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Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Sunny, with a high near 72. Light northwest winds around 5 mph in the afternoon. Clear overnight, low near 36.
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
A beloved philanthropist passed away last week surrounded by family in Klamath Falls. Nancy Jane Wendt passed away Thursday with family and friends at her side. She was 91-years-old.
Nancy and her husband Richard Wendt were well known for their contributions across the Pacific Northwest. She worked alongside her husband who founded the manufacturing company JELD-WEN in 1960. Richard “Dick” Wendt passed a few years ago.
At Oregon Tech, the couple helped fund a new health professionals center at the school.
Oregon Tech president Dr. Nagi Naganathan says Nancy’s passing is a massive loss to the whole community.
She leaves behind two sons, Rod and Mark Wendt and their families, among many others.
Services will be held at a later date.
The Board of Klamath County Commissioners has reached a collective bargaining agreement with the Klamath County Peace Officers’ Association.
Setting forth matters such as rates of pay, hours of work, fringe benefits and other conditions of employment, the agreement pertains to all regular full-time and part-time employees of the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office unless they are of confidential or supervisory status or covered by another collective bargaining unit recognized by the county.
The agreement is honored through June 30, 2026, and carries a fiscal impact for fiscal year 2023-24 of an additional 2% cost of living increase plus incentive pay for eligible employees. The fiscal impact for years 2024-25 and 2025-2026 will be a 4.5% increase in pay for cost of living plus incentives for eligible employees.
The County Commissioners board also approved a contract with Diversified Contractors Inc. for remedial work on the exterior of the Baldwin Hotel Museum, making improvements and repairs such as applying exterior stucco where a set of stairs had been removed, filling in and sealing off two unused openings in the foundation, realigning a storm-water drain pipe and installing a double-hung, wood-frame window to replace a second-floor door that is no longer in use with specifications that it closely resemble existing and original windows on the building.
“We’ve been talking about sprucing up the outside of the Baldwin (Hotel Museum) for a very long time, so I’m very excited to see some of those projects starting; the Baldwin is a gem we have in Klamath County,” Commissioner Kelley Minty said.
The cost of construction will be $24,150 and will be paid using ARPA funds.
The board also agreed to enter a contract with Pacific Power to provide and install electrical service for roadside weather condition cameras that Klamath County Public Works will be constructing on Westside Road.
• During the meeting, the county received an Oregon Department of Agriculture grant award of $90,575 for wolf depredation to assist Klamath County in implementing nonlethal wolf management techniques and strategies. The grant will also provide compensation for injury or death to livestock due to wolves.
Join the conversation about multimodal transportation needs in Klamath Falls.
The City of Klamath Falls and Klamath County are updating its Urban Area Transportation System Plan to improve how people of all ages and abilities reach their destinations throughout Klamath Falls using the transportation system.
They want your input to help determine areas in the community that need the most help. Participate in the public meeting on April 18, 2024 at the Klamath County Government Center downtown , 305 Main Street, Klamath Falls, Second Floor, Hearing Room #219 . Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
For additional details, visit the project website at www.klamathfallstsp.com. For those who prefer to participate virtually, a path to an online format of the public meeting will be available on the project website.
Spring reforestation has started in the 242 Fire area near Highway 97, and is scheduled to continue through the week.
The location of the of the restoration work began near the Williamson River Campground along Highway 97, and is moving into the areas of the Forest behind the logging museum. Approximately 272,000 Ponderosa and Sugar Pine seedlings are being planted in the affected areas.
The reforestation efforts have been made possible by partnering with the International Conservation Federation. Through innovative partnerships and contracts, the Fremont-Winema National Forest is able to clean, prepare and restore ground that has been damaged by catastrophic wildfires, making these landscapes ready for reforestation.
Partnerships like this enable the Fremont-Winema National Forest and International Conservation Foundation to perform site preparation work, including removal of illegally dumped trash, hazard trees which pose dangers to workers, reduction of competition from invasive species, and loosening the soil to allow for seedlings to establish themselves more rapidly.
Reforestation, whether by planning for natural regeneration or tree planting, allows for the accelerated development of forested ecosystems following natural disturbance events such as wildfire, wind events, and insect and disease infestations, or planned timber harvest. This silvicultural treatment helps to develop forest structure and species composition to provide for wildlife habitat, clean and abundant water, forest wood products, recreation opportunities, soil stabilization, and so much more. Reforestation presents unique opportunities to address emerging issues associated with climate change by conserving and managing tree genetic diversity and sequestering carbon to counter greenhouse gas emissions.
