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.

 

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Today
A slight chance of rain and snow before 7am. Snow level 5600 feet rising to 8300 feet. Partly sunny by afternoon with a high near 46. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Overnight, mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Calm wind.

 

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Around the State of Oregon

Overdose deaths increased nearly 33% in Oregon last year compared to the year before, setting a grim new record that shows the state’s overdose crisis is far from over.

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.

The newest numbers show 1,833 people died in Oregon from a drug overdose last year, compared to 1,383 in 2022, 1,189 in 2021, 824 in 2020 and 626 in 2019. That means that nearly three times as many people died of overdoses in Oregon last year than did four years earlier. It also means that the increase in overdose deaths isn’t even slowing down. In 2022, overdose deaths increased only 16% compared to 2021. That’s about half of the percentage point increase in deaths from 2022 to 2023.

 

Oregon lawmakers approved $218 million in emergency wildfire funds during a Thursday special session that was convened to address unpaid bills stemming from the state’s 2024 record wildfire season.

As wildfires still rage in California, Oregon is among several states grappling with steep costs related to fighting wildfires this year. New Mexico lawmakers in a July special session approved millions in emergency aid for wildfire victims, and states including North Dakota and Wyoming have requested federal disaster declarations to help with recovery costs.

Fighting the blazes that scorched a record 1.9 million acres (769,000 hectares), or nearly 2,970 square miles (7,692 square kilometers), largely in eastern Oregon, cost the state over $350 million, according to Gov. Tina Kotek. The sum has made it the most expensive wildfire season in state history, her office said. While over half of the costs will eventually be covered by the federal government, the state still needs to pay the bills while waiting to be reimbursed.

The emergency funding bill passed with bipartisan support in both chambers, with the state Senate voting 25-2 and the state House voting 42-2 with 15 excused. Oregon wildfires this year destroyed at least 42 homes and burned large swaths of range and grazing land in the state’s rural east. At one point, the Durkee Fire, which scorched roughly 460 square miles (1,200 square kilometers) near the Oregon-Idaho border, was the largest in the nation. Kotek declared a state of emergency in July in response to the threat of wildfire, and invoked the state’s Emergency Conflagration Act a record 17 times during the season.  

 

One person is dead and three others injured after a single-vehicle rollover crash on the southbound side of I-5 in Siskiyou County Friday morning.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), officers arrived to the scene, just south of Anderson Grade, shortly after midnight. Upon arrival police found one person had been ejected from the vehicle and three other people were still inside.

Life-saving measures were taken, however the person ejected, a 61-year-old from Woodburn, died at the scene. The other three people were taken to a local hospital for treatment. CHP says icy roads were a factor in the crash and are reminding drivers to slow down when driving in colder temperatures.  

 

Oregon State Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash near Central Point, which left a 19-year-old Phoenix man dead.

The crash impacted northbound traffic on Interstate 5 near milepost 33 for more than two hours. Oregon State Police said that a Jackson County Deputy had tried to initiate a traffic stop after seeing 19 year old Chalino Tellez Cortez of Phoenix traveling northbound at more than 100 miles per hour. OSP said Cortez did not stop for the deputy, striking the trailer of a Peterbilt semi truck.

Tellez Cortez was declared dead on scene. The truck was operated by 28-year-old Gurjunder Singh of Yuba City, California. Singh was not injured in the crash.

 

Pear growers in Oregon and Washington state are reporting their worst harvest in nearly four decades.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports this year’s pear harvest in the Pacific Northwest yielded its smallest crop since 1985. This year’s crop of ten-point-six-million standard 44-pound box equivalents is down 31-percent from the five-year average. Last year’s harvest yielded 15-point-two-million boxes.

 

A former Lebanon High School student is suing the school district for $10 million related to claims of sexual abuse at the hands of a former staff member.

The lawsuit stems from the conviction of Jennifer Burton, a former Lebanon High School employee who pled guilty to misdemeanor third-degree sexual abuse in August. That followed her February arrest and a monthlong investigation by the Albany Police Department that identified multiple students who alleged they had sex with Burton as minors. Burton, who was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and 45 days in jail and was ordered to register as a sex offender, was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Portland-based attorney Nicole Lemieux filed the complaint in the Linn County Circuit Court in October and alleges the district was negligent when hiring Burton. It also accuses the district of failing to investigate her and protect her client, a former Lebanon High School student, “after receiving credible reports” she was behaving inappropriately.

