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Monday, Nov. 18, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
A 50% chance of snow showers, partly sunny, with a high near 37. West wind 9 to 11 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Overnight a 30% chace of snow showers, cloudy with a low of 22. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
Winter Weather Is Here, Drive Carefully.
A winter storm hit much of Southern Oregon last week, bringing snow, ice, rain and quickly changing road conditions.
Siskiyou Summit saw its first major snowfall of the season, catching many drivers off guard. In response, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is reminding drivers of the importance of preparing for winter weather. The fast-moving storm surprised a lot of drivers.
This is a reminder that winter weather can change quickly, and road conditions can go from clear to hazardous in a matter of minutes.
ODOT urges drivers to follow several key tips to stay safe: Turn on your windshield wipers and headlights, Slow down and avoid cruise control. Increase your stopping distance And, steer clear of standing water.
Carry chains and check road conditions before traveling using TripCheck.com or by calling 511.
Pack an emergency kit with a flashlight, phone charger, warm clothes, food, and water in case you get stuck. Also, be aware of the dangers of black ice, which can be even more hazardous than snow. Drivers should always be prepared for sudden weather changes—especially in higher elevations.
With millions of people preparing to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, two strong storm systems, including the first major winter storm of the season, are forecast to bring snow, wind and rain across a large swath of the United States this week.
More than 25 million people were under winter storm watches or warnings, the National Weather Service said today.
Sky Lakes Medical Center has announced that Jon French, J.D., M.B.A., has been appointed vice president and general counsel following a national search. He is scheduled to start today.
As general counsel, French will be an essential member of Sky Lakes’ senior leadership team, provide legal counsel for Sky Lakes’ strategic direction, and manage all legal affairs. French has experience in both law and healthcare.
As a healthcare partner with Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in Portland, French represented a range of hospitals, large health systems, multispecialty clinics, provider groups, and healthcare business owners. Before Schwabe, he was the chief legal officer at Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend, Wash., where he provided legal advice and hands-on strategic leadership for this independent community hospital and health system.
French is also a U.S. Navy veteran, having served as an attorney lieutenant and officer with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, with wartime deployments to Iraq and the Persian Gulf. He also served as in-house legal counsel to the commanding officer of a 5,500-personnel aircraft carrier and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.
French earned his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law, an M.B.A. from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.
Oregon Housing and Community Services is investing $5 million across five counties including Klamath County, to combat youth homelessness — and three of those counties are in Southern Oregon.
According to a news release from OHCS, the $5 million will be dispersed among Josephine, Klamath, Coos, Lincoln and Douglas counties.
Locally, Intregal Youth Services will receive a substantial sum. The Youth Emergency Housing Assistance Program project team analyzed data from both Oregon’s Emergency Homelessness Response and the Department of Education to identify which communities had the highest rate of youth experiencing homelessness to ensure these funds make the biggest possible impact.
Downtown Klamath Falls is gearing up for the 6th Annual Small Business Saturday Shop Hop on November 30.
Local businesses and shoppers are invited to celebrate a day of community, shopping, and support for small businesses, the heart of our community.
Hosted by downtown businesses in partnership with Klamath Falls Downtown Association, the Shop Hop is a wonderful way for the community to come together, discover unique local shops, and enjoy a festive shopping experience.
This year, shoppers have an extra incentive to get out and support their favorite businesses. For every $10 spent at participating stores, shoppers will be entered into a raffle to win incredible prizes, including a “Night on the Town,” generously donated by the Downtown Association, and a 7-night vacation! Supporting our local businesses is more important than ever.
Small Business Saturday is a chance to show our appreciation for the hard working entrepreneurs who bring life and personality to our downtown area. We can’t wait to see the community come out, explore, and enjoy all that Downtown Klamath Falls has to offer. In addition to shopping, there will be plenty of holiday cheer, special promotions, and local products to help you find those one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.
Grab a friend, support your neighbors, and enjoy a day of fun that puts your holiday dollars back into the heart of our town.
Crater Lake got its first big snowstorm of the year on Wednesday.
If you were planning a late fall trip to Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park today, you’re out of luck. All roads at the park were closed Thursday morning after a winter storm dumped snow on the park and “equipment challenges” meant employees couldn’t immediately clear them.
According to a post on the park’s website, all park roads were temporarily closed to travel “while the snowplow operators work to repair equipment and clear the roads.”
The park had gotten just under 15 inches of snow in about 24 hours, according to Tim Daldrup, a meterologist with the National Weather Service in Medford. The snow was expected to continue, though substantially lighter, for the next several days. Another storm is predicted late Sunday into Monday that could bring a foot or more of new snow to the area.
