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 them at 541-882-6476.
Monday, Nov. 4, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
A 20% chance of showers after 10am. Snow level 5500 feet rising to 8600 feet. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Light west southwest winds 5 to 8 mph. Overnight, mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Northwest wind around 6 mph.
Tuesday, Election Day
Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Overnight, mostly clear with a low near 26 degrees.
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
The much-anticipated 2024 General Election is finally here. Tomorrow is Election Day.
Voter turnout is already high in Southern Oregon. Klamath County reports 39.5% of registered voters have cast ballots already. In Southern Oregon, Curry County has seen the highest concentration of voter turnout so far, with 48.2% of registered voters having cast their ballots already.
All ballots must be postmarked or returned by 8 p.m. on Tuesday,Election Day, November 5, 2024.
You can find all the information you need — including information about the electoral college, which offices are being voted on, and the digital version of the statewide voters’ pamphlet — by clicking on the “Current Election” page at OregonVotes.gov.
Ballots can be returned through the mail, at your county clerk’s office, or at any of the secure, official drop boxes available throughout the state. Your ballot will be routed to the county in which you are registered to vote.
In Oregon, any ballot postmarked on or before Election Day is counted, even if it arrives at the elections office up to seven days later. These ballots are not late — they were cast on time when the voter put them in the mail, and will be counted alongside every other vote cast before 8 p.m. on Election Day. Results of close elections may not be immediately available on Election Day because it will take a few days for all the votes to be counted. Need help or have any questions regarding your ballot?
Locally, a new Klamath County Sheriff and one new Klamath County Commissioner are up for grabs, among other local races.
The Klamath County Public Works Department announces the following ROAD CLOSURE:
Arthur Street is closed to through traffic between South 6th Street and Francis Roberts Avenue (Senior Center) between the hours of 7:30 am – 5:30 pm for the City of Klamath Falls Water Main Replacement through Wednesday, November 6th.
A detour and traffic control measures will be in place for guidance, but motorist should use alternative routes.
The Ballot Box located at the Senior Center is open and available for 24-hour drive up using the provided detour route.
Alternate Ballot Drop off locations in Klamath Falls are as listed:
- Klamath Community College, New Founders Falls, Bldg 9
- Klamath County Government Center (behind building)
- Klamath County Clerk’s Office (Inside Government Center)
For additional questions or concerns, please contact Klamath County Public Works at 541-883-4696.
The removal of four dams from the Klamath River along the California-Oregon border, the largest dam removal project in U.S. history, concluded last month.
The primary goal of the project was to support volitional fish passage for salmon and other species past the former dam sites. Klamath River Renewal Corporation and its restoration contractor, Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), are collaborating with Tribes, nonprofit conservation organizations, and state and federal agencies to monitor, track, and measure the impacts of Klamath River dam removal and related restoration efforts on migratory fish populations. Several of these efforts are described briefly here.
For additional information, see this fact sheet and this recording of a Zoom press conference, where scientists discussed these efforts.
A large and diverse project team installed a SONAR station at the former Iron Gate Dam site to count how many fish pass through and to determine what anadromous species are migrating into the reconnected habitat. Tangle netting will be used to facilitate fish tagging and provide more information about which species are migrating past the SONAR station.
A network of radio telemetry stations installed upstream will help track tagged salmon and steelhead movements throughout the Upper Basin. The Karuk Tribe Water Quality Department along with the Yurok Tribe Environmental Program and USGS are the primary subcontractors responsible for pre- and post-dam removal monitoring of sediment and water quality. This group, along with KRRC and RES, has been working together to monitor and measure water quality conditions in the Klamath River since 2018.
The Karuk Tribe has provided viewing of continuous monitoring data via its water quality website.
Klamath County libraries to close for Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving later this month.
Klamath County Library Service District All Klamath County libraries will be closed on Monday, November 11th in observance of Veterans’ Day and on Thursday, November 28th for Thanksgiving. No materials will be due on a day that the libraries are closed. For more information, call us at 541-882-8894.
Chiloquin Visions in Progress and the City of Chiloquin are leaders in powering the future of clean transportation thanks to a grant from Pacific Power’s electric mobility grant program.
