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.
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Cloudy with a high near 66. West northwest wind 6 to 11 mph. Overnight, showers likely between 11pm and 4am, with a low around 44. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Students and staff of Klamath Union High School got an unexpected early dismissal Monday morning when an electrical fire on the third floor sent smoke throughout the academics building.
It was 10:30 a.m. when Klamath County Fire District 1 was alerted to a fire alarm coming from the KU campus. The fire originated inside one of the HVAC systems which pumped smoke through the building triggering the alarm and setting off the sprinkler system.
The fire captain said while that is the suspected cause, nothing about what started the fire is officially known until further investigation is made. There is no damage to any of the classrooms beyond water damage from the sprinklers, The school was evacuated without incident and parents were notified by the Klamath Falls City School District about the fire, and canceling of the remaining school day.
Teachers were also given the day off as power has since been shut off to the school. Moving forward, it is the hope of the school district and Klamath Union’s Principal Rod Heyen to have school proceed as normal on Tuesday as long as it is deemed safe to do so by KCFD1 working with electricians and school district maintainers. The fire district will continue investigation of the fire’s cause.
Klamath County Elections was notified by the Secretary of State that there were potential Non-
USA Citizens registered to vote in Klamath County per an error from the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles. Elections sent this press release to BasinLife.com:
The received information had one (1) non-USA citizen in Klamath County, whom has never
voted. The directed steps have been followed and no ballot will be issued. We will continue to respond promptly to any notices received regarding this issue. We will also do a press release as soon as practicable, once information is received.
If you have evidence that a person may be unlawfully registered to vote, please send your
evidence and the information to elections@klamathcounty.org. If you have questions, please contact our office at (541)883-5134.
In a related story today, the Oregon DMV acknowledged Friday afternoon that it mistakenly registered at least 306 non-citizens as voters since 2021. Expect this number to rise according to sources.
This is a problem happening all over America where non-citizens are getting on the voter roles while state and federal law states that non-citizens are prohibited from voting in national or local elections.
The mistake occurred in part because Oregon has allowed non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses since 2019 and the DMV automatically registers most individuals to vote when they obtain a license or ID, according to Kevin Glenn, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, which oversees the DMV.
Glenn said an initial analysis by the state transportation agency revealed 306 non-citizens were allowed to become registered voters. Of those, only two have cast a vote in any election since 2021, Glenn said. He also clarified that the issue is statewide, not limited to any specific county.
Oregon currently has more than 3 million registered voters, meaning 300 or so would represent only a fraction of potential voters who could cast ballots. Many states around the nation have already noted that thousands of non-citizens have already gotten on voter roles prior to the election ahead.
If you lost power in the Klamath Falls area over the weekend, you weren’t alone. Around 2,986 customers are without power in Klamath Falls, according to Pacific Power’s outage map.
According to the outage map, the cause was damaged equipment. Power was restored to most customers after a couple of hours, but others waited longer for their power to be restored. No other information was available from PP and L.
Cooler temperatures and recent rainfall have resulted in the fire danger level at Crater Lake National Park being reduced from Extreme to High.
On Friday, Sept. 13, park officials rescinded the fire ban implemented on July 25. In a news release park officials noted that “to ensure public safety and to provide the highest degree of protection to park resources,” there are restrictions to apply to fires in the park. Among the restrictions are those involving campfires.
According to the release, the lighting or maintaining of fires is generally prohibited, except as provided for in the following designated areas or receptacles, and under the various conditions. Fires at the Mazama Campground are allowed only in grills or grates provided in designated campsites.
In park or concession, residential areas fires are allowed only by residents and their guests, within grills and/or fire grates that fully contain the fire. In addition, it is required that fires be fully contained within established fire grills, grates or rings. No bonfires, defined as large fires that spill outside of the fire receptacle, are permitted. Also prohibited is the use stacks of flammable material, such as cardboard boxes or wood pallets or have excessive flame heights that could easily become uncontrolled. It is also required that fires must be constantly monitored while burning and completely extinguished after use.
