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Monday, July 28, 2025
Klamath Basin Weather
Fire Weather Watch in effect from July 29, 02:00 PM – 11:00 PMÂ
Today
A slight chance of showers between 11am and 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8pm and 11pm. Overnight, clear with a low around 58. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.Â
Today’s Klamath Falls Headlines
Andrew Molatore has been appointed as the new Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Sky Lakes Medical Center.
Andrew has been a vital member of the Sky Lakes family for almost twenty years, most recently holding the position of Controller. Andrew’s previous roles at Sky Lakes also encompassed overseeing Patient Financial Services and Decision Support. His comprehensive understanding of our organization’s financial environment, profound insight into operations, and his leadership during periods of change made him the ideal candidate.
Born and raised in Klamath Falls, Andrew is deeply connected to our culture and community, which equips him with a unique perspective to guide us forward with insight, empathy, and stability. Andrew possesses an undergraduate degree in Business with dual concentrations in Accounting and Finance from the University of Montana, as well as an MBA from the University of Oregon.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) issued a recreational use advisory for Upper Klamath Lake on Thursday morning due to the presence of toxic algae.
This advisory is prompted by the detection of microcystin, a toxin generated by cyanobacteria, at levels exceeding the recommended limits for human exposure. Toxin exposure typically occurs through the ingestion of water during activities such as boating, skiing, and splashing in the water.
The OHA advises lake visitors to refrain from swimming and engaging in high-speed water activities. Other activities on the lake, such as fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and camping, are considered safe as long as excessive water spray is avoided. The OHA also recommends that both dogs and children be kept away from contaminated water, as they are at a heightened risk of exposure.
Dogs can become severely ill and may even die within hours of exposure. If your dog exhibits symptoms such as weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, or a loss of appetite, it is crucial to seek veterinary care immediately.
Paisley’s cherished Mosquito Festival is set to return this weekend — Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27.
Additionally, rodeo events will take place from Friday through Sunday. The festivities on Saturday will commence with a fun run, offering distances of 1 mile, 5k, and 10k, beginning at 8:15 a.m., 8 a.m., and 7:30 a.m., respectively.
Saturday will showcase a parade at 10 a.m., a quilt exhibition, a barbecue lunch at noon, a cornhole tournament at 1 p.m., and a dance along with a beer garden at 7 p.m., featuring music by Cody Copper.
Attendees of the festival can also partake in duck races, raffles, and additional family-friendly activities. Furthermore, there will be numerous street vendors to explore.
On Sunday, participants can conclude the celebrations with a pancake breakfast from 7-11 a.m. at the Paisley Community Center.
Wildfires and smoke continue to affect Southern Oregon as well as much of the state.
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is alerting residents about potential impacts. They urge travelers to be prepared. Governor Tina Kotek has issued a State of Emergency in Oregon, which is effective now until December 31, 2025, in response to the persistent wildfires.
This declaration is intended to improve safety measures and raise awareness throughout the state. As reported by the Oregon Department of Transportation, visibility is diminished and road conditions are hazardous due to smoke, which may result in road closures or detours.
Travelers are encouraged to exercise caution and remain updated on the conditions along their routes.
Around the State of Oregon
A volunteer diver, who assisted in recovering a child’s body from the Siletz River earlier this year, reported that Deschutes County authorities threatened to arrest him on Tuesday if he attempted to enter the water to aid in the search for a man who fell over Dillon Falls last weekend.
Juan Heredia, 53, from Stockton, California, stated that he became aware of the search efforts via Facebook and chose to contribute to the endeavor. The missing individual is in his 30s and was visiting Oregon from another state, as informed by his brother.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released his identity. On Saturday, six individuals were floating on the Deschutes River when they failed to exit before reaching Dillon Falls, a Class 5 rapid, according to the sheriff’s office.
Three individuals were rescued, while the bodies of two women, Amanda Loyd, 40, from Rockwall, Texas, and Lindsay Bashan, 33, from Parkland, Florida, were recovered. One person is still unaccounted for.
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The Trump administration is requesting that Oregon provide personal information of individuals who are receiving food stamps by as early as Thursday.
Officials from the Trump administration assert that this information is being collected to combat fraud and reduce government waste; however, anti-hunger organizations and certain elected officials argue that instances of fraud are infrequent and suggest that the government may have a more hidden agenda.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is mandating that state agencies responsible for administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as food stamps, supply sensitive personal data.
This request includes the names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of individuals who have received or applied for SNAP benefits within the past three years.
FEMA will assist in covering the costs to repair the damage inflicted by flooding in Coos, Curry, and Douglas counties as a result of a storm in March.