The money supported the installation of a ChargePoint Level 2 Dual Charger and a ChargePoint Level 3 High-Speed Charger at the corner of South 1st Ave. and East Schonchin St. in Chiloquin.
Chiloquin Visions in Progress obtained the grant and oversaw the project installation. The station is located on City of Chiloquin property and will be maintained and operated by the city. The grant of $238,000 grant covers 100% of the cost of this innovative, community-driven electric mobility project.
Chiloquin Visions in Progress joins several other organizations across Pacific Power’s service area that have received grants for clean electric mobility projects through a competitive-evaluation process. Pacific Power is providing grant funding to help businesses, cities and nonprofits take advantage of the cost-saving, clean benefits of electric mobility.
Funding for this grant is made possible by the Oregon Clean Fuels Program administered by the state Department of Environmental Quality. For more information visit www.PacificPower.net/EV.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investing $46 million to help habitat restoration and recovery efforts after the Klamath River dam removal project.
According to a news release from Oregon’s U.S. senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, there are 24 restoration projects — with 12 being in Oregon.
“Restoration of the Klamath Basin requires significant resources just like these to catalyze the work that’s needed locally to build a stronger ecosystem and improve water quality,” Wyden said in the release.
“This fresh federal investment in the region and the big gains it will generate for jobs, recreation, and habitat will work to ensure the area’s farmers, Tribes and communities can grow and thrive for generations to come.”
Oregon Tech welcomed 140 junior and senior high school and college students to campus last week for an event called “Ready, Set, Innovate”, a daylong annual clinic focused on inspiring innovative and entrepreneurial thinking.
The event brought together junior high students from Brixner, high school students from Henley, Horizon Christian, Klamath Union, Lost River, Mazama, Phoenix and South Medford, along with college students from Oregon Tech.
Community mentors and volunteers joined to teach creative, team-based problem-solving. Participants engaged in design-thinking workshops and attended a one-on-one interview with Richard La China of Ninja Mountain Bike Performance, strengthening connections among students and local leaders.
Through design thinking, students tackled two real-world challenges to focus on community growth: Improving opportunities for youth in the area. Attracting and retaining young professionals within the community. Design thinking involves decisions based on user needs rather than historical data or intuition.
To approach the two challenges, students gathered insights from “customers” by interviewing community volunteers and refining their solutions around community priorities.
The clinic’s keynote was delivered by Jacques Zaneveld, CEO of Lazarus 3D. As a scientist and entrepreneur, Zaneveld co-founded Lazarus 3D in 2014 to address a critical need in surgical preparation: providing surgeons with realistic, patient-specific models for practice. His company’s Pre-Sure technology, the first FDA-cleared platform of its kind, allows surgical teams to rehearse procedures on 3D-printed replicas of patients’ organs, supporting accuracy and confidence before surgery.
Lazarus 3D was created to target a specific user need, showing students an applied design-thinking approach. Cascade Health Alliance sponsored the event and was essential to its planning and success.
The Planning Committee also included the Klamath County Economic Development Association, Klamath IDEA, Lemelson Foundation, and Sky Lakes Office of Innovation and Strategy.
KLAMATH AND LAKE COMMUNITY ACTION SERVICES ESTABLISHES PRESENCE IN LAKEVIEW
2024 marks the 60th year since the Community Action Network was established to help American families and communities overcome obstacles to poverty.
This year, Klamath and Lake Community Action Services, a proud member of the Community Action network, will also be celebrating 20 years of helping Oregonians throughout Klamath and Lake counties. To provide in-person access to residents of Lakeview and Lake County to the services provided by KLCAS, we have joined several community partners at the Community Resource Station located at 223 North F Street in Lakeview. KLCAS’ Community Resource Specialist, Mary McQuay, will be available during business hours to accept applications for energy or rental/move in assistance, provide referrals to other community resources and provide information on the programs provided by KLCAS.
