregon, which is fewer than 1% of the 667 tests conducted that week. Of the local cases, four are Influenza A and two are Influenza B.  Southern Oregon and southwest Oregon report slightly higher numbers.

The Portland-metro area had 10 cases and five of those resulted in hospitalizations. Three other cases are in Southern Oregon, along with three in the Willamette Valley.

Track the state’s flu season on the Oregon Health Authority’s website.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon announces funding available for Oregon farmers, ranchers and forest owners to perform voluntary conservation activities on their land.

Farm Bill funding for this sign-up period is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Applicants should apply by November 17, 2023 to be considered for the first round of fiscal year 2024 funding.

To learn more and apply for available funding in your area, contact your local USDA Service Center or apply online at farmers.gov. (submitted press release)

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