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Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
The latest update on the Middle Fork Wildfire shows that 5,280 acres have now burned and the fire is still only2% contained, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service.
Crews continue to remove heavy timber and vegetation to create a shaded fuel break along the 230 Road and at the north entrance to Crater Lake National Park.
The north entrance to Crater Lake National Park remains closed. Infrared monitoring has detected limited spread of the fire. Hotshot crews will camp out for the next few days to address the areas of heat identified by the infrared scans.
Crater Lake National Park is still open.Residents wanting information about current park conditions can call Crater Lake National Park at 541-594-3000.
The largest fire burning in southern Oregon, the Warner Peak Fire is now 90% contained. The 65,866 acre fire, 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. Incident command released the final update on the fire, but mop-up and patrols will continue until the fire is fully contained and mopped.
The search for a 37-year-old man who went missing at Diamond Lake last Saturday is over after police found his body yesterday.
According to a news release from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, police found Chimanbani Patel’s body Saturday after a resident called 9-1-1 at 7 a.m.
A member of the public (said) they had been walking their dog on the west side of the lake when they observed the body in the water. Marine Deputies, who were already on their way to continue searching for Patel responded to the scene. Upon their arrival, deputies recovered the body and confirmed it to be Patel.
Patel’s death is under investigation, the release said, but there are currently no sign of foul play. Patel went missing at about 5:38 p.m. on Saturday, the release said, when he was on a pontoon boat with friends and jumped into the water to swim. He never resurfaced and police believed he had drowned.
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.
Last week, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the property belonging to Moua Y Lo, located on the Oregon and California border south of Keno, Oregon.
Surveillance of the property revealed a large illegal marijuana operation. Moua Y Lo, 62, of Waunakee, Wisconsin was not on scene. A recommendation of criminal charges will be sent to the Klamath County District Attorney’s Office for: Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana and Unlawful Use or Appropriation of Ground Water.
The on-scene investigation confirmed a large illegal marijuana grow operation containing two unpermitted greenhouses and 1,216 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. Including 180-pounds of processed and packaged marijuana ready for distribution.
Also discovered and seized was a 1979 Freightliner water-truck suspected of illegally transporting and furnishing water to several nearby illegal grow sites. Infrastructure for drying processed marijuana and potentially harmful fertilizers were also discovered. It is estimated more than 170,000 gallons of water was illegally misappropriated 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. Persons hauling water in Oregon, or receiving water deliveries, are required to maintain records and to present those records to law enforcement.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Oregon State Police, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Klamath County Solid Waste, Klamath County Code Enforcement, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Water Master.
A Klamath Falls nurse pled guilty to first-degree criminal mistreatment after neglecting three residents at Pacifica Senior Living in January 2022.
According to a news release from the Oregon Department of Justice, the nurse — Phyllis Dodds — reached a plea deal that will require her to surrender her Oregon RN license, be placed on three years of supervised probation, perform 150 hours of community service and not work as a paid caregiver again.
Oregon DOJ says Dodds failed to provide nursing care” to three residents by not performing RN assessments and “[failing] to provide basic follow up medical treatment. This includes one patient who died, the release said.
Dodds pled guilty to neglecting an elderly and vulnerable patient by failing to complete a critical nursing assessment, failing to communicate with staff on scene, and failing to properly document actions taken and results in January 2022. The patient was found deceased in his bed the morning after these failures occurred.
Oregon attorney general Ellen Rosenblum congratulated the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office and Klamath County Adult Protective Services for pursuing the case.
Klamath County will have work crews at the following locations. 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.
Shasta Way – Sidewalk Replacement
Homedale Road to Patterson Street – Expect daytime travel lane closures with Flagger.
Vicinity of Stearns Elementary School – Road and Utility Work.
Laverne Avenue: Altamont to Crest – Expect road closure to thru traffic during daytime.
Highway 97 Bridge Replacement/Lakeport Boulevard (under the Hwy 97 bridge) Expect daytime travel lane closures with Flaggers
Arthur Street (between Shasta Way and S. 6th St) – Waterline Replacement. Expect daytime travel lane closures with Flaggers 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 to the motoring public.
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.) If you have any questions regarding work, please contact the Public Works Department at (541) 883-4696.
The Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) announced Friday that community tradition, the Klamath Basin Oktoberfest, is officially scheduled for September 21st.
This is aligned with the same date the historic German Oktoberfest opens. Whether you wear lederhosen or Levi’s, what’s for certain is you won’t want to miss this festival come fall. The event has had groundbreaking attendance in previous years, attracting between 2,000-3,000 people on average, representing a welcome mix of local residents and travelers from regions throughout the West Coast.
According to representatives of KCEDA, the event is on track to bring in record-high attendance, so get your tickets early at www.klamathbasinoktoberfest.com.
Located at the Bill Collier Ice Arena on the Running Y Ranch & Resort, the event will take place on Saturday, September 21st from Noon to 9:00pm.
