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.
Thursday, January 9, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Air Stagnation Advisory in effect until Friday, January 10, 12:00 PM
Today
Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 46. North northeast wind around 5 mph. Overnight, partly cloudy with a low around 28. becoming calm in the morning.
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
No USPS Mail Service Today
The U.S. Postal Service is suspending all regular mail activity, retail services and office activity on Jan. 9 (today/Thursday) as it observes today in honoring President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29 at age 100.
Limited package delivery service will continue to make sure the USPS does not experience any negative impacts to its package delivery operations. Additionally, USPS facilities are required to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff through sunset on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in honor of Carter. Regular mailing activities will resume on Friday, Jan. 10.
Newly elected officials representing Klamath County were sworn in Monday morning.
New faces among the local leaders included Klamath County Commissioner Andrew Nichols, representing Position 1 on the Board of Klamath County Commissioners (BOCC).
Cheers roared from the crowded room at the County Government Center as newly elected Sheriff Shane Mitchell swore his fealty to Klamath County residents, promising to “faithfully perform the duties of county sheriff” and uphold the American and state Constitutions.
Thirdly sworn in was County Surveyor Sheryl Hatcher, who was first appointed in 2019 and later elected in 2020 for her first term. First-term Commissioner Nichols expressed his gratitude to the welcoming audience.
Members of a county fire district board are under investigation for potential ethics violations.
Klamath County Fire District No. 3 (KCFD3) board of directors were reported to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) for possible violations of public meeting laws last year by former fire chief Christine Friend.
Friend, who was terminated by the board last August, reported the board for privately communicating about and later deciding to terminate her from her decades-long public service role at the district.
The supposedly public meeting at which the board made the official decision is believed to have been improperly noticed for public awareness and participation. Daniel Pacheco, OGEC investigator says that based on the information gathered in this preliminary review, it appears that the board violated multiple provisions of public meetings law.
Pacheco noted in his preliminary review that a special meeting held July 28 had no announcement providing date, time or location allegedly being posted. The meeting, he said, was held in the private offices of the KCFD3 board’s legal counsel, Michael Spencer.
Pacheco also advised the ethics commission that the board and legal counsel had engaged in private communications regarding the status of Friend’s employment prior to her termination, another violation of public meetings laws.
OGEC voted unanimously to pursue investigations into the violations allegedly committed by KCFD3 board president Dan Hudson, vice president Dennis Worden, member Cameron Duncan and former member Allison Dob.
For their first meeting of the new year, the Klamath Falls City Council approved the amending of the city’s urban area comprehensive plan.
Required to be updated every 20 years by the State of Oregon, in order to ensure sufficient land supply, Oregon cities reconcile future employment land demand estimates against what existing inventories of vacant and developable land are available within their Urban Growth Boundary.
In the case of the City of Klamath Falls, Klamath’s urban growth boundary has adequate land capacity to accommodate its forecasted commercial needs, according to an economic opportunities analysis prepared by Johnson Economics.
Projected to need 500.9 total acres of employment land (153.5 acres zoned commercial / 347.3 acres zoned industrial), the City of Klamath Falls comes out ahead with nearly 70 extra acres spread across various employment zoning designations whereas the total commercially zoned acres available to the city are 284 while industrial acres available are 286.3.
Additionally, the city holds 164.7 acres of land that have the potential to be redeveloped for employment use. Having only nine sites larger than 20 acres and only one over 50 acres, the analysis anticipates that Klamath Falls will need five industrial sites over 30 acres in size over the next 20 years and that those lands preferably have railroad access.
The City of Klamath Falls is pushing its 8th St. geothermal project along by voting to transfer funds from the Water Operations Division.
According to the city, its geothermal utility provides cost-effective heating services to 23 commercial non-profit and government facilities throughout the downtown area.
The 8th St. project, between Klamath Ave. and Pine St., is in its second phase. Jessica Lindsay, the Finance and Business Services Director for the city, says their current budget covers the geothermal pipe’s design and part of its cost, but not all. Lindsay says since the city’s Center Reservoir project, budgeted in the Water Operations Division was pushed out to look for funding opportunities, funding for the 8th St. pipeline could come from there.
