Klamath Basin News, Monday, Jan. 15 – Major Snow Storm Hits Klamath County; Power Outages Reported; Some Highway Sections And Road Closures Remain

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Monday, January 15, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Today’s Headlines

9:00AM NOTICE FROM ODOT: SW Oregon: OR 230 has reopened between Diamond Lake Junction and Union Creek. Be prepared for delays and chain restrictions. More Info Here

A major winter storm pummeled Oregon and hit hard in the Klamath Basin on Saturday, with over a foot of snow recorded in less than 18 hours in many locations.

The national weather service said the conditions were just right for heavy, wet snowfall in and around the Basin. 

The temperature hovered around 32 degrees from 8am Saturday and held steady throughout the day, and what was expected to possibly be rain Saturday only fell as snow.

Many roads were near impassable as crews fought to keep up with the rapidly accumulating snowfall.  Several accidents were reported on Highway 97 North, and 140 West towards Medford.

ODOT completely closed Oregon 66 from 6 miles outside of Ashland to the Klamath Falls city limits due to treacherous conditions Saturday.

An avalanche closed Highway 58 Friday near the Salt Creek Tunnel.  Other highways were completely shut down, including Diamond Lake highway 138, Oregon 62, and parts of US 97.

Chains were required over all passes out of the Basin, and the Siskiyou Summit had intermittent closures.  Redding, CA even reported snowfall on Saturday.

Crews at Pacific Power responded to a series of outages reported in Jackson and Klamath Counties on Saturday, with some happening as the result of damaged equipment due to the heavy snow.

A power outage west of Odessa at ZIP codes 97520 left 321 customers without power. Crews are investigating the cause of the outage, while  an outage in Klamath Falls at ZIP code 97603 caused by damaged equipment left 109 customers without power.

Snow and ice affected  roads in lower elevations, including Portland and the Willamette Valley. Coastal areas saw heavy rain and cold temperatures. Mountain passes in the Cascades, Siskiyous and the Columbia River Gorge continued  to see snow, ice and heavy winds.

Freezing rain hit much of the Willamette Valley between Salem and Eugene. In the early morning hours along Interstate 5 just south of Albany, an ODOT vehicle spreading salt was rear-ended during slippery conditions.

If you decide to travel, plan extra time for your journey and carry emergency supplies. Delays and closures are common during winter storms. Expect to encounter chain restrictions if traveling in mountain passes.

Give snowplows and emergency crews extra space to do their work, and never pass a snowplow on the right. 

Pacific Power is monitoring these winter storms across the Pacific Northwest.  There are many power outages across the state. 

Pacific Power encourages customers to always be prepared for outages and supports state and local emergency management organizations, recommending Oregonians have an emergency plan for up to 72 hours without essential services. Here are some simple steps customers can take to prepare and stay informed:  

• Update your contact information so we can reach you.
• Sign up to receive outage alerts by text, email or phone.
• Restock your outage kit.
• Keep mobile devices charged so that may be used in an emergency.
• Track outages, update contact info and do more with our free app.
• Text OUT to 722797 to report your outage or STAT to check status.

Visit pacificpower.net/outages for restoration estimates. As a reminder, stay away from all downed power lines and utility lines. Even if the lines are not sparking, they could be energized and extremely dangerous. Customers should avoid both downed trees and powerlines as well as keep pets far away from those areas.   Call 911 and report the outage to Pacific Power at 1-877-508-5088.  

Crater Lake National Park has been experiencing extreme weather conditions over the past week that have resulted in failures of the park communication system.  

This has significantly impacted the ability to report emergency incidents so delays in response should be expected. Due to these conditions all facilities are closed, and backcountry travel is strongly discouraged. Highway 62 through the park remains open, but because of heavy and drifting snow and poor visibility, we are asking visitors to refrain from traveling in the park.  

As is typical during winter and spring, the North Entrance Road and Rim Drive are closed for the season. The road from park headquarters to Rim Village is currently closed due to the weather conditions. It is sometimes necessary throughout the course of the winter to close that section of road so the plow operators can focus on roads critical for safety access in the park. When this section of road is closed, there is no way to access a lake view by vehicle. 

Updates will be provided as conditions change. Please check for alerts on the park website at www.nps.gov/crla and on the Crater Lake National Park Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064393373885. Road status is also available on www.tripcheck.com.

The drawdown of the Klamath River, which will slowly drain reservoirs at the base of the three remaining Klamath River dams, began Thursday.

The process, which is expected to last through February, began at the Iron Gate Reservoir, which is located near the far northern community of Hornbrook. Representatives for Klamath River Renewal Corporation, which is coordinating the dam removal process, said water from the Iron Gate Reservoir is being released in a controlled manner through a low-level outlet tunnel.

It’s currently expected that the reservoirs behind the Iron Gate, J.C. Boyle, and Copco No. 1 dams will be completely drained by the end of February. A fourth dam, Copco 2, was removed last year. Brownell said the draining process could be altered, noting the reservoirs “may refill a bit in the in March and April if we experience a significant amount of spring run-off. Work on the deconstruction of the dams is expected to commence sometime in May or June of 2024 depending on the weather, and be complete by fall 2024.”

