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Friday, October 27, 2023
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Sunny, with a high near 59. Overnight, increasing clouds with a low around 27 degrees.
Today’s Headlines
Gayle Yamasaki, a project manager at Klamath Community College (KCC), has been appointed by the Oregon State Legislature to serve a four-year term as a commissioner representing Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District with the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC).
Yamasaki is one of four individuals recommended by the Office of Gov. Tina Kotek and approved by the state Legislature to serve. The HECC board is comprised of 15 individuals, including faculty, staff and student representation from community colleges and universities. Board members volunteer to serve four-year terms, with an option for renewal, while university representatives serve two-year terms.
The primary purpose of HECC is to oversee post-secondary education and workforce training in Oregon, working closely with the state Legislature, community colleges, universities, and workforce development initiatives to ensure equitable affordability and accessibility for Oregonians. This includes administering funding in collaboration with the Legislature, serving as the governing body for policies affecting student accessibility, and approving programs and certifications.
Yamasaki was originally recommended in February following a call for commissioners. She interviewed with the Oregon governor’s office, and following recommendation of Yamasaki’s appointment in August, the Oregon Senate approved her to begin serving a four-year term starting in October. Yamasaki is among four new members recently appointed to HECC.
As a first-generation college student herself, Yamasaki brings an empathetic personal experience to her role in assuring post-secondary education opportunities remain affordable. Her work experience in addition to her current role at KCC includes past work at Oregon Tech, the Klamath Falls City School District, along with ongoing service with the Oregon Cultural Trust and Oregon Community Foundation. She has worked in a wide range of education-related roles, including time spent developing education programs in American Samoa and on the Navajo Nation reservation.
As the state representative for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, the area she serves is vast. Geographically the fifth largest congressional district in the United States, the region stretches from Hood River and Pendleton to Klamath Falls and Burns, encompassing the vast majority of Eastern Oregon and its many community colleges and universities. (Herald and News)
Klamath County Public Health and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have secured $5.1 million federal funds that will go towards improving air quality, according to a news release from Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.
“The $4.67 million from the Environmental Protection Agency will go to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to partner with Klamath County Public Health, allowing the two agencies to change out around 300 woodstoves and weatherize 100 houses in Klamath County, with a focus on improving services to underserved populations who rely on wood for heat,” the release said. “As part of the $4.67 million, $323,630 in utility assistance will be granted to low-income applicants who change out their woodstoves through the program.
An additional $451,250 in EPA funding will go to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation for air quality monitoring.”
Both senators spoke out in support of the funding. (kdrv 12)
Oregon big game hunting seasons are well underway and the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is reminding hunters how to keep their hunt legal.
In Oregon, hunters must have a valid big game tag in their possession for the species and area they are hunting. Both paper and electronic tags are recognized.
Over the past few months, troopers have encountered numerous hunters without big game tags in their possession. In many situations, the hunters utilizing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) electronic licensing app had failed to redeem their tag voucher. The most common issues are hunters with a Sports Pac who forget to redeem the appropriate tag voucher or hunters who had successfully drawn a controlled hunt and then failed to purchase the electronic big game tag for that hunt or species.
With Oregon’s general and controlled rifle elk seasons coming up in November, OSP is reminding hunters to double-check the electronic licensing app for the correct tags for their planned hunts. Within the app, valid big game tags will be displayed within each hunter’s recreation portfolio.
For those opting to use paper licenses and big game tags, be sure the tag is legible and in their possession when hunting. Successful hunters must immediately validate the tag per the instructions on the paper tag, or within the ELS application. The MyODFW app is available for download for both iOS and Android phones and allows hunters to validate their tag even when outside of cellphone reception areas.
For additional information about big game hunting and hunting and angling regulations, visit the ODFW website or OSP’s Fish and Wildlife website.
(ODFW)
Goblins, ghouls, witches, vampires, and an assortment of other characters all gathered at Klamath Union’s Modoc Field Thursday for Pelican Elementary’s Monster Mash walk-a-thon.
Students, and their families and friends, participated to help the school raise its goal of $7,500.
