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Tuesday, February 18, 2024

Klamath Basin Weather

Today
A 10% chance of afternoon snow. Snow level rising to 4700 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40 today. Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Overnight rain likely. Snow level 5100 feet rising to 5700 feet. Cloudy, with a low around 33.  Little or no snow accumulation expected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pet of the Week from Klamath Animal Shelter

 

Around the State of Oregon

Get school, daycare immunizations updated before Feb. 19

Parents and caregivers must provide kids’ vaccine records to schools and child care facilities with kids’ vaccine records

With the Feb. 19 deadline fast approaching for updating children’s vaccinations, the Oregon Immunization Program at Oregon Health Authority reminds parents and caregivers that their children may miss out on school or child care if their records on file show missing immunizations.

By the third Wednesday in February, under state law, all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care facilities must submit documentation showing they are up to date on required immunizations or have an exemption. This year, if a child’s vaccination records do not show up-to-date immunizations by Feb. 19, the child’s school or child care center will send them home.

“Vaccine-preventable diseases can be highly contagious, with 1,246 cases of pertussis or whooping cough in Oregon last year–the highest number of cases since 1950” said Stacy de Assis Matthews, school law coordinator in OHA’s Public Health Division. “Immunizations remain our best defense against these diseases, keeping kids and school communities healthy and safe.”

Leading up to the school immunization deadline in 2024, local health departments in Oregon sent 24,306 letters to parents and caregivers informing them that they needed to submit records showing up-to-date immunizations for their children. That led to a total of 4,446 children being sent home and not being able to attend school until their families provided the necessary vaccination records.

To hear firsthand from Enyo Dzata, DNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Lane County, click this link.

“Our medical staff and nurses especially are great at monitoring vaccines within our pediatric population. We monitor how to get kids up to date. Exclusion Day is specific to our community to make sure that those who need the vaccines are getting them,” added Dzata.

This year, local public health authorities mailed letters to families on or before Feb. 5.

Parents and caregivers seeking immunizations for their children should contact their health care provider or local health department. They may also reach 211Info by dialing 211 over the phone or going to 211info.org. No one can be turned away from a local health department because of their inability to pay for required vaccines. Many pharmacists can also immunize children 7 and older — the Oregon Immunization Program encourages families to contact their neighborhood pharmacy for more details.

Additional information on school immunizations can be found at the Immunization Program website. OHA’s website also features local school vaccination data and an OIP Tableau School Immunization Dashboard. 

 

 

Providence and the union representing its striking nurses will resume in-person talks for the first time since the two sides reached an ill-fated agreement nearly two weeks ago, the Oregon Nurses Association said Monday.

Negotiators for the Catholic not-for-profit health system and its striking nurses have not met in person since Feb. 4, when the two sides reached a tentative contract agreement.

The 5,000 nurses on strike at the health system’s eight hospitals later voted down the deal by a wide margin. The strike, which began Jan. 10, has now entered its sixth week. In a statement, Providence said the two parties are “returning to the bargaining table with the assistance of the federal mediators tomorrow and Wednesday.”

Providence Health said on Friday that 43 percent of nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) at its Medford medical center have returned to work.

This report comes after the healthcare system sent an email to nurses on strike telling them they would lose their healthcare at the end of the month. “We continue to work closely with federal mediators on next steps in the bargaining process,” Providence said in a statement.

Providence sent an email on Thursday to nurses on strike saying their healthcare will expire by Feb. 28.  “We sent them our latest offer and unilaterally opened up bargaining,” Peter Starzynski with ONA told KDRV NewsWatch 12 on Friday.

“Their only response was to strip healthcare away from nurses and children.”  Medford nurses had previously voted against a proposed tentative agreement with Providence on Feb. 8. Hospitalists and palliative care physicians at Providence St. Vincent in Portland approved their tentative agreement with Providence.

 

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER/COACH ARRESTED FOR SEX ABUSE OF STUDENT

ROGUE RIVER, Ore. – Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies arrested a local teacher today after an investigation into sex abuse of a former student.

The suspect, Jesse Rex Orndoff, 30, of Selma, Ore., is charged with 10 counts each of second-degree sex abuse, third-degree rape, and third-degree sodomy. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. 

On Thursday, February 13th, a woman reported she was the victim of sexual abuse perpetrated by her teacher and coach, Orndoff, while she was a student and he was employed at the Rogue River Junior Senior High School. 

The victim is no longer a student at the school. The sexual abuse occurred over the span of several years, while the victim was between 15 to 17 years old. Although Orndoff no longer works at the Rogue River Middle-High School, he was most recently employed with the Rogue Christian Academy in Grants Pass. Both schools are cooperating with the investigation.

