The latest and most comprehensive coverage of local News, Sports, Business, and Community News stories in the Klamath Basin, Southern Oregon and around the state of Oregon from Wynne Broadcasting’s KFLS News/Talk 1450AM / 102.5FM, The Herald and News, and BasinLife.com, and powered by Mick Insurance. Call them at 541-882-6476.
Monday, December 30, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
Patchy fog between 10am and 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Calm wind. Overnight, partly cloudy with a low around 18 degrees.
See Road Camera Views around the Klamath Basin:
Lake of the Woods
Doak Mtn.
Hiway 97 at Chemult
Hiway 140 at Bly
Hiway 97 at GreenSprings Dr.
Hiway 97 at LaPine
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
Details are still sketchy, and no information including the name of the suspect has been released, following a shooting near Collier State Park last Monday involving Klamath County law enforcement.
Oregon State Police (OSP) is investigating the incident, reporting that a “35-year-old male” was injured by gunfire and was, as of last week, in critical condition. However, no information has been released since. It is known that Klamath County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) deputies were involved in a critical incident that resulted in an officer involved shooting at Collier State Park.
Over the scanner last Monday morning, the involved deputy denoted that the unnamed suspect suffered two gunshot wounds to the head and one to the abdomen in the midst of a shootout with law enforcement. The subject was reported to have been firing a gun at the time of the incident. No additional information has been made available.
Big Lots Is Closing in Klamath Falls
Failing to find a buyer after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Big Lots store chain will close all of its 963 locations, including the Klamath Falls store.
A store manager said no notice has been given from Big Lots incorporated as to when the final day will be, but that layoffs have already started to happen at the store and most products are available at a 25% discount.
Try one of Detroit’s most famous local foods at the new pizza place in the basin, Motown’s Pizzeria now open in Klamath Falls. The new business is located in building 4 on the campus of Klamath Community College.
Specializing in the style of pizza originating from the Motor City, Motown’s pizzas are rectangular pan pizzas with a thick, crisp and chewy focaccia crust adorned with a mouthwatering cheese crown around the edges. Unlike other pizzas, the sauce is ladled over after baking.
Motown’s co-owner Michael Beeche says Detroit-style pizzas offer a lot that other styles of pizzas just don’t offer. Having worked in the restaurant industry since a youth and coming from a military family, Beeche’s first experience with Detroit-style pizza came when he was living in Steubenville, Ohio, and is a type of pizza he’s missed since moving to the West Coast.
Acknowledging the other pizzerias in town, Beeche said that it was a hurdle starting his business as every time he was going to start Motown’s, a new local pizzeria would open.
Cited as being first invented at a restaurant in Detroit named Buddy’s in 1946, using bread flour instead of the heavily sifted double-oh (00) flour most commonly used in round pizza baking, the inventors Gus and Anna Guerra created a crust similar to focaccia (an Italian bread) that they baked in steel pans that were used mostly as dip trays in automobile factories.
A couple of years later in 2012 when Detroit-style won awards at the Las Vegas International Pizza Expo, the pizza became one of the hottest food trends of the past decade. At Motown’s the dough is a three-day cold fermentation which gives the yeast time to add more flour to the dough and once baked makes a soft and pillowy crust giving the pizza an airy texture. Baked with mozzarella, aged brick cheese, provolone and pepperoni, in keeping with the traditional way of making a Detroit-style pizza, Motown’s slides the pizza from out the oven and adds freshly made tomato sauce to the pizza, thus creating what Motown’s menu calls the Detroit classic.
On the menu at the new shop is also the classic cheese and is also the most popular pizza on the menu, the Little Italy which throws ricotta cheese into the mix. The menu features a vegetarian option called the Greektown which comes complete with mushrooms, olives, onions and peppers, and Motown’s Pizzeria will provide weekly specials such as the Hog Pizza loaded with bacon and sausage.
Inspired from his time working in other restaurants in cities across America, Beeche said that the menu will stay small to allow Motown’s Pizzeria to perfect each pie and assure what they offer is quality.
See them on facebook here https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567145653251
Call to order here: 541-539-8298
FORT KLAMATH, OR. – The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is offering a free guided First Day Hike at Jackson Kimball State Recreation Site on New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1.
