The latest and most comprehensive coverage of local News, Sports, Business, and Community News stories in the Klamath Basin, Southern Oregon and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM / 102.5FM, The Herald and News, and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance, your Local Health and Medicare agents. Call 541-882-6476.
Friday, February 16, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Overnight a 20% chance of showers after 4am. , cloudy with a low near 37. Snow level 6200 feet. East southeast wind around 9 mph.
See Road Camera Views around the Klamath Basin:
Lake of the Woods
Doak Mtn.
Hiway 97 at Chemult
Hiway 140 at Bly
Hiway 97 at GreenSprings Dr.
Hiway 97 at LaPine
Today’s Headlines
Reaction to Wednesday’s announcement by the Department of Interior regarding funding for water and restoration projects in the Klamath Basin came in quickly from a range of groups and individuals.
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a historic agreement with the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe and Klamath Water Users Association to advance collaborative efforts to restore the Klamath Basin ecosystem and improve water supply reliability for Klamath Project agriculture.
The Department also announced more than $72 million in new investments – including funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda – for ecosystem restoration and agricultural infrastructure modernization. The Department also unveiled the Klamath Basin Drought Resilience Keystone Initiative, a new effort to steward investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, and support a wide range of restoration activities that will help recover listed species, create new habitat for fish and birds, and rethink the way water moves across the Klamath Basin to better align agriculture with ecosystem function.
Clayton Dumont, chairman of the Klamath Tribes, said he is pleased with the agreement, saying, “I think it’s a positive step forward.”
Dumont noted the funding includes money for several Klamath Basin projects, including the Upper Williamson River Restoration and Sprague River Collaborative Restoration projects totaling $26 million. He emphasized various projects are aimed at benefiting the Tribes, farmers and ranchers and others, restore historic wetlands and repair lands damaged by the massive 2021 Bootleg Fire.
Moss Driscoll, Klamath Basin Water Users Association Director of water policy, expressed hope the actions will benefit all water users, including farmers and ranchers.
Driscoll cautioned the agreement does not provide “firm solutions” and expressed concerns and frustration on how federal funds have been allocated and spent. He believes a key issue is that the agreement is “missing a firm and durable agreement over the allocation of water for the Klamath Basin.”
Tracey Liskey, the Klamath Water Users Association’s President, commented on the agreement, saying in a news release, that the next few years will be critical to securing funding and completing restoration efforts in the Klamath Basin, so this agreement will help us work together and streamline the various interests and objectives we all have. There are many laws and initiatives at the state and federal levels, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, that have created sources of significant funding for restoration activities and efforts to address water supply challenges.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley said improvements created by the agreement will benefit a range of people impacted by Klamath Basin water issues. In a statement he said, “Drought has severe impacts on the Klamath Basin – affecting fish and wildlife, agriculture, families and Tribal communities.
Meanwhile, yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing nearly $64 million in funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for ecosystem restoration activities that address high-priority water-related issues in the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon and northern California, with an additional $6 million in funding from other infrastructure investments.
Through BIL, the Service is investing $162 million over five years in ecosystem restoration projects in the Klamath River Basin. Yesterday’s announcement builds on the Service’s $26 million investment of BIL funds in Fiscal Year 2022, which supported 32 projects throughout the basin and the expansion of the Klamath Falls National Fish Hatchery.
The funding announced today will support continued construction of the Klamath Falls National Fish Hatchery, focus on innovative collaborative conservation in the Sprague River watershed, advance collaborative restoration projects with stakeholders, and continue the implementation of Tribally-led projects throughout the Basin.
Included in this announcement is funding for 15 projects, some of which are highlighted below:
-Klamath Basin Co-Development Process – $25,000,000
-Completion of Klamath Falls National Fish Hatchery – $20,000,000
-Sprague River Collaborative Restoration (Phase 1) – $6,000,000
-Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary Project – $3,000,000
-Upper Williamson River Restoration – $2,000,000
More information can be found on the US Fish and Wildlife website.
Years of management issues involving facility upkeep and staff at Oregon’s Crater Lake have prompted the federal government to consider terminating its contract with the national park’s concessionaire.
Crater Lake Hospitality, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Aramark, is contracted through 2030 to run concessions such as food and lodging. But the National Park Service’s Pacific West regional director, David Szymanski, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the agency will terminate its contract with the company unless it “shows cause as to why NPS should not do so.”
