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.

 

Friday, December 13, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Today
Snow before 1pm, then rain throught the afternoon hours. Snow level rising to 4400 feet. High near 39. South wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. expect snow after 7pm, with south winds 20 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

 

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Around the State of Oregon

An Oregon federal judge has temporarily blocked Kroger’s proposed takeover of Albertsons Tuesday, siding with state and federal regulators who argued a $24.6 billion merger between the two supermarket giants would harm consumers and grocery workers.

U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson’s temporary injunction, which halts the merger while a Federal Trade Commission Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons is Kroger’s largest rival after Walmart. Albertsons owns the grocery chain that bears its name as well as Safeway, Vons, Randalls and several other chains. The grocers said their merger would help the combined company better compete against brick-and-mortar and online competitors.

The FTC, joined by state attorneys general from Oregon, the District of Columbia and seven other states, argued in its lawsuit that a tie up between Kroger and Albertsons would drive down competition, resulting in higher grocery prices, lower quality of products and less choice for consumers. Judge Nelson said Kroger and Albertsons “engage in substantial head-to-head competition and the proposed merger would remove that competition. As a result, the proposed merger is likely to lead to unilateral competitive effects and is presumptively unlawful.”

The merger is also the subject of another antitrust lawsuit brought by the Colorado Attorney General’s office. The judge in that case has yet to rule.

 

Oregon National Guard Leadership met this morning with affected personnel following an active threat incident on December 10, 2024, at the Clackamas Armed Forces Readiness Center (AFRC), located on Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Ore.  

All members of the Oregon National Guard, State of Oregon employees and U.S. Army Reserve personnel who work at the building were accounted for, and the threat was resolved by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office without incident. The Adjutant General with leadership from the unit, brigade and state levels met with affected personnel, together with representation from medical command, behavioral health, religious support, and the Resiliency Directorate.  

The safety and well-being of our Soldiers, Airmen, civilian staff, and the surrounding community is their top priority, and they are grateful to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and all the initial responding law enforcement agencies, for their swift and professional response, which prevented harm and ensured the safety of everyone involved.

Camp Withycombe not only houses the Clackamas Armed Forces Readiness Center, home to multiple Oregon Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units, but also serves as a supply depot and home to a training and equipment repair facility. The Oregon Military Museum is also located on Camp Withycombe.

 

On December 11, 2024, the Medford Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision near the intersection of Riverside Avenue and 9th Street in downtown Medford.

Officers determined that a pedestrian was walking in a crosswalk when they were struck by a vehicle. The driver briefly stopped but then fled the scene. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

The Serious Traffic Accident Response Team (STAR) was activated to investigate the incident. Within approximately 45 minutes, investigators gathered video surveillance and witness statements, enabling them to issue an alert for the suspect vehicle—a silver Nissan Xterra with specific Oregon license plates. About three hours after the crash, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle in White City.

The investigation revealed that the pedestrian, a 31-year-old male, was crossing in a clearly marked crosswalk with warning lights activated. Multiple other vehicles had stopped to yield for the pedestrian, but the suspect vehicle failed to do so as required. The victim remains hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Shane Gavazza of Medford, was arrested and lodged in the Jackson County Jail. He faces charges of Felony Hit-and-Run and Assault in the Third Degree. There was no evidence of impairment.

 

A Springfield, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for illegally possessing and manufacturing over 100 semi-automatic firearms and silencers.

Andrew Rogers, 40, was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. 

According to court documents, in 2022, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office received tips from concerned citizens that Rogers frequently purchased firearm parts.

Investigators learned that in June 2022 alone, Rogers spent thousands of dollars on more than 120 firearm parts and accessories.  On June 30, 2022, during a search of Rogers’ residence, investigators located 62 complete semi-automatic firearms, 45 silencers, several incomplete firearms, several hundred rounds of ammunition, and hundreds of firearm components, including magazines, triggers, and optic systems.

