>> 11/26/12 REVISED...Air
Quality Advisory GREEN From 2:30
P.M. Until Noon Tuesday
>> 11/26/12 Air Quality Advisory
YELLOW Until Noon Tuesday
>> 11/26/12 Fremont-Winema
Awards Timber Sales
The Fremont-Winema National
Forest has awarded five timber
sales contracts for the Klamath
and Chemult Ranger Districts.
Quicksilver Contracting of Bend
was awarded the 389 acre,
2-pont-71 million board feet
Eagle Timber Sale for a bid of
$370,697. Interfor Pacific
of Gilchrist was awarded the
74-acre, 5-point-58 million
board feet Eagle 2 Timber Sale
for a bid of $417, 394.
Interfor was also awarded
the 1017 acre, 2-point-83
million board feet of timber for
the Mo Timber Sale on the
Chemult Ranger District at a bid
of $264,586. Scott Logging
of LaPine was awarded the H20
SBA Timber Sale for bid of
$4,797 on the Chemult Ranger
District. The sale is for
0.28 million board feet of
timber on 168 acres southeast of
Chemult.
>> 11/21/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Thursday
>> 11/21/12 Snow, Freezing
Fog To Give Way To Sunshine
The National Weather Service
predicts a chance of snow
through tonight in the Klamath
Basin as the snow level drops to
about 4200 feet. Overnight
below freezing temperatures are
expected along with freezing fog
through Thursday morning.
However by the afternoon skies
are expected to clear to mostly
sunny with a high temperature
near 50.
>> 11/20/12 Wind Advisory For
Klamath Basin, Klamath Falls
Until 1p.m. Today
>> 11/2012 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Wednesday
>> 11/20/12 County Fairgrounds
In The Black
The Klamath County Fairgrounds
went from having a budget
deficit of 222-thousand dollars
to a budget surplus of just over
21-thousand dollars after county
commissioners approved
disbursement of room tax
receipts at its Tuesday morning
meeting. The fairgrounds
received a total of
243-thousand-258-dollars from
the county room tax.
County Tax Collector Linda
Seater told the board the total
room tax receipts for the third
quarter were 687-thousand-432
dollars. Commissioners
approved disbursements to
Discover Klamath of 85-thousand
dollars, to the city of Klamath
Falls of more than 180-thousand
dollars and more than
51-thousand dollars to the
Klamath County Museum.
>> 11/2012 Teen Reported
Missing
A Lost River High School student
has been reported missing.
15-year old Bailey Kincaid was
last seen at the high school
Tuesday, November 13th when he
left for lunch but has not been
seen since. Kincaid is
described by his mother as
6-foot-8, 194 pounds with long,
curly dark brown hair and brown
eyes Kincaid last seen
wearing blue jeans and a black
zip up jacket with an "Angry
Birds" hat. Kincaid had recently
been cited for Minor in
Possession of Alcohol.
Anyone with information is asked
to call the police.
>> 11/20/12 Unemployment Inches
Down In Klamath County
Not much good news about
employment in Klamath County as
the rate dropped very slightly
last month. The Oregon
Employment Division says the
county's unemployment rate was
11.4% in October, down slightly
from the September unemployment
rate of 11.5%.
>> 11/19/12 Wind Advisory 10
a.m. To 10 p.m. Today
The National weather Service has
issued a Wind Advisory for the
Klamath Basin, Klamath Falls,
Tulelake and Altamont from 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. today.
Forecasters predict southerly
winds 30-to-40 miles an hour
with gusts to 60 miles an hour.
>> 11/19/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Tuesday
>> 11/19/12 Ed Caleb Stepping
Down As District Attorney
Klamath County District Attorney
Ed Caleb is stepping down
effective January 1, 2013. Caleb
cited the pressures of the job
which he said is exacerbating
"non life threatening health
issues" for the decision to
leave the position. Caleb
says there are at least two
people interested in the job.
The governor is in charge of
interviewing people who want the
job when a vacancy occurs and
then appoints someone to fill
the vacancy. The appointee then
runs for election to the office
in the next election.
Caleb has been Klamath County
District Attorney since 1985
when he was appointed to replace
Roger Isaacson who left the job
to become a judge.
>> 11/19/12 Governor Orders
Flags Flown At Half-staff
Governor John Kitzhaber has
ordered all flags at public
buildings to be flown at
half-staff from sunrise until
sunset today, Monday, November
19, 2012 in honor of Army
Captain James Nehl of Gardiner.
The Douglas County soldier was
killed in action November 9,
2012 in Ghazni Province,
Afghanistan. Nehl
was assigned to0 the 2nd
Battalion, 16th Infantry
regiment, 4th Brigade Combat
Team of the 1st Infantry
Division
>> 11/18/19 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Monday
>> 11/18/12 REVISED! Air Quality
Index GREEN Until Noon Saturday
>> 11/16/12 Air Quality Advisory
RED Until Noon Saturday
>> 11/16/12 Walden
Doubs Congress Will Reauthorize
Secure Rural Schools Act
Republican Congressman Greg
Walden told reporters during a
telephone news conference on
Thursday he seriously doubts
that Congress will reauthorize
the Secure Rural Schools Act
next year. The act was
first passed to help timber
dependent counties across
America with federal help after
logging was reduced on federal
forestlands. The act came
very close to not being
reauthorized this year but
Walden says given the depth of
the nation's money problems he
doubts the votes are there to
approve the act again.
>> 11/16/12 Walden Doubts
Congress Will Act On KBRA Before
End Of The Year
Congressman Greg Walden says he
doubts the lame duck Congress
will take action on the Klamath
Basin Restoration Agreements
before the end of the year.
The KBRA's 42 signatories have
been asked to extend a deadline
for legislative approval from
December 31, 2012 to December
31, 2014. but so far only
six of the signatories have
agreed to the extension.
Walden says before Congress does
anything with KBRA there needs
to be more local support for the
agreements.
>>11/15/12 Air Quality
Advisory YELLOW Until Noon
Friday
>> 11/15/12 9-1-1 Board Selects
Dilley Replacement
The Klamath 9-1-1 Emergency
Communications District Board of
directors has selected its
current Operations Manager Keith
Endacott to replace outgoing
Executive Director Jeanine
Dilley, effective January 1,
2013. Dilley is leaving
December 31, 2012 to become an
administrator with the Columbia
County 9-1-1 system in Saint
Helens, northwest of Portland.
>> 11/15/12 House GOP
Members Pick Walden To Chair
Congressional Committee
Republicans in the U-S House
voted unanimously Wednesday to
elect Oregon's 2nd District
Congressman Greg Walden as chair
of the National Republican
Congressional Committee.
The decision puts Walden in
charge of the party's efforts to
get more Republicans elected to
Congress. Walden will
retain his chairmanship of the
House Subcommittee on
Communications and Technology
Policy.
>> 11/15/12 Bad News For
Dungeness Crab Lovers; Season
Delayed
Dungeness crab season off the
coast of Washington, Oregon and
Northern California is being
delayed for two weeks, possibly
longer. Fisheries managers in
the three states say crabs need
more time to develop and fill
with more meat and have decided
to delay the December 1st
opening. More tests on
crab will be conducted later
this month or in early December
and managers will determine if
the season should open december
16th or be further delayed.
>> 11/14/12 Air Quality Advisory
RED Until Noon Thursday
>> 11/14/12 Teen Arraigned
On Manslaughter Charges
15 year old Carson Alexander
McDowell of Keno was formally
arraigned on charges of First
Degree Manslaughter on Tuesday
and faces a mandatory minimum of
10 years in prison if convicted.
McDowell was charged in
connection with the November 4th
shooting death of 15 year old
Mason Tucker of Keno.
>> 11/14/12 Klamath Basin United
Way Campaign Halfway To Goal
The United Way Campaign for the
Klamath Basin is about halfway
to its goal of $755,000.
United Way Executive Director LeRoy Cabral says so far they
have raised $362,000. The
campaign runs through late
January. Cabral says the
need for United Way funds in the
basin "is substantial" and
social service agencies are
struggling. Cabral says he
hopes people will cut a check,
"sooner rather than later" to
the United Way Campaign.
>> 11/14/12 O-I-T
Enrollment Up
Oregon Institute of Technology
posted the biggest percentage
jump in FTE, Full Time
Equivalent, of any University in
the state this fall reaching a
total of 4,001 students and an
FTE of 2,809. O-I-T
President Dr. Chris Maples
credits the popular course
offerings at the college,
particularly engineering and
health care, for the FTE
increase along with expanded
marketing of the O-I-T brand.
>> 11/13/12 Air Quality Advisory
YELLOW From 2pm Today Until Noon
Wednesday
>> 11/12/12 Air Quality
Advisory GREEN Until Noon
Tuesday
>> 11/12/12 Fall Open Window
Burning Season Extended
The Klamath County Public Health
Department has extended the Fall
Open Window in the Klamath
County Air Quality Zone until
5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November
15th. Only residential
yard waste can be burned.
The extension was granted due to
very few GREEN days since the
burning season started.
>> 11/12/12 Blood Donors
Urgently Needed; Red Cross Open
Today (Monday)
The Red Cross blood donor center
in Klamath Falls (2312 South 6th
St) is open from Noon to 6:00
p.m. today. Donors are
invited to write a message for
the Red Cross Holiday Mail for
Heroes Campaign. The
supply of blood is at critically
low levels both locally and
across the nation due to the
impacts of Superstorm Sandy.
>> 11/09/12 Air Quality Advisory
YELLOW Until Noon Saturday
>> 11/09/12 Grand Jury
Indicts Teenager For
Manslaughter
A Klamath County Grand Jury has
indicted 15 year old Carson
Alexander McDowell on a charge
of First Degree Manslaughter for
the shooting death of 15 year
old Mason Tucker of Keno.
