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 20, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 54. East southeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Overnight, a 30% chance of rain after 4am. Snow level 6600 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

 

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Pet Ready For Adoption at Klamath Animal Shelter

This week’s pet is a kitty named ” Milo “

Around the State of Oregon

Oregon’s population increased by 0.44% this year, according to newly released population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

In fact, the state’s population has increased the past two years, according to the revised federal figures, erasing a previously estimated decline in 2023.

The Census Bureau still says that Oregon lost residents from 2021 to 2022. Oregon added approximately 18,718 residents in 2024 for a total of approximately 4.27 million, the Census Bureau says. 

The upward revisions somewhat vindicate the Portland State University Population Research Center, which has published more bullish figures showing Oregon growing for three years straight. In the research center’s latest estimates, released last month, Oregon grew by slim 0.3%.

 

A convicted female sex offender who was trying to register as a high-school student was arrested in Albany last Friday, police said.

Makayla Craig, 27, is accused of computer crimes, second-degree forgery and false swearing for posing as a 15-year-old girl to enroll as a high-school student, the Albany Police Department said in a statement.

Employees at Families and Communities Together, the health and social service program for the Greater Albany Public School District, reported Craig after they noted that Craig appeared to be an adult, police said.

Craig, also known as Alec Ray Craig, was previously convicted of unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2024, third-degree sexual abuse in 2023, and second-degree theft in 2019.

 

A North Bend man vanished after going to the Oregon coast to take pictures of the king tides Sunday, and the U.S. Coast Guard has already suspended its search.

North Bend police have been searching for Joseph Neill since at least Monday, when Neill’s car was found near Joseph Point, across the bay from North Bend, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement this week.

North Bend police asked the sheriff’s office for help finding the man, and a sheriff’s K9 unit soon determined Neill was no longer in the area where his car was found. The North Bend Police Department also asked the Coast Guard and the North Bend Fire Department to look for him in the bay. They didn’t find him and suspended the search.

Neill’s family continues to look for him, according to a Facebook page, titled JoeStrong, that is dedicated to finding him. People in the community are helping to look for Neill, then reporting back exactly where they searched on an online map created for that purpose.

 

Chain link fences ring the perimeters of the two designated homeless camping areas in Grants Pass.

The two sites are the only spots where city officials allow homeless camping after they successfully defended their local camping ordinance before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In June, the nation’s highest court ruled in favor of Grants Pass, deciding that cities could impose criminal penalties without running afoul of constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment. Since then, city officials have limited where about 600 homeless people can pitch a tent or sleep to just two locations in the city of 39,000. The new limitations have alarmed disability rights advocates and volunteer medical outreach workers who treat the people staying there.

Mayor Sara Bristol said having two sites is intended to keep smaller ones from popping up throughout Grants Pass and provide a temporary location while working toward long-term goals like shelter beds. Broadly, Grants Pass shows how cities across the U.S. are challenged with crafting local camping ordinances that balance the rights of unhoused people with competing interests, from business owners to those with disabilities trying to access a sidewalk without obstacles blocking their way.

What’s more, a lack of adequate shelter beds falls far short of the nation’s growing homeless population, which was 653,104 people in a point-in-time count in January 2023.

The system has about 218,000 fewer shelter beds than necessary, that report found.As homelessness becomes more political, rhetoric during elections conflate homelessness with crime, leading candidates to promise to get tough on the issue, Johnson said.

Once considered allies, Democratic leaders find themselves under pressure to respond in their communities, with some weighing President-elect Donald Trump’s stance of clearing camps and relocating people to land with some social services.

 

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, just after Christmas.

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 will soon have more than 200 federally-funded electric school buses shuttling kids to and from school following an announcement that the state will get money for more early next year.

The Environmental Protection Agency, currently spending billions of dollars while President Biden is still in office, announced last week that it has allocated more than $6.5 million to Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality so districts can retire 26 diesel buses and replace them with electric ones.

The money will also go toward installing more electric vehicle chargers and training 17 mechanics in the Beaverton and Reynolds school districts to work on electric buses and charging infrastructure, according to an EPA news release.

Diesel and heavy-duty gas-powered buses emit high levels of air pollutants that cause asthma and cardiovascular disease along with greenhouse gases that spur climate change, according to the EPA. With DEQ data showing that transportation is the single largest contributor to Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions, curtailing them is a priority for state officials.