Michelle McCabe, principal at the school, greeted walkers dressed as Albert Einstein. She explained that normally, Pelican Elementary does its annual fundraising through a school carnival. But, this year they decided to do something different.
By hosting a walk-a-thon, the school helps keep kids active, and making it a costumed event where family and friends can participate creates a fun event for all.
The turn-out of about 300 students and guests helped the school raise $5,760. The school also included a costume contest for students, and the top earning student in each grade level was spotlighted.
Top earning students include Kindergarten, Reid Gailis; first grade, Ian Gailis; second grade, Aurora Webb; third grade, Zade Zutter; fourth grade, Lorelai Mark; and fifth grade, Everett Phair.
Creative incentives for students were part of the fundraising effort. Because of the level achieved, all classes will be rewarded show and tell, school-wide extra recess, gum and “silly string your teacher” for their hard work.
Pelican Elementary wants to thank all participants, and especially Morgan Utley, who donated a cake that sold for $40, and recognize Klamath Union High School’s National Honor Society members who were there making connections with students. (Herald and News)
Crunch time!
KCSD students crunch locally harvested carrots for Farm to School Month
“Do you know how a carrot grows?” farmer Katie Swanson asked Shasta Elementary School second-graders Thursday (Oct. 26) during Klamath County School District’s sixth-annual Crunch at Once event. The students had just crunched their farm-fresh carrots and had questions for the farmer who grew them.
Holding up her carrot, Swanson motioned to the carrot root explaining that it grew in the ground.
“Can we eat the green part?” a student asked.
And the questions kept coming. Swanson, owner of Sweet Union Farm near Klamath Falls, visited Shasta during the lunch hour, passing out carrots and talking to students about farming – and carrots. She was accompanied by her farm assistant Nick Diewald.
“I don’t think I realized until I was here how I don’t get to see people eating the vegetables I spent so much time growing,” she said. “It is really cool to see a kid eating my carrot and hear them say, ‘This is delicious!’ ”
The Shasta students were among more than 3,865 students from 12 KCSD schools who counted down together and crunched into carrots grown by Swanson. She grew, harvested, and delivered 4,750 carrots to the county’s elementary schools and a high school for the event, which celebrates National Farm to School Month.
In past years, students have crunched Oregon-grown apples and Klamath-grown spinach. This is the third year a local farmer supplied the district with thousands of fresh carrots for the annual event.
Gillian Sisson, Klamath County School District’s Farm to School education facilitator, spent October teaching students about carrots, teaching classroom lessons and providing lesson plans to teachers.
“A majority of students are seeing a whole carrot with the stem for the first time during Crunch at Once,” Sisson said. “Being that the carrots are delivered directly from the farm, they are delicious and in their natural form. It’s great to see Farm to School education and procurement come full circle.”
Schools participating in the Crunch at Once included Bonanza Elementary, Chiloquin Elementary, Ferguson Elementary, Gearhart Elementary, Gilchrist, Henley Elementary, Lost River, Malin Elementary, Merrill Elementary, Peterson Elementary, Shasta Elementary and Stearns Elementary. Keno and Brixner students offered the farm-fresh carrots on their salad bars.
Throughout the year, the district’s Food Services Team supports Farm to School through its procurement and promotion of local foods, pursuit of grant funding opportunities, and support of agriculture education. Follow the link for more on our Farm to School program: https://www.kcsd.k12.or.us/district/farm-to-school.cfm
Bonanza residents say they are “fed up” with rampant crime in their rural community.
During a listening session held by Klamath County’s elected officials, the people of Bonanza had a chance to air their grievances of unresolved crime in the area.
Monday evening, Commissioners Derrick DeGroot and Kelley Minty and Sheriff Chris Kaber visited Bonanza to hear residents’ perspectives and concerns — primarily, a lack of law enforcement in the community.
County officials were joined at the table by Bonanza city council as well as Mayor Betty Tyree.
Bonanza residents shared stories of experiencing and witnessing numerous robberies and thefts, including multiple acts of extensive vandalism at a local church for which no arrests have yet been made.
Multiple people said their 9-1-1 calls often did not receive a response from local law enforcement.
