The latest and most comprehensive coverage of local News, Sports, Business, and Community News stories in the Klamath Basin, Southern Oregon and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM / 102.5FM, The Herald and News, and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance. Call 541-882-6476.

 

Friday, Sept. 20, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Around the State of Oregon

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is using a new land use law to propose a rural area for a semiconductor facility, as officials seek to lure more of the multibillion-dollar semiconductor industry to the state.

Kotek has proposed expanding the city boundaries of Hillsboro, a suburb west of Portland that’s home to chip giant Intel, to incorporate half a square mile of new land for industrial development, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

The land would provide space for a major new research center. Oregon, which has been a center of semiconductor research and production for decades, is competing against other states to host multibillion-dollar microchip factories.

The CHIPS and Science Act passed by Congress in 2022 provided $39 billion for companies building or expanding facilities that will manufacture semiconductors and those that will assemble, test and package the chips. A state law passed last year allowed the governor to designate up to eight sites where city boundaries could be expanded to provide land for microchip companies.

The law created an exemption to the state’s hallmark land use policy, which was passed in the 1970s to prevent urban sprawl and protect nature and agriculture.

A group that supports Oregon’s landmark land use policy, Friends of Smart Growth, said in a news release that it would oppose Kotek’s proposal.   Under the 2023 state law, Kotek must hold a public hearing on proposed expansions of so-called “urban growth boundaries” and allow a 20-day period for public comment before issuing an executive order to formally expand such boundaries. This executive power expires at the end of the year. The public hearing on the proposed expansion will be held in three weeks at the Hillsboro Civic Center, according to Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency.

 

During a traffic stop in Eagle Point, police seized 43 boxes of marijuana — totaling more than 2,200 pounds — that were headed to Georgia. 

According to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, police stopped a white Mercedes Sprinter van with Georgia license plates that was heading eastbound on Highway 140 near Salt Creek Road. While they originally stopped the car for traffic violations, they found the cannabis inside.

“The driver had paperwork indicating the cargo was hemp. Investigators tested the product for THC content and confirmed the green, leafy substance contained more than 17% THC,” the release said. “Criminal charges are being reviewed by the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.”

 

Men Sentenced To Prison For Fentanyl Distribution

MEDFORD, Ore.—Three Oregon men were sentenced to federal prison Thursday for distributing fentanyl that caused the overdose death of a Medford teenager.

Hunter Fenstermaker, 23, a Medford resident, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and six years’ supervised release; Napoleon Gomez, 22, also of Medford, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and six years’ supervised release; and Conner Lee Francis, 27, of Portland, Oregon, was sentenced to 73 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release. All three were also ordered to pay restitution to the victim’s family. 

According to court documents, on September 7, 2021, officers from the Medford Police Department responded to a report of an overdose death of a local 17-year-old high school student. Investigators soon learned the teenager had taken a counterfeit Percocet pill containing fentanyl, and, within days, identified Fenstermaker, Gomez and Francis as the teen’s first-, second- and third-level drug suppliers.

On February 3, 2022, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a five-count indictment charging Fenstermaker and Gomez with distributing fentanyl, and Francis with possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

On April 9 and June 17, 2024, respectively, Fenstermaker and Gomez pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl to a person under twenty-one. On June 24, 2024, Francis pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

On May 14, 2024, a fourth individual—John Rocha, 31, of Medford—was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for his role in the Medford teen’s overdose death. Rocha was the teen’s fourth-level drug supplier.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Medford Police Department, and the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement Team (MADGE). It was prosecuted by Marco A. Boccato, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

MADGE is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-supported approach. MADGE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Medford Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices, the Jackson County Community Corrections, FBI, 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.

 

SERIAL BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Washington State man who admitted to committing at least ten bank robberies, including five while armed, was sentenced today to more than 23 years in federal prison.

Clifford Court Uptegrove, 61, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced to 280 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, on December 17, 2021, approximately 14 months after being granted a compassionate release from federal prison, Uptegrove entered an Umpqua Bank branch in Hermiston, Oregon, brandished a firearm, and demanded large denomination bills from one of the bank’s tellers. After Uptegrove collected more than $13,000 in cash, he fled the bank and attempted to steal an occupied truck in nearby parking lot.

