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Monday, Oct. 21, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. West wind around 11 mph. Overnight, widespread frost between 2am and 5am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 33. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
Negasi Zuberi Found Guilty
A federal jury Friday quickly returned guilty verdicts on all counts against Negasi Zuberi, finding he had kidnapped two 21-year-old women within two months last year, sexually assaulted them and held them against their will for hours in the garage of his rental home in Klamath Falls.
The jury in federal court in Medford issued the verdicts after less than four hours of deliberations on the eighth day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane.
Zuberi’s lawyers called no witnesses, but they played a cellphone video that Zuberi made of one of the victims in the back of his Honda Pilot SUV on May 6, 2023. They argued that the footage showed Zuberi and the Klamath Falls woman had consensual sex.
The woman testified earlier this week that Zuberi filmed what he called an “insurance” video, demanding that she lie on top of him and pretend she was having a good time. Zuberi created the video to “silence” or blackmail the woman, threatening to play it for others if she reported his assault, prosecutors argued.
Zuberi chose not to take the stand in his own defense on Thursday but changed his mind Friday after he heard Lichvarcik’s closing. The judge denied Zuberi’s request. Zuberi, now 30, was convicted of one count each of kidnapping and transportation for criminal sexual activity for the July 14, 2023, abduction of a Washington woman from Seattle, one count of kidnapping in the May 2023 abduction of the Klamath Falls woman from a local bar, two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition and two counts of possession of ammunition.
The testimony from each of his victims alone would have been enough to convict Zuberi, Lichvarcik told the jury. But he noted that FBI agents and police also uncovered Zuberi’s plans. The judge set Zuberi’s sentencing for Jan. 16.
After the verdicts were announced, the judge lifted a prior prohibition he had issued that had prevented Zuberi from calling and speaking with the mother of his children, Alycia Westfall.
Zuberi still faces a pending charge of attempted escape from the Jackson County Jail. He’s accused of using an improvised, screw-like device to strike and shatter glass in his cell on Aug. 22, according to a probable cause affidavit. He then covered the shattered glass with books and paper in an apparent attempt to hide it, the affidavit said. The device was found attached to his sandal, the affidavit said.
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Oregon State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on Hwy 140, near milepost 31, in Jackson County.
The preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Chevrolet Colorado, operated by Fabiola Salcedo (42) of Dorris (CA), lost control and spun into the westbound lane where it was struck by a westbound Subaru Forester, operated by Danny Ray Ebert (74) of La Pine, on the passenger side.
The operator of the Chevrolet (Salcedo) was declared deceased at the scene.
The operator of the Subaru ( D. Ebert) and passenger, Phyllis Ann Ebert (77) of La Pine, both suffered minor to serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital.The highway was impacted for approximately 2.5 hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is believed to be related to roadway conditions and speed.
OSP was assisted by Jackson County Fire District 3, Lakecreek Fire Department, and ODOT.
Also on Thursday, near the Pilot Truck Stop on Highway 97, Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Hwy 97, near milepost 272, in Klamath County.
The preliminary investigation indicated southbound Freightliner and trailer, operated by Usman Ahmad (36) of Sacramento (CA), struck a pedestrian, Christian Lee Cleven Corwin (38) of Klamath Falls, who entered the lane of travel.
The pedestrian (Cleven Corwin) was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Freightliner (Ahmad) was not injured.
The highway was impacted for approximately one hour during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Klamath County Fire District 1, Klamath Falls Police Department, and ODOT.
A man involved in a shooting in Lakeview last weekend is facing attempted murder charges.
The shooting stems from an argument between two men over a financial transaction on the 200 block of T Street in Lakeview on Sunday. That’s when OSP says 64-year-old Vance Jessy Winters of Lakeview shot the 59-year-old victim twice with a 32-caliber revolver.
The victim, identified as Terry Glen Seslar also of Lakeview, was taken to the hospital but is expected to recover. Winters is charged with attempted murder, assault, felon in possession of a firearm, and other charges.
OSP’s major crimes team is currently investigating the incident.
