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, January 10, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Today
A 30% chance of showers. Snow level 6700 feet. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. West wind around 8 mph. Overnight mostly clear with a low near 24 degrees. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
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
It’s been nearly three years since Oregon legislators passed a bill requiring employers to eventually pay overtime to farmworkers who work past 40 hours a week.
When it passed, advocates said the change was long overdue, while farm groups argued it would hurt their business. Starting this year, including in Klamath County, employers will have to pay overtime to workers who work more than 48 hours a week.
And now some farm owners say they’re having to make tough decisions. Oregon’s $5 billion agriculture industry employs more than 90,000 farmworkers, many of whom are Mexican immigrants or Latino.
Unlike most hourly wage jobs, farmworkers have historically been excluded from receiving overtime pay through the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. In 2022, farmworker advocates and some state legislators sought to change that and passed House Bill 4002 to the dismay of farm lobbying groups who decried the bill as out of touch with Oregon’s farming industry.
The change went into effect a year later, requiring employers pay farmworkers time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond 55 hours. As of the start of 2025, that threshold fell to 48 hours, and in 2027 it will be 40 hours.
While 55 hours was manageable, Mieke DeJong, the general manager at Windy Ridge Dairy in Klamath County, said paying time-and-a-half overtime at 48 hours a week will be harder to pencil in.
Oregon farmworkers on average make roughly $34,120 a year, or about $16.40 an hour, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) will be starting the search for someone to fill the new role of undersheriff.
The Klamath County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met with Sheriff Shane Mitchell on Tuesday to discuss budgeting and reorganizing to accommodate the role.
Commissioner Derrick DeGroot and Sheriff Mitchell met prior to the meeting to discuss proper funding so that, in the midst of a county-wide hiring freeze, the position could be affordable.
The position fully loaded is around the $200,000 mark. They found $100,000 through materials and services that are not personnel related to help offset at least half of the cost to making that exception.
DeGroot said the county could afford to hire the new role by eliminating the captain position at KCSO, which was moved and approved by the BOCC.
In other county business, Commissioners adopted a resolution establishing weed control fees for 2025. Hourly rates were increased between $2 and $3 for each hour of work, and overhead was increased by 1%. An order defining the weeds considered noxious for 2025 was approved unanimously.
BOCC appointed new board member Andy Nichols to county advisory bodies, including public safety, and the board approved a letter of support for the Klamath Irrigation District modernization project.
The Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) has announced that they will be hosting their annual Economic Summit later this January.
The special event takes place on January 22nd, 2025 at the Ross Ragland Theater, from 8:30-12:00PM. Admission to the event costs $10, giving attendees access to the full program, in addition to coffee and other refreshments.
The theme of this year’s event is “Building Resilience: Unlocking New Growth Pathways”, where presentations will focus on strategies, innovations, and partnerships aimed at fostering new opportunities for sustainable growth within Klamath County.
This year’s Economic Summit consists of several presentations from various experts from throughout the state and region, as well offers attendees a chance to participate in a Q&A session with a panel of community stakeholders representing different industries and interests within Klamath County.
Presenters will be discussing important topics related to local agriculture, energy, artificial intelligence, finance, workforce, and more throughout the day. Additionally, Business Oregon Regional Economist, Page 1 of 2 Damon Runberg will be participating in the program, providing attendees information on Klamath County’s economic and employment forecasts for the upcoming year.
The Economic Summit for 2025 is sponsored by: Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union, Amazon, Pacific Power, RES (Resource Environmental Solutions), Avista Utilities, MSPCO (Molatore, Scroggin, Peterson & Co.), Business Oregon, Great Basin Insurance, and The Ross Ragland Theater.
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.
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
Six fire strike teams with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) are in Southern California to help fight the disastrous wildfires tearing through Los Angeles County.
Already over 100,000 Californians have been evacuated from their homes. Over 12,000 homes and structures have burned to the ground. Hundreds more are damaged.