Oregon’s liberal U.S. senator, Democrat Ron Wyden, said the money will help. The $6.5 million comes from the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program established in the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. It will be awarded in early 2025 and can be spent over the next three years, the news release said.

The EPA has also granted Oregon since 2022 more than $64 million in rebates and grants for 23 school districts, allowing them to purchase about 200 electric school buses. The Beaverton School District, the third largest in the state, was the first to purchase an electric bus and has the largest fleet of electric buses so far.

According to district data, electric buses have one-third of the operating costs as diesel buses, and they’re half as expensive to operate as the district’s propane-powered school buses.

 

Camping world will be paying $3.5 million in settlement fees to the state of Oregon following a multi-year investigation.

$3 million will be given to customers as a refund for overcharging their recreational vehicles between 2017-2018.

Camping World was advertising discounts during that time period but charging extra for freight and prep fees.  The settlement orders Camping World to return $3 million in refunds to affected customers.

The  investigation found that Camping World would advertise a heavily discounted ‘Dare to Compare’ price. During negotiations, Camping World would claw back its purported discount by double charging consumers for freight and prep charges that had already been included in the advertised price. 

Camping World, a national dealer of RVs, currently has multiple locations in Oregon including in Phoenix, Medford, Coburg, Wood Village, Hillsboro, Wilsonville and Bend.

In a news release by Department of Justice, Consumers that purchased a vehicle after Dec. 31, 2018, may also be eligible for a refund under the agreement.  Customers who bought a vehicle after Dec. 31, 2018, and believe that they also paid more than the advertised price must submit a written complaint to Oregon DOJ within 6 months of this announcement to potentially be eligible to receive a refund. 

Consumers that submit written complaints should include any information that they have to demonstrate they paid more than the advertised price.

 

Starting January 1, 2025, Oregonians will have greater freedom to repair their electronic devices thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 1596, also known as the “Right to Repair” law.

This legislation requires manufacturers to provide consumers and independent repair shops with the necessary tools, parts, and information to fix electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, and appliances.

Previously, manufacturers often restricted access to these resources, forcing consumers to rely on expensive authorized repair services or replace broken devices entirely. Proponents of the bill argue this change will empower consumers with more choices, lower repair costs, and reduce electronic waste. The law is expected to benefit both individual consumers and small businesses.

Independent repair shops will have a level playing field to compete with authorized service providers, potentially leading to increased competition and lower prices for repairs. By extending the lifespan of electronic devices, the law aims to contribute to reduce the amount of e-waste generated in the state.

 

Government funds helped out several Lake County landowners impacted by grasshoppers this year.

According to the Lake County Board of Commissioners, the board signed an agreement with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to disburse funding to landowners impacted by this year’s Major Grasshopper and Jerusalem Cricket infestation.

Of the $100,000 provided by Oregon lawmakers, the Lake County program reimbursed 75% of landowner expenses. Thirty-four payments to 23 separate landowners totaled more than $99,000.

 

The construction schedule at Cape Lookout State Park near Tillamook is changing.

The park will now be open in the spring and closed during the summer. Campsites in the A, B, C and D loops as well as deluxe cabins and yurts can be reserved from March 1st through May 31st starting on December 20th. The original plan had camp loops A and B moving to higher ground, but that’s being prevented due to geological concerns. Now they’ll reinforce the existing dune to keep seawater from entering the camp loops.

 

In November, Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment gained 5,100 jobs, following a revised increase of 3,500 jobs in October.

November’s gains were largest in health care and social assistance (+2,300 jobs); construction (+2,100); and professional and business services (+700).

Declines were largest in leisure and hospitality (-700 jobs).

Private health care and social assistance has been adding jobs very rapidly since June 2022. It expanded by 41,700 jobs, or 15.6%, during that 29-month period. The fastest growing components during that time were social assistance (+17,800 jobs, or 27.0%) and nursing and residential care facilities (+9,400 jobs, or 19.3%).  The other two component industries also added jobs, but grew less rapidly: hospitals (+6,800 jobs, or 11.9%) and ambulatory health care services (+10,200 jobs, or 10.7%).

