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.
Tuesday, February 11, 2024
Klamath Basin Weather
Cold Weather Advisory thru Wednesday, February 12.
Today
Sunny, with a high near 28. Mostly clear overnight, with a low near 0. (zero!)
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
Four public hearings are to be held in regards to proposed changes to local public land administrative fees and noxious weed control amendments.Â
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) of Klamath County is encouraging public participation during the hearings, seeking feedback about the proposed changes.
The first item up for revision is a proposed increase in Public Land Corner Preservation Fund administrative fees from $5 to $10. The second matter will be the proposed updates to Ordinance 15.13 regarding noxious weed control. The changes would focus on the uniform civil violation procedure of Klamath County’s code, including “enhanced enforcement provisions,” penalties for violations, and clarifications of procedures.
Klamath County commissioners will hold two sets of public hearings for both matters. The hearings are set for Feb. 25 and March 18, starting at 1:15 p.m. on both dates. They will be held in the Government Center, located at 305 Main St., in Klamath Falls in room 219. Both matters will be heard during both scheduled public hearings.
Residents of rural Eastern Klamath County have long struggled with insufficient law enforcement in their communities, and tensions are not easing.
Klamath County and Bonanza town officials held a town hall in the community on Jan. 30, aiming to address concerns and propose solutions after receiving numerous and ongoing complaints and concerns.
County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot explained the first issue: funding. DeGroot went on to explain that the removal of the hydroelectric dam, the J.C. Boyle, in Klamath County also resulted in reduced tax revenue.
As for growing the tax base, the county faces another problem: large tracts of Klamath County land is owned by the federal government and receives no tax revenue as a result. DeGroot also relayed a message he’d received from members of legislature earlier that day.
The Department of Agriculture’s Secure Rural Schools (SRS) federal grant funding program historically provided hundreds of millions of dollars to more than 700 American counties with the intent of supporting critical rural infrastructure, including schools, roads and projects on both federal and county lands.
If Klamath County, among hundreds of other local governments, can no longer depend upon SRS funds, basic municipal services such as local law enforcement may be forcibly reduced. Klamath County Sheriff Shane Mitchell said he’d hoped he wouldn’t have to ask rural residents to provide funding for localized law enforcement upon taking office last month.
Over the course of the past year, county officials have met with town and city officials and law enforcement to discuss, among other things, the issue of adequate law enforcement provisions. DeGroot said that, together, local leaders formulated a possible plan of action: propose a tax levy that charges by tax lot, not by assessed property value. Two-thirds of non-federal lots in Klamath County are owned by people who do not live here, he said.
By charging a flat rate of $72 per tax lot, the majority of the cost would be placed on non-local landowners whose often vacant lots, DeGroot said, are frequently the living sites of individuals allegedly committing crimes in the Bonanza area.
The family of the pedestrian struck and killed earlier this week on Washburn Way in Klamath Falls is raising money to transport their loved one back home for burial.
The pedestrian was a 32-year-old Klamath Falls man, identified on the GoFundMe page as “Chris,” who moved to Oregon from Los Angeles in 2018.
The fundraiser says that Chris was a “loving father, son, brother, grandson and godson — someone whose heart was as big as his smile.” A relative of Chris, Susy Romo, who organized the fundraiser, said their hearts are with all who are impacted by this loss, including the “young man involved in the accident.” The family expressed gratitude for the driver who stopped to call 9-1-1 after the accident occurred.
“Thank you for keeping Chris and his family in your thoughts,” Romo said in the statement. “Your generosity and kindness will help bring him home.” To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/remembering-chris-with-love.
On Saturday, Klamath County Fire District One responded to a vehicle rollover with entrapment on Highway 97.
The rollover happened near milepost 271. KCFD says the driver and her three cats were safely removed from the car without injuries. It is unclear how the car ended up on its hood. But road conditions may have been a factor.
Klamath County Fire District One reminds people that although the roads may seem dry, there are still patches of ice which could be dangerous.
Klamath Community College’s Cosmetology school is supporting the Sky Lakes Cancer Treatment Center and Wigs For Kids during February.
The donations are a part of the beauty school’s quarterly community event. On February 19, all haircut proceeds between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. will be donated to Sky Lakes Cancer Treatment Center.Â
For the whole month, anyone who cuts off and donates 12+ inches of hair to Wigs for Kids gets their services for free. The students at the beauty school are looking forward to giving back to the community and providing comfort to people who might be going through a tough time. It helps our students practice, but for a second reason, it goes to support such a wonderful cause. Contact the cosmetology school for more information.
The biggest winter storm in over 30 years closed schools for the entire week in Klamath Falls and Klamath County last week. Basin Residents are still digging out snow from their driveways and many neighborhood streets are still difficult to navigate with heavy slushy snow.