Mary expressed deep admiration for the impactful work of KLCAS, stating, “I find the efforts of KLCAS truly inspiring, and it is a privilege to be involved in such meaningful initiatives. KLCAS’ dedication to positive change resonates widely, highlighting the power of collective efforts to uplift the community. Each act of support we provide serves as a crucial steppingstone toward fostering a stronger and more vibrant community.”
KLCAS is excited to have a team member at the Community Resource Station to connect Lake County residents to services at KLCAS and other community resources. We believe in the importance of meeting people where they are, providing services that are efficient and supportive and linking community members to resources that can assist them in navigating systemic or situational barriers. In that vein, a portion of Mrs. McQuay’s time will be spent travelling to the smaller communities in Lake County, including Christmas Valley, Summer Lake, Silver Lake and Paisley.
Klamath and Lake Community Action Services is a member of the National Community Action Partnership and the Community Action network, which was created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
www.klcas.org Our mission is to address individual and family needs and make connections to promote communities that thrive.
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Around the State of Oregon
It’s been two months since Oregon recriminalized drug possession and new data from across the state is starting to show how the new law, which aims to deter drug use and offer treatment, is shaping up.
So far, more than 1,424 people have been arrested for drug possession, according to the Criminal Justice Commission, the state agency that researches and tracks Oregon’s criminal justice system. In most of those cases, defendants face other charges too, such as trespassing and theft. Between Sept. 1, when the new law went into effect, and Oct. 19, some 378 people have been arrested only on drug possession charges.
Oregon lawmakers recriminalized drugs earlier this year, amid growing frustration over Ballot Measure 110, which decriminalized small amounts of hard drugs and became associated with widespread public drug use. House Bill 4002 brought back criminal penalties for drug use, but also included provisions to ensure that substance use disorders are addressed in a health care setting rather than jail.
Under this new law, people facing drug possession charges have the ability to access treatment rather than face criminal penalties through a process called deflection. The law allows counties to design their own deflection programs or decide whether they want to participate at all. While a majority of Oregon counties are participating in deflection, only some had programs up-and-running in the first months of the law taking effect.
According to a memo sent last week to Gov. Tina Kotek’s office, obtained by OPB through a public records request, 213 people across 11 counties have been deflected. That’s slightly more people than the agency predicted would be deflected by this time.
A sophisticated group of thieves that hit banks and ATMs across California spent time in Oregon, renting out an Airbnb where federal agents found power tools, blowtorch equipment and the robbers’ construction vests and helmet disguises, according to a federal affidavit.
Investigators tracked some of the suspected crew members to the Airbnb in Welches, which had been rented from Oct. 16 to 22, according to the affidavit, but when FBI agents moved in on Oct. 19, the occupants had “fled in haste.”
But agents did find what was left behind, the affidavit said: several large rolling toolboxes that contained “hundreds of pounds” of power tools, including portable saws, blowtorches, oxygen tanks, pry bars, sledgehammers and heavy-duty rope, as well as clothing the thieves apparently wore for the heists, including goggles, construction vests and helmets and face masks, the affidavit said.
Agents also discovered portable shades, which were sometimes used to cover windows to hide the crimes-in-progress, investigators said.
A bill to protect the Owyhee Canyonlands in southeastern Oregon is being introduced in Congress.
U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz is sponsoring the bill with Senator Ron Wyden doing the same in the Senate. Bentz says it’ll protect the land, plants, animals and communities. The bill will get a hearing later this month. He says it’s the result of hundreds of hours of negotiations and collaboration by those who live, work and recreate in Malheur County. They hope to get the bill passed by the end of year.
The Oregon State Marine Board is reminding boat owners to check their email. Owners with an email on file with the state won’t receive a renewal reminder by standard mail. They can renew registrations online. Boat owners without emails on record will still get a renewal notice in the mail.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is making its way to Oregon as part of its four-thousand-mile trek from Alaska to Washington, D.C.
The 80-foot Sitka spruce was placed on a barge last night in Ketchikan, Alaska to be shipped to Seattle. From there, it will travel to Baker City, Oregon for one of about a dozen whistlestops as it makes its way to the eastern seaboard.