Mazama High School students had a chance to explore possible futures and talk to college representatives, military recruiters and even local employers Wednesday (Oct. 16) during the school’s third annual “Don’t Dream It, Be It!” career, college, and military night.
The event, hosted during parent-teacher conferences, was an opportunity for all grade levels to learn about opportunities available to them after high school. Nearly 450 students and their parents attended. Thirty-seven organizations, including colleges, universities, businesses, and military branches provided representatives to talk with students about possible careers.
The career fair was designed for all grade levels, but specifically aimed to help seniors develop and solidify plans for life after high school, said Sergio Cisneros, vice principal of curriculum at Mazama High School. Students who attended were able to talk with industry professionals and engage with community, education, and military leaders.
They want to thank all the organizations that made this event possible: Pure Flight Aviation Training, Air Force, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Collins Forest Products, Youth Rising, EcoSolar and Electric, Klamath County Fire District 1, Grand Canyon University, Jostens, Klamath Community College, Klamath Works, Lithia, Marines, Mazama High School Boosters, Oregon Tech, Oregon State University, Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union, Rogue Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program, Ross Ragland Theater, Sky Lakes Medical Center, Bureau of Land Management, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, IYS, Columbia Forest Products, SOESD Youth Transitions Services, City of Klamath Falls, Goodwill, and OIT Dental Hygiene.
The Fremont-Winema National Forest, which covers extensive areas of Klamath and Lake counties, is seeking public comment on several proposed projects.
The proposed projects include the Sun Pass Restoration Project, Forest Fertilization on several areas of the Forest, Copperfield Fire Restoration, and a Midstate Electric Underground Highway Crossing. Note that the time period for public comments vary from project to project.
The Sun Pass Restoration Project area is located on the Chemult Ranger District west of Highway 97 and east of Crater Lake National Park about 15 miles northwest of Chiloquin. The project would restore aspen and forest vegetation, reduce stand densities, and diversify the pine-dominated and mixed conifer stands. It is expected to be done in partnership with Oregon Department of Forestry.
Public comment on a proposal for the Forest Fertilization 2024 Project, which calls for applying fertilizer at selected seed orchards and plantations across the forest, which “has been deficient in seed and has experienced poor cone crops for many years.” The proposal action includes hand and machine application of site-specific blends of fertilizer on Ponderosa pine sites.
Project design criteria and best management practices will be developed by an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists using scientific information.
Public comment on the Chiloquin Ranger District’s proposal for the Copperfield Fire Restoration Project are wanted by Oct. 29. The project area is about 5 miles east of Chiloquin on the Chiloquin Ranger District.
The public is also invited to review and comment on the Chemult Ranger District’s proposal for the Midstate Electric Underground Highway Crossing Project. Comments are wanted by Oct. 31. The project is located on the Chemult Ranger District about a mile north of Chemult.
The Union Pacific Railroad has requested new electrical service to their property east of Highway 97 to power mandated safety upgrades, including track heaters, signals, and anti-collision sensors.
The largest dam removal project in the world has officially concluded finishing a project that local tribes have sought to do for decades.
The project removed the J.C. Boyle, Irongate, and Copco No. 1 & 2 dams. It was done to restore the local watershed and replenish fish such as salmon that have been unable to swim upstream due to the dams. The project came from local tribes wanting to renew parts of their culture that were lost with the fish being unable to swim upstream in large numbers.
Willy Ray of the Klamath Tribes describes it as a “healing, a medicine to not only keep our subsistence going, but also a revival of our culture for fishing. Ray mentioned that a third of the tribe’s diet was salmon, with fishing being a key part of their culture — but the tribe has been unable to fish the salmon since 1909 with the creation of the dams.
The Klamath County Veterans Service Office will accept nominations for Klamath County’s Oldest Living Veteran.
The Nomination form will be open through October 31, 2024. To nominate a veteran stop by the Veterans Service Office, 3328 Vandenberg Rd. or call 541-883-4274.
The chosen Veteran will be honored on Monday, November 11, 2024 during the Veteran’s Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park.
