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Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Poor Air Quality Alert
Today
Sunny and hot with a high near 100 today. Widespread haze between 8am and 3pm. High near 100. West southwest winds 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, partly cloudy, with a low around 64. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The director of the Secret Service said today (Tuesday) she is resigning following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that unleashed intensifying outcry about how the agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents could fail in its core mission.
Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, had been facing growing calls to resign and several investigations into how the shooter was able to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she said in an email to staff, obtained by The Associated Press. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”
Cheatle’s departure was unlikely to end the scrutiny of the long-troubled agency after the failures of July 13, and it comes at a critical juncture ahead of the Democratic National Convention and a busy presidential campaign season. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have promised continued investigation, along with an inspector general probe and an independent and bipartisan effort launched at President Joe Biden’s behest that will keep the agency in the spotlight.
“The scrutiny over the last week has been intense and will continue to remain as our operational tempo increases,” Cheatle said in her note to staff.
Cheatle’s resignation today comes a day after appeared before a congressional committee and was berated by hours by both Democrats and Republicans for the security failures. She called the attempt on Trump’s life the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades and said she took full responsibility for the security lapses, but she angered lawmakers by failing to answer specific questions about the investigation.
At the hearing Monday, Cheatle remained defiant that she was the “right person” to lead the Secret Service, even as she said she took responsibility the security failures. When Republican Rep. Nancy Mace suggested Cheatle begin drafting her resignation letter from the hearing room, Cheatle responded, “No, thank you.”
The 20-year-old shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was able to get within 135 meters (157 yards) of the stage where the former president was speaking when he opened fire. That’s despite a threat on Trump’s life from Iran leading to additional security for the former president in the days before the July 13 rally.
Cheatle acknowledged Monday that the Secret Service was told about a suspicious person two to five times before the shooting at the rally. She also revealed that the roof from which Crooks opened fire had been identified as a potential vulnerability days before the rally. But she failed to answer many questions about what happened, including why there no agents stationed on the roof.
A bloodied Trump was quickly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents, and agency snipers killed the shooter. Trump said the upper part of his right ear was pierced in the shooting. One rallygoer was killed, and two others were critically wounded.
“The assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13th is the most significant operational failure at the Secret Service in decades,” Cheatle told members of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. “As the Director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse.”
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
KNOT FIRE UPDATE
Sprague River, OR – The Knot Fire is currently burning on private ODF protected land located 3 miles northeast of Sprague River, near Walla Walla Road and Kootenai Street. The fire was reported at 3:18 p.m. yesterday afternoon.
The fire is estimated to be 1,200 acres and approximately 80% lined. Multiple type 2 hand crews, engines and contract equipment will staff the fire today. The focus will be to fully line the fire and securing existing lines.
Drews road is currently closed for fire operations. The public is asked to stay away from the fire area for firefighter and public safety.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office has issued evacuation level 3 for the Oregon Pines area. That will remain in effect until further notice.
For the latest evacuation information, visit https://www.facebook.com/KlamathCountyGov. To sign up for Klamath County alerts, visit http://www.klamathcounty.org/300/Emergency-Management—Sheriffs-Office.com
For more information on fires and restrictions in the South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership area, please visit: https://www.scofmp.org/
JACKPINE FIRE UPDATE
The newly discovered Jackpine Fire burning in Deschutes County near Klamath County is currently 180 acres and 25% contained.
Klamath County Emergency Management announced a level-1 evacuation warning the Antelope Meadow area on both sides of Highway 97 south of the Deschutes County line.
Firefighters completed preliminary dozer line construction around the perimeter of the fire. They conducted burn out operations to bring fire to the dozer line in places where they constructed indirect dozer line during initial attack due to significant fire activity.
Firefighters have completed hose lays around 75% of the fire and will continue plumbing operations this morning. Today firefighters will continue to improve and secure line around the perimeter of the fire and cool hotspots to keep the fire within its current footprint. The fire remains on the west side of Highway 97.
Sky Lakes Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus, for quality achievement award for ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Sky Lakes also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
Program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients and following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to manage their health and recovery at home.
Two Klamath Falls residents and a third suspect from California are in custody following the search and seizure of an illegal grow operation on Keno-Worden Road.
Taylor Lalande, 29, and Loretta Kerekes, 49, of Klamath Falls, and Alan Mojicia-Meja, 26, of Orland, Calif., were arrested at a property found to be housing five “unpermitted” greenhouses containing marijuana plants.
