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 29, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Around the State of Oregon

There are still 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 teenager from Grants Pass is headed to prison, found guilty of second-degree assault, but not attempted murder, after shooting another teen several times late last year.

18-year-old Joseph Lopez shot Andrew Ramirez just outside the front door of Medford’s Buffalo Wild Wings last December.

Lopez’s attorney argued Ramirez was also pulling a gun and Lopez fired in self-defense.  The jury started deliberating Friday and came back Monday afternoon.  They found Lopez guilty of second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.  Lopez was acquitted on charges of attempted murder and first-degree assault.  His sentencing is set for September 3rd.

 

A federal judge in Portland is hearing testimony about why the Kroger and Albertsons merger should be stopped.

The Federal Trade Commission has sued to stop the merger, and the three-week hearing will determine whether a temporary injunction will be issued to pause the merger while the case is heard. Kroger says the merger is needed to compete with Walmart and Amazon, but the United Food and Commercial Workers union says the best way to do that is open more stores.

The union argues the merger won’t lead to price reductions and it’ll result in store closings and layoffs.

 

The upcoming Labor Day weekend is shaping up to be the busiest on record at Portland International Airport. The TSA predicts nearly 270-thousand travelers are expected to pass through PDX from Thursday, August 29th through Monday, September 2nd.

That’s up more than seven percent over the same period last year. This year, it’s even more important that travelers arrive at least two hours before their flights to navigate the new terminal at PDX. There’s an updated terminal map at fly-pdx-dot-com.

 

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.

Labor Day Weekend traditions are rooted in the outdoors, and to keep things safe, the Oregon State Marine Board suggests taking the time to plan your on-water get away with the following tips:

Wear your life jacket. Each boat (including canoes and kayaks, inflatable boats, and stand up paddleboards) must have a properly fitted life jacket for each person on board and at least one sound-producing device. Life jackets need to be in good shape and readily accessible – not under a hatch or in their packaging. All youth younger than 13 must wear a life jacket when in a boat that’s underway. Since storage space is limited on paddlecraft, it makes the best sense to just wear a life jacket. So far this season, most of the victims of recreational boating fatalities were paddlers not wearing life jackets.

Know your waterway. “Take the time to get familiar with the waterway and know the inherent dangers,” says Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager for the Marine Board. “Look out for wood, other debris, and shallow gravel bars with low water levels.” Find out more about low water impacts on boat ramps by subscribing to the Marine Board’s Opportunities and Access Report.

Know what rules apply. There are all types of watercraft on the market; some are considered boats and others are pool toys. Boats are designed differently, and by state law, have specific equipment requirements. “If you plan to float in a river, keep in mind that pool toys are designed for use in a swimming pool, have no directional control, and can puncture easily. Float in a watercraft designed for a river; one which won’t easily puncture and comes equipped with a paddle so you can maneuver away from obstructions.” Paulsen adds. It’s state law that any boat with a motor, even temporarily mounted, must be titled and registered. Paddlecraft (including stand up paddleboards) 10 feet and longer are required to carry a Waterway Access Permit.

Boat Sober. Boating is a great social activity, and the Marine Board encourages boaters and persons floating on the waterways, to leave the alcohol on shore. It’s safer for everyone. If arrested for Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicants (BUII), violators can be fined up to $6,250; can lose boating privileges for up to three years and even serve jail time. Intoxicants include marijuana, illicit drugs, and even some prescriptions.

Sit on the seat inside the boat. Many boaters are tempted to ride on the swim platform, stern, sides, and bow of open motorboats. The stern can be a dangerous place for exposure to carbon monoxide and a prop-strike safety hazard. It is illegal to ride on the bow, decks, gunwales or transoms of a motorboat when the boat is underway. Sitting on designated seats is the safest option – especially when the boat is towing someone. Just because new boats have seats on the transom or swim step doesn’t make them legal for use when the boat is underway.

Slow down, keep scanning, and be courteous. Know the boating regulations for your area of operation. Boaters, including personal watercraft, are responsible for damage caused by their wake. Remember to slow down within 200 feet of a dock, launch ramp, marina, moorage, floating home or boathouse, pier or swim float, even if they don’t have a “Slow No-Wake” buoy or sign. Paddlers should stay closer to shore, crossing busy channels at right angles only when it is safe and allow motorboats to pass in deeper water. Be courteous, share the waterway, and recreate responsibly.

The top boating violations this summer include not having enough wearable life jackets on board, not carrying a waterway access permit, not carrying a sound signaling device, and not having a valid registration. So far this year, there have been 15 recreational boating fatalities in which not wearing a life jacket was the most common contributing factor.