Construction rebounded in November from a three-month dip, returning the sector’s total employment to 117,500, about where it had been from July 2022 through August 2024.

In the past 12 months, health care and social assistance (+17,500 jobs, or 6.0%) grew rapidly, while government (+6,900 jobs, or 2.2%) added the second most jobs. In that time, only two major industries declined by 1,000 jobs or more: retail trade (-1,700 jobs, or -0.8%) and leisure and hospitality (-1,400 jobs, or -0.7%).

About half of the major industries were essentially flat over the year, with job changes of less than 1,200 in either direction.

Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.1% in November and 4.0% in October and has consistently remained between 4.0% and 4.2% since October 2023. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.2% in November and 4.1% in October.

 

PUC Approves Pacific Power Rate Increase Effective Jan. 1, 2025

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) today issued its decision in the general rate case filing by PacifiCorp (dba Pacific Power), approving an overall increase for all customer types combined, including residential, commercial, and industrial customers, of approximately 8.5 percent to take effect on January 1, 2025. In its initial general rate case filing, PacifiCorp requested a 17.9 percent increase. After nearly a year of scrutiny, the Commission reduced the utility’s request through its decisions on more than 60 contested issues.

In addition to the general rate case for capital and operations expenses, rate changes on January 1 will also include the annual adjustment for forecasted 2025 power purchase costs and other miscellaneous rate increases and decreases. For residential customers specifically, the overall increase from the combined decisions is expected to be approximately 9.8 percent. Finalized rate changes for residential, commercial, and industrial customers effective on January 1, 2025, will come after PUC review of utility compliance filings with the Commission decision and final decisions on other miscellaneous rate filings at the Commission’s December 31, 2024, regular public meeting. 

Drivers for the general rate case increase include capital investments in transmission, generation and other infrastructure, as well as wildfire-related cost increases. The Commission moderated these increases by declining to raise PacifiCorp’s cost of equity, adopting new requirements for shareholders to share in expenses, and holding PacifiCorp accountable to make better demonstrations of prudence and customer benefits.

The cost of purchasing power to meet customer demand is forecast to go down in 2025, reducing the overall January 1 rate change. Separate rate changes, effective for commercial and industrial customers on December 1, 2024, and for residential customers on April 1, 2025, will reflect the impact of 2023’s costly purchased power and fuel price spikes. 

“As regulators, our job is to look out for customers,” said Megan Decker, PUC Chair. “We know that rate increases are difficult for Oregonians, and we only approve them after independently scrutinizing the facts and concluding that increasing rates is necessary to support safe and reliable utility service.” 

Recognizing the impacts of rate increases in winter, Commissioners adopted protections for the most vulnerable. In the rate case order and in temporary emergency rules adopted in AR 667 on December 17, the Commission prohibited PacifiCorp from disconnecting medical certificate holders and bill discount program participants until March 31 and required the company to establish higher bill discounts and offer emergency help on past due balances to the lowest income Oregonians.

As part of the general rate case, parties were unable to reach agreement on any issues. The Commission’s order addresses more than 60 disputed issues, including:

1. 2020 Wildfire Restoration Costs – Held back from rates 50 percent of the cost of restoring service across the state after the 2020 wildfires, recognizing customer value in restoration and climate change impacts on fire spread but holding PacifiCorp accountable to prove its actions were prudent. 
2. Increase in Wildfire Insurance Premiums – Recognized industry-wide increase in utility wildfire insurance premiums, but adopted new requirement that shareholders cover 10 percent of premium costs.
3. Responsible Coal Plant Exit – Lowered customer costs by adopting realistic timelines and firm costs for removing coal plants from rates, as Oregon law requires by 2030.
4. Large Loads – Adopted new charges to ensure that under- and over-forecasting by very large new customers, like data centers, does not cause cost increases for other customers.
5. Gateway South Transmission Project – Reinforced repeated concerns with the analysis of economic benefits of timing of constructing the transmission line, reducing earnings until better analysis is filed. 

 “Affordable utility services depend on independent regulators understanding the costs and risks of providing utility service and holding utilities accountable,” Decker added. “I appreciate the hard work of PUC Staff, customer advocates, and the utility to provide thousands of pages of evidence, and I value the collaboration among the Commissioners in reaching resolution on dozens of disputed issues.” 