The three suspects are charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, unlawful manufacture of marijuana, criminal conspiracy and unlawful use or appropriation of ground water.
“The greenhouses and surrounding property contained 3,780 illegal marijuana plants in various stages of maturity,” a news release from Klamath County Sheriff’s Office reads.
The release said law enforcement also discovered the operation was illegally utilizing a domestic well for water.
In total, law enforcement estimates that the grow operation took 295,000 gallons of water for the plants.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Klamath County Community Corrections, Klamath County Solid Waste, Klamath County Code Enforcement, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Police, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Water Master.
To report suspected illegal marijuana grow operations, call 541-850-5380 or email mjtipline@klamathcounty.org.
The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership Type 3 Team is managing the Middle Fork Fire in Crater Lake National Park. The fire is estimated at 80 acres, burning in a scar from a previous fire.
The fire is staffed with resources including smokejumpers and hand crews, with aviation assets providing support. Firefighters are experiencing challenges addressing spotting from snag to snag. Today, fire managers are looking to secure the edges of the fire and build containment.
As a result of the fire, there may be conditions affecting visitors to the park. For information on current park conditions, please contact Crater Lake National Park at 541 594-3000 or visit their website.
Klamath Water Users Association Reporting Impacts To Irrigation Caused By Power Shut-Offs
The Klamath Water Users Association, a group that represents farms and ranches in the Klamath Reclamation Project, says that de-energizing is impacting ranchers in the area who use irrigation pumps on their crops.
Irrigation pumps are powered by electricity, bringing water away from local lakes and marshlands into drier areas. Pacific Power de-energizes lines in impacted areas during fire season to reduce wildfire risk, but services that require that energy are also impacted.
“Row crops like onions need to have water on a routine schedule,” Gene Souza, the manager for the Klamath Irrigation District, said. “If the water is not applied in those schedules, the crop is not as marketable.”
Souza said some of the changes he’d like to see from PacificCorp include isolating higher-risk areas and instating a public utility district to specifically serve the Klamath Irrigation District.
KWUA encourages any farmer experiencing an outage to their irrigation system to reach out to Pacific Power’s irrigation hotline at 800-715-9238.
Moore Park Playground Repairs Beginning July 24th
The City of Klamath Falls would like to inform residents and visitors that the new
playground at Moore Park will be temporarily closed for repairs beginning on July 24th.
The closure is expected to last approximately five days, during which time necessary maintenance
and repairs will be conducted to ensure the safety and functionality of the playground equipment.
The reopening is expected to be Monday the 29th or Tuesday the 30th.
During the closure, visitors are encouraged to explore other areas of Moore Park, including the
walking trails, picnic areas, and sports fields. The park will remain open for all other activities.
The City would also like to remind parents and caregivers to supervise their children at all times
while in the park, and to follow all posted safety guidelines.
Two new trustees joined the Board of Trustees of Oregon Institute of Technology this month. The trustees are Mark Neupert, Ph.D., a member of the Oregon Tech faculty, and Aaron Hill, a current Oregon Tech student.
Neupert joined Oregon Tech in 1998 and is a professor of humanities and social sciences at the Klamath Falls campus. He teaches introductory courses on archaeology, cultural anthropology, and film, along with courses on globalization and the built environment. An active member of the Oregon Tech community, Neupert served as Oregon Tech faculty senate president from 2006-2008.
Hill studies software engineering at Oregon Tech’s Portland-Metro campus and is on course to graduate in June 2026. Originally from Pearl City, Hawaii, Hill attended Portland Community College before transferring to Oregon Tech in 2022.
The newly confirmed trustees began their service July 1, filling the positions of outgoing trustees Phong Nguyen and Mason Wichmann.
The 15-member Oregon Tech Board of Trustees includes three voting positions held by a faculty member, staff member, and student member; and an ex-officio position held by Oregon Tech’s president.
For more information about Oregon Tech trustees, visit www.oit.edu/trustees.
Klamath City and County officials are working together to ensure residents suffering form dry wells have a reliable source of water in Klamath County.
At the regular meeting Monday evening, Klamath Falls City Council approved the entrance into an intergovernmental agreement, or IGA, with Klamath County commissioners to construct and operate a water fill station on county property.
The city began the planning phase of the water fill station project last year and has been providing water for county residents with dry wells since 2021.
The IGA establishes the responsibilities of both parties, with funding and site allocation assigned to the county.
Klamath County will provide a total of $500,000, which includes a 10% contingency cost.