Park officials also emphasized that fireworks are prohibited in the park at all times
Klamath Connections, a new multi-agency task force, aims to reduce homelessness in Klamath County.
Formed in response to Klamath County’s strategic plan — a community-focused vision plan that lays out a course of action for the next five years by establishing priority goals for the county. The strategic plan is outlined by five dynamic pillars— economy, public safety and health, housing, recreation and high-performing government.
Each pillar has set objectives and county activities aimed to foster a safe and thriving community that cultivates economic opportunity, honors Klamath County’s unique natural beauty and forms community connections. Creating Klamath Connections is one objective of the strategic plan.
Current Chairman of the Board of Klamath County Commissioners Dave Henslee said that the county’s strategic plan was framed with input from more than 1,200 community members who responded to either online surveys or by participating in a series of town halls and workshops that took place before the plan’s inception. Henslee, former Klamath Falls police chief, said that before his time as a county commissioner, he would routinely hear from the public regarding homelessness in Klamath County.
Klamath County citizens aren’t alone in their concern for the homeless population, according to an Oregon Values and Beliefs Center survey performed statewide in August 2023, more than 40 percent of Oregon adults answered that homelessness is the most important issue in the state, and more than 13,000 people are unsheltered in Oregon, according to the most recent PIT (point-in-time) count by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) released in January 2024.
While formed as a task force, Klamath Connections is better thought of as a coalition of local organizations that includes Integral Youth Services (IYS), Klamath Lake Community Action Services (KLCAS), Department of Human Services (DHS), Klamath Housing Authority, among others. Klamath County’s PIT Count in January showed that 33 individuals are unsheltered with 42 more identifying as sheltered (in either a vehicle or a community facility). Strikingly, gathering their numbers from local school districts, HUD found that in Klamath County 583 children were considered homeless.
IYS operations director Bethany Osborn said Klamath Connections seeks to do more than “just place a band-aid” on local homelessness, but to also identify barriers and develop skills to help successfully house them for the long term. The task force is looking for more organizations and individuals to come together and is open to any creative and viable solutions regarding homelessness.
To get involved with the group, email Bethany Osborn at bethanyosborn@iyskfalls.org or Kenzie Bispham at makenzieb@klcas.org
EagleRidge High School in Klamath Falls recently painted over a suicide awareness mural, upsetting the group of former students who painted the mural years ago.
The previous mural had monarch butterfly wings with a semi-colon in the middle, a common symbol for suicide prevention and awareness, with the words “You Belong Here” written above them.
One of the painters, Jaden Connolly recently saw that the mural was covered up, prompting emotions and a Facebook post directed to the school to learn why.
The school responded to her Facebook post saying, “It is a new school with a new administration.”Connolly still feels this explanation is not enough, wanting a better reasoning for why the mural couldn’t stay. She added that it makes no sense, why would the new administration want to cover up such a strong message? It makes no sense at all, she said.
The Middle Fork Fire remains at 5,286 acres burned and 70% contained, according to a news release from the U.S. Forest Service.
The fire perimeter continues to hold with no new growth. Reconnaissance flights over the fire area revealed no significant heat sources the Oregon Department of Forestry said in a news release. Crews have completed suppression repair operations along the Pacific Crest Trail and will continue to monitor the fire via vantage points and with a helicopter while also completing suppression repair work east of Route 230 in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Residents wanting information about current park conditions can call Crater Lake National Park at 541-594-3000.
Wildfires are burning more than 40,000 acres in Lake County this week as available resources dwindle across Oregon.
A lightning-caused wildfire in Lake County nearly doubled since Wednesday, now listed at more than 5,000 acres and 0% contained. The Buck Creek Fire is burning heavy timber about 12 miles southwest of Silver Lake, an area described as “primitive” with “limited road access,” according to reports on Inciweb.
Evacuation orders and warnings are in place with Level 3 “Go Now!” orders for a region just east of Little Yamsay Mountain and southeast of Dillon.
Burning since Sept. 7, the Buck Creek Fire has exhibited extreme fire behaviors including running, torching, crowning and long range spotting. By far the largest of the Lake County blazes, the Flat Top Fire is burning more than 30,000 acres in the northernmost portion of the county around Flat Top Butte.
