Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Klamath Basin Weather

• Air Quality Alert
• Red Flag Warning in effect from September 2, 1:00PM until September 3, 08:00AM 

Today
A slight chance of showers between 11am and 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Light west winds around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Overnight, areas of smoke with a low near 57.

Klamath County Foundation Garden Statue Design Contest!

• Entries must be submitted by Saturday, Nov. 1 at 5pm.
• Your design should celebrate libraries, reading, imagination, nature, and/or community.
• Dimensions: Designs should be up to 5 feet wide and between 4 feet and 8 feet tall.
• Materials: The statue will be outside, so it must be weather-resistant and affordable (think concrete, resin, repurposed metal scrap, etc.) The materials should contrast with the statue’s planned surroundings of plants and the tan brick of the downtown Klamath County Library.
• You only need to submit a design mock-up, not the finished statue! You don’t even have to have the ability to fabricate your idea, as long as you demonstrate your vision in your concept art well enough for someone to build it.

Oakridge Rocks The Park! Coming Oct 18th!

Click here to win 2 nights stay in Oakridge!

 Click here for more info on the event.

Around the State of Oregon

A bill aimed at financing road maintenance and preventing hundreds of layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation narrowly passed the Oregon House on Monday, more than two months after a previous attempt failed on the last night of the regular legislative session.

A Labor Day vote of 36-12, primarily along party lines, was achieved after Democrats, who hold control over all branches of government, agreed to temporarily increase a payroll tax to support public transit. This marks the first significant step towards the approval of a 10-year, $4.3 billion package of tax and fee hikes.

The proposal still requires a vote from the Oregon Senate, which is expected on Wednesday. This amount is less than one-third of a more ambitious earlier proposal, and even its proponents described it as merely a temporary solution intended to ensure that roads are cleared, potholes are repaired, and buses continue to operate.

Any tax increases necessitate 36 votes for passage in the House, and the voting largely followed party lines. However, Rep. Cyrus Javadi, R-Tillamook, aligned with Democrats in support of the measure, while Rep. Annessa Hartman, D-Gladstone, sided with Republicans in opposition.

 

The economic forecast for the State of Oregon has shifted from positive to negative.

At the conclusion of the Legislative session earlier this year, the state boasted a budget surplus of 473 million dollars; however, it now faces a deficit of 373 million dollars under Gov Tina Kotek who has done little since being elected.

Kotek, blaming the fluctuations on less federal funding after passage of President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, has stated that efforts will be made to maximize the efficiency of state funds.

House Republican Leader Christine Drazan has advocated for reductions in state programs. Stay tuned on this one.

 

Emigrant Fire Update Near Oakridge for Wednesday, September 3

 

CURRENT STATUS: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Emigrant Fire vicinity this afternoon through 9 p.m. Wednesday. The forecast calls for possible thunderstorms and an unstable atmosphere. 

Any thunderstorm development may create wind gusts up to 40 mph, influencing areas within ten miles of the storm cell. The dry and unstable air may contribute to development of pyrocumulus clouds. These conditions may result in rapid fire growth where slopes and winds align. Similar hot, dry, unstable weather is anticipated to last at least through Thursday, before a cooling trend begins.

In advance of this increased fire danger, fire personnel have prepared most of the planned primary control lines, including Forest Service Roads 21, 2136, 2137, 2143, and 2154. The work includes using dozers to push open old control lines from previous fires, cutting brush and small trees by hand or using a masticator, cutting dead trees that could ignite and send embers past control lines, and setting up hoses and sprinklers.

While primary control line preparation is being completed, firefighters are also establishing secondary lines that can be used if the Emigrant Fire pushes past the primary lines.

Fire personnel assigned to the south end of the Emigrant Fire are working out of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) near Diamond Lake. Working from the FOB reduces travel time and hazards of driving to the fireline and increases the effective work period each day. The FOB provides all support functions for firefighters.

More than 850 people are assigned to Emigrant Fire, working out of fire camp near Oakridge and the FOB near Diamond Lake. Please watch for increased traffic on all roads near the camps and accessing the fire.