The IGA states that, once the project is complete, the county agrees to “transfer the newly created parcel of land to the city by the end of 2024.”
As the lead agency, the city will contract the design and construction of the fill station and will establish the billing rate and usage limits, the IGA says.
Construction is required to begin no later than June 2025.
City water infrastructure is slated for improvement with council approving consultant service and construction service contracts to replace water mains and install a new pump station.
The South Sixth Street booster pump station project will provide water to residences, businesses and other city sites in the eastern portion of the city limits.
Other city business included • City council unanimously approved pay increases for City Manager Jonathan Tiechert, City Attorney Michael Swanson and Municipal Court Judge Nathan Ratliff.
- Council approved to submit a recommendation to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission on behalf of Chipotle restaurant.
KLAMATH COUNTY will have road work crews at the following locations during the week of July 22.
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.
Chip Seal Crew, July 22-24 — Dead Indian Memorial Road. July 25, South Poe Valley Road
4 a.m. — Early Morning Broom Crew
July 23-25th — Dead Indian Memorial Road
July 26 — South Poe Valley Road, vicinity of Stearns Elementary School, road and utility work. Laverne Avenue. Altamont to Crest — Expect road closure to thru traffic. Use Detour routes.
July 26 — Highway 97 Bridge Replacement/Lakeport Boulevard (under the Hwy 97 bridge) — Closed for ODOT’s contractor to demolish the existing bridge and crane in the new bridge beams.
July 22 — August 15, See the following link for a map of roads to be chip sealed for the 2024 season, or log onto the Klamath County Public Works website at http://www.klamathcounty.org/734/Maps. In general, flagging stations will be set up at the end of the work zone and delays will be 0 to 20 minutes for the motoring public.
Our goal is to minimize the delay. 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. Please drive slow through Chip Seal and Paint Stripe areas. This will reduce damage to the Chip Sealed and Painted areas. It will also reduce the probability of oil or paint getting on your vehicle.
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.
CITY OF KLAMATH FALLS Road Work This Week
July 22, 23 and 25 — Asphalt repair on Adams Street and Orchard Avenue. The roads will be limited to one lane of traffic during repair work.
July 24 — Asphalt repair on utility cuts at the following locations: Homedale in front of Brixner Middle School and 3841 Lamarada.
Paint Crews
July 23 and 26: Painting crosswalks and legends around Roosevelt School on Eldorado Avenue and 7th Street from Klamath Avenue to Commercial Street
July 24 and 25: In cooperation with the County, mainline striping will take place city-wide.
All work is weather dependent. Please use caution while traveling in work zones.
Teaming with independent dealers since 1945, the U-Haul Company of Oregon announced that Worden Truck Stop will be serving the Klamath Falls community as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer.
According to a press release by the U-Haul Company of Oregon, Worden Truck Stop will start offering essential services like U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pickup for boxes.
“During these challenging times for small businesses, more than 21,000 dealers across the U.S. and Canada are generating supplemental income through their U-Haul affiliation,” said Tanner Bonheimer with U-Haul. “Because no financial investment is required to be a dealer, these local affiliates are not U-Haul franchises. They are simply small businesses that have committed a portion of their lot space for U-Haul equipment, and a portion of their time to help meet the mobility needs of their area. When customers rent from a U-Haul dealer, they are directly supporting an independent small business in their community.”
Located at 19777 Highway 97 S., to reserve a U-Haul product from Worden Truck Stop, call (541) 205-0023 or visit uhaul.com
Klamath IDEA has become its own entity
Over the past several months, Klamath IDEA’s leadership team has been working toward — and has received — 501©(3) determination from the Internal Revenue Service to become an independent organization, severing from the organization’s prior relationship as a part of the Klamath Community College Foundation, which has financially sponsored Klamath IDEA since 2018.
Klamath IDEA is a community initiative committed to developing a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Klamath County by strengthening existing small businesses and by supporting the emergence of new ones. Klamath IDEA facilitates the linking of the varying elements of the entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs to economic development organizations, government agencies, business resource providers and financial and human capital specialists.
Klamath IDEA is governed by an eLeadership Team. Helping to lead Klamath IDEA into its next chapter are founding board members Hallie Neupart, Justin Lair and Chip Massie. Other recently added board members are Rigo Cisneros and Estella Woodley. The eLeadership Team is comprised of seven voting members and Klamath IDEA is currently recruiting for two additional members.
The IDEA is also seeking candidates for a number of committees to further guide the organization’s work and activities in areas of finance and development and outreach and engagement.