Neighboring the large-scale blaze is the Firestone Fire, located a mile north in Deschutes County, which is currently burning upwards of 6,500 acres. Though the burn footprints are largely open desert, Pacific Northwest Team 3 Operations Section Chief Nathan Goodrich said in that the wildfires threaten important infrastructure, including a BPA power line, the Cabin Lake Guard Station and the power and substations at Sand Creek.
Truck drivers passing through Klamath Falls and some other areas in Oregon will be able to pick a free meal this week.
The free meals are made possible through a collaboration between the Oregon Trucking Association (OTA) and the Oregon Department of Transportation to celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.
Drivers have five opportunities across the state to pick up a free meal.
Today, Monday, they can stop by the Cascade Locks Port of Entry in the Columbia River Region at 11:30 a.m. Then on Tuesday, meals will be given out at the Juniper Butte Scale on Highway 97 approximately 13 miles south of Madras. Also at 11:30 a.m. On Wednesday, drivers can get breakfast at 7 a.m. at the Klamath Falls Port of Entry in the Eastern Cascades Region. Then lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. at the Ashland Port of Entry in the Siskiyou Region.
Finally on Thursday, drivers can stop by the Woodburn Port of Entry in the Willamette Valley Region at 11:30 a.m.
According to the OTA, there are 22,690 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the state as of 2024. These drivers are responsible for transporting almost 91% of manufactured tonnage in Oregon.
KLAMATH COUNTY ROAD WORK SCHEDULE
What better way to welcome fall than with an Oktoberfest? The Klamath Basin’s take on the traditional festival includes plenty of local brews, food, and live music, not to mention the contests.
There’s Stein holding, a best-dressed contest, and a People’s Choice Award for favorite drink. It all takes place on Saturday, September 21st at the Bill Collier Ice Arena, 5075 Fox Sparrow Dr.
Event manager, Andrew Stork says they try to have beers that are served by the representative of up and coming brewers. He added it’s an opportunity for those breweries that are making a name for themselves to gain more exposure as they continue to grow.
You can pick up tickets at www.klamathoktoberfest.org for either $10 or $25 depending on if you’re partaking in the drinks. And remember, don’t forget your Lederhosen.
Win-R-Insulation, Inc. wants you to know of a special partnership with EnergyTrust of Oregon where you may be able to qualify for a FREE CEILING INSULATION PROGRAM.
Click here for full details: https://www.basinlife.com/2024/07/08/win-r-insulation-announces-free-ceiling-insulation-program-click-here-for-info/
Linkville Players Present “Dial M For Murder”
As autumn starts to fall and the spooky season begins to creep up on the Klamath Basin, so does the 2024-25 theater campaign as the Linkville Players present “Dial M for Murder.”
A new version of the celebrated murder mystery that inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s film of the same name, Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of the classic suspense thriller is a smart, tight, compelling update of Fredrick Knott’s tale of jealousy, deception and homicide as Tony Wendice is convinced that his wife, Margot, has been cheating on him.
“Dial M for Murder” stars local talents Sarah Tyson, Justin Barker, David Archuleta, Clinton Woodhams with Jared McCleve as Tony Wendice and Corrie Judd as Margot.
“Dial M for Murder” opens this Friday, Sept. 13, with an opening night gala starting at 6:30 p.m. The play will run for three weekends ending on Saturday, Sept. 28 with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with one Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Sept. 22. The Linkville Playhouse is located at 201 Main Street in Klamath Falls.
Around the State of Oregon
The Oregon DMV has acknowledged that it has mistakenly registered at least 306 non-citizens as voters.
This is a problem happening all over America where non-citizens are getting on the voter roles while the state and federal law states that non-citizens are prohibited from voting in national or local elections. Expect this number to grow as the investigation continues.
The mistake occurred in part because Oregon has allowed non-citizens to obtain driver’s licenses since 2019 and the DMV automatically registers most individuals to vote when they obtain a license or ID, according to Kevin Glenn, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation, which oversees the DMV.