Among those on hand for Thursday’s initial drawdown were Mark Branson, KRRC’s CEO, who said, “Witnessing the beginning of drawdown at Iron Gate dam was both celebration of an important moment in the story of Klamath dam removal, and a source of pride for the exceptional work done by so many people to arrive at this day.”

According to KRRC, communities downstream of the dams will start to see changes in the river in the coming days, as sediment that has accumulated behind the dams is evacuated downstream. There is an estimated 17-20 million cubic yards of sediment behind the three remaining Klamath dams slated for removal. During the drawdown, 5-7 million cubic yards is expected to go downstream during the initial phase in January and February. Extensive testing has determined the sediment to be non-toxic, mostly consisting of dead algae, gravels, and fine clay particulate, the KRRC said.

A Klamath Falls man is facing his fifth domestic violence case filed in Klamath County after allegedly committing second-degree assault and kidnapping his former girlfriend.

Cole Nakima Oleachea, 28, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first- and second-degree kidnapping, unlawful use of a weapon, tampering with a witness, menacing and parole violation.

The Klamath Falls Police Department initial report said Oleachea had “assaulted and threatened his ex-girlfriend multiple times on Nov. 24.”

“[Oleachea threatened the victim with] his fists, a gear shifter and a gun,” the police report reads. “[Oleachea] also took her from the location against her will before returning and confining her to a closet for several hours.” 

When Oleachea discovered the victim had reported the criminal incident, he allegedly forced the her to call and retract her statement on Nov. 28, the report said.

This is the fifth domestic violence case for Oleachea since 2014 in Klamath County. 

Former Klamath County Deputy District Attorney David Schutt filed a document describing enhancement factors for the court to consider in sentencing, such as deliberate cruelty towards the victim and threats of violence.

Cascade Health Alliance and Healthy Klamath are hosting Family Fun Days around the county. The events are free and open to the public to increase awareness of community resources.

Event-goers will be treated to free tacos and raffle prizes, and there will be a bouncy house for kids. Denise Martinez of Klamath Community College said the event’s purpose is “to help get the word out in smaller communities that there are resources available to them.”

Currently, there are regular weekly outreach efforts in Merrill, Chiloquin, Sprague River, Klamath Falls and Keno, and are scheduled as follows:

Klamath Falls — Every Tuesday, 2 to 4 p.m., at the Klamath County Courthouse, 316 Main St.

Keno — Every 2nd and 4th Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Keno Tractor, 15555 Highway 66, Keno Merrill — Every 3rd Wednesday, 1 to 3 p.m., Merrill Water Department., 301 E. First St., Merrill

Malin — Every 3rd Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m., Malin Library Conference Hall, 2307 Front Street Malin Chiloquin — Every 2nd and 4th Friday, Farmer’s Market Lot, Chiloquin

Sprague River — Every 2nd and 4th Friday, Sprague River Community Center, 23411 Sprague River Road.

Organizations and vendors can join by contacting jenniferd@cascadecomp.com.  

The Klamath Chorale will begin regular weekly rehearsals for its 2024 spring concert season on the Martin Luther King holiday, from 7pm-9pm on Monday, Jan. 15, in the choir rehearsal room at Ponderosa Middle School.

The group’s spring performance is titled “From Stage To Screen,” and will take place at the Ross Ragland Theater on Sunday, May 5. The program includes well-known songs from Broadway musicals that have been made into popular movies. The Klamath Chorale is the oldest and largest choral group in the Klamath Basin, at times having up to one hundred members.

The group was formed in 1979 by people who enjoyed singing together, and has presented two concerts each year for over 40 years. The group has been led by director Robin Schwartz since 2009, and accompanied by Bill “Slippery” Eaton for many years. Seasonal dues of $25 per person help to defray the cost of purchasing music for its semi-annual concerts.

Dues scholarships are available to high school students who wish to join the Chorale. For more information, contact Production Coordinator Charles Cossey at (541) 884-8484.  Klamath Chorale can also be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/klamathchorale/  

The Linkville Players announce the opening of their second show of the 2023-24 season, “A Company of Wayward Saints”  playing at the Linkville Playhouse.

Written by George Herman, “Saints” is a tribute to the dedication and heart of actors, as well as the understanding and truth-telling that can come out of acting.

The play follows a comedic acting troupe, with familiar Renaissance-era characters such as Pantalone the greedy old man, and Capitano the swaggering braggart, as they find themselves broke and broke down right here in Klamath Falls.

A wealthy patron offers to pay their way home — if they can impress him with an improv show on the topic of his choosing. The tale that ensues takes us through the history of man from the garden of Eden to the assassination of Julius Caesar, up into modern life.

But, when improv goes awry the troupe is forced to look beyond the slapstick and costumes and face the redeeming powers of humor and understanding.