Strong winds and smoke continue from the fires are creating hazardous air quality across many areas of southern California.
ODF’s strike teams have arrived at the incident command post for briefing and location assignments.
Firefighters will be on a two-week rotation in California, which ODF says it will allow crews to return the favor to California partners, who sent resources to aid in Oregon’s historic wildfire season last summer. ODF’s Fire Protection Division Chief Chris Cline said, “these agreements help bolster the complete and coordinated fire protection system across the country and create a cache of reciprocal resources for all of us to call on when needed.”
Through state-to-state mutual assistance agreements with CalFire, a total of 70 firefighters are heading to southern California.
In Southern California, the latest report says that at least 10 people have been killed by fast-moving wildfires that are continuing to tear across the Los Angeles County area.
Winds are set to calm between Friday and Saturday, although strong gusts were forecast in the evening. The winds are forecasted to return Sunday, and into next week, but officials pledge they will be ready for any future sparks.
The death toll from the current fires is expected to climb in the coming days, officials said.
Firefighters and other residents have also been injured in the life-threatening outbreak, which continued to force evacuation orders for around 153,000 residents.
There are five active large wildfires throughout Los Angeles County. The Palisades and Eaton fires are now some of the state’s most destructive in history. The Palisades and Eaton fires are both less than 10 percent contained.
Officials gave an update on the Eaton Fire early Friday afternoon.
“It looks like a war zone. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Kathryn Barger, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, told reporters.
Key Points
Death toll hits 10 in LA wildfires
Archer Fire evacuation order downgraded
More than 36,000 acres have been burned by active wildfires
153,000 Los Angeles County residents are under evacuation orders
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has extended Oregon’s state of emergency for homelessness, which was first put into effect on Jan. 10, 2023.
She says, quote,”We must stay the course on what we see working. If we keep at this pace, 1 in every 3 people who were experiencing homelessness in 2023 will be rehoused. Since declaring the homelessness emergency response two years ago, we exceeded the targets we set through a statewide homelessness infrastructure we never had before. But the urgency remains as homelessness continues to increase and we need to see this strategy through.”
The state of emergency is now going to continue until the end of June 2025, the release said.
A Medford man is arrested on over thirty sex abuse charges after he was found with two underage girls in his car.
According to court records, Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers approached 29-year-old Anthony James Parker at the Manzanita rest area in Grants Pass last Thursday morning.
Two girls, 16 and 17 years old, were in Parker’s car. The two girls originally claimed Parker was their brother, which was false.
When both of the girls’ parents were contacted, the 17-year-old’s mother told troopers she didn’t know her child was with Parker, coming to pick her up and take her back home. The 16-year-old’s mother knew her daughter was with Parker and had given them permission to be together. It was determined that the 16-year-old girl was pregnant, allegedly with Parker’s child.
Later on, the 17-year-old girl’s phone was searched through, in which Parker had allegedly been sending sexually explicit photos to her. OSP says Parker told troopers he’d been dating the pregnant girl since last May and was trying to date the other girl.
Parker is scheduled to appear in Douglas County Court next Monday.
A group of Oregon Republican legislators want the Oregon Schools Activities Association to revise rules concerning transgender athletes.
They’ve sent a letter to OSAA President Peter Weber asking him to, quote, “protect the rights of biological females in athletic programs.”
The say President-elect Trump’s support of a ban justifies the change. They suggest having an open category for other students to balance inclusivity with competitive fairness. Weber has previously said OSAA policies follow federal and state laws, including those against discrimination.
A new law in Oregon makes it illegal to possess animal torture videos and photos.
State Representative David Gomberg sponsored the legislation last year in response to a case involving a former Prineville man who produced and sold video depicting animal torture. The man only faced prosecution because his business violated federal law.
As of January first, suspects can be tried in state court even if the videos don’t cross state lines.
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.
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