For more information about equipment requirements, boating regulations, and ideas on where to go boating, visit the Marine Board’s website.

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), through its consumer advocacy, compliance, and enforcement teams, recovered $5,675,543 for Oregonians in the first half of 2024. DFR’s consumer advocates and compliance teams have recovered $5,195,749, while the enforcement team has ordered $479,794 in restitution.

DFR consumer advocates help Oregonians in a variety of ways, depending on the issue. They handle complaints and questions from Oregon consumers who are experiencing difficulties with insurance, mortgages, banking products, securities, student loans, and a variety of other financial services regulated by DFR. Advocates have extensive industry knowledge across many platforms and they analyze and resolve complex issues.

Through the first two quarters of 2024, advocates have received 2,827 complaints, with insurance cases topping the list with 1,733 complaints. Last year, DFR advocates handled 4,852 complaints, including 3,140 insurance cases (by far the largest area of work), and recovered more than $8.3 million. A list of 2024 complaints broken down by subject and quarter is below.

Here are a few examples of work DFR advocates have done this year:

• During the January 2024 ice storm, two seniors suffered damage to their home. Their power was out for a couple of days when a neighbor checked on them. They were suffering from signs of hypothermia due to the 18-degree temperature in their home. They were taken to the hospital and after returning home, they found a water pipe had burst, pouring water onto the floor and causing damage. They filed a claim with their insurer, which denied the coverage, stating that they were responsible for maintaining heat or taking precautions such as draining the water system. DFR’s consumer advocates got the company to reverse its decision and the consumers were paid more than $19,000 for their claim.

• A person died within the two-year contestable period of their life insurance policy. The company denied the claim, stating that medical conditions were not disclosed on the application. After reviewing the phone recordings between the agent and the person, there were incomplete medical questions asked during the application process that did not match the questions on the physical application. Because the agent omitted pertinent medical questions, the advocate convinced the insurer to pay the death claim – $304,697, including interest.

• A consumer filed a complaint after the auto insurer wrote a low initial estimate ($1,123) off photos only. The insurer’s estimator admitted the estimate was low, but planned to update it as the work was done. After receiving the complaint, our office requested the insurer send an on-site estimator, which resulted in a new estimate for $7,491.90, consistent with the shop’s estimate for the known damage.

“These stories illustrate just some of the many issues that come into our office every day and the multitude of ways that our consumer advocates can help,” said Andrew R. Stolfi, Oregon insurance commissioner and director of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. “Our staff work hard to help people sift through insurance and financial issues that are often extremely complex and we encourage the public to reach out to us with questions and concerns.”

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek appreciates how the division helps people in need.

“My administration will always be on the side of Oregonians when they need help,” said Gov. Kotek. “The team at Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation works hard every day solving complex cases and putting money back into the pockets of Oregonians.”

On average, DFR receives more than 1,200 complaints per quarter. In addition to the nearly 5,000 complaints last year, advocates handled 4,393 in 2022. Consumers sometimes bring issues that are outside of DFR’s regulatory authority. In those cases, the advocates refer them to the agency with jurisdiction over the matter.

The compliance teams have opened 86 cases so far in 2024 and recovered nearly $43,000 for Oregon consumers. The enforcement team has taken 49 actions so far this year and ordered nearly a half million dollars in restitution.

“Our team of people looks out for Oregonians. Our employees are extremely knowledgeable in a cross section of industry and believe strongly in what they do,” said DFR Administrator TK Keen. “Their work has generated more than $20 million back to consumers in the past two and a half years and the number of complaints continues to rise each year.”

Anyone who may need a consumer advocate can call 1-888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov for insurance-related issues or dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov for financial-related issues.

 

One person was killed and multiple people were injured in a head-on crash that closed U.S. Highway 20 east of Santiam Pass for several hours Tuesday, authorities said.  

Oregon State Police confirmed a fatality resulted from the two-vehicle head-on crash.  ODOT posted a TripCheck traffic advisory shortly after 11 a.m. of the crash near milepost 83, about two miles east of the Santiam Pass summit. Motorists were advised to use an alternate route.

The location is about eight miles east of Santiam Junction and 17 miles west of Sisters.

 

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.

 

The future of grasshopper and cricket control in Oregon is in the air after a district judge ruled against the overuse of pesticides by a federal agency.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Marco Hernandez in U.S. District Court in Portland ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had failed to consider controlling the pests with methods other than pesticides as required by law.

