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. Call 541-882-6476.
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. West southwest 8 to 13 mph in the afternoon. Overnight, rain likely, low around 43 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 74.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 84.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 87.
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
Oregon U.S. senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced over $35 million in federal funding to support salmon recovery in Oregon — and $3 million of that is going to the Klamath Basin.
According to a news release from the senators, the funds are coming from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Crucially, over $3 million in federal funds are heading directly to the Klamath Basin to support recovery and restoration efforts for salmon and ongoing Klamath Dam removal efforts. The Klamath Basin funding is being broken down like this way: $2.43 million to the Klamath River Inter-Tribal Fish and Water Commission and $640,000 for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.
This federal funding will support the restoration of Oregon’s vibrant salmon runs by repairing and reviving their water habitat.
The last contract adversary air F-5 completed its final local mission supporting F-15C student training at Kingsley Field, Ore., Aug. 7, 2024.
Air Combat Command has prioritized increased adversary air at F-35 training locations. Col. Micah Lambert, 173rd Fighter Wing deputy commander, says with that, they decided not to compete the contract at Kingsley Field.
Lambert says this is a result of the draw down of F-15C training for the U.S. Air Force.
Kingsley Field’s F-15s are scheduled to divest over the next 14 months and the amount of student training will reduce proportionally, Tactical Air Support, often referred to as TAC-Air, has held the adversary air contract at Kingsley Field since Sept. 2020. Flying the F-5 Advanced Tiger, they provided “red” air, acting as the bad guys during training missions. While supporting Kingsley Field, the 20-member team flew more than 2,600 sorties with over 3,200 flight hours.
The North Entrance to Crater Lake National Park remains closed to allow firefighters on the Middle Fork Fire to prepare control lines along the North Entrance Road.
Fire crews are reducing fuels along the north-south route creating a defensible zone to keep the Middle Fork Fire from threatening park infrastructure and progressing further east.
The North Entrance Road is closed from North Junction to the park boundary at the junction with Highway 138. This closure is necessary to ensure the safety of fire crews and the public. The date for reopening is not known at this time. All other park roads will remain open, except for construction closures on East Rim Drive.
Crater Lake National Park remains open and is accessible from Highway 62 on the western and southern routes. Expect longer lines to access the park due to all traffic coming through one entrance station. Please go to tripcheck.com for the latest road conditions and closures.
Klamath County saw multiple streams of revenue come in during a Klamath County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday that will benefit multiple municipalities, organizations and departments.
Totaling $1,287,190.70 received from grants, taxes and service agreements, the largest portion of dollars come by way of Klamath County’s transient room tax’s second-quarter earnings.
By Klamath County Code Chapter 603 that reads: as any person, firm, social club etc., who exercises occupancy for thirty days or less for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes from any hotel, motel, etc., the operator shall collect the tax imposed which constitutes a debt by the operator to the county.
For the second quarter (April 1 through June 30, 2024) the transient room tax generated $966,677.17 which will be distributed to participants based on a revenue-sharing formula.
Other revenues that the county received were two grants from the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, one worth $16,715.53 that will be used to purchase about 15 AEDs and associated AED fast response kits that will be provided to law enforcement agencies in Klamath County, and another for $26,000 for the county to migrate to a .gov web address.
The Oregon Health Authority also invested in Klamath County by way of awarding $125,000 to Klamath County Public Health for reproductive health services.
Meanwhile, the county Juvenile Department has entered into an agreement with Lake County which agrees to pay $110 per day for the housing of criminal justice-involved youth. The agreement specifies that Lake County will pay for a minimum of 144 bed days for the fiscal year equaling $15,840.
The last entity to receive money was the Klamath County Veterans Services Office which received $136,958 from the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs to be used for outreach, advertising, the Klamath and Lake County Stand Down and to pay for an assistant district attorney for Klamath County’s Veterans Court.
A former Klamath Falls man accused of federal criminal kidnapping charges will go to trial knowing prosecutors have his “target list” and notes about an “Operation Takeover” to create his own army by having children with various women.
The man, 30-year-old Negasi Zuberi faces eight criminal counts including kidnapping, sex and federal weapons charges.
During a federal court proceeding in Medford yesterday, Zuberi told the court the federal government’s case against him does not make sense.
Zuberi made that claim in a pretrial conference that reviewed more than 470 exhibits of evidence in the case. During that review, U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane noted that evidence suggests Zuberi had a bigger plan that involved building an underground facility for his own army populated by children he intended to have with multiple women.