 

A slowdown in the number of people moving into Oregon appears to have reversed itself over the past few months.

State data shows thousands more people exchanging out-of-state driver licenses for Oregon licenses beginning last summer, with the pace of arrivals hitting its fastest rate in years. That could be a good sign for the state, which relies on migration for economic growth.

But the state drivers license data says nothing about who’s moving away and surrendering their Oregon ID in another state, leaving some uncertainty over whether or how fast Oregon’s population is expanding. And any growth could quickly hit a wall if Oregon can’t increase housing production, in which case more people could again push up rents and home prices.

Higher housing costs could make the state less appealing, both for migrants and for those already living here.

 

It’s almost time to start looking out for whales along the Oregon Coast again, and Oregon State Parks is getting set to host Winter Whale Watch Week starting on Dec. 27.

Trained Oregon State Parks volunteers will be stationed at 15 sites along the Oregon Coast from Friday, December 27 through Tuesday, December 31 to help folks spot grey whales on their southern migration to the coast of Mexico.

Volunteers will be in place each day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some sites where volunteers will be posted include the Shore Acres State Park, Umpqua Lighthouse, Heceta Head Lighthouse, and Cape Perpetua Turnout.

Visitors who come to the coast in search of whales are urged to dress for the weather, bring binoculars and follow beach safety guidelines. Officials say now is a good time to keep an eye out for whales, as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced an unusual mortality event that affected grey whales has ended.

Since then, the grey whale population has increased by about 30% from 2023, with the NOAA counting nearly 20,000 grey whales.

 

Oregon Lottery Scratch-it tickets are easy-to-give and make for a fun, last-minute surprise. This year’s Scratch-its feature six new designs, ranging from “Merry & Bright” to “Reindeer Games.” The tickets make popular stocking stuffers and can be found at Oregon Lottery retailers across the state. 

There is one important consideration for gift givers – make sure the gift’s recipient is at least 18 years old.

“When it comes to holiday gifts, adults don’t have to be left out of the fun,” said Stacy Shaw, Oregon Lottery’s senior manager of product marketing. “This year, don’t forget about the deserving aunt, friend, or neighbor on your list. Our festive Scratch-its make a perfect one-size fits all gift for adults to adults.”  

Throughout the year, the Oregon Lottery and lotteries worldwide partner with the National Council on Problem Gambling to promote gifting lottery tickets responsibly. The Oregon Lottery has been part of this annual campaign for over a decade. In addition, Oregon Lottery helps fund free, confidential, and effective counseling and treatment programs statewide. Visit OPGR.org for more information.

For those over 18 picking up Scratch-its, winning tickets range from a few dollars to the “Merry & Bright” top prize of $200,000. Use the Oregon Lottery mobile app to see if you won and enter non-winning tickets into the free Second Chance drawings. Regardless of the outcome, lottery games help fund programs that Oregonians care about.

 

Officers with the Newport Police Department (NPD) are working to spread the word about a scam gaining popularity nationwide. It’s called a ‘brushing’ scam.

According to NPD how it works is a scammer sends their victim an unexpected gift or item through the mail from a place like Amazon or other similar companies. The package isn’t something the recipient ordered, but it will have their address on it, with no information about the sender. Inside the package, the recipient will find a QR code which indicates they can scan it to find out who sent them the gift.

Police say once the code is scanned and the link is clicked, the scammer may be able to gain access to a person’s personal and banking information.

Examples of the types of gifts or items people have been reporting including rings, bracelets, necklaces, Bluetooth speakers, etc.

NPD says for those who may have received a package from an unknown sender similar to what is described here, the gift can be kept or thrown away, but the QR code should not be scanned for any reason.

 

In another scam, people in the Corvallis area have lost over 650-thousand dollars to scammers the last six months.