The show, produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals, features an all-local cast including Em Barr, Brian Green, Chris Malloy, Mathew Landsiedel, Jared McCleve, Corrie Judd, Rikkilea McGuffy and newcomers Aidan Coe and Hanna Levesque.

Performances take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of one Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Jan. 21. The play will enjoy a seven-performance run, ending on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

Tickets can be purchased for $15-18 in advance at Poppy (522 Main Street) or up to half an hour before curtain at the Playhouse directly.

Around the state of Oregon

A new COVID variant has become dominant in Oregon, according to data from the state Health Authority.

JN.1 is an Omicron subvariant which was first detected in August. The CDC projects that it may now make up as many as two-thirds of U.S. cases.

In Oregon, the variant reached a 58% share in mid-December, according to the most recently sequenced samples from the OHA. And state officials expect that those figures will continue rising.

The variant’s emergence in Oregon has coincided with rising cases and hospitalizations. Cieslak said there’s no firm evidence JN.1 has contributed, but it would make sense.

Cieslak said there’s no evidence that JN.1 leads to infections that are more severe or deadly. The World Health Organization has declared it a “variant of interest,” but said it poses a low additional threat to public health.

The Oregon State Supreme Court has declined to hear a case brought by a group of liberal voters trying to keep former President Trump off the May ballot. 

Secretary of State Lavonne Griffin-Valade has said she does not have the authority to disqualify a candidate from the primary. Five Oregonians are suing, claiming Trump violated the 14th Amendment.  

Oregon’s High Court won’t hear the case, because the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a similar case out of Colorado and it would resolve the same issues. Oral arguments in the federal case are scheduled for February eighth. The group can refile their case if issues remain after that decision. 

The Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office is admitting it made a mistake last September, when it declared 23-year-old Portland resident Tyler Chase dead of a drug overdose.

They gave his family an urn containing ashes, but they belonged to a stranger. They tell KPTV they discovered the mistake on December 18th and notified the family. Tyler’s been in substance abuse recovery for months.

The dead stranger was carrying Tyler’s stolen wallet. The temporary paper Oregon Driver’s license inside the wallet was used to identify the body. The Medical Examiner’s Office is not naming the stranger, but they are promising a change in identification procedures.

As details emerge about the incident that blew a hole in an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 midflight last week, the region’s aviation legal experts are raising questions about quick, $1,500 cash payments the airline provided passengers aboard the near-catastrophic plane trip.

Twenty minutes after Flight 1282 took off from Portland last week, a piece of fuselage broke loose, opening a significant hole in the side of the aircraft and tearing the shirt off one teenager sitting nearby. Several passengers were treated for nonlife-threatening injuries after the plane landed safely back in Portland, though investigators are still working to determine what exactly happened.

Since the incident, investigators determined the panel that blew off was a door plug used to seal a fuselage cutout for an optional emergency exit door that is used only by a few airlines with high-density seating.

On Thursday, six passengers filed a potential class-action lawsuit against Boeing, claiming the manufacturer owes them and the other 165 passengers aboard Flight 1282 compensation for injuries and other harms caused by the incident. Alaska Airlines is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, now at the center of a police investigation into drug diversion claims, recently settled a Medicare probe claiming billing fraud. 

According to the Lund Report, the probe is connected to a lawsuit claiming that hospital management ignored billing fraud. 

“It was based on a whistleblower lawsuit filed by one of the hospital’s own doctors that accused management at the Medford hospital of ignoring billing fraud,” the Lund Report said. “Instead, the suit claimed, management targeted the doctor who reported it.”

The lawsuit was secretly filed under seal in 2021, the Lund Report said, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the allegations. After investigating, the federal government joined the whistleblower’s suit to “recoup funds.” 

Court records identify Dr. Charles Carmeci as the doctor accused of overbilling, the Lund Report said. A judge approved a settlement between the doctor and Asante in October. 

“A cardiothoracic surgeon who worked at the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, claimed his then coworker, Carmeci, billed government health programs for procedures he didn’t do and performed unnecessary procedures to boost his compensation,” the Lund Report said. “No criminal charges have resulted from the claims and the federal investigation.”

The surgeon found out about Carmeci’s practices in 2019, the Lund Report said.

Governor Kotek says her top priority for the legislature this year is to increase affordable housing for Oregonians, likely a pipe dream according to critics.

Kotek is asking the legislature to approve 500-million-dollars on top of the 650-million-dollars approved last year to increase affordable housing. She says it’s a focused, menu driven approach using one-time dollars. She says it’ll jump start affordable housing construction across the state.  

Wishing to raise higher, Oregon ranks now near the middle of the pack in a new list ranking the Best And Worst States To Raise A Family.

Personal finance company Wallet Hub looked at factors such as family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability, and socio-economics. Oregon ranked 26th in the nation. The top five states are Massachusetts, followed by North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and New York. Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, and New Mexico are the bottom five or worst states to raise a family.

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