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.

Friday, August 23, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines

Progress continues on the Diamond and Homestead complexes and the Middle Fork Fire is seeing minimal growth as it is burning in the northwest corner of Crater Lake National Park. The size is still just over 5,200 acres.

There has been minimal smoke or fire activity lately as the fire continues to creep at a slow rate of spread.  The North Entrance Road is closed indefinitely but the park is still open.

More fires within the Diamond Complex are now fully contained. According to the Wednesday morning update, 23 of the 29 lightning-caused fires are now 100% contained.

The complex burning on the Umpqua National Forest is still just under 11,000 acres with 38% containment overall.

Also in Douglas County, not much change for the Homestead Complex burning northeast of Glide. The complex saw some minor growth but is still holding at around 5,800 acres with 35% containment. The recent fire activity on the Homestead Complex was limited to smoldering and creeping with slow rates of spread. A temporary flight restriction is still in place above the area where the complex is burning.

 

A Klamath Falls man charged in a double-homicide killing of two teenage sisters will be evaluated for mental fitness to stand trial. 

The pretrial hearing for Elijah Croy, 20, was held Wednesday morning in the ongoing case around the shooting of Aleeka, 18, and Zion Qualls, 14. 

Croy was arrested at the Qualls’ family residence the morning of June 29, where the two sisters were found shot to death.  The pretrial hearing before Judge Alycia Kersey was held Wednesday morning at the Klamath County Circuit Court.  Presiding over the hearing was a courtroom filled with family and loved ones of the victims.

 

At least 5,000 birds have died so far this summer at a network of wildlife refuges on the Oregon-California border, sparking fears of another large outbreak of disease and calls for more water releases in a region roiled by drought and water uncertainty. 

The deaths are likely caused by a rare combination of avian flu and botulism, said John Vradenburg, supervisory biologist at the refuge complex. Virus-caused avian was confirmed at one of the refuges in July, Vradenburg said. Avian flu has been on the rise in recent years, leading to die-offs in poultry and wild birds. 

Botulism, which paralyzes birds from the bottom up until they are unable to fly and then to breathe, is caused by a toxin produced by soil-dwelling bacteria. Tests are still pending for botulism at the refuge complex, but symptoms closely match past botulism outbreaks, Vradenburg said.

 

Residents had the opportunity to have their voices heard as U.S. Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) toured the 2nd Congressional District he represents, stopping in Merrill on Tuesday afternoon and Lakeview on Wednesday morning. 

Bentz’s presentation at the Merrill City Hall came just hours after his stop in Jackson County, where two residents were forcibly removed in handcuffs for causing disruptions with out-loud protests of Bentz’s support for Israel. 

To the crowd in Merrill, Bentz said, “We’re here to exchange ideas, not just put on demonstrations.”  Though Bentz did not address the Israel-Palestine conflict, foreign policy was a primary focal point of his presentation, specifically, border patrol. 

The congressman noted the extenuating and inhumane circumstances of those rightfully seeking asylum in the U.S. but said allowing 5,000 people in each day “is too much. 

The most important topic of the town hall, Bentz said, was the Republican effort to reduce the national debt.  A chart Bentz showed compared the fiscal numbers during Democrat and Republic majority years under former President Trump and President Biden, denoting the most recent administration’s “terrific amount of spending.” 

Bentz said the return of a Republican majority in the House and Senate has resulted in ongoing efforts to reduce the national debt as well as inflation.

 

The search continued Tuesday at Diamond Lake for a man who is presumed drowned, authorities said. 

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in an updated news release that the incident began Saturday shortly after 5:30 p.m. after 9-1-1 dispatchers received a report of a man, identified as 37-year-old Chimanbai Patel of Bend, who had jumped into the water from a pontoon boat while on the lake with friends. Shortly after entering the water, Patel went under and never resurfaced. 

Deputies have enlisted the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, Douglas County Search and Rescue, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, and Oregon State Police. On Monday, a dog trained in water recovery was deployed on the lake with searchers. At this time, Patel remains missing.

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.

 

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.”

 

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.

 

Around the State of Oregon

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has fined a Medford roofing company $103,438 for repeatedly failing to safeguard workers from fall hazards that could seriously injure or kill them. 

The division cited JAM Construction Inc. following an inspection of a jobsite in Central Point where work was being done on the roof of a house.   The employer failed to ensure that employees who were working on the roof installed and implemented fall protection, according to the inspection. As a result, employees were exposed to potential falls of up to 13 feet to the ground.

JAM Construction violated a rule requiring employers to ensure that fall protection systems are provided, installed, and implemented where employees are exposed to a hazard of falling 6 feet or more to a lower level.  This was the third time since April 2022 that JAM Construction violated fall protection requirements. Oregon OSHA issued a penalty of $103,438 for the third repeat violation. The division also issued an “other-than-serious” citation to the company for failing to provide documentation showing employees had received fall protection training. 

Under the Oregon Safe Employment Act, workers have a right to a safe and healthy workplace, and employers must maintain safe and healthy workplaces.  In the construction industry, falls are one of the leading causes of death.

At about 8:50 PM on Tuesday, August 20th, the Medford Police Department responded to the report of an armed robbery that had just occurred at the Dutch Bro’s Coffee stand located at Crater Lake Hwy and Whittle Ave.

Officers discovered that the suspect had arrived on a black electric scooter and had displayed a handgun, ordering the employee to provide money. The employee was able to close the window to the coffee stand, drop to the floor and phone the police.

