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, April 10, 2025

Klamath Basin Weather

 

Opening this Saturday, the Whiskey Bent Saloon aims to infuse downtown Klamath Falls with a touch of Southern hospitality.

Owner Justin Sprinkle, a self-proclaimed country boy with experiences from Texas, Tennessee, and Alabama, shared that it has long been his and his wife’s aspiration to establish a bar. Distinctive within Klamath Falls’ vibrant drinking culture, the Whiskey Bent Saloon has secured a partnership with Jack Daniel’s, the world’s leading Tennessee whiskey brand, marking the first such collaboration for the brand in Oregon.

In addition to Jack Daniel’s, patrons will find a variety of whiskey options, along with an assortment of brandies and tequila. While the saloon will offer a limited selection of bottled beers, it will not feature any draft options.

Embodying the spirit of traditional saloons, Whiskey Bent Saloon pays homage to the country bars of the 1800s with an impressive lineup of events and entertainment.

In its inaugural month, the venue has scheduled over four performances showcasing a range of musical genres, including rock, country, and folk. Future plans include line dancing sessions, classes, open mic nights, poetry slams, karaoke, and stand-up comedy. The establishment is situated at 617 Main.

 

Klamath’s youngest vocalists are extending an invitation to the community to join them for a cinematic experience next week as they prepare for the annual Rag Tag Choir spring performance.

This year’s event, titled “Let’s All Go to the Movies,” will showcase the talents of Klamath County youth as they perform songs from cherished classic films. The program will include popular show tunes such as “Singin’ in the Rain” and “It’s a Hard-Knock Life,” highlighting the diverse vocal abilities of local students in the youth choir at the Ross Ragland Theater.

The Rag Tag Choir hosts two performances each year and has also participated in various local music productions at the Ragland, including last year’s Christmas with the Celts event.

 

This week’s pet is a kitty named ” Thor ” at Klamath Animal Shelter

 

Around the State of Oregon

Multiple alleged illegal marijuana grow sites are currently under investigation after deputies with the Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) seized more than 10-thousand marijuana plants from several unlicensed locations.

According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation began after OLCC discovered that a business, named Agricola, was “operating far outside of the legal requirements regarding plant tracking, [and] product location.”

On April 3, 2025, LCSO deputies and detectives served search warrants at several locations:

• A greenhouse and residence in the 40300 block of Reuben Leigh, north of Lowell
• A warehouse in the 1400 block of N. 32nd Street, Springfield
• A warehouse in the 4200 block of W. 7th Avenue, Eugene
• A warehouse in the 600 block of Commercial Street, Eugene
• A warehouse in the 200 block of E. Palmer Avenue, Cottage Grove
• A planned dispensary in the 1600 block of Main Street, Springfield

 

State and Federal Taxes are due April 15, but if you still haven’t filed your 2024 returns, the state of Oregon is sharing some options to submit them for free The Oregon Department of Revenue is encouraging taxpayers to submit their returns as soon as possible.

Nearly 1.2 million Oregonians have already filed their state personal income tax returns this year, but more than 1 million Oregonians have yet to submit their tax year 2024 returns.  E-filing is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their tax refund.

The Department also says electronically filing (e-filing) your taxes and requesting a refund through direct deposit is a quicker way to get your return. Anyone looking to track their return in Oregon can use the Department’s Where’s My Refund? tool to check Taxpayers can file their federal return directly with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using their Direct File software, and file their state return using Direct File Oregon.

Both programs are free. Other services offering free tax preparation assistance can be found on the Revenue website.

 

The Modoc County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is actively pursuing its investigation into human remains that have been identified as belonging to Nicholas Patterson, a California man who went missing nearly a year ago.

The sheriff’s office reported that Patterson was last seen on January 4, 2020, and was officially reported missing on January 9 of the same year. At the time of his disappearance, he was 26 years old.