Shortly after, a Hermiston police officer spotted Uptegrove and attempted a traffic stop. Uptegrove led the officer on a brief pursuit before stopping and being placed under arrest without further incident.

On January 19, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Uptegrove with armed bank robbery, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Later, on April 11, 2024, Uptegrove pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Hermiston Police Department and was prosecuted by Cassady Adams and Gregory Nyhus, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

 

Three more federal civil rights lawsuits were filed against Oregon Youth Authority staff Wednesday, alleging three different employees groomed and sexually abused youth and young adults who were in custody.

The latest litigation brings the total to six lawsuits filed against the Oregon Youth Authority this year. The suits also accuse supervisors of failing to intervene and report the sexual abuse. Custodial sexual misconduct charges are pending in Marion and Linn counties against two of the former Oregon Youth Authority staff named in the suits.

A lawyer from Oregon Justice Resource Center’s Youth Justice Project is calling for an ombudsperson to oversee the state’s youth correctional facilities to ensure youth are not subjected to “predatory behavior” by staff.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office is warnings businesses and residents about a new scam — where the scammer poses as law enforcement.

According to the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, the scammers will call businesses and tell them they are working on an investigation.  “[They will say they] need a list of their current clients along with their phone numbers/emails.

When the business gives the scammer the list, the scammer turns around and calls their customers requesting payment for the services that they are receiving,” the release said.

“This is a clever scam, because if you are a customer and know you may be owing money for the service, you are more apt to pay.”

JCSO warns business owners to be aware of this scam, and says a true investigator would give a search warrant or subpoena for an investigator.

“You can tell the ‘investigator’ on the phone that you will call them back, and then call the Office they claim to be with directly to verify the information. BE sure to look up the correct phone number versus calling the one the ‘investigator’ gives you,” the release said.

“Customers, if you receive a phone call like this, please use caution. You can do the same as business owners and offer to call them back after you look up the phone number versus [the] one they give you.”

 

Republican lawmakers in Oregon on Monday asked Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek to ensure the integrity of the state’s voter rolls following reports that some 300 noncitizens have been mistakenly registered as voters since 2021.

The mistake occurred in part because Oregon has allowed noncitizens to obtain driver’s licenses since 2019, and the state’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services automatically registers most people to vote when they obtain a license or ID.

An initial analysis by the Oregon Department of Transportation, which oversees the DMV, found that 306 noncitizens were registered to vote in what officials described as a “data entry issue” that happened when people applied for driver’s licenses. Of those, two voted in elections since 2021.

State and federal laws prohibit noncitizens from voting in national and local elections. Noncitizens include people who are in the country with legal status — such as green-card holders and temporary workers — and those without legal status.

In a letter emailed to Kotek’s office on Monday, Oregon Senate Republican Minority Leader Daniel Bonham asked her to consider implementing measures similar to those outlined in an executive order issued last month by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

The Republican governor directed state officials to certify the accuracy of voter lists by removing those who moved, died, or were unable to verify their U.S. citizenship. Kotek’s office did not immediately provide a comment. The DMV is checking for additional errors and will likely find more cases of registering noncitizens to vote, spokesperson Chris Crabb said.

Lane County, home to the city of Eugene and the University of Oregon, said its elections office was notified Friday that the DMV had mistakenly marked 11 noncitizens as eligible to vote in the county. After an audit, officials confirmed that none had returned a ballot. They were removed from the voter rolls and will no longer receive ballots, the county said in a Facebook post.

 

The federal government urged a U.S. District Court judge earlier this week to temporarily block a proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons, saying the combination would “almost certainly” benefit shareholders but not everyday shoppers.

Lawyers for the Federal Trade Commission gave their closing arguments at the end of a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon. The FTC wants U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson to issue a preliminary injunction that would block the deal while its complaint goes before an in-house administrative law judge.