It’s part of the annual First Day Hikes in partnership with America’s State Parksfor free guided hikes in state parks across Oregon on New Year’s Day.
Information about thehike hosted at Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site:
- Join us for a brisk morning 3-mile hike to the headwaters of the Wood River. We’ll enjoy scenic views, and maybe see wildlife.
- The path will travel over easy to medium-graded roads with little to no elevation gain. Plan for possible snow and ice on the ground. Traction devices for shoes are recommended.
- Please register for the hike online.
- The hike starts at 11 a.m. Meet at the Klamath Outdoor Science School, across from the entrance to Jackson F. Kimball.
- Friendly dogs are welcome on six-foot leashes.
- Participants should dress in layers, wear sturdy hiking boots, bring water and snacks, as well as a camera or binoculars for wildlife viewing. If there is enough snow, bring snowshoes.
If you have questions about access or to request any reasonable accommodations needed for your participation, please email Park Ranger Josh Doeleman. Requests must be submitted at least three days prior to January 1.
The day-use parking fee is waived that day for all state parks that require a parking permit and are open.
Share photos of First Day Hikes via social media by using the hashtag #ORfirstdayhikes.
First Day Hikes is a national initiative to welcome the coming year in the outdoors, promote exercise and encourage connecting with nature. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has participated since 2012.
Pet Ready For Adoption at Klamath Animal Shelter
This week’s pet is a kitty named ” Milo “
Milo is a neutered male Domestic Shorthair, around 6 months old. He is a black and white tuxedo with yellow eyes.Around the State of Oregon
Bird Flu Worries Grow in Oregon
The death of an Oregon house cat and a pet food recall are raising questions about the ongoing outbreak of bird flu and how people can protect their pets.
Bird flu has been spreading for years in wild birds, chickens, turkeys and many other animals. It was first confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in March. The virus has been causing sporadic, mostly mild illnesses in people in the U.S., and nearly all of those infected worked on dairy or poultry farms. When the virus is found, every bird on a farm is killed to limit the spread of the disease.
Oregon health officials traced the cat’s illness to frozen cat food that contained raw turkey. Virus recovered from the recalled pet food and the infected cat matched. Some pet owners feed their animals raw meat, but that can be dangerous, even fatal for the animals, said Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Cooking meat or pasteurizing raw milk destroys the bird flu virus and other disease-causing germs.
One man is in stable condition after being stabbed on Thursday in what Medford Police say is an attempted murder.
According to Medford Police, officers responded to the 1000 block of Beatty Street on Thursday, Dec. 26 at about 5:59 p.m. They found the victim on the front porch of a home, appearing to be suffering from wounds to his head, neck and arms. MPD and Medford Fire worked to treat his wounds and Mercy Flights took the victim to the hospital.
24-year-old Marzelle Omari Tyree Culver is now in the Jackson County Jail and is facing four charges: attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree burglary and first-degree attempted assault.
MPD said the victim’s female roommate told them she saw the attack. She said Culver had taken a sword from a wall display inside their home and stabbed the victim without warning. She also said Culver had tried to attack her, but she ran into another room and he fled.
Medford Fire personnel said they saw a suspect matching the description of Culver in the area of Jackson and Biddle Road at around that time. Police were able to find Culver at Riverside and 10th Street where he was arrested. MPD said Culver was interviewed and he admitted to the attack with the intent on killing the victim.
A 30-year-old man from Redmond is dead after a crash on Highway 20 near milepost 80 in Lake County.
According to a news release from Oregon State Police, the man –Christopher Allen Stevens — was driving eastbound when he “crossed the center line for unknown reasons” and crashed into a Dodge Ram 3500 and trailer driving westbound. Stevens was found dead at the scene, the release said.
The driver of the Dodge Ram 3500 — 42-year-old Aliaksandr Kuliashevich from Aurora, CO — was not injured.
The highway was impacted for approximately eight hours during the on-scene investigation. Roadway conditions are being considered as a primary contributor to the crash.
The largest ever Mega Millions win in California with a $1.2 billion dollar jackpot came to one lucky winner in Cottonwood in nearby Shasta County, California.