Further notes suggested Zuberi was looking for land for his bunker. Zuberi was in the Medford federal courtroom today where he was arraigned a year ago, indicted for eight criminal counts accusing him of kidnapping a woman in the Seattle area and driving her to his Klamath Falls home impersonating law enforcement. It also says he sexually violated the woman during the July 2023 trip, holding her captive in a cinder block cell he’d built in a home he rented from Klamath Falls mayor. He pleaded not guilty, and his comments today in court showed his defiance against his criminal charges. One page of the “Operation Takeover” plan lists steps as, “Leave phone at home,” and “Make sure they don’t have a bunch of PPL (people) in their life. You don’t want any type of investigation.”
Fire officials say 23 of the 29 lightning-caused fires that make up the Diamond Complex have been 100% contained according to the US Forest Service (USFS).
USFS says the last 24-hours the Diamond Complex has exhibited minimal fire spread, said USFS. Currently the Diamond Complex is estimated to have burned10,987 acres and is 38% contained.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has lifted evacuation orders for all areas except for east of the Pine Bench Fire, which remains at a Level 1: BE SET for a single residence east of the Potter Fire.
The Middle Fork Fire has burned 5,228 acres and is 0% contained. Fire officials say that Wednesday’s focus will see crews continue removing heavy timber and vegetation along the 230 Road and at the north entrance to Crater Lake National Park. On the southern side of the fire, crews will continue to look for areas of opportunity to limit fire spread and make trails more defensible to the south. Officials say specialty teams have been deployed and will be embedded for the next few days to evaluate opportunities for direct suppression operations such as removing fuel or constructing a line around the area. The park remains open.
Today (Thursday), Pacific Power will be completing work on South 5th Street between Walnut Avenue and Oak Avenue.
South 5th Street will have lane and road closures with flaggers in place to direct local traffic. Construction is expected to begin at 5pm and be complete by midnight. Please take caution when traveling through or around construction zones. For more information, please contact Public Works at 541-883-5363
Will It Ever Be Quiet at Portland Street Rail Crossing
Residents within train-horn distance of Portland Street are one step closer to a better night’s sleep following Klamath Falls City Council’s approval of a construction contract to implement a railroad crossing quiet zone at Monday’s meeting.
Klamath Falls City Council approved the city’s entrance into a construction contract with Rocky Mountain Construction to build a public highway at-grade crossing for the intersection of the railroad and Portland Street. The quiet zone project has been an ongoing city item since 2009 when residents banded together, inciting discussions of creating a local improvement district for funding.
According to the city’s meeting agenda, federal funding received through the American Rescue Plan Act, or “ARPA,” will be used for the project, totaling $168,591.36, with a contingency allowance of $33,718.
KF City Council approved the contract agreement with a vote of three to one, with Councilor Abbie McClung abstaining from the vote.
Also, other construction project agreements approved Monday evening will put some dollars back in the city’s budget as council agreed to approve a construction cooperative agreement for improvements at Kingsley Field as the standing contract administrator.
Improvements and new construction at the military air base are in preparation of the switch from F-15 to F-35 fighter jets at the airbase. With the city receiving 4% of the military projects as an administrative fee, the two contract approvals stand to bring in a total of $34,000 for the city.
Klamath County School District wants to ease some of the costs associated with rising prices as you send your children back to school. That’s why they will again provide free school supplies this year for all elementary school students.
The district will purchase the items your child needs for class and those supplies will go directly to the classroom, ready for your child to use on the first day of school. They ask that students come to school with a backpack so school materials can be sent home.
Families of middle and high school students will need to purchase school supplies this year. If you are not able to do so, please let your school know. Support will be available to families who need it.
For more information, contact the KCSD via phone or online.
On August 25th & 29th, Morello Construction crews working for Charter Communications will be removing and replacing aerial communication lines across South 6th Street.
Lane closures will be in place on S. 6th Street and Washburn Way to facilitate the crossing. Traffic Control and flaggers will be in place during construction hours. Crews will be working during early morning hours on both days. Please take caution when travelling through construction areas. For more information, please contact Brandon Franquero at 541-887-2285.
Also, beginning on today, Jonnic Construction will be working on the Wall Street and Esplanade Avenue Bridges. Both areas will have lane closures with flaggers in place to direct local traffic. Construction closures and flaggers expected to be in place through Thursday, August 22nd. Please take caution when travelling through or around construction zones.