Frustrations were expressed toward both the sheriff’s office and county officials.
DeGroot said the county decided earlier this year to hold at least two joint meetings with each municipality in the county each year, during which unincorporated area residents are encouraged to also attend.
Concerns over the county’s recent discussions with Klamath Falls city council on the topic of policing of the urban growth boundary by city police contracted and paid by the county were also mentioned by Bonanza’s residents.
Of the allotted 36 officers, Kaber said six are sergeants. Many of the remaining 30 officers, Kaber said, are specialty positions, including student resource officers and marine and forest corporals. (more at HeraldandNews.com)
It’s about time when it won’t be possible to drive around Crater Lake National Park’s Rim Drive or hike most of the park’s trails.
Winter always comes early at Crater Lake. After a good dose of snow Tuesday night into yesterday, next few days, Rim Drive is scheduled to be closed beginning Wednesday, Nov. 1, until next year. Because of the park’s typically heavy snowfall — in an average year the snow total is 42 feet — the road won’t likely reopen until late spring or early summer next year.
As usual, segments will first be cleared from Rim Village to Discovery Point and, as the snow is cleared, the North Entrance, Cleetwood Cove and other sections of Rim Drive. Most years the entire 33-mile loop road doesn’t open until late June or mid-July, and on some exceptionally snowy years, early August.
But there’s an additional obstacle. Once the snow is cleared in 2024, driving around the Rim road won’t be possible because construction crews will be back working on the second phase of East Rim Drive rehabilitation, a project that’s expected to take five years and cost upwards of $56 million.
Crater Lake has a surprising number and variety of trails. Many are accessed by East Rim Drive, which is most easily reached by taking the well-signed turnoff near park headquarters in Munson Valley.
As always, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/crla to check on current conditions. (more at HeraldandNews.com)
PJ drive for Klamath County Foster Kids
The Klamath Quota club are collecting new PJ’s for foster kids. You can drop off new pajamas at Oregon Department of Human Services, Caldwell Banker real estate office on So 6th, the Elks club and the following churches .
First Presbyterian church
Shasta Way Christian Church
Hope Lutheran Church
New Horizons Church
Foothills Christian Fellowship
55 and Alive group at Klamath Christian Center
Thank you very much from The Klamath Quota Club and BasinLife.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)
Around the state of Oregon
In Portland today, police are asking the public’s help locate the suspect in a May 14th shooting in the Cully Neighborhood that killed one man and left two other people wounded.
Police are looking for Jesus Ivan Perez-Toribio, 33, who was indicted by a Multnomah County Grand Jury in the shooting on Oct. 27th. He is described as a Hispanic male, 33 years old, 5’7” tall, and 160 pounds. His photo has been released so the public can be assisted in learning his location so he can be arrested.
In the press release today, the Portland Police Bureau said anyone who knows of Perez-Toribio’s location should not approach him and instead call 911 or 503-823-0449 and reference case number 23-125743.
The investigation began on May 14th earlier this year when North Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a shooting in the 6500 block of Northeast Killingsworth Street. When the officers arrived, they found three injured victims. EMS responded to the scene to treat the victims. The suspect or suspects had left the scene before officers arrived and no immediate arrests were made. Detectives responded to the scene to investigate.
One of the victims, Jose Valentin Perez, soon died of his injuries. The names and conditions of the other two victims have not been released.
On Oct. 27, after the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office brought the case to a Grand Jury, Perez-Toribio was indicted for murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the second degree, and assault in the second degree. Jose Perez’s family has been notified of the indictment and provided a previously unreleased photo of him.
According to police, anonymous tips can be sent through Crime Stoppers of Oregon. Anyone wishing to submit a secure and anonymous tip regarding any unsolved felony crime should visit www.crimestoppersoforegon.com or visit the App Store and download P3 Tips for your smart phone or tablet.
A former Salem jewelry store owner faces new charges for scamming customers. Douglas Gamble owned Timeless Jeweler.
He’s accused of swapping synthetic stones for natural diamonds and selling lab-grown stones as real diamonds. He was arrested in September and since then 18 new victims have come forward. A total of 27 victims lost between 700-thousand and 800-thousand dollars.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek is joining President Biden in ordering flags to be flown at half-staff in response to the shooting in Lewiston, Maine that killed 18 people and injured 13.