 

Flat Fire Update (September 3, 2025)

The Flat Fire, approximately two miles northeast of Sisters, Oregon, is estimated at 23,346 acres and is 67% contained.

Despite ongoing critical fire weather—including hot, dry conditions and a chance of thunderstorms—established fire lines continue to hold, and suppression repair work is progressing steadily across the incident area.

Today, crews will continue patrolling the fire perimeter to identify and extinguish any remaining heat and smoke. Suppression repair efforts to support recovery are also underway. These include repairing dozer lines and installing water bars to reduce erosion. Resources assigned to the Flat Fire remain ready to support the local district with initial attack response if new fires emerge. Firefighters are making consistent progress toward full containment. Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 3 (CIMT) is preparing to turn the Flat Fire back to the local district. Suppression efforts will continue with a smaller incident management organization.

Tentative transfer of command is 7 a.m. Thursday, September 4. Firefighter Safety: Today marks the first day of school in the area. Expect increased traffic in the morning and afternoon. Please adhere to posted speed limits, stay alert for children and school buses, and exercise caution near schools and bus stops. We also remind the public to be aware of fire crews and equipment operating in and around the fire area. Please give crews the space they need to work safely.

Wildfire Prevention: Hot temperatures and low humidity persist in the area, increasing fire risk and contributing to potential fire growth; Fire danger remains high.

Nearly all sheriffs in Oregon are requesting that both state and federal authorities clarify immigration legislation.

A total of thirty-four out of the state’s thirty-six sheriffs have endorsed a letter inquiring whether local governments that receive federal subpoenas are permitted, in accordance with Oregon’s sanctuary laws, to disclose parole-related records of individuals suspected of being undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of serious offenses. They argue that the ambiguity stemming from contradictory laws is detrimental to all parties involved.

This letter was directed to the U.S. Attorney General as well as Oregon’s Attorney General.

 

Pacific Power Introduces Cool Keeper To Help With Electricity Demands

A customer incentive program to increase reliability and grid efficiency while keeping costs low

MEDFORD, Ore.— Pacific Power is introducing Cool Keeper, a demand response program that optimizes electricity use on summer days, helping customers stay comfortable while supporting a reliable and efficient energy grid. 

Cool Keeper is a way for residential customers to benefit the environment and help keep electricity costs low during hot summer months. Through a simple device installed free of charge on air conditioners and heat pumps, Pacific Power can partner with customers to temporarily reduce energy use without compromising comfort.  

• How it works: Cool Keeper devices installed on central cooling systems can be activated if there is an unexpected shift in electricity supply. The devices cycle the unit off for a brief period – typically just 5 minutes. When hundreds of devices are activated together, this brief reduction in energy use gives the grid the flexibility it needs to rebalance.  Even when the device is activated, the indoor fan keeps running, circulating cool air to keep the home comfortable. 
• Free installation: Outdoor-only installation is quick, easy and requires no appointment. Pacific Power’s trained technicians will provide and install the device free of charge.
• Annual incentive: Participants sign up just once, and then receive a $30 bill credit every year, distributed in monthly increments from May through September. 
• Benefits: Through Cool Keeper, Pacific Power and customers can work together to make our existing energy grid smarter and more efficient – reducing the need to invest in additional generation or make expensive energy purchases.     

“Cool Keeper is a win-win for our customers and the community,” said Shawn Grant, director of customer innovations at Pacific Power. “It’s an easy way to stay comfortable while contributing to energy reliability and sustainability.” 

Each customer who participates in Cool Keeper gives the existing infrastructure a little more flexibility to support the integration of renewable energy supply and the increasing demand for power, reducing the need for energy grid upgrades.

To participate, customers must have an eligible cooling system. Most central air conditioning units and central heat pumps qualify; however, eligibility will be confirmed during an on-site visit.  

The program will initially be available to customers in the Rogue Valley and Central Oregon. As the program expands in 2026, more customers will be able to enroll. 

To learn more or sign up, visit PacificPower.net/CoolKeeper or call 1-800-357-9214.

