Klamath Basin News, Thursday, Dec. 14 – KF Police Investigating A Murder In Downtown Area; Many Oregonians Frustrated With State’s New Family And Medical Paid Leave Program Delays

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.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Klamath Basin Weather

Air stagnation Advisory through Saturday night.

Today’s Headlines

An air stagnation advisory is in effect through Saturday from the National Weather Service.

Stagnant air is expected, which may lead to poor air quality through Saturday evening in the Klamath Basin.

The air quality may deteroriate more  quickly in and over areas with significant sources of air pollution. N-95 masks should be considered for vulnerable people in the outside air.

City Police are investigating a murder in front of a downtown restaurant after a man was stabbed Tuesday night.

On Tuesday, December 12^th, 2023, at approximately 8:50 p.m. members of the Klamath Falls Police Department and Oregon State Police responded to a reported stabbing in front of Rooster’s Steak House, located at 205 Main Street in Klamath Falls.

Officers arrived on scene and found 53-year-old Andre Nikito Gardner had suffered multiple stab wounds. On-scene officers rendered aid to Gardner until medical personnel arrived on scene. Gardner was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.

The responsible party in this incident has been identified and all information obtained through investigation will be forwarded to the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office for review at Grand Jury.

This case is under investigation, if you have information regarding this case; please contact the Klamath Falls Police Department at 541-883-5336.  Anonymous information can be left at the Klamath Falls Police Tip Line number 541-883-5334.  (kfpd)

Join the conversation for safer streets in Klamath Falls.

The City of Klamath Falls is crafting a Transportation Safety Action Plan to help eliminate fatal and serious crashes from its streets. We want YOUR input to help determine streets in the community that need the most help. Participate in our virtual open house at the website to voice your thoughts on how you think streets could be safer in Klamath Falls!

Please provide your input by Friday, December 22nd. Whether you walk, roll, bike, or drive, we want you to reach your destination safely because someone is waiting for you at home. Virtual Open House address is:   https://arcg.is/18CTTi0, or you can access it through a link on the city’s main home  webpage.

(city of kf)  [Don’t start the traffic lights blinking again downtown, please. -Editor]

A warm winter weather pattern may be cause for concern for residents relying on well systems in the Klamath Basin.

Klamath County Public Health sent out a news release Monday, warning residents of the coming El Niño — a warm weather pattern which occurs every two to seven years — and its potential to result in local flooding.

With many county residents using wells and septic systems for waste, the release said flooding could lead to contamination.

“When the ground gets saturated with water, the waste system can overflow and seep into the well,” the release said.

Well waters can also be contaminated by the overflow even without a septic system on site. Should potential flooding affect your property, KCPH advises that residents avoid flood drinking water pumps as there is a risk of electric shock.

Public Health also recommends boiling any water used for washing and drinking to prevent sickness but suggests the use of bottled water when possible.

After the flood subsides, contact a well or pump contractor to clean and turn on the drinking water pump.

(Herald and News)

MEETING NOTICE

The Board of Directors of EagleRidge High School, an Oregon Nonprofit Corporation, will hold a board Meeting on Thursday December 14, 2023 at 4:00 PM, EagleRidge High School, 677 S 7^th Street, Klamath Falls, Oregon. 

EagleRidge High School was established to create and implement an autonomous, high achieving and equitable small high school in collaboration with the Klamath Falls City School District pursuant to the Oregon Charter School law.  The meeting will be conducted in person.

The Citizens Santa program, presented by Citizens for Safe Schools, is accepting sponsors for gift giving to at-risk youth who are mentored by the organization. The invitation to sponsor youth is open to the community.

According to a news release, “Citizens Santa is not just a gift-giving campaign. It is an opportunity to bring the community together and make a positive impact in the lives of local children.”

Wrapped gifts must be dropped off at Everybody’s Vintage store, 733 Main St., before Dec. 18.

Those wanting to be a Citizens Santa, or for more information, can call Sarah Miller at Citizens for Safe Schools (541) 238-4839 or see their Facebook page.

Citizens for Safe Schools is a 501(c)3 youth-serving nonprofit, operating in the Klamath Basin for more than 23 years. Primary programs focus on mentoring youth in a variety of ways, including adult-to-youth, peer-to-peer, and youth-adult-partnership.  (Herald and News)

Where can you find the most beautiful national park in America. Well, Crater Lake topped the list of the most beautiful national parks in the U.S. compiled by travel blog Travel Lens, which scoured Google Reviews looking for the words “beautiful,” “stunning,” “breathtaking” and “gorgeous.”

Among reviews of Crater Lake, 45.26% contained one or more of those words, Travel Lens said, placing it narrowly above second place Acadia National Park in Maine, and third place Glacier National Park in Montana.

Oregon’s only full-fledged national park, Crater Lake draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, though those crowds have been dwindling recently.  (Oregon news/Google)

The annual holiday model train exhibit will open on Saturday at the Klamath County Museum. The show runs through Dec. 30 during museum hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

A variety of train layouts, including N, O, HO and G-scale model sets, will be displayed by the Klamath Rails Model Railroad Club.