Crater Lake National Park did not respond to say when they anticipated re-opening park roads. In general, the park is open all year, and snow is common.
The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Kevin Heatley to serve as the superintendent of Crater Lake National Park beginning January 2025.
Heatley currently serves as deputy chief of the Bureau of Land Management’s NEPA, Planning and Decision Support Division in Washington, DC. He previously worked for the BLM on both sides of the Cascade Mountains in southern Oregon, as Medford District assistant field manager and Klamath Falls Office field manager.
Crater Lake was established in 1902. It is the fifth-oldest national park in the United States and the only national park in Oregon. The park encompasses the caldera of Crater Lake, a remnant of Mount Mazama, a destroyed volcano, and the surrounding hills and forests. It is approximately 182,304 acres and heavily forested.
Members of American Indian tribes continue to value the park’s lands, and the park is fortunate to have the support of local and regional partners, who contribute to protecting resources and enhancing visitor experiences.
Four Klamath River hydroelectric dams have been removed. For many, the question is: What’s the future of the Keno Dam?
The Keno Dam is a non-power generating dam that was built in 1967 after a flood washed out the wooden Needle Dam. It was owned by PacifiCorp until ownership was recently transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Located about a mile south of Keno, it impounds water from Keno about 22 miles upstream to Lake Ewauna in Klamath Falls.
It also provides for about a third of the water for Klamath Reclamation Project irrigators. Because of its importance to agriculture, the dam will remain in place.
The Keno Dam is 41 feet high and 723 feet wide. The Irongate Dam, one of four dams that has been removed, was 173 feet high and 540 feet wide, and the John C. Boyle was 68 feet high and 715 feet wide. Copco No. 1 was 132 feet high and 415 feet wide while Copco 2, the smallest of four removed dams, was 33 feet high and 78 feet long.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is exploring fish passage options at Keno Dam with a recent $1.9 million NOAA award. Alternatives for improving fish passage at the Keno Dam range from building a salmon-friendly fish ladder to removing and replacing the dam.
According to ODFW, a future design would need to both provide fish passage and retain irrigation and other functions for nearby communities. Over the next three years, ODFW will “Identify fish passage options in coordination with partners, tribes and community members; study the feasibility of the most viable fish passage options; develop cost estimates; and create a 30-percent engineering design for the chosen option.”
Among groups involved in the study will be the Klamath Tribes who, according to ODFW, “will play a key role in developing and evaluating fish passage options.”
Integral Youth Services has launched a groundbreaking app designed to empower the Klamath Community.
The new app is a perfect solution for anyone looking to get a step ahead in starting their career path, or is looking to improve their soft skills. Now available on the Apple and Android app stores, the IYS DigiSpark is an innovative educational tool designed to equip Oregonians with the skills and knowledge necessary to be prepared and successful in a digital workforce.
The app offers career exploration, skill development, financial literacy, resume building, interview preparation and much more, with even more planned to come with future updates. A community hub where knowledge meets innovation, IYS’ Tech Spark Lab hosts seminars on the above-listed curriculums including culinary and computer coding all with the vision to transform lives and help families thrive while working to foster a vibrant community of learners, thinkers and creators.
The IYS DigiSpark app is user-friendly and segmented by a courses tap, an event tap, a to-do list, a community section and a quiz section to test proficiencies on a given course. The app has an AI Sidekick described as being a “personal mentor in your pocket” that allows users to ask questions on any given subject and receive informed and accurate responses.
Made possible through a grant received from Microsoft’s TechSpark grant program which was issued to one nonprofit in every state to help bridge the digital divide in rural communities and provide access to technology and career education.
The Klamath Animal Shelter Pet of The Week, Ready for Adoption is a dog named ” Daisy “.
Daisy is a little timid but very happy, she does still have a lot to learn about in life. Poodles do require regular professional grooming to avoid painful coat conditions.
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.
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Around the State of Oregon
Oregon is reported to have 835 confirmed cases and at least one adult death caused by pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough.
As of Oct. 14, Lane County had 251 cases, the most in the state. Multnomah County came in second with 183. Cases have been reported in Clackamas, Washington, Marion, Yamhill, Polk, Columbia, and Deschutes counties. Oregon Health Authority recommends Oregonians get vaccinated against whooping cough to protect themselves amid the surge.
The median age of cases is 11, with a range between five weeks and 89 years old. Health officials are alarmed and expect the state to beat the 2012 record of 910 whooping cases recorded, which was the highest annual count since 1953.
OHA said babies too young to be fully vaccinated suffer the most from pertussis.