 

An emergency area closure has been implemented in the Klamath National Forest starting August 31st due to the Blue Fire located south of Seiad, California.

The closure zone is situated south of CA Highway 96, extending from Scott River Road westward to Grider Ridge, which is just south of Seiad. Grider Ridge marks the western limit of the closure, which then stretches eastward through the Maple Spring area, continuing to Lake Mountain Lookout and Browns Knob, where it shifts northeast to connect with the intersection of Highway 96 and Scott River Road.

A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail falls within the closure zone, extending from Seiad through the closure polygon and into the Marble Mountain Wilderness, reaching the junction with the Kelsey National Recreation Trail. The closure area also encompasses Grider Creek Campground along with the Grider Creek and Cold Spring trailheads.

In order to ensure public safety during the ongoing Blue Fire, the emergency closure prohibits the following activities: Entering or being present on any National Forest System lands within the Blue Fire Closure Area. Traveling on any National Forest System roads within the Blue Fire Closure Area. Accessing or utilizing any Developed Recreation Sites within the Blue Fire Closure Area.

The closure remains in effect from August 31 through September 20, 2025.

Oregon Secretary of State Rejects Trump Justice Department Demands For Voter Data

On Friday, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read rejected a demand from the U.S. Justice Department to turn over Oregon voter data to the federal government, saying it violates Oregonians’ privacy rights.

Twice within a month, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice demanded that Oregon turn over a wide range of information, including the full name, date of birth, residential address and driver’s license number or partial Social Security number for every Oregon voter, to check for fraud on the voter roles.

They also asked Mr. Read to explain how Oregon maintains voter rolls, noting that vote-by-mail in our country has continued to reveal abuse on who is voting in American elections. 

In a response letter Thursday, Sec. of State Read said he saw “no federal authority” for the Justice Department’s request for voter data.  Some of that data is public record, and anyone can obtain a copy of a statewide voter list with a records request and a $500 fee. But those lists cannot include any voter’s birthday, Social Security number or driver’s license number. 

“Oregon allows for public access to certain voter-registration data, including a voter’s residence address and birth year, for a fee,” Read wrote. “There is no exception for the federal government.” 

Most day-to-day election work occurs at the county level, with elected nonpartisan county clerks or appointed election directors registering voters, mailing ballots and processing returned ballots. The Secretary of State’s Office enforces state election law, oversees county work, collects data and leads routine post-election audits. 

The July letter from the Justice Department described left leaning Oregon’s voter registration as “unusually high for several years,” as a report from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission noted that 95.3% of citizens 18 and older living in Oregon were registered to vote ahead of the November 2024 election. Nationally, just 73.6% of adult citizens were registered to vote, according to census data. 

Since 2016, the state has automatically registered adult citizens to vote when they obtain or renew driver’s licenses or state ID cards at the Motor Vehicle Services Division, and the number of registered voters rose to more than 3 million in the near-decade since the law took effect.  Some Oregonians have complained however, saying they were automatically registered as Democrats.

Last year’s presidential election had a 75.4% voter turnout in Oregon. Oregon voted in favor of losing candidate Kamala Harris 55.6% and voted 42.1% for Donald Trump.

Mr. Read, who like most state officials trying to protect Oregon’s sanctuary state status, was more explicit in a July email to Justice Department officials who asked for a data-sharing agreement, saying that he was uninterested in sharing information with federal officials who hadn’t demonstrated that they would protect the U.S. Constitution that he and they swore an oath to uphold. 

“I have no interest in sharing data with an administration that is willfully violating judicial orders and trampling on constitutional rights and responsibilities.  Nor do I wish to share data with an administration that appears to take glee in snatching people off the streets without requiring its agents to properly identify themselves or provide arrest warrants, or with an administration whose agents wait outside of day care centers, schoolyards and courthouses to improperly detain and deport Oregonians.”   Stay tuned.

 

Oregon now one of the least favorable states for relocation

Oregon, with its sanctuary state status, growing homeless problem, growing high cost of housing and living, high income taxes, drug addiction problems, and a public education system facing pour student performance, funding, and staffing, has just been labeled as one of the least favorable states for relocation.