For more information, please contact Public Works at 541-883-5363.
Another illegal marijuana grow operation was seized north of the town of Beatty last week, local law enforcement reported.
A news release from Klamath County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) said a property located on Spring Butte Drive was the site of an illegal marijuana farm with 334 plants and 80 pounds of harvested marijuana. Law enforcement also seized two vehicles, cash, three firearms, ammunition and high-capacity magazines.
Bethani Campbell, 35, both of Tigard. Property owner Anthony Iodence, 37, of San Francisco, Calif., was arrested on site, along with James Fishcel, 40, and a third person. The three suspects are charged with unlawful possession and manufacture of marijuana and are being investigated for illegal appropriation of ground water.
The release said an estimated 45,000 gallons of water was used for the grow operation.
The largest fire burning in southern Oregon, the Warner Peak Fire is now 90% contained.
The 65,866 acre wildfire, burning in Lake County, has been seeing increasing containment numbers over the past few days.
The Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge remains closed for public and firefighter safety. The Incident command released the final update on the fire Tuesday, but mop-up and patrols will continue until the fire is fully contained and mopped.
Klamath County School District administrators met at Mazama High School in Klamath Falls on Thursday and Friday to practice their emergency response program.
Superintendent Glen Szymoniak led the training that he developed when he taught in Alaska before coming to the basin.
Szymoniak said that in a real emergency, first responders might have other priorities or there might be problems that delay their response. His goal for this training is to help every school in the district have a plan in case something like that happens.
Administrators played the roles of the teachers and staff at their schools. They practiced being incident commanders, building managers, search and rescue teams and more.
The training was a chance to see what in the plan worked well. During each drill, it took administrators about 12 minutes to put out a fire and account for every student, including the administrators playing the part of injured students.
Administrators returned to the schools and will teach their staff what they learned. Szymoniak said this plan can work for every school in the district from the smallest to the largest.
The Presidents of Oregon’s public polytechnic and regional universities (TRUs)– Oregon Institute of Technology, Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, Eastern Oregon University –signed a memorandum of understanding on Aug. 15 with Wenzao University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The MOU aims to foster teacher-student exchanges, student mobility programs, joint research initiatives, and Chinese language programs, all with the goal of cultivating international and cross-disciplinary talent.
The delegation was led by Oregon State Representative Paul Evans (District 20) and was made up of key leaders from Oregon’s universities, including Jesse Peters, president of Western Oregon University; Kelly Ryan, president of Eastern Oregon University; Rick Bailey, president of Southern Oregon University; and Nagi Naganathan, president of Oregon Institute of Technology; along with Sheila Clough, chair of the SOU Board of Trustees.
The signing ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, Oregon State Representative Paul Evans, former state Representative Brian Clem, and Director of the Kaohsiung Branch of the American Institute in Taiwan Neil H. Gibson, Wen Hongguo, leader of the cultural newsgroup of the Kaohsiung Branch of the American Institute in Taiwan, and additional cultural and educational stakeholders. This partnership marks a new chapter in global academic cooperation as Wenzao University continues to establish itself as a hub of international education.
“Wenzao’s alliance with a well-known higher education institution in the United States has great symbolic significance,” Wenzao University President Zhuang Huiling said.
Huiling added that Wenzao University was founded in 1966 by a group of nuns from the Saint Ursuline religious order in Rome and has always adhered to the spirit of “internationalization” when running the school. Presently, Wenzao University has more than 320 sister schools around the world, where their students have the opportunity to study abroad. At the same time, Wenzao hosts students from 19 countries to integrate multiple cultures into the campus.
This is an important milestone between Wenzao University and the public technical and regional universities in Oregon. It not only strengthens each institution’s connection with the world but also opens up a new era for academic exchanges and development.
The presidents from Oregon’s TRU institutions value the importance of international educational exchanges.
“International educational exchanges are essential for fostering global understanding and collaboration,” the presidents said in a joint statement. “They provide students and faculty invaluable opportunities to learn from diverse perspectives, enriching both their academic and personal growth. We are deeply grateful for the warm hospitality extended during our visit and look forward to nurturing and growing this partnership.”
Photo: Rick Bailey; president at SUU, Kelly Ryan; president at EOU, Sheila Clough; chair of the SUU Board of Trustees, Jesse Peters; president at WOU, Nagi Naganathan; president at OIT.