Klamath County have work crews at several locations this week. Please use caution when in these areas and watch for flaggers.
If you are able to avoid the work zones, please use an alternate route for your safety and the safety of Klamath County employees and our contractors.
DUSTOFF
Old Fort Road, Collman Dairy Road, Sunset Beach Road, Green Springs area
DRAINAGE CANAL MAINTENANCE – WATCH FOR TRUCKS ENTERING ROADWAY
Summers Lane near the intersections of Sturdivant Avenue and Ezell Avenue
CITY OF KLAMATH FALLS WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT WORK (March to July)
Eberlein Avenue (from Patterson Street to Hilton Drive)
Traffic control measures will be in place for guidance. Motorists should use alternative routes if possible. In general, flagging stations will be set up at the ends of the work zone and delays will be
0 to 20 minutes for the motoring public. Our goal is to minimize the delay to the motoring public.
Other minor work is occurring through the County but we are only listing the major items in this announcement. There may be adjustments of work schedules due to weather or other items outside
of the County’s control (breakdown of equipment, material/resource availability, etc.) Please do not contact the County if you do not see work occurring, it could be finished already or will be rescheduled.
Klamath County Public Works and the Board of County Commissioners appreciate the motoring publics’ patience during the repair season for our local roads and bridges. If you have any questions regarding work, please contact the Public Works Department at (541) 883-4696.
Join Oregon Tech on Thursday, May 9, at 5 p.m. for a ribbon cutting ceremony, unveiling of a donor recognition wall, and an opportunity to take a lap around the new track with Olympic Gold Medalist and world-record holder Ashton Eaton.
The event will celebrate the achievements of track and field and cross-country programs, and the accomplishments of the Bringing Home the Gold Campaign which provided funding to renovate the track, field, and stadium.
The Bringing Home the Gold Campaign launched in 2021 to renovate the track, field, and stadium. The project cost of just under $3.5 million was funded through charitable gifts and grants, Oregon Sports Lottery, State of Oregon bond for athletic purposes, and Athletic department funds.
The Lake County Airport is one of five Oregon airports to receive a total of $1.45 million in federal aid.
The announcement comes from Oregon U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, who say the grants will go toward construction, infrastructure rehabilitation and more.
In addition to Lake County, Scappoose, Bend Municipal, Albany Municipal and Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal airports also earned federal funds.
The $448,000 portion awarded to the Lake County Airport will be used to update an exciting master plan.
Oregon’s regional airports serve as vital hubs for our communities, supporting local businesses, connecting travelers to world-class recreational opportunities, and providing essential lifelines during natural disasters. These federal investments will modernize infrastructure at airports across Oregon – in urban, suburban, and rural communities – ensuring safety and fostering economic success in the state.
The Mr. Pelican Pageant has become a tradition in Klamath Falls, and this year’s production will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 12, at the Ross Ragland Theater.
The pageant will showcase the talents of nine Klamath Union High School students, and is a show suitable for all ages.
In addition to providing a night of entertainment, the Mr. Pelican Pageant raises money for worthy charities and families in the Klamath Falls community.
This year, funds raised will be donated to Klamath Hospice and Palliative Care’s grief camps, Camp Sapling and Camp Evergreen.
These camps provide much-needed support and comfort to individuals and families coping with loss in the Klamath Basin and Northern California.
The success of the Mr. Pelican Pageant is only possible with the generous support of its sponsors, and the pageant extends its thanks to Ross Ragland Theater, Sons of Norway Roald Lodge 2-39, and Shaffer Electric for their continued generosity and commitment to the community.
This year’s pageant contestants are: Dominic Armijo, Miles McCalister, Gus Hendricks, Greysen Johnson, Mathyis Horton, Carter Harmon and Andrew Segura-Mendez.
Ticket prices for the event are $15 for adults, $10 for students, and free for seniors, active duty military and children under 10. Tickets can be purchased at the Ross Ragland Theater box office, or on their website at: www.ragland.org.
Friends of the Children – Klamath Basin invites the community to its annual fundraising dinner auction, Friend Raiser, presented by Lithia Ford of Klamath Falls, Thursday, May 30th. Doors open at Mike’s fieldhouse at Steen Sports Park at 5 p.m.
“This year’s event theme is ‘You Belong!” because we help children feel the belonging and value they need to develop hope and skills for bright futures,” said Executive Director Amanda Squibb. “Our community health depends on our kids’ well-being, and I’m excited to see everyone come out to support professional mentoring in the Klamath Basin.”
Friend Raiser begins with dinner and cocktail stations, a silent auction, wine and bourbon games, and raffle sales. A seated program and live auction follow at 7 p.m.