Governor Tina Kotek has declared a state of emergency for the region, and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management has assessed that the flooding resulted in damages exceeding nine million dollars. Oregon Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz played a key role in obtaining the necessary funding.
An examination conducted by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office has identified potential waste amounting to one million four hundred thousand dollars within the Preschool Promise Program.
Almost seven hundred thousand dollars were allocated to preschool programs that consistently experienced low enrollment. Additionally, one hundred fifty thousand dollars were directed to preschools that had yet to commence operations.
Furthermore, over five hundred thousand dollars were provided to service providers for program expansion, despite the low enrollment figures. The audit presents thirteen recommendations, which encompass the elimination of duplicate payments and the enhancement of program monitoring.
In response to an official request made through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), Oregon has dispatched two highly skilled Human Remains Detection (HRD) canine teams to Texas to aid in ongoing disaster recovery efforts.
The specialized teams, consisting of volunteer handlers and dogs from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) program, left on Sunday, July 20, for a deployment lasting 16 days. They are expected to return on Friday, August 4. This represents Oregon’s second EMAC deployment to support Texas—having previously sent a Voluntary Agency Liaison earlier in the month—highlighting the strength of national collaboration and Oregon’s steadfast dedication to mutual assistance.
In contrast to conventional police K9s, Oregon’s SAR dogs are trained as wilderness canines, providing them with distinct advantages in intricate environments. Their capacity to maintain focus, traverse challenging terrain, and operate autonomously renders them particularly valuable in extensive search and recovery operations.
In a significant achievement for conservation, adult winter-run chinook salmon have been observed in the McCloud River for the first time in almost a century.
California Fish and Wildlife has verified sightings near Ash Camp in Shasta County, which include a female salmon protecting her nest, indicating successful spawning. These fish are likely part of a collaborative initiative that began in 2022 aimed at reintroducing the endangered species to their original habitat above Shasta Dam. Most fish are captured and relocated downstream of the dam to enable their journey to the ocean, although some are inevitably overlooked.
CDFW will be present at the McCloud River this Saturday to stock additional winter-run chinook eggs for hatching and growth this summer.
Umpqua Bank recently carried out a mid-year survey targeting small and midsized enterprises throughout Oregon, focusing on their economic outlook for the next 12 months, growth strategies, and reactions to tariffs, generative AI, and cybersecurity.
Although there is a general sense of optimism and plans for growth, these are somewhat tempered by economic uncertainties and the potential effects of tariffs. Nevertheless, decision-makers exhibit a relatively high level of confidence regarding their prospects for ongoing success.
In comparison to businesses in other regions of the country, they are more focused on growth and are at the forefront of generative AI adoption, while also emphasizing investments that enhance efficiency and safeguard working capital.
A significant majority (57%) of the businesses surveyed in the area assess the current economic conditions as either excellent or good; additionally, 55% anticipate an improvement in the economy over the next year, which is notably higher than the national average of 47%. Recession is identified as the primary concern among local businesses, followed closely by inflation and tariffs.
School-based health centers (SBHC) across Oregon have reported unprecedented levels of patient visits and individuals served during the 2023-24 academic year, as indicated by an annual status report published by the Oregon Health Authority.
Operating under a distinctive community partnership model, Oregon’s 87 SBHCs catered to 43,000 individuals – primarily school-aged youth between the ages of 5 and 21 – and facilitated nearly 149,000 patient visits across 28 counties.
The majority of school-aged patients utilized SBHC services for primary care, including well visits, immunizations, reproductive health, and acute care. Forty-seven percent of school-aged patients sought behavioral health services at the SBHC.
SBHCs are clinics situated within schools or on school premises that offer community resources aimed at enhancing health and well-being. They have been operational in Oregon since 1986, providing access to comprehensive, youth-focused health services for children and adolescents, many of whom would otherwise lack necessary care.
Trump Administration Drops Grants To Organizations Trying To Protect Spotted Owls and Barred Owls
A strategy aimed at preserving the endangered northern spotted owl in the Pacific Northwest through the culling of a larger, invasive owl species may be at risk. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Trump administration has canceled three grants related to owl conservation, amounting to over one million dollars, which were allocated to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife last month.
One of these grants was intended to support a project that would eliminate the invasive barred owl from nearly 200,000 acres in California. In January, a coalition of lawmakers urged Trump to halt the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s initiative to cull hundreds of thousands of barred owls across Washington, Oregon, and California. The lawmakers argue that the plan is excessively costly and, in their words, “entirely impractical.”