A time set aside for families with special needs will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17.

Entry to the train show is free with regular paid admission to the museum. Admission fees are $5 for adults, and $4 for seniors, military and teens. Youth 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

The museum will be closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

For more information, contact the museum at (541) 882-1000. (Herald and News)

Chiloquin, Ore. – Guided First Day Hikes led by rangers and volunteers are set for 31 Oregon State Parks on New Year’s Day—Monday, Jan. 1^st, 2024. 

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is partnering with America’s State Parks for free guided First Day Hikes in state parks as we start the new year.

Here’s information about the hike hosted at Collier Memorial State Park:

• Join us for a brisk morning 3-mile hike along the Spring Creek and Williamson Rivers. At the halfway point, we will have snacks, hot and cold drinks, and a warming fire. We may see bald eagles and river otters.
• The path is hard packed dirt and gravel with uneven terrain and roots. Little to no elevation gain. Plan for possible snow and ice on the ground. Traction devices for shoes recommended.
• Please register for the hike online so we can plan for the snacks and beverages
• The hike starts at 11 a.m. Meet at the Cookhouse located on the west side of the highway north of the parking lot at the Collier Memorial Logging Museum, 46000 Highway 97 N.
• Friendly dogs are welcome on six-foot leashes.
• Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy hiking boots, and bring water and snacks, as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing.
• For more information, call 541-783-2471 prior to Dec. 29.

If you have questions about access or to request any reasonable accommodations needed for your participation, please email Park Ranger Dave Padgett. Requests must be submitted by Dec. 29.

The $5 day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open.

Share photos of First Day Hikes via social media by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes.

First Day Hikes is a national initiative to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, promote exercise and encourage connecting with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has participated since 2012.

   What if disaster struck Klamath County?

Earthquakes, droughts and wildfires are all potential catastrophes for the residents of the basin. The question is, how do we prepare in the Klamath Basin?

Klamath County officials and staff are working to answer that question with the county’s new Emergency Manager Ian Thigpen.

A work session held Tuesday morning revealed that, as it stands, the county is behind the times in terms of disaster preparedness.

For the coming year, Thigpen said it would be in the county’s best interest to reduce the use of Oregon Emergency Management as well as federal grant funding to the bare minimum, covering necessities such as staffing positions and basic materials and supplies.

Because having an emergency management policy is often mandatory to receive funding, Thigpen proposed a draft for a new emergency management during the work session which aims to align with both the county’s primary objectives and the requirements of relative state and federal programs.

Emergency incident training is another aspect required to be compliant with regulations. While the trainings and NIMS compliance may only be mandatory for departments receiving federal funding, they will be offered to all employees.

Thigpen is certified by OEM as well as FEMA to provide these trainings. (Herald and News)

The Chiloquin Community is hosting the Chi-Town Winter Wonderland, Friday, Dec. 22nd.

The fun event will benefit the Chiloquin community to help ensure that every child has an opportunity to enjoy and the experience the spirit of giving during this holiday season.  Attendees will enjoy hot cocoa and Christmas-themed treats to create a cosy and festive atmosphere. 

Organizers are Tahnie Clark and Alethia Brown-David.

• • If anyone would like to donate, it would be greatly appreciated for our Chi Community. We are also looking for anyone interested in setting up some type of little Xmas game inside the gym. This event will be on Friday, December 22, 2023, from 4 to 7 p.m.
  • For information, please call Valerie at 541-882-8846, ext 3508

The Ross Ragland Theater will be the site for the upcoming holiday performance by the reunited ‘80s-’90s band, Wilson Phillips. The group will present “A Wilson Family Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15.

According to the Ragland, “This is one of the biggest shows happening this year at the theater and a fan favorite for those who grew up with the ‘80’s sensation.”

This special intimate Christmas show consists of five Wilson family members on stage. A two-piece band includes musical director Rob Bonfiglio.

They will play old Beach Boys songs, classic covers, Wilson Phillips material, and of course Christmas songs from their record, including the classic “Hey Santa”.

Best known for their ‘90s hits like “Hold On” and “Release Me,” the group Wilson Phillips is made up of sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson (daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys), and Chynna Phillips (daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas).

The group originally formed in 1986 and had great success with four albums, selling 13 million worldwide, produced three No. 1 hit singles and six top-20 hits. In 1993, Carnie and Wendy released the song “Hey Santa,” which has been on radio stations every season since.

GET TICKETS HERE: https://ragland.org/

This show is sponsored by Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Klamath Falls. (Herald and News/rrt)

Around the state of Oregon

Is the Government Spying on Us?

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., opposed reauthorizing warrantless government surveillance of Americans as part of the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA), in a procedural vote last week. 

A four-month extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was added to the NDAA without a vote or debate.

Wyden and bipartisan members of Congress have pushed for years to reform that surveillance authority, which has been abused to allow warrantless searches for any U.S. Senator, a member of Congress, and a state court judge, among others.