Glenn said an initial analysis by the state transportation agency revealed 306 non-citizens were allowed to become registered voters. Of those, only two have cast a vote in any election since 2021, Glenn said. He also clarified that the issue is statewide, not limited to any specific county.
Oregon currently has more than 3 million registered voters, meaning 300 or so would represent only a fraction of potential voters who could cast ballots. Many states around the nation have already noted that thousands of non-citizens have already gotten on voter roles prior to this election ahead.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he is co-sponsoring a bill that would address food insecurity among college students, ensuring they can focus on their education without fear of sacrificing meals to pay for school.
College students often face severe restrictions on their ability to access and use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits unless they meet certain conditions, such as working more than 20 hours per week or having young children. This barrier ignores older students who are juggling school, work, and family responsibilities.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found almost 60 percent of potentially eligible students were not enrolled in SNAP, highlighting how current eligibility requirements are leaving food-insecure students behind. The Student Food Security Act would support those students by expanding eligibility for SNAP, allowing students to use SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilities, increasing outreach by federal and state agencies to food-insecure students, and establishing an annual grant program to aid colleges and universities in better identifying and serving students with food and housing needs.
Specifically, the Student Food Security Act would increase the SNAP eligibility of low-income college students by expanding eligibility to students who qualify for work study, have a $0 Student Aid Index, meet the financial eligibility criteria for a maximum Pell Grant (even if they have not filed the FAFSA), or are an independent student whose household is otherwise eligible. This would make permanent an expansion of SNAP eligibility that was first enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, it increases outreach to eligible students by directing the U.S. Department of Education to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and other relevant agencies to notify students they may be eligible for benefits when they file their application for federal student aid.
In the wake of recent school shootings and threats of violence towards schools around the country, officials in Oregon are reminding parents and students about SafeOregon.
The website and app is managed by Oregon State Police with the sole purpose of allowing anonymous reporting of any threats or dangerous situations to proper officials. Reports that are filed are sent to proper school or law enforcement officials.
The program recently came in handy on September 12 when a tip came in through the site about a “potential threat” towards Thurston High School in Springfield. In an email to parents, principal Kimberlee Pelster told parents that situation was resolved when the threat was deemed “not credible” after a law enforcement investigation.
Director of Communications for Springfield Public Schools, Brian Richardson, said SafeOregon is a valuable tool that parents and students use multiple times a year in their district.
In a press release, Oregon State Police said SafeOregon can also be used to report cyerbullying or friends and peers discussing harm or suicide. Fights can also be reporting through SafeOregon according to Richardson. Richardson said that as a school district, Springfield Public Schools is trying to make these reporting tools more accessible.
In December 2023, the school district added a prominent tab on their main home web page titled “Safety Concern.” The page gives families and students access to SafeOregon as well as another link to report instances of bullying. Richardson said on top of these anonymous web tools, it is encouraged to speak face-to-face to trusted adults as well.
The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians are suing the federal government in an attempt to stop Oregon’s first-ever offshore wind energy auction scheduled to take place next month.
The lawsuit, filed late on Friday, challenges the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s environmental analysis and decision to proceed with the sale of leases for two offshore wind energy areas totaling nearly 195,000 acres, one near Coos Bay and the other near Brookings. It’s one of many legal challenges filed in recent years by local governments, fishing, environmental and other groups seeking to stop offshore wind surveying and construction on both the West and East coasts.
The agency finalized the lease sale and its provisions three weeks ago, announcing the auction will take place on Oct. 15. Four out-of-state companies and one Oregon-based developer are set to bid on the leases.
Oregon’s wind energy areas are within the confederated tribes’ ancestral territory. The tribes say they contain critical fish and marine wildlife habitat, viewsheds of significant cultural and historic significance and key tribal and commercial fishing grounds — all of which could be damaged by offshore wind, creating irreparable economic and cultural losses for the tribes.
Linn County, Ore. –Oregon State Police investigating officer involved shooting in Linn County.