BLM GEOTHERMAL LEASES IN OREGON SALE NET MORE THAN $430,000
VALE, Ore. —The Bureau of Land Management leased two parcels in Malheur County totaling 5,235 public acres for $430,518.
The sale generated an average of $82 per acre in total receipts, which was the most per acre revenue generated from a BLM geothermal lease sale in Oregon in recent history.Â
For each parcel leased, 50 percent of the combined bid, rental receipts, and subsequent royalties will go to the State of Oregon, 25 percent will go to Malheur County, and the remaining 25 percent will go to the U.S. Treasury.Â
Geothermal lease sales support domestic energy production and American energy independence, while contributing to the nation’s economic and military security. Consistent with Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” the BLM’s geothermal lease sales help meet the energy needs of U.S. citizens and solidify the nation as a global energy leader long into the future and achieve American Energy Dominance.Â
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal geothermal resources. The BLM ensures geothermal development meets the requirements set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other applicable legal authorities. Planning documents for this sale are available at the BLM National NEPA Register. The BLM’s lease sales are held online through EnergyNet.
Geothermal is an abundant resource, especially in the West, where the BLM has authority to manage geothermal resource leasing, exploration, and development on approximately 245 million surface acres of public lands and the 700 million acres where the United States owns the subsurface mineral estate.
Please visit the BLM’s Geothermal Energy page for more information.
ARMENIAN NATIONAL EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES FACES FEDERAL CHARGES FOR RANSOMWARE EXTORTION CONSPIRACY
PORTLAND, Ore.—An Armenian national extradited from Ukraine to the United States faces federal charges for their role in Ryuk ransomware attacks and extortion conspiracy targeting companies throughout the United States, including a technology company operating here in Oregon.
Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, 33, an Armenian national, has been charged with conspiracy, fraud in connection with computers, and extortion in connection with computers. Vardanyan was extradited from Ukraine to the United States on June 18, 2025.
Levon Georgiyovych Avetisyan, 45, an Armenian national, has been charged with conspiracy, fraud in connection with computers, and extortion in connection with computers. Avetisyan is the subject of a United States extradition request in France.Â
Oleg Nikolayevich Lyulyava, 53, and Andrii Leonydovich Prykhodchenko, 53, both Ukrainian nationals, have been charged with conspiracy, fraud in connection with computers, and extortion in connection with computers. Lyulyava and Prykhodchenko are not in custody.
According to court documents, between March 2019 and September 2020, Vardanyan and co-conspirators are alleged to have illegally accessed computer networks of victim companies to deploy Ryuk ransomware on hundreds of compromised servers and workstations. Ryuk ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to encrypt data on a victim’s computer or network and prevents the victim from accessing the encrypted files until a ransom is paid.
Ryuk has been used to target thousands of victims worldwide across a variety of sectors, including private industry, state and local municipalities, local school districts, critical infrastructure, and hospitals and other healthcare services and providers. Ryuk attacks have severely disrupted these entities’ abilities to function by restricting access to data and impacting communications.
As part of the scheme, ransom payments were extorted from victim companies in exchange for decryption keys to regain access to their data. A ransom note was placed on the computer systems demanding ransom payments in Bitcoin, a form of cryptocurrency, and provided an email address that victims could use to communicate with the cybercriminals. Vardanyan and co-conspirators are alleged to have received approximately 1,610 bitcoins in ransom payments from the victim companies, which was valued at over $15 million at the time of payment.
Vardanyan made his first appearance in federal court June 20, 2025, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a seven-day jury trial scheduled to begin on August 26, 2025.
If convicted, Vardanyan faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 for each count.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Katherine A. Rykken, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Vardanyan’s arrest and extradition from Ukraine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the Ukrainian authorities for their assistance in this matter.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
For the first time in many years, patrons can approach the bar, enjoy a shot of whiskey, and perhaps even witness a gunfight erupt in Shaniko along Highway 97.
Indeed, Oregon’s most renowned ghost town now features an Old West tavern that operates on weekends. Benjamin Harleman, the owner of the High Desert Ranger Saloon, also serves as the president of the High Desert Rangers gunfighters club.
Harleman embodies the role of a traditional saloon keeper, donning a black felt wide-brimmed hat, a collarless “granddad” shirt, and a blue wool vest while he serves drinks behind the bar. The saloon provides a variety of root beers and sodas, alongside alcoholic beverages at the bar.
For food, Harleman typically has wings or nachos available for patrons. While cash is preferred, in a rare concession to modernity, the bar also accepts Venmo or CashApp.
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