The jackpot was estimated to also raise an additional $89.5 million for public schools. California Lottery said this is the largest ever Mega Millions win in California and the only ticket in the country to hit $1.269 billion jackpot.
The winning ticket was sold at the Circle K on Rhonda Road, just off Interstate 5 in Shasta County. California Lottery said that store will now get a $1,000,000 bonus – the highest a California Lottery retail partner can earn.
The jackpot had been rolling since September, and in a near four-month period, from Mega Millions sales alone, the California Lottery said they estimated it raised an additional $89.5 million for public schools. California Lottery said they will not know who the winners are until they claim their prizes.
The jackpot winner has the choice of taking $1.269 billion over 30 annual payments or taking the lump sum, valued at nearly $571.9 million before federal taxes, the State of California does not tax Lottery winnings. California Lottery said, the jackpot winner has one year to come forward, anyone else with a secondary prize-winning ticket has six months to claim. The Mega Millions jackpot now rolls back to its starting point of $20 million for the next draw, which is Tuesday night.
The wet weather in the Willamette Valley has translated into big snow for Oregon’s ski resorts, which are currently claiming the deepest base depths in the country.
According to onthesnow.com, Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline are claiming 96 inches of powder, with more on the way.
Mt. Bachelor has 93 inches. Base depth is the amount of snow settled on the mountain. Timberline is reporting 21 inches of snow over the past 24 hours.
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort reports that the Christmas Day storm delivered 14 inches of snow overnight, bringing yesterday’s base depth to 84 inches. At the time, the resort said in a news release, it was the deepest base depth reading of any ski resort in the country. By Friday morning, another 9 inches had fallen, and another 3-6 inches is expected today.
All that snow does come with dangers. The resort is also warning skiers and snowboarders about the dangers of tree well hazards. Ski or ride with a partner and keep them in sight at all times, and sstick to open, groomed trails. Check the Oregon Department of Transportation Trip Check website for updated road conditions, and consider using shuttle services to reach your mountain destination.
Voter turnout in Oregon dropped 5% this election, but Oregon isn’t the only state with lower turnout rates.
That’s according to OPB, which says over 100,000 Oregonians who voted in 2020 did not vote this year, dropping the turnout rate to 75%. California and Washington also saw a decline this year, with 71% and 79% voter turnout rates respectively. The west coast’s turnout rate is still higher than the national average, which is about 64%.
This year is the first year since 2004 that Oregon’s voter turnout rate has dropped below 80%.
Oregon has become the third state in the nation to require divestment from coal companies, following the passage of House Bill 4083.
The bill, which was supported by liberal environmental groups such as Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, mandates that the Oregon Investment Council divest from publicly traded coal companies.
Alan Journet, co-facilitator of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, testified in support of the bill. He stressed the inconsistency of Oregon’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously investing taxpayer money in fossil fuel companies.
The passage of HB 4083 marks a significant step in Oregon’s efforts to combat climate change and transition towards a clean energy future.
Proponents of the bill hope it will serve as a catalyst for further action, including the passage of the “Pause Act” in the 2025 legislative session, which would halt investments in private equity funds heavily involved in fossil fuels. This legislation comes amidst growing concerns over the environmental and economic impacts of coal. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Oregon, partially attributed to climate change, have brought forth the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels.
While Oregon has made strides in renewable energy, with a bill passed in 2021 requiring all retail electricity to be generated by renewable resources by 2040, advocates like Journet believe divestment is a crucial step in aligning the state’s financial practices with its environmental goals.
The debate over energy sources is likely to continue, with discussions surrounding nuclear power, energy storage, and the development of new technologies remaining at the forefront of Oregon’s energy future.
The Oregon Department of Forestry is working to pay past-due bills for the summer’s wildfire season.
The record setting wildfire season depleted funds for fighting the fires. The Oregon Legislature met in special session earlier this month and approved 191-million-dollars. Since then the Department of Forestry has paid 88-million-dollars in bills. Wildfire seasons are growing more costly and they want the Legislature to come up with a better way to raise more money to pay the higher expenses.
A Redmond man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for stealing another person’s Social Security number and using it to open more than 30 bank and credit card accounts while also evading payments on a $1.1 million tax debt.