McDowell told 9-1-1 last Sunday
the shooting was accidental but
investigators say they
determined it was intentional.
If convicted McDowell faces a
mandatory minimum prison
sentence of 10 years.
>> 11/08/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Friday
>> 11/07/12 Air Quality advisory
YELLOW Until Noon Thursday
>> 11/07/12 Weather Changing
Today, Snow In Forecast Tomorrow
Through Friday Night
The National weather Service
predicts cooler temperatures and
a lower snow level as a cold
front from the Gulf of Alaska
moves into the Klamath Basin
later tonight. Highs today
will be in the upper 50's but
overnight tonight the low will
be near 30 with snow showers
predicted after 4:00 a.m.
Thursday. Forecasters
predict snow showers after 10
a.m. Thursday and before 10 p.m.
Thursday night. A
40% chance of snow continues
Friday and 20% chance of snow
Friday night. Accumulations are
expected to be less than one
half inch.
>> 11/07/12 Obama Wins Oregon,
Loses Big In Klamath County
President Barack Obama won the
Oregon campaign for President of
the United States, defeating
Republican challenger Mitt
Romney 53% to 44%However it was
a different story in Klamath
county. Voters here chose Romney
over Obama by a 67% to 29%
margin.
>> 11/07/12 Skrah Easily Wins
Race For Sheriff; Mallams Headed
To Board of Commissioners
Former Los Angeles police
officer Frank Skrah easily won a
three-way race for Klamath
County Sheriff, picking up more
than 54% of the popular vote.
Incumbent Sheriff Tim Evinger
who announced he would not seek
re-election then decided over
the summer to launch a write-in
campaign, finished a distant
third with less than 16% of the
vote. Klamath Falls
business owner Mike Angeli
finished second with 29.5% of
the vote. Klamath county
voters also overwhelmingly
elected Republican Tom Mallams
to the Board of County
Commissioners, Position 1.
Mallams scored more than 72% of
the vote defeating Independent
candidate Kirk Oakes who
received 27% of the vote.
Klamath Falls businessman Jim
Belet had no opponent in his bid
for Position 3 on the county
board.
11/07/12 Mayor Todd Kellstrom
Wins 6th Term; Seiler Cruisies
To Victory
Incumbent Klamath Falls Mayor
Todd Kellstrom held off two
challengers to win a 6th term on
Tuesday. Kellstrom defeated
Donna Walker and Chuck Pixler,
picking up almost 52% of the
vote. Walker won almost
39% of the vote and Pixler
attracted less than 9% of the
vote. Incumbent City
Councilor Trish Seiler of Ward 1
defeated Tea Party challenger
Peter "Fondi" Buckles for
another term. Seiler won
almost 58% of the vote to
Buckles 42%.
>> 11/07/12 Oregon Voters Reject
Several Ballot Measures; Estate
Tax Ban Approved
Oregon voters said no to several
ballot measures on Tuesday
including an effort to legalize
marijuana and regulate it like
alcohol. Marijuana use was
legalized by voters in
Washington state and Colorado on
Tuesday. Oregonians also
said "no" to repealing the
estate tax, rejected a private
casino planned for Multnomah
county and rejected a proposed
ban on gillnet fishing in the
main stem of the Columbia River.
Voters did approve a
constitutional amendment banning
implementation of a real estate
transfer tax in Oregon.
Oregonians also approved repeal
of the corporate "kicker" tax
and directing the money to
schools.
>> 11/07/12 Democrats Win
Statewide Offices, Again
Republicans in Oregon failed to
win any of the three statewide
offices on Tuesday. Voters
re-elected Kate Brown as
Secretary of State, Ted Wheeler
as State Treasurer and Ellen
Rosenblum as Attorney General.
Republican Knute Buehler of Bend
made launched a tough campaign
against Brown in the race for
Secretary of State but despite
winning newspaper endorsements
throughout the entire state came
up short in his bid to defeat
Brown.
>> 11/07/12 Democrats
Regain Control Of Oregon House
Democrats will regain control of
the Oregon House in January
after a 30-30 split between the
two parties the past two years.
On Tuesday Democrats picked up
four seats
for a 34-26 majority in the
lower chamber. Senate
Democrats also retained control
of their 16-14 majority.
>> 11/07/12 Walden Wins
Again; DeFazio Survives
Thompson's 2nd Challenge
Republican Congressman Greg
Walden easily won re-election on
Tuesday defeating Democrat Joyce
Segers, 77% to 20.5% Two
years ago Walden also defeated
Segers. In the 4th
Congressional District
Democratic Congressman Peter
DeFazio survived a well financed
challenge by Republican Art
Thompson who had the support of
the Tea Party. Thompson
lost to DeFazio two years ago
and came back again this year
pledging to cut taxes, build
nuclear power plants and
increase border security.
DeFazio was first elected to
congress in 1986.
>> 11/05/12 Air Quality
Advisory RED Until Noon
Tuesday, November 6th
>> 11/06/12 Keno Teen Charged
With Manslaughter
The Klamath County District
Attorney's Office has charged a
Keno teenager with First-Degree
Manslaughter in connection with
a shooting incident Sunday
afternoon. 15-year old
Carson Alexander McDowell, a
student at Henley High School,
is charged with the death of
15-year old Mason Tucker. Bail
for McDowell was set at $250,000
despite the fact the teen has no
prior criminal record.
Prosecutors say during the
investigation McDowell spoke of
suicide and decided to ask for
the high bail. McDowell is being
charged as an adult and faces a
Measure 11 charge with a
mandatory minimum prison
sentence of 10 years if
convicted. An autopsy is
scheduled for Wednesday in
Central Point. A Klamath
County grand jury will convene
Thursday on final charges
against McDowell.
>> 11/05/12 Keno Shooting Now
Viewed As Manslaughter
More information as details
become available
>> 11/05/12 Keno Teen Killed In
Accidental Shooting
Klamath County Sheriff Tim
Evinger says a teenager was
fatally shot in Keno on Sunday
afternoon in what is described
as an "accidental shooting."
Investigators were on scene on
Sunday trying to determine what
happened.
>> 11/05/12 KFLS News Reports
Klamath County Fairgrounds In
More Financial Trouble
KFLS News reported Monday
morning the Klamath County
Fairgrounds have a negative cash
balance of $416,000 as of
Friday, November 2nd. The
shortfall comes despite an Inter
Fund Loan Agreement approved
June 26th whereby the county
agreed to a loan of up to
$300,000. Fairgrounds
Board of Directors President
Scott Allen says he and his
board believe the fairgrounds
may have been shorted as much as
$150,000 when receipts from the
county room taxes were dispersed
in the past year. Allen says the
board wants an audit of how room
tax money has been dispersed
over the past five years and at
the same time wants a
reevaluation of how room tax
receipts are distributed to
various entities that receive
money from the tax. Allen
was critical of county Chief
Financial Officer Jason Link who
he says has not provided
information of value as
requested by his board. Link
told KFLS News, "The fairgrounds
board is responsible for the
day-to-day financial management
of the facility and the problem
continues to be that the fair is
spending more money than it is
taking in."
>> 11/05/12 Enjoy The Nice
Weather...It's Going To End
The National Weather Service
says dry and warmer than usual
temperatures may last for a few
more days but by Wednesday night
the snow level will drop to 4900
feet. Forecasters predict
a 50% chance of snow on the
basin floor by Thursday with a
chance of snow continuing
through at least Saturday.
>> 11/02/12 Air Stagnation
Predicted For Klamath Basin
The National Weather Service in
Medford has issued an Air
Stagnation Outlook for the
Klamath Basin from today
(Friday) through noon on
Tuesday, November 6th. The
outlook means there will be
little or no wind in the basin
and it likely to cause an
increase in smoke and other
airborne pollutants making the
air unhealthy for outdoor
activities and especially for
people with respiratory
illnesses. Inside the Air
Quality Zone, the use of
certified and non-certified
woodstoves and fireplace inserts
is prohibited and only pellet
stoves may be used.
Outside the Air Quality Zone
stoves and fireplaces is allowed
but their use should be
restricted.
>> 11/02/12 Police Nab
Robbery Suspect Halloween Night
A Klamath County Sheriff's
Deputy, Ryan Kaber was stopped
at South 6th and Madison Street
on Halloween about 7:45 p.m.
when he saw a man running across
the Les Schwab parking lot.
Kaber ordered the man to stop,
which he did. Then,
Kaber's police dispatch radio
reported a robbery at a Dutch
Brothers Coffee Stand at that
same intersection, with a
description of the robber.
The running man was identified
as 39 year old William Kenneth
Brown who had a knife and a ski
mask in his possession as well
as cash allegedly taken during
the robbery. Brown is
jailed on robbery, theft and
menacing charges with bail set
at 110-thousand dollars.
>> 11/02/12 Jeanine Dilley
Leaving 9-1-1 Emergency
Communications District
The Executive Director of the
Klamath 9-1-1 Emergency
Communications District, Jeanine
Dilley, is leaving effective
December 31st. Dilley has
accepted the position of
Administrator of Columbia 9-1-1
Communications District in St.
Helens, northwest of Portland.
Dilley says the decision to
leave was difficult
because of her working
relationships with staff, board
members and partner agencies.
Dilley says she and her husband,
Ernie decided it was time to be
closer to their family. The
couple has four grandchildren
and one on the way. A
replacement has not yet been
made by the District's Board of
directors.
>> 11/01/12
Klamath Lake Counties Food
Bank Hold Biggest Food Drive Of
The Year On Saturday
The Klamath-Lake Counties Food
Bank is holding a food drive
called Supermarket Saturday to
help re-stock their shelves for
the holidays. The event is
Saturday, November 3rd from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. and if you want
to help, donate food items at
Sherm's Thunderbird,
Albertson's, Safeway
(both stores) Grocery Outlet,
Fred Meyer and Walmart. The food
bank is distributing about
33,000 pounds of food per week
due to high demand from many
people struggling with lay-offs,
reduced work hours and seniors
on fixed incomes.