Investigators believe Orndoff may have additional victims. If anyone has information related to this case, please contact Detective David Seese at the JCSO Tip Line (541) 774-8333. This case remains open and ongoing with investigators following additional leads. There is no further information available for release at this time. 

 

GOLD HILL, Ore. – A train hit an unoccupied truck abandoned on the tracks in rural Gold Hill this morning. On February 17 at approximately 9:25 AM, ECSO Dispatch received a report of a train striking a truck parked on the tracks.

The truck accessed the tracks from a dirt road approximately one mile off of Gold Ray Road. There were no injuries reported and no one associated with the truck was on scene.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to investigate and identified multiple suspects.

Kenneth Luedtke, 45, and Caroline Allen, 78, both of White City, were cited for first-degree trespass, first-degree criminal mischief, and reckless endangering. Allen was also charged with driving while suspended. 

Railroad employees are investigating the incident and identifying potential damages to the train and tracks. There is no further information available for release at this time.

 

The  Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) is asking for the public’s assistance in solving a homicide from 34 years ago.

SCSO’s Cold Case Unit has found multiple persons of interest in the shooting death of 77-year-old Maye Elma Mechling in 1991. Mechling was found shot to death in her Klamath River home on 1137 McKinney Creek Road.  

Edward and Joann Tawney reported the dead body on Mar. 28, 1991 at about 11:15 a.m.  SCSO detectives determined there was no forced entry into Mechling’s home, but found her bedroom had been ransacked. 

SCSO said in a news release Wednesday that Mechling had last been seen picking up mail from her mailbox at Walker Road and McKinney Creek Road on Mar. 26th, 1991 at about 4:00 p.m .

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit at (530) 841-2900 or use the anonymous tip line on SCSO’s new Unsolved Cases website.

 

 

At least two cats in Oregon were euthanized this month after eating raw pet food contaminated with bird flu, prompting agriculture officials to issue a public health alert Friday about the products.

 

Officials in Oregon and Washington state warned that bird flu virus was detected in samples of raw pet food made by Wild Coast LLC of Olympia, Wash.

Two cats living in separate households in Multnomah County fell ill after consuming the raw pet food. After consultation with their veterinarians, owners of the animals agreed to euthanize the pets because of the severity of their illnesses, officials said. In both cases, veterinarians reported the illnesses to state officials. Staff collected samples from the cats and open containers of food. Tests at state and federal laboratories confirmed bird flu in the cats and the food. Washington state officials also tested unopened containers and found the virus.

Officials identified the source as Wild Coast’s Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula, lots #22660 and #22664, with best-by dates of December. Dozens of domestic cats, including at least 24 this year, have been infected with H5N1, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department.

Many of the animals became infected after consuming raw milk or raw pet food contaminated with the virus. Pets infected with the H5N1 virus have symptoms that include fever, lethargy, low appetite, red or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing and signs of neurological damage, including tremors, seizures and blindness. If a pet consumed raw food or milk or had access to outdoor birds, owners should contact a veterinarian immediately.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) is accepting all appeals to the statewide wildfire hazard map up until Mar. 10, under direction from Gov. Tina Kotek.

These appeals will not be referred to the Office of Administrative Hearings until after the end of this year’s legislative session. This comes as a group of Oregon Republicans in the House and Senate are seeking a repeal of the wildfire hazard map.

House Republican leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) and Senate Republican leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) are speaking at a press conference aimed on repealing the map on Monday, along with Sen. Noah Robinson (R-Cave Junction) and Rep. Mark Owens (R-Crane). “The map is riddled with inaccuracies and threatens the property values and livelihoods of rural homeowners,” the Oregon House and Senate Republicans said in a statement Feb. 14. Anyone looking to submit an appeal can do so using this link from ODF. The legislative session must end no later than June 29.

 

Meanwhile on Monday, Oregon Republican legislators are coming out against the state’s wildfire hazard map and seeking its repeal. The map designates wildfire risk statewide.

 

Oregon’s Republican state senators and representatives say the map threatens the property values and livelihoods of rural homeowners. Many property owners in high-hazard areas fear their designation could impact their insurance rates, but state law makes it illegal for insurance companies to use the map to do so.

 

Freshman Senator Noah Robinson, from Cave Junction, introduced Senate Bill 678. It proposes repealing the entire bill that established the wildfire map among other programs to improve wildfire preparedness. The original bill, Senate Bill 672, establishes the wildfire hazard map as well as programs the Oregon Department of Forestry says “is comprehensive legislation passed with bipartisan support that will provide more than $220 million to help Oregon modernize and improve wildfire preparedness through three key strategies: creating fire-adapted communities, developing safe and effective response, and increasing the resiliency of Oregon’s landscapes.”