Kroger and Albertsons proposed what would be the largest supermarket merger in U.S. history in 2022. The companies insist that the $24.6 billion deal would allow them to lower prices and more effectively compete with retail giants like Walmart and Amazon.

But the FTC says the deal would eliminate competition and lead to higher food prices for already struggling customers.

Susan Musser, the Federal Trade Commission’s chief trial counsel, argued Tuesday that Kroger and Albertsons primarily compete with each other and not places like Amazon or Costco, where consumers do other kinds of shopping. In their hearing testimony this month, the CEOs of Albertsons and Kroger said the merged company would lower prices in a bid to retain customers. They also argued that the merger would boost growth, bolstering stores and union jobs.

FTC attorneys have noted that the two supermarket chains currently compete in 22 states, closely matching each other on price, quality, private label products and services like store pickup. Shoppers benefit from that competition and would lose those benefits if the merger is allowed to proceed, they said.

The FTC and labor union leaders also argued that workers’ wages and benefits would decline if Kroger and Albertsons no longer compete with each other. They also expressed concern that potential store closures could create so-called food and pharmacy “deserts” for consumers.

 

The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying three suspects involved in two separate trespassing incidents and the unlawful take of a 5×5 bull elk.

The incidents occurred on Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, 2024.  In both incidents, the suspects were observed trespassing on private land near Crater Lake Avenue and Mcloughlin Drive in Central Point.

The suspects killed one 5×5 bull elk on Sept. 8, 2024, and left it to waste. On Sept. 10, 2024, another suspect attempted to kill another bull elk on the property but fled after being confronted by the property owner.

If you have any information, please contact the Oregon State Police via the Turn-In-Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-452-7888 or via email at TIP@osp.oregon.gov and reference case numbers #SP24295644 or #SP24297785.

Information provided that leads to an arrest or the issuance of a citation is eligible for a $1,000 cash reward or four Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife preference points.

 

Hundreds of students began settling down at Oregon State University on the university’s first organized move-in day on September 18^th.

Traditionally, move-in at OSU is held from September 18 through 19. OSU officials like Brian Stroup estimated on the first day more than 1,500 students arrived. That number is set to increase heading into the weekend with 4,500 students expected to arrive today, Friday.

Welcoming them to the university, staff has set up for them barbecues all over campus, and Benny Beaver has been walking around interacting with students. There are even options for students who don’t want to live in the dorms, as Stroup attests.

OSU enrollment has been increasing in recent years. That trend has continued in 2024. Staff have their hands full as each hour more and more students unload their stuff.

 

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is once again calling on the community for any information related to the disappearance of Bailey Blunt.

It’s been almost a year since she was reported missing after police say she reportedly went to get her belongings from her ex-boyfriend, Tyler Burrow. That was on September 22, 2023 at a location she had been staying at with Burrow off Berg Road and State Route 299. She was then reported missing on September 25, and Burrow was also reported missing just one day later.

Blunt’s green Dodge Ram was detected by a license plate reader in the Redding area on September 24.  Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office says it was also observed that day on a traffic camera in Central Point, Oregon. Then in November, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office located Tyler Burrow in a remote forest camp near Trail. He was arrested on warrant out of Trinity County that police say was unrelated to the missing persons investigation.

According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, throughout the investigation, officers have conducted multiple searches of the property she was last seen at. They have served numerous search warrants on vehicles, cell phones, electronic records, and other relevant properties throughout Humboldt and Trinity counties and even in Oregon.

Bailey Blunt is described as a white female, 5 feet 5 inches tall, around 200 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo of a trident on her neck and a fishing hook on her left hand. Blunt’s truck is dark green with a white hood with California license plate number 8T73126.

Anyone who has any information, or who has seen Bailey Blunt is asked to contact Investigator Jennifer Taylor with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division. Anonymous tips can be made by calling 707-268-2539 or emailing HSO@co.humboldt.ca.us.

 

Friday is another big night for birds in Oregon when a whopping 6.2 million birds are expected to fly over the state overnight.

Bird Alliance of Oregon is asking people to turn off unnecessary lights overnight to help birds migrating over the state as part of the “Lights Out, Oregon” campaign that runs during the peak migration times between April 22 and May 16 and Sept. 19 and Oct. 19.