To reserve seats, visit friendsklamath.org or https://fckb.ejoinme.org/FR2024. Silent and live auction items will be added May 23rd for preview.
Friends – Klamath Basin was established in 2000 to impact generational change by empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles. It pairs youth with professional mentors for 12+ years, no matter what, and will serve 72 youth this year.
The May 21st Oregon Primary Election is coming.
1) Ballots will be mailed May 1st . The last day to register as a new voter or to change party affiliation is April 30th. If a voter changes parties or address after the original ballots are processed, they may receive two ballots. The first ballot is inactivated and cannot be voted when the second ballot is issued. Please call if you are unclear which ballot to vote. If you have not received your ballot by May 7th, please contact our office.
2) Official Drop Sites are on the Klamath County Website. Your ballot must be in a box by 8pm on Election Day to be counted. Please check the website or call for hours and availability of the non24 hour drop sites. https://www.klamathcounty.org/685/Drop-Sites
3) If you are mailing in your ballot, Postmarks CAN count, if: a. Signed, AND b. Postmarked on or before Election Day, AND c. Received by the County Clerk’s Office within seven days after Election Day d. WE RECOMMEND TO MAIL BALLOT 7 DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
4) Nobody in Oregon will receive all of the candidates on their ballot. Oregon has a closed primary; this is a nominating election for the major parties. Registered Democrats receive Democratic candidates; registered Republicans receive Republican candidates; nonaffiliated voters receive only those races that are nonpartisan.
5) Voters’ Pamphlet will be delivered to every household around May 1st. Candidates are not required to be in the Voters’ Pamphlet. The candidate’s name will still appear on your ballot.
Republican Presidential Candidate, Donald Trump, declined to provide a statement for the Voters’ Pamphlet.
Contact the Klamath County Clerk’s Office, (541) 883-5134 or elections@klamathcounty.org, with any questions.
Malin Family Fun Day is this Saturday, Apr. 13th! Join the free family fun day from 12PM-4PM at Malin Community Hall & Park
Enjoy Free Food, Raffle Items, Bounce House (weather permitting). Call for information 541-883-2947
Brought to you in part by Cascade Health Alliance.
Each week, BasinLife.com features a Pet of the Week ready for adoption from the Klamath Animal Shelter.
This week’s pet is a dog named ” Sebastian “. Sebastian is a 4 1/2 month old male Border Collie/Labrador mix. He is black with white markings, he weighs about 35 pounds and still has growing to do.
Just for reading our news, click to enter to win Free Movie Tickets from BasinLife.com and Wynne Broadcasting.
Click here!
It never ends. Some of Oregon’s largest universities are raising tuition rates, saying the costs of operating a university are becoming more and more overwhelming.
Portland State University, the University of Oregon, and Oregon State University are all raising tuition for the 2024-2025 school year.
The University of Oregon’s Board of Trustees voted in March to raise tuition by 3% for new undergraduates, locked for five years. Trustees at Portland State met Friday and approved a 4.8% increase in tuition for resident undergraduate students. Oregon State trustees also met Friday and voted to raise tuition costs for resident undergraduate students at its Corvallis Campus by 4.91%, which adds up to a $11 to $12 increase per credit hour, or roughly $500 a year for a student taking 15 credits.
This also comes after all three schools raised tuition rates the previous year.
According to OSU’s tuition and fee process, the university considers several factors in developing tuition and fee recommendations, including providing access to degree programs for students from all circumstances, supporting world-class research, maintaining the human and physical infrastructure necessary to support Oregon’s educational outcome goals, projected cost and revenue changes, impact of tuition increases on enrollment for undergraduate students, and more.
Under OSU’s cohort model, the amount a student pays for tuition depends on when they enrolled, and it typically changes every year. Trustees have a fee process that states tuition rate increases will be between 2-5% every year, but in Friday’s meeting, officials said increasing expenses are making it harder each year to stay in that range.
Tuesday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a notice of potential vetoes of budget items in a pair of Senate bills. Three of seven listed items impact Southern Oregon communities.
One of the vetoes would reject $1.5 million for the wastewater treatment plant in Butte Falls and lifting station upgrades, Kotek’s office said in a news release. One of the vetoes would reject $1.5 million to develop Shady Cove’s city drinking water system. The third one that would impact Southern Oregon would reject $1.5 million for replacing a water distribution main line in Gold Hill, as well as improvements and upgrades to water treatment facilities.
The governor will announce her final decision on these vetoes by April 17.
Josephine County, Ore. 8 Apr. 24- On Monday, April 8, 2024, at 6:05 p.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy 260, near milepost 20, in Josephine County.