A Klamath Falls man is accused of trespassing at the Klamath Union Pacific Railroad yard and changing track settings that caused four railroad cars to derail and more than $1 million in damage on Monday, according to federal court documents. No injuries were reported.
Craig David Saddler, 50, was set to appear in federal court in Medford on Friday afternoon on a federal complaint charging him with wrecking or derailing railroad equipment. He also faces criminal mischief, trespass and recklessly endangering allegations in Klamath County Circuit Court.
A Union Pacific railroad engineer was driving another locomotive when he saw Saddler on the tracks and honked a horn to get his attention, according to an affidavit.
He saw Saddler pull a lever that redirected another moving train onto a different track, causing four of its cars to derail that were carrying consumer goods, including lumber, according to court records. The derailment caused damage to the railcars, the railway and surrounding property.
Saddler, described as wearing a red or pink sweatshirt with buzz cut-hair and a long beard, was caught later that night about a half mile from the rail yard, the affidavit said.
The Union Pacific employee who had noticed Saddler on the tracks identified Saddler as the man who caused the damage, though Saddler denied he was responsible, according to the affidavit.
On Thursday, Saddler was released from Klamath County Jail on the pending state charges and given an Oct. 2 trial date.
Another botulism outbreak is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of waterfowl on wildlife refuges in the Klamath Basin.
As temperatures rise and water levels drop, flightless fledglings and molting waterfowl remain trapped in the unsafe wetlands.
The Tulelake and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuges have been teeming with life this season with water on the wetlands for the first time in the four years since the largest waterfowl die-off in Tulelake refuge’s history in 2020.
Klamath Water Users Association Director of Water Policy Moss Driscoll recently took a water tour of the Tulelake refuge where federal employees are collecting hundreds of dead waterfowl. An estimated 500 carcasses were recovered on Aug. 8 alone.
Previous outbreaks of botulism were partially mitigated with public volunteers aiding in the collection of carcasses and the rehabilitation of ailing waterfowl in tented pools of clean water and food.
Carcass collection is crucial in reducing botulism infection in a population, making the reduced collections a serious concern.
Illegal Marijuana Grow Near Malin Brings Arrest of Chico Man
On Thursday, August 15, 2024 the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the property belonging to Ramiro Vasquez on Harpold Road, north of Malin, Oregon. Surveillance of the property revealed a large illegal marijuana grow site composed of an indoor and outdoor illegal marijuana operation.
Ramiro Vasquez (age 36) of Chico, California was arrested and charged with:
- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (ORS 475B.337)
- Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (ORS 475B.349)
- Unlawful Use or Appropriation of Ground Water (ORS 537.535)
The on-scene investigation confirmed a large illegal grow operation containing 7,122 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. Suspected marijuana butane hash oil (BHO), cash, and three firearms were seized during the search. Also discovered was the illegal use of water used to irrigate the marijuana plants and infrastructure for drying processed marijuana and storing potentially harmful fertilizers. It is estimated that more than 755,000 gallons of water was illegally appropriated to grow this amount of marijuana.
Investigators observed a considerable amount of trash and debris consisting of thousands of feet of plastic drip tubing, plastic greenhouse coverings and more scattered throughout the property.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the, Klamath Falls Police Department, Oregon State Police, Malin Police Department, Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Klamath County Solid Waste, Bureau of Land Management, Klamath County Code Enforcement, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Water Master.
City of Klamath Falls Streets Asphalt Crews will be continuing chip seal operations in the Hospital area and Dan O’Brien Way all week.
City of Klamath Falls Paint Crews will be painting crosswalks and legends around Ponderosa School and on East Main at Mills School. All work is weather dependent. Please use caution while traveling in work zones.
Klamath Falls is preparing for the newly revamped Klamath Music Festival this weekend, and tickets sales are through the roof for this year’s lineup.
Presented by Klamath Music and hosted by the Ross Ragland Theater, the Klamath Music Festival is shifting gears this year to include a wider variety of genres, including Irish folk, reggae, rock and indie-pop.
With The Verve Pipe headlining the show, this year’s event offers two stages with seven hours of performances, running from 2 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.
Among the local fare, catch Lake County musician Corey Murphy at the outdoor stage at 2:45 p.m., singing the songs of his father’s homeland in County Cork, Ireland.
Tickets to the 8th annual Klamath Music Festival are limited and may be purchased online at ragland.org/event/klamath-music-festival-2/ or in person at the Ross Ragland Theater, located at 218 N. Seventh St.
