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Monday, October 23, 2023

Klamath Basin Weather

Today’s Headlines

The Klamath Falls City Council approved standards for licensing and operating Short Term Rentals within city limits. STRs are also known as vacation rentals or by the companies that operate them, such as Airbnb or Vrbo.

The City of Klamath Falls says it is classifying STRs as units rented for less than 30 days. Anything rented longer than the 30 day period is not considered an STR.

It also noted that the change comes due to an increase in STR growth in the past few years, much like other Oregon communities. The majority of STRs in Klamath Falls are located in low-density residential areas.

Under the approved standards, all properties used as an STR must have a Short-Term Rental Permit and maintain an active City Business License. The date of compliance is September 30, 2024.

The total fee for the first year is $200, and each following year it will be $50.

For more information or to apply for an STR Permit, visit http://klamathfalls.city.  (City of KF information)

Enrollment at Klamath County schools remains about the same this year, Superintendent Glen Szymoniak told the school board Wednesday.

Szymoniak reported 7,132 students for the district — up only four students from last year. The most significant increase of students was at Great Basin Homeschool (up 42 students) and Bonanza Jr./Sr. High School (up 31 students). Greatest decreases were seen at Peterson Elementary, which is down 33 students; Ferguson Elementary, down 30 students; and Keno Elementary, down 22 students.

The board approved $24,928 in grants awarded to teachers and schools for a variety of needs. The most significant of these was an award of $10,000 to Gilchrist Schools for its afterschool program given by the Oregon Community Foundation.

Two presentations from district personnel were also given that informed the board of advances made in social-emotional learning for students, and in nursing services provided at schools.

David Marshall, director of special services, and Stacey Ramirez, social-emotional administrator for the district, said much progress has been made in providing support to students that have challenges in their behavioral and social-emotional development.

Also at the meeting Wednesday, KCSD head school nurse Laura Limb, told the board that nursing staff has increased from one full-time and two part-time nurses, to five full-time and two part-time nurses and an administrative assistant to meet the needs of students.

The next regular Klamath County School District meeting will be held at 5 p.m., Thursday Oct. 16 in the KCSD board room, 2845 Greensprings Drive. Regular meetings are open to the public. (more at HeraldandNews.com)

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon Tech had 44 student-athletes represented among the 477 Cascade Collegiate Conference recipients of the U.S. Bank Academic All-Conference honors for their performances in the classroom, announced by the conference office.
 
Student-athletes from the fall sports of men’s and women’s cross-country, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball earned the distinction. To earn recognition as an All-CCC Academic honoree, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 and sophomore standing.  The Hustlin’ Owls men’s soccer team led the way with 15 recipients, while the Lady Owls women’s soccer team had 11 honorees.

Earning the award were –

Men’s Soccer (15): Ian Bermudez, Ben Bradshaw, Sebastian Brunk, Brandon Donat, Ellis Harwood, Hunter Hoogerwerf, DeShone Myles, Dylan Nakagawa, Andrew Pasang, Ryan Pearson, Arthur Proost, Brock Rideout, Kevin Rodriguez, Matthew Shirley, Britton Ullan.

Women’s Cross Country (4): Eva Brady, Kira Morrow, Rachel Newhard, Mackenzie Peterson.

Volleyball (8): Brooke Cassidy, Molly Grace, Kate Hicks, Willow Jacobson, Savanna Sterck, Paige Tevelde, Kaley Whalen, Karly White.

Men’s Cross Country (6): Maxwell Cox, Dylan Davis, Jonas Hartline, Tychon Preston, Toby Ruston, Joseph Wilkinson.

Women’s Soccer (11): Kianna Guzon, Logan Kashima, Olivia Kreiser, Brianna Lewis, Kara Morris. Carly Moss, Sydni Nakamura, Kaelin Ness, Jissel Valencia-Mendez, Miranda Valle, Kiah Wetzell.

Road Work is anticipated from Monday through Friday in the county this week:

Sprague River Road: Asphalt paving operations will be occurring between milepost 5 and milepost 12.

Shasta Way: Sidewalk work between Madison and Patterson streets

Traffic control measures will be in place for guidance, maximum flagger controlled delays of 20 minutes should be expected.

For additional questions or concerns, please contact Jeremy Morris,

Klamath County Public Works Director at 541-883-4696.

(more at HeraldandNews.com)

It was a pretty good year to grow potatoes this season, and the harvest celebration was held over the weekend in Merrill.

The 86th annual Klamath Basin Potato Festival began Friday in Merrill, and continued into Saturday. “Potatoes — A Family Tradition” is this year’s theme.

Exhibits and vendors were open to the public at the Merrill Civic Center Friday, with a free baked potato bar, sponsored by Umpqua bank.

A parade was held Front St. in Merrill at Saturday, followed by a free BBQ, sponsored by the Merrill Lion’s Club..

The family-friendly eventl also provided live music, a beer garden, potato peeling contest, and Pop-Warner football games for all to enjoy.  (HeraldandNews.com)

A 19 year old, Carson Newsome, was booked into the Klamath County Jail over the weekend on 8 felony counts of first degree sexual abuse.