Additionally, investigators found psilocybin, methamphetamine, a drill press, firearm manufacturing tools, and a 3D printer with a partially printed part for an AR15 rifle.

Rogers’ wife estimated there were more than 100 firearms in the residence and that Rogers had manufactured most, if not all, of the firearms in his possession.  The same morning, officers conducted a traffic stop of a motorcycle Rogers was operating and conducted a search of the backpack he was wearing. Inside, officers found methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, a knife, and a semi-automatic pistol without an identifiable serial number. Rogers was arrested and placed in custody. 

On July 1, 2022, investigators sought and obtained a search warrant for Rogers’ storage unit in Springfield, Oregon where they found 26 pistols, five rifles, four suppressors, and an assortment of firearm parts. A search of the Federal Licensing System (FLS) and National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) database systems returned no results for Rogers, meaning he was not licensed to manufacture, import, or sell firearms. The same day, Rogers was charged by criminal complaint with possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of unregistered silencers. On August 13, 2024, Rogers pleaded guilty to illegally possessing and manufacturing silencers.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lane County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

 

OREGON COAST, Oregon— Oregon State Parks will host Winter Whale Watch Week on the Oregon Coast Friday, Dec. 27 through Tuesday, Dec. 31.

Trained Oregon State Park volunteers will be stationed at 15 sites along the Oregon Coast from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help visitors spot gray whales on their southward migration to the calving lagoons in Mexico.

The sites are some of the best places to watch for whales on the Oregon Coast. A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online at the official event webpage: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.dsp_whaleWatching

“Now is a perfect time to see the whales as their population rebounds on the Oregon Coast,” said Park Ranger Peter McBride.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced an end to an Unusual Mortality Event impacting gray whales. Since then, the estimated population has increased by roughly 30% from 14,530 last year to 19,260 this year, according to NOAA. The numbers are on the rise overall, but the calf count is still low as the population continues to rebound.

“While there are more gray whales to see now on the Oregon Coast, the calves remain a rare and important sight,” said Michael Milstein, public affairs officer with NOAA Fisheries.

Winter Whale Watch Week provides an opportunity to see not only the gray whales but other coastal wildlife including birds and other marine mammals with help from trained volunteers and rangers.

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 27-31. Visitors to the center can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about the whales.

All Whale Watch Week visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, to bring binoculars and to follow beach safety guidelines such as remaining out of fenced areas, knowing the tide schedule and always keeping an eye on the surf. Go to https://visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety/ for a list of safety tips.

For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, visit oregonstateparks.org.

Visitors are encouraged to share their photos and videos from Winter Whale Watch Week on social media using #OregonStateParks and #ORWhaleWatch24.

A panel of authorities on the data center industry told Northwest energy planners Wednesday that the tech sector will take all the electricity it can get its hands on, warning of severe consequences if the region doesn’t respond in time.

Data center demand is soaring because of artificial intelligence, which uses massive amounts of electricity for advanced computation. These powerful machines already consume more than 10% of all of Oregon’s power and forecasters say data center power use will be at least double that by 2030 — and perhaps some multiple higher. If the Northwest fails to add enough generation and transmission to meet the growing energy needs, Cromwell said periodic blackouts are inevitable at times power demand is at its greatest.

He used an industry term, “rotating load shedding,” to describe rolling blackouts, which briefly cut off power to homes, businesses and even hospitals that need electricity to provide life-saving care.

Oregon has one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing data center industries, owing in large part to some of the most generous tax breaks anywhere in the world. Data centers don’t employ many people, but the wealthy tech companies that run them enjoy Oregon tax giveaways worth more than $225 million annually.

 

Hypothermia and exposure contributed to the death of the 5-year-old Coos County boy whose body was found 2 miles from home last month, the Coos County district attorney said Wednesday.

Joshua James McCoy went missing Nov. 9. Joshua’s mother, Angela German, 43, told authorities she woke up from a nap she had taken with her son only to discover he was gone.