>> 11/01/12 Set Clocks Back This
Weekend & Check Smoke Alarms
The nation returns to standard
time this Sunday, November 4th.
Fire Marshal Scott Rice with
Klamath County Fire District One
is asking area residents to also
check and change the battery in
their smoke alarm. Rice
says 60% of homes in Oregon have
10-year lithium battery smoke
alarms and people should check
first to determine if theirs is
a 10 year lithium battery before
replacing it. Also, Rice
advises everyone to check the
age of their smoke alarm and if
it is older than 10 years, it
needs to be replaced.
>> 11/01/12 Community Invited To
Meet Miss America Next Week
Miss America 2012, Laura
Kaeppler will be in Klamath
Falls next week to be the
Keynote Speaker at the annual
CHARACTER COUNTS! and Mentoring
Matters Banquet at Running Y
Resort on Saturday evening
November 10th. Earlier
that day Kaeppler will be on
hand to meet the public at
Pelican Pointe Assisted Living
Center at 615 Washburn Way from
10 a.m. to noon. The event
at Pelican Pointe is free and
open to the public.
Tickets are still available for
the banquet and can be purchased
by calling Citizens For Safe
Schools, 541-882-3198.
>> 10/31/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Thursday
>> 10/31/12 Red Cross Blood
Supplies Down Due to
Hurricane Sandy
The Klamath Falls Chapter of
the American Red Cross is
holding blood drives today
and tomorrow. Today's blood
drive is at the Herald &
News offices at 2701
Foothills Boulevard from
2-to-5 p.m. Another blood
drive is scheduled tomorrow,
Thursday, November 1st at
Pelican Pointe, 615 Washburn
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Red
Cross Readiness Specialist
Michelle Thompson told KFLS
News on today's "Klamath
Talks" program more than 300
blood drives on the east
coast have been cancelled
due to the devastation
caused by Hurricane Sandy.
To schedule an appointment
to donate blood call
1-800-RED CROSS
(1-800-733-2767).
>> 10/31/12 Two Men
Sentenced For Illegally
Killing Deer
Circuit Court Judge Cameron
Wogan has sentenced a man
and his uncle for illegally
killing deer. 28-year old
Trevor Redfox and 55-year
old Gaylor Hescock were each
ordered to perform 120 hours
of community service, two
year revocation of their
hunting licenses, forfeiture
of antlers to the O)Oregon Game Commission, pay a $500
fine and pay $800
restitution to the State of
Oregon for each deer. Redfox and Hescock are not
members of the Klamath
Tribe.
>> 10/31/12 Psychiatrist
No Longer Works For Jackson
County
A psychiatrist who worked
for Jackson county is no
longer employed by the
county. Jackson County
Administrator Danny Jordan
refused to tell the Medford
Mail Tribune whether 57-year
old Dr. Jackson Dempsey was
fired or resigned from his
job but did say Dempsey
stopped working for the
county October 16th.
Dempsey was arrested in July
by a U-S Forest Service
officer and charged with
placing nails, nylon cord
and vegetation on trails
this past summer because he
does like mountain bikers.
Dempsey is trying to arrange
a plea agreement on charges
of reckless endangerment and
assault.
>> 10/31/12 School
Districts Seek Students With
Special Needs
The Klamath Falls City
School District and the
Klamath County School
District are asking the
public to help them locate
anyone under age 21 who has
a disability
so they can help serve
them. The school districts
are holding a "Child Find
2012" meeting at Ferguson
Elementary School cafeteria
tomorrow (Thursday) night,
November 1st, from
5:30-to-7:00 p.m. Dinner
will be served at 5:30 p.m.
followed by discussion
regarding the Child Find
process and the referral
process for special
education services. Contact
either school district for
more information.
>> 10/31/12 O-I-T
Veterans Association Invites
All Veterans To Free
Luncheon; RSVP By Friday
The Oregon Institute of
Technology's Veterans
Association is inviting all
veterans to a free lunch at
the college on Tuesday,
November 13th. The lunch
will be hosted by O-I-T
President Dr. Chris Maples
and is free and open to all
veterans. Please RSVP to
Adria Paschal at O-I-T at
541-885-1100 no later than
Friday, November 2nd.
>> 10/31/12 Two Shakers Off
Northern California Coast
This Morning
Two earthquakes were
recorded off the northern
California coast this
(Wednesday) morning. The
first was a 4.2 quake at
5:00 a.m. with an epicenter
at 143 miles west-southwest
of Gold Beach, Oregon. The
second quake was a 3.2
magnitude event with its
epicenter 26 miles
east-northeast of Eureka,
California. No damage or
injuries reported from
either quake.
>> 10/30/12 Air Quality Advisory
YELLOW Until Noon, Then GREEN
Until Noon Wednesday
>> 10/30/12 REMINDER! Election
Observer Training Today At 2
P.M. At County Clerk's Office
>> 10/30/12 UPDATE...OSP Phones
Back In Operation
Phone problems at the Oregon
State Police Identification
Services Section were resolved
and the section is back in
operation again.
>> 10/30/12 Phone Problem
Affecting State Police
Identification Services Section
A phone problem is preventing
the Oregon State Police
Identification Services Section
from conducting Fingerprint
Processing, Computerized
Criminal History and the
Firearms Instant Check System.
The phone problem developed
about 8:30 a.m. today. OSP
officials say technicians are
working on the problem.
>> 10/30/12 Police
Identify Second Shooting Victim
Klamath County Sheriff Tim
Evinger says the Oregon State
Police Crime Lab has used
fingerprints to identify 32 year
old Everardo Mendez-Ceja of
Richmond, California.
Mendez-Ceja was found shot to
death along with 38 year old
Ricardo Jauregui of Oakley,
California on October 18th at an
abandoned ranch near Bonanza.
Homicide detectives continue to
investigate the case.
>> 10/30/12 Klamath Lake
Counties Food Bank Hold Biggest
Food Drive Of The Year On
Saturday
The Klamath-Lake Counties Food
Bank is holding a food drive
called Supermarket Saturday to
help re-stock their shelves for
the holidays. The event is
Saturday, November 3rd from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. and if you want
to help, donate food items at
Sherm's Thunderbird, Safeway
(both stores) Grocery Outlet,
Fred Meyer and Walmart. The food
bank is distributing about
33,000 pounds of food per week
due to high demand from many
people struggling with lay-offs,
reduced work hours and seniors
on fixed incomes.
>> 10/29/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Monday Then
YELLOW Until Noon Tuesday
>> 10/29/12 Jeld-Wen Recalling Reliabilt Bifold Doors
Jeld-Wen is recalling Reliabilt
interior bi-fold doors because
the lower pivot pin can break
causing the door to disengage
from the overhead track.
There have been 12 incident
involving the bi-fold door and
three minor injuries reported.
Contact Jeld-Wen about the
recall by calling 877-228-4888
between the hours of 5 a.m. and
4 p.m. Monday through Friday and
receive free replacement
hardware.
>> 10/29/12 Klamath Irrigation
District Board Meets Tuesday
Afternoon
The Board of Directors of the
Klamath Irrigation District will
meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, October
30th at 6640 KID Lane. The
meeting will include routine
business matters and discussion
of budget issues.
>> 10/29/12 Election Observer
Training Tomorrow (Tuesday) At
County Clerk's Office
Klamath County Clerk Linda Smith
is offering election observer
training for anyone who plans to
observe during the General
Election at 2 p.m. Tuesday,
October 30th. The training is
mandatory for election observers
who did not attend the training
in May. The meeting
includes certification of the
ballot tally machines,
explanations of the signature
verification and ballot
inspection processes. The
meeting is expected to last one
hour. The meeting is at
the Klamath County Clerk's
Office at 305 Main Street.
>> 10/25/12 Air Quality Advisory
Turning YELLOW At Noon Thursday
>> 10/25/12 Klamath Community
College Announces Advanced
Diploma Program
Klamath Community College has
entered into agreements with the
city and county school districts
for an Advanced Diploma program.
The program will allow seniors
who qualify and have graduated
from their high school to attend
KCC for one year at no
cost. The program covers
tuition, fees and textbooks. The
student must apply for admission
to KCC and to their high
school's Advanced Diploma
program. Once enrolled at
KCC the student must take nine
credit hours per term and meet
with an academic advisor
once per term.
>> 10/25/12 Fall Open Burning
Window Starts Tomorrow
The 2012 Fall Open Burning
Window within the Klamath County
Air Quality Zone starts
tomorrow, Friday, October 26th
at 8:00 a.m. and continues until
Sunday, November 11th at 5:00
p.m. The Air Quality
Advisory must be "GREEN" and
only residential yard waste can
be burned. No burn barrels
are allowed and burning will be
allowed only from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m., and be fully
extinguished by 5:00 p.m.
For more information call
541-883-1122
>> 10/25/12 City Code
Enforcement Reminds People To
Clear Snow, Ice From Sidewalks
Klamath falls City Code
Enforcement is reminding
homeowners and commercial
business operators to clear ice
and snow from sidewalks.
Snow and ice can NOT be dumped
into the gutter or the street.
Sidewalks should be cleared by
noon and as often as needed
throughout the day. There
is some money available for the
Senior Citizens Low Income Snow
Removal Assistance Program.
Seniors over age 60 who already
qualify for help with their
utility bills are eligible but
MUST register for the snow
removal program by calling
541-883-5358
>> 10/24/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Thursday
>> 10/24/12 Autopsies Show
Two Men Had Been Shot
Klamath County Sheriff Tim
Evinger says autopsies on the
remains of two, still
unidentified men, shows both had
been shot. Evinger says
the Oregon State Police
are still trying to identify the
remains. Investigators
believe the two men are 38-year
old Ricardo Jauregui of Oakley,
California and 32
year old Everardo Mendez-Ceja of
Richmond, California.