Kotek says the act of violence is absolutely devastating and her heart goes out to the victims’ families, the Lewiston community, and every American shaken by the tragedy. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Monday October 30th.
(Oregon news)
Police have identified the person suspected of attempted murder and stealing a car in Seaside early Friday morning as 18-year-old Isaiah J. Thompson, who is also accused of stealing a car in Multnomah County in April.
Seaside police responded at 12:20 a.m. after a 911 caller said they’d been attacked and had their Ford Mustang stolen near the 100 block of Ninth Avenue, officials said.
The assault victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to a statement from the City of Seaside. Seaside police said Saturday they had probable cause to arrest Thompson on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree robbery, unauthorized use of a vehicle, eluding police and reckless driving.
After a high speed chase that ended in up Washington County near Hillsboro on highway 26 with the intersection of highway 47, Thompson allegedly crashed the car and fled on foot.
Officers from Beaverton, Hillsboro and Tigard, as well as Washington County sheriff’s deputies, were searching the area for Thompson and were using drones and police dogs.
Police asked anyone with information to call Seaside Detective Michael Crowe at 503-738-6311.
(Oregon live)
Search and Rescue Crews Saved Two People As October Snow Catches People Off Guard
Major snow that began to fall in the Cascade Mountains on Wednesday caught some people off guard as they tried to explore hiking and biking trails in Oregon.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office conducted two separate search and rescue missions on Oct. 25, plucking two people from remote areas in the mountains, officials said in a news release Friday.
The first call came in from a rescue beacon at about 7:35 a.m., the sheriff’s office said. A woman hiking through Jefferson Park in the Willamette National Forest had run into heavy snow that was accumulating quickly, and needed help getting out.
Crews who were dispatched to the trail spent the day trying to hike to the woman, but were ultimately stymied by upwards of 4 feet of snow and white-out conditions that continued throughout the day, officials said.
That evening, at around 7 p.m., the sheriff’s department received another report: a mountain biker who was stranded on Hawk Mountain as heavy snow fell in the Mount Hood National Forest.
The biker, who’s from Australia, had cell service on top of the mountain where he texted his father back home. His father contacted the Australian consulate, who in turn reached out to the sheriff’s department.
Rescue crews attempted to call the biker, but his cell phone had died, they said. They then tried to hike up Hawk Mountain to find him, but ran into the same snowy conditions that stopped crews in Jefferson Park.
Both the stranded hiker and biker would have to spend the night stuck in Oregon’s snowy mountains.
The next day, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office reached out to other organizations, including search and rescue crews from Linn, Lane and Deschutes counties, as well as the Oregon Air National Guard, for help.
With their resources combined, the rescue crews were able to rescue both people from the mountains.
People routinely get stranded in the Cascade Mountains, especially when remote areas see sudden snowfall. Every winter, search and rescue organizations urge travelers to keep an eye on weather conditions before going out, and to keep emergency supplies in their vehicles just in case. (SOURCE)
Snow is beginning to fall in the mountains of Oregon and ODOT has started to close the Old McKenzie Pass Highway, OR 242, for the winter season. Only the west side will be closing at this time.
On the morning of Monday, Oct. 30, crews will close the highway from the western gate at OR 126 to top of the pass at Dee Wright Observatory. The east side of the highway from the observatory to Sisters will remain open until weather becomes too severe or until Nov. 9, whichever comes first. Weather on each side of the pass varies, and it’s not uncommon to close or open each side of the highway separately.
McKenzie Pass is a secondary, scenic highway. Weather, costs and logistics make it impractical to maintain for travel year-round. In the winter, we focus our staff and resources on main highways to keep them plowed, open and safe.
When the highway is closed, it is closed to all users and is not maintained. Travelers going past locked gates and closure signs could encounter hazards and working equipment on the road, and there are no services or cell coverage.
Every year, McKenzie Pass opens and closes with the seasons. Dates vary depending on road and weather conditions.