Klamath Tribes Health Row/Run/Walk will be held Friday in the Big Gym in Chiloquin.
Due to the weather forecast, the location has been changed to the gym at 225 E Schonchin Street. More than 30 Health Row booths, patient information. Free swag. Free food. Run/Walk and free fun.
Registration starts at 9 a.m. The walk/run starts at noon. Contact Aislyn Ukpik at 541-892-0150. For Health Row, contact Tahnie Clark, 541-363-6813.
The Klamath Symphony will present its annual summer concert on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Veterans Park. The program is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to enjoy an evening of favorites from last year’s concert season. Ice cream will be provided. Directed by Christopher Benjamin, the orchestra, made up of local musicians, will present patriotic music, classic pieces and movie and television themes, such as “Footloose,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables.”
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Around the State of Oregon
The Forest Service is hiring Wildland Firefighters into permanent seasonal positions on hand crews, engine crews, hotshot crews, and more.
Make a lasting impact on the world around you and unlock opportunities for professional growth and career advancement. Join the Forest Service’s Oregon or Washington fire organization and be a part of the team that is committed to caring for the land and serving people.
Our mission is to protect our natural resources for multiple uses for today and future generations.
The Forest Service is holding an in-person recruitment event to fill approximately 200 entry level, GS-3/4 wildland firefighter permanent seasonal positions. Applicants are invited to come and meet regional fire staff, get application help, and learn about the benefits of working for the Forest Service.
Applicants can also apply online. Jobs will be posted on USAJobs.gov from Aug. 23 – Sept. 24 using the direct hire authority. Review the job announcement carefully for deadlines and required information to include in your application. Employment start dates may vary. For more information visit the National Wildland Firefighting Hiring webpage.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas and her Republican challenger Mike Erickson are neck-and neck in the contest for Oregon’s 6th Congressional District, according to a new poll commissioned by the Erickson campaign.
Nearly 45% of respondents said they supported Salinas compared to under 43% who said they backed Erickson, according to the poll of about 500 likely voters.
Nearly 13% remained undecided less than three months before the election. However, a lot could change between now and Election Day as spending on the race ramps up.
The poll was conducted from Aug. 7 to 9 by Washington D.C.-based Cygnal, a polling firm that works with Republican campaigns. The results were weighted to accurately reflect the demographics of likely voters in the district. The poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 4.29%, putting Salinas and Erickson in a statistical tie.
Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz held a town hall meeting this week in Merrill and was met again by protesters.
The Rogue Valley Pepper Shakers, the group behind the protest at Bentz’s town hall there, released a statement.
In the statement released to media, the Pepper Shakers said “we successfully disrupted Representative Cliff Bentz’ Town Hall at the Jackson County Expo. Cliff Bentz has accepted $7,000 from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. In 2021 he voted in favor of the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act, which intends to give $1 billion of taxpayer money to israel for their Iron Dome Defense System,” the statement said. “We chose to disrupt this town hall because we cannot allow pro-genocide mouth pieces to spew this rhetoric in our community. We, the people of Jackson county, say no platform for genocide!”
Bentz is scheduled for an 11am town hall in Lakeview today.
The Oregon chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the City of Medford, saying the Medford Police Department has illegally spied on residents that are part of certain political groups.
“The Medford Police Department illegally surveilled progressive individuals and groups engaged in causes such as racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive justice, housing justice, harm reduction, decriminalization, government transparency, and environmental advocacy, when no crime had been committed,” the release said.
A news release from the ACLU says the lawsuit is being filed on behalf of their clients Rogue Valley Pepper Shakers, Stabbin Wagon and Melissa Jones.
The level of COVID-19 detected in Oregon wastewater has surged this summer, outpacing virus levels detected in other western states and across the nation in recent weeks, federal data shows.
COVID-19 has been on the rise in Oregon since late April, driven by omicron variants, said Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunization at the Oregon Health Authority.
The rate of people testing positive for COVID climbed from 3.1% in April to over 18% during the last week of July, according to data reported to the health authority. The number of COVID patients hospitalized in Oregon increased to 223 at the beginning of August, compared to 79 people at the end of April.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Wastewater Surveillance System shows that virus levels detected in Oregon sewage began a rapid climb at the end of June, fell slightly at the end of July and ticked up again in August.