Szymanski did not specify a timeline of when that might happen and declined to comment on communications between the federal agency and the company, the news outlet reported. National Park Service guidelines require it to provide written notice to a concessioner when a termination is under consideration.
The comments came two months after Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden wrote to the National Park Service to highlight his “serious concerns” about Crater Lake Hospitality. In a public letter, he asked the federal agency to “take immediate action to prevent concessionaire mismanagement from continuing to threaten Crater Lake National Park, its visitors, or the employees who live and work there.”
In recent annual reviews, the National Park Service has slammed the concessionaire over poor facility upkeep, failure to complete maintenance projects and a lack of staff training. The reviews have also noted staff reports of sexual assault and harassment, and subpar living and working conditions.
The deadline for Crystal Apple nominations is Sunday, Feb. 18th, 2024.
Klamath County School District is seeking nominations for its annual Crystal Apple Awards. Link here: https://forms.gle/zttDTtcqa65ZeCCf9
The Crystal Apple is given each year to eight KCSD staff who inspire and help students of all backgrounds and abilities.
The winners receive their Crystal Apples during a gala at the Ross Ragland Theater. This year, the gala will be Tuesday, April 23.
A nominee can be a teacher, a counselor, a nurse or classified employee who has been with the district for at least three years. Community members are welcome and encouraged to submit nominations.
Links to the online nomination form are available on the KCSD website at www.kcsd.k12.or.us. All nominations are due no later than Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024.
The Oregon State Police (OSP) is ramping up patrols in Central Oregon from Friday, Feb. 16 – Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. A high visibility saturation patrol is planned for the President’s Day long weekend and coincides with the annual Bend Winterfest which is expected to increase local traffic and bring a large number of visitors to the area.
Troopers will be focused on impaired driving prevention, detection, and enforcement along with an emphasis on Fatal 5 violations which are statistically shown to contribute to serious injury and fatal crashes.
Fatal 5 violations include:
- Speed
- Occupant Safety
- Lane Usage
- Impaired Driving
- Distracted Driving
“Safety is always our primary goal. We want to intercept impaired drivers before they can hurt themselves or someone else,” said Capt. Kyle Kennedy. “We know that speed, distracted, impaired, and other unsafe driving behaviors are major contributors to serious injury and fatal crashes. We proactively enforce dangerous driving behaviors to help minimize the impacts to our communities.”
OSP and City of Bend patrols will be focusing coverage along Hwy. 97, Hwy. 20W, and within the city of Bend.
Self-guided tours of the new visitor center at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex near Tulelake will be offered beginning at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
A variety of opportunities are planned during the day, including family-friendly activities and crafts for youngsters, at the new complex center, which is located at 4009 Hill Road about five miles west of Tulelake. Along with touring the facility, visitors are also encouraged to take a self-guided audio tour, or walk the Discovery Marsh and Sheepy Ridge trails, both of which offer views of the refuge, and the wildlife.
The Sheepy Ridge Trail is a half-mile out-and back trail with a 170-foot elevation gain that leads to an overlook offering views of the refuge. The Discovery Marsh Trail is a 0.9-mile loop trail regarded as easy. Both have easy access from the new visitor center, which is just across the road from the former visitor center-refuge complex headquarters office.
Spokesmen for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Klamath Basin complex say the new visitor center was “designed to generate awareness and understanding of the natural and cultural history of the Klamath Basin and includes a separate classroom where school groups can learn about and share a sense of community and connection with the natural world.”
The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex is a wildlife preserve operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a region that includes portions of Southern Oregon and Northern California near Tulelake and Klamath Falls. The complex includes the Bear Valley, Klamath Marsh and Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuges in Southern Oregon and Lower Klamath, Tule Lake, and Clear Lake refuges in Northern California.
Oregon Tech announced that geomatics professor and department chair Jack Walker has been honored as the 2023 surveyor of the year by the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon (PLSO).
The award, presented at the PLSO 2024 Conference Jan. 19, recognizes Walker’s outstanding contributions to PLSO and the geomatics profession.
Walker, an Oregon Tech alumnus, began his academic journey studying civil engineering, but after taking courses in surveying, he changed majors and has enjoyed more than four decades studying and teaching geomatics.