The skeletal remains were located in May 2024, and after a forensic examination, they were confirmed to be Patterson’s in July of that year. Patterson’s family chose not to issue any public statements at that time. The MCSO continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Patterson’s disappearance, noting that he was known to visit the Burney area in Shasta County, the Big Valley region in Lassen County, and the Lookout area in Modoc County, where the remains were ultimately discovered.

 

By next week, 12,000 Oregonians who received unemployment benefits last year are expected to receive corrected 1099-G forms.

The issue arose due to the transition from the previous computer system to the new Francis Online. Over 100 employees from the Employment Department are diligently reviewing each corrected form to ensure their accuracy.

Those who have already filed their federal taxes will need to amend them accordingly. The Oregon Department of Revenue is offering straightforward options for updating state tax returns.

 

The Oregon House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill late last week to change the eviction process of squatters by homeowners.

House Bill 3522 allows the removal of squatters using the standard eviction process, known in Oregon as Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED), without any proof of forced entry or an existing landlord-tenant relationship. If the bill passes, a lease doesn’t need to be in place for homeowners to follow the standard eviction process. 

Without HB 3522, state law requires property owners to take civil legal action against the squatter in a process known as ejectment, which chief co-sponsor Rep. Hai Pham said “costs individual homeowners thousands of dollars in costs and often takes months to process.” The bill is now moving to the Senate for consideration.

 

Oregon voters would be asked to reconsider vote-by-mail under a bill in the Legislature. If voters approved it, voting would have to be in-person with state issued photo identification.

Voters could request a ballot in the mail 21 days in advance for each election, with photo identification. Postage would no longer be paid by the state. More than nine-thousand comments were received online. 81 percent of the comments opposed the bill and nine percent were in support.

 

A Gladstone, Oregon man was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison today for abducting and sexually abusing a Canadian child he met through a music creation social media platform.

Noah Madrano, 43, was sentenced to 600 months in federal prison, a $5,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release. The sum of restitution he must pay to his victim will be determined at a later date.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the FBI special agents and Oregon City police officers who rescued the victim in Oregon and brought the defendant to justice,” said William M. Narus, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “This sentence is a result of the extraordinary efforts of the victim, the victim’s family, their community, and law enforcement here and in Canada.”

“The persistence with which Madrano pursued his heinous crimes – traveling internationally on multiple occasions to victimize a child he met online, and ultimately smuggling that victim across an international border, speaks to how predatory his actions genuinely were,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Olson. “Madrano will be in his mid-nineties when he is eligible for supervised release. His removal from our communities benefits everyone.”

According to court documents, Madrano met a child online whom he sexually exploited for more than a year. In May 2022, he traveled to Canada to meet the child in person, took the child to a hotel room, sexually abused the victim, and recorded his abuse. A few weeks later, on June 24, 2022, Madrano returned to Canada, where he abducted the child from outside a school and took the victim to another hotel room. At the hotel, Madrano sexually abused the child for several days and recorded videos of his abuse. On July 1, 2022, Madrano hid the child in the trunk of his vehicle and drove back to the United States. Once in Oregon, Madrano brought the victim to a hotel room, where he continued to sexually abuse the child.

In the early morning of July 2, 2022, FBI special agents and Oregon City police officers entered Madrano’s hotel room and found him inside with the victim. Madrano was arrested and the child was taken into protective custody, reunited with her parents, and returned to Canada.

On September 21, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Madrano with sexually exploiting a child, traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, transporting a child with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and possessing child pornography.

On January 13, 2025, Madrano pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a child and transporting a child with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) with assistance from the Oregon City Police Department, the Gladstone Police Department, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, the Edmonton Police Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It was prosecuted by Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

 

The Klamath National Forest reports April results above average in a snow survey that reflects state water availability.

Measurements from snow surveys forecast how much water will be available statewide for the volume of stream flow, agriculture, power generation and recreation. The national park says early April is the seasonal peak for measuring snowpack.  Klamath National Forest sits at 114% of average.