U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane issued the sentence last week after Michael David Anastasia, 69, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and identity theft. The judge also ordered Anastasia to pay $777, 899 in restitution. He is expected to owe additional money to the Internal Revenue Service, according to the government.
This wasn’t Anastasia’s first federal conviction. He was previously convicted of tax evasion in 2007 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Once released, the Internal Revenue Service filed a $1.1 million tax lien against Anastasia for failing to pay taxes between 1999 and 2006.
Pacific Power residential customers across Oregon will see a rate increase of almost 10% on their energy bills starting in 2025.
The Oregon Public Utilities Commission announced PacifiCorp’s residential, industrial and commercial customers would see a combined 8.5% increase on their energy bills starting Jan. 1. PacifiCorp is the parent company of Pacific Power.
Residential customers are expected to see a 9.8% increase, a much lower rate increase from the company’s 17.9% request earlier this year.
Pacific Power’s rates are increasing due to investments in transmission, generation and wildfire-related cost increases. Including the increase approved Thursday, PacifiCorp’s residential rates have climbed by nearly 50% since 2021. The utility has also faced numerous lawsuits including one filed by the federal government Thursday over the 2020 Labor Day fires.
PacifiCorp estimates that wildfire lawsuits and other fire related expenses have cost it $2.7 billion dollars so far. In a news release, the Public Utility Commission said it was able to moderate the increase PacifiCorp originally requested.
Winter Whale Watch Week Is On Along The Oregon Coast
Trained Oregon State Parks volunteers will be stationed at 15 sites along the Oregon Coast 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.
The University of Oregon confirmed the departure of former employee, Leonard Serrato. Serrato was placed on administrative leave following his posting of a video telling Trump supporters to jump off a bridge.
The video went viral in early November and has since been removed from his personal page. Serrato was the school’s fraternity and sorority assistant director. He posted the video on his public Instagram page after the election.
In a statement from the University, Oregon officials say this: “As a public university we take our duty seriously to provide an environment that welcomes diversity of thought and respect in alignment with our education mission. While we investigate, we are providing support for concerned students and employees, including resources for mental and emotional health.”
The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive $33 million in federal funding to construct a wildlife crossing over Interstate 5 in southwest Oregon, state officials said.
The crossing, the first of its kind over the highway, will connect the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, an ecologically diverse protected area of 114,000 acres south of Ashland that’s bisected by I-5. The monument is home to 300 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, including deer, bear, elk and cougars.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said the crossing will improve the movement of animals through the landscape and protect drivers from dangerous wildlife collisions and vehicle damage.
The crossing will reconstruct a previously naturally occurring wildlife corridor. It builds on a community-initiated effort to construct a network of wildlife crossings in southern Oregon. Once complete, the new crossing will be among the largest in the nation, public officials said.
Oregon Health Authority News
Your doctor’s office can be a great place to receive your immunizations.
If you need help finding a doctor, 211 Info is a good place to start. Specializing in health and social service assistance, they can be reached at help@211info.org or by dialing 2-1-1. Language interpreters are available.
Neighborhood Pharmacy
Many of Oregon pharmacies offer immunizations to adults, adolescents, and children (7 and older).
COVID-19 & Flu Shots
Find COVID-19 and flu vaccines at Vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489)
COVID-19 Testing and Treatment
Are you in need of a COVID-19 test? Find a location then call the facility or visit their website to make an appointment.
COVID-19 medications/treatments are available through your doctor, local pharmacies, and health clinics. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not wait to get treated. You must take oral COVID-19 medication within 5 days of your first COVID-19 symptoms.
If you need help finding a COVID-19 treatment, Visit the COVID-19 treatment locator site or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 888-720-7489)
COVID-19 Treatment Patient Assistance Programs
Pfizer is supporting patients prescribed Paxlovid in two ways:
- Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured patients will continue to receive Paxlovid at no charge through December 2024. Eligible patients can get the voucher from Pfizer by calling 877-219-7225 or going to Paxlovid assistance. You will get a voucher from Pizer that you can give to a participating pharmacy.
- Pfizer is also operating a Paxlovid Co-Pay Savings Program for eligible privately (commercially) insured patients.
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.
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.
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