The suspect fled, southbound on Whittle Ave. Investigators on this case were able to quickly identify a person of interest in this case, 34-year-old Raymond William Mathes.

At about 8:00PM on Wednesday, August 21, a Medford Police Officer saw Raymond Mathes riding an identical scooter to the one used in the robbery. He fled from officers but was tackled during this foot pursuit and was taken into custody after a brief struggle. Mathes was in possession of an air rifle and an air pistol at the time of his arrest. 

Mathes is currently lodged at the Jackson County Jail on a Probation Violation while detectives continue to tie up the loose ends on this case. It is expected that he will be lodged on the charges of Robbery in the Second Degree, Menacing, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

The quick work and teamwork of our detectives and officers were paramount in resolving this case. We also commend the coffee stand employee’s quick thinking and bravery, which were crucial in alerting authorities and ensuring a swift response.

Youth hunters (age 17 and under) who will have completed hunter education by the time of the event can sign up now for ODFW’s free pheasant hunts happening around the state starting in September. 

ODFW and partners stock pheasants at these special hunts that give youth a head start on regular pheasant seasons. Volunteers bring their trained hunting dogs to some events. Some events also host a shooting skills session before the hunt.  ODFW recommends youth register in advance for most events, but walk-ins are also welcome if space allows, see the youth pheasant hunts page for more details.

Register by logging in to the youth’s account at MyODFW’s Licensing page.

Then go to Purchase from the Catalog and look under the Category/ Class/Workshop / Outdoor Skills. Final details about the event will be emailed to the address within the account. 

The hunts are free, though participants need a valid hunting license ($10 for youth 12 and older, free for age 11 and under) to hunt. Youth hunters age 12-17 also need an upland game bird validation ($4).

Purchase before the event, online or at a license sales agent. Licenses and validations will not be sold at the events.  Some areas will host the event both Saturday and Sunday. Youth who register for one day are welcome to hunt stand by on the other day.

The Oregon State Fair officially begins Friday (today) in Salem, featuring old favorites and a few new ones.  

Livestock events have already started and the State Fair’s Drew Marine says the Beef Show is always impressive.  Because of the ongoing risk of bird flu in both waterfowl and cattle, she says those animals must be tested before they’re allowed in the fairgrounds. They’re also following other Oregon Department of Agriculture guidelines. 

One area showcases baking and crafting skills from all over the state. There’s also a new Bounce ‘n Battle Fun Zone in The Playground area.

Craig Morgan opens the State Fair concert series Friday night, followed by the reggae band Steel Pulse on Saturday.  For those staying late, 300 drones take to the sky each night at 10 for a new choreographed show.

This year’s theme is “Sunny Days are Here Again.” The Oregon State Fair runs through Labor Day, September second.

The corporation that owns Mt. Bachelor ski area has decided to put it and two other properties up for sale, the company confirmed Thursday. 

Officials at Powdr Corp., the Utah-based corporation that has owned Mt. Bachelor since 2001, said it could take six months or longer for a sale to go through. 

The upcoming ski season and Bachelor’s employees will not be impacted. In the next few weeks Mt. Bachelor, Eldora ski resort in Colorado and SilverStar in British Columbia will be listed with JP Morgan Chase. The company has already sold Killington Resort and Pico Mountain in Vermont. It is retaining its ownership in Copper Mountain in Colorado and Snowbird resort in Utah, as well as the Woodward brand, which includes camps and ski mountain centers and two national park concession contracts. 

Mt. Bachelor ski area has 4,300 acres of lift-accessible terrain, making it the seventh largest ski area in North America, according to the company website. 

A man who won $2,000 playing video lottery at a Southeast Portland bar Saturday night was followed home by another bar patron and stabbed 15 times in the face, arms and chest before he played dead and the assailant ran off with a portion of the man’s winnings, police say. 

Pablo Andres Figueroa, 61, has been charged with attempted murder, robbery, assault, burglary and unlawful use of a weapon after police found him hiding in a trash room of the victim’s apartment complex. 

According to court papers filed by the prosecution, the victim met Figueroa at Montana’s Bar near Southeast 117th Avenue and Stark Street. The victim won big on a lottery machine at the bar and then left to walk home around 11:30 p.m.

Police say Figueroa followed, was able to slip through the security gate of the victim’s apartment complex before it latched and forced his way into the apartment as the victim stepped inside and attempted to close his door.

Fatal Crash on Hiway 395 C

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. 22 August 2024 – On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 7:08 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hwy. 395C near milepost 28 in Grant County. 

The preliminary investigation indicated a silver Chevrolet Cavalier, operated by Adam Garrett Jennings (34) of Baker City, was traveling southbound on Hwy. 395C when it failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle traveled along a gravel pullout before striking a large pine tree head-on. 

Despite rescue efforts by Oregon State Troopers and emergency medical services, the operator (Jennings) was declared deceased at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt.    

The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation.  Oregon State Police was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation and local emergency services. 

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.

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.

Recreational use advisory modified for North Santiam River Aug. 22

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted part of the recreational use health advisory issued July 16 for the North Santiam River – from the confluence with the South Santiam River up to the mouth of the Little North Fork Santiam River in Mehama.

The North Santiam River is in Marion and Linn counties. Check the OHA Harmful Algal Bloom Advisories map if you are unfamiliar with this portion of the North Santiam River.

Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of microcystins in the lower North Santiam River is below recreational guideline values for people. However, levels detected are still above OHA’s educational guideline values for dogs, and owners should keep their pets away from these areas.

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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