As of the week ending on Aug. 10, Oregon’s wastewater viral activity level measured at 22.78 compared to a national average of 8.8 and a reading of 14 in other Western states. Anything over 8 is considered “very high,” the CDC website says.
A 37-year-old man is presumed dead after jumping into Diamond Lake on Saturday, going under and never resurfacing.
Rescuers with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and other groups continued to search for the unidentified man on Sunday.
The man had been on a pontoon boat with friends when he tried to go for a swim around 5:30 p.m., officials said.
Oregon’s rivers and lakes can pose significant danger to people boating, tubing and swimming, especially if they’re not wearing life jackets.
Oregon law requires children age 12 and under to wear life jackets on boats. Adults must have life jackets on board, but they’re not required to wear them unless they’re on extreme whitewater rapids.
YAMHILL COUNTY, Ore. 21 August 2024 – The Oregon State Police is seeking witnesses to a serious injury crash that occurred on July 25, 2025, at 6:55 a.m. at the intersection of Lafayette Hwy. (Hwy. 154) and Amity Road (Hwy. 153) in Yamhill County.
The collision involved a white Pontiac G6 traveling northbound on Hwy. 153 at Hwy. 154 that struck a southbound green Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle. The Pontiac’s driver and a three-year-old passenger sustained serious injuries.
Oregon State Troopers are seeking witnesses to the crash and the driver of a white pickup truck traveling southbound in front of the semi-truck. The Pontiac left its lane and made contact with the pickup. Troopers would also like to speak with a witness who pulled the child from the Pontiac following the crash.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Yoder through OSP’s Northern Command Center at 800-442-0776 and reference case number SP24-237776.
Tillamook, Ore—The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will resume road restrictions this fall in the western part of the Tillamook State Forest to improve deer and elk escapement during hunting season.
Some roads will be closed to motorized use during the general archery and rifle hunting seasons in September, October and November. Selected roads in the Trask, Wilson and Nehalem River areas will be gated and signed. Controlled access during the three-month period is designed to reduce hunting pressure in these areas.
Hunters and other recreational users are welcome to access the gated areas by foot, mountain bike, horse or other non-motorized means.
ODF is partnering with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Tillamook Chapter of the Oregon Hunters Association in this program. The partnership has been in place 21 years and the location of gates change year to year based on access needs, tree stand conditions and operations.
Motorized access by ODF staff or contractors working in those areas may occur on occasion. Maps of the road management areas are available at the Tillamook ODF office located at 5005 Third St., Tillamook and online. Click on “Tillamook State Forest Road Report” to find the maps. Maps are also available on the Tillamook State Forest blog.
A southern Oregon restaurant was sentenced in federal court for stealing more than $759,000 in federal funds intended to help small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amigos Mexican Cuisine & Cantina LLC, formerly located outside of Medford, Oregon, was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $200,000 and $759,100 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
In a separate civil proceeding, Amigos was ordered to pay $1.6 million to settle a related False Claims Act allegation.
According to court documents, in a 13-month period beginning in April 2020, Amigos submitted five fraudulent loan applications to steal more than $759,000 from three Covid-19 pandemic relief programs: the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Amigos made numerous false statements on these applications, including claiming its owners did not own other businesses, providing inaccurate company financials, and falsely attesting that the company was not engaged in any illegal activity.
The company further falsely claimed on a loan forgiveness application that it had used the funds received for payroll. In reality, each time the company received a disbursement of federal funds, its owners would transfer the money to their personal bank accounts for use on various personal expenses.
On April 29, 2024, Amigos pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging the company with stealing public money.
A controversial measure that would put more money in the pockets of Oregonians will be on the ballot in November, after it garnered enough signatures.
If passed, the measure would give each Oregon resident a rebate of $1,600 every year, as long as they live at least 200 days in the state. A family of four would receive $6,400.
The group behind Measure 118 is called Oregon Rebate. They say, if passed, the measure would decrease poverty in the state by 36% and increase the financial stability of those living here. The group has picked up some notable endorsements from the United Auto Workers, Oregon Working Families, and the Oregon Progressive Party.
But many in the business community are against the measure because it is funded by increasing the corporate minimum tax on sales, exceeding $25 million to three percent.
The Portland Metro Chamber has come out in opposition to the measure, as well as the Oregon Business and Industry, which represents large and small businesses across the state.
President and CEO Angela Wilhelms says if this measure passes it will make Oregon less attractive for businesses and will drive up costs for citizens.