The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Dodge Ram 2500, operated by David Scott Anderson (39) of Wilderville, left the roadway for unknown reasons, struck trees, and overturned.
The operator of the Dodge (Anderson) and passenger, Shelby Mckenzie Spliethof (28) of Wilderville, were both declared deceased at the scene.
The highway was impacted for approximately three hours during the on-scene investigation.
Oregon will receive more than 90-million dollars from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund safe drinking water projects and strengthen wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.
Fifty-three-million is for development of water treatment facilities. The investments are part of eight-and-a-half-billion dollars the EPA is doling out around the country from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024.
Near Roseburg on I-5, a 21-year-old Arizona man was arrested on Monday after a search of his vehicle during a traffic stop led to a massive seizure of methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to the Oregon State Police.
OSP officials said a trooper stopped a black Chevrolet sedan just after 9 a.m. on April 1 near milepost 149 on northbound Interstate 5 for a traffic violation.
The driver of the vehicle consented to a search of his vehicle after the trooper suspected criminal activity, authorities said. OSP said that the trooper found 62 pounds of meth and 22,000 suspected fentanyl-laced pills inside the vehicle and the driver, identified as Oliver Raul Alvarez Beltran, of Phoenix, Ariz., confirmed to the trooper that he was transporting the drugs to Portland.
Beltran was arrested and federally charged with attempted delivery of a controlled substance, according to OSP officials. State police officials said that the case is under continued investigation.
A 25-year old Albany woman who was found with a 13-year-old boy who had gone missing has pleaded guilty to charges of rape and sodomy.
Back on April 5, 2023, Albany Police Department heard a report that a 13-year-old boy had gone missing from a friend’s house, and was probably with Alyssa Kathleen Thomas, then 24. Police began an investigation which led them to the Portland area, where Thomas and the boy were located on April 10 a year ago. The boy was returned home safely and Thomas was arrested and charged with crimes including rape and sodomy
According to court documents, Thomas pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree rape and third-degree sodomy earlier this month as part of a plea deal. Court records show Thomas will serve a total of 4 years and 9 months in prison, and will have to register as a sex offender. She will also not be eligible for early release or a reduction in her sentence.
Before the pandemic, Oregon, as well as the rest of the nation began struggling with high rates of absenteeism among K-12 students. Things haven’t changed.
In Oregon Public Broadcasting’s (OPB) reporting on the Time’s article, the trend of high percentages of chronic absenteeism is seen in almost every school district in Oregon.
Recent reporting from the New York Times and Oregon Public Broadcasting indicate that not only is chronic absenteeism still a major concern for school districts, but data show that some school districts have more than doubled the number of students who are habitually absent from school since COVID restrictions were lifted.
New York Times reporting cited families who opt for vacations with their children learning online, administrators looking for options such as pajama day to boost attendance, and students suffering anxiety that have opted to stay home rather than face learning in the classroom as the new ‘norm’ in K-12 classrooms today.
The data that the Times examined found that these increases have happened in districts of all sizes, and across all social and economic groups.
Additionally, chronic absenteeism rates in districts in wealthier areas have about doubled to 19 percent from 10 percent in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.
Understandably, poor communities which were challenged with student absenteeism before COVID are even deeper in crisis, and those schools who opened quickly once restrictions were lifted are seeing increases of empty seats in classrooms — both face to face, and online.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) was awarded the Oregon 2023 DUII Enforcement Agency of the Year in a ceremony last Thursday, April 4. The award came from the Oregon DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force in recognition for outstanding professional achievement in the deterrence and prevention of DUIIs in the State of Oregon. For the 2023 state-wide awards there were 15 awards categories with a total of 105 nominations.
This award highlights JCSO’s comprehensive approach to ensuring road safety and reducing DUII incidents within the community. In 2023, the JCSO’s Patrol Division, which was comprised of approximately 40-sworn personnel, were responsible for the following:
• 1,032 Crash Investigations
• 367 DUII Arrests
• 13,526 Traffic Stops
Beyond DUII enforcement, JCSO has adopted a strategy to prevent DUIIs, emphasizing strong community ties and proactive education. Our efforts include the launch of a Citizen Recognition Program to honor and encourage public involvement in identifying impaired drivers, enhancing collaborations with emergency response teams, and the delivery of extensive educational programs targeting various community segments.
Spring into action: Give blood or platelets with the Red Cross
Make an appointment now to help save lives during National Volunteer Month
During National Volunteer Month in April, the American Red Cross asks donors to help protect the blood supply by making and keeping blood or platelet donation appointments in the weeks ahead. Donors of all blood types – especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets – are needed now to keep the blood supply strong enough to support critical patient care this spring.