According to the CDC, infants may experience difficulty breathing instead of coughing. Babies have the highest reported incidence rate and highest likelihood of hospitalization and death.
Asante Rogue Regional Hospital in Medford is facing another lawsuit related to allegations that a nurse swapped patients’ fentanyl with tap water.
The latest lawsuit, filed on behalf of multiple patients, seeks more than $22 million in damages. According to the lawsuit filings, the plaintiffs claim they suffered physical pain and emotional distress due to not receiving the prescribed medication. The lawsuit alleges that the hospital was negligent in preventing this suffering.
This marks at least the third lawsuit filed against the hospital in connection with the situation. The nurse accused of the tampering is scheduled to appear in court next month for a pre-trial hearing, though a trial date has not yet been set.
At least one Klamath Falls resident is known to have died.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a person linked to a previously reported outbreak affecting birds at a commercial poultry operation in Clackamas County.
Health officials are not providing additional details about the individual, naming the operation, and will not be providing specific location information to protect privacy. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission and the risk to the public is low. Clackamas County Public Health Division has been closely monitoring people exposed to the animal outbreak, which is how this case was identified.
The individual experienced only mild illness and has fully recovered. The person received treatment with the antiviral medication oseltamivir, and household contacts were prescribed oseltamivir prophylaxis.
OHA epidemiologists are working closely with their counterparts at local public health authorities, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and CDC to monitor individuals exposed to animals infected with H5N1 and respond promptly if new symptoms consistent with avian influenza develop, said Sidelinger.
When an outbreak in animals occurs, ODA provides personal protective equipment and training to affected farmworkers, and public health authorities provides symptom education and monitoring. To reduce the risk of HPAI, people should avoid contact with sick or dead birds or animals, or their droppings or litter, and should not drink or eat unpasteurized or raw dairy products such as milk or cheese.
The U.S. Forest Service is starting a public comment period today about proposed changes to its forest management plan for Northern California, Oregon and Washington.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) is taking public input about a proposed amendment to land management plans for national forests in the Northwest Forest Plan area. The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the amendment gets published today in the Federal Register, launching an 120-day comment period to allow the public to offer input about how these forests will be managed.
USFS says the draft EIS focuses on balancing economic needs, ecological health, and community safety across the Northwest Forest Plan area. It considers wildfire resilience to address an increasing threat of severe fires. USFS says the proposed amendment provides guidance for managing forests to reflect unique fire patterns, or fire regimes, across Pacific Northwest forests.
This approach includes usage of hazardous fuel treatments such as mechanical thinning and prescribed fire to reduce dense vegetation to lower wildfire risk and affects on communities, critical infrastructure and forests, while maintaining and improving overall forest health across the landscape.
USFS says the draft EIS’ economic opportunities, “seek to support rural economies by promoting a predictable commercial timber supply through sustainable forest restoration and timber production activities.” It says this approach can create local jobs, provide training in forest management and build economic resilience in communities that depend on forest resources.
USFS says improved forest stewardship is addressed by the proposed amendment by improving on the original Northwest Forest Plan with clearer, more specific guidance to distinguish between moist and dry forest types and between young and old forests and, “It also provides direction to use ecological forestry practices that promote landscapes to be more resilient to fire, retain old growth conditions to support at-risk species, and restore non-forest habitats such as meadows and huckleberry patches where they naturally belong.”
The FBI is offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in a string of ballot box fires in Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA last month.
According to a news release from the FBI, the suspect set three fires on Oct. 28 — two at two ballot boxes in Vancouver and one at a ballot box in Portland. Three ballots in Portland were destroyed along with hundreds in Washington.
There was also an attack on a ballot drop box in Vancouver on Oct. 8 between 3:30 and 4 a.m. “A surveillance camera captured images of an early 2003 to 2004 Volvo S-60 sedan, dark in color, with dark wheels and a light-colored interior, driven by the suspect believed to be responsible for these crimes,” the release said.
“The vehicle does not have a Volvo logo on the front grill. At the time of the October 28, 2024, incidents, the vehicle also displayed a fraudulent temporary Washington license plate on the rear and no front license plate. The plate, which is not associated with a Volvo, may no longer be on the vehicle.”
The FBI described the suspect as a white man who is about 30 to 40 years old with “thinning hair.” “It is believed that he may have some experience with metal work and welding,” the release said. “Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the FBI’s Toll-Free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.”
In the Coos Bay area, some people in the community are organizing a candlelight vigil for Joshua McCoy, the 5-year-old boy who was found deceased Tuesday after being missing for several days.
The vigil will take place at North Bay Elementary School in North Bend, at the field behind the playground on Saturday, at 6 p.m. hauna Bogart, one of the people organizing the event.