The boy had autism, didn’t talk much and did not like to wear clothes, she said. Feeling uncomfortable in clothing is a common response for people with autism.

Three days later, on Nov. 12, the boy’s naked body was found down the road from his home on Stage Road in the unincorporated Coos County community of Hauser.

District Attorney Paul Frasier told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Wednesday that while the case remains under investigation, he does “not anticipate any arrests will be made in the near future.”

He said authorities are awaiting the results of toxicology tests and that the autopsy showed hypothermia was a “contributing cause of death.” The child’s body was found partially under a bush about 20 feet from the road, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Coos County Sheriff’s Deputy BradLee Davis in support of a search warrant of German’s property.

 

How To Avoid A Fire In Your Home For the Holidays

The holidays are a wonderful time to get everyone together. Unfortunately, they can also mean a greater risk of a fire in someone’s home. This holiday season, the Cascades Region encourages everyone to follow simple steps to prevent home fires from holiday decorations. 

“December is the peak time for home fires involving candles and holiday decorations,” said Red Cross Cascades Region CEO Priscilla Fuentes. “Help protect your family by using battery-operated candles, making sure you have working smoke alarms, and practicing your two-minute escape plan with everyone in your household.”

HOLIDAY DECORATING SAFETY TIPS Follow these safety tips and visit redcross.org/fire for more information. You can also download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.

• If you must use candles, keep them away from anything that could burn, and place them out of reach of pets and children. Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Check all holiday light cords to ensure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together — no more than three per extension cord. 
• Ensure outside decorations are for outdoor use and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid an electrocution or fire hazard.
• If buying an artificial tree, look for a fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat. Never use electric lights on metallic trees.
• If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and keep it watered. To test if the tree is fresh, bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off.
• Don’t light the fireplace if hanging stockings or other decorations on the mantel.

Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year. If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Contact your local Red Cross for help.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,246 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires. 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood and is the primary blood supplier to 65 hospitals throughout Washington and Oregon; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

The results of Oregon’s General Election have been officially certified. Governor Tina Kotek and Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade signed the certificates of ascertainment for Oregon’s electors in the races for President and Vice President.

All of the Electoral College members elected throughout the country will meet in their states December 17th to cast their votes. Griffin-VaLade says it was the most secure election in history.

 

PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority remains focused on increased efforts to reduce substance use—and is looking at new opportunities to expand prevention, harm-reduction, treatment and recovery services—as a state data dashboard shows an increase in overdoses during 2023.

Overdose fatalities continued to rise in 2023, with more than half of the unintentional overdose deaths involving an opioid or a stimulant, according to a new and updated data dashboard. State health officials are still gathering data for 2024.

OHA launched the update of its Oregon Overdose Prevention Dashboard to provide more timely data, highlight emerging trends, and give users the ability to download the data. The dashboard is an interactive tool for tracking state, county and demographic trends related to fatal and non-fatal overdoses.

The updated dashboard shows the extent to which polysubstance use is contributing to fatal overdoses and disparities in overdose deaths:

• Overdose fatalities continued to rise, from 1,383 deaths in 2022 to 1,833 in 2023.
• 53% of unintentional overdose deaths in 2023 involved both an opioid and a stimulant.
• Fatal overdose rates remain high in non-Hispanic, Black and American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

Oregon is working aggressively to stem the rise in overdoses with a multi-faceted plan intended to reduce substance use and get life-saving treatment to people faster and more efficiently. This includes:

• Expanding naloxone distribution and other harm reduction efforts to better align with community needs, including through our Save Lives Oregon project.
• Increasing access to medically assisted treatments for substance use.
• Scaling up peer support and intervention programs across the state.
• Stabilizing and supporting the substance use treatment workforce.
• Continuing education and prevention campaigns.
  • The Legislature last year approved more funding for education for school-aged youth on the risks of substance use.
• More funding directed toward supplying schools with naloxone. Every middle and high school in the state is eligible to receive up to three opioid response kits, each with eight doses of naloxone.