 

The Republican legislators say they invite Gov. Tina Kotek to endorse the map’s repeal.

 

Property owners may appeal their property’s designation in any zone until March 10. On the same day the Oregon GOP announced their intentions, Governor Tina Kotek is directing the Department of Forestry to continue to accept all appeals of the wildfire hazard map, but to stop referring the appeals to the office of administrative hearings until after the legislative session concludes– no later than June 29.

 

 

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has placed the director of the Oregon Youth Authority on leave. Several lawsuits have alleged a pattern of grooming and sexual abuse in OYA correctional facilities. The Professional Standards Office is investigating.

Joe O’Leary became director in 2018 and was the deputy director prior to that. Kotek says there’s a backlog of complaints which is unacceptable. Interim deputy director Jana McLellan was named the acting director. OYA has 900 youth between the ages of 12 and 24.

Two people are behind bars in connection to an alleged attempted drug deal in Roseburg last week.

 According to the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT), detectives got a tip that 30-year-old Tyler Michael Jordan of Roseburg would be near NE Cedar Street Thursday evening with the intent to sell methamphetamine. Officers with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assisted by initiating a traffic stop on the vehicle Jordan was in. DINT says Jordan was a passenger in the vehicle, which was driven by 46-year-old Dawn Marie Boyce of Coos Bay. 

Subsequently, police say Jordan was in possession of roughly 18.9 grams of suspected meth, while Boyce had approximately 9.7 grams. Both were arrested. Jordan and Boyce are in the Douglas County Jail facing multiple drug-related charges.

 

Democratic leaders in the Oregon Legislature have appointed a Republican to investigate accountability in the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Senator Bruce Starr will lead the development of recommendations for an accountability proposal that will be a central component of the 2025 Transportation Package. Starr says it’s critical for ODOT to get back to its core mission of road safety and freight transportation. House Speaker Julie Fahey says accountability plays a key role along with a stable funding structure.

 

The state of Oregon is joining Washington, California and ten other states in filing a lawsuit challenging the authority of Elon Musk.  

Apparently Oregon doesn’t want to see billions of dollars cut that are being found as fraud, abuse and wasteful spending being done by ranks deep within the government that have been going on for decades.

The group lawsuit claims the executive authority given to Musk is unconstitutional, calling it a power grab.  It says President Trump exceeded his authority and violated the Appointments Clause of the Constitution by creating a federal department without Congressional approval.  They’re requesting an injunction barring Musk from issuing orders to anyone outside of the Department of Government Efficiency. Stay tuned.

 

The Oregon Immunization Group within the Oregon Health Authority is reminding families to get student immunizations updated by Wednesday, Feb. 19.

A list of required vaccinations by grade level can be found on the OHA’s website.  State law says all children in Oregon public schools, private schools, preschools, Head Start programs and child care facilities must submit documents showing they are up-to-date on required vaccinations. The school or care center can send a child home if they don’t have the required immunization by Feb. 19.

Families looking to get their children vaccinated can contact their local health department, dial 211 over the phone or visit the 211 information website.

 

Medford School District officials say North Medford High School’s revered gymnasium will have to be demolished and rebuilt after the roof collapsed last Tuesday.

The weight of accumulated snow atop the gym after last week’s heavy snowfall throughout Southern Oregon is considered a key factor in Tuesday’s catastrophic collapse, school officials have said. There were no injuries, and students were evacuated Tuesday and then spent Wednesday at home. Classes resumed Thursday, with deeper perimeter fencing installed around the heavily damaged gym to provide an extended safety buffer.

District staff and outside contractors are currently focused on demolition of the gym to stabilize the structure before a full engineering assessment can be safely conducted.  After finishing demolition, district staff anticipate an engineering assessment to come in roughly a week or two with more details on the cause of the roof collapse, as well as necessary work to begin rebuilding the venerated gym, which opened in the mid-’60s. There is no cost estimate for the damage at this time.

According to the school district, multiple factors could’ve contributed to the collapse, but an estimated 700,000 pounds of snow accumulated on the roof after last week’s snowstorm, compromising the structure, Havniear said in interviews with local media outlets starting this past weekend. District officials said a more than $3 million seismic retrofit effort at the gym over the summer, which incorporated horizontal reinforcements on exterior walls, likely prevented the walls from collapsing with the roof.

 

The Jackson County Expo has announced the 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.