She said Saturday would have been Joshua’s 6th birthday. While she never met Joshua, she said the community is so tight knit that when tragedy strikes, it’s important to come together. Bogart said, Saturday’s vigil is open to the public. Donations will be accepted for Joshua’s family, some of whom will be present at the vigil.
Oregon school districts are projected to pay $670 million more to the state’s public employee pension program over the next two years, potentially wiping out all increases to school funding proposed by Gov. Tina Kotek.
The increased tab, more than 10% for some districts, follows lagging returns in investments of the Public Employees Retirement system and could affect teaching and learning in some schools. The impact will vary, with most of Oregon’s 197 school districts and 17 community colleges facing an average 1.5% increase in their payroll going to PERS during the 2025-27 budget cycle, according to a PERS presentation last month. But 22 districts are facing average increases of 10% or more in part because investment returns have been lower than expected but mainly because side investment accounts meant to help buffer PERS increases are expiring.
For 72 school districts that don’t have one of these accounts, the average contribution rate for PERS will soon amount to about 27% of payroll. Overall, school districts and colleges will pay $565 million more in the next two years compared with the 2023-25 biennium, while about 77,000 vested employees, who also pay into PERS, will pay $105 million more.
The increased costs to districts will more than erase the $515 million boost proposed by Kotek for school funding for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. She announced in July that she’d ask the state Legislature early next year to send more than half a billion dollars to the State School Fund for the next biennium to boost student outcomes, literacy rates and more. The fund is responsible for the bulk of district funding, and payroll makes up about 85% of school budgets.
A Springfield elementary school teacher is on administrative leave after showing a 1st-Grade class a sexual education video.
The video, titled “Help kids learn why it’s important to keep private parts private” was shown to first grade students at Mount Vernon Elementary. While the video is animated in a more child centric way, the video ends with discussing touching ones privates, and the act of which feeling good.
Springfield Public Schools confirmed that the teacher who showed the video is now on leave. According to the district teachers are expected to utilize District-approved, age-appropriate instructional materials/curriculum when providing instruction to students and that teachers may use special aids with the express approval of the principal. Springfield Public Schools has confirmed that they are investigating this incident.
A new memorial park opening at the state Capitol this month will honor the 790 Oregonians who died, and the more than 180,000 Oregonians who fought, during the 20 years of the Vietnam War.
The memorial is designed to be a reflective outdoor space in Salem’s Willson Park, located in the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds, adjacent to the World War II Memorial. Architect Mike Abbaté designed the memorial to include 46 granite columns engraved with the names of Oregonians who died in the Vietnam War, from 1955 to 1975.
It’s meant to contrast with the solid granite wall of the neighboring World War II memorial. The Department of Defense lists 710 Oregon residents who died in the Vietnam War, but that figure is based only on the state in which a soldier entered the service.
Make fishing part of your Thanksgiving weekend plans with friends and family. Everyone can fish, clam and crab for free in Oregon on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, 2024.
No fishing/shellfish licenses or tags (including a Combined Angling Tag, Columbia River Basin Endorsement or Two-Rod Validation) are required those two days. Both Oregon residents and nonresidents can fish for free. All other fishing regulations apply including closures, bag limits and size restrictions.
See the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for rules and remember to check for any in-season regulation updates too, especially for salmon and steelhead fishing. Click on the zone where you want to fish to see regulation updates.
The Recreation Report is updated weekly and features the best bests for fishing for the upcoming week. Depending on water levels and conditions, fishing could be good for Chinook or coho salmon; again be sure to check regulations first because not all rivers are open.
Trout will also be stocked the week before Thanksgiving at several popular lakes in the Willamette Valley. Prefer to crab or clam instead? MyODFW.com has all the information you need to get started clamming or crabbing.
Remember to check ocean conditions and take safety precautions—always clam with a friend and never turn your back on the ocean. Call the ODA Shellfish safety hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or check their Shellfish Closures page before you go clamming or crabbing. The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly tests shellfish and closes areas when naturally occurring biotoxins get to levels that make crabs and clams unsafe to eat. Currently, crabbing is open in bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties along the entire Oregon coast. Crabbing is closed in the ocean due to the annual closure from Oct. 16-Nov. 30 each year.
As of mid-November, razor clamming is closed from Cascade Head to the California border due to high levels of the marine biotoxin domoic acid, but closures may change by Thanksgiving Weekend so check before you go.
SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR HOME
Winter has arrived in the Northwest. It is the reminder to check your yard and tend to maintenance issues around your home.
“This is the 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.
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