To learn more about the organization or for information and requirements to join Klamath IDEA’s eLeadership team, visit klamathidea.org or send an email to info@klamathidea.org.
Sky Lakes Wellness Center Library Drive
Do you have extra puzzles or books laying around?
Consider donating them to our July-August Donation Drive! It’s Dr. Decker’s birthday month and he chose the Klamath County Library as our Donation Drive Location this season. 🥳
You can also support our local library by signing up for a library card, participating in the summer reading challenge (for adults too!), or attending one of their many events.
The Klamath Rails Model Railroad Club will present their annual train show through July 27 at the Klamath County Museum.
The club’s show includes a variety of scale models, with their main layout consisting of several hundred feet of HO-scale track.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday during the two-week run.
Entry to the train show is included with regular museum admission, which is $5 for adults, $4 for teenagers and seniors, and free for children 12 and under. An additional discount is offered for families enrolled in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“The model trains are always a hit with our visitors, including everyone from little kids to seniors,” museum director Todd Kepple said. “The hobby requires a combination of mechanical skills, imagination and an artistic flair.”
A free-admission day for families with special needs will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 14. For more information, contact the museum at (541) 882-1000.
Win-R-Insulation, Inc. wants you to know of a special partnership with EnergyTrust of Oregon where you may be able to qualify for a FREE CEILING INSULATION PROGRAM.
Click here for full details: https://www.basinlife.com/2024/07/08/win-r-insulation-announces-free-ceiling-insulation-program-click-here-for-info/
Around the State of Oregon
ODOT and the Oregon DMV says they are aware of a phishing scam in Oregon where hackers contacting our customers are claiming to be from the DMV.
Oregon DMV will never ask you for personal information, such as your driver’s license number, Social Security number, or date of birth through an unsolicited phone call, text or email.
Scammers impersonate the DMV to trick you into giving them personal information or money. If you receive an unsolicited phone call, text or email claiming to be from the DMV with an urgent matter, like your driver’s license or car registration is about to expire or you are owed money due to overpayment, ignore or delete the message or hang up. Do not click on any verification links.
If you receive a phishing call, text or email, notify the DMV Fraud Prevention Team at 503-945-8946 or send an online report.
Nearly 1 in 4 Oregon workers is over 55, nearing or beyond the typical retirement age.
The share of older workers in the state’s labor force has more than doubled since 1990, according to a new report from the Oregon Employment Department. If there’s a big wave of retirements in the offing, that could limit future economic growth — especially in those industries with the highest share of older workers.
Oregon is one of the oldest states in the nation, with the median resident about 17 months older than the median American. That’s showing up in added demands on social service agencies and on the state’s health care system.
Older workers leaving the labor force could create an even tighter labor market. That might be good for employees in some ways, pushing up wages as companies compete to attract workers. And older workers’ departures would open up pathways for career advancement.
After Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer and QFC, and Albertsons, which owns Safeway, revealed the 62 Oregon stores they would sell off to a competitor under their proposed merger, observers noticed there wasn’t a single Fred Meyer store on the list.
The sale is meant to satisfy antitrust regulators tasked with ensuring the merger won’t create a monopoly in the grocery business. That’s an even greater concern in markets like Oregon, where Kroger and Albertsons have significant overlap.
Retail analysts say there are several reasons why Kroger would keep its Fred Meyer stores.
Kevin Boeh, an affiliate professor who studies mergers and acquisitions at the University of Washington, said the floor space Fred Meyer devotes to general merchandise like home goods and clothing makes its operations fundamentally different from QFC, Safeway and Albertsons.
Fred Meyers are broad line retailers that sell more than just food. Their main competitors are Walmart, Costco and Amazon.
Kroger is leaning into general merchandise stores nationwide because, Boeh said, those kinds of stores will help it compete against such rivals.
Eugene man arrested after allegedly assaulting woman, trying to hit her with car, and possessing illegal firearms
The Eugene Police Department (EPD) report now that on Sunday morning, they responded to reports of a man who allegedly punched a woman and potentially tried to hit her with his car, EPD shared in a press release on Monday.
EPD tells us that they responded to an address on Danebo Ave. after a man was reported to have punched a woman, and backed his car toward her, causing her to move out of the way to avoid being hit.
The man drove away from the scene and was later identified as Gage Dalton Malone-Tague, 31. Malone-Tague was transported to Lane County Jail on charges including Assault in the 4th degree, Reckless Endangering, Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Contempt of Court.