Most birds migrate at night using stars to help guide them so lights out campaigns help reduce the light pollution that drowns out the stars and helps keep birds safely aloft on their journeys.

Bird Alliance uses alerts issued by Colorado State University’s AeroEcoLab using weather and atmospheric data to model bird behavior and determine which nights are “Red Alerts.” AeroEcoLab also works with Cornell University’s BirdCast program, which tracks bird migration. According to BirdCast, over 4 million birds flew across Oregon on Wednesday night and over 9 million were in the air at around 11:40 p.m., when that number peaked. Not all birds cross the state in one night, which is why the number of birds aloft is bigger than the number that crossed.

Monday night was an even bigger night – over 8 million birds flew across the state with over 16 million in flight at 1:30 a.m., peak time that night.

 

Consumers could soon have another option if they’re having beer, wine, or spirits delivered to their homes.

On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, Senator Jeff Merkley presented his United States Postal Service Shipping Equity Act before the Senate. The bill removes prohibitions on USPS that would allow the mail service to deliver alcohol like private companies FedEx and UPS already can.

Sen. Merkley says the purchasing habits of Americans have changed with more buyers turning to on line shopping for spirits.  If passed, the bill could pave the way for the struggling USPS to bring in an extra $190 million in revenue each year. Many rural homes cannot be reached by private companies, but because USPS is required to serve every home, this would enable those customers to receive deliveries.

Merkley’s bill requires that the spirits industry and wine and beer producers follow state and local laws. USPS must also set up regulations having shippers register with the Treasury which regulates alcohol, and recipients must be 21 with a valid ID. Those USPS shipments would not be able to go to commercial buyers.

 

Nearly $43-million in federal funds is headed to Oregon for natural disaster recovery.

Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Monday, September 16, 2024, that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is sending a total of $42,736,663 to state and federal agencies in Oregon to reimburse them for their work on road repairs and other infrastructures that were damaged during natural disasters.  Wyden said From Northeast Oregon to Southwest Oregon and many points in between, natural disasters have slammed communities throughout our state.

This federal aid will help Oregon cities and counties cover the expenses they incurred recovering from severe storms, floods and more. The teamwork with these communities has generated these crucial federal resources, and I’ll keep battling for similar funds when natural disaster strikes anywhere in Oregon.

The funds are a part of the U.S Department of Transportations FHWA Emergency Relief Program,which helps communities hurt by natural disasters and catastrophic events by providing federal funding for them to repair damaged roads, bridges, and more.

 

September is Sickle CellAwareness Month.

According to the CDC,Sickle Cell is an inherited blood disorder that produces abnormal hemoglobin. It causes red blood cells to become hard and shaped more like a “C” of sickle.

The American Red Cross urgesAfrican American and Latino blood donors to donate to help meet the transfusion needs of those battling sickle cell disease. Health officials say it is the most common inherited blood disorder in the US. Health experts say sickle cell disease impacts more than 100,000 people in America, most are of African descent or Latino descent.

Blood andplatelet donations are vital in helping sickle cell patients who are undergoinggene therapies and stem cell transplants. Some patients also need regular blood transfusions to alleviate pain and help manage their disease.

 

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.

 

Police in Oregon are warning of an increase in reports of a common email 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.

 

Oregon launched a new Be 2 Weeks Ready toolkit as part of Preparedness Month, to encourage people to be ready for any disaster.

Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s Kayla Thompson acknowledges it’s scary to consider needing to shelter in place or evacuate. But, she says, “I want people to feel empowered and not frightened.”

Thompson says the new online toolkit provides short- and long-term goals, like stocking up on favorite shelf-stable foods and water.  It can feel overwhelming to take all those steps and gather the supplies. But, you’re likely more prepared than you think. And, there are steps to take now that cost nothing.

They encourage folks to read the Be 2 Weeks Ready toolkit, start talking to their family, learn their local hazards. Do they live in a wildfire area? Are they more prone to ice storms? Situational awareness is really important, so just being signed up for alerts and knowing what could potentially happen in your area. And then, when you’re not in that season, wildfire season or ice storm season, being able to take steps towards your preparedness.