Alleyway Activation Phase 3: Women of Klamath
Unveiling & Installation October 25
Join us on October 25th as we celebrate the installation of Phase 3 of the Alleyway Activation Project located at 925 Klamath Ave at 4 pm.
Phase 3 is focused on featuring the “Women of Klamath” a collaboration with Virtuosa Society honoring a few historical women of Klamath County. We invite you to join in our celebration of the hard-working artists and meaningful women of Klamath. We hope to see you there!
October 25, 2024, 4:00 pm at 925 Klamath Ave, Downtown Klamath Falls 97601
Click here for more information.
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/
Around the State of Oregon
November General Election Ballots in the Mail
Checking your voter registration in Oregon is easy. Just go to OregonVotes.gov to find out if you are registered and make sure your information is correct.
Medford Police Participate in 21st Annual National Family Violence Warrant Sweep
On Wednesday, October 16th, 2024, the Medford Police Department Domestic Violence Task Force worked with agencies throughout Jackson County, as well as agencies across the country, to arrest persons with outstanding family-violence related warrants.
Locally, 15 arrests were made during the sweep, on a variety of charges.
Jackson County Sweep Stats:
23 total Law Enforcement Personnel Participated
4 Victim Advocates assisted with victim services.
Attempted Warrant Services – 73 total
Successful Warrants Served – 15 subjects arrested
Participating Agencies –
Medford Police Department
Ashland Police Department
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
Talent Police Department
Jackson County Parole and Probation
Community Works
This nationwide collaborative effort helps raise awareness of the problem of family and domestic violence in our communities. It also demonstrates to offenders that they will be held accountable for their violence. The Medford Police Department is dedicated to holding those who commit domestic violence accountable. MPD employs a full time Domestic Violence Officer along with hosting an in-house Domestic Violence Advocate employed by Community Works.
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office said in a new report today that the operator of the Hellgate Jetboat Excursions boat was at fault for a boat crash this summer.
The crash happened in the Rogue River just outside of Grants Pass on Aug. 4, when a private jet boat and Hellgate Jetboat Excursions boat collided two miles downriver from Robertson Bridge. Five people were taken to the hospital with injuries. In JCSO’s report, which was released today, they said “excessive speed and operator error contributed to this incident from both parties.” However, the report said boats traveling downstream have the right-of-way and upstream boats should move to the right to let the downstream boat pass.
“The commercial boat was travelling up stream and would be responsible to give way to the downstream boat,” the report said. “Based on my training and experience, the Hellgate operator had ample amount of time to stop and [therefore] is responsible for the crash.”
JCSO and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted two separate investigations. The U.S. Coast Guard still has to release their report.
Celebrate Fire Safety this October
As the leaves change and cooler weather sets in, the Oregon State Fire Marshal and the Oregon fire service remind everyone of the importance of home fire safety. October is Fire Prevention Month, a time to focus on fire prevention and safety at home.
This year’s theme, “Celebrate Fire Safety,” calls on Oregonians to take action to reduce fire risks and protect their loved ones.
In 2023, 2,518 home fires in our state resulted in $119.5 million in losses to homeowners. Cooking remains the leading cause of home fires, followed closely by home heating. Alarmingly, in 417 of those fires, no smoke alarm was present.
“Oregon’s first responders are unwavering in their commitment to protecting our communities by reducing home fires and preventing the devastating injuries they cause,” said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “This Fire Prevention Month, we’re calling on all Oregonians to take proactive, life-saving steps to protect their families, their homes, and their future.”
There are several simple things Oregonians can do to lessen the chance of a home fire and increase safety:
- Install and maintain smoke alarms. Make sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas.
- Practice cooking safely. Never leave cooking unattended and always have a lid or cookie sheet nearby to smother small flames.
- Use heating equipment safely. Keep anything flammable at least three feet away from heating devices and always plug space heaters directly into the wall—never use extension cords.
- Create and practice a home fire escape plan. Make sure every family member knows at least two ways out of every room.