Monitoring Wildfires in Oregon
Large Fires in Oregon 7/22/24 7:30am per INCIWEB
| Incident | Type | State | Incident Size | UpdatedSort ascending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falls Fire – ORMAF | Wildfire | Oregon | 132951 Acres | 37 seconds ago |
| Durkee Fire – ORVAD | Wildfire | Oregon | 173758 Acres | 30 minutes 8 seconds ago |
| Lone Rock Fire – ORPRD | Wildfire | Oregon | 116563 Acres | 43 minutes 22 seconds ago |
| Boneyard Fire – OR95S | Wildfire | Oregon | 14602 Acres | 9 hours 32 minutes ago |
| Cow Valley Fire – ORVAD | Wildfire | Oregon | 133490 Acres | 9 hours 34 minutes ago |
| Lane 1 – OR77S | Wildfire | Oregon | 768 Acres | 11 hours ago |
| Red Fire – ORDEF | Wildfire | Oregon | 350 Acres | 11 hours 12 minutes ago |
| Ore Fire – ORWIF | Wildfire | Oregon | 645 Acres | 11 hours 13 minutes ago |
| Diamond Complex – ORUPF | Wildfire | Oregon | 2816 Acres | 11 hours 46 minutes ago |
| Pyramid Fire – ORWIF | Wildfire | Oregon | 500 Acres | 15 hours 57 minutes ago |
| Battle Mountain Complex – OR97S | Wildfire | Oregon | 6408 Acres | 20 hours 42 minutes ago |
| Larch Creek Fire – OR95S | Wildfire | Oregon | 18286 Acres | 2 days 9 hours ago |
| Salt Creek – OR710S | Wildfire | Oregon | 4102 Acres | 4 days 21 hours ago |
| Little Yamsay Fire – ORFWF | Wildfire | Oregon | 6340 Acres | 1 month 3 weeks ago |
| 2023 Chilcoot Fire UNF – ORUPF | Wildfire | Oregon | 1940 Acres | 1 month 4 weeks ago |
| 2023 Chilcoot Fire UNF – ORUPF | Wildfire | Oregon | 1940 Acres | 1 month 4 weeks ago |
| 2023 Ridge Fire UNF – ORUPF | Wildfire | Oregon | 214 Acres | 1 month 4 weeks ago |
| 2023 Ridge Fire UNF – ORUPF | Wildfire | Oregon | 214 Acres | 1 month 4 weeks ago |
In just the last week, Gov. Tina Kotek declared five conflagrations – meaning many structures have burned or the scale of the fires exceed local resources. They’re the result of some human-caused fires and thousands of lightning strikes earlier in the week that ignited more than 100 new fires.
Ruiz-Temple and the Oregon Department of Forestry’s deputy director of fire operations, Kyle Williams, said lightning storms that are expected Friday through Monday will further elevate risk. South central Oregon, in the Klamath and Medford areas are at highest risk Friday evening before lightning is expected to move north and east until Monday.
The two doubled down on their pleas to Oregonians to minimize the potential for human-caused wildfires so their agencies can manage scarce resources.
“We have our hands full already, and there’s more lightning coming – we can address that, as long as our resources are not busy dealing with other human caused fires,” Williams said.
So far, the number of human-caused wildfires in Oregon is below average, according to Williams. But because conditions are so hot and dry, those wildfires are getting larger and burning more acres than average.
Burn rules across state and national parks and forests have gone into effect, and fires are allowed only at some designated campsites. Officials recommend ensuring fires are properly doused and put out, that people keep vehicles off of dry grass and ensure vehicle chains are not dragging. The Oregon Department of Forestry recommends avoiding any backyard debris burning during the fire season.
On July 12, Kotek declared a statewide wildfire emergency, which enabled National Guard deployment to parts of the state and allowed state and federal resources to flow to areas in need.
“To be very honest, our wildfire season is off to a very aggressive start,” she said.
Oregon has received additional equipment and firefighters from Washington, California, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Colorado and Florida, and Kotek expects more wildfire fighters will arrive in the coming days.
“I cannot emphasize enough: This is a dynamic, fast-moving situation for our state, and we will continue to use every resource, every person that we can get our hands on, to fight these fires,” she said.For more information on how to prepare for possible evacuation, visit: wildfire.oregon.gov
SHELLY FIRE UPDATE, Date: July 23, 2024
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Widespread lightning over the Pacific Northwest on July 16 ignited many wildland fires. Diamond Lake area fires now called the Diamond Complex.