On September 14, 2024, at approximately 12:42 a.m., Linn County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in rural Linn County, near Scio. Oregon State Police located the suspect vehicle on Shimanek Bridge Drive, off Richardson Gap Road. Upon arrival, troopers found the suspect armed and in the driver seat of the vehicle.
While officers were in contact with the suspect, the suspect discharged his firearm. The Linn County Regional SWAT Team, along with the Crisis Negotiation Team, were deployed to the scene. Officers spoke with the suspect on scene in an attempt to resolve the situation.
During the standoff with officers, the SWAT Team approached the suspect. The suspect pointed a firearm at officers and was shot. The 46-year-old suspect, identified as David Tobias Tyler, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The involved Benton County Sheriff’s deputy has been identified as Sergeant Daniel Ball (6 yrs.). No officers were injured during the incident.
The pedestrian was treated and released from the hospital.
The Linn County Regional SWAT Team is a multi-agency unit consisting of personnel from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Albany Police Department, and Sweet Home Police Department.
The Oregon State Police will be conducting the primary investigation in conjunction with the Linn County District Attorney’s Office.
Thousands of Oregon workers returned to the office last year, according to new federal data, but the share of people working remotely at least part of the time remained more than twice as high as before the pandemic.
More than 360,000 Oregonians were working from home in 2023, nearly 18% of workers statewide. That’s according to newly released numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The only state with a higher share of remote workers than Oregon is Colorado, where nearly 20% of people are working from home.
The states with the smallest share of remote workers are Louisiana (8.1%) and Mississippi (6.4%).
Nationwide, about 14% of American workers are doing their jobs remotely, according to the annual survey, which asked whether people usually worked from home in the prior week. Remote work spiked during the pandemic as offices closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It stuck around because employees discovered they liked the flexibility of being able to work from home and the convenience that came from skipping the daily commute to the office. Workers have been gradually returning to the workplace since 2021.
Big Oregon employers like Intel, Nike and the city of Portland have been encouraging — or requiring — their workers to spend more time in the office.
On Saturday morning, September 14, a Medford Police Department (MPD) Patrol Officer was conducting extra patrol at the Delta Waters Car Wash located at Crater Lake Hwy/Delta Waters Rd.
The officer made contact with the occupants of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot and discovered that one of the occupants had just been assaulted with a knife and that the suspect had fled just prior to the officer’s arrival. The 44-year-old male victim was transported to a local hospital where he is in stable condition. Officers immediately established a perimeter in the area and an on-duty Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy K9 assisted with a search of the area. The suspect was not located.
An MPD Detective responded to the scene and has interviewed involved parties and witnesses. Detectives are developing suspect information and at this time, we are not releasing a description or name of any suspected involved people. It is believed that the victim and suspect know each other, and this was an assault stemming from a previous disagreement. This investigation is on-going and further information will be released when it becomes available. Reference MPD Case number 24-15042
Copycat Threats to Oregon Schools
While an arrest was made of a former student at Henley High School in Klamath Falls last week, threatening a school principal, Central Point Oregon School District 6 says there is “no credible threat” to Crater High School after a TikTok post that threatened violence towards the school.
In a Facebook post, the school district said the post “referenced schools across the country as potential targets for violence.”
When a concerned parent told the district about the TikTok post, the school district called the police, the post said. “After a thorough investigation, it was confirmed that the individual responsible for these posts has been arrested in Nevada,” the post said.
“The post mentioned numerous schools across the nation, state and region including Crater High School, but there was no credible threat directed specifically at our school.
The school district says they still increased patrols from local police today to give students and parents “an extra sense of security.”
The Medford Police Department is alerting the public to a blackmail extortion scam that has emerged in the community.
Victims have reported receiving emails from individuals claiming to have personal, incriminating information and demanding payment via Bitcoin to prevent its release. This is a scam.
Medford Police say “We strongly advise the public not to pay the ransom. If payment is made, the scammer will likely continue to exploit the victim for more money. Instead, delete these emails like any other junk mail. If the emails persist, contact the Medford Police Department. Online scam artists are continually evolving their tactics. To protect yourself: Do not open emails from unknown senders. Do not click on suspicious attachments. Be cautious when interacting with unfamiliar individuals on social media.”