- Consider candle alternatives. Battery-operated candles reduce fire risk, but if you use real candles, always blow them out before leaving the room.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek proclaimed October as Fire Prevention Month. For more information about Fire Prevention Month, a link to the proclamation, and more tips to prevent the top causes of home fires in Oregon, visit our website.
78 Active Wildfires Still Burning Across the state of Oregon
Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.
Monitor Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily
https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/state/oregon
The Oregon Ducks Ranked No. 1 in College Football
The Ducks are No. 1 with 1,523 points and 59 of 61 first-place votes in the AP poll and the same spot with 1,323 points and 51 of 53 first-place votes in the coaches poll after defeating Purdue 35-0 Friday night at Ross-Ade Stadium. It’s the first time Oregon is No. 1 in each of the polls since Nov. 11, 2012.
It’s the ninth time the Ducks have been No. 1 in the AP poll and the 10th time in the coaches poll, with all other instances taking place during the 2010 season.
This week, the Ducks will have a top-25 matchup. The No. 1 team in the nation faces No. 21 Illinois at home on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30PM, Pacific time.
Thousands of Oregon seniors are set to lose their health plans as some Medicare Advantage carriers cut their offerings in response to rising costs.
Moda Health and Summit Health will end their Medicare Advantage plans in Oregon in 2025. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Aetna and PacificSource are also removing some Advantage plans from the menu next year.
In all, more than 12,000 Oregon seniors will need to find new coverage options for 2025, based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
In Oregon, Curry, Harney, Lake, Umatilla and Union counties will no longer have Medicare Advantage offerings at all. That means residents of La Grande, Umatilla, Lakeview, Burns, Brookings, Hermiston and Pendleton will have original Medicare as their only option. Many Oregon counties will have fewer options in 2025 than this year. Those who live in Coos County, for example, will only have one Medicare Advantage plan option next year, down from seven in 2024.
State agencies release synthetic opioid prevention lessons, updated fentanyl toolkit for Oregon schools
Lessons and Toolkit help districts educate students about fentanyl and opioid dangers, and develop policies and practices for substance use prevention and response
— As fentanyl keeps showing up in a variety of drugs on the illicit market, state agencies are continuing their effort to help Oregon educators engage with students about the drug’s dangers – and preventing and responding to fentanyl overdoses – with the release of synthetic opioid prevention lessons and an updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools.
“The dangers of fentanyl have no age boundaries,” Gov. Tina Kotek said. “We must support the critical role that schools play in substance use prevention and intervention for students. The updated lesson plans and toolkit are a result of multiple state agencies coming together to collaborate on how we can best protect young Oregonians, and I’m grateful for their work on these vital resources.”
Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Education and the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission partnered on these opioid/fentanyl prevention and intervention resources. This cross-agency collaboration with school and community partners to prevent substance use among youth and young adults will continue with the release of additional instructional materials and professional learning resources throughout the school year.
“Responding to the opioid crisis requires all hands on deck,” said ADPC Director Annaliese Dolph. “Leaders in government, healthcare, education and other fields all have a role to play when it comes to helping Oregon’s young people understand and navigate the risks of substance use. Equipping educators with the resources to have those conversations with students – particularly about synthetic opioids – is an essential piece of the puzzle.”
School-based drug education plays important role in youth overdose prevention
School-based prevention efforts such as health education, plays an important role in preventing and delaying first use of drugs and interrupting the development of substance use-related problems affecting youth and their families.
During Oregon’s 2023 legislative session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 238, requiring OHA, the State Board of Education via ODE, and ADPC to co-develop curricula supplements on the dangers of synthetic opioids and legal protections in place for people who report substance use or who seek medical treatment for drug or alcohol overdoses.
“The lesson plans and Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools are just two elements of a larger, comprehensive effort to improve fentanyl awareness and, more broadly, prevent harmful substance use among Oregon’s young people – a priority that OHA, ODE and ADPC collectively share,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, M.D.
Required Synthetic Opioid Prevention Lessons
ODE collaborated with OHA and ADPC to develop the required lessons per Senate Bill 238. These lessons are available on the ODE Health Education webpage and incorporate:
- Youth-designed approaches with space for dialogue, relevant information, and Oregon data.