In addition, since July 2021, the State of Oregon has reached agreement on national lawsuits against several companies—opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies—for their roles in the opioid crisis. Through these agreements, nearly $600 million will be awarded to Oregon over 18 years. These funds will support substance use and overdose prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery strategies.

Finally, Gov. Tina Kotek’s 2025-2027 budget proposes $90 million for capacity-building for adult mental health services, substance use disorder residential treatment, and withdrawal management; $40 million for supporting deflection coordinators, peers and counselors who give individuals struggling with addiction the opportunity to avoid legal consequences and to seek treatment instead; and $25 million for targeted residential and community-based behavioral health and substance use disorder capacity, expansion of mental health services, prevention services for school-based health centers, and funding to expand youth suicide prevention work.

“Oregon’s overdose crisis has affected every community across the state, and the highly sensitive and traumatic nature of these events has caused harm, trauma and loss that impact the well-being of everyone,” said Liz McCarthy, overdose epidemiologist in OHA’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP). “The impact fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses have on our communities shows how important this data can be, especially for data-driven decisions.”

Developed by the OHA IVPP, the updated dashboard gives public health officials, local agencies, and community organizations improved access to critical data. These resources aim to better inform efforts to reduce drug-related overdose.

The final 2023 death certificate data was only recently released. It typically takes nearly a year (and in this case 11 months) for all of the pending information, such as toxicology reports, to be gathered and analyzed. OHA will release 2024 data as soon as it is available.

“Our team decided to update our Overdose Prevention dashboard based on feedback we received from the community and people who use the data,” McCarthy said. “The update allows users to explore the latest trends in overdose deaths, hospital visits and the substances involved, as well as download the data for more in-depth analysis.”

The dashboard covers a range of drug categories including fentanyl, heroin, opioids and stimulants, with data on overdose fatalities, emergency department discharges and hospital discharges.

A new page focuses on Oregon’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) data. The new page offers additional information on unintentional overdose deaths in Oregon. One highlight is the “Drug of Interest” section for information on emerging substances, such as xylazine.

 

A sergeant with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office seized over 25 pounds of meth and arrested two men during a traffic stop along I-5 last week.

According to the sheriff’s office, the sergeant stopped a white sedan driving on the northbound side of the freeway for code violations.

During the stop, the sergeant learned that neither the driver nor passenger, 28-year-old Guillermo A. Ayala, and 24-year-old Yesith Leonardo Chriez Bueno, had valid driver’s licenses. He also noticed several signs of possible drug trafficking.

In a subsequent probable cause search of the vehicle, the officer found over 25 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk. Both men, who are from Los Angeles County, were arrested and face multiple drug-related charges.

 

A Salem man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his 6-month-old son. Edward Casian was convicted of murder in the second degree in the Marion County Circuit Court, and sentenced on December 9.

The district attorney’s office says the tragic incident happened on April 12, 2022, when emergency services were called to Casian’s residence after Ryker was found unresponsive. Paramedics determined the infant’s time of death to be 7:45 a.m. Initial investigations by Salem Police detectives and Marion County Death Investigators revealed suspicious bruising on Ryker’s body. Dr. Rebecca Millius of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office initially determined the cause of death to be Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SIDS). However, due to the concerning bruises, Salem Police Detectives continued their investigation.

In May 2023, Casian was re-questioned and admitted to multiple acts of violence against Ryker. Based on Casian’s statements, Dr. Millius revised the cause of death to Asphyxia Due to Smothering, classifying the baby’s death as a homicide. On December 9, 2024, Casian entered a no-contest plea to Murder in the Second Degree. This plea carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea, acknowledging that the state had sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Casian subjected Ryker to a “pattern and practice of assault and torture.”

Judge Gardiner sentenced Casian to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 25 years.