After graduating from Oregon Tech, Walker worked for three years at the Bureau of Land Management and private firms before earning a Master of Science in geodesy from Purdue University, and rejoining Oregon Tech in a faculty position in 1984.
Walker now specializes in a wide range of technologies, including high-precision positioning applications, and is a commercial unmanned aircraft system pilot. He is also a registered professional land surveyor in Oregon, which allows him to remain involved in the hands-on aspect of the profession and to consult on projects he finds fun and interesting.
As Oregon Tech’s geomatics department chair, Walker emphasizes the importance of staying current with technology to keep the program modernized.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is offering a $50,000 reward for information as it investigates the deaths of three endangered gray wolves in Klamath County. The deaths happened late last year east of Bly in an area of known wolf activity.
FWS said the collars of two gray wolves showed a mortality signal on Dec. 29, 2023. Oregon State Police found two dead, collared wolves and another dead wolf without a collar. One was an adult, breeding female. The other two were subadults — not pups, but not yet full adult.
Neither FWS nor the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) would elaborate on the nature of the deaths.
Two of the wolves were part of the Gearhart Mountain Pack. ODFW said seven members remain in the pack including the breeding male.
Gray wolves are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in the western two-thirds of Oregon.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (503) 682-6131, or the Oregon State Police Dispatch at (800) 452-7888, *OSP (*677) or email TIP@osp.oregon.gov. Callers may remain anonymous. The reward is for any information that leads to an arrest, a criminal conviction or civil penalty assessment.
Adult student artists will exhibit their work through the month of February at the Klamath County Museum’s Modoc Gallery. A reception for the artists will be held from noon to 3 p.m. this Saturday in the museum’s lobby.
Student exhibitors include June Bell, Luisa Freeman, Billie Hagerman, Penny Hansen, Mary Johnson, Cindy Kalisch and Helen O’Hara.
The students are working on their technique under the instruction of Susan Liskey, who conducts weekly classes at the museum. Liskey offers instruction in oil and acrylics, with a focus on blending colors on canvas and softening edges with a fan brush.
Admission to the gallery is free during regular museum hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Klamath County Museum is located at 1451 Main St. in Klamath Falls. For more information contact the museum at (541) 882-1000.
Amadeus Hernandez has won the Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Leader of the Year award.
A Lost River Junior/Senior High School senior won the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Leadership Award for his ongoing work as a leader and positive role model.
Amadeus Hernandez, 17, accepted the honor last month at an event attended by more than 600 people. He was among 10 Klamath Basin youth who were nominated for the award.
Amadeus is soft spoken with a quick smile. As captain of the school’s soccer team, he works to inspire his teammates, leading by example and providing a solid foundation for the school’s new soccer program. He also started an after-school weight lifting program for fellow athletes.
Lost River Principal Angie Wallin described Amadeus as someone who leads by example. “He’s a quiet positive leader, and he has been a great mentor to the younger students as the school started its soccer program.”
In addition to soccer, Wallin participates in track and has been involved in Lost River’s FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) program for the past six years, serving as a chapter officer and competing at the state, regional, and national levels. His nominators described him as a driving force in helping his FBLA chapter raise funds for conferences and competitions. Amadeus has competed at the regional, state and national levels for FBLA and is aiming to qualify for nationals again this year.
In addition, he is an officer for the school’s Latin Culture Club and volunteers with the Malin Centro Cristiano Church.
Coming to Ross Ragland Theater!
The Missoula Children’s Theatre Spring Break Theater Camp Presents
Jack and the Beanstalk
Dates: Monday-Friday, March 25-29; 8:30am – 1:00pm
Performances: Saturday, March 30 at 3pm & 5:30pm
The Missoula Children’s Theatre presents JACK AND THE BEANSTALK, an original adaptation of the classic children’s story. What happens when a young boy plants Wonder Beans in his own backyard? For Jack, it is the beginning of a great adventure. With a little help from P.T. Wonder and a Giant, Jack learns a valuable lesson about true happiness. This musical production also features a host of other characters, including the Elegant Harp, Jill, Mother, Milky White, the Farmers, the Merchants, the Circus Performers and the Wonder Beans.
There are three age groups for the Spring Break Camp with opportunities for students from Kindergarten to age 18!