Evinger says the county's Major
Crime Team is investigating the
deaths as homicides.
>> 10/23/12 Air Quality advisory
GREEN Until Noon Wednesday
>> 10/23/12 Snow Closes Rim
Drive & North Entrance To Crater
Lake
A weekend storm dumped snow at
Crater Lake National Park
leading to the early closure of
Rim Drive and the North Entrance
to the park.
Superintendent Craig Ackerman
says as of this (Tuesday)
morning 16 inches of snow has
dropped onto the park, about
four times the average for this
time of year. Ackerman says the
Rim Drive and North Entrance
were scheduled to close November
1st. Snowplows keep the
South entrance open all winter.
>> 10/23/12 Autopsies Today On
Remains Found Near Bonanza
The Klamath County Sheriff's
Department says autopsies will
be conducted today (Tuesday) on
the remains of two men whose
bodies were found last week near
Bonanza. Sheriff Tim
Evinger says the case is being
investigated as a homicide.
The remains are believed to be
those of 38-year old Ricardo
Jaurequi of Oakley, California
and 32 year old Everado Mendez-Ceja
of Richmond, California.
The remains were found Thursday,
October 19th, near Bonanza
almost two weeks after
Jaurequi's burned out Toyota
pickup was found on the Lions
Gate Ranch on October 6th.
>> 10/23/12 Medford Police
Seek Suspect in Taxi Driver
Murder
Medford police have released a
description of a man who may
have hailed a cab outside a bar
last Saturday night, hours
before the cab driver's body was
found with a bullet wound to the
head. Police say the
suspect is about 6-foot-1, 180
pounds, 25 to 35 years old with
a fair complexion and an
acne-scarred face. The man
is believed to have been wearing
all black clothing including a
black baseball cap, a black
Carhart-style jacket and jeans.
The body of cab driver William
Roy "Huey" Huson was found in a
field near the Medford Airport
Sunday morning.
>> 10/23/12 ODOF Announces End
Of 2012 Fire Season
The Oregon Department of
Forestry has announced the end
of the 2012 Fire Season in
Klamath and Lake counties as of
Monday morning, October 22nd.
Fire Season has been in effect
since May 25th. The Barry
point Fire near Lakeview was the
largest fire in the district at
11,452 acres. The blaze
was lightning caused and broke
out in early August.
>> 10/23/12 Snowflake Parade
Entries Now Being Accepted
The Klamath County Chamber of
commerce is now accepting
applications for the 2012
Snowflake parade. This
year's parade theme is "Star
Spangled Snowflake." The parade
is scheduled for the evening of
Thursday, December 6th in
downtown Klamath Falls.
Conact Heather at the chamber at
541-884-5193 for information and
an application.
>> 10/22/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Tuesday
>> 10/22/12 Snow Headed
For Klamath Basin
The National Weather Service
says a cold front will bring
rain and snow showers to the
Klamath Basin this (Monday)
morning and predicts one-to-two
inches of snow could be on the
basin floor by tonight.
The snow is likely to be
confined to the mountain areas
above 5000 feet most of Monday
but tonight the snow levels will drop to
3500 feet or lower through
Wednesday night.
>> 10/22/12 Remains Of Two Men
To Be Analyzed Tuesday
Klamath County authorities have
released pictures of the two men
whose remains were found last
Thursday near Bonanza.
Sheriff Tim Evinger says
autopsies and either fingerprint
or DNA analysis will be used to
confirm their identities.
Evinger says the discovery of a
burned out truck two weeks ago
has lead detectives to believe
the remains may be those of 38
year old Ricardo Jauregui of
Oakley, California and 32 year
old Everado Mendez-Ceja of
Richmond, California. The
truck that was burned belonged
to Jauregi. Mendez-Ceja's
family reported him overdue last
week after he told them he was
going to Bonanza to buy hay and
a horse.
>> 10/22/12 Cab Driver Robbed
And Murdered In Medford
A cab driver for Valley Cab in
Medford was found dead Sunday
and police say he had been shot
in the head. 58-year old
William Roy Huson of Talent
picked up his last fare Saturday
night at a restaurant and was
taking a passenger to an
undisclosed address on Vilas
Road. Police found Huson's
body Sunday morning in a field
about three hours after his cab
was found abandoned in a parking
lot.
>> 10/19/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Saturday
>>10/19/12 Major Crime
Team Investigating After Two
Bodies Found Thursday
The Klamath County Major Crime
Team was formed Thursday evening
following the discovery of the
remains of two people near
Bonanza. Klamath County
sheriff Tim Evinger says the
identities of the deceased have
not yet been determined.
/18/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Friday
>> 10/18/12 Kingsley's Fiance'
Visits Air Base
David Kingsley's fiance, 93-year
old Harriet Zalabak of Auburn,
California visited Kingsley
Field today. Harriet toured the
Kingsley memorial and displays
at the base named in his honor
Thursday morning. Harriet says
she will donate pictures and
some letters from Kingsley for
historical preservation. David
Kingsley was a Second Lieutenant
on board a plane that had bombed
an oil field in Romania on July
23, 1944 when it was attacked
and heavily damaged by German
fighter planes. The pilot gave
the order to bail out and
Kingsley gave his parachute to a
fellow crew member, Staff
Sergeant Michael Sullivan, who
had lost his chute. The plane
crashed a short time later and
Kingsley was killed. For his
actions Kingsley was awarded
(posthumously) the Congressional
Medal of Honor.
>> 10/18/12 ODVA Drops Home Loan
Rates Again
The Oregon Department of
Veterans Affairs has reduced its
home loan rates for the second
time in less than a month. The
ODVA 30-year fixed rate is now
2.99% (3.225 APR) and the
20-year fixed rate home loan is
2.625% (3.62 APR). For
more information call
1-888-673-8387.
>> 10/18/12 Klamath Basin
Potato Festival Starts Today
The 75th annual Klamath Basin
potato Festival opens today and
continue through Saturday in
Merrill. The event at the
Merrill Civic Center includes
fresh baked potatoes, art work
and locally grown vegetables.
Exhibitions will be accepted
Friday from 8 a.m. until noon.
The Saturday Parade is at 11L00
a.m. and registration for that
event is open from 9:30-to-10:30
a.m. For more information call
541-798-5955.
>> 10/17/12 Walden's Office Says
Sky Lakes Doctor Will Get Visa
To Come Home
The office of Congressman Greg
Walden told KFLS News on
Wednesday morning the State
Department has approved a Visa
for Dr. Mohamed Siyad. The
doctor and his family went on a
two-week vacation to the
Republic of Maldives in July.
When they tried to leave they
learned the federal office of
Homeland Security had blocked
their Visa. Siyad is a
doctor at Sky Lakes Medical
Center which contacted Walden's
office for help. Walden
learned that because Siyad's
full name is very common in that
area of the world the FBI had to
complete a name verification.
Walden says Siyad and family
will pick up their Visa's in sri
Lanka and "should be home soon."
>> 10/17/12 Air Quality
Advisory RED At Noon Today
(Wednesday) Until Noon Thursday
>> 10/17/12 Casino Developers
Give Up Campaign
Two Canadian companies have
dropped their campaign asking
voters to approve ballot
measures for a gambling casino
east of Portland. The
companies have spent an
estimated 5-million dollars on
TV commercials but say there is
not enough voter support.
The effort to build a private
casino had attracted opposition
from the Oregon Republican and
Democratic parties as well as
three former governors, Vic
Atiyeh, Barbara Roberts and Ted
Kulongoski. Governor John
Kitzhaber also appeared in a TV
commercial urging voters to
rejects Ballot Measures 82 and
83.
>> 10/17/12 Great Oregon
Shakeout Tomorrow
More than 100,000 Oregonians
have signed up to participate in
the 2012 Great Oregon Shakeout
which occurs at 10:18 a.m. on
Thursday, October 18th.
The statewide earthquake drill
will include schools, businesses
and local governments. The
geologic Hazards Program
Coordinator at Oregon Emergency
Management, Althea Rizzo says,
"The Drop, Cover and Hold drill
allows individuals to practice
what they would do in an
earthquake. You may only
have seconds to protect yourself
in an earthquake so we need to
be ready."
>> 10/16/12 REMINDER! Today,
Tuesday, Is The Last day To
Register To Vote
>> 10/16/12 Air Quality Advisory
GREEN Until Noon Wednesday
>> 10/16/12 Oregon Unemployment
Rate Drops A Bit
The Oregon Employment Department
said today the unemployment rate
in Oregon in September was 8.7%
down from the August rate of
8.9% On a seasonally
adjusted basis non farm payroll
employment in Oregon fell by
7,900 jobs in September.
The private sector lost 5,500
jobs and the public sector
declined by 2,200 jobs.
The unemployment rate in Oregon
in September 2011 was 9.4%
>> 10/16/12 All DMV Offices
Closed This Friday
Friday, October 19th will be the
6th of 10 mandatory furlough
days for state employees during
the 2011-13 budget cycle and
this means all field offices of
the Department of Motor Vehicles
will be closed. DMV
officials urge people to do
business with them either by
mail or online. They note
long lines tend to occur on the
day before and after furlough
day closings and suggest people
do business before Thursday,
October 18th or after Monday,
October 22nd.
>> 10/15/12 Tuesday Is Last Day
To register To Vote
Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 16th
is the last day to register if
you want to vote in the November
election. The Clerks Office is
located on the first floor of
the Klamath County Government
Center at 305 Main Street.