Jail records show he was booked into custody late Friday afternoon.
No other details regarding his arrest were immediately available.  (KCSO jail log)

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)

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)

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

Man Arrested After Splatter Ball Shooting at Downtown Eugene Protest Rally

Saturday afternoon about 2pm, there was a protest at 405 E. 8th Avenue in Eugene. Eugene Police Mobile Response Team had responded to monitor safety at the planned protest. At about 3:15 p.m., an estimated 200 marchers concentrated in a city block began to a march.

The crowd was marching southbound on Pearl approaching E. 8th Avenue when a man later identified as Jonathan James Wisbey, age 51, stopped his pickup, blocking the crowd. He engaged the crowd and there was a verbal altercation.

EPD MRT began closing on the area as members of the protest slashed one of the truck’s tires. Wisbey got out of his truck and shot a splatter ball gun into the crowd. Immediately a couple of protestors armed with handguns drew their weapons. Very quickly, EPD MRT officers were able to challenge all armed subjects, and they were detained without further issues.

EPD patrol responded in emergency mode to cover EPD MRT and to create distance with the 200-member crowd returning to the scene and encircling officers. There was a concern when other armed subjects were seen in the crowd, including one who had an AK-47.

Wisbey was arrested and lodged at Lane County Jail on charges of Menacing, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, and Bias Crime in the First Degree.  Case 23-15877

Samson Garner, a Multnomah County man, was charged Friday on allegations that he was planning a mass shooting in Deschutes County, specifically targeting rock climbers.

Authorities would not say where they believed the shootings would take place, but Smith Rock State Park Manager Matt Davey said“There was a possible threat targeted toward the Smith Rock Craggin Classic.”

The classic, which took place this past weekend, is an annual three-day rock-climbing festival at Smith Rock State Park hosted by the Colorado-based American Alpine Club.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office arrested Garner, 39, on Thursday night after being alerted by the Portland Police Bureau that Garner had told two acquaintances he planned to shoot people who were rock climbing in Deschutes County, said District Attorney Steve Gunnels.

Garner was found with three handguns and an AR-15 rifle when sheriff’s deputies arrested him outside his Subaru near Tumalo, Gunnels said. (Oregon news)

Scammers Targeting Public Benefits At New Paid Leave Oregon Program

Some Oregonians have reported getting a letter saying they’ve been approved for paid leave benefits that they never applied for, a warning sign of identity theft.

Oregon’s Paid Leave program has sent out more than $28 million in benefits so far — but scammers are among those trying to cash in on the state’s new program.

Public benefits have long been a target of fraudsters who attempt to illegally gain access to personal data in order to file fraudulent applications for things like unemployment insurance or food benefits. Officials with Paid Leave Oregon said it is experiencing the same type of attempted fraud, and are asking Oregonians who receive a letter regarding benefits they didn’t actually apply for to report it on the program’s website.

The program started paying out benefits last month and has approved more than 15,000 applications so far. Eligible Oregon employees can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for family, medical or “safe leave” — the program’s term for people seeking financial support to escape domestic or sexual violence. Workers taking paid time off for pregnancy may be eligible for up to 14 weeks of leave.

Workers seeking benefits must send in certain documentation that corresponds to the type of leave they’re taking, such as a birth certificate for a new child. Once an application is submitted, the employment department reviews all the documents and verifies the identity of the applicant. It also notifies the employer.

But some Oregonians have reported getting a letter saying they’ve been approved for paid leave benefits that they never applied for. That’s a warning sign a person’s identity has been compromised. A spokesperson for the program said Oregonians should keep an eye on their mailboxes and report any letters regarding benefits they didn’t apply for.

OPB has heard from at least one employer who reported feeling suspicious after receiving a letter from Paid Leave Oregon regarding an employee who was not planning to be away from work.

Employment department officials declined to provide a count of potentially fraudulent applications they’ve received. But they believe they are catching the fraud attempts in the screening process, before money goes out.

The Oregon Department of Justice suggests checking personal credit reports frequently for any anomalies, and urges suspected victims of identity theft to report it to local authorities and the Federal Trade Commission. (SOURCE)

Hard to believe but Oregon high school students won’t have to prove basic mastery of reading, writing or math to graduate from high school until at least 2029, the state Board of Education decided unanimously on Thursday, extending the pause on the controversial graduation requirement that began in 2020.

The vote went against the desires of dozens of Oregonians who submitted public comments insisting the standards should be reinstated, including former Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan. Backlash against the lowered standard had already delayed the vote, originally slated to take place in September.

Opponents argued that pausing the requirement devalues an Oregon diploma. Giving students with low academic skills extra instruction in writing and math, which most high schools did in response to the graduation rules, helped them, they have argued.