Council members voted to take $60,000 from the Water Operations Division to help the project keep moving forward. With the additional funds, the project is planned to be completed this summer.
The Klamath County Clerk’s Office Requests Applicants for the Border Relocation Board
Any persons interested in being on the Border Relocation Board must apply by Wednesday, January 15,
2025. All applicants must answer all questions on the application or provide an explanation as to why the
questions were not answered.
To appl, use the link below
https://www.klamathcounty.org/FormCenter/Board-of-Commissioners-7/Special-District-BoardPosition-Applicat-60
Select Other (type committee name in box below)
In the box type: Border Relocation Board
Please contact the Klamath County Clerk’s Office with any questions
(541)883-5134 or email at elections@klamathcounty.org.
Klamath County appears as a large risk area for wildfires under The Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State University’s final versions of Oregon’s wildfire hazard maps, aiming to help Oregonians identify wildfire risk in their area.
The map places all of Oregon into a “low,” “moderate” or “high” wildfire hazard zone. If a property is listed as “high,” it will be prioritized during the risk mitigation part of fire season. Most of Jackson, Josephine and Curry counties are under a “high” hazard level marked in orange.
About half of Klamath County is under “high” in orange, with the other half being “moderate” in purple. Lake County is mostly under “moderate.” Jackson and Josephine counties are particularly vulnerable.
According to a news release from ODF, property owners will get notifications about the map “over the next several days.” The wildfire hazard map’s purposes are to educate Oregon residents and property owners about the level of hazard where they live, assist in prioritizing fire adaptation and mitigation resources for the most vulnerable locations [and] identify where defensible space standards and home hardening codes will apply.
Residents should be prepared for possible changes, the release said. To help protect these communities, future defensible space and home-hardening building codes may apply to properties with both designations.
All properties with both designations are receiving a certified mail packet informing them of the designations, outlining their appeal rights and explaining the appeal process, and explaining what the designation might mean for them and their property.
These maps were first released in 2022 as a part of Senate Bill 762, a statewide omnibus bill passed in 2021 to mitigate wildfire risk. Along with defensible space and fire hardening building codes, the legislation also called on OSU to develop the two maps.
The Chemult Library is closing permanently at the end of the month.
However whenever one door closes, another one opens. And the organization is opening the new Crescent Library next month.
The new Crescent library will be located at 136854 N. Highway 97 in Crescent.
The Klamath County Library is excited to invite the community to the new location where it says, “you’ll continue to find a warm, welcoming environment for reading, learning, and community engagement.” The post also says the library will be keeping the bear on the roof. The last day patrons can visit the Chemult Library is January 31 and the Crescent Library is set to open on February 8.
Across Oregon’s mountains, the snow is piling up. Roughly halfway through meteorological winter, after several ski resorts opened early, in many places, the snowpack is having a good year.
In Klamath County, Rogue and Umpqua, their drainages, their snowpack is 150% of average.
Out on Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon, it’s 160% of average. Elevations around 4,000 feet and above are well above average. Snowpack is measured by the weight of the snow, to determine how much water is in the snow.
Currently, most of Oregon is not experiencing drought conditions, though some counties in the center and eastern part of the state are drier than normal and there is a moderate drought in a few places.
Klamath Falls Gospel Mission invites you to a luncheon and tour of the house that Klamath Built. Join us on Thursday, January 16 from 10AM – 2PM, with lunch from 11:30 – 12:30.
Tour the facility, talk with the staff, learn about our programs, talk with residents, ask questions and enjoy a nutritious, delicious, Mission cooked meal.
Klamath Falls Gospel Mission is reliant on support from our community – come and see what Klamath Falls Gospel Mission is accomplishing!
Ragland Theater Winter Classes
From Kindergarten to Adults, The Ragland Theater is offering classes for everyone this winter, beginning this week. We have a variety of classes with multi-class discounts available, plus scholarships for all classes!
Be sure to check out all the details, starting dates, and times for each class on our website here:https://ragland.org/
Classes include:
All Things Tech, Charcoal Drawing Class, Little Rock Stars, Mixed Media Art, Musical Theater, Mexican Cultural Program
Party with the girls as the Linkville Players present Karen Schaeffer’s lightning-quick farce “Girls’ Weekend”.