McKenzie Pass became a seasonal scenic highway in 1962 with the completion of the Clear Lake-Belknap Springs section of Oregon 126. Even during its time as the main route between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon, the narrow, twisting roadway and high elevation (5,325 feet) made the highway too difficult to maintain and keep clear during the winter months.
(ODOT)
First Oregon Summit on Wildfire Recovery Happening This Week
Lane County and the University of Oregon School of Planning, Public Policy and Management are hosting the first-ever Oregon Summit on Wildfire Recovery on October 30 and 31.
Communities in Lane, Linn, Lincoln, Jackson, Clackamas, Klamath, Marion, and Douglas counties were devastated by the Labor Day wildfires of 2020. As they begin the fourth year of recovery from these wildfires, leaders, managers, and policymakers from across the state are gathering to assess progress and learn from each other.
“Across Oregon, we have an opportunity to learn from wildfire experiences over the last four years,” said Lane County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky. “This Summit will focus on what has worked in supporting rebuilding and recovery, and look for areas in which we need to create change in state and local policies to improve preparedness, response and recovery in the future.”
“The University of Oregon has been a key partner in building more resilient Oregon communities. A gathering of this many experienced public servants who have been tirelessly rebuilding their communities after these fires creates a learning and knowledge-building opportunity to help future generations be better prepared and more resilient in the face of future disasters,” said Benjamin Clark, director of the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon.
The Summit features two days of presentations and panel discussions regarding a variety of wildfire recovery issues. A few of the notable sessions focus on innovative housing solutions, increasing community resilience, strengthening recovery capacity across the state, whole community recovery, and trauma-informed recovery, as well as remarks from Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Val Hoyle.
The Summit is being held at the Ford Alumni Center at the University of Oregon. More than 175 attendees have registered.
Support for the Summit has been provided by several community partners, including The Ford Family Foundation, University of Oregon Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development, University of Oregon College of Design, Oregon Housing and Community Services, and University of Oregon Safety and Risk Services.
New details are coming to light about the former off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to shut down the engines on a plane carrying more than 80 people.
Fellow pilot Sean Calhoun at NRI Flying Club in the East Bay says Joseph Emerson’s actions were out of character. Calhoun describes Emerson as an exemplary pilot who was professional and safe. Emerson’s wife said Thursday she knew he was struggling with depression but that he never would have “knowingly done” what he’s accused of doing.
Court documents say Emerson told officers he had taken magic mushrooms 48 hours before the incident and that he thought he was dreaming when he tried to cut the plane’s engines mid-flight. The Horizon Air flight from Everett to San Francisco was diverted to Portland on Sunday after Emerson tried to activate the fire suppression system and cut off fuel to the jet’s engines before flight crew subdued him. (Oregon news)
Veterinary researchers at Oregon State University will test 16-hundred animal specimens for COVID-19.
They say it’s important to know if COVID has jumped to animals, because it could spread and create a different form the virus and restart the pandemic. That would be rare but would have disastrous implications. The study will take two years to complete. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is funding the research.
(Oregon news)
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced today that the former CEO of Sunwest Management and associated companies, who previously admitted to orchestrating one of the largest financial fraud schemes in Oregon history, was ordered to pay over $74 million in restitution to more than 1,400 victims.
Jon Michael Harder, 58, a resident of Canyonville, Oregon, who pleaded guilty in 2015 to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, was ordered to pay $74,062,211 in restitution to his victims.
According to court documents, Harder formerly controlled a network of companies that bought, constructed, and managed assisted living facilities.
On September 18, 2012, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 56-count indictment charging Harder with mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. On January 8, 2015, Harder pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. On November 18, 2015, Harder was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, and the Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program. Restitution was litigated by Claire M. Fay, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. (US Attorneys office)
Oregonians may get to vote on whether to continue self-service gas.
The Legislature approved ending the decades-old ban this year allowing gas stations to have self-serve at half the pumps and attendants at the other pumps, for the same price. The United Food and Commercial Workers union says allowing self-serve gas has put people out of work and made gas stations more dangerous. They filed an initiative petition and need to collect 117-thousand signatures by July to put the issue to voters in November. (Oregon news)
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