Cost: $175, multi-student discount available; scholarships available
Group 1: Kinder – age 7 have the opportunity to be part of the production on stage! They will audition on Monday and begin rehearsals that day! (16 spots available)
Group 2: Ages 8 – 8th grade have the opportunity to be part of the production on stage! They will audition on Monday and begin rehearsals that day! (44 spots available)
Group 3: Ages 12-18 have the opportunity to be an assitant director for the show! Have the experience of helping backstage and to learn from MCT’s director team! (4 spots available)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROSS RAGLAND SPRING CAMPS HERE!
KLAMATH FALLS, OR, Thursday, February 8, 2024 – Join the Ross Ragland Theater for an unforgettable night of celebration and giving back! The Red Tie Masquerade Ball & Scholarship Fundraiser will occur on Saturday, February 24, 2024.
The Red Tie Masquerade Ball & Scholarship Fundraiser is a premier fundraising gala
and social event that raises awareness of the need and benefits of keeping access to the arts
and arts education for K-12 students across the Klamath Basin and Southeastern Oregon.
The doors will open at 5:30, with performances and events scheduled throughout the evening.
This must-attend event is full of elegance, delicious food, and live entertainment, all
dedicated to supporting the Ragland in funding our seven revered education programs that
help create arts education opportunities for students across the Klamath Basin. Our
education programs offer over 20,000 individual opportunities for arts education to all
students in the Basin, K-12, each year.
Your support will make a difference in the lives of many students who dream of a
brighter future. You don’t want to miss this fantastic opportunity to have fun and make a
lasting impact.
Our Masquerade Ball promises an unforgettable night filled with surprises,
enchantment, and a Silent Auction you don’t want to miss! So, mark your calendars and
prepare for a mystical experience like no other. We can’t wait to see you there!
Red Tie Masquerade Ball & Scholarship Fundraiser: February 24, 2024 starting at 5:30
pm.
TICKETS: $75 for singles, $120 for couples
Call 884-LIVE today to reserve your ticket now!
Visit the theater’s website at www.ragland.org to purchase tickets online and learn more
about the theater. The box office is open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or two
hours before show time the day of any show.
If you would like more information, please email: development@ragland.org
Klamath County libraries to close for Presidents’ Day
All Klamath County libraries will be closed on Monday, February 19th in
observance of Presidents’ Day. No materials will be due on a day that the
libraries are closed.
For more information, call us at 541-882-8894.
Each week, BasinLife.com and KFLS News 1450AM & 102.5FM feature a pet of the Week ready for adoption from the Klamath Animal Shelter.
This week’s pet of the week this week is a dog named ” Melon ” Melon is an 8 month old male Labrador Border Collie mix, he is black with white markings, he weighs around 50 pounds
Melon’s family had to move and the new landlord wouldn’t allow him. His family said that he is started on house training, lived with children 6 months and older, he knows sit, lays down, loves belly rubs, playing with toys and playing with dogs at the dog park
If you are interested in adopting Melon the shelter is located at 4240 Washburn Way, Monday through Friday from 12:00 – 4:00, walk throughs are available, pet meet and greets are by appointment, you can reach the shelter at 541-884-PETS (541-884-7387)
View all adoptable pets anytime online at www.klamathanimalshelter.org
Just for reading our news, click to enter to win Free Movie Tickets from BasinLife.com and Wynne Broadcasting.
Click here!
Around the state of Oregon
The right to buy a gun in Oregon remains stalled. Oregon’s attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, has filed a motion requesting gun regulation law Measure 114, stay in effect while it goes through a lengthy court process.
According to a news release from Rosenblum’s office, this would be temporary.
“This January, the same court issued its final decision saying that Measure 114 violates the Oregon Constitution. The state promptly appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals,” the release said. “That appeal is pending, but the appeals court processes could reasonably take up to a few more years.”
Voters narrowly approved Measure 114 in Nov. 2022. However, it has been in court since then and has not had a chance to take effect.
Opponents of the measure claim that it violates the Second Amendment and restricts the right of Oregonians to bear arms and defend themselves. They also claim that it would not stop shootings or fatalities.
Another increase from Pacific Power. The company filed a general rate case and a Transition Adjustment Mechanism update with the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
The combined rate actions would result in a 16.9% rate adjustment, or roughly $304 million, and would support continued investments in wildfire risk management strategies, transmission infrastructure and renewable generation projects.
The average residential customer with typical energy usage would see an increase of about $29.47 per month.
Key factors driving the rate request include:
- Transmission infrastructure investments, which enable the integration of new renewable resources to serve growing customer needs.