 

Left-wing Portland advocates for psychedelic drug use are hoping to put an initiative on the city’s 2026 ballot that would protect people who use what they call non-toxic and non-addictive plant- or mushroom-based psychedelic drugs from arrest.

The initiative “acknowledges millenia-old cross-cultural traditions of engaging with psychedelics for individual and community healing, creative expression, spiritual insight and personal growth,” the preamble of the draft initiative says, according to a copy shared by the Portland Psychedelic Society Action Fund, and “supports the autonomy to explore one’s consciousness and connection to a higher power.”

If the Portland Psychedelic Health Act lands on the Portland ballot in two years, it would be yet another salvo in Oregon’s recent efforts to soften drug laws. It follows 2020′s Measure 110, which was partially rolled back this year in response to concerns about the proliferation of public drug use, especially in Portland.

 

Oregon Lottery officials are urging people to check the bottoms of their purses and backpacks for any tickets they may have forgotten about and take them to the nearest ticket scanner.

Three unclaimed prizes worth over $50,000 are about to expire, they said, and the prize money will go back to the state if no one comes forward.

A Keno ticket purchased in the Salem zip code 97302 worth $58,372.20. It expires Sept. 21, 2024.  A Powerball ticket worth $150,000 purchased in the Bend zip code of 97701. It expires Oct. 9, 2024. A Powerball ticket purchased in the Wilsonville zip code 97701 worth $50,000. It expires Oct. 18, 2024. Officials said $7.5 million in unclaimed prizes went back to the state of Oregon last year.

Prizes worth $50,000 and more can be claimed by appointment at the Salem and Wilsonville Prize Payment Centers.

 

The WNBA is headed back to Portland with the Oregon city getting an expansion team that will begin play starting in 2026.

The team will be owned and operated by Raj Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. They paid $125 million for the franchise. The Bhathal’s started having conversations with the WNBA late last year after a separate bid to bring a team to Portland fell through.

It’s the third expansion franchise the league will add over the next two years with Golden State and Toronto getting the other two. The Golden State Valkyries will begin play next season and Toronto in 2026. Portland had a WNBA team, the Fire, from 2000 until 2002 when it folded. That franchise averaged more than 8,000 fans when games were play at the Rose Garden.

The new franchise will play at the Moda Center — home of the Trail Blazers. The Bhathals will build a dedicated practice facility for the team as well. The Bhathal family brings more than 50 years of experience in professional sports, including serving as co-owners of the Sacramento Kings and the controlling owners of the Portland Thorns of the NWSL.

Portland has been a strong supporter of women’s sports from the stellar college teams at Oregon and Oregon State to the Thorns. The Bhathals bought the soccer team for $63 million earlier this year. The franchise is averaging more than 18,000 fans this season.

The city also had the first bar dedicated to women’s sports — The Sports Bra. Both Gov. Tina Kotek and Senator Ron Wyden issued statements in support of the new franchise.

 

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.

 

 

Thanks for reading the the news on BasinLife.com from Wynne Broadcasting.

Ready to Advertise in 2024? Let’s get the word out for Summer! Call BasinLife.com at 541-363-7503. Or email us today at INFO@BasinLife.com with your name, business, and what you’re looking for. We’ll customize a plan fit for your budget.

We offer more local advertising opportunities than any one in the Klamath Basin. We’re ready to help you with the best radio and digital advertising in Southern Oregon.

You can receive Daily Radio Mentions across our 6 stations, Articles, direct link Banner Ads, floating Banner Ads on hundreds of article pages daily, Social Media Posts, geo-fencing and geo-targeting services, and also available are Email Blasts to thousands of local residents. We can also keep you updated with the latest smart digital marketing strategies for 2024 for your business. BasinLife.com is still the best value in the Klamath Basin for advertising, as we celebrate our 8th year promoting businesses!

For information or prices on plans, simply call us today at 541-363-7503 or email us at Info@BasinLife.com.  Let us keep your business top-of -mind!