Forecasters are calling for a good possibility of snow again starting around Thursday of this week.Â
Estimates of total snowfall last week range anywhere from 2 to 3 and a half feet throughout the week, canceling events, closing roads, and is connected to the deaths of at least three Klamath Basin residents due to poor road conditions and auto accidents.
During the storm’s peak periods, upwards of 80,000 people lost power in Klamath, Jackson, and Josephine counties. Impacts to power caused outages on some TripCheck cameras in the Siskiyou Pass and Greensprings area.Â
Lake County saw its share of problems due to the storm, with Oregon 140 being completely closed from 18 miles from the Nevada border to near Lakeview due to blizzard conditions.Â
In Medford, an elderly man escaped death after his carport collapsed as he was under it. He suffered broken bones in an arm but was extricated from the rubble by firefighters.
Interstate 5 over the Siskiyous was shut down temporarily several times.  Mt. Ashland Ski Area was closed Friday due to ongoing power outages on the mountain. Mt. Ashland’s power outages persisted throughout the week, starting after the ski area’s water main broke on Sunday, Feb. 2nd.Â
Dorothy Neufeld, is the new Director of Nursing for Klamath Community College.
Hired at KCC just last year as a full-time faculty, she was promoted to director of nursing after that position became vacant in December. Neufeld speaks from many years of nursing experience when she’s teaching in the classroom.
Neufeld holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and is a “diploma trained” as a Registered Nurse. She taught at the State College of Florida since 2014. She has had extensive experience either as a faculty member, lead faculty member in the classroom, clinical settings, skills labs and in simulation classrooms. Neufeld obtained a Masters in Advanced Practice Nursing for Pediatrics in 2012 from the University of South Florida, Tampa Bay.
At the time, there were not a lot of openings in pediatrics, so she began teaching at the college.Â
As Director of Nursing, Neufeld will work with health care providers in the community, such as Sky Lakes, assisted-living homes, clinics, the local schools to take on KCC students as interns. She’ll continue teaching first-year student, too. Neufeld and her husband Bruce, have three children, one of whom is attending KCC.
Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be at the Klamath County Library all day on Wednesday, Feb. 12th to assist taxpayers in using the free combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon to complete their returns.Â
Taxpayers can find more information on the department’s Free Direct File assistance at local libraries webpage.
The IRS estimates that 11,000 people in Klamath County are eligible to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon.Â
The department believes that helping taxpayers file their own returns using direct file will help maximize the number of Oregonians who choose to use the new free option and make it possible for many who don’t have a filing requirement to file and claim significant federal and state tax credits for low-income families. The IRS estimates that nearly 25 percent eligible Oregon taxpayers are not claiming the EITC. One Oregon organization says that added up to almost $100 million in unclaimed credits in 2020.
Taxpayers should use theIRS eligibility checker to see if they’ll be able to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. Eligible taxpayers should set up an IRS online account and an account with Oregon’s Revenue Online before they come to an event.
Taxpayers should bring the following information with them to the library.
- Social security card or ITIN for everyone on your tax return
- Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (such as driver’s license or passport)
- Forms W2 (wages from a job)
- Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)
- Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefits)
Optional documents
- Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
- Last year’s tax return
Taxpayers can signup for the new “Oregon Tax Tips” direct email newsletter to keep up with information about tax return filing and how to claim helpful tax credits. The library is located at 126 South Third Street in Klamath Falls.
CVIP Seeks Program Manager to Lead EPA Community Change Grant Initiative
Chiloquin Visions in Progress (CVIP) is seeking a dedicated Program Manager to lead public outreach and engagement activities for the EPA Community Change Grant and manage the Wood Stove Replacement Program. CVIP is proud to partner with the City of Chiloquin on the transformative Community Resilience Hub and Municipal Center project. This initiative, funded by an EPA Community Change Grant, will strengthen our community’s resilience and address critical needs through innovative programs and the construction of a cutting-edge Municipal Center that will serve as a resilience hub for the community.This position coordinates public events, manages stakeholder communication, conducts community surveys,
aims to replace up to 150 non-EPA-compliant wood stoves in the project area, improving residents’ air quality and
energy efficiency, and reports progress to the City of Chiloquin, CVIP Board of Directors, and project collaborators.Â
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should complete the job application at the bottom of CVIP’s online job board
https://www.chiloquinvisions.com/cvip-job-board/ and upload a resume and cover letter explaining their relevant experience and interest in the position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Pet of the Week from Klamath Animal Shelter
This week’s pet looking for a good home is a dog named ” Loralei “. Loralei is a female Great Pyrenees mix about 1 1/2 years old. She is white with tan patches, the angle of her pictures makes her look small but she weighs around 55 pounds. 