The USDA sprays pesticides on millions of acres in the West every year — including wide swaths of Oregon — to constrict the spread of insects, which can decimate crops and rangeland used by cattle.  Farmers have long struggled with the pests, with infestations rising in recent years.

Southern and eastern Oregon have dealt with some of the worst plagues of grasshoppers in decades that have destroyed millions of acres of farmland and killed crops that fuels their livelihoods.  But the two environmental groups that in May 2022 brought the suit — Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and the Center for Biological Diversity — say pesticides do harm in the long run.

 

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.

 

A Washington County, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for distributing counterfeit pills containing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a local woman.

Robert Lamart James McCollum, 35, was sentenced to 125 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

“This defendant cut short an innocent life and brought unthinkable tragedy to a local family. And yet, despite everything they have been through, Madolyn’s loved ones have used their experience to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills. Their efforts inspire all of us and will surely prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy,” said Natalie Wight, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“The investigation conducted by the Westside Interagency Narcotics team into Madolyn’s tragic death highlights the importance of conducting thorough inquiries into overdose deaths to ensure that those who engage in the business of selling fentanyl face justice. Holding dealers accountable is not just about enforcing the law; it’s about protecting our communities and preventing further tragedies. By shining a light on these crimes, we honor the lives lost and send a clear message that the destruction caused by illicit drugs will not be tolerated,” said Chris Gibson, Executive Director for the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.

“The Washington County Sheriff’s Office Westside Interagency Narcotics team works diligently to mitigate the fentanyl epidemic and the effects on the residents of Washington County. The WIN team takes seriously the responsibility of holding fentanyl dealers accountable, and seek to prevent the needless and premature deaths caused by their actions. Madolyn’s story, and the countless others, are the driving force behind the WIN team’s dedication to stop fentanyl trafficking and bring justice for the families of their loved ones,” said Commander Timothy Tannenbaum of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

According to court documents, on August 2, 2021, McCollum sold several counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to Madolyn, a twenty-year-old woman from Beaverton, Oregon. Later that evening, Madolyn took one of the counterfeit pills and fatally overdosed from acute fentanyl poisoning. Soon after, investigators, posing as the young woman, contacted McCollum and arranged an order for more Oxycodone pills. McCollum was arrested when he arrived to complete the sale. During a search of his vehicle, investigators found additional counterfeit pills and a firearm.

On September 21, 2021, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging McCollum with possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On May 21, 2024, McCollum pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

This case was investigated by the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott M. Kerin.

WIN is a Washington County, Oregon-based multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program that includes members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team rescued a hiker Sunday afternoon near Seiad Valley.

The sheriff’s office said on Sunday afternoon that the hiker was traveling southbound along the Pacific Crest Trail just outside of Seiad Valley when she slipped on a steep section of trail and severely injured her ankle. Unable to walk, the hiker activated an InReach device and alerted Siskiyou County Sheriff’s dispatchers to her predicament.

The sheriff’s office requested that the California Highway Patrol Air Operations fly over the pinged location of the hiker and attempt to rescue her. After locating the hiker about four miles south of the Seiad Valley trailhead, further attempts to extract her by helicopter failed, as the heavy tree cover and steep terrain prevented a safe access point for the flight crew, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office then determined that a ground crew would be necessary and summoned their Search and Rescue volunteers to locate and carry out the hiker on a wheeled litter. Dense brush and steep, rocky terrain made the 8-mile trip an all-night rescue effort, but the hiker was safely delivered to an ambulance just after 5 a.m. Monday morning.

 

PORTLAND, Ore.—An indictment was unsealed in federal court, charging the owners of a local real estate investment company with defrauding individual investors and commercial lenders out of more than $18 million.

Robert D. Christensen, 54, of Sherwood, Oregon, and Anthony M. Matic, 55, of Damascus, Oregon, have been charged in a 21-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.

According to the indictment, from approximately January 2019 through June 2023, Christensen and Matic are alleged to have devised and carried out a scheme wherein they convinced individual investors to fund the purchase and renovation of undervalued residential real estate properties. After renovating the properties, Christensen and Matic claimed they would rent the properties to generate income and then refinance them to extract their increased value from the renovations. The pair further misled investors into believing they would be repaid their full principal investment along with interest as high as eight to fifteen percent and a large lump sum payout, all within periods as short as 30 to 90 days.