- Continued investments in low-cost renewable energy resources.
- Cost of capital to finance utility operations and reflect current market conditions and risk.
- Wildfire risk management, including rapidly growing wildfire insurance premiums, wildfire mitigation and vegetation management and the creation of a catastrophic fire fund, which would create a mechanism to manage the risks associated with increased wildfire activity.
Pacific Power remains committed to actively managing its system in the face of rising costs to limit price exposure and reduce cost volatility for our customers. This includes actively working with a diverse set of stakeholders across the region to develop and implement tools to address the growing risk of wildfires.
In 2014, Pacific Power helped pioneer the Western Energy Imbalance Market in partnership with the California Independent System Operator, which provides access to the lowest-cost energy available. Through the participation of PacifiCorp, Pacific Power’s parent company, in the market, the company has saved customers throughout its six-state service area over $745 million through the end 2023. PacifiCorp has also announced that it will join the new Extended Day-Ahead Market, which will result in tremendous savings to customers through optimal power purchases a day ahead of time, when critical resource decisions are made.
Sometimes out of adversity comes wisdom. That was a lesson Pacific Southwest Research Station Ecologist Eric Knapp learned after the 2021 Antelope Fire tore through long-term research plots in northeastern California.
“It was pretty upsetting to think about those 20 years of research going up in flames,” Knapp stated.
Knapp’s colleague, Forester Martin Ritchie, and other scientists initiated studies at this landscape — known as the Goosenest Adaptive Management Area — in the late 1990s. At that time, white fir and incense cedar filled the site, crowding out pine trees. One of the researchers’ goals was to restore a more open pine-dominated forest, which originally graced this area a century ago.
As part of that objective, they collaborated with staff from the Klamath National Forest to set up different forest and fuel management treatments on 40- to 100-acre plots. Forest staff implemented two methods of mechanical thinning and applied prescribed fire to a portion of the plots. Periodically, they remeasured the plots to evaluate the ecological effects of the treatments.
Shortly after the fire, Knapp, and fellow researchers convened at the 2,300-acre study area to take stock of the damage. Because the fire burned for multiple days, they could observe how fuel treatments fared under different weather conditions. Wind speeds and humidity levels drove fire behavior, which fluctuated between high intensity to more moderate.
Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office says today a coroner’s case is open after a body was found after a Happy Camp structure fire.
It says its investigators are working to determine the cause and identity of the death.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) says the body discovery came from a residence fire Friday.
It says that’s when its dispatchers were alerted to smoke from the area of the residence, and when SCSO Deputies arrived at the scene along Elk Creek Road they confirmed a structure fire had occurred.
Initial observation suggested the fire likely occured the previous evening.
SCSO says it notified CalFire, and an investigation started through the State Fire Marshal’s Arson and Bomb Unit to determine the cause of the fire.
SCSO says during the initial inspection of the residence, its deputies found the corpse, and a Coroner’s case was opened.
It invites related information to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 841-2900.
A Marshfield High School teacher was arrested on sex abuse charges.
According to Coos Bay police, 45-year-old Jeremy Berger of Coos Bay was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
A week ago, Coos Bay Police Department began an investigation after receiving reports of a teacher at Marshfield sexually abusing a student.
Berger was immediately placed on administrative leave by the school district. He’s now facing multiple charges including five counts of sex abuse and luring a minor.
The dead whale found on the Oregon coast near Astoria on Monday will remain on the shore to decompose into the ocean.
Researchers released the gas built up from decomposition in the fin whale on Tuesday, removing the risk that it will explode and injure beachgoers, according to Seaside Aquarium staff. The whale was left to decompose because of its benefit to the environment.
Boothe said it’s a good opportunity for people to see a large whale up close, but warned that they can carry diseases that can be transferred to humans, dogs and other animals. Anyone looking at the fin whale should avoid touching it.
Anyone who spots a stranded whale should report it to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and stay away from the carcass. Touching the animal or anything attached to it will make it more difficult for researchers to find out what happened.
A lump sum of money is coming to Oregon from the federal government to help fight the ongoing opioid crisis.
According to the Oregonian, a national settlement is giving the state $63 million to utilize to combat opioid usage.
A state office was tasked with how to divvy up the money and came up with four different options that include primary prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
It will be distributed over the next 18 months.