“Americans know they don’t have to sacrifice their liberty to have security. They want policies that give them both, debated in the light of day,” Wyden said. “I cannot support reauthorizing warrantless surveillance of Americans’ communications without significant reforms and improvements to protect the Constitutional rights of people in Oregon and across the nation. I have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize this surveillance authority with significant new protections for Americans’ rights.”

Although Wyden voted against the NDAA and says he supports a number of provisions within the massive military policy bill.

He praised the inclusion of $105 million for an Oregon National Guard special tactics complex in Portland and readiness center in Washington County ($7.5 million more than was included in an earlier version of the bill), as well as a 5.2% pay increase for servicemembers – the largest military pay raise in 20 years.

A new law in Oregon will let drivers pass a slow-moving cyclist in a no-passing zone.

Starting Jan. 1, vehicles traveling at less than half the speed limit will be considered road obstructions. Therefore, drivers in no passing zones will be allowed to cross into the left lane of the roadway to get around them.

Eugene resident Richard Hughes, a self-described bicycle advocate, requested the law. It was formally introduced by Sen. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene and Rep. Tom Andersen of Salem. It was approved during the 2023 legislative session with no votes in opposition in either chamber.

Hughes said it’s unnerving for cyclists when drivers trail them for miles on rural roads.

When travelling at over 35 mph, Oregon drivers must also maintain enough distance while passing to avoid a falling cyclist.  (Oregon news)

The victim of an assault last November in Medford has died.

Medford Police said 51-year-old Jessa Jayr Delyon has died — the victim of a Nov. 18, 2023, North Medford attack that left her with a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage from a man using a can of food to beat her.

22-year-old Anthony Siple from Ashland faces criminal charges for the attack, originally charged with attempted murder, assault and robbery. He has been at Jackson County Jail since his arrest last month.

Medford Police Department (MPD) said the case started at 6:16 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, when Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) received calls about a disturbance on North Keene Way Drive near North Medford High School reporting a woman screaming and a man assaulting her. ECSO also took a phone call from the involved man, who told dispatchers he had just assaulted a female and made somewhat incoherent statements.

MPD said police contacted Siple while he was leaving the scene with evidence he had been in an assault and took him into custody immediately. Other officers found the victim nearby in serious condition, and she initially was hospitalized in critical condition.

MPD said records show Siple is homeless, from the Ashland area, with minor contacts with law enforcement in Jackson County during the past year including arrests for relatively minor crimes.

MPD also says the victim was not in any way associated with the assailant.  (kdrv 12 TV)

The Coos Bay Police Department is investigating a homicide after a man was found dead outside a business on Ocean Boulevard in Coos Bay Tuesday morning.

According to police, 911 received a call around 6:30 a.m. that a man had been found dead with a gunshot wound. The body was found near Umpqua Dairy.

Officers responded to the area and discovered the dead body.  They began an initial investigation and activated the Coos County Major Crimes Team to help.

Police say it is early into the investigation and investigators are canvassing the surrounding neighborhood to get more information.

They do want to speak with occupants of a dark colored SUV that flagged down a passing driver near the location. That driver then made the emergency call.

The victim has not yet been identified.  A suspect has also not been identified.

Police say this is believed to be an isolated incident, and there is no perceived threat to the public.

If anyone has information regarding this case, please contact the Coos Bay Police Department at 541-269-8911.   (Oregon news)

Fatal Crash on I-5 details revealed

On Dec. 9, 2023, at approximately 5:54 p.m. the Oregon State Police responded to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Interstate 5 southbound near milepost 75 in Josephine County near Wolf Creek. 

The preliminary investigation indicated the victim, Tami Lee (62) of Medford, was operating a Kia and is believed to have struck an animal and exited the vehicle to check on the animal. Lee was then struck in the slow lane by a Freightliner commercial motor vehicle operated by Bradley Dean Guile (65) of Elmira. 

Lee was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The driver of the semi-truck remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. 

The highway was impacted for approximately one hour. 

OSP was assisted by Wolf Creek Fire, Rural Metro Fire, and the Oregon Dept. of Transportation.

Some Oregonians who applied for benefits through the state’s new paid family- and medical-leave program are reporting frustrating delays receiving their checks, technical issues during the application process and long wait times to speak to customer service representatives.

The program has been inundated with fraud attempts, contributing to the problems.

A state dashboard shows that program officials have processed more than 28,000 applications, about 80% of what they’ve received, and paid out nearly $104 million so far. There are about 7,000 applications still waiting to be processed, although a portion of those claims are new or could be fraudulent.

A significant number of Oregonians facing benefit delays say they have run into issues with the state’s identity verification process, a step officials put in place to combat the large number of fraudulent application attempts.  (Oregon news)

People seeking Measure 110 services and supports can now access a newly invigorated helpline to connect individuals more efficiently with treatment, housing, and overdose prevention providers within the statewide behavioral health resource networks (BHRNs).