Firefighters are detecting, assessing and attacking these fires as they develop. Fires on the Diamond Lake District of the Umpqua National Forest are grouped into the Diamond Complex.
Currently there are twelve fires totaling an estimated 2,385 acres in the Diamond Complex, under a strategy of full suppression. This means firefighters are directly attacking the fires’ edge where access and firefighter safety allow, and implementing indirect strategies using constructed control lines, and utilizing natural barriers where access issues and safety concerns prevent direct attack.
The fires currently comprising the Diamond Complex are Pine Bench, 917 acres, north of Hwy 138 near Dry Creek, Trail, 808 acres, east of Hwy 138 on the west slope of Mt. Thielsen; Lemolo, 299 acres, north of Lemolo Lake on Bunker Hill; Pig Iron, 27 acres, Pig Iron Mountain north of Hwy 138; Watson, 77 acres, north of Hwy 138 on Watson Ridge, Brodie, 51 acres, about 5 miles south of Hwy 138 and south of Devils Canyon; Trep, 58 acres, about 4 miles south of Hwy 138; Garwood, 5 acres, about 3 miles southwest of Mt. Bailey; Slide, 0.1 acres, northeast of Pine Bench; Potter, 127 acres, north of Hwy 138 about 2 miles southeast of Potter Mt.; 252, 14 acres, north of Hwy 138 about 1 mile northeast of Bird Point; and Clearwater, 2 acres, south of Hwy 138 about 5 miles northwest of Diamond Lake.
Yesterday, Northwest Team 7 continued firefighting operations with active suppression on the Trail Fire. Dozer lines are being reinforced with water delivery hose lines from Hwy 138 to the Mt. Thielsen Wilderness boundary. The Pig Iron fire had active suppression activities with ground and aerial resources to protect critical infrastructure. Firefighters worked to keep the Pine Bench fire west of Forest Road 4775 and away from critical infrastructure as the fire moves north into the Boulder Creek Wilderness.
Today, active suppression continues with the Lemolo, Trail, Pig Iron and Pine Bench fires as priorities. As the fires progress, the team will re-prioritize suppression actions. Nationally and in the Pacific Northwest, fire activity is putting an extreme demand on firefighting resources. This means that firefighters must carefully prioritize and efficiently utilize available resources to protect values at risk. The highest priority will remain public and firefighter safety and protecting infrastructure and homes.
Weather: The Red Flag Warning expired at 8 am this morning. Today will see slightly higher relative humidity and lower temperatures, providing firefighters with the advantage of less intense fire behavior.
Closures and Evacuations: The USFS and the Douglas County Sheriff have implemented public safety measures in response to these fires. Umpqua National Forest has issued a closure order that impacts all of the Cottage Grove Ranger District and parts of the Diamond Lake, North Umpqua, and Tiller Ranger Districts.
The closure order can be found here: https://bit.ly/3SeYvih. Additionally, Diamond Lake, Thielsen View, and Broken Arrow Campgrounds are closed through July 28, 2024, and will be reevaluated closer to that date. The Douglas County Sheriff has issued a Level 3: GO NOW for the Trail Fire and the Lemolo fire. There is a Level 2: BE SET for the Pine Bench. Fire danger is set at High and public use restrictions are set at Level 2. Please see detailed information here: www.dcso.com/EVACUATIONS and www.fs.usda.gov/umpqua.
A man who disposed of his newborn daughter in a commercial recycling bin — sparking a citywide outcry and decade-long mystery until DNA evidence surfaced — was sentenced Friday to four years in prison.
Alnath O. Oliver, 53, pleaded guilty to a single count of criminally negligent homicide under the terms of a plea deal. A third-degree rape charge against him was dismissed as part of the deal.
Oliver told Multnomah County Circuit Judge Kelly Skye that he wanted to spare the mother of the child the burden of enduring his trial.
Workers at a Swan Island recycling plant discovered the baby, still attached to the placenta, as they monitored a conveyor belt on May 28, 2013. Nicknamed “Baby Precious,” the newborn was eventually interred at Riverview Cemetery and an intensive investigation was launched by Portland police.
The case sat silent for 10 years until Brendan McGuire, a former Portland police detective and now FBI agent, submitted the case for advanced DNA testing.
A Salem teen is in custody on charges of killing disc jockey Oscar Chaidez and leaving his body on Interstate 5 in Clackamas County.