Having met in a book club, Dot invites her friends to her northwoods cabin to catch up, consume copious amounts of wine, laugh at their lives and chat about their book club’s latest selection.
A lover of comedies with ample experience, veteran director Laura Allen returns to the Linkville Playhouse to lead the players in what she describes as a hilarious tale of human relations. The Girls’ Weekend opens this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The play will run each Friday and Saturday through Jan. 25 with one Sunday matinee on Jan. 19 at 2 p.m.
The Linkville Playhouse is located in downtown Klamath Falls at 201 Main Street. Tickets are available in advance at Poppy on Main at 522 Main St. or at the theater box office the night of a performance. Tickets range in price based on seat selection from $14 to $20. Veterans and active duty service members as well as seniors and all students are discounted $1 on the admission price.
Around the State of Oregon
Oregon Nurses Association Strike Begins Friday, Jan. 10th
Providence Health will cap the number of patients at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and perhaps Providence Medford Hospital, ahead of Friday’s planned strike by doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers.
The hospital will defer or reschedule procedures that require hospitalist support. Nearly five-thousand members of the Oregon Nurses Association plan to strike all eight hospitals and six clinics starting 6 o’clock Friday morning. Providence says it’ll cause longer delays in the emergency department and more instances where ambulances are diverted to other hospitals.
The strike includes health care workers in Medford, Portland, Seaside, St. Vincent, Providence Women’s Clinic, Milwaukie, Willamette Falls, Newberg and Hood River, the release said.
Workers are expected to start their strike at 6 a.m. on Jan. 10. Medford nurses previously participated in a strike in June, and have been bargaining with Providence since January.
Oregon Fire Crews Sent To Southern California To Help Fight Wildfires in Communities
Multiple wildfires, including the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, are raging across southern California today leaving at least 5 dead and burning more than 27,000 acres, officials say. The Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills section of Los Angeles is the most recent to break out.
The Palisades Fire exploded on Tuesday and tripled in size overnight as powerful 50-70 mph winds hit northwest Los Angeles, forcing the evacuation of at least 30,000 residents in the affluent community of Pacific Palisades. The Eaton, Hurst and Woodley fires are also burning.
Wildfires fueled by extreme winds have swept across the Pacific Palisades area heading east to Brentwood communities and south toward Santa Monica and into Los Angeles County, devouring structures and forcing the evacuation of more than 30,000 people.
Hundreds of homes and structures have burned and the total acreage burned now exceeds over 27,000 acres in mostly heavily populated areas.
Steep terrain and the strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts up to 60 mph, are challenging firefighting efforts. The winds are expected to linger over the next few days posing serious fire risks in Southern California.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized 12 strike teams to Southern California to help protect communities threated by wildfires burning near Los Angeles.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal has been monitoring and working with California throughout the event and received a request for assistance late Tuesday evening. The strike teams made up of 240 firefighters and 60 engines have now arrived on scene. The strike teams are from Clackamas, Clatsop, Central Oregon, Lane, Lincoln, Linn/Polk, two from Marion, Multnomah, Rogue Valley, Washington, and Yamhill counties.
In Oregon this past summer was a record-breaking year for the state with over 1.9 million acres burned. Quickly, Oregon’s in-state resources were depleted while more fires continued to pop up. In response to our call for help, Oregon was sent resources from about 20 U.S. states, including California who sent 21 high demand positions and multiple crews from Canadian provinces and territories.
“Oregon and California have a strong partnership supporting each other. We both understand that fire does not recognize map lines, and we are ready to help each other whenever there is a need,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “During our historic 2024 wildfire season, California sent us help and in their time of need, we are working as fast as possible to lend them support during this emergency.”
The first female state treasurer in Oregon’s history was sworn into office this week. Former Democratic Senator Dr. Elizabeth Steiner was sworn in by Governor Tina Kotek on Monday.
The Democrat from northwest Portland was a key budget writer in the Oregon legislature, playing a major role in creating Oregon’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program.
Young adults with special health care needs may now qualify for no-cost health coverage and additional benefits through the state’s Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).
The new benefits are available to young adults ages 19-20 who meet income and health care needs requirements.In Oregon, one in five children under age 18 has a special health care need — ranging from physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities to complex mental or medical conditions. However, when these young people turn 19, they lose their OHP health coverage.