>> 10/15/12 Public Invited To
"Candidates Night" On Tuesday
The public is invited to attend
"Candidates Night" on Tuesday
from 7-to-9:30 p.m., in the
Commissioners Hearing Room, 2nd
floor of the County Government
center at 305 Main street.
The event is sponsored by the
League of Women Voters of
Klamath County and the local
chapter of the American
Association of University Women.
The event will include
candidates for Sheriff,
Assessor, County Commission
Position 1, Klamath Falls Mayor
and City Council Position Ward
1. Written questions will
be taken from the audience and
from TV viewers watching on
cable access Channels 14 and 15.
>> 12/15/12 O-I-T Wilsonville
Campus Opens Wednesday
The Wilsonville campus of the
Oregon Institute of Technology
opens Wednesday with a ribbon
cutting ceremony. O-I-T
President Dr. Chris Maples says
he expects an initial enrollment
of about 600 students. The
new OIT campus will include most
of the courses offered in
Klamath Falls but Maples says
the Wilsonville campus will also
partner with Oregon Health
Sciences University for joint
degree classes in Paramedic
Education and Clinical Lab
sciences.
>> 10/12/12 Sky Lakes
Doctor & Family Trapped In
Republic Of Maldives
On Friday, KFLS reported that
Dr. Mohamed Siyad and his family
went to the Republic of Maldives
in July for what was supposed to
be a two-week vacation.
The federal office of Homeland
Security blocked their visa in
early August and they're still
not back. Officials at Sky
Lakes Medical Center asked
Congressman Greg Walden for his
help, but later learned the
doctor must wait for the FBI to
complete a name-verification
process.
Sky Lake vice president Don York
says he is frustrated with
government's lack of movement,
but more concerned about the
confusion the situation is
causing patients.
>> 10/12/12 Fall Weather
Patterns Return This Weekend
The National Weather Service
says fall weather with rain and
higher winds return to the
Pacific Northwest this weekend.
The Klamath Basin and
surrounding communities may only
see light rain over the weekend
because the front will be
blocked by the Cascades,
according to Meteorologist Brian
Nieuwenhuis. He says the
fall weather pattern is in place
and we can expect cooler day and
night temperatures and an
increasing chance of
precipitation in the coming
weeks. The weekend rains
are expected to help extinguish
the Pole Creek Fire burning in
Central Oregon's 3-Sisters
Wilderness near Sisters.
The fire broke out September 9th
and has burned almost 27,000
acres.
>> 10/12/12 Police, ODOT Urge
Drivers To Be Careful As Fall
Rains Return
The state of Oregon has been
very dry for months and Oregon
State Police and ODOT are urging
drivers to be careful as
rainfall is expected this
weekend especially in western
Oregon. Fall rains bring
oil and grease on highways to
the surface potentially making
roads slick.
>> 10/11/12 FERC To Hold
Public Meeting About Pipeline
Project In Malin Thursday
Evening
The Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) is holding a
public meeting in Malin at 6:30
p.m. on Thursday at the Malin
Community Park Hall at 2307
Front Street. The BLM and the US
Forest Service may have to amend
their land use plans to make
provisions for the Pacific
Connector Gas Pipeline and will
provide information to area
residents about that process at
the meeting. Public
comment will be taken after
formal presentations about the
project are finished.
>> 10/11/12 Jet Has Rough
Landing At Kingsley
An F-15C fighter jet had a
troubled landing at Kingsley
Field on Tuesday
afternoon following a routine
training flight. Master
Sgt. Jennifer Shirar says the
arresting cables were used to
help stop the jet and the pilot
escaped injury. Cause of
the incident is being
investigated. The name of the
pilot and the extent of damage
to the jet has not been
released.
>> 10/11/12 Electric Car Maker
Moving To Lakeview
Bend-based Venus Motors is
moving into a new assembly plant
in Lakeview. The Chief
technical officer for the
company, Jay Bower says the move
to a new 2,000 square foot
facility in Lakeview is an
effort to boost production and
be closer to the Nevada and
California markets. The
two year old venus Motors
Company makes custom electric
kit cars and distributed them
across America.
>> 10/10/12 Bad Wreck On Highway
97 Sends Five To Sky Lakes
Medical Center
Five people were hospitalized,
two with serious injuries, after
a three vehicle wreck on highway
97 north of Chiloquin Tuesday
morning. Oregon State
Police say a northbound SUV
sideswiped a commercial truck in
the southbound lanes then
continued southbound then nearly
hit a pickup head-on. A
passenger in the SUV, 32 year
old Katrina Lynch of Malaga,
Washington and a passenger in
the pickup, 70-year old Mary
Herndon of Bullhead City,
Arizona were taken to Sky Lakes
with serious injuries. The
driver of the SUV, 63 year old
Eunice Bell of Wenatchee,
Washington, and a passenger,
5-year old boy suffered minor
injuries. The driver of
the pickup, 79 year old James
Herndon of Bullhead city,
Arizona suffered minor injuries.
>> 10/10/10 Fundraiser At
American Legion Saturday Night
A fundraiser for the Klamath
Falls Veterans Memorial is being
held this Saturday, October
13th, at the American Legion
Post #8 at 228 North 8th Street.
The event features a Bratwurst
and Polish sausage dinner for
$7.00. A 50/50 Raffle and
auction will be held during
dinner. Dancing will follow at
9:00 p.m. with The 58's Band.
Proceeds raised will help pay
for expansion of the Veterans
Memorial at Veterans Park.
>> 1010/12 Auditions This Week
For Miracle On 34th Street At
Ross Ragland
Auditions are
being held Tuesday, Wednesday, &
Thursday, October 9, 10, & 11
from 6:30-8:30, and on Saturday,
October 13, from 10:00AM to
2:00PM on the theater stage. Be
prepared to sing, dance, and
read from the script. It will be
a fairly large cast with roles
available for young kids to
adults.
re open to ages 6 and up and
will require a person to sing a
prepared song, (an accompanist
will be provided) move to sic,
and read from a script. Please
wear appropriate attire
(clothing you can move in) and
footwear (no street shoes are
allowed on the stage)r
appropriate attire (clothing you
can move in) and footwear (no
street shoes are allowed on the
stage). For more information
please glt
>> 10/9/12 Banes Arrested During
Bend Traffic Stop
Police in Bend arrested 25 year
old Kenneth Robert Banes on
Monday evening during a traffic
stop. Klamath County Sheriff Tim
Evinger says Banes attempted to
escape and resisted arrest and
police used force to take Banes
into custody. Banes escaped from
the Klamath County Jail early in
the morning of October 5th while
working on a garbage detail.
Banes is now lodged in the
Deschutes County Jail awaiting
transfer to Klamath County.
>> 10/9/12 Klamath Falls School
Board Votes To Close Fairview
Elementary
Fairview Elementary School in
Klamath Falls will close next
year. The Klamath Falls
City School Board voted 5-to-1
Monday night to close Fairview
in hopes of saving
200-to-300-thousand dollars a
year. Superintendent Dr. Paul
Hillyer says the district is
likely to put the building up
for sale.
>> 10/9/12 City Schools Will
Take Big PERS Hit
The Superintendent of the
Klamath Falls City School
District Dr Paul Hillyer, told
KFLS News during the Tuesday
morning "Klamath Talks" program
the district is facing a near
million dollar increase in
payments to PERS, the Public
Employee Retirement System for
each of the next two years.
The increase will be $972,605
for the 2013 and $972,605 for
the 2014 school years.
Hillyer says the increase in
payments to PERS will bring the
total school district budget for
PERS to more than
4-and-a-half-million dollars, or
15% of the district's total
budget.
10/8/12 Banes Still On The Loose
A Klamath Falls man who escaped
from the county jail last
Thursday morning, 25 year old
Kenneth Banes is still
free. Police say Banes is
5-feet-9-inches tall, weighs 132
pounds and has brown hair and
brown eyes. A $1000 reward
has been offered for information
leading to Banes arrest. The
Sheriff Tip Line is
541-851-3931.
>> 10/8/12 Thousands Lose Power
In Klamath Falls Monday Morning
More than 9100 customers of
Pacific Power were without
electricity after a transmission
problem occurred at about 8:30
this (Monday) morning.
Pacific Power Spokesman Tom
Gauntt told KFLS News, 9100
customers, most on the west side
of town, were without power
between one and two hours. The
cause is under investigation.
>> 10/8/12 ODVA Drops Home Loan
Rate Again
The Oregon Department of
Veterans' Affairs has dropped
the interest rate for a 20 year,
fixed rate home loan to 2.75%
(3.362% APR). In addition the
ODVA 30-year loan rate is now
3.125% with a 1.375% origination
fee (3.62% APR) or 3.375%
(3.502% APR) with no origination
fee. For more information
call 888-673-8387.
>> 10/8/12 Museum Will Give
Overview History Of Major
Structure Fires Tomorrow Night
The Klamath County Museum will
give an overview of the history
of major structure fires in
Klamath Falls tomorrow (Tuesday)
night at 7:00 o'clock on its
"Klamath Memories" cable TV
program on Channel 14. The
program will feature dozens of
photographs of fires that have
occurred in Klamath Falls in the
past century. Museum
Manager Todd Kepple says the
most deadly fire was at the
Houston Hotel in 1920, killing
at least nine people.
10/5/12 FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT
3AM TO 9AM SATURDAY
10/5/12 Mother Of Jail Escapee
Arrested
Klamath County Sheriff Tim
Evinger says two women helped a
jail inmate escape Thursday
morning, Police arrested
46 year old Kathleen Joann
Delaney, the mother of inmate
Kenneth Robert Banes and charged
her and another woman, 21 year
old Syndahl Lezza-Larrea
McFarland with aiding and
abetting an escape and hindering
prosecution. Both women
are jailed with bail set at
$20,000 Banes remains at
large. He is 25 years old,
weighs 132 pounds, stands
5-feet-9-inches and has brown
hair and brown eyes. He
may be wearing blue jeans and a
white T-shirt. Evinger
says Banes was able to get
through a small hole in the
fence at the jail facility
because he is so slender.