As a regional gathering, The Klamath Basin Oktoberfest brings the community and tourists together to celebrate the remarkable brew, food, and entertainment options that exist right here in Southern Oregon. In addition to the many notable vendors participating at the event, there is also a wide selection of family friendly games and activities for people of all ages to enjoy.
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Around the State of Oregon
There are now 13 major and uncontained large wildfires across the state of Oregon
The combination of some rain and lower temperatures has kept fire fuels — such as grasses and timber — from quickly drying out enough to easily burn. Firefighters, who are facing a far tougher fire year than in 2023, have seized this as an opportunity in some locations across the state to make more direct attacks on existing blazes by extinguishing them at the perimeter instead of building containment lines farther away from the fire.
Still, firefighters have made considerable progress since early August. There are 404,000 acres currently burning in Oregon, compared to over 1.1 million acres at the beginning of August.
The Oregon State Fair Runs Through Monday, Sept. 2nd!
185 Acres of Amazing Things to Explore!!! https://oregonstatefair.org/
If you missed out on pre-fair deals , there are still ways to save on specific days.
Admission on opening day is $5 courtesy of sponsor Mattress Firm. The $5 tickets can only be purchased that day at the gates and is a half-price or better deal on regular admission for children 6-12 ($10) and adults 13-64 ($12). Fair admission is $3 for seniors (65 or better) and free for children 5 and under.
“Share at the Fair Day” is Wednesday, Aug. 28, with $2 off admission when you donate two cans of food. The deal cannont be combined with any other offer. The National Association of Women in Construction will build the state of Oregon and an Oregon Trail wagon out of nearly 10,000 cans of beans. After the fair, they’ll dismantle the sculpture and donate the cans to Marion Polk Food Share.
Free admission for children ages 6-12 is Thursday, Aug. 29, saving families $10 a kid. Ages 5 and younger are free every day during the fair.
“Heroes Day” is Monday, Sept. 2, with free admission for military, first responders, teachers, health care workers and their families.
Free parking passes are available with purchase at Oregon Wilco stores through Sept. 2, or while supplies last. The limit is one per purchase, with no minimum dollar amount required. Wilco locations include Salem, Silverton and Stayton. MORE INFO: https://oregonstatefair.org and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oregonstatefair
A 38-year-old Portland Public Schools math teacher thought he was chatting with a 13-year-old girl when he launched into a sexual roleplay and discussed driving to California to meet her, court records show.
Portland police and federal agents arrested Craig Douglas-Meyers at his Montavilla neighborhood home Friday following a tip from a Yorba City, California, police detective who had posed as an underage girl on an online chat forum last month, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
Douglas-Meyers, who is expected to be arraigned Monday afternoon on a single felony charge of luring a minor, is now on paid leave from his $96,500-a-year position at Hosford Middle School, according to a district spokesperson.
Following his arrest, the longtime teacher told investigators he had hidden his illicit cybersex habit from his wife, claiming the conversations were “just pretend” and a form of stress relief.
Triple AAA says travel will be busy for Labor Day Weekend
Many children have gone back to school and the days are getting shorter, but there is still one more excuse to use the swimsuits and beach towels before packing them up: Labor Day.
Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend as Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling.
The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday — a record for the Labor Day period.
AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9% higher than last year for the holiday weekend, while international trips are down 4%.
American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year.
Motorists are getting a break on gasoline compared with last year. The nationwide average was recently $3.44 per gallon, compared to $3.86 a year ago, according to AAA.
Crews responded to a para-glider crash on Mount Sexton Monday, according to a Facebook post from Rural Metro Fire.
After launching from the mountain, the glider clipped some trees and came down in an open area next to the access road leading to the communications and fire observation towers. Injuries were serious but did not appear life-threatening A Mercy Flights helicopter took the patient to a trauma hospital in Medford.
Medford Police Department has released information regarding the fatal shooting Saturday evening. The incident happened at an apartment complex in the 400 block of Berrydale road.
MPD says one resident fired on an intruder in self defense. Medford Police says officers were dispatched to the complex just after 6 p.m. Saturday, following a report of an unknown individual attempting to force entry into an apartment. Within minutes, a second call was received reporting gunshots at the same location.
Upon arrival, officers located a deceased male with apparent gunshot wounds, who preliminary investigations revealed had forced entry into the apartment and was advancing towards a resident with a knife. Another resident fired in self defense. The investigation is ongoing and MPD will provide further updates as information becomes available.
A fired employee of the Mill Casino in North Bend sent ominous messages to his former bosses, threatening to “burn that place to the ground” and that he was “this close to becoming a (expletive) terrorist,” according to a federal complaint.
William Allen Sherrill, 32, is accused of sending threats in late July after he was fired from the casino in June for making prior threats toward staff, FBI agent Hunter E. Fikes wrote in an affidavit signed this month. Employees were concerned because Sherrill several months before he was fired had inquired about where to buy a gun and about different gun ranges where he could practice, the affidavit said.