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced that Health Resources in Action (HRiA), a non-profit organization based in Boston, was selected as the new contractor for the helpline, replacing Lines for Life.

The firm has extensive experience working with federal and state government agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the federal Department of Health and Human Services. HRiA operates helplines in three other states: Massachusetts, Illinois, and Vermont.

The 18-month contract totals more than $2.8 million. The firm is planning to undertake extensive statewide outreach and add new functionalities to the hotline such as texting.

This helpline will continue to be a statewide public resource for substance use screening and service referrals as well as a resource for those seeking to waive Class E citations.

Under its proposal, HRiA will operate the phone and text helpline, develop a comprehensive website to support the helpline, offer follow-up calls to support service access, and promote the hotline.

The new helpline number is 1-833-975-0505 (OHA)

In the Rogue Valley, Rogue X – a new event center complete with water slides, a swimming pool, basketball courts and more — will open its doors to the public on Jan. 6^th, 2024.

Medford city officials toured the facility on Tuesday as crews made their finishing touches.

On one side of the facility, guests will find the event center. Here, there are courts for multiple sports, bleachers and plenty of room for other large events.

On the other side of the facility, guests will find the aquatic center. The pool happens to be the largest competition pool in the region. Complete with two slides, the aquatic center was designed for people of all ages.

The 140,000 square-foot facility cost the city $76 million and has been in the works since 2018. The city told NewsWatch 12 there are already 41 events scheduled to take place at Rogue X in 2024.

Not only is Rogue X expected to be a popular recreation destination for local families, but the city is hoping to see the facility boost the local economy.

Medford already has the west coast’s largest outdoor sports complex just off of Highway 99 between Medford and Phoenix.  Over a dozen baseball, softball, and soccer fields and a full fledge football stadium, all with artificial turf,  The US Cellular Sports Park has tournaments 50 out of 52 weeks a year in various sports.  Several new motels have been built near the area since that opening.

Rogue X will open on January 6. Rosenthal said it’s a public facility but recommended guests purchase passes online.  (kdrv 12)

Mount Shasta Ski Park is planning to build a 20 ft tall statue of St. Mary, but not everyone loves the idea, of course.

According to the Ski Park’s Facebook, the statue is being built to honor Ray Merlo, the late husband and business partner of the Ski Park’s owner, Robin Merlo. The Ski Park hopes to have it up by next summer.

On December 10th, a petition was started on change.org in hopes of stopping the effort. The petition is already past its original goal of one thousand signatures. People who’ve signed the petition say having a religious statue is exclusionary and inconsiderate to park goers’ beliefs.

The creator of the petition, Joe Skibum, wrote:

“The Ski Park is not just an outdoor space, it’s our community’s gathering spot”.

Mount Shasta Ski Park declined an interview December 12th, and said they have no comment on the petition at this time. They did say, however, that the Ski Park is privately owned. (Mt. Shasta ski park/Facebook)

A Pennsylvania man who completed more than 7,800 individual darknet fentanyl sales in less than two years and was linked by investigators to dozens of fatal overdoses across the United States was sentenced to life in federal prison today for distributing a fentanyl analogue on AlphaBay, a former darknet marketplace, that caused the overdoses of three people in Oregon, two of whom died.

Henry Konah Koffie, 38, of Darby, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to life in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, in just over a year, three Portland residents overdosed on furanyl fentanyl supplied by Koffie, a darknet narcotics vendor known as DNMKingpin and later Narcoboss on AlphaBay.

The first victim was a 19-year-old student at Portland State University who, on May 2, 2016, overdosed 30 minutes after ingesting powdered furanyl fentanyl. Paramedics administered Naloxone and breathing assistance to the student, saving her life. Investigators interviewed the student’s source who said he supplied the student with the powdered furanyl fentanyl he purchased from DNMKingpin on AlphaBay.
Koffie is under federal indictment in two other judicial districts.

(Oregon US attorney’s office)

A national auto travel organization says U.S. travelers are gearing up for the second busiest year for holiday travel.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) says today it expects 115,000,000 Americans, including 1.6-million Oregonians, to travel from home for the holidays.

AAA of Oregon’s  projection of 115.2-million traveling Americans amounts to 33.8% of the population, whom it says will travel 50 miles or more for Christmas and New Year holidays.

AAA says this figure is a 2.2% increase from last year and the second-highest holiday travel volume since 2000 when AAA began tracking holiday travel, only behind 2019, the nation’s last pre-pandemic holiday season.

AAA says while aout 90% of travelers, or 104,000,000 will drive to holiday destinations, “Air travel sets a new record this holiday season, with 7.5 million Americans including 156,000 Oregonians taking to the skies.”

AAA expects peak traffic days to be December 23rd and 28th and, “Some metro areas could see travel times that are up to twice as long as normal.”  It forecasts that traffic also will be heavier than usual Saturday, December 30th, when many people will be heading back home from their holiday destinations or traveling for New Year’s Eve. Another day with higher than normal volumes will be Tuesday, January 2nd, as people drive home from their New Year’s destinations.