Three Oregon museums will receive part of nearly 750-thousand dollars to benefit cultural and educational programs. The High Desert Museum in Bend will receive 238-thousand dollars for a student learning hub with programs about the region and the community.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland gets nearly 250-thousand dollars to partner with Project LEDO that promotes equity in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math labs. The Portland Art Museum receives 250-thousand dollars to create a retrospective of painter Yoshido Chizuko for her advocacy of women artists in the 50s and 60s.
Sheriff’s Office Busts Burglary Ring Targeting Local Licensed Marijuana Businesses; Crime Spree Leads to 65 Charges for Three Suspects
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – After a year-long investigation, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives busted a burglary ring targeting local licensed marijuana businesses in Jackson and Josephine Counties.
The suspects committed 16 known burglaries at marijuana farms and storage facilities from April 2023 to June 2024. The suspects arrested accumulated 65 total charges during their crime spree.
JCSO deputies, detectives, and the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) served two simultaneous search warrants the morning of Tuesday, April 13 on locations in Central Point. Investigators served the search warrants at properties in the 1000 block of Glengrove Avenue and in the 500 block of Mazama Street, both in Central Point. Detectives served a follow-on search warrant at two storage units in the 1400 block of 2nd Avenue in Gold Hill. These search warrants resulted in the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of burglary evidence, eight firearms, and 520 lbs. of marijuana. Oregon State Police (OSP) assisted with the warrant service.
The suspects arrested are Mitchell Jeffrey King, 35, of Central Point; Dylan Buck McNerney, 31, of Central Point; and Kenneth Alan Parker II, 48, of Gold Hill. The 65 charges included 32 for King, 23 for Parker, and 10 for McNerney. These charges included multiple counts of second-degree burglary, criminal conspiracy, first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree theft, attempted first-degree theft, first-degree criminal mischief, and unlawful possession of a marijuana item. Additionally, Parker is charged with felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is under further investigation with detectives following additional leads. The case has been referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Additional charges from the Josephine County burglaries will likely be added at a later time. There is no more information available for release.
Retired General Daniel R. Hokanson, the 29th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, was honored Saturday in a ceremony at the Medford Armory, celebrating his 38-year military career and deep ties to Oregon.
The ceremony, held on Aug. 17, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. in the Assembly Hall of the Medford Armory, came just weeks after Gen. Hokanson’s official retirement from his position as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on July 31.
Gen. Hokanson, who previously served as the Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard, chose Southern Oregon for this ceremony to recognize the region’s significant role in his military journey.
When asked why his final retirement ceremony is in Medford, Gen. Hokanson said, “Southern Oregon has always held a special place in my heart; it’s the closest to home I could get, and the Oregon Guard has been so amazing to Kelly and I”
The event featured standard military honors, including musical performances by the 234th Army Band, presentation of medals, and remarks from Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees (Ret.) and his son Capt. McKinnon Hokanson.
During his tenure as Chief of the National Guard Bureau from 2020 to 2024, Gen. Hokanson led the Guard through unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic response and numerous natural disasters. Under his leadership, the National Guard administered 35 million COVID tests, disinfected 71,000 facilities, supported over 1,000 food banks, and delivered over 1 million meals to the American public.
Gen. Hokanson also oversaw the Guard’s participation in the evacuation of Afghan civilians in 2021, which became the largest non-combatant evacuation operation in U.S. history.
In a farewell letter released earlier this month, Gen. Hokanson expressed gratitude for his service, stating, “It has been a tremendous honor to serve as your Chief, and my wife Kelly and I are forever grateful for your faith and your support.”
Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees (Ret.), who served as the Oregon adjutant general three times for a total of 17 years and held numerous high-ranking positions in the National Guard, spoke at the ceremony. He reflected on Gen. Hokanson’s journey, saying, “Personally, it’s been a great honor to have seen you both blossom and grow in each of these positions you have held throughout your 29 years as members of the Oregon guard. For the Oregonians, the return on investment from the Oregon military department and the Oregon National Guard has been enormous, but I dare say that the same can be said for the National Guard of every state and territory.”
Gen. Hokanson’s career began with his graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1986 and included combat deployments to Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq. His final day at the Pentagon on July 31 was marked by a traditional clap-out ceremony, symbolizing the respect and admiration he earned throughout his distinguished career.