The Corvallis Police department is warning you to be suspicious of any call saying you owe money, or need to pay someone. The scammers use a variety of tactics that make them appear legitimate. They put pressure on the victim to pay quickly, often using methods of payment that can’t be traced.

Verify the caller’s identity on your own and don’t use the information they give you. Don’t send money, or gift cards. Don’t click links on suspicious emails.

 

Daily parking fees at Oregon state parks are increasing in 2025.

The day-use parking fee is doubling from $5 to $10 per day. This is only at the 25, out of over 250 Oregon state parks, that charge for parking.

Locally, Touvelle State Recreation Area, and Shore Acres State Park will be impacted by the fee changes next year. The additional money will help pay for operations fees and maintenance.

There are some free parking days planned for 2025. Those include New Year’s Day, Oregon State Parks Day on June 7, 2025, and the day after Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, prices for permits are not changing. A year-long permit still remains at $30, while a two-year permit stays the same at $50.

Oregon State Parks is holding a sale all December long, during which year-long permits only cost $25 instead of $30.

 

Coos County man is missing after going to Horsefall Beach on Sunday. The Coos County Sheriff’s Office says Joe Neill’s vehicle was found on Transpacific Parkway near Jordan Point in the early hours of Monday morning.

Some of his belongings were found near a train trestle close by. The US Coast Guard, North Bend Firefighters and a crew from the Coos County Sheriff’s office with search and rescue dogs searched for Neill on Monday. They began from the car, and the dogs tracked directly to the train trestle and then gave negative responses from there… they re-deployed and recasted in different areas with negative responses, which leads officials to believe he’s not in that area, because the evidence suggests that Neill was elsewhere, the search has been suspended pending further information on his location or clues.

Police are also reminding members of the public that the area where the search was conducted is on private property and an area that people should not be going to unless they have permission. Anyone who has information or may have seen Joseph Neill is asked to contact the North Bend Police Department at 541-756-3161.

 

A magic mushroom lab was raided in Coos County last week.

The Coos County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation started in November. Detectives got a search warrant for 50-year-old Matthew Houglum’s home. They seized over two-thousand mushrooms containing suspected psilocybin, 49 guns, many of which are suspected to have been obtained illegally, various grenades, and marijuana processing equipment.

The FBI and ATF have joined the investigation.

 

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with medical expenses and to support the family of a Jackson County Sheriff’s Sergeant, after he was injured in a horrific car accident.

The weekend after Thanksgiving, Sergeant Troy Hamilton was off-duty, riding in the passenger seat of his wife’s SUV, when his side of the vehicle took a direct hit from a large truck on the McAndrews overpass in Medford. 

His recovery will take more than a year. His wife will also have to take time off of work to be his caregiver. In a recent update from his daughter, Hamilton’s condition is improving after a procedure in both legs to remove blood clots, though he’s not out of the woods yet.

Go to, Go Fund me.com and search for the Jenny Hamilton account.

 

AAA predicts a record-breaking 119.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday season, the most six years. This includes an estimated 1.7 million Oregonians.

Lower gas prices and demand are fueling the surge, with approximately 107 million travelers expected to drive and 7.85 million expected to fly.

Buses, trains, and cruises are also projected to see their highest passenger numbers in two decades. Sunday is anticipated to be one of the busiest travel days, with significantly increased delays in major cities. AAA advises travelers to depart early in the morning or late at night to avoid congestion. Travelers are urged to stay flexible with plans. For flights, arrive at least two hours early for domestic trips and three hours for international ones.

Stay on top of weather forecasts and airline updates, as carriers may offer free flight changes due to delays or storms. Avoid packing jams, jellies, or other prohibited items in carry-ons, and skip wrapping gifts until you arrive to avoid TSA issues.

Oregon AAA spokesperson Marie Dodds says it is all about preparation and being an informed traveler. Motorists are urged to check their vehicles’ tires, batteries, and fluids, and pack an emergency kit with essentials like blankets, water, and non-perishable food. Avoid relying solely on GPS, as it may route you onto unmaintained roads during severe weather; turn around if a road looks unsafe.