AAA also expects 930,000 calls for service, including 15,000 Oregonians, at the roadside during the holidays for dead batteries, lockouts, flat tires and extrications. (AAA Oregon)

In Coos Bay, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle took a visit to Coos Bay to hear about a project focused on moving shipping containers efficiently.

The Port of Coos Bay’s proposed container terminal project boasts economic, environmental and efficiency benefits.

It uses rails and electrification, along with other green energy resources, to move these containers within the yard.  Those with the project also say it will allow for increased capacity for import possibilities, which they say will be good for the economy.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden says that this is a great opportunity and investment. He says that the timeline is up in the air but assures that he will be vying to have the project up and running as soon as possible. (Sen. Ron Wyden press release)

The slow start to the ski season in Oregon continued over the weekend. Mt. Hood Meadows opened for the season on Saturday and shut down operations on Sunday, due to rain.

Timberline Lodge has a two-foot base at the lodge and their operations are day-to-day. Mt. Bachelor has a 29 inch base and they were expecting a couple of inches of new snow.

(Oregon news)

Portland Area Drug Bust Leads To 52 Pounds, 11 Million Doses Of Fentanyl, One Of Largest Seizures In Oregon History

A months-long investigation by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Dangerous Drugs Team resulted in one of the largest illegal fentanyl seizures in state history, and the largest seizure in agency history, deputies announced Friday.

The Dangerous Drugs Team (DDT), a grant-funded narcotics task force (more information below), executed an early morning search warrant on Thursday, culminating an investigation into a drug trafficking organization selling fentanyl in the tri-county area.

During the investigation, DDT identified several suspects and their co-conspirators, as well as cars and houses believed to be involved. Search warrants were executed at locations in Portland and Oregon City. At the Portland location, law enforcement located more than 52 pounds of fentanyl powder. At the Oregon City location, more than one pound of fentanyl powder and over 8,000 fentanyl pills were discovered.

In addition to the drugs, over $30,000 in cash and multiple firearms were seized. The weapons found included two firearms that were broken down and concealed in packages addressed for locations outside the United States.

DDT estimates that the more than 50 pounds of fentanyl powder seized would have yielded 11 million individual doses, which would have otherwise been sold in the Portland-area.

Due to the excessive amount of fentanyl powder being processed, detectives used personal protective equipment and had NARCAN (Naloxone nasal spray) available in case of accidental exposure. The bulk fentanyl, over 50 pounds, was found open in a cardboard box lined with a trash bag.

Three people were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center: 23-year-old Luis Funez, 21-year-old Gerson Isaac Hernandez Betancurt, and 37-year-old Dezirae Ann Torset. The case has been referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The Dangerous Drugs Team is a narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency, prosecutor-supported approach. MCDDT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) which is composed of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Gresham Police, FBI, Parole and Probation, and U.S. Marshals.

Special thanks the U.S. Marshal Service, the FBI and Clackamas County Inter-Agency Task Force (CCITF) for their assistance in executing the warrants.

MCSO wants to remind the public that one pill can kill . The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports that it only takes 2 milligrams of fentanyl — about the weight of a few grains of salt — to cause a fatal overdose. Today, six out of ten DEA-tested pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. To learn more about the scope of the fentanyl crisis, visit the DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness page. Information about addiction services and recovery support in Multnomah County can be found here . (SOURCE)

U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Proposes Shooting 400,000 Barred Owls To Save Northwest Spotted Owls

USFW still trying to save the Spotted Owl.  In November, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed shooting over 400,000 barred owls over the next 30 years in order to save endangered spotted owls. The agency has experimented with shooting barred owls in the past. Now, they are proposing to do it on a much larger scale.

Kessina Lee, supervisor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Oregon, pointed out that the agency has a legal responsibility to protect the endangered spotted owl.

“Rather than choosing to conserve one bird over the other, this is about conserving two species,” Lee said. “Spotted owls are fighting for their existence right now. Whereas, even if the service was able to remove that number of barred owls over the next 30 years, that would represent less than 1% of the global population of barred owls.”

Barred owls migrated to the Pacific Northwest from the Eastern U.S. and they’ve essentially outcompeted their smaller cousins. Spotted owls eat mainly flying squirrels, wood rats and red tree voles, while barred owls can eat salamanders, other mammals and birds, insects, or even snails and earthworms.

“They can use a smaller territory and they can pack into an area,” said Robin Bown, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s barred owl management strategy lead. “So the spotted owls become not just competing with a single pair of barred owls, but up to four pairs of barred owls to try to maintain their territory.”

While barred owl populations have grown exponentially since they arrived in the Pacific Northwest, “We are down to very few spotted owls left now in Washington and in Northern Oregon, and we’re rapidly reaching that condition in Southern Oregon and Northern California,” Brown said.