>> 10/5/12 Keno Tavern
Owner Arrested, Charged With
Rape
Police arrested a Keno man, 47
year old Michael Shawn House on
Thursday evening and charged him
with rape. Police say
House owns a tavern on Highway
66 in keno. A woman told
police Thursday morning she was
brutally raped by House as the
tavern business closed Wednesday
night. The woman was treated and
released from Sky Lakes Medical
Center for injuries suffered in
the attack. House is
jailed with bail set at
$100,000.
10/4/12 Inmate Escapes From
Klamath County Jail
For the first time since 1989,
an inmate has escaped from the
Klamath County Jail.
Sheriff Tim Evinger told KFLS
News, 25 year old Kenneth Robert
Banes was being escorted into
the jail yard to dump garbage
when he somehow got out by going
under or over a fence. Late this
morning investigators found
Banes jail clothing in the
basement of an apartment off
Main street in downtown Klamath
Falls. Banes was sentenced to
three years in prison for
burglaries and vehicle thefts
and was in the county jail for
violating parole.
10/4/12 FREEZE WATCH TONIGHT
The National Weather Service has
issued a Freeze Watch for
Klamath Falls, Bonanza, Merrill,
Tulelake and Dorris from late
tonight through Friday morning.
Temperatures could drop as low
as 28 to 32 degrees in those
areas.
>> 10/4/12 Sanford Children's
Clinic To Cut Ribbon Today
The public is invited to a
ribbon cutting ceremony that
will officially open the Sanford
Children's Clinic at 3001
Daggett Street this (Thursday)
afternoon at 4 o'clock. The
clinic was funded by South
Dakota businessman and
philanthropist Denny Sanford who
has a goal of ending childhood
diabetes through research at
clinics around the world.
Five physicians and one
pediatric nurse practitioner
will staff the new clinic in
cooperation with Sky Lakes
Medical Center.
>> 10/4/12 Time To
register For 9th Annual Brittney
Ride For St Jude Children's
Research Hospital
The 9th Annual Brittney Ride For
St Jude is next weekend, October
12-14 at 7-Feathers Casino in
Canyonville. The event was
started by Dale Mallory-Bell of
Medford who lost her then-18
year old daughter, Brittney
Mallory to an incurable brain
tumor in 2000. Brittney
died about 4 months after the
tumor was discovered. Next
weekend's events include a Poker
Run, and an auction.
Mallory-Bell says 100% of money
raised goes to St Jude
Children's research Hospital.
Tickets MUST be purchased no
later than Wednesday, October
10th and are available at www.brittneyride.com or by
calling Star tickets at
1-800-585-3737. Those
wishing to stay overnight at
7-Feathers need to call the
resort and be sure to tell them
you are with the Brittney ride
for a special room rate.
>> 10/4/12 Klamath Falls
Woman Facing Numerous Theft
Charges
A 66-year old Klamath Falls
woman, Christel Jean Vogt is
facing 13 counts of First degree
Theft. Vogt was arrested
by police on tuesday and was
jailed with bail set at $50,000.
>> 10/3/12 Cascade Comprehensive
Care Certified As Coordinated
Care Organization
Cascade Comprehensive Care has
signed an agreement with the
Oregon Health Authority to
become the Coordinated Care
Organization (CCO) for most of
Klamath County on December 1st.
The only issue that remains to
be decided is how Cascade will
provide mental health services
to Medicaid patients under the
Oregon Health Plan. Last
year state lawmakers approved
sweeping changes to the state's
health care system requested by
Governor John Kitzhaber.
Those changes require CCO's to
provide medical, dental and
mental health services in an
effort to increase the quality
of health care and increase
efficiency.
>> 10/3/12 City Council Rejects
Tobacco Ban Idea
The Klamath Falls City Council
rejected a proposed ban on
tobacco in all city parks at its
Monday night meeting. The
rejection followed positive
testimony from several people
who urged the council to impose
the ban. But council
members expressed concern about
the growing number of government
regulations at the local, state
and national levels and rejected
the plan.
>> 09/27/12 Sheriff's Primary
Business Phone Line Still Down;
Use 541-851-3805
>> 09/27/12 Red Cross Helps
People After Fires
The Klamath Falls Chapter of the
Red Cross helped a family of six
after their Oregon Avenue
apartment suffered $45,000 in
damage during a Wednesday
morning fire. Fire Marshal
Scott Rice says the fire was in
the attic but did damage some of
the ceiling in a bathroom. The
cause is under investigation.
>> 09/27/12 Farmers Reminded To
Buy Crop Insurance Before This
Sunday
Wheat and alfalfa farmers in
Klamath County are reminded to
buy crop insurance before
Sunday, September 30th.
Contact the Farm Service Agency
or other insurance companies for
insurance or, to make changes to
current farm insurance policies.
>> 09/27/12 Deadline Approaching
To Apply For Executive Director
Of Community Foundation
The Community Foundation of the
Klamath Basin is looking for its
first Executive Director and is
accepting applications through
the end of this month.
Applications are available at
the foundation website. Board
president Debbie Vought says the
job will initially pay $30,000
annually with a "flexible
schedule. Applications are at
www.klamathbasifoundation.orgwww.klamathbasinfoundation.org
www.klamathbasinfoundation.org
09/26/12 Ribbon Cutting At
Kingsley Opens New Reserve
Center
A ribbon cutting
ceremony at Kingsley Field on
Tuesday morning opened the new
6-million dollar Joint Armed
Forces Reserve Center. The
facility will house the 173rd
Security Forces Squadron which
recently returned from a 6-month
tour of Afghanistan. The
center is scheduled to house
units of the Oregon Army
National Guard once the second
phase of construction is
completed.
>> 09/26/12 Another Shaker Off
Oregon Coast
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake
struck off the Oregon coast
shortly before midnight Tuesday.
The quake had an epicenter
100-miles west of Bandon and
followed a 3.6 quake that
occurred just before 11:00 p.m.
Tuesday night 67 miles west of
Eureka, California. Also
on Tuesday at 8:15 a.m. a
magnitude 4.3 earthquake was
recorded 3-miles east-northeast
of Ukiah, California.
>> 09/25/12 Albertsons Recalling
Beef Products
Albertsons is recalling a number
of ground beef products sold at
stores in Oregon, Washington and
Idaho due to risk of E.coli
contamination. The
products were imported from
Canada. The recall
includes 1-pound fresh ground
beef patties, 1-pound ground
beef chub and 3-pound fresh
ground beef chub, all with the
Alberstons label. The products
were sold between September 3rd
and 21st.
>> 09/24/12 Unemployment Rate
Unchanged In Klamath & Lake
Counties
The Oregon Employment Department
says the unemployment rate in
Klamath and Lake counties was
unchanged between July and
August. Klamath county's
unemployment rate is at 11.7%
and in Lake county the
unemployment rate held at 13.2%.
The August 2011 unemployment
rate in Klamath county was 12.5%
and in Lake county it was 13.7%
>> Klamath Falls Man Dies Of
Injuries Suffered In Motorcycle
Wreck
A Klamath Falls man, identified
as 52 year old Richard W. Wrubel
died of injuries suffered in a
motorcycle wreck on Saturday
morning on the South Side
Bypass. Oregon State
Police Sgt. Robert Fenner told
KFLS News, Wrubel was westbound
near the Memorial drive
intersection where traffic was
stopped for a vehicle waiting to
turn. Wrubel lost control
and the motorcycle slid over the
westbound shoulder. Wrubel
was ejected and seriously
injured and was taken to Sky
Lakes Medical Center and later
airlifted to St Charles Medical
center in Bend. Police
were notified that Wrubel died
Sunday from his injuries.
Police say high speed, drugs
and/or alcohol were not a factor
in the motorcycle wreck.
>> 09/24/12 Tips Lead To Arrest
Of Alleged Sex Offender
An Arizona man featured on the
TV show, "America's Most Wanted"
was arrested at Hagelstein Park
last week after police received
tips he might be in southern
Oregon. 65-year old Eric
George McNeill fled the state of
Arizona after being charged with
22 sex crimes against children.
McNeill was arrested without
incident. McNeill is jailed in
Klamath Falls awaiting
extradition to Arizona.
>> 09/24/12 Klamath Falls Man
Arrested For Theft One
On Saturday morning police
arrested 46-year old Charles
Dean Heatley of Klamath Falls,
charging him with Aggravated
First Degree Theft.
Heatley is jailed with bail set
at $15,000.
09/24/12 Gas Prices Drop A
Little
Triple-A Auto Club of Oregon
says the average price of a
gallon of regular unleaded
gasoline fell 4-cents last week
to $3.97. Oregon's average
price is 16-cents a gallon
above the national average.
>> 09/21/12 Merkley Slams U-S
House For Failing To Pass Farm
Bill
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley has
sharply criticized the U-S House
for failing to pass the Farm
Bill. It is the first time
since 1949 that Congress has
allowed the nation's farm
programs to expire. In a
statement released from his
office in Washington, D.C.,
Merkley said, "I thought it was
unacceptable when the House
didn't pass the Farm Bill before
the August recess, but allowing
these programs to expire is
completely irresponsible. Our
farmers and ranchers in Oregon
rely on the Farm Bill and the
uncertainty is hurting our
economy." The U-S Senate
passed the farm bill in June
2012 by a 64-35 vote.
>> 09/21/12 GOP Candidate For
Oregon Attorney General In
Klamath Falls Sunday
Republican candidate for
Attorney General James Buchal
will be in Klamath Falls on
Sunday, September 23rd.
