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Monday, Sept. 23, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Sunny, with a high near 81. Light east northeast wind. Overnight, mostly clear, with a low around 55. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph.
173rd FW to conduct night flying operations this week
The 173rd Fighter Wing Unit in Klamath Falls will conduct night flying operations beginning tonight, Monday, Sept. 23 through Wednesday, Sept. 25. Operations will take place between approximately 5:00 p.m. through 11:00 p.m.
Night flying is one part of the course curriculum for F-15C student pilots at Kingsley Field, the premiere F-15C schoolhouse for the United States Air Force.
Much of the training will occur in the military operating airspace to the east of Lakeview where the pilots can fly without lights. However, the local community will most likely hear the jets during take-offs and approaches to and from Kingsley Field. Take-offs will occur after sundown and the jets will return approximately an hour-and-a-half later.
“Whether defending the homeland or deployed in contingency operations, F-15 pilots must be proficient at night flying,” said Col. Micah Lambert, 173rd FW deputy commander. “Night flying training includes the full spectrum of skills needed to be a combat-ready F-15 pilot.”
Community members may contact the wing’s public affairs office at 541-885-6677 to express any concerns they have during this time.
Lake Ewauna Wellness Project To Develop 63 Acres of Wetlands
The Lake Ewauna Wellness Project will restore, enhance and develop over 63 acres of wetland along its shores, providing new educational and recreational opportunities for the community and visitors to the Klamath Basin.
After a national pandemic, devastating droughts and polarizing politics, the Lake Ewauna Wellness Project embodies a mission to strengthen, beautify and unify the Klamath Basin.
Located on the western edges of Klamath Falls, Lake Ewauna is a 350 (approx.) acre body of water that is fed by Upper Klamath Lake via the Link River, and serves as the headwaters to the Klamath River. Often referred to as the “Everglades of the West” because of its biological diversity and importance to migratory birds, the Klamath River was once the third largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast, making Lake Ewauna once part of the life force for Native Americans who relied on the abundance of salmon and trout.
In the early 1900s, Lake Ewauna served as a mill pond for nine different sawmills, but by 1970, much of the log storage had been removed and milling operations ceased by 1995. Due to past activities along its shores, Lake Ewauna’s ecological systems have been severely impacted resulting in poor water quality and a degraded wildlife habitat.
The Klamath County Commissioners and Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA began the process of addressing Lake Ewauna’s poor water quality in 2022 by pledging $1 million from American Rescue Plan Act grant funds. The money was designated to adapt a management system to alleviate deoxygenation and the lake’s high levels of ammonia, nitrogen and phosphorus buildup. That system should enhance Lake Ewauna’s water quality and aesthetics, and improve endangered species habitat and the usability of the lake for recreation.
Project leader Randy Cox said in 2020, we did a downtown (Klamath Falls) survey and 90 percent of individuals said they wanted access to the water (on Lake Ewauna. Initially, Cox explained, for 18 months KCEDA was working with a company to remove over six feet of sediment in Lake Ewauna by enzymes and aeration only to learn the process was not approved for use on that specific type of body of water.
Aimed to be completed in phases, Klamath County and the City of Klamath Falls have already started working with the Wildlife Service to identify and remove invasive vegetation such as blackberry and red canary grass along the lake’s ridge lines and plant native vegetation that will not only enhance the area’s beauty, but also provide suitable habitats for butterflies, birds and fish.
Additionally, wetland design work is currently underway to restore 15 acres of wetland along the existing half mile of the Klamath Wing Watchers Trail, connecting by the new 63 acres of wetland (county-purchased property) under development.
Klamath County Public Works Department announced the following major roadwork projects for the coming week.
SHASTA WAY — Sidewalk replacement, Madison Street to Patterson Street; expect daytime travel lane closures with flaggers.
LAVERNE AVENUE — Road and utility work in the vicinity of Stearns elementary School, Altamont to Crest; expect daytime travel lane closures with flaggers.
ARTHUR STREET — waterline replacement between Shasta Way and South Sixth Street; expect daytime travel lane closures with flaggers.
SADDLE MOUNTAIN PIT ROAD — Bridge closure; detour route through Switchback Road and Forest Service Road 150.
Although fire danger has decreased some, the lifting of fire restrictions does not mean fire season is over.
Potential still exists for wildfires to start. Forest users must continue to act responsibly with anything that can start a fire. For anyone having a campfire, ensure your fire is DEAD OUT when leaving camp using the drown, stir, feel, repeat method.
For folks having a campfire outside of a developed recreation site, such as a campground, a valid California Campfire Permit is required and must be adhered to. To get your free permit visit any open USDA Forest Service ranger station or office. It is important to note that the lifting of fire restrictions on the Klamath National Forest is not related to residential burn permit suspensions.
Residential burn permits in the vicinity of the Klamath National Forest are overseen primarily by the Siskiyou Unit of CAL FIRE. Within Siskiyou County the municipalities of Yreka, Fort Jones, Etna, Montague, Weed, and Mount Shasta administer their own burn permit programs. Please monitor their websites and social media for information.
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Around the State of Oregon
Fall and winter will likely bring an increase in flu, COVID and RSV infections.
Oregon health officials are urging you to get vaccinated. While they may not keep you from getting sick, they’ll help keep you out of the hospital. Three percent of infants younger than six months are hospitalized with RSV. Most of them have no underlying illnesses. They also say parents need to get kids vaccinated against measles.
Oregon has dropped below the 95 percent threshold for herd immunity in school-aged children. There have been 31 measles cases this year, and measles can have life-long effects.
Oregon voters will decide this fall whether to increase corporate taxes to establish the nation’s largest universal basic income program. Funded by a new corporate tax, it would give every Oregonian an estimated $1,600 per year.