Casino staff had contacted North Bend police at least three times since June and police alerted FBI agents in Eugene on Aug. 1 after Sherrill informed staff he had access to a gun, the affidavit said. Some casino workers were so frightened by Sherrill’s threats that they opted to work from home, Fikes wrote.
Sherrill had previously dated another casino employee and was living with the employee until he stopped taking his medication and moved out, according to the affidavit. He was most recently living out of a car, casino employees told FBI agents, the affidavit said.
FBI agents attempted to call Sherrill in early and mid-August to assess why he was making such threats and if he had the capacity to carry them out, according to the affidavit. It’s unclear what Sherrill’s job was at the casino.
Oregon is poised to undergo a significant policy shift on September 1, as House Bill 4002 comes into effect, reinstating criminal penalties for the possession of hard drugs.
This new legislation marks a substantial reversal from Measure 110, which was passed in 2020 and decriminalized the possession of small amounts of various drugs while emphasizing treatment over criminalization. House Bill 4002 seeks to undo many of the changes enacted by Measure 110, particularly regarding hard drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
Under the new law, possession of these substances will again be subject to criminal charges, a move supporters believe will address concerns about public safety and drug misuse. Proponents of House Bill 4002 argue that reinstating criminal penalties is crucial for creating a clear deterrent against public drug use. They assert that this approach will ensure that individuals are aware of the serious consequences associated with drug possession, potentially leading to reduced drug use and improved public safety.
Local police officials have also voiced their support for the bill, stating that it will provide them with necessary tools to address drug-related issues more effectively.
Previously, under Measure 110, law enforcement had limited options beyond referring individuals to treatment programs, a situation they believe left gaps in their ability to intervene. However, the shift back to criminalization has faced significant criticism.
Opponents argue that reinstating criminal penalties could undermine the progress made in treating drug addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal one. They worry that this approach may lead to increased incarceration rates among individuals struggling with substance abuse, potentially worsen social and economic challenges.
Oregon State Hospital (OSH) has received a statement of deficiencies from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), following a survey that was prompted by a patient death in May 2024.
Surveyors also reviewed a second patient death that occurred in Nov. 2023. The deficiencies identified in the report relate to continuous rounds and viability checks; patient monitoring; screening of visitors; supervision of patient visits with family and friends; and quality of incident investigation and response. OSH has 10 calendar days to respond with a Plan of Correction (PoC).
Once CMS approves the PoC, they will conduct another unannounced survey to review implementation. OSH is expecting an unannounced verification survey encompassing four separate PoCs before a termination date of Oct. 24, 2024.
Klamath National Forest is inviting the public to provide comments on proposed fee changes at 35 developed recreation sites across the forest.
Comment period has been extended until September 30, 2024. In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which allows the Forest Service to retain funds collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain, and improve these sites. Of the revenue collected from recreation fees, 80% remains on the forest to operate, maintain, and improve facilities.
Raising the revenue collected through recreation fees would help the forest improve infrastructure at recreation sites and hire additional recreation staff during the season of operation. The resource derived through collection of fees helps provide quality recreation opportunities that meet the modern expectations of visitors and creates a more financially sustainable developed recreation program for the benefit of current and future generations.
Including the proposed sites, 68% (76 out of 111) of developed recreation sites would still remain free. Comments will be collected throughout the 2024 recreation season. Fee increases are not expected to take effect until 2025.
Some sites can be reserved through www.recreation.gov for an added $8 reservation fee. Additionally, these fee changes will be reviewed by a citizen’s advisory committee. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is reminding residents to be vigilant about tick safety as the warmer months see increased tick activity.
Ticks, which are more common during the spring and summer, can carry and transmit several diseases, making it important to take preventive measures.
The OHA recommends several key strategies to avoid tick bites. First, using tick repellent on exposed skin and clothing can be highly effective. It’s also crucial to check yourself frequently for ticks, particularly after spending time in grassy or wooded areas where ticks are commonly found. Wearing light-colored clothing can make it easier to spot ticks before they attach. Additionally, covering as much skin as possible with long sleeves and pants can provide extra protection against tick bites. By adhering to these guidelines, residents can significantly reduce their risk of tick-borne illnesses and enjoy the outdoors more safely this season.
An Oregon nonprofit is expanding its consumer advocacy services to include legal advice and representation.
Oregon Consumer Justice has worked the last few years to pass state and federal laws to protect consumers from scams and corporate schemes. It’s now rolling out personal legal services, related to auto, related to insurance, related to debt.
The goal is to be all-inclusive and serve a large demographic typically incapable of fighting large corporations, unlike Legal Aid – who does fantastic work there are no income requirements. It is statewide, as well.
The group has also released free educational materials and guidance for navigating common consumer challenges, like buying a used car.
OCJ aims to help consumers who have been taken advantage of. The nonprofit launched in 2020, funded by unclaimed settlement money paid by BP, after the oil giant was accused of ripping off Oregon customers.
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.
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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