In previous studies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that in the study areas where barred owls were not killed, spotted owl populations declined by about 12% each year. In the places where barred owls were killed, there was only a 0.2% annual decline. Bown points out that because spotted owls only reproduce every other year or every third year, they didn’t have enough time in the length of the studies for their populations to rebound.

The agency has considered other methods of controlling barred owl populations, including sterilization and nonlethal removal. Both methods were considered impractical. Sterilization does not reduce the problem of competition long enough for the spotted owl populations to revive. “The population is not increasing because of that individual.,” said Bown. “But by the time the barred owl dies, the spotted owls in the area have also died, because they have no territories.”

Also, nonlethal removal would require caging or moving large populations of barred owls that have nowhere else to go.

“We don’t want to release these birds elsewhere in the West and spread the impact of this nonnative predator to other native species,” said Bown. “They prey on a large number of species that have a potential to have a pretty big impact on those species.”

When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife first started testing this method of species control, they hired an ethicist to help work through the moral issues of killing one species to save another.

Kessina Lee points out that since humans bear responsibility for barred owls being here in the first place, we also bear some of the responsibility for protecting the spotted owls. Initially, the Great Plains prevented barred owls from moving beyond the forested East Coast. But as European settlers planted patches of forest and changed the climate, the owls were able to migrate westward.

“When we’re talking about the likely extinction of a species, however unpalatable and uncomfortable the conversation is of lethal removal of another species,” Lee said, “people generally accept that this is sometimes necessary.” (SOURCE)

Missing child alert — Jerrica Landin is still missing and is believed to be in danger

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Child Welfare Division, asks the public to help find Jerrica Landin, age 17, a child in foster care who went missing from Portland, Oregon on Aug. 21. She is believed to be in danger.

ODHS asks the public for help in the effort to find Jerrica and to contact 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they see her.

Jerrica may be in Portland or Eugene in Oregon. She may also be in Washington in Vancouver, Seattle or the Tri Cities. 

Name: Jerrica Landin
Pronouns: She/her
Date of birth: Oct. 24, 2006
Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 130 pounds
Hair: Reddish brown
Eye color: Brown
Other identifying information: Jerrica has a tattoo of a heart on her neck below her right ear. She often dyes her hair red, pink and purple.
Portland Police Bureau Case #23-803125
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children #1489518

Sometimes when a child is missing, they may be in significant danger and ODHS may need to locate them to assess and support their safety. As ODHS works to do everything it can to find these missing children and assess their safety, media alerts will be issued in some circumstances when it is determined necessary. Sometimes, in these situations, a child may go missing repeatedly, resulting in more than one media alert for the same child.

Report child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233).  This toll-free number allows you to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

People in Oregon can now manage state benefits with the Oregon ONE Mobile app

People can now securely manage their medical, food, cash and child care benefits through the State of Oregon from the convenience of their mobile devices using the new Oregon ONE Mobile app. People first will need to apply for benefits online, in person at a local office or over the phone. 

The app is available for free in the Apple and Android app stores. It is an official State of Oregon app created by the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). The app’s development was partially funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“At ODHS we are committed to meeting people in Oregon where they are with as many ways as possible to manage their benefits, check application status and share needed documentation, like when they get a request for information during a renewal,” said Nathan Singer (he/him), director of the ODHS Oregon Eligibility Partnership. “People can now manage their benefits in-person, by mail, by fax, by telephone, online and on their mobile phone using the Oregon ONE Mobile app, which is available in English and Spanish.”

Oregon ONE Mobile app video on YouTube

New Oregon ONE Mobile app video link

• Create a ONE Online account.
• Access their existing ONE Online account.
• Report changes to household information including address, contact information and income.
• Upload requested documents using a smartphone camera.
• Get updates on application status and check if it is approved, denied, or pending, and what actions might need to be taken.
• See and download notices that were mailed.
• Find the next renewal date for their benefits.
• Get important, time-sensitive alerts and notifications about benefits on mobile devices.
• View benefit issuance history for food and cash payments.

People who serve as Authorized Representatives for people with benefits are also able to use the app.

How to manage your medical, food, cash and child care benefits: 

• By phone at: 1-800-699-9075. All relay calls accepted.
• Online at: benefits.oregon.gov
• Through the free Oregon ONE Mobile app available on Apple and Android app stores
• In person at an office near you: Find an office.
• In your language: Help in Your Language
• By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309
• By fax at: 503-378-5628

Resources to help meet basic needs

• Find food resources in your community: needfood.oregon.gov.
• Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org.
• Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org
• Find local resources and support by contacting your local Community Action Agency: www.caporegon.org/find-services/
• Oregon Department of Human Services help center 

OHCS announces Homeowner Assistance Fund application portal to close on December 20th

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is closing the Oregon Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program to most new applicants to avoid overcommitting funds. The application portal will close at noon PST Dec. 20. Homeowners who are in active foreclosure may still be able to apply through a housing counselor.  