- Research-based practices that emphasize the importance of promoting strengths-based norms rather than shame or fear-based tactics, skills-based learning over awareness-raising, and connecting to broad prevention efforts within the school and community.
- Alignment with the 2023 Oregon Health Education Standards.
Beyond these required lessons, House Bill 5204 (2024) provided funding to ODE for additional curriculum supplements on the dangers of synthetic opioids. ODE will be sharing these resources along with professional learning opportunities in the year to come. ODE will be seeking feedback regarding the lessons for continuous improvement during this pilot year.
“These lesson plans help empower our students with the most up-to-date information to protect themselves and their friends from harmful substances,” ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams said. “I want to thank the Oregon Legislature for providing us with the framework in Senate Bill 238 and our partners at the Oregon Health Authority and the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission for all their work collaborating on the lesson plans and toolkit that will save lives in Oregon. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with school and community partners to prevent substance use among youth and respond to the evolving substance use landscape in Oregon.”
Updated Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools, access to overdose reversal medication
The updated 2024 Fentanyl Toolkit for Schools offers resources schools can use to educate the community about the impact of fentanyl and opioids; develop school policies and practices to prevent and respond to opioid overdoses; and build community partnerships for a comprehensive substance use prevention and intervention approach. The updates to the original 2022 toolkit include additional resources based on developing science and practices in substance use prevention and intervention, and recently passed state legislation that requires districts to share information to parents about opioid overdose reversal medications.
In addition to the updated toolkit, schools have access to naloxone through the Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse. Naloxone can save lives by reversing an opioid overdose. As of September 2024, about 125 school districts and Education Service Districts have requested and received naloxone kits. Each kit includes a wall-mounted naloxone box and eight doses of nasal naloxone.
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck off the Oregon coast Thursday at 4:58 p.m. The temblor happened in the Pacific Ocean, about 75 miles from Coos Bay, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
25 people so far have responded to the agency’s online form asking if they felt the quake. There have been no reported injuries. Earthquakes are common off the Oregon coast, though this latest one is a little larger than most.
A 5.0 earthquake, if it occurs on or near land rather than out on the open seas, is expected to cause some damage. Last week, a 2.4 magnitude earthquake about 36 miles off the coast from Depoe Bay, a 2.3 magnitude earthquake 14 miles off the coast from Port Orford, and a 3.4 magnitude quake about 129 miles off the coast from Bandon.
With the national elections on November 5 approaching, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is reminding campaigners and their supporters that political signs are not permitted on state highway right-of-ways.
Only official traffic control devices are allowed in these right-of-way areas, as ODOT says improperly placed signs can distract drivers and obstruct road safety messages. ODOT stated that any signs found in violation will be removed and held at a nearby district maintenance office for 30 days.
To reclaim them, individuals should contact the nearest ODOT maintenance office. “Signs are prohibited on trees, utility poles, fence posts, and natural features within highway right-of-ways,” ODOT said. They are also banned within view of designated scenic areas.
Snap Benefits provided through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are set to increase this week.
The Cost of Living Adjustment impacts the maximum allotments for those who receive SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. The changes last a year until Sept. 30, 2025. SNAP eligibility depends on household income and assets and is adjusted yearly.
Some 42.1 million people – roughly 12.6% of people in the U.S. – benefited from SNAP each month in 2023, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The average benefit was $211.93 per month. State-by-state participation rate ranges from a low of 4.6% in Utah to 23.1% in New Mexico.
FALL BACK ONE HOUR…starts Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
In a little less than a month, it will be time to set your clocks back to standard time.
Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Most devices these days will adjust automatically to the time change, but don’t forget to set any traditional clocks back by one hour.
Despite several efforts to end seasonal time changes, we will be falling back in November and springing forward in March for the foreseeable future. Oregon, Washington and California have all made multiple attempts to permanently switch to either standard or daylight saving time — but none of the efforts have stuck.
Changing to daylight saving time requires congressional approval — and that approval doesn’t appear to be likely, despite bipartisan efforts to allow states to make the change.
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