 

Oregon Housing and Community Services is funding the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of more than 400 affordable homes across the state. These homes will help fill the need for housing for Oregonians with low incomes, including seniors, youth, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

The Housing Stability Council approved $72.8 million to fund 421 homes through the agency’s Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) process. Part of this funding will be used to rehabilitate the Rosemont Court in Portland, which will serve seniors.

Another housing development funded is Blossom Gardens in Salem, which is under construction, will focus on serving refugee families. The funding will also preserve two manufactured home parks for homeowners who live at the Rimrock Court Cooperative in Madras and Surfside Mobile Village in Newport. The Housing Stability Council also granted the Homeownership Division approval to update two programs to help spur development and purchase of homes for Oregonians with low incomes.

The Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit (OAHTC) Homeownership was expanded to support limited equity cooperatives, an innovative homeownership model with growing interest in Oregon. By offering tax credits to the developer’s permanent lender, OAHTC Homeownership reduces financing costs, and the savings are passed on to residents to ensure housing affordability for those earning 80% or less of the area median income.

 

The nation’s longest road — U.S. 20 — will be designated the “National Medal of Honor Highway,” under legislation that the U.S. House of Representatives approved Monday.

The 3,365 mile road begins in Boston at a junction with Massachusetts Route 2 and ends in Newport, Oregon, at a junction with U.S. 101. The Oregon portion of the highway spans 451 miles from Newport — the western terminus — to Nyssa, at the border of Idaho. The bipartisan legislation was approved in a non-controversial voice vote.

The U.S. Senate approved it last year. It now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. The chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Missouri Republican Sam Graves, said the name change will honor all 3,519 Medal of Honor recipients, and those who receive the award in the future.

He said the medal is awarded to service members who go above and beyond the call of duty and risk their own lives to protect the United States.

 

Oregon has just approved the state’s largest solar farm – and one of the country’s largest – on about 10,000 acres of active farmland in Morrow County as it pushes to fulfill ambitious clean energy mandates.

The mammoth project also takes a novel approach to offset the negative economic impacts to the local agricultural economy.

Sunstone Solar will feature nearly 4 million solar panels, capable of producing up to 1,200 megawatts of power – enough to provide emission-free electricity to about 800,000 homes for a year – and a battery energy storage system that can store up to 7,200 megawatts hours.

Sunstone’s project will take a massive chunk of agricultural land out of production. It will occupy 9,442 acres within a 10,960-acre site of private land about 15 miles southeast of Boardman.

 

The Oregon State Marine Board held its annual post-season marine law enforcement conference on December 7, 2024, in Bend and recognized marine law enforcement and agency partnerships from around the state in specific program areas for outstanding achievement. 

Deputy Greiner demonstrated outstanding performance in all areas of the marine program and met all of their action plan goals. These goals included community engagement, increased education, on-water enforcement time, and use of new technology tools for timesaving measures. “Deputy Greiner made very positive impacts in the Tillamook County boating community,” said Eddie Persichetti, Marine Law Enforcement Training Coordinator. “Tillamook County faces the biggest influx of boaters at any given time and despite increasing challenges in boating safety, Deputy Greiner and the marine program continue to respond swiftly, safely and effectively.”

Deputy Eric Churchill from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office garnered the prestigious Instructor of the Year award. Deputy Churchill is an asset and is very committed to the education training program. “He consistently goes above and beyond to engage students and peers, making a tremendous impact on their learning through varying training methods that are thorough, professional, and exciting,” Persichetti adds.

Oregon State Police Trooper Travis Ring was recognized as the Trooper of the Year. Trooper Ring maintained outstanding performance and service to eastern Oregon boaters for boating safety through enforcement, education, outreach, innovation, partnership, Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicant (BUII) enforcement, accident investigation, community service, and heroic action. Persichetti said, “When the call is made, Trooper Ring steps forward without fail. He has embraced new technology in the field and continues to remain dedicated to boating and public safety.”