 

Oregon’s list of regulated hazardous substances is getting its first update in nearly two decades with the addition of six “forever chemicals” known to harm human health.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on Tuesday announced it would add six perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, to the state’s list of more than 800 regulated contaminants and begin creating regulations to limit Oregonians’ exposure to them. 

The Environmental Quality Commission is expected to vote on adding the chemicals to the state’s list and adopting new regulations on or after May 21.

PFAS are human-made chemical chains used in products such as flame retardants, nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing that do not break down or go away naturally but instead have for decades leached into rivers and streams and contaminated soil, water and even air.

They are thought to now be in the blood of everyone in the U.S., according to research and testing from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and can lead to increased risks for cancers, heart damage, high cholesterol and birth defects, among other adverse health effects.

 

Klamath National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations to continue throughout the spring as weather conditions allow.

These prescribed fires help reduce overgrown vegetation and protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. Prescribed fire areas may close to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near prescribed fire areas before and during burns. Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns.

Go to fire.airnow.gov for more about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on headlights when you seeing smoke on the road.  Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media channels, and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system. 

 

Oregon Parks and Recreation is requesting feedback from the public regarding the state’s land and water trails.

An online survey has been launched to gather insights from trail users. The department invites contributions from all individuals who utilize the state’s trail network, including pedestrians, hikers, cyclists, equestrians, and boaters. The survey is accessible on the OPRD website.

 

A contingent of firefighters is returning to Oregon after assisting in the battle against the Black Cove wildfires in North Carolina.

According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, 39 firefighters have commenced their journey back to Oregon. Over the weekend, 26 firefighters made their return, followed by eight individuals who flew home on Monday, with one more scheduled to return on Tuesday. Additionally, four staff members from the Oregon Department of Forestry will remain in North Carolina to finalize operations related to the fires.

There exists a mutual agreement between Oregon and North Carolina to deploy firefighters when available. Currently, Oregon is experiencing a relatively calm wildfire season, allowing for the availability of crews. Last year, North Carolina provided assistance to Oregon during its unprecedented fire season.

 

It’s molting season for elephant seals, and Oregon beachgoers are being urged to “share the shore.”

Signs have recently gone up in Seaside advising residents to remain at least 100 yards away from the seals after a young elephant seal was found sunbathing there yesterday. The molting process requires elephant seals to rest on land for multiple weeks while they shed their old coats and grow new ones. Elephant seals can be extra irritable during the molting process.

 

FBI launching ‘surge’ in Oregon, other states to investigate unsolved crimes in Native American communities

The FBI, now headed by Cash Patel says information they’ve gathered has seen a surge in unsolved crimes in Native American communities, including Oregon.

The FBI is sending extra agents, analysts and other personnel to field offices in Oregon and nine other states over the next six months to help investigate unsolved violent crimes in Indian Country, marking a continuation of efforts by the federal government to address high rates of violence affecting Native American communities.

The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday that the temporary duty assignments began immediately and will rotate every 90 days in field offices that include Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, and Jackson, Mississippi.

The FBI will be working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, tribal authorities and federal prosecutors in each of the states.

In 2023, the Justice Department established its Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons outreach program, dispatching more attorneys and coordinators to certain regions to help with unsolved cases. In past years, the FBI’s Operation Not Forgotten had deployed about 50 people. This year, it’s 60. (SOURCE)

 

The Oregon Department of Human Services has launched the Brain Injury Program.

It’s intended to help people with brain injuries, and their families, navigate access to services and support. Brain injuries are increasing. In 2023, there were over 38-thousand brain injuries in Oregon with 17-hundred fatalities. The Brain Injury Program can help with advocacy, options counseling, resource navigation, and service coordination.

 

The State of Oregon is releasing free, permit-ready plans for building a deck.

It’s part of the Permit-Ready Plans Program. Later this year, plans will be released for pole buildings, detached garages, patio covers, and carports.