Oregon’s Congressional delegation split along party lines on the vote to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
He was impeached by a slim 214-to-213 margin. Oregon republican representatives Cliff Bentz and Lori Chavez DeRemer voted in favor of impeachment. All Oregon democrats voted against. Chavez DeRemer issued a statement accusing Mayorkas of extreme dereliction of duty enforcing border laws.
The vote now goes to the Senate where the vote and passage is not likely to happen.
Children in school or childcare need to have up-to-date immunizations by February 21st, or they may be kept out of school.
February 21st is School Exclusion Day this year in Oregon. State law requires all children in public and private schools, Head Start and certified childcare facilities to show documentation their immunizations are complete. Last year, more than 26-thousand letters were sent to parents reminding them to get their kids immunized.
County health departments offer vaccines for people who can’t pay or don’t have health insurance. Call 211 to find out more.
Wind and snow may cause hazardous travel conditions in the Columbia River Gorge and mountain passes this week with a low probability of snow in the Portland area.
ODOT maintenance crews will be ready with winter tools including plows, salt, de-icer and sand. If you must travel, be prepared.
Starting today, with various types of winter weather threats possible in Oregon, travelers need to be extra cautious on the roads in the days ahead. Travelers should consult Tripcheck.com and check weather forecasts on their planned routes.
Tripcheck.com provides live cameras showing road conditions around the state, along with other information that can help travel planning including altitude and temperature.
If you must travel in winter weather, be prepared. Pack your vehicle with the essentials: tire chains, snacks, water, medications and warm clothing. Fill up your vehicle’s fuel tank and fully charge its battery. Plan your route ahead, and if you’re following GPS navigation, make sure it sticks to main roads because many rural roads are not maintained in severe weather and can be very treacherous.
If you’re walking or rolling to your destination, watch for lingering ice on sidewalks. Public transit is another option, but the winter weather may have caused schedule changes, so check those before you head out. For folks on bikes, road shoulders and bike lanes may be extra slushy, so be careful.
Deschutes County jail deputies failed to do periodic checks or provide medical support for a 22-year-old woman suffering from drug withdrawal with a history of suicide attempts, a lawsuit alleges.
The woman, Kendra Nicole Sawyer, took her own life by hanging herself with a jail towel in her single-cell unit a day after she was booked into the county jail in February 2023, according to the lawsuit.
At least two other deaths in the county jail involving drugs or drug withdrawal show Deschutes County could have avoided conditions that led to Sawyer’s suicide, her lawyers allege in the wrongful death suit.
Jailers exhibited negligence and deliberate indifference to Sawyer’s serious medical condition and mental illness, attorneys R. Joseph Sexton claims.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Jason W. Wall, contacted by email and phone Monday and Tuesday, did not provide any response to the allegations.
A dead whale has washed ashore at Sunset Beach State Park on Monday, according to the Seaside Aquarium.
Whale experts describe it as a “Fin whale,” the second largest whale in the world, after Blue whales.
The aquarium says a necropsy is planned to determine how the endangered whale died but is asking the public to please avoid the whale, as any interference could put the examination in jeopardy.
Once the necropsy is done, the Seaside Aquarium says it will share their teams’ findings.
Prices at the pump are starting to climb in most states. Oregon, however, is trending in the other direction.
According to AAA, the national average this week sits at $3.15 a gallon. Oregon’s average dipped by 2 cents, now at $3.60. In fact, all counties in Oregon have averages below $4 a gallon, except curry county at $4.24.
AAA said gas prices often start to rise this time of year, so it recommends enjoying these number now while they’re still around.
“Unless we get some kind of shock to the global oil market, right now it looks like gas prices will likely inch up in the short term instead of rocketing higher,” said Marie Dodds from AAA.
Dodds said the switch from winter to summer blend fuel, no more sunsets before 5 p.m., and a higher demand for gas overall are all reasons for prices to rise this time of year.
The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is designating two final wind energy areas for offshore Oregon.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s wants 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030 and 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind energy capacity by 2035, and it says Oregon’s offshore areas “hold 2.4 gigawatts of clean renewable energy potential.”