Deputy Brian Csergei from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received the prestigious Marine Deputy of the Year award. Deputy Csergei provided outstanding service to Washington County boaters in boating safety as well as enforcement, education, outreach, innovation, partnership, Boating Under the Influence of Intoxicant (BUII) enforcement, accident investigation, community service, and heroic action. “Deputy Csergei continues to push the bar for excellence. He has created a positive lasting impact in his community, on and off the water. His public interactions are always professional, and he strives to work together with neighboring agencies to ensure boating safety continues to move forward in an innovative and effective manner.” Persichetti said, “We’re honored to hand this award to Deputy Csergei.”

Sergeant Shawn Richards from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was honored with a Service Recognition Award. Persichetti gave heartfelt statements about a cornerstone individual with the Marine Board’s law enforcement training program. “For the past 26 years, Sgt. Richards has dedicated his career to public safety, and he has decided to retire in 2025. Starting his career at the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office in 1998 and achieving the rank of corporal, he moved to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in 2012. In his career, he has managed a multitude of field service contracts, including the federal Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service in addition to the Marine Board. He is an active member of the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) and paved the way for the Search and Rescue Advisory Committee to ensure operations move in an effective and efficient direction on the federal level.” Persichetti continued, “Shawn, from the wilderness to the water, you’ve committed your career to ensuring the public remains safe. Your legacy with the Marine Board’s marine training program will ensure continued success. You are a role model and leader to many. We wish you all the best with your future retirement, and just know you always have a place in the training program.”

In a new award category for 2024, Partner of the Year, Persichetti announced Scott Carlson, from the Lake Oswego Fire Department. “For the past six years, we have worked to build strong relationships in the training program with other organizations not under contract with the agency.” Persichetti continued, “What we’ve found is this approach improves efficiency for first responders on the water, helps build upon regional training consortiums across the state, brings updated training standards and new ideas to the marine training program, but most importantly, creates an amazing sense of community and partnership, on and off the training environment.” Persichetti then announced Carlson and said, “Scott, we’re honored to present this award to you and Lake Oswego Fire. The collaboration with you has led to a partnership that is invaluable. Your experience on the water is hard to beat. Your authentic, genuine personality and your passion are inspirational.”

The recognition ceremony concluded with three Service Excellence Awards. These awards were presented to individuals who continue to exceed all expectations and made lasting positive impacts in their communities, within the agency, training program and have gone above and beyond in all facets of marine patrol.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s proposed budget allocates more for higher education than the last biennium, but university and community college leaders say the budget doesn’t keep up with increased costs institutions are facing.

The leaders of the universities argue the inadequate funding could make higher education more expensive for Oregonians and slow down the state’s workforce development efforts. The governor’s $138 billion budget, released earlier this week, is a guideline for state lawmakers ahead of next year’s legislative session.

In her proposal, Gov. Kotek doubled down on her top three funding priorities: confronting Oregon’s homelessness and affordable housing emergency, K-12 education and addressing the state’s behavioral health care crisis. Higher education appears to be lower on the list of concerns.

In the 2025-2027 biennium, the governor recommends $4.39 billion for the agency responsible for two main funding streams for colleges and universities: operating revenue to run the institutions and financial aid programs to help students afford the cost of college. The proposal, a 6.4% overall increase from the last biennium, sets aside more than $25 million to build up education pathways that lead to behavioral health care jobs and nearly $29 million to expand select need-based grants, like the Oregon Opportunity Grant.

But those investments fall well short of what college leaders say are necessary, especially when it comes to financial aid for needy students. Higher education leaders in both the community college and university realm want to see lawmakers increase funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the state’s largest student financial aid program.

Both the Oregon Community College Association and the Oregon Council of Presidents are calling for an additional $150 million investment in this program alone, more than five times what the governor’s budget recommends.

 

SOUTHERN OREGON EVENTS

Jacksonville OR will host its Victorian Christmas event every night in December except for Dec. 24 and 25 at 185 N Oregon St.