If approved, Measure 118 would institute a 3% tax on most corporations’ total sales in Oregon above $25 million and distribute the money equally among residents of all ages and incomes. The system would go into effect next year.
Proponents of the measure say it would alleviate poverty and stimulate the state economy by providing a boost to all Oregonians while also requiring corporations to pay their fair share of taxes.
A single word describes 2024 fall hunting — extraordinary.
This season will offer both extraordinary challenges and extraordinary opportunities.
The challenges: Massive fires have burned nearly 2 million acres in eastern and southern Oregon. While this past week offered some rainfall relief, the forecast is for sunny weather up to and including the onset of the popular general buck deer seasons.
Chronic wasting disease pretty much surrounds Oregon, with detections in Washington, Idaho and California (not Nevada — yet). Botulism and avian flu, prevalent in low-water years, are possible among migrating waterfowl statewide.
The opportunities: Continued mild winters offer some extraordinary bumps in game-bird populations. Most (not all) big game numbers are up across most of the state, including buck and bull ratios for deer and elk. Hunters returning from bow seasons in the east report very few wasps (just a little icing on the cake here).
A note for those with coveted big game tags: Deer, elk and bears are mostly capable of escaping raging fires and can migrate into other areas of any wildlife management unit.They also tend to gravitate quickly back into burned zones to take advantage of emerging vegetation.
The Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, is announcing the Lake Regional Teacher of the Year.
Deborah Watts is a third-grade teacher at the Arthur D. Hay Elementary School in Lakeview.
Educators can be nominated for Regional Teacher of the Year by students, colleagues, administrators, friends, and family members. As shared by a colleague in her nomination, “living in a rural/frontier community presents several challenges for educators. We are lucky to have Ms. Watts as a teacher, mentor, and advocate. Every student Ms. Watts interacts with leaves her classroom better prepared with academics and social-emotional skills.”
As the Lake Regional Teacher of the Year, Watts will receive $1,000 and is entered into the running for Oregon Teacher of the Year. The statewide winner will be announced in October.
The Bureau of Land Management Medford District is rescinding closure orders for Salt Creek and Upper Applegate fires. The Bureau of Land Management Medford District (BLM) says it has reopened public lands within and near the Salt Creek Fire and the Upper Applegate Fire areas.
BLM cautions people, “Before venturing out to public lands near the Salt Creek and Upper Applegate fires, be aware that safety concerns still exist. Ash and dust from the fire may contain toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. Watch out for fire weakened trees and limbs that can fall without warning. If wind picks up, leave the area immediately. In wet weather, water or mud may build up quickly and may cause a slide. Stump holes can remain hot long after the fire is out, and footing can be unstable if roots have burned out underground.”
BLM’s Salt Creek Fire Area rescission affects its temporary closure order of public land in and near the Salt Creek Fire in the Butte Falls Field Office, Medford District. That emergency closure affected BLM-administered public lands, roads, sites, and trails in Jackson County, issued July 11, 2024 and updated on August 5, 2024, for the Salt Creek Fire that burned more than 4,000 acres north of Highway 140 about ten miles east of Eagle Point.
The Salt Creek Fire was contained July 28, 2024. BLM’s recission for the Upper Applegate Fire area comes from its temporary closure of public land in and near the Upper Applegate Fire in the Ashland Field Office, Medford District, also including BLM-administered public lands, roads, sites, and trails in Jackson County issued on June 26, 2024, for the Upper Applegate Fire.
The Upper Applegate Fire was declared controlled July 21, 2024.
A year-long renovation project to restore and enhance the Douglas County Veterans War Memorial culminated late last week in a rededication ceremony attended by local officials, veterans, and community members.
The memorial, situated on the grounds of the Douglas County Courthouse, now features new plaques, a Purple Heart Memorial statue, updated landscaping, and two additional flagpoles to properly display the United States, Oregon, and POW/MIA flags.
The project, made possible through a $59,000 grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, aimed to preserve the integrity of the memorial and ensure its accessibility for future generations.
Commissioner Tim Freeman says he has watched the restoration project unfold with anticipation. The ceremony included the first-time raising of the POW/MIA flag over the courthouse, a wreath-laying in honor of fallen soldiers, recognition of Blue and Gold Star families, and a traditional ribbon-cutting. The Geneva Academy of Roseburg Honor Choir sang the “Star Spangled Banner” as well as “God Bless America,” bagpipes played by Hector the Hero were accompanied by a 21-gun salute, and the playing of Taps.
Commissioner Chris Boice gave a special proclamation honoring September 20 as POW/MIA recognition day in Douglas County.
A Texas man is accused of duping a Corvallis woman into believing her Amazon account was compromised and then having her send nearly $1 million in cash to stores in Texas picked up by strangers to protect her account.
Mutahir Ahmed Khan, 23, is named in a new federal indictment out of Eugene, charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He has not appeared in court yet.
The alleged fraud occurred between August and September 2023, the indictment says. Khan claimed to be an Amazon representative and advised the woman that her account and identity had been compromised, and then transferred her to people who falsely claimed they were officers with the U.S. Treasury and Social Security Administration, according to the indictment.
She was scammed out of more than $900,000, according to federal prosecutors.
Nike’s CEO John Donahoe is stepping down.
From Portland, the company released a statement saying Elliott Hill will come out of retirement to take over. Donahoe has been Nike’s CEO since January 2020. Hill will take over October 14th.
In June, Nike warned it expected sales to decline ten percent, mainly due to low demand in China. Nike co-founder Phil Knight says he looks forward to Elliott’s return.
During a traffic stop in Eagle Point late last week, 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 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.
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.
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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