Loralei is a happy energetic girl, still very puppy like and loves attention. She gets excited to greet people and forgets that jumping isn’t polite. Â
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Around the State of Oregon
A 32-year-old North Bend man is in jail on an attempted rape charge after attacking a 19-year-old in the parking lot of a Coos Bay Walmart last week.
According to the Coos Bay Police Department, officers responded to a report of a fight in the parking lot of the Walmart on Newmark Avenue just after 6 p.m. on Thursday. Officers arrived to find three men fighting outside of one of the store entrances.
Police say two of the men involved, as well as other witnesses, said the third man, identified as 32-year-old Andrew Orr had assaulted a woman in the parking lot. Officers learned that Orr had intentionally attacked the 19-year-old woman, who was unknown to him. That’s when the other two men intervened and pulled Orr off the woman.
Orr is in the Coos County Jail and faces several charges including attempted rape, sex abuse, and harassment among others.
Nurses at eight Providence hospitals continue to strike after rejecting a contract that was approved by union leadership.
The contract offered a 20 percent wage increase over three years. A typical full-time acute-care nurse would make around 150-thousand-dollars a year. They would have also received ratification bonuses of up to 10-thousand-dollars and a 25-hundred-dollar retention bonus after a year.
The contract also included Oregon’s new law that regulates nurse staffing levels. Hospitalists at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center approved their contract.
Oregon residents are bracing for continued cold winter storms later this week which may bring snow, ice, and increased risks of falling tree branches and downed power lines.
Emergency management officials urge the public to remain alert, be properly prepared for winter driving, and follow safety guidelines to protect homes, vehicles, and personal well-being. Many regions in Oregon are experiencing snowfall and ice buildup on trees. The added weight can cause branches–or even entire trees–to snap unexpectedly.
Falling branches pose a danger to: Vehicles: Branches can damage cars, so avoid parking under trees whenever possible. Pedestrians: Tree limbs can break without warning, so be extra cautious when walking outdoors. Power lines: Branches falling onto power lines may cause electrical hazards or widespread outage. Stock up on essentials: Have flashlights, batteries, portable chargers, and blankets ready in case the lights go out. Keep extra supplies: If safe to do so, store a few days’ worth of food and water, especially in rural areas where utility restoration may be delayed. Stay informed: Monitor local weather updates through official channels.
Follow any advisories from the National Weather Service or your local emergency management office.
The organization that makes policies for Oregon school sports teams is looking into the local implications of President Trump’s order banning transgender women from women’s sports.
The Oregon Schools Activities Association says it is working with the state Department of Education and legal counsel to determine what to do about the order.
The liberal Oregon School Activities Association previously said a ban on transgender athletes would violate the state’s anti-discrimination law.
President Trump signed the executive order this week directing the Department of Justice and other federal agencies to interpret Title IX rules as banning transgender women and girls from participating in female sports. Trump says he’s requiring immediate enforcement of the new rule across the nation.
The U.S. winter virus season is in full force, and by one measure is the most intense in 15 years. Oregon is one of 14 states with the most cases of flu in the nation.
One indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctor’s office visits driven by flu-like symptoms. Last week, that number was clearly higher than the peak of any winter flu season since 2009-2010, according to data posted Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of course, other viral infections can be mistaken for flu.
But COVID-19 appears to be on the decline, according to hospital data and to CDC modeling projections. Available data also suggests another respiratory illness, RSV, has been fading nationally.
Some 14 other states, along with New York City, are now at the CDC’s highest tier of influenza activity: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee.Â
Overall, 43 states reported high or very high flu activity last week. Flu was most intense in the South, Southwest and western states. U.S. health officials recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccination.
About 44% of adults got flu shots as winter began, which is the same as last winter. But coverage of children is down, at about 45% this winter. It’s usually around 50%, according to CDC data.
Oregon is part of the lawsuit that stopped Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing sensitive personal information of Americans at the U.S. Treasury.
Liberal Oregon legislators looking for something to complain about, joined New York and a coalition of 19 other Democratic run states in filing the lawsuit. The judge ruled Musk and his staff must stop going through the data and must destroy any files they’ve copied.
The court will hold a hearing on the temporary restraining order on February 14th. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield says the decision reaffirms the principle that no one, not a billionaire and not the president, are above the law. Stay tuned.
A healthcare shakeup is happening in Oregon’s prisons as the Oregon Department of Corrections announces the firing of two prison healthcare leaders.
On Monday, ODOC announced the firing of assistant director of health services, Joe Bugher, and the chief of medicine, Dr. Warren Roberts. The news comes as ODOC continues its comprehensive review of healthcare to inmates throughout the state.
Last November, we reported on a sexual abuse lawsuit brought by a former Deer Ridge Correctional Institute inmate, James Watkins, accusing Dr. Leland Beamer of sex abuse at the prison while seeking care for a back injury. That lawsuit also named both Bugher and Roberts among four other defendants who Watkins said failed to prevent the abuse as required.