 

Britt Music & Arts Festival is excited to announce the first installment of concerts for the 2025 summer season.

The first of three official season announcements, this extensive group of shows features a wide array of musical artists, including first-time-to-Britt indie alt-rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise, singer-songwriter Regina Spektor,  country artists Brothers Osborne, and folk/indie it-band Waxahatchee.

Britt will also be welcoming back legendary artists like Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gregory Alan Isakov, Buena Vista Orchestra, The California Honeydrops, Andy Grammer and many more.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show will also be returning to the Britt main stage in 2025 to deliver an unforgettable tribute to Pink Floyd, combining mind-blowing visuals and stunning soundscapes for a mesmerizing live performance.

President & CEO Abby McKee commented, “It’s always thrilling to share the news of the upcoming season with our community, and this year’s season feels especially exciting. We have an incredible mix of genres coming through town! With superstar legacy acts, longtime fan favorites, and extraordinary newcomers, I think our patrons have some amazing shows to choose from, and I suspect we’ll be seeing folks out on the hill several times this summer! And don’t forget, two more announcements are still to come.”

With this announcement, there will be a Member pre-sale before tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 28. 

 

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 63^rd 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 20^th 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

 

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.

 

Wildlife Safari, south of Roseburg has a new baby giraffe named Watson who from Fort Worth, Texas.

Giraffes are the tallest land animals on earth, yet populations are declining in the wild, due to habitat loss and poaching.

Wildlife Safari says Watson’s arrival will allow visitors to learn more about these “gentle giants,” and their importance in the wild.

 

Many Oregonians had a lot riding on the recent Super Bowl match between Philadelphia and Kansas City, with nearly half a million bets placed through the state lottery on the winner, the team with the first touchdown and even the color of players’ Gatorade.

According to the Oregon Lottery, Oregonians placed more than 456,000 bets through its DraftKings Sportsbook for the big game last weekend – a record for a single sporting event — generating more than $2.8 million in state revenue. Wagers totaled about $8 million, and the average bet was around $18.

The state introduced online sports betting in 2019. Players had more than 1,100 wagers to choose from that didn’t involve the final outcome of the game, including who would win the coin toss and who would take home MVP. On the coin toss, the state lottery said about 54% of 9,000 guessed correctly that Kansas City would win to start the game.

And as for the color of the Gatorade, just 11% of nearly 9,000 predicted correctly that it would be yellow.

 

New Edition of the Oregon Blue Book Highlights John Day Fossil Beds and the Great Comet of 2024

Every odd-numbered year since 1911, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has published the Oregon Blue Book, our state’s official almanac and fact book. Each edition of the book features beautiful, new cover images of Oregon captured by the winners of the Oregon Blue Book Cover Photo Contest.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book front cover features a stunning capture from the Painted Cove in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, near Mitchell. Photographer Matt Straite of Keizer made the image which he titled, “The Many Sides of Oregon.” The back cover includes an amazing astrophotography shot titled “Comet/C2023 A” by Nathan Rohde of Shady Cove.

“The Oregon Blue Book is an invitation to learn more about Oregon, engage with your neighbors, our government and our state’s history. It helps us understand what it means to be an Oregonian. The artists who’ve created these cover images captured some of that spirit, and I’m thrilled they’re a part of my first Oregon Blue Book as Secretary of State,” said Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read.

“So many people look right past the desert areas of the state, but there is so much beauty there,” said Straite. “I have always been drawn to images that show the work of mankind in nature, particularly when that work has been added to help others see the nature, like the work of the Civilian Conservation Corp. The way this trail bends at the end is such a strong draw to want to explore more.” Straite also said that he shot this image from the boardwalk, which is there to take people through the sensitive clay hills without harming them.

Nathan Rohde’s image of Comet/C2023 A3, also known as the “Great Comet of 2024” was made near his home. He said he’s always been fascinated by astrophotography and loved trying to capture the Milky Way and the Aurora, but after seeing posts online of other peoples’ images of the comet, he thought he could capture it too: “Living in Southern Oregon affords access to some relatively dark areas. On a tall clearing not far from Lost Creek Lake, I got set up about an hour before sunset and began scanning the sky with my lens fully extended. About 45 minutes after sunset, conditions were perfect and the pictures started coming through!” Rohde said the rolling hills in the foreground were an excellent way to provide scale and accentuate the sky.

The 2025-2026 Oregon Blue Book is available for presale purchase now at bluebook.oregon.gov/shop. These limited-edition books are $30 for the hardcover and $18 for the paperback, plus shipping and handling. A downloadable copy of the full cover for use by the media can be found in Oregon Blue Book Assets and Information here.

 

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