Admission is free except for some activities, such as Trolley tours. Events include trolley tours, a tree lighting ceremony, a holiday parade, bingo, hot cider and holiday music.

The Crater Performing Arts Center will perform The Nutcracker Ballet on Dec. 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22, with prices ranging from $14 to $30.

Gold Hill is bringing back its Winterfest on Dec. 21 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be games, art activities, food and prizes.

Talent, Oregon is hosting its tree lighting ceremony from 5 p.m.to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Old Town Hall. There will also be a local goods market.

In northern California, Alpaca On the Rocks in Weed CA is hosting a Pictures with Santa event on Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A $20 admission will cover up to two children, with a $10 admission added for each additional child. There will be vendors, apple cider and hot chocolate.

 

Mt. Ashland Ski Area is open!

Sonnet, Comer and Windsor lifts are running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The ski area will feature upgrades such as the widening of Aisle 2 (the entryway to the main mountain), updated LED night lighting for Twilight Skiing beginning Jan. 9, and the opening of the first new chairlift in over 30 years.

The announcement for the grand opening of Lithia Chair will be coming soon with the completion of the chairlift made possible by the largest gift in Mt. Ashland Ski Area history — $2 million from the Sid & Karen Deboer Foundation, with an additional $500,000 from Sid & Karen Deboer.

The Ski Area strongly encourages travelers to continue to check the Mountain report at https://www.mtashland.com/mountain-report for updates on uphill travel access and road conditions. Stay up to date with all of Mt. Ashland Ski Area’s events on the events page: https://www.mtashland.com/event-directory/

 

Pacific Power is reminding customers to be vigilant about fraudulent communications from scammers posing as utility representatives.

This activity tends to increase during this time of year.Customers can protect themselves from these types of schemes by being aware of the following facts:

Pacific Power will not contact any customer demanding immediate payment to avoid disconnection of service.

Pacific Power does not ask customers to make payments by purchasing a prepaid card. You and other customers can always choose how you would like to make your payments. service the same day.

Pacific Power will not demand immediate payment for damaged or broken electrical equipment or any other service.

Pacific Power customer service employees will always have your correct account number. Scammers increasingly have used text messages as a means of targeting victims will not demand payment via text message.

Pacific Power encourages customers to set up their online billing profile at Pay My Bill (pacificpower.net) where they can pay bills and review statements. Scammers may use a sophisticated deceptive tactic that makes it appear to caller ID systems that the call is coming from Pacific Power when it is not. Hang up and call Customer Service directly.

Remember, if you still have concerns about the legitimacy of a call, you can always call our published customer service number, 1-888-221-7070. Pacific Power is asking customers to report information about any scam calls received, including the phone number the person is calling from and any information that may help to track down the fraudsters.  

 

Oregonians lost $136 million from holiday shopping scams last year, according to a new study from Social Catfish.

The study says that Oregon ranked #22 in the nation for victims per capita, with 991 per 100,000 residents losing money in a holiday scam.  Scammers are salivating because Americans will spend a record $240 billion buying gifts online this holiday season, giving them unprecedented opportunities to steal gift-givers’ hard-earned money.

Residents can avoid holiday scams by doing the following:  Be wary of look-a-like stores that have AI chatbots to make it look legit. Carefully check the store’s URL to make sure it’s the official store website — for example, if you’re shopping at Macy’s, the website should be Macys.com instead of Maceys.com.

Look out for deepfake videos that falsely make it look like trusted public figures are promoting Black Friday deals. The video is a deepfake if the audio isn’t matching up, there are extra body parts, or the person is only speaking in one tone of voice or showing one facial expression.

Be careful when marketplaces sell you “discounted” gift cards that have a zero balance. Reverse search the seller to verify their identity.