But leaders at the Oregon Department of Education and members of the state school board said requiring all students to pass one of several standardized tests or create an in-depth assignment their teacher judged as meeting state standards was a harmful hurdle for historically marginalized students, a misuse of state tests and did not translate to meaningful improvements in students’ post high school success. (Oregon news)

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)

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon is speaking out against the federal government’s decision to expand a natural gas pipeline in the Northwest.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the GTN Xpress pipeline to increase its capacity. It means upgrading compressor stations in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Merkley says the expansion will be like adding 644-thousand gas powered cars to the road every year. Washington Governor Jay Inslee also opposed the move, saying the decision to allow more natural gas to be burned reduces the impacts of climate change reduction efforts. Inslee says the fight is not over.  (Oregon news)

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Refugee Program invites community agencies to apply for a portion of $3.6 million in funding that is available to provide services and support to eligible individuals from Afghanistan.

Interested organizations should complete the application and budget summary. The deadline to apply is Nov. 10, 2023. A virtual information session regarding this funding will take place on Nov. 3, 2023. The session will provide information on the funding and an opportunity for attendees to have questions answered by the ODHS Refugee Program. Details on this session are available in the application.

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is operated by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) through contracts with national non-profit organizations called Resettlement Agencies. These organizations have local affiliate offices throughout the nation.

The ODHS Refugee Program is responsible for some of the services that are outside of initial resettlement provided by Resettlement Agencies. The ODHS Refugee Program administers refugee cash and refugee medical benefits. Additionally, the ODHS Refugee Program contracts with Community-Based Organizations and Resettlement Agencies to provide culturally responsive services for populations deemed eligible by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).

Since August 2021, over 1,400 individuals from Afghanistan have resettled in Oregon.

The purpose of this request is to ask for applications from culturally and linguistically responsive organizations who provide services to immigrants or refugees (and those eligible for refugee services) to increase services and support.  (DHS press release)

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 wildlife officials are urging residents to be Bear-Aware. This is the season when bears fatten up before hibernating for the winter.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding people living in bear country to make sure they aren’t leaving out food that will attract bears. Garbage cans should be put out just before they’re picked up; chicken feed, pet food and other livestock feed should be secured; remove bird feeders; pickup downed fruit; and store barbecues inside. If you see a bear, give it plenty of space, don’t run, don’t make eye contact, and if you are attacked fight back with rocks, sticks and your hands. (Oregon news)

Butte Falls, Ore. — The Town of Butte Falls and the Bureau of Land Management invite the public to attend an open house meeting to learn about and comment on two related projects: the Butte Falls Community Forest Recreation Plan and the BLM’s Fredenburg Butte Trails project.

The open house will take place on October 26, 2023, from 4:00-8:00 p.m., at Butte Falls Community Hall, 555 E. Main Street, Butte Falls, Ore.

The Town of Butte Falls will explain and seek input on the recreation development plan for its recently acquired community forest. Following acquisition of the community forest in 2022, the Town of Butte Falls began developing its community forest recreation plan with the support of the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program. The Town held a public workshop in May of 2023 to solidify an initial plan. Now, the Town and the Community Forest Commission are seeking input from the Town residents and the larger community on the draft plan.

“The Butte Falls Community Forest Recreation team is excited to share the results of several years of plans on this project.” said Trish Callahan, Mayor of the Town of Butte Falls. “We were joined by the National Park Service, the Rivers, Trail Conservation Assistance Program, to develop the falls day use area. Later we were joined by the BLM, and together we created the Butte Falls trail system. This collaboration will hopefully tie the Butte Falls trails into the Fredenberg trail system and campground proposal. This gives more opportunity for recreation and economic development within our community.”

To complement the Town’s plans for its community forest, the BLM is proposing a new non-motorized trail system in the Fredenburg Butte area north of town. The BLM originally began planning the proposed Fredenburg Trail system as part of its the South Clark Forest Management project. The BLM asked for initial public input in November 2022, through public scoping of the forest management project. Since then, the BLM has separated the Fredenburg Butte Recreation Project from the South Clark project, to allow for a more cooperative and integrated planning process with the Town’s own recreation planning. The BLM has also adjusted the trails project since the original scoping and will provide more information at the meeting. The BLM will issue a separate Environmental Assessment for the Fredenburg Butte Trail system and is seeking public comments based on the updated proposed actions and alternatives. In addition to the public meeting, the BLM will post information on its eplanning.blm.gov website and provide additional public comment periods.

“The BLM is excited to compliment the Town of Butte Falls’s efforts to promote economic development, recreation, tourism, and natural resources education by expanding recreation access on public lands in the area,” said Jared Nichol, BLM Butte Falls Field Manager. “We look forward to hearing from the public about our proposal.” 

Town of Butte Falls-

The Town of Butte Falls is a small rural town in Jackson County, Oregon connected to the rich history and beautiful landscape of Oregon’s forests and natural resources. The Town chose to actively shape its future in response to the changing economic, ecological, and wildfire conditions of the 21^st century. Through the Community Forest and other efforts, Butte Falls hopes to serve as a model of fire resilience and adaptation for other rural communities while promoting recreation, education, and economic development. 

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