Christensen and Matic’s scheme failed to generate the promised returns almost immediately and they began using new investments to repay earlier investors to keep their business afloat. When they were unable to raise enough money from new investors, Christensen and Matic are alleged to have devised a separate scheme to defraud commercial lenders. By December 2020, the pair began submitting loan applications with false financial information to different commercial lenders and, based on their misrepresentations, received millions of dollars in loans.

In total, Christensen and Matic’s two schemes defrauded individual investors out of more than $11 million and commercial lenders out of more than $7 million.

Christensen and Matic made their initial appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Both were arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and released on conditions pending a 7-day jury trial scheduled to begin on October 29, 2024.

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud are punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Money laundering in punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. All three charges may also result in fines of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gains or losses resulting from the offense.

This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Trisotto.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

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.

 

Ski season is still at least several months away, but the unusually cold storm that frosted West Coast mountain peaks late last week brought a hint of winter in August.

The calendar briefly skipped ahead to November as the system dropped out of the Gulf of Alaska, down through the Pacific Northwest, and into California.

Mount Rainier, southeast of Seattle, got a high-elevation dusting, as did central Oregon’s Mt. Bachelor resort.

Mount Shasta, the Cascade Range volcano that rises to 14,163 feet above far northern California, wore a white blanket after the storm clouds passed.  The mountain’s Helen Lake, which sits at 10,400 feet received about half a foot of snow, and there were greater amounts at higher elevations, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s Shasta Ranger Station.

In the Sierra Nevada, the Yosemite National Park high country received snowfall ranging from a quarter-inch to a half-inch on Saturday, said Carlos Molina, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Hanford, California, office.

The last August snowfall in that area occurred in 2003.  The storm was essentially a “one-off” because such systems normally move through the Pacific Northwest along the border with Canada toward the northern Rockies and then into the Great Lakes region

 

American rapper and singer Jelly Roll will perform at Portland’s Moda Center on Sunday, September 1 at 7p.m. as part of his 2024 ‘Beautifully Broken’ tour.

for the highly-anticipated show at a variety of price points, but slowly starting to climb as they begin to sell out.  Through a special arrangement, if you are purchasing tickets for the first time through Vivid Seats, use special discount promo code “Oregon20″ at checkout to save $20 on orders of $200 or more for the event you plan on attending.

Jelly Roll is an American singer and rapper from Tennessee. Born Jason Bradley DeFord, he is known professionally for his rap-country musical genre blending and rose to fame in 2022 with songs “Son of a Sinner” and “Need a Favor. On September 1, he will be at Portland’s Moda Center.

 

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.

 

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

 

Oregon Community Foundation Invests $1 Mil in Thought-Provoking Arts and Culture Around the State

A puppet musical about AI. Textile sculptures inspired by Taiwan’s past. Monuments and programs to honor Lane County’s historic Black neighborhood. These are just some of the 14 thought-provoking Oregon arts and culture projects that make up the newest recipients of Oregon Community Foundation’s annual Creative Heights grants.

OCF announced today it will invest more than $1 million in projects that celebrate bold creativity, elevate cultural voices and examine some of the deep challenges facing Oregonians. The initiative is made possible by a generous gift from the estate of Fred W. Fields, with additional funds in 2024 from the Wieden Family Foundation. Grants that range from $15,000 to $100,000 are designed to encourage projects that stretch the creative capacity of artists and culture bearers.

For example, in the southern Oregon town of Talent, the nonprofit Puppeteers for Fears will use its grant to stage a feature-length sci-fi musical comedy exploring the implications of AI in an immersive multimedia stage setting, performed by a team of puppeteers with live electronic music from a full band.

“We started Puppeteers for Fears with cardboard, duct tape and a stubborn refusal to let that limit the scope of our creative ambitions,” said Artistic and Executive Director Josh Gross. “This grant will make it possible for us to fully bring those ambitions to life on stage.”

“We’re incredibly proud to announce this group of 2024 Creative Heights awards. These projects are driven by boundless creativity and represent a mind-boggling cross-section of artistic talent across Oregon,” said Jerry Tischleder, Senior Program Officer, Arts and Culture, Oregon Community Foundation. “We’re humbled by the hundreds of artists who submitted proposals to share their gifts with broader communities. There is an incredible wealth of creative talent percolating across the state.”

Other grantees include:

Black Cultural Initiative for three permanent monuments to acknowledge and honor the erased and neglected history of Lane County’s first Black neighborhood and its remaining survivors.

In a statement, the Black Cultural Initiative shared, “There is a place where art and history meet today’s reality. It is in that space the Black Cultural Initiative aims to create a tangible narrative and permanent works of art that acknowledge the truth of where we have been – and honors those whose suffering paved the way for our progress, growth and greatness.”