The Red Cross depends on thousands of volunteer blood donors to collect about 12,000 blood donations every single day. With no substitute for blood and no way to manufacture it, volunteer donors are essential in transfusion care. Blood drives and donation centers also depend on the generosity and valuable time of those who make it possible for the Red Cross to help people in need.
Spring into action – book a time to give lifesaving blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Those who come to give April 8-28, 2024, will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice, plus be automatically entered to win a $7,000 gift card. There will be two lucky winners. See RedCrossBlood.org/Spring for details.
Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter your zip code to find additional blood donation opportunities near you.
The Travel Information Council and its volunteer Oregon Heritage Tree Committee are pleased to announce the 2024 Oregon Heritage Tree Award winners.
“The award recipients have done an exceptional job engaging communities about the importance of trees and raising awareness about Oregon’s history told through trees and forests,” said Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Craig Leech. “The recipients range from volunteers to professionals who use their time and talents to better our communities.”
Maynard Drawson Memorial Award
The Maynard Drawson Memorial Award was created to honor a native of Oregon and a veteran of World War II who was best known as a tree advocate. Drawson led a campaign in the 1970s to preserve the Valley of the Giants, and in 1995 helped launch the Oregon Heritage Tree Program, the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. This award recognizes exceptional, meritorious, and extraordinary work promoting the appreciation of trees over an extended period.
2024 Winner
- Phyllis Reynolds of Portland for being a founding member of the Portland Heritage Tree Program, a published author, including two editions of Trees of Greater Portland and Hoyt Arboretum, It’s Story, a long-time urban Forestry Commissioner for the City of Portland, and close friend of Hoyt Arboretum. Phyllis has inspired generations of tree advocates through her books and volunteerism.
Heritage Tree Heroes of the Year Award
The Heritage Tree Heros of the Year Award recognizes individuals and groups who are engaging communities through education about the importance of trees and raising awareness about Oregon’s history told through trees and forests.
2024 Winners:
- Giana Bernardini of Philomath for being the driving force behind the creation of the City of Philomath’s Heritage Tree Program.
- Nancy Broshot of Oregon City for leading the revision of municipal code to remove the arborist report requirement for Heritage Tree status and making the program more accessible to community members.
- Mike Oxendine of Talent for his tireless commitment to assisting heritage tree projects including Hiroshima Peace Tree plantings and assessing heritage tree health.
Award winners will be honored at local events in April during Arbor Month.
The Oregon Heritage Tree Program is the first state-sponsored heritage tree program in the country. It was established in 1995 to increase public awareness of the important contribution of trees to Oregon’s history and the significant role they play in the quality of our daily life. The program is administered by the Oregon Travel Information Council and a committee of dedicated volunteers from across the state. For more information regarding the Heritage Tree program visit www.oregontic.com/
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office is upgrading the county’s emergency alerting software.
According to a Facebook post from the Sheriff’s Office, it and the Office of Emergency Services (OES) decided to upgrade to a new alert notification system called ReadySiskiyou- Alerts. It says ReadySiskiyou- Alerts will provide folks with a more reliable emergency alert system, improve response times and increase accuracy and specificity in alert notifications.
For over 11 years, the Sheriff’s Office and other agencies had relied on CodeRED as its main alert notification provider, but the Sheriff’s Office and OES felt it was time for an upgrade.
EARTH DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
COOS BAY, Oregon— Celebrate Earth Day this year at a volunteer event dedicated to removing invasive English ivy at Yoakum Point 10 a.m. to noon April 22.
Invasive species of ivy are prevalent throughout the pacific northwest and tend outcompete native plants. Assist park rangers in identifying and eradicating the weed from the park property. Afterward, Ranger Jake will present an interpretation program.
Participants should be prepared to travel on uneven ground at service site. Service will take place outdoors and volunteers should be comfortable wearing work gloves and using hand tools. Snacks will be provided.
- Dress for the weather.
- Closed-toed shoes are recommended.
- Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Remember to bring a water bottle, sack lunch and work gloves if you have them (some will be provided if not).
Yoakum Point is a roadside pull off for a trailhead that takes visitors to the beach. The address is 90064 Cape Arago Hwy, Coos Bay.
Register for the volunteer event at https://form.jotform.com/
If you need to contact staff on the day of the event, please call Park Ranger Jake, 541-294-0644, Park Ranger Jess, 541-888-3732 or Park Specialist Janet at 541-888-3778.
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