“We’re encouraging homeowners who are at imminent risk of housing displacement, socially disadvantaged individuals as defined by U.S. Treasury, or anyone who meets one of the additional eligibility criteria listed on the HAF website to apply for HAF assistance before noon Dec. 20,” said Ryan Vanden Brink, assistant director of Homeowner Assistance Programs. “Although we are accepting new applications, there may not be enough funds for everyone who applies as the program winds down.”

Existing applicants can continue to log on to the HAF portal to check the status of their application or scheduled payments.

OHCS planned its HAF program to operate as a safety net for the most at-risk homeowners who have no viable workout option, so those homeowners will receive priority processing. If funds still remain after the portal closes and applications are processed, HAF intake partners will be able to submit new applications on behalf of homeowners in a judicial foreclosure action or in nonjudicial foreclosure with a scheduled sale date. These applicants may need to complete intake paperwork and foreclosure prevention counseling before working with a counselor. Funding may not be available for all these new applications.

In addition to Oregon’s foreclosure moratorium and increased mortgage forbearance and default workout options, HAF has helped Oregon maintain a historically low foreclosure rate during and since the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping many in their homes. According to August 2023 Corelogic data, there were 1,016 residential foreclosures in Oregon, which reflects a 0.16% foreclosure rate, compared to a 20-year average 1.03% foreclosure rate.

As of Dec. 4, OHCS has approved 1,745 applications, totaling about $46.9 million of the $72 million available to homeowners when the program launched. Over $35 million in approved funds have already been paid with an average award of about $27,000. OHCS is reviewing or monitoring another 859 applications that, if approved, are projected to total $23.2 million in assistance. The agency projects $1.9 million remains. OHCS is currently working with homeowners, housing counselors, and mortgage servicers to postpone and prevent hundreds of foreclosures for applicants. Visit the HAF Dashboard for more detailed information.

Free help is available  – Homeowners who have fallen behind or are at risk of missing a payment on their mortgage can continue to get free help from certified housing counselors around the state to learn about options to keep their homes, such as modifications or adding deferred payments to the end of a mortgage. Housing counselors are knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated professionals who can help homeowners communicate with their mortgage servicers.

Search the full list of free certified housing counselors by county. Homeowners should be aware that some housing counseling agencies take longer due to high volume and remote working policies.

In addition to connecting with a certified housing counselor, Oregon homeowners should directly contact their mortgage servicers and lenders to see what types of mortgage assistance and foreclosure prevention programs are available. Homeowners who communicate with their lenders and servicers have some additional protections and usually have more time to figure out their options.

Avoiding fraud  – The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services recommends being extremely cautious with offers to help from unauthorized companies or people. Homeowners are urged not to provide financial or personal information unless they verify the company or person’s licensing status. It does not cost anything to apply for the HAF program or meet with an Oregon housing counselor.

There are several common warning signs homeowners should watch out for that may indicate a scam. If a homeowner suspects they’re being contacted by a scammer, they can report it to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Oregon Department of Justice, or the U.S. Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General.

To verify a lender’s license, visit the Division of Financial Regulation’s license page and compare it with the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS) license number. This number must be included on all advertising materials and should be easy to find. To verify a housing counseling agency’s status with the state, make sure they are listed on the OHCS website.

The Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education are offering free Naloxone kits to every middle and high school in the state.

The effort is an expansion of the Save Lives Oregon (SLO) Initiative’s Harm Reduction Clearinghouse Project. Each middle and high school is eligible to receive three kits. According to the OHA, the kits contain a wall mounted naloxone box, instructions, emergency medical supplies, and eight doses of the opioid antagonist, naloxone nasal spray.

Naloxone, also called Narcan, is the drug that helps reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Several Southern Oregon school districts already have naloalone at the ready.

While overdoses in middle and high schools is rare, it’s always better to be prepared, just in case. When it comes to fentanyl, Havniear said it doesn’t discriminate. (Oregon news)

The off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to crash a plane carrying more than 80 people in October is pleading not guilty.

His problem. Eighty three witnesses. Forty-four-year-old Joseph David Emerson appeared in court yesterday, where he was arraigned on 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft.

A judge ruled that Emerson can be released from jail pending trial and set bail at 50-thousand dollars. The release conditions include that Emerson undergo mental health services, stay away from drugs and alcohol and not come within 30 feet of an operable aircraft. The release terms also allow him to return to his home in California while awaiting trial. Emerson was riding in the cockpit jump seat on a flight from Everett to San Francisco when he allegedly tried to shut down the jet’s engines by activating the fire suppression system to cut off fuel to the engines.

(Oregon News)

In Eugene, it’s a mess at a homeless camp along the McKenzie River say outdoors enthsiasts as the view is now leftover trash, pipes and a septic tank from a homeless camp that have been swept into the McKenzie due to rising waters, according to local residents. 

The camp is underneath Coburg Bridge on the north side of the McKenzie River across from Armitage Park.  Heavy rainfall made the waters of the McKenzie rise and sweep away waste from the camp that was too close to the riverbed. 