The Oregon Building Codes Division will start developing plans for smaller detached dwelling units by the end of 2025. The plans are available online at the Permit-Ready Plans Program website.

 

Jackson County is gearing up to welcome visitors to Emigrant Lake this summer, with the lake nearly replenished after several years of low water levels.

Steve Lambert, the Roads and Parks Director for Jackson County, shared exciting updates about the upcoming season, which promises a mix of outdoor recreation, new concessions, and renovated park facilities. The resurgence of the lake will also help the popular non-motorized watercraft rentals, including paddleboards and kayaks, which had struggled during the low-water years. 

The county is actively seeking new business partners to provide food, beverage, and non-motorized watercraft rentals, a service that was previously offered when the lake had better water levels. The last concessionaire at Emigrant Lake was successful in offering rentals and lessons for paddleboards, and Lambert is optimistic about finding a new partner to continue this tradition.

In preparation for the influx of visitors, Jackson County has also been working on improving park facilities. New infrastructure, including replacement sidewalks, staircases and a renovated Oak Slope Tent Campground.

 

Governor Tina Kotek has proclaimed April 2025 to be Oregon Arbor Month throughout the state.

This year’s proclamation recognizes the importance to neighborhoods of urban trees as cities add housing and rapidly densify. The proclamation states that “Trees play an integral role in fostering healthy communities,” adding that urban development and the preservation of trees demands a careful balance.   

Oregon Dept. of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager Scott Altenhoff said “Replacing those trees will require us to pick up the pace not only of planting but also of ensuring nurseries have the capacity to grow the numbers and types of trees needed that are resilient to climate change and resistant to serious pests and diseases.” He added that it is equally important to grow and diversify the workforce in urban forestry.

Altenhoff said there is growing recognition, as cited in the proclamation, that the benefits of tree canopy have been unevenly distributed in the state. “Many low-income areas and those with large populations of people of color have fewer large shade trees than more affluent neighborhoods. Research has shown that having fewer large shade trees in those lower-canopy neighborhoods is strongly associated with increased deaths from heart disease and poor health outcomes.”

 

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s office has heard from thousands of Oregonians concerned with utility rate increases that have gone up for most by about 50% in the last five years.

Kotek detailed this and her own concerns in a March 20 letter to the three governor-appointed chairs and executive director of the Oregon Public Utility Commission, which is charged with regulating the rates of investor-owned, monopoly electric and gas utilities operating in the state.  She also laid out her expectations for the commission in the letter, including honoring the state’s climate commitments while considering requests for rate increases from utilities.

She asked that members provide information by Aug. 1 about their ability going forward to keep electricity and gas services affordable for Oregonians, handle the impacts of new heavy users such as data centers and ensure sound investments are being made in modernizing grid and distribution systems so Oregonians get reliable energy deliveries. 

Kotek acknowledged both electric and natural gas utilities have and continue to face increasing insurance costs from the threat of catastrophic wildfires, inflationary pressures and volatile fuel prices. Everyday customers face those challenges, too.  NW Natural, the state’s largest private gas utility, turned off gas to 376 Oregonians in 2024 – a 30% increase since 2023.

In the last five years, residential rates for customers of all three utilities have risen by about 50%, and the Oregon’s Public Utility Commission has approved rate hikes requested by the utilities nearly every year.

 

Oregonians who intend to fly in the near future and have not yet obtained a REAL ID driver’s license are facing a time crunch, as wait times at DMV offices are surging due to increased demand.

Following the May 7 deadline, the Transportation Security Administration will mandate a REAL ID or an alternative form of identification, such as a passport, to pass through security at U.S. airports. This impending deadline has been anticipated for quite some time.

The REAL ID Act, enacted by Congress in 2005, prohibits the use of state-issued IDs that do not meet new federal minimum standards for personal identification. However, the implementation of this law is only now occurring, two decades later. Consequently, the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services reports that walk-in wait times at DMV offices can now extend for several hours.

 

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, now in 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!