Jasmine Joseline Rangel, 17, faces charges of second-degree murder and use of a dangerous weapon, according to records from the Clackamas County Juvenile Department.
Rangel was taken into custody Thursday — just over 50 days since state troopers found Chaidez, 42, dead on the southbound shoulder of I-5 near the Charbonneau off-ramp at exit 282.
Authorities were initially investigating the death as a hit-and-run, but now believe Chaidez was run over intentionally.
Chaidez, who left behind three sons, had been working odd jobs in his spare time, after a former career as a phlebotomist at Kaiser Permanente.
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Housing and Community Services is set to receive more than $11 million in federal funding to increase energy efficiency in affordable housing. The award is part of a nearly $200 million federal grant Oregon received from the Environmental Protection Agency.
“This is the largest climate pollution reduction grant Oregon has ever received,” said OHCS Executive Director Andrea Bell. “The effects of climate change are already among us, and we must assess how we do our work to ensure the state we call home is resilient. As climate evolves, so must our technology and policies. We have got to deliver results that people feel are making their lives better, which calls us to center communities that tend to bear the brunt of climate impacts. We appreciate the leadership of our federal delegation for pushing for these resources.”
“Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a critical strategy to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “When I was Speaker of the House, I fought for ambitious GHG reduction goals. This investment is not only an affirmation of Oregon’s collective efforts to combat climate change, but a significant down payment on our ability to meet our reduction goals with a statewide approach. I want to thank Oregon’s congressional delegation for their partnership in making this key investment happen.”
OHCS’ Multifamily Energy Program (OR-MEP) was part of the team applying for the federal grant. OR-MEP allocates funding to owners and developers of OHCS-funded affordable housing, such as The Lawrence in Portland, to increase energy efficiency in multifamily housing.
“Affordable housing isn’t helpful for residents if utility bills are high. At all of our properties, we look to decrease our residents’ energy burden while lowering our carbon footprint and providing welcoming and well-designed living spaces,” said Ben Pray, Chief Executive Officer at Home First Development, the owner of The Lawrence.
By installing various energy-efficient features, including heat pumps, water heaters, insulation, windows, and interior lighting, The Lawrence has developed a space where the residents can live affordably and with minimal energy burden. The multifamily development provides 96 units of affordable, environmentally friendly living for individuals and families with incomes below 60% of the area median, including a large community of refugees from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India.
For more information or to apply for the program, visit the OR-MEP website. The deadline for submitting applications is Aug. 30, 2024.
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About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)
OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians of and moderate income. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.
BE FIRE READY
Salem, Ore – Starting this past Wednesday, July 17, and into Sunday, July 21, Oregon experienced two separate lightning events that resulted in over 2,000 strikes across the state, which primarily affected Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon.
With multiple crews engaged in initial attack on new fire starts and all of Oregon’s available incident management teams on assignment, now is the time for Oregonians to be prepared for wildfires and help prevent future ignitions.
Oregonians are urged to actively practice wildfire prevention, prepare their home and a go-bag for evacuation and know where to sign up for alerts.
How can people help prevent wildfires?
The Oregon Department of Forestry is urging the public to actively practice wildfire prevention as the state works to control over 20 large fires. Additional human-caused fires on the landscape will draw the firefighting efforts away from the lightning-caused fires and put extra strain on ground and aviation resources, which are already spread thin. YOU can help prevent wildfires by:
- Checking and following your local fire regulations. The majority of the state is either in high or extreme fire danger right now, meaning even the smallest of sparks could start the next large wildfire.
- Remember that debris burning is prohibited statewide.
- Return to check on your burn site if you burned earlier in the year.
- Make sure your car has been recently serviced to avoid faulty parts throwing sparks.
- Don’t drag tow chains.
- Avoid parking vehicles on tall, dry grass.
- Recreate responsibly. Where campfires are allowed, make sure your campfire is DEAD OUT before leaving it by drowning it with water, stirring it with a shovel and repeating that process until it is cold to the touch. If there is heat coming off it, there are still embers that could reignite.
How can I prepare my home to be resilient against fire?
The Oregon State Fire Marshal can help you create defensible space. Defensible space is the area around your home and property that’s maintained to prevent wildfire from spreading. Creating and maintaining defensible space is the best protection you can give your home against wildfire.
A few ideas to protect the first five feet around your home:
- Remove leaves, pine needles, and other debris from the roof, gutters, and on top of and underneath decks.
- Trim tall plants and bushes growing directly under eaves and make sure trees and plants have adequate space from your home and other vegetation.