Commissioners split on only two of more than 60 disputed issues, with Commissioner Perkins preferring to recalculate PacifiCorp’s rate base and reduce its return on equity from 9.5 percent to 9.3 percent.

To finalize rate changes, PacifiCorp will submit a compliance filing to the PUC that calculates the impact of all rate-related Commission decisions and provides final rate changes for each customer type. The PUC will then review PacifiCorp’s compliance filing to ensure all decisions are reflected accurately in the final numbers before the rate changes become effective on January 1, 2025. 

Resources for Pacific Power Customers 
To increase energy efficiency and save more on future bills, review Energy Trust of Oregon’s current incentives and opportunities, including income-qualified offers and learn more about  low-cost and no-cost tips to reduce energy consumption.

For information about bill payment assistance options, help with past due bills, available utility discount programs, weatherization, and the Equal Pay Program that equalizes bill payments across winter and summer months, call Pacific Power at 888-221-7070 or view information online. Customers may also contact their local Community Action agency to request information on what assistance programs they may be eligible for and how to enroll. 

 

A Medford school board member accused of carrying a knife on school grounds is generating a school district response after it generated a police investigation.

Now, the Jackson County District Attorney’s (JCDA) Office says it is not filing charges against Medford School District (MSD) school board member Michael Williams in response to a criminal complaint against him. William is the subject of separate formal complaints from District staff and from District Superintendent Bret Champion. They filed the complaints last month recounting an October meeting between Champion and Williams at the District office where Williams reportedly wore a knife during a confrontation that became loud and profane with door-slamming.

JCDA says today a criminal complaint against Williams accused him of breaking state law when, “multiple times wearing a sheathed knife on his belt at school board meetings or while he was otherwise in school facilities in his capacity as a school board member.” MSD says that OSP determined no crime occurred under State law because the knife was not used as a dangerous weapon.

 

This fall, local schools in Lake County transitioned from a traditional school week to a new four-day week.

The change is a product of years of data collection, surveys and outreach. In those two years, the school district surveyed the community, students and staff to help guide the design of the new schedule.

Common concerns included childcare needs, maintaining student focus throughout longer days and food insecurity.  According to LCSD7, a recent survey found roughly 85 percent of parents said they had no problem finding childcare, despite the longer school days.

To address food insecurity, the school district also expanded its backpack program, which sends students home on the weekends with food.

Some of the goals of the shortened week have shown promising signs. LCSD7 says attendance levels at elementary schools have climbed up to 92 percent between October and November. That’s a 30 percent increase from September through October, although the four-day week was in effect then, as well. It’s not just attendance numbers, either.

Preliminary assessments have shown rising test scores in some schools, too. The superintendent also mentioned that the new schedule has helped the rural district’s budget and shows benefits beyond the numbers.

 

A network of organizations that serve Latino/x Oregonians received a boost this year from the state’s largest statewide funder. The Latino Partnership Program of Oregon Community Foundation works with nonprofits that offer culturally specific initiatives on housing, education, economic development, child care and other services.

This year, the program distributed $1.26 million through 86 grants to support their work, a record amount and, for the first time, statewide.  The new grants prioritize programs and projects that make advances in three focus areas: education, leadership development and wealth building. In addition, nine organizations received ongoing support for programs that focus on Latino student success. 

The nonprofits receiving the funding span every corner of Oregon. For example, one will support a group of nine Latino/x entrepreneurs to establish a food truck pod in South Corvallis. The project is being managed by the nonprofit Andares. Ricardo B. Contreras is Executive Director.  Another nonprofit that received funding from the Latino Partnership Program is Bienestar, which builds housing in Washington County.

The new funding supports a program that helps youth living in Bienestar properties to grow as community leaders. 

 

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.

 

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.

 

Today, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust published its Summer 2024 Grants Report. The report announces:

• 74 total grants to Pacific Northwest nonprofits totaling $20,745,200.
• This includes more than $6.2 million through 22 grants to nonprofits serving the Oregon community.
• The report can be found here. A full list of grantees can be found here.

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is a private, nonprofit foundation that has invested more than $1.4 billion in nonprofits serving the Pacific Northwest since 1975. For details, please visit our website murdocktrust.org.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.  

 

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

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