If you’ve received these emails, report them to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center: www.ic3.gov.
Police are also warning of an increase in reports of a common scam. The scammer sends an email to the victim with their name in the subject line, their address and phone number.
An attached file includes personal information and a photo of their residence. They claim they will send compromising photos or information to everyone on their contact list if they’re not paid in a day.
Police say the extortion scam almost always goes nowhere. Attachments can contain malware and shouldn’t be opened. Police want anyone who lost money to the scam to report it.
TASK FORCE BUSTS PHOENIX BLACK-MARKET CANNABIS GROW CONNECTED TO ILLEGAL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MARIJUANA OPERATION; CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES $26K IN FINES
In the Rogue Valley, the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives served a search warrant this morning at a black-market cannabis grow in the 4000 block of Fern Valley Road in rural Phoenix.
IMET detectives seized approximately 6,054 illegal marijuana plants at the property in 20 greenhouses. During the initial investigation detectives learned the Phoenix property was connected to a black-market marijuana growing operation in Northern California.
There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location. IMET was assisted by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies, and Oregon State Police (OSP) detectives.
IMET arrested one suspect on the property and charges are being referred to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for another suspect. The suspect arrested was Yuhua (AKA Shirley) Hong, 44, of Montague, Calif. She is charged with three felony counts including unlawful possession, distribution, and manufacture of a marijuana item.
During the search warrant, Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene and issued a total of $26,000 in fines to the responsible party. Fines were for violations related to unpermitted construction, solid waste, and operating a marijuana production area in violation of land use approvals. The Oregon Water Resources Department Enforcement section also responded to investigate the water usage. Further charges for water violations may be added at a later time.
While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, Homeland Security Investigations, OSP, Medford Police Department, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.
Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads. No further information is currently available for release.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) wants you to leave your firewood at home in effort to avoid the spread of an invasive insect in state parks and protect ash trees in the state.
According to OPRD, the emerald ash borer (EAB) has presented itself as of the most destructive forest pest in North America, killing hundred of millions of ash trees across the county and has been detected in four Oregon counties: Washington, Yamhill, Marion and Clackamas.
The department says the detection has prompted a permanent quarantine in those Oregon counties The departments Natural Resource Coordinator and Ecologist Noel Bacheller says so far the EAB hasn’t been detected in Oregon State Parks, “[A]nd we would like to keep it that way for as long as possible.”
OPRD says visitors should leave behind anyash, olive and white fringe tree firewood and materials at home and instead opt for certified heat-treated firewood or firewood.
Boaters are being warned about low levels on the Columbia and Willamette rivers.
That’s the message from the National Weather Service in Portland, which says submerged items could be potentially exposed or just below the surface of the river at least during low tide. Officials say boaters should avoid going out during low tide while the river levels are low and instead go out during high tide.
Tide information is available on the National Weather Service website.
September is National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month
Take time this month to spread awareness about all the resources we have available in our community for prevention, treatment and substance abuse recovery.
September is also Suicide Prevention Month. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. There are numerous resources available for you and your loved ones. Reach out to friends and family today, a conversation can save a life.
#SuicidePrevention #YouAreNotAlone #988 #youmatter
If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. Please call or text the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or text HELLO to 741741.
The application deadline for the new EBT program has been extended to midnight Sept. 30, 2024.
The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access.
Eligible families should act now. Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) urge families to check their eligibility and apply before the extended deadline.
Remember, once benefits are received, they must be used within 122 days. Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28, 2024, if their households:
Participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Are Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members in households with incomes under 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT. However, families who did not receive benefits automatically, particularly those with children enrolled in a school during the 2023-2024 school year who were eligible for the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs, should still apply to determine their eligibility.
Families are encouraged to visit sebt.oregon.gov or contact the Summer EBT Call Center to verify their eligibility.
When Kayla Fossek walks through the grounds of the Pendleton Round-Up, wearing white leather chaps and a flower-covered cowboy hat, she’s hard to miss.