Fuchsia Lin for “Perched on the Summit of Jade Mountain,” a series of textile art sculptures inspired by Taiwan’s past, present and future; to be worn and performed in by Taiwanese American dancers and performers in a short docufiction film.

“I’m so thrilled to receive the resources to take my work to the next level by exploring 3D printing technology to incorporate into my textiles and costume work,” said Fuchsia Lin. “Combining this new development with the subject matter of my Taiwanese culture is something I’m eager to dive into – I see this work with costume and film really elevating Taiwanese American voices to national recognition.”

Bruce Burris to curate, exhibit and archive personal narratives from former residents of Fairview Training Center, an Oregon institutional-residential facility that supported children and adults diagnosed with neurological differences.

“Mention Fairview Training Center and you will get a wide range of reactions,” said Burris. “The mission of this project is to broaden the archive of Fairview-related stories collected previously to include those who may have seemed on the margins 20+ years ago such as caregivers, friends, residents and families when the institution closed while using an interdisciplinary approach to collecting and sharing stories.”

Portland Hip-Hop artist Quincy Davis to produce an original Hip-Hop album shedding light on issues young people face, especially mental health, with teaching and mentorship to incorporate youth participants into the creative process.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity, supporting our ability to focus deeply on the work we’re called to do,” said Quincy Davis, Artist, Music Producer and Creative Director. “Creating music with lyricism, sharing about our journey of mental-health and sobriety, offering vital truths that may provide a light through the dark times. And also, supporting our work to offer a safe, creative community space for youth to share their voice, receive positive reflection, and recognize themselves as valuable members of our community.”

Taravat Talepasand and Christopher Whyte, both faculty members at Portland State University’s College of the Arts, to create a multidisciplinary, multimedia concert and exhibit of new musical and visual works by Iranian and Iranian-American women that supports women’s basic human rights and freedom.

“We are so overjoyed for the support of With Her Own Wings from the Oregon Community Foundation Creative Heights initiative! At this crucial moment in time when gender apartheid has taken hold around the world, we are grateful for this tremendous support which enables us to highlight the voices of Iranian and Iranian-American women, among a group of brilliant artist-collaborators, and create a truly collaborative project which brings attention to and works to overcome the erosion of women’s rights in Iran and around the world. Zan-Zendegi-Azadi (which translates as Women, Life, Freedom).”

The Weary Woman Support Group and Sunshine Band (Vaughn Kimmons) to develop an improvisation-based performance and album created by a collective of intergenerational Black Femme musicians, culminating in an album release event featuring performances from the collective.

“This funding is an investment in the well-being of Black women artists,” said Vaughn Kimmons. “My desire is that more Black women artists will be funded for their labor because we’ve become accustomed to being “everybody’s everything” but nothing to ourselves.”

Anis Mojgani to create and install “poetry objects” around the state of Oregon, using a combination of telephone/phonebooths, newspaper boxes and sandwich boards to deliver poems to the public.

“There’s no way I would be able to explore the possibility of this project without funding like the Creative Heights grant, but in addition to this, and probably more important, that funding like this exists allows for artists like myself to take borders off from around our limitations and start to more radically envision what imaginative possibilities can become tangible, and in receiving a grant like this, not only delivers funding but also a validation to the imaginings and creative pursuits of artists across Oregon.”

Tucker Maxon School for The Harmony in Hands project, three visual, tactile and auditory mural installations that celebrate ability-diversity and unity with an accessible, engaging, inclusive and interactive experience for deaf and hard of hearing children.

“We are incredibly honored to receive this grant and deeply grateful that it will enable us to bring our vision for the multi-artist ‘Harmony in Hands’ project with Tucker Maxon School to life in an interactive experience,” said Julia Alexis Hunkler Creative Lead and Muralist. “This support is a powerful step toward celebrating inclusivity through creativity within our community, and we are thrilled for the challenge and creativity ahead!”

Find a full list of the new Creative Heights grantees here.
About Creative Heights 

OCF’s Creative Heights initiative provides opportunities for artists and culture bearers to stretch their creative capacity, share new works and test new ideas. The initiative has invested roughly $1 million per year since 2014, encompassing 137 projects across a range of visual art, dance, folk and traditional arts, film/video/media, literary arts, museum exhibitions, humanities projects, music, theater and performance arts, history and heritage projects, and multidisciplinary artistic works. 

To learn more, please visit oregoncf.org.

 

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