More than 80 percent of young adults with special health care needs donâe,t have adequate access to care or social services, even though they report needing more services than their peers. The Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs (YSHCN) benefits extend OHP coverage, enhanced vision and dental services and the new health-related social needs climate and housing benefits to this population.
Oregon received permission from the federal government through a waiver to test whether increasing access to affordable care for young adults with complex health care needs will improve health outcomes and reduce inequities.
The benefits are the first of their kind in the country. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) estimates that: 4,000 young adults will newly qualify for coverage through OHP, and 15,000 current OHP members will qualify for enhanced benefits People with special health care needs age, they can face changes in insurance coverage that disrupt access to essential care.
Qualifying health needs include physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities; mental health conditions and long-standing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or spina bifida. Based on current FPLs, the income limit is $30,873 per year for an individual and $52,931 for a family of three.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is proudly supporting January’s Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a presidentially designated observance designed to educate the public about human trafficking and the role they can play in preventing and responding to the crime.
Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, or pressure to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Victims can be any age, race, gender or nationality.
More than 27 million people annually fall victim to human trafficking worldwide, and according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 132 cases involving 248 victims were identified in Oregon in 2023.
As part of the monthly observance, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance holds a Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative Jan. 13-17. During that week, our trained motor carrier enforcement officers and safety inspectors from our Commerce and Compliance Division will be working with law enforcement to hand out human trafficking awareness materials in English and Spanish to truck drivers and motor carriers at weigh stations across the state.
We are sharing awareness information on TripCheck, variable message signs around the state, radio spots, billboard ads and social media posts throughout the month. We have also lit up the Woodburn Bridge in shades of blue to shine a light on human trafficking.
If you suspect human trafficking, do not confront a suspected trafficker or alert a victim to any suspicions.
If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. The hotline is operated 24 hours a day by a nongovernmental organization. You may also text HELP or INFO to 233733 (BEFREE).
We are pleased to partner with Department of Homeland Security, Oregon Trucking Association, TAT (formerly Truckers Against Trafficking), Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Bowman Trucking and law enforcement to raise awareness about human trafficking and provide people with resources to educate and work toward stopping this dreadful crime.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is inviting the public to get involved in the update of Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), a crucial blueprint for conservation efforts across the state.
The first community engagement session took place yesterday via Microsoft Teams, launching a six-month process to revise and enhance the Oregon Conservation Strategy. The SWAP is a key component of Oregon’s efforts to protect biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
Developed as part of a national initiative coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, each state has its own Wildlife Action Plan designed to address the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats. The Oregon SWAP focuses on proactively protecting species and habitats that are in decline to prevent future federal or state listings. Oregon is facing a biodiversity crisis that affects the health of its ecosystems, economy and communities.
It is vital for all of us to take action by supporting conservation efforts, restoring natural habitats, and protecting our fish and wildlife. By working together to update the SWAP, we can protect Oregon’s rich biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.
The SWAP provides an overview of key conservation challenges in Oregon, highlighting species of greatest conservation need (SGCN), priority habitats, and strategies to address ongoing issues. As part of the national effort, each state must update its Wildlife Action Plan every 10 years, and ODFW aims to finalize Oregon’s updated SWAP by Oct. 1, 2025.
The Bureau of Land Management will close the East Applegate Ridge Trailhead access from Sterling Creek Road Jan. 13 through Jan. 31 for public safety.
The road will reopen on the weekends to provide access to the trailhead. A private landowner is exercising a right-of-way grant to haul timber across BLM Road 38-2-29.1, which is the route that accesses the trailhead. The timber is being removed from private lands in the area. This closure is necessary to ensure the safety of the public and the heavy equipment operators. They will reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so.
The western access to the East Applegate Ridge Trail on Highway 238 will remain open. Other trails in the area offer a great alternative, including the Jack-Ash Trail and the Sterling Mine Ditch Trail. January is also a great time to explore some nearby hidden gems, like the Enchanted Forest Trail or the Tallowbox Trail.
The National Weather Service is warning the public of a moderate risk for sneaker waves in Douglas, Coos and Curry counties this week.