People often stop her to chat, take photos or simply share their congratulations. She is, after all, rodeo royalty. Fossek, 23, is this year’s Round-Up queen. A descendant of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Fossek is the first Native American to hold the title since 1953.
The Pendleton Round-Up has been held annually since 1910. Each September, the rodeo draws tens of thousands of visitors to a remote corner of Eastern Oregon. Fossek, a graduate of Pendleton High School, is now steeped in that culture.
At 16, she started working for Toni Minthorn, a professional horsewoman and coach of the Round-Up Court. A few years later, Fossek tried out to be a princess for Happy Canyon, the rodeo’s evening show. She was selected to the all-Native court after completing an interview and a riding test. In 2020, she was named a princess on the Round-Up Court, a position she held for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Becoming the Round-Up queen makes her the first person to have held all three titles.
Since being named queen last fall, Fossek and her princesses have traveled to events, rodeos and schools around the region, generating excitement for the Round-Up. They also have spent many hours practicing for the run-in: the thrilling moment when they sprint into the stadium on horseback and kick off the rodeo. Fossek rides Red, a dark sorrel gelding with a flaxen mane and tail.
The members of the Round-Up Court aren’t paid for their duties, though the rodeo covers their travel expenses and leatherwear.
An Oregonian just made his way to the International Space Station for the fourth time.
Silverton’s Don Pettit just arrived at the ISS Wednesday aboard a Soyuz Spacecraft which was also carrying two Russians. The rocket launched successfully from a facility in Kazakhstan and docked with the ISS after orbiting the Earth twice.
This is Pettit’s fourth trip to the space station, but his first in 12 years. His current trip is set to last for the next six months where he will be doing physics experiments among other duties.
The drive-thru chain Dutch Bros said Monday that it will donate its former corporate headquarters in downtown Grants Pass to the Oregon Center for Creative Learning, which operates a preschool and children’s museum.
Dutch Bros will retain a corporate office in Grants Pass, about six miles north of downtown on North Valley Drive. The company moved its formal headquarters from downtown Grants Pass to the North Valley Drive office earlier this summer, months after it moved many of its corporate functions out of state.
The company valued Monday’s donation at $2.7 million. Dutch Bros is one of Oregon’s largest companies, operating more than 900 drive-thrus in 18 states.
Earlier this year, though, the company moved many corporate jobs from southern Oregon to new offices near Phoenix, Arizona. CEO Christine Barone works in Arizona, though Boersma still lives in Oregon.
Dutch Bros said the move to Arizona gave it easier access to a large airport and brought it closer to its fastest-growing markets, in Texas and other southern and southeastern states.
The city of Ontario, Oregon, will celebrate its legacy this month as the birthplace of one of America’s greatest culinary creations: the tater tot.
In 1953, brothers F. Nephi and Golden Grigg created the very first tater tots in their Ore-Ida factory, located on Oregon’s border with Idaho.
In honor of that history, the nonprofit Revitalize Ontario will hold a two-day event Sept. 20-21 celebrating the tot, including novel tater tot dishes, live music and a car show. The first festival in 2021 proved so popular, they actually ran out of tots. In subsequent years – with a steady tater tot supply thanks to sponsor and tater tot producer Simplot – the festival has grown to include a tater tot dish competition among the event’s food vendors.
Klamath & Lake Long-Term Recovery Group Asking For Donations For Chiloquin Copperfield Fire Victims
The Chiloquin community was struck by the devastating Copperfield Fire in the Chiloquin/Sprague River area.
While firefighters continue to battle the blaze, this wildfire has affected 19 structures, including at least 8 homes. The journey to recovery from such a disaster is long and challenging, often taking months or even years.
To support the survivors in rebuilding their lives, we need crucial funds to provide them with the necessary resources. Together, as a community, we can help these families—moms, daughters, sons, dads, just like you and me—get back on their feet. Let’s unite to offer hope and support to those who need it most. Every penny counts, 100% of the Proceeds go to assisting survivors. Klamath & Lake Long-Term Recovery Group is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity.
PLEASE DONATE WHAT YOU CAN HERE: https://givebutter.com/vqPqGk
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