Buchal will attend an informal,
no-host lunch in the meeting
room of Elmer's Restaurant
beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Buchal will discuss his vision
for Oregon and why the office of
Attorney General is so important
to average Oregonians.
>> 09/21/12 Public Comments
Oppose Closing An Elementary
School In Klamath Falls
The Klamath Falls City School
Board held an Open Forum on
Thursday evening and many
speakers urged them not to close
either Pelican or Fairview
Elementary Schools. The
district is considering closing
one of the elementary schools to
save money and because each
school is among the oldest an in
need of extensive repairs.
The board has set a self imposed
deadline of October 8th for a
final decision on closing a
school.
>> 09/20/12 Jeld Wen Not
Moving Global Headquarters
The Executive Vice-President and
Chief Administrative Officer at
Jeld Wen, Ron Saxton says the
company is not moving its
headquarters out of Klamath
Falls. Speculation about
Jeld Wen began after commercial
real estate sources told the
Charlotte, North Carolina
Business Journal Jeld Wen was
looking for 30,000 square feet
of office space for a
headquarters relocation that
would accommodate 60-to-100
employees. Saxton told the
Portland Business Journal, "The
bottom line is Klamath Falls is
our global headquarters and will
remain our global headquarters."
Saxton says the office space in
Charlotte would be for sales
executives and he says it makes
sense for the company to have a
presence in the south where
customers like Lowe's and Home
Depot have their headquarters
>> 09/20/12 County School Board
To Ask Voters To Approve Bond
Levy Next May
The Klamath County School Board
vote3d last night to send a bon
measure to voters in the May
2013 election. If approved
by voters, the 42-million dollar
levy would be used to build a
new Henley Elementary school and
pay for repairs and capital
improvement projects at
virtually every school in the
county.
>> 09/20/12 Public Safety
Advisory Committee Meets This
(Thursday) Afternoon
The Public Safety Advisory
committee meets today in the
Klamath Falls City Council
Chambers from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m. The committee, made
up of a mix of city and county
government officials and private
citizens is searching for long
term funding solutions for
public safety in Klamath County.
The committee has a goal of
finalizing recommendations to
the city and county in January
2013. The meetings are
open to the public and include
time for citizen input.
>> 09/19/12 League Of Women
Voters Launching Initiative
Effort
The Klamath Falls League of
Women Voters is launching an
initiative campaign to put a
ballot measure before voters
asking them if candidates for
the county commission should run
as non-partisans. As it
stands now candidates run as
Republicans, Democrats or
Independents. League
President Leslie Lowe told KFLS
News, they will need to collect
1390 signatures by February 19th
in order to put the measure on
the May 21st, 2013 ballot.
>> 09/19/12 Oregon
Unemployment Rate Increases For
Third Month In A Row
The Oregon unemployment rate in
August was 8.9%, up from July's
rate of 8.7% and the June rate
of 8.5%. The higher
unemployment rate occurred
despite the fact the private
sector added 8,800 jobs.
Seven of the state's 10 major
private sector industries posted
seasonally adjusted gains of at
least 600 jobs, while none
showed a loss. The big
loser for jobs was the
government sector which shed 800
jobs, double the expected
seasonal decline.
>> 09/19/12 Open Forum Tonight
To Focus On School Closures
The public is invited to share
their opinions about the
possible closure of an
elementary school in Klamath
Falls at an Open Forum at 7:00
pm tonight (Wednesday) at the
O'Neill Education Center, 1336
Avalon Street. The Klamath
Falls City School Board is
considering closing either
Pelican Elementary or Fairview
Elementary due to old age and
the need for extensive and
expensive repairs and upgrades.
The school board has set a
deadline of October 8th to make
a final decision.
>> 09/19/12 Sheriff's Primary
Business Phone Line Still Down;
Use 541-851-3805
>> 09/18/12 Summit Lake
Drowning Victim Identified
Oregon State Police say a 21
year old University of Oregon
student from San Francisco,
Carlene Ho, drowned at Summit
Lake on Monday afternoon.
Police say Ho was with two other
women, ages 23 and 25, who
decided to swim top a nearby
island. Ho was last seen
standing near the shore with her
feet in the water. When
the two women returned several
minutes later they found Ho
underwater near where they had
last seen her. Ho's
friends pulled her from the
water and started CPR.
Later an Air Link air ambulance
arrived and continued CPR
efforts but Ho died at the
scene.
09/17/12 Five Bicycles
Stolen From Cycle Oregon Riders
At Moore Park
Klamath Falls Police are asking
the public to help them with an
investigation into the theft of
five expensive bicycles owned by
participants in the Cycle Oregon
event. The bicycles were
stolen at Moore Park where 2200
Cycle Oregon participants camped
out Friday night. The
event wrapped up Saturday after
riders made the last leg of the
tour in Bly. Anyone with
information about the bicycle
thefts is asked to call police
at 541-883-5336.
>> 09/17/12 Police Arrest
Klamath Falls Man For Car Theft
Klamath Falls Police arrested a
man Saturday afternoon and
charged him with
Unauthorized Use of a Motor
Vehicle and other charges
related to his failure to appear
in court on other charges.
The 1997 BMW Z-3 was reported
stolen Saturday in Merrill.
Police spotted the vehicle near
Biehn Street and Crater Lake
Parkway but ended their pursuit
in the Hot Springs neighborhood
due to pedestrian and vehicle
traffic in the area.
The vehicle was abandoned and
the driver fled on foot. A
K-9 unit located the driver in a
backyard of a home in the 2000
block of Manzanita Street.
35 year old Frederick L. Vierria
was arrested and jailed with
bail set at $55,000.
>> 09/17/12 City School Board
Holds Public Forum Wednesday
Night To Get Input About School
Closure Issue
The public is invited to attend
an Open Forum hosted by the
Klamath Falls City School Board
on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.
at the Lucille O'Neal Education
Center, 1336 Avalon Street.
The board is considering closing
either Pelican Elementary or
Fairview Elementary.
District officials say the two
schools are the oldest and
smallest in the district and
both need extensive, expensive
updates and repairs. The
board has set a self-imposed
deadline of October 8th for
their final decision.
However, Superintendent Dr. Paul
Hillyer told KFLS News, the
board may have to revisit the
issue and decide whether to
close another elementary school
within less than five years due
to the expense associated with
repairs and maintenance.
>> 09/17/12 Register Now For
Chamber Academy For Business
Excellence
The Klamath County Chamber of
Commerce is hosting its Academy
For Business Excellence his week
at the Ross Ragland Cultural
Center. The Academy
features a wide range of
seminars for the business and
professional community from
Wednesday to Friday, September
19th to the 21st. The
Keynote Speaker at the Wednesday
luncheon will be the new
President of Klamath Community
College, Dr. Roberto
Guiterrez. The Keynote
Speaker at the Thursday luncheon
will be State Treasurer Ted
Wheeler who will discuss the
Oregon economy. A special
panel discussion is scheduled
Friday from 1:00 p.m.to 3:00
p.m. on the Affordable Health
Care Act. To register call
the Chamber of Commerce at
541-883-5193, or log onto their
website, www.klamath.org.
>> 09/14/12 All Flags Ordered At
Half-Staff In Oregon Until
Sunset Sunday For Victims Of
Libya Attacks
>> 09/14/12 Oregon Native Among
Dead In Libyan Attack
One of the four Americans who
died in the attack on the
U-S Embassy in Libya was born in
Portland and graduated from an
Oregon City high school.
41 year old Tyrone S. Woods was
a former Navy SEAL who was
working on a private security
detail for the U-S State
Department. Woods lived in
both Oregon and Washington state
and after graduating high school
in 1989 joined the Navy the next
year. Woods retired from
the SEALS in 2010.
>> 09/14/12 Cycle Oregon Riders
In Klamath Falls Overnight
The Cycle Oregon event with its
2200 riders heads for Klamath
Falls from Ashland via Dead
Indian Memorial Highway this
(Friday) morning and riders and
staff will spend the night at
Moore Park. Many local
organizations will be on hand to
welcome the riders. The
Crater Lake Trolley will take
riders from the park to downtown
Klamath Falls for those who want
to visit stores, restaurants and
other places. The Cycle
Oregon event wraps up tomorrow
when the riders head to Bly for
the last leg of the southern
Oregon tour.
>> 09/14/12 Walden Says
U-S Has Approved More Funding
For Wildfire Fighting
Oregon republican congressman
Greg Walden says the U-S House
has approved a bipartisan plan
to provide an additional
800-million dollars for wildfire
fighting for the U-S forest
service and the Department of
Interior for 2012 and 2013.
Walden says "Half of the funding
will replenish Forest service
accounts from which the agency
has borrowed money to fight
fires already this year.
This will help prevent important
forestry jobs from going
unfunded."
>> 09/14/12 Klamath
Community College CLOSED On
Monday
Klamath Community College will
be closed Monday, September 17th
to visitors and students due to
an all-day faculty and staff
convocation. The KCC
Bookstore will remain open,
however the college will
otherwise be closed. The
college is due to reopen
Tuesday, September 18th at 8:00
a.m.
>> 09/14/12 Miss America Coming
To Klamath Falls In November
Citizens For Safe schools has
announced the 2012 Miss America,
Laura Kaeppeler, is coming to
Klamath Falls. The 23 year
old titleholder from Wisconsin
will be the Keynote Speaker at
this year's CHARACTER COUNTS!
and Mentoring Matters Banquet on
November 10th at Running Y Ranch
and resort. Kaeppeler
chose mentoring the children of
incarcerated parents as her
platform issue during her reign
as Miss America. Tickets
for the banquet are $45 per
person or a table of eight for
$350. For more information
call Citizens For Safe Schools
at 541-882-3198.