Let someone know your itinerary and check resources like TripCheck.com or CalTrans Quick Map road conditions websites before hitting the road. AAA expects to assist 15,000 Oregonians at the roadside over the holidays for issues like flat tires and dead batteries.

This season, 62,000 Oregonians will also turn to buses, trains, and cruises—up 10% from last year, with cruise travel booming. Know alternative routes and options and pack for the unexpected. For winter driving tips and preparation, visit AAA’s winter prep webpage.

 

The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace is extending the deadline to get coverage that’ll start January 1st.

The deadline was December 15th. It’s now moved to December 18th. The Health Insurance Marketplace is where people who don’t get health insurance from their employer, and they don’t qualify for the Oregon Health Plan, can get coverage.

Over 80 percent of applicants get financial assistance to pay for the coverage. You can apply at OregonHealthCare dot gov.

 

If you have someone on your holiday gift list that enjoys the outdoors, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has gift ideas.

If they hunt or fish, you can buy them a license.

If they kayak or raft, you can buy a waterway access permit.

For wildlife viewers or hikers, the wildlife area parking permit costs 30 dollars. You can also make a donation in someone’s name to the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund.

 

The Red Cross is in need of blood donations. During the holidays, regular donors are on vacation and the supply of blood declines.

Winter weather can also increase demand from people injured in traffic crashes. They need donors with all types, but they especially need people with type O negative. Platelet donations are also important. Donors giving blood through January 3rd will also get an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt.

 

Thirty-five-percent of food produced or imported in the U.S. is never eaten, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is working to reduce that.

The Bad Apple campaign has a goal of minimizing food waste. One family of four saved 200 dollars a month. Food waste is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions behind transportation. The website don’t let good food go bad dot org has tips on how to reduce food waste.

 

Nearly a week after the Oregon Coast faced a tsunami alert, local agencies in the Coos Bay area are reflecting on their response, identifying both successes and areas for improvement, to better prepare for future emergencies.

On December 5, a tsunami warning prompted evacuations in low-lying areas, including Coos Bay, where city officials prepared for a “worst-case” scenario. The National Weather Service did not provide specific flood estimates, leading authorities to evacuate City Hall and dispatch police to advise residents and businesses. Schools in the Coos Bay School District also evacuated, with staff and students responding calmly and professionally, according to Superintendent Justin Ainsworth.

The Coos Bay Fire Department and other local agencies have since debriefed to assess their response, noting strengths such as the quick actions of emergency personnel and the community’s overall seriousness in following evacuation protocols.

However, gaps in knowledge and preparedness among some residents showed areas for improvement. The school district plans to address logistical challenges, such as the inadequacy of Marshfield High School as a reunification center, which became overwhelmed by traffic during the evacuation. Ainsworth said the school district will be collaborating with the city, fire and police departments to streamline future responses. Local officials are also encouraging residents to take proactive steps, such as learning evacuation routes and creating emergency kits.

Anderson stressed the value of community-level preparedness and self-sustainability for up to two weeks in the event of various disasters, not just tsunamis.  

 

Mired in deep financial woes, executives at Bay Area Hospital are courting a private equity-owned health company to “assume operations” at the Coos Bay facility.

The 172-bed public, nonprofit hospital — the largest on Oregon’s coast — said this week it has signed a nonbinding letter of intent to negotiate a deal with Quorum Health, which owns McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield. Kimberly Winker, a spokesperson for Bay Area Hospital, said the Coos Bay facility “is working toward an agreement where Quorum would enter into a lease transaction and assume operations of the hospital.”

Hospital officials declined to say more about the financial terms of the deal, saying the arrangement has yet to be finalized.  Winker said Bay Area Hospital would keep its name. She said Quorum has so far agreed to maintain essential services for at least 10 years and keep employees in good standing with their existing pay, titles and seniority. Quorum would also ensure local representation on the hospital’s governing board and uphold existing charity care policies, Winker added.  

 

The University of Portland has received a 20-million-dollar donation, one of the largest ever in the school’s history.

The donor is remaining anonymous, except to say it’s a multi-generational family with 12 U of P alumni. The money will support student access, academic excellence, and other student programs.  

 

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.   

 

 

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.  

 

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