- Remove dead and combustible plants and mulch; replace it with decorative rock or gravel.
- Cover exterior attic vents, soffit vents, and areas below decks and patios with 1/8″ metal wire mesh.
Be cautious with using power tools and other equipment that can throw sparks and don’t operate machinery in the heat of the day. Summer is a great time to plan defensible space projects to start working on in the fall when wildfire season is over.
How can I prepare myself in case I need to evacuate?
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) urges everyone to prepare for wildfires and other emergencies by knowing evacuation levels, staying informed, having a plan, and having a go-kit ready.
Evacuation Levels
- Oregon follows a three-level evacuation notification system, each structured around safety threat level.
- Oregonians should become familiar with “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” evacuation levels to make informed decisions when receiving evacuation notices.
- OEM urges people to evacuate whenever they feel unsafe, conditions can change rapidly; individuals should always make the best decision for their safety.
- Following an evacuation, people should not return to the area until public safety officials state it is safe.
Stay Informed
- Stay informed sign up to receive evacuation at, ORAlert.gov remember to update information if need be.
- Find the websites for your county emergency management, sheriff’s office, or tribal police and follow them on social media.
- Check your phone settingsto ensure wireless emergency alerts are turned on.
Have a Plan
- Do you know what to do during an evacuation? This evacuation checklist explains what to do before, during, and after an evacuation.
- Establish a communication plan with a list of important contacts and a safe place for loved ones to meet if they are separated during an emergency.
- Identify multiple evacuation routes from home, work, or school and plan for transportation needs.
- People with disabilities should consider individual circumstances and specific needs when planning for evacuation, such as special equipment, transportation, and service animals.
- Have an evacuation plan for pets, make a pet evacuation kit in a tote bag or pet crate, and plan for transportation and sheltering of large animals such as horses and other livestock.
Make a Go-Kit
- Assemble an emergency kit of essential supplies that can be grabbed quickly.
- Pack an easy-to-carry backpack or bag for each household member with health and safety items such as food, water, medication, flashlights, phone chargers, clothing, and important documents. Visit American Red Cross to learn more.
Find more information and resources at Wildfire.Oregon.gov.
Recreate Responsibly
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) encourages visitors to know before they go when it comes to campfire restrictions. Due to the continued low humidity and risk of wildfires, OPRD banned campfires at all Oregon State Parks east of the Cascades as well as at parks in high-risk areas around the state until conditions improve. Most Oregon State Parks currently have a campfire ban. Please check park webpages or the wildfire feature story at stateparks.oregon.gov/ before your next visit. Thank you for helping to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Two brothers from Pendleton pleaded guilty last week to civil disorder and other charges stemming from their breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Jonathanpeter Allen Klein, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of civil disorder, a felony, and one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, a misdemeanor. Matthew Leland Klein, 27, pleaded guilty to civil disorder and a misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building.
The two men will be sentenced in the District of Columbia on Nov. 15.
According to court documents, the brothers traveled from Portland to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally and then made their way toward the Capitol building and entered into the restricted perimeter before separating and entering the Capitol.
An examination of a mobile device associated with Jonathanpeter Klein suggested he was in and around the Capitol building on Jan. 6 for about two and a half hours, according to the indictment.
Both had notified others of their plan to attend the rally in D.C., according to court records.
On the Williamette River near Portland, the body of “Top Chef Masters” star Naomi Pomeroy was recovered Wednesday, four days after she drowned while tubing with her husband and a friend on the river.
The renowned chef, 49, was on the Willamette River Saturday evening when she became trapped underwater. The tragedy happened when Pomeroy, her spouse, Kyle Linden Webster, and friends were on tubes and a paddle board that were connected together, but got caught on an “exposed snag” that pulled the chef underwater.
Her body was retrieved by authorities Wednesday morning after being spotted by canoers, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Whiskeytown is looking to hire an Archeologist and three Archeological Technicians to stand up a team to serve the incredibly unique and diverse parks that make up the Klamath Network.
The new Archeology Team will support cultural resource management programs across the network while gaining experience working in a variety of elevations, climates, and cultural regions.
All positions are open to the public.
To find out how to apply follow the links below or search for “National Park Service” and “Whiskeytown” on www.usajobs.gov
Archeological Technician Positions: www.usajobs.gov/job/800249300
Archeologist Position: www.usajobs.gov/job/800612900
We look forward to having you!
For more information on the application process: help.usajobs.gov/how-to
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