A popular scam involves the scammer sending an alert to a consumer saying there is suspicious activity. When the consumer goes to verify their account, the scammer has AI customer service representatives steal their information. If you get a suspicious activity alert, avoid this scam by contacting the company “only by using the main number on their website. You are asked to report any scam you’ve discovered to local authorities and the website administrator if possible.

 

Oregon State Parks has added Brookings to the cities where overnight beach camping is banned.

Residents near Mill Beach voiced concerns about public health, risks to public safety, and impacts on the marine ecosystem. Over 90 percent of comments expressed support for the ban. Brookings joins Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Rockaway Beach, Lincoln City, Newport, Bandon and Gold Beach where camping is also banned.

 

An Oregon cheese is the world’s best, once again. Tillamook Creamery Maker’s Reserve 2014 Extra Sharp White Cheddar was pronounced the “Best Cheddar in the World” at the World Cheese Awards in Portugal.

The creamery’s Maker’s Reserve cheeses are all white cheddars and are aged for at least three years, according to the Tillamook website. An array of Oregon cheeses have won national and international honors in recent years. 

In 2019, Rogue Creamery’s Rogue River Blue was named the best cheese in the world at the World Cheese Awards, becoming the first American cheese to win the title. In 2022, the creamery’s Bluehorn blue cheese won a Super Gold medal at the World Cheese Awards. Earlier this year, Tillamook claimed four of the top five spots in the sharp cheddar category at the 2024 World Championship Cheese Contest, including first place for its Sharp Cheddar.

 

Travel around Bend and you might notice something different about the sculptures on several of the city’s roundabouts – a pair of googly eyes.

Someone or several people have placed the oversized plastic items on eight public art installations in an apparent attempt to draw some laughs. But officials wrote on Instagram the stunt risks damaging the sculptures and separately said removing them has cost the city money $1,500.

The post is drawing a mixed response on social media — with many people responding in ALL CAPS that they like it.

According to city spokesperson René Mitchell, the adhesives from the eyes can damage metal coatings and may require the sculptures to be repainted or recoated. For the bronze sculptures, damaged wax can lead to blue-green corrosion. Bend has more than 20 sculptures in city roundabouts that were commissioned and donated by the nonprofit Art in Public Places.

People sometimes decorate the art for different holidays, and city officials turn the other way when it comes to wreaths, leis and Santa hats.

If you believe the internet, in his first month at the Ashland Daily Tidings, reporter Joe Minihane skied the slopes of Mount Ashland, ate at 15 restaurants in Roseburg, hiked the Owyhee Canyonlands in Malheur County, took in Autzen Stadium and Multnomah Falls, and visited the Neskowin Ghost Forest on the Oregon Coast.

And sure, more than 1,200 miles of travel to write 10 stories in a month might seem excessive for a local outdoors reporter who was new to his Southern Oregon job, but who could argue with his output? Minihane could. He says none of it happened. 

In fact, he said he’s only been to Oregon once in his life. Yet, his name is attached to those bylines. The reality was that none of the people allegedly working for the Ashland Daily Tidings website- once the paper stopped print operations-  existed, or at least were who they claimed to be. The bylines listed on Daily Tidings articles were put there by scammers using artificial intelligence, and in some cases stolen identities, to dupe local readers.

The Ashland Daily Tidings — established as a newspaper in 1876 — ceased operations in 2023, but if you were a local reader, you may not have known. Almost as soon as it closed, a website for the Tidings reemerged, boasting a team of eight reporters, Minihane included, who cranked out densely reported stories every few days.  The mysterious emergence of AI invaders on the local news scene is a new development in Oregon, and the Ashland Daily Tidings website appears designed to hide its true operators.

After Rosebud Media closed in 2023, the Daily Tidings website emerged again with a claimed staff of eight contributors, none of whom are reporters working in Southern Oregon. Two of the writers have sparse social media presences that suggest they live in South Africa.

Neither responded to a request for comment from OPB, though one did share a social media post in November praising artificial intelligence. 

 

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

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