One man said there’s trash floating in the water, a septic tank that’s been abandoned and the place is a mess with tents and old trucks and RVs settled there.  

Lane County Parks and Recreation as well as Lane County Sheriff’s say the group is permitted to stay in that spot until January 2024. A spokesperson from Lane County said in a statement that the land is a mix of public and private property and the county has sent an outreach team to work with the unhoused people over the course of the next month to find them housing.

An  outreach team has twelve people from that encampment in line for housing that should become available within the next few weeks. The idea from Lane County is go get people into housing and safer shelter rather than simply trespassing folks and moving the problem to a new location. Stay tuned.

Last-minute camping is about to get a little easier in Oregon.

Starting Jan. 1, 2024, same-day online reservations will available at dozens of state park campgrounds, allowing spontaneous campers the option to book sites less than 24 hours in advance.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced the change Tuesday, nearly five months after rolling out same-day reservations at state parks on the coast. That pilot program went smoothly, park managers said in a news release, giving the parks department the confidence to expand it to campgrounds across the state, including at popular places such as Silver Falls, L.L. Stub Stewart and The Cove Palisades.

(Oregon news)

Starting next month, Oregonians will have more options to take the train to Seattle.

Amtrak Cascades, jointly operated between the Washington and Oregon state transportation departments, said it will add two new round-trip trains between the states’ two largest cities.

The two new trains will begin running on today, Monday, Dec. 11, with the earliest one departing Seattle at 5:52 a.m. and Portland at 6:45 a.m. The latest trains of the day will leave at 7:25 p.m. from Portland and 7:50 p.m. from Seattle. With the two additions, there will now be a dozen trains between the two cities every day.

The two cities are the busiest stops on the Cascades route, which runs from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Eugene.

One train, the Coast Starlight, runs out of Klamath Falls northbound for Portland and points north, leaving Klamath Falls around 8:15am. (Oregon news)

World-renowned fiddler Alasdair Fraser’s massive social media campaign paid off: He has gotten back his violin and bows after a thief stole them from his rental car in downtown Portland last month.

Two people showed up with the stolen items at Southeast Portland’s David Kerr Violin Shop and sold them to the shop Wednesday afternoon. The shop soon identified them as stolen and less than 24 hours later, Fraser was reunited with his beloved violin and four bows

They’re undamaged. A photo Fraser posted Thursday to Facebook shows him standing in the violin shop, his eyes twinkling and his face beaming.

After searching for four days in Portland last month and then flying home to California defeated, Fraser had lost all hope — until an employee at the violin shop gave him a call.

Fraser declined to pin a dollar value on his musical items, saying their emotional value to him far exceeds that. The violin shop also declined to state the amount it paid the couple.

(Oregon news)

Red Cross of Oregon Asking for Blood Donations During The Holidays

Help on Giving Tuesday and during the holidays by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets. Individuals can also register for volunteer opportunities in their area.

INCREASING SUPPORT AMID EXTREME DISASTERS With the growing frequency and intensity of climate-driven disasters, the Red Cross is racing to adapt its services and grow its disaster response capacity across the country. As part of this national work in 2023, the Red Cross distributed $108 million in financial assistance directly to people after disasters of all sizes, including for wildfire recovery in the Cascades Region.

Across the country, the Red Cross is delivering this vital financial assistance on top of its immediate relief efforts — including safe shelter, nutritious meals and emotional support — which have been provided on a near-constant basis for this year’s relentless extreme disasters. In fact, this year’s onslaught of large disasters drove an increase in emergency lodging provided by the Red Cross with partners — with overnight stays up more than 50% compared to the annual average for the previous five years. 

In the Cascades Region we opened four times as many evacuation shelters in June than previous years because of a wildfire season that burned more than 250,000 acres across Oregon and SW Washington. Altogether, nearly 200 of our local volunteers responded to disasters in 2023, including more than 770 in the Cascades Region.

• The holidays can be a challenging time to collect enough blood for those in need. To book a time to give, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS. As a thank-you, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma Dec. 1-17 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Terms apply. See rcblood.org/Amazon.
• LIFESAVING TRAINING: This year, the Cascades Region has trained more than 57,000 people in lifesaving-skills while, nationally, the Red Cross expanded its training to empower people to act during current-day crises — which is vital considering that nearly half of U.S. adults report being unprepared to respond to a medical emergency. This included launching the new “Until Help Arrives” online training course last spring for opioid overdoses, severe bleeding, cardiac arrest and choking emergencies, and partnering with professional sports leagues through the Smart Heart Sports Coalition to help prevent tragedies among student athletes by offering CPR training and increasing access to AEDs. 
• MILITARY FAMILIES: Red Cross workers helped service members on U.S. military installations and deployment sites worldwide — including in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As part of our support this year, Red Cross volunteers delivered emergency communications messages connecting more than 87,000 service members with their loved ones during times of family need, while also engaging members in morale and wellness activities during deployments.

Visit www.redcross.org/CascadesGiving for more information about how the Red Cross Cascades Region helped people in 2023.

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