It says the final Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) are based on reducing potential conflicts of ocean users, particularly on commercial fishing.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek responded to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposal for final wind energy areas along the Oregon Coast for offshore wind, saying, “Offshore wind is likely to play an important role in meeting our state’s growing energy demand and goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040. It also presents a significant economic development opportunity for the Oregon coast. As BOEM moves forward with establishing a federal offshore wind leasing process this year, Oregon is committed to developing a robust and transparent state roadmap to inform offshore wind opportunities. This state roadmap will also ensure that coastal communities and Tribal nations are consulted throughout the process, in close coordination with
BOEM says the WEAs “were developed following extensive engagement and feedback from the state, Tribes, local residents, ocean users, federal government partners, and other members of the public.”
On Feb. 14, 2024, BOEM will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intent to prepare an environmental assessment of potential impacts from offshore wind leasing in the WEAs. The notice will initiate a 30-day public comment period. Another public comment period would occur if BOEM decides to move forward with a lease sale in either of the WEAs.
BOEM says the two WEAs total approximately 195,012 acres, “and they avoid 98% of the areas recommended for exclusion due to their importance as commercial fishing grounds.”
The Brookings WEA is 133,808 acres in size and is about 18 miles from shore. The Coos Bay WEA is 61,204 acres and is located 32 miles from shore. A map of the final WEAs is online at BOEM’s website.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) said that the number of unintentional overdoses from methamphetamine increased by 20 times. The window of overdose deaths was taken from 2009 to 2022.
In a Facebook post from Saturday, OHA said overdoses from methamphetamine are still rising. When used at the same time as alcohol or opioids, it can increase the risk of an overdose.
Assistance is available for those struggling with methamphetamine addiction by calling 1-833-975-0505.
Pacific Power is offering a new program for customers to save money and power.
The Optimal Time Rewards program allows residential customers in Oregon to earn incentives by putting a smart thermostat in their home. This is to monitor power consumption and rewards you when you reduce power usage during peak hours.
Officials with Pacific Power say they wanted to give customers a chance to save money while also reducing strain on the electrical grid.
To find out more about the program or how to enroll for a smart thermostat, you can go to Pacific Powers website.
The Oregon Department of Human Services has expanded its online resources to be more accessible for Spanish-speaking users, the department announced.
As of January 23, website users can access an extra 65 pages on the ODHS website that have been translated by a native Spanish speaker, without the use of online translation tools. ODHS officials said there are now a total of 110 Spanish-language speeches on the website. The expansion of the site also includes a more robust navigation and search bar to help visitors find what they need.
Visitors to the site can access the Spanish pages by selecting “Sitio en Español” on the top right side of the main website’s banner. For individual pages, visitors can navigate between Spanish and English versions by clicking the “Español” or “English” buttons under the headers of the pages. Other languages are also available under the “Languages” button on the upper right of the ODHS website, but most translations other than Spanish are provided by Google Translate.
Former students and faculty from nearly every one of Oregon’s seven public universities told lawmakers this week the state’s higher education system is broken, with students unable to afford housing, relying on Medicaid and food assistance and strapped with mounting debts.
They blamed the failures, in part, on two laws passed more than a decade ago that changed how Oregon’s public universities are governed. The laws gave universities and their boards greater power over budget decisions, while scaling back state regulation.
A new proposal, House Bill 4125, would mandate a study of the university governance system and whether it and the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission, which is supposed to boost postsecondary access attainment, need to be overhauled.
The proposal is sponsored by state Rep. Farrah Chaichi, D-Beaverton; Rep. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard; and state Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham.
Ben Cannon, executive director of the state’s higher education commission since it began in 2013 and a former state representative who approved the system, said many of the problems blamed on the governing system existed before it was created.
In 2011, the state Legislature passed Senate Bill 242, which shifted governance of Oregon’s universities and community colleges from a hodgepodge of state education agencies to one – the Higher Education Coordinating Commission – to bring cohesion to the universities and community college system and to allow them to better collaborate.
As a result of January’s winter weather, more Oregon workers were injured from slips, trips, and falls due to snow or ice than during any other storm since January 2017.
SAIF, Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’ compensation company, received 414 claims in January related to slips, trips, and falls from snow or ice. This included 151 in SAIF’s Northern region, which includes the Portland metropolitan area. It also includes 58 in SAIF’s valley region, including Salem—the highest number of these types of claims ever received in one quarter in the region.
While your memory is still fresh from the last storm, take precautions to prepare for future inclement weather:
- Update your procedures: Allow staff to leave early or arrive late if conditions are expected to change. If feasible, allow some or all employees to work from home.