Sneaker waves are waves that can run up beaches and outcroppings farther inland than normal waves. These waves can knock people off their feet and roll or carry debris such as tree logs. As sneaker waves recede, they can also carry people out into deeper water. High tides will be on Monday evening from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. through all day Tuesday.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is warning families about a scam related to AMBER Alerts.
According to the agency, scammers pose as AMBER Alert representatives and offer to ‘register’ your child over the phone. They will ask for confidential information and even request to meet you at your house. CHP says this is not how the AMBER Alert System works and offers the following tips to stay informed and keep your family safe.
CHP is the only agency authorized to activate AMBER Alerts, and no registration is required.
Never provide personal information or answer calls from unknown or potential scam numbers. If you have been contacted by a scammer, report it to local law enforcement immediately.
Flooding and a landslide have closed two state parks on the southern Oregon Coast.
Cape Arago and Shore Acres state parks are closed after a landslide undercut a portion of Cape Arago Highway. Sunset Bay State Park was evacuated Friday morning due to flooding. The Sunset Bay day-use area remains open, but could close if the flooding continues.
There’s no estimate for when the Cape Arago Highway will be repaired. Park staff will assess other damage following the storm.
The Biden administration, which has basically ignored Oregon in the last four years, awarded its third and final national semiconductor research site to Arizona State University on Monday, rejecting pleas from Oregon and Intel to put the site in Hillsboro.
The decision is no surprise. Oregon officials had felt for many weeks that the state’s chances were evaporating. Gov. Tina Kotek dropped her plan to allocate farmland near Hillsboro for the project late last month. Still, Monday’s decision to put the prototyping and packaging site in Arizona will sting. The two other sites went to upstate New York and to Silicon Valley.
The three National Semiconductor Technology Centers come with hundreds of millions of dollars in federal investment in anticipation of millions more from the private sector. They were authorized by the 2022 CHIPS Act, which aims to revive domestic semiconductor manufacturing and make the U.S. less reliant on technology from Asia.
You’ll need a Real ID to fly domestically, starting in May of 2025, that’s unless you have a passport or enhanced driver’s license issued by several states.
The deadline is May 7, 2025, but you probably don’t want to wait until the last minute to get your Real ID. You can apply for your Real ID driver’s license or ID card through your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Real IDs are marked with a star on the top of the card. Real IDs will also be needed to access certain federal facilities. Congress mandated the real IDs in 2005 on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.
To get a head start on making travel plans, Condé Nast Traveler rounded up 25 adult spring break destinations for 2025. And, no surprise, Bend, Oregon made the cut, another example of how Oregon hotels, campsites, beaches, food and more tend to show up on these kinds of best-of lists.
Bend, in Central Oregon is known for its scenic beauty, nearby recreational opportunities, comfortable lodging, delicious food, and more. Bend is in eclectic company where adult spring break destinations are concerned.
The Condé Nast Traveler list also includes New York City; Puerto Rico; Belize; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic; Oaxaca, Mexico; Anguilla; Holland; Kyoto, Japan; Panama City, Panama; Antigua; Bolivia; Vancouver Island, Canada; Healdsburg, California; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Grand Canyon National Park; The Azores; Miami, Florida; Black River, Jamaica; Costa Rica; Alabama’s Gulf Coast; and San Diego, California.
Thanks for reading the the news on BasinLife.com from Wynne Broadcasting.
Ready to Advertise? Let us get the word out for your business! We offer more local advertising opportunities than any one in the Klamath Basin.
Call BasinLife.com at 541-363-7503. Or email us today at INFO@BasinLife.com with your name, business, and what you’re looking for. We’ll customize a plan fit for your budget.
You can receive Daily Radio Mentions across our 6 stations, Articles, direct link Banner Ads, floating Banner Ads on hundreds of article pages daily, Social Media Posts and also available are Email Blasts to thousands of local residents.
We can also keep you updated with the latest smart digital marketing strategies for 2025 for your business. BasinLife.com is still the best value in the Klamath Basin for advertising, as we enter into our 9th year promoting businesses in Southern Oregon.
For information or prices on plans, simply call us today at 541-363-7503 or email us at Info@BasinLife.com. Let us keep your business top-of -mind!