The 39-year-old spruce tree was harvested from Alaska’s Tongass National Forest earlier this month. It will arrive in D.C. on Thursday, November 21st.
A pig has tested positive for bird flu for the first time in the U.S. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the pig was from a backyard farm in Crook County, Oregon that has a mix of poultry and livestock.
The USDA says bird flu was found in other animals on the farm. Five pigs were euthanized and tested out of an abundance of caution. The USDA also says the swine did not display any sign of illness. According to the agency, one test came back positive, and two results came back negative. Test results are still pending for the other two.
The farm has been quarantined and other animals are under surveillance. The agency says there is no concern about the safety of the nation’s pork supply since the farm was not a commercial farm.The USDA also says the current risk to the public remains low.
The Food and Drug Administration has expanded a recall of Dynacare-brand baby powder made by the Dynarex Corporation.
The recall expansion is due to recent tests that indicate the possible risk of asbestos. The FDA says the recall is now affecting products in 35 states, including Oregon, California, and Washington. That’s up from just 12 states in September.The company says it has stopped the distribution of the products and is investigating to determine what caused the contamination of the talc.
Tax help volunteers are needed in Oregon. The Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Advocate is encouraging people to help. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs offer training to help find specific tax credits. This year, Oregon volunteers helped over 32-thousand people, which was an increase of 47-hundred people from 2023.
The presidential election and the race for control of the closely divided U.S. House are expected to dominate attention in Oregon on election night on Nov. 5th.
Voters will also decide a ballot measure to establish ranked-choice voting. At the top of the ballot, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump will compete for Oregon’s eight electoral votes.
Liberal Oregon has moved sharply towards Democratic candidates in presidential elections over the years, so much so that neither ticket has stepped foot in the state since becoming their parties’ nominees.
In the U.S. House, Republican incumbent Lori Chavez-DeRemer faces a tough reelection bid for a second term in a district where voters preferred President Joe Biden over Trump by almost 10 percentage points in 2020. The Democratic nominee is Janelle Bynum, a state representative. Three third-party or independent candidates are also on the ballot.
Chavez-DeRemer was first elected in 2022 by a 51%-49% margin. Republicans are targeting two first-term incumbents in Democratic-leaning districts covering the Salem and Eugene areas. Both Reps. Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas won their seats in 2022 with a fraction more than 50% of the vote, although Hoyle enjoyed an 8-point margin of victory over her Republican opponent.
Biden carried both Hoyle’s 4th District and Salinas’ 6th District with 55% of the vote.
Voters will also consider Measure 117, which would establish ranked-choice voting. If passed, the measure would represent a significant shift in Oregon’s voting system. It’s one of five statewide questions on the ballot. Oregon’s first reports typically focus on votes cast before Election Day, as the state primarily uses mail-in ballots. Oregon allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive up to seven days later. This means initial results can shift as later ballots are processed.
Areas to watch include Clackamas and Deschutes counties, which are often pivotal in close races. Ballots were mailed out starting Oct. 16.
SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently approved a decrease in rates for Avista customers that goes into effect November 1, 2024.
The PUC approves adjustments annually to the rates of the three regulated natural gas companies, including Avista Utilities, Cascade Natural Gas, and NW Natural, to reflect changes in the actual cost of wholesale priced natural gas. This annual adjustment, known as the purchased gas adjustment (PGA), allows companies to pass through their actual cost of purchasing gas to customers without a markup on the price.
This decrease is largely due to the lower than anticipated price of natural gas last year as compared with projections when rates were set, which resulted in over-collection of revenues from customers last year. The over-collected funds are used to reduce collections from customers this year. Additionally, customers experienced a mild winter, which reduced the demand for natural gas services.
Below is the average impact for each customer type as a result of this annual adjustment decision:
- Residential Customers – The monthly bill of a typical customer using an average of 47 therms per month will decrease by $6.15 or 8.7 percent, from $70.53 to $64.38.
- Commercial Customers – The monthly bill of a typical customer using an average of 204 therms per month will decrease by $28.26, or 10.7 percent, from $264.31 to $236.05.