- Create an inclement weather plan: Make sure it outlines who will be responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, and pathways, and when those employees should safely arrive to begin those tasks if you open late.
- Use ice cleats: If your employees work outside, have them use ice cleats—simple studded or spiked devices that attach to footwear—to help prevent slips.
- Use floor mats at building entryways: Place a wiper or scraper/wiper combo floor mat (a heavy-duty mat designed to wipe and scrape debris and moisture off shoes) at building entryways. This is particularly important if the floor has a hard surface like tile, so workers’ shoes don’t leave wet footprints that could increase the risk of slips.
Oregon households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and lost food during the winter storms now have until Feb. 16 to request replacement benefits.
The Feb. 16 deadline applies to 27 counties — including Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties, the Oregon Department of Human Services said in a news release.
The other 24 counties are Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Polk, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Wasco, Washington and Yamhill.
Residents who live in other counties can request replacements within 10 days of the date the food was destroyed, the release said.
“Households who disposed of food bought with SNAP benefits that was destroyed due to these events can request that replacement benefits be issued for the cost of the lost food,” the release said. “The maximum amount of SNAP that can be replaced is the value of the food up to the normal monthly benefit for the household. Households should be prepared to provide a list of the lost food, the cost to replace it, and may have to provide proof of the event that destroyed the food.”
Once approved, replacement benefits will be added to residents’ EBT cards.
Researchers at OHSU say multi-dose vaccines could be more effective if given in alternating arms.
Dr. Marcel Curlin studied blood tests from about 2,000 OHSU staffers who agreed to take part in the project, in the early days of the COVID vaccine roll-out. About half took both doses in the same arm, the other half alternated arms.
Dr. Curlin says they’re learning more about the human immune system,
More study is needed to determine whether the results hold true with other immunizations or when administered in a leg, like for infants.
Daylight saving time begins this year at 2 a.m. on March 10, 2024.
Most devices these days will adjust automatically to the time change, but don’t forget to set any traditional clocks forward by one hour.
Twice a year — when we spring forward and then again when we fall back — we get questions about this: Didn’t Oregon decide not to participate in the time change any longer? So why are we still doing it?
In 2019, Oregon and Washington agreed to partner to abolish seasonal time changes, remaining on daylight saving time year-round. California also joined the agreement, seemingly paving the way for the West Coast states to get rid of standard time permanently.
However, any such change is dependent on approval by the federal government, which hasn’t happened.
In 2023, members of Congress reintroduced the long-stalled Sunshine Protection Act, which would allow states to remain on daylight saving time all year.
That bill has yet to make it out of committee.
Changes are coming to the way Oregonians apply for unemployment benefits.
Starting on March 4, those seeking unemployment insurance will submit claims on a new website called Frances Online. It’s part of the state’s $106 million, multi-year effort to upgrade the Oregon Employment Department’s technology to make it more secure and user-friendly.
The state has been gradually migrating to the new system, and the unemployment insurance claims portal is the last major step in the transition, according to Unemployment Insurance Director Lindsi Leahy.
The old system dates back to the 1990s. Multiple state audits have found that it was unable to handle complicated claims and had trouble incorporating rule changes. Officials acknowledged it lacked streamlined ways for people to communicate with the state about their claims.
Before the new system goes live for users, both the old and new online portals will be down for a few days in preparation for the launch on March 4. Starting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 28, users will not be able to access the sites, including for Paid Leave Oregon. Also, customer service phone lines and online support will be closed starting on Feb. 28 and won’t reopen until Frances goes live.
Officials say to avoid an interruption in benefits, claims must be submitted in the old system by 5 p.m. on Feb. 28. Unemployment insurance claimants will then need to create a new account in Frances after 8 a.m. on March 4, officials say.
Orchestra fans get excited. We are about a week out from learning just what the Britt Orchestra has in store for this summer.
The Britt Festival Orchestra will be holding a season reveal party on the 22nd. We already know this season we will see a couple of guest conductors following longtime conductor Teddy Abrams leaving.
But as for what pieces the orchestra will play and what shows are in the works, we are still in the dark.
The reveal party will be at Bigham Knoll in Jacksonville. If you’d like to attend and help fundraise, tickets run at $50. You can find out more at http://brittfest.org.
As for the summer concert series, Britt says we’ll know that full schedule come April.
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