ConsumerAffairs has recently conducted a ranking of the best and worst states for moving. The findings indicate that Oregon, California, Louisiana, and New Mexico are among the least desirable states to relocate to.

Conversely, the top states for moving are Utah, New Hampshire, Idaho, and Virginia.

Medford Drug Bust Nets 40 pounds of Meth

The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team (MADGE) has been working diligently to get drugs and firearms off of our streets and out of the hands of criminals. Last week MADGE seized nearly 40lbs of Methamphetamine along with firearms and other controlled substances. We would like to highlight two of the larger cases.

After a 5-month investigation, MADGE detectives arrested 44-year-old Christopher Boyd Stevenson at his residence in the 400 block of B Street in Ashland. This lengthy investigation resulted in a search warrant being served on Stevenson’s residence where over five pounds of Methamphetamine was seized along with five firearms and three ounces of Cocaine. Stevenson is a convicted felon and was lodged on the drug possession charges along with firearms related charges.

Then, on August 12^th, MADGE investigators conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Juan Flores-Gutierrez. This traffic stop resulted in the seizure of 2 pounds of Methamphetamine. Investigators then located 32 additional pounds of Methamphetamine at Flores-Gutierrez’s residence in the 1200-block of West 8^th Street in Medford. This arrest was the result of a multi-year investigation into drug trafficking being conducted by Flores-Gutierrez from Southern California to the Medford area.

The MADGE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles local, multi-state, and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency prosecutor-support approach. MADGE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which is composed of members from the Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle Point Police Department, Oregon State Police, the District Attorney’s Office, Parole and Probation, the Assistant US Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI.

Pacific Flats in Phoenix is Now Leasing Apartments

Community leaders, partners, and residents celebrated the opening of the 72-unit multifamily community at 4019 South Pacific Highway last month. The affordable housing project was co-developed by Commonwealth Development Corporation and NOWIA Unete.

Its focus is on giving low-income families a place to call home, while also partnering with ACCESS and Unete to provide 2020 fire survivors a path to find adequate housing.

Pacific Flats is an income restricted property. Residents must meet these income limits to qualify for homes at Pacific Flats. Section 8 vouchers are accepted.

The community includes a clubhouse with amenities such as a community room, business center, and fitness center. The property is now leasing two- and three-bedroom apartments equipped with energy-efficient appliances. Those interested in applying can visit cascademanagement.com.

The Grants Pass Downs is poised to commence its fall racing season with a 12-day meet beginning on Sunday, September 7.

As stated by the Horseman’s Racing Association, this event will present a combination of competitive racing, community activities, and family-oriented entertainment extending through mid-October. The Opening Day will highlight the Daily Courier Stakes and the Southern Belle Stakes, generating excitement at the track. Additionally, the season will feature Monday evening races accompanied by a “Twice the Fun for the Price of One” promotion, starting on September 8.

On September 14, the track will host the Rex on the Rogue Dino-Races, a fundraising initiative aimed at supporting children who are battling cancer in Josephine County. A week later, on September 21, Ladies Hat Day will take place, allowing women wearing hats to gain free admission and compete for prizes across various categories. Community involvement will continue on September 28, with free entry available to patrons who donate canned goods to the Josephine County Food Bank.

Oktoberfest, scheduled for October 5, will introduce Bavarian elements with commemorative pint glasses and tastings.

 

Nike co-founder Phil Knight and wife, Penny Knight, have contributed $2 billion to the Oregon Health and Science University, marking a record-breaking philanthropic initiative in their ongoing efforts to transform care for cancer patients.

This announcement was made during a press conference held at the Knight Cancer Center at OHSU. The purpose of the donation is to enhance diagnostics and improve access to clinical trials at OHSU, while also simplifying the process for patients and their families by providing additional resources and therapies.

The Knights, along with their foundation, have a long history of supporting OHSU, including the establishment of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Additionally, the couple is involved in another initiative aimed at funding research known as the Knight Cancer Challenge, which commenced in 2013, where they pledged to match donations in a bid to raise $500 million for OHSU.

 

 

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