The Medford ceremony serves not only as a tribute to Gen. Hokanson’s service but also as a homecoming, highlighting the strong connection between the National Guard and local communities across the nation. Armories like the one in Medford play a crucial role in this relationship, serving as hubs where citizen-soldiers train and prepare for both state and federal missions.
Be Prepared with Fire Weather Tools
As August rolls on, the National Weather Service (NWS) reminds wildland fire managers that we have tools to help you monitor and fight wildfires. Whether it is a prescribed burn, ground fire or crown fire, fire managers can use this information to make decisions on how best to combat fires and keep the public safe.
Fire weather forecasters – The NWS issues Fire Weather Outlooks for the next eight days. These outlooks show areas where pre-existing fuel conditions, combined with forecast weather conditions, may result in a significant threat of wildfires.
Our Fire Weather Program supports land managers and firefighters who mitigate and respond to fires. Our weather forecasts are designed to highlight times and locations where a fire may be exceptionally hard to control. For example, we offer Red Flag Warnings, which mean warm temperatures, very low humidities and stronger winds are ongoing or expected to produce an increased risk of fire danger in 12 to 24 hours for specific locations.
Need a fire weather Spot Forecast? Land managers can request a site-specific, localized forecast for prescribed burns and wildfires to assess a potential threat. NWS recently updated this tool and will deliver additional enhancements to the application later this year. Learn more about the new Spot Forecast tool.
For federal and select state large wildfires, onsite weather forecasting support to firefighters is critical. An NWS Incident- Meteorologist (IMET) can be deployed to your incident command post. IMETs arrive on scene within 12 to 24 hours after activation and can serve up to 14 consecutive days before being relieved by another IMET. https://www.weather.gov/news/241507-fire-weather-tools
PLEASE Help Prevent Human-Caused Wildfires
- Immediately call 911 to report fires.
- Drones and other unmanned aircrafts are illegal to fly near fires.
- Fireworks, incendiary/tracer ammunition and exploding targets, are prohibited during fire season (May-October).
- Use caution when target shooting. Clear a 20-foot radius around the target by removing all vegetation and rocks.
- Ensure vehicles and trailers are properly maintained
- Make sure chains and other metal parts are not dragging.
- Keep exhaust systems clean and use spark arrestors.
- Do not park on dry grass.
- Carry extra water, shovel, and/or a fire extinguisher with you.
- Ensure your campfire is completely extinguished before leaving your campsite by making sure it is cool to the touch.
- Please don’t smoke and if you do, don’t throw out cigarette butts.
- Please be mindful and think about your actions
To ensure all Oregonians remain safe during the 2024 wildfire season, we urge everyone to stay tuned into these communications channels and follow all official safety guidelines related to air quality and recreation:
Watch Duty app: Download this app on your smartphone to understand where wildfires are in real time as well as monitor air quality and other metrics. https://app.watchduty.org
Northwest Interagency Coordination Center: During fire season, this web-based interactive map is updated daily with current fire perimeters and locations. This website acts as the wildfire resource coordination center for the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, Oregon Dept of Forestry, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources and the National Park Service. https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/index.aspx
InciWeb the Incident Information System: The federal interagency all-risk incident information management system provides an interactive map with real-time location information on wildfires. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
Oregon Department of Forestry Wildfire News: The official wildfire news blog for the Oregon Department of Forestry. Look here for all wildfire news related to state forest lands. https://odffire.com/
Keep Oregon Green: A partnership comprised of statewide and interagency groups working together to promote awareness of the risk and causes of wildfires and how to be prepared in case of a wildfire emergency. https://keeporegongreen.org/
OregonLive Wildfire Map: A project managed by OregonLive that incorporates data from InciWeb, National Interagency Fire Center, Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, NOAA into an easy-to-use map tool. https://projects.oregonlive.com/wildfires/map
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality – Air Quality Monitoring Data: A real-time map and cell phone application you can use to track air quality, including wildfire smoke impacts, across the state. Check your app store for OregonAir. https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map
Purple Air – Air Quality Map System: Real-time air quality information using crowdsourced data and data from EPA air sensors. https://map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p604800/cC0…
NOAA High Resolution Rapid Refresh Data Visualization: The High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency(NOAA) is an experimental data visualization tool for wildfire smoke. Be sure to turn on the “Vertically Integrated Smoke” layer to see smoke paths. https://hwp-viz.gsd.esrl.noaa.gov/smoke/index.html
Thanks for reading the the news on BasinLife.com from Wynne Broadcasting.
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