And in August, inmates at the prison shared struggles obtaining medication on time, medical request forms going unanswered, and being denied care.Â
Salem, Ore.–With 298 Firewise USA sites in good standing, Oregon is again ranked number two in the nation for number of Firewise USA sites. In 2024, Oregon added 32 new sites to create more fire-adapted communities.
Oregon is also honored to share the first Firewise USA site in the country that is located in two states, along the Oregon and California border in Lake County.
Along with being number two as a state in 2024, Oregon is also home to the number four and number five counties with the most sites in the nation: Jackson County with 74 sites and Deschutes County with 78 sites. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the dedication of community members and those that led the charge.Â
What is Firewise USA? Firewise USA is a program that helps guide communities in the process of protecting their homes and neighborhood from wildfire. The program is run by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and co-sponsored by the National Association of State Foresters and U.S. Forest Service.
The Oregon Department of Forestry is responsible for administering the program in Oregon and is a resource to help communities create a community wildfire protection plan, find grants to fund projects, and give expert advice.
This work is not done alone. Through the help of ODF’s partners, community coordinators, and local fire departments, we all work together to complete assessments and help the community develop action plans for implementing wildfire risk reduction activities.
How does a community become a Firewise community? Starting the journey to become a Firewise USA site is as easy as picking up the phone and calling your local ODF office. Only a minimum of eight dwellings are required, meaning that your street, neighborhood or town can be a Firewise USA community.
What are the benefits of becoming a Firewise site? By becoming a Firewise site, you can educate your community and work to become more wildfire resilient. As a Firewise site, you have access to several wildfire partners, like the Oregon Department of Forestry, to help you in securing grants, getting advice, help in coordination and more. Most importantly, you create strong relationships with your neighbors under the common goal of protecting your community from wildfire.
The continuation and growth of the Firewise USA program in Oregon is just one way we can create more fire adapted communities and protect our neighbors.
A bill that would require thousands of farmers to report their fertilizer use to the Oregon Department of Agriculture drew a big crowd largely in opposition to the proposal in its first public hearing.
Senate Bill 747 would require farms larger than 200 acres to report their annual fertilizer use — including the quantity applied, the type of fertilizer and the crop grown on the fertilized land — to the department.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Khanh Pham, D-Portland, said she wants the state agriculture department to track fertilizer applications to help identify where and how large concentrations of nutrients found in fertilizers, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are getting into and contaminating ground and surface water. Excesses of those nutrients cause frequent summer algal blooms in parts of the state and are making well water unsafe to drink in critical groundwater areas.
Irrigated agriculture is responsible for the bulk of groundwater nitrate contamination in Morrow and Umatilla counties, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
The Jackson County Expo is announcing its 2025 summer concert lineup to take the stage during the Jackson County Fair this July.
According to the Expo, musical acts including Outlaw Mariachi, Jo Dee Messina, and a Taylor Swift tribute will take the stage in Central Point this summer. The Jackson County Fair runs from July 15 through July 20.
Fair tickets start at $12 and include lawn seats at the Bi-Mart Amphitheater. Meanwhile, concert ticket prices start at $25 and go on sale to the public on Tuesday. Fair admission is included with the purchase of a reserved seat.
For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit the Jackson County Expo’s website.
The Britt Festival Orchestra (BFO) announces its 2025 season, with three weeks of exciting outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville, Oregon, June 12 – 28, 2025.
Under the leadership of four guest conductors, Damon Gupton (June 12-13); Chia-Hsuan Lin (June 15-18); Roberto Kalb (June 21-23); and Normal Huynh (June 26-28) the Orchestra’s 63rd season highlights a feature film alongside beloved classical favorites.
The season features seven extraordinary guest artists: pianist Clayton Stephenson performing Ravel’s Concerto in G Major; violinist William Hagen performing Korngold’s Concerto in D Major; violinist Tessa Lark and cellist Wei Yu performing Brahms Double concerto for Violin & Violoncello in A minor; vocalist Sun-Ly Pierce performing Ravel’s Shéhérazade; pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko performing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 3 in D minor; and violinist Simone Porter performing Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D and Ravel’s Tzigane. The season will begin with two evenings of Jurassic Park in Concert where John Williams’ score will be performed live-to-picture by the full orchestra in one of the most beloved films of the 20th Century.
Britt Music & Arts Festival shares extraordinary live performances and arts education experiences that inspire discovery and build community, anchored at the Britt hill amphitheater. Since its grassroots beginnings in 1963, the non-profit organization has grown from a two-week chamber music festival to a summer-long series of concerts in a variety of genres, including a three-week orchestra season, and year-round education and engagement programs. For more information, visit www.brittfest.org
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You’ll need a Real ID to fly domestically, starting in May of this year, 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.
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