- Industrial Customers – The monthly bill of a typical customer using an average of 3,641 therms per month will decrease by $550.84, or 24.7 percent, from $2,233.42 to $1,682.58.
“Oregon’s purchased gas adjustment mechanism reflects that the cost of natural gas is driven largely by regional, national, and global factors outside the utility’s control, but it also creates incentives to keep utilities accountable for careful management within those market conditions,” said PUC Chair Megan Decker. “We are fortunate this year to see the stabilizing supply and demand of natural gas ease financial pressures on consumers.”
To increase energy efficiency and save on future bills, review Energy Trust of Oregon’s current incentives and opportunities, including income-qualified offers and learn more about low-cost and no-cost tips to reduce energy consumption. For information about bill payment assistance options, available utility discount programs, and the Comfort Level Billing program that equalizes bill payments across winter and summer months, contact Avista at 800-227-9187 or view information online. Customers may also contact their local Community Action agency to request information on what assistance programs they may be eligible for and how to enroll.
Avista serves more than 100,000 customers in portions of southwest and northeastern Oregon.
With deer and elk migrating to their winter ranges, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is urging drivers to remain vigilant on the roads.
October and November are critical months for wildlife crossings, leading to an increase in animal-vehicle collisions. This seasonal shift means more wildlife may be spotted near roadways, posing risks to both animals and drivers.
To enhance safety, the ODFW recommends several precautions: Be Cautious in Dense Vegetation: Wildlife often hides in thick brush, making them hard to see until it’s too late. Drivers should be particularly attentive in these areas. Slow Down Around Curves: Curves can limit visibility, making it difficult to spot animals. Reducing speed in these sections allows for more reaction time. Expect More Animals: If one deer or elk is seen, be prepared for others to follow, as these animals often travel in groups.
The ODFW also highlights that collisions are a risk not just for large vehicles; smaller animals can pose hazards as well. Accidents involving wildlife can lead to serious injuries for both humans and animals.
Drivers are encouraged to report wildlife sightings and any collisions to local authorities, which can help improve wildlife management and road safety initiatives. As the season changes, the ODFW urges all motorists to prioritize safety to protect both themselves and Oregon’s wildlife during this critical migration period.
SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR HOME THIS FALL SEASON
As the leaves change color, fall weather arrives in the Pacific Northwest. The chill in the air and the falling foliage are reminders to take a moment to check the condition of your yard and tend to maintenance issues around your home.
“Fall is a great time to check the condition of your trees and a good opportunity to prune them before they become an issue once storms start,” said Jeremy Gee, Pacific Power’s vice president of health and safety. “Winter storms that bring down branches are a common source of power outages. Check around your property to see if any trees or branches could harm power lines if they fell. Some preventative work now could save you additional trouble and inconvenience related to power outages later.”
Use caution when pruning trees. Don’t use pruning tools or ladders near power lines. Always keep yourself and anything you’re handling at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. Never try to remove a branch that is tangled or lying across a power line. Instead, call Pacific Power at
1-888-221-7070. We’ll be happy to remove it for you.
Some additional tips for fall safety:
- Treat all electric lines with caution.
- Use only wooden and fiberglass ladders. Metal ladders conduct electricity.
- Be aware and steer clear of overhead electrical wires when installing, removing, cleaning or repairing gutters.
- Never use electrical equipment or tools near a pool or other wet areas such as puddles. Additionally, make sure outlets are equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter, designed to automatically disconnect if the tool comes into contact with water.
- Plant trees and shrubs away from meters, switching cabinets and boxed transformers. Vegetation that blocks electrical equipment makes repairs and maintenance challenging and sometimes dangerous for utility workers.
- Have help when installing or adjusting a satellite dish or antenna. Make sure you’re working at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
- Underground power lines are just as dangerous as overhead ones. If your project involves digging, make sure the locations of underground power lines are marked. Call 811 to have underground utilities located and marked for free.
For more safety tips or to order free Pacific Power safety materials, call toll free at 800-375-7085 or visit PacificPower.net/Safety.
Did you set your clocks back an hour over the weekend?
Daylight Savings Time ended at 2AM Sunday, Nov. 3rd.
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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