>> 09/13/12 Bonanza Man Accused
Of Sex Abuse Of Teen
40-year old Darren Thomas
Cramblet of Bonanza is jailed on
five counts of Third degree Sex
Abuse and five counts of
Contributing To The Sexual
Delinquency Of A Minor with bail
set at $75,000. Police say
Cramblet knew the 16-year old
victim and was a family friend.
Police say they believe there
will be a second victim they
will be able to identify as the
investigation continues. The
alleged crimes occurred between
March and the end of May.
>> 09/13/12 United Way Sets Goal
Of $755,000
The United Way Campaign for 2012
kicked off on Wednesday at
Reames Country Club and
President John Elliott told
supporters the goal this year is
$755,000, a five per cent
increase over last year's goal.
Elliott said there has been a
"dramatic increase in demand for
our services the past 18-to-24
months. This is a real
critical year but it will
improve the quality of life of
people in this Basin."
>> 09/12/12 Former Mazama Coach
Pleads Guilty To Sex Abuse
Charges
Former Mazama High School
Volleyball Coach Robert Lloyd
Thompson has pleaded guilty to
Second Degree Sex Abuse and will
spend two years in prison.
Thompson must register as a sex
offender when he is released
from prison. The Klamath
County District Attorney's
office reached a deal with
Thompson and agreed to drop 20
other sex abuse charges as well
as one count of Second degree
Burglary and one county of
Tampering With A Witness.
>> 09/12/12 Wyden, Merkley
Convince U-S Forest Service To
Supply Lumber Mill In John Day
Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff
Merkley say the U-S Forest
Service has agreed to accelerate
timber sales and speed up forest
restoration work to help keep
the Malheur Lumber Mill in John
Day open. The mill
announced it would close
November 1st due to a lack of
logs from nearby national forest
lands. The mill employs
about 90 people.
>> 09/12/12 Governor
Kitzhaber Asks State Supreme
Court to Overturn Death Penalty
Ruling
Governor John Kitzhaber is
asking the Oregon supreme Court
to overturn a judge's ruling
that he has no authority to
issue a reprieve from the death
penalty unless the condemned
inmate wants the reprieve.
Last month a Marion County
Circuit Court judge ruled inmate
Gary Haugen must accept
Kitzhaber's reprieve in order
for it to be valid. Haugen
was scheduled to die by lethal
injection last December but
Kitzhaber blocked the execution.
>> 09/11/12Dixon Creek Road
Closed For Culvert Replacement
The Fremont-Winema National
Forest has closed Dixon Creek
Road (Forest Service Road 3546)
14 miles northeast of Bly due to
replacement of a 48 inch culvert
that has restricted fish passage
and the natural flow of water.
The road will be closed until
Thursday, September 20th
>> 09/11/12 Klamath Falls Man
Arrested For Assault, Riot &
Other Charges
A 20 year old Klamath Falls man,
Douglas James White was arrested
Saturday evening and charged
with Assault One, Assault Two,
Menacing One, Riot, and Unlawful
Use of a Weapon. White is
jailed with bail set at $75,000.
>> 09/11/12 Klamath County
Public Health Urges Public To
Prepare For Disasters
September is National
Preparedness Month and Klamath
County Public Health Department
are urging everyone to prepare
for floods, snowstorms,
earthquakes and wildfires.
The public is encouraged to make
a family emergency plan and
build an emergency supply kit.
Two supply kits should be made,
one for the car and one for the
home. The kit should
include 1-gallon of water per
person, per day, for three days,
food, first aid supplies,
prescription drugs, cash (ATM's
and credit cards may not work)
and pet food supplies. For
more information about preparing
an emergency plan and supply kit
contact the Red Cross in Klamath
Falls at 541-884-4125.
>> 09/11/12 Tour Of Barry Point
Fire Offered Next Monday
The Lake County Chamber of
Commerce is offering a tour of
the Barry Point Fire next
Monday, September 17th.
The tour is designed to help
answer questions about how
various government agencies
fight major wildfires and what
recommendations are made
regarding salvage logging and
landscape restoration following
a wildfire. Participants
must call the Lakeview Chamber
of Commerce no later than this
Friday to reserve a spot for
this tour, 541-947-6040. Lunch
will be provided.
>> 09/10/11 Governor Orders All
Flags At Half Staff On Tuesday
Governor John Kitzhaber has
ordered all flags at half-staff
on Tuesday in remembrance of the
terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001 and in recognition of
Patriot Day and National Day of
Service and Remembrance.
More than 3000 Americans were
killed as the result of attacks
in New York City, Washington,
D.C. and Pennsylvania.
>> 09/10/12 Klamath Falls City
School District To Discuss
Possible School Closures
The Klamath Falls City School
Board meets at the Lucille
O'Neill Education Center at
6:030 p.m. tonight (Monday) to
discuss the closure of Fairview
Elementary School or Pelican
Elementary School or, whether to
keep all five city elementary
schools open. On
Wednesday, September 19th the
school board will ask the public
for their comments and opinions
about school closures. The
board has set a goal of making a
final decision by October 8th.
>> 09/10/12 Weekend Arrests In
The Area
Two Klamath Falls men are facing
charges of Riot after being
arrested Sunday afternoon.
31-year old Andre Blue Davis is
also charged with DUI, Driving
While Suspended/Revoked and
Assault Three with bail set at
$87,500. Also arrested and
charged with Riot is 46 year old
Richard Lee Menke who is also
jailed in Assault Three charges
with bail set at $75,000.
On Sunday evening police
arrested 39-year old Vashawn
Phillip Alston of Klamath Falls
and charged him with Assault
One, Harassment, Menacing One,
Reckless Driving, Reckless
Endangering and Unlawful Use of
a Weapon. Alston's bail set at
$128,000.
>> 09/07/12 Sheriff's Primary
Business Phone Line Still Down;
Use 541-851-3805
>> 09/07/12 Man Seriously
Injured In Fight
Police arrested 25 year old
Michael David Brown late
Wednesday night as he tried to
leave the scene of a fight in
front of Black Dog Billiards in
downtown Klamath Falls. An
employee at Black Dog said the
fight was unprovoked.
Brown and some other men
reportedly approached a victim
who was outside and without
warning began hitting the man.
A friend who tried to help the
victim was also assaulted.
The first victim ended up being
flown to a hospital in bend for
treatment of a brain injury. The
2nd victim was less seriously
hurt. Klamath Falls police
are asking the public to help
them with information about the
incident.
>> 09/07/12 Cycle Oregon Riders
Arrive In Bly This Weekend
The 25th annual Cycle Oregon
will begin in Bly this weekend
with more than 2200
participating riders expected
for the weeklong event.
The riders will attend an
opening dinner and concert in
Bly on Saturday and after
breakfast Sunday head for Silver
Lake where they will spend the
night. Other overnight stops
this coming week include Fort
Rock on Monday, Prospect on
Tuesday, Ashland on Wednesday
and Thursday nights and on
Friday morning, September 14th,
riders will head to Moore Park
in Klamath Falls via dead Indian
Memorial Highway. This
year's event sold out in about a
half hour when the route was
announced in February.
>> 09/07/12 Public Forum To
Focus On Youth Baseball Programs
A public forum is being held at
2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September
9th at the Party Time Event
Center at Crest Street and South
6th Street. The purpose of
the forum will be the search for
solutions to problems facing
youth baseball programs.
Representatives from Little
League, Babe Ruth, Senior Babe
Ruth, American Legion Baseball,
Kiger Stadium Board and the
Klamath Gems will be on hand to
answer questions.
>> 09/06/12 Tulelake-Butte
Valley Fair Opens Today
The Tulelake Butte Valley Fair
opens today with the theme,
"Keeping The Dream Alive."
The fair runs through Sunday.
Admission is free, but fairgoers
are asked to give whatever they
can afford. Due to state
budget cuts none of the fairs in
California receive any state
support, which meant a more than
40% drop in funding for the
Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair.
>> 09/06/12 Klamath County
Commissioners Won't Meet Next
Week
The Klamath County Commissioners
will not hold any meetings next
week, including their regular
Tuesday session. The next
meeting of the board will be
Tuesday, September 18th.
Commissioners Al Sweitzer and
Cheryl Hukill will be in
Washington, D.C., to meet with
members of the Oregon
Congressional Delegation.
>> 09/06/12 Klamath County
Branch Library Set For Grand
Opening Today At Senior Center
The public is invited to attend
a ribbon cutting ceremony for
the new branch library at the
Klamath Basin Senior Center,
2045 Arthur Street, at 1:30
t6his (Thursday) afternoon.
The branch library will be open
Mondays and Fridays from 9:30
a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on
Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. to
4:00 p.m.
>> 09/06/12 The Community
Foundation Of The Klamath Basin
Seeking Executive Director
The Community foundation of the
Klamath Basin is seeking an
executive director. The
President of the Community
Foundation, Debbie Vought toold
KFLS News, "This will be our
first staff person for the
organization and it's a very
important step for us. Our
Executive Director will help
support our local non profit
organizations by providing
expertise and resources to
broaden and strengthen their
service and program delivery.
The job has a starting salary of
$30,000 and interested people
can fill out a job application
at the website,
www.KlamathBasinFoundation.org.www.klamathbasinfoundation.org.
>> 09/05/12 Problem With
Sheriff's Primary Business Phone
Line
There is a glitch in a new
telephone system installed by
Klamath County that is
preventing people from reaching
the Sheriff's Department through
it primary business line.
According to a news release from
Sheriff Tim Evinger the problem
is with the auto attendant
function of the system that
causes a "fast busy signal" when
anyone calls the primary
business line. Evinger is
asking the public to call
541-851-3805 and if the call is
not answered to leave a message
and the call will be returned
during business hours.
Evinger says his office will
notify the public as soon as the
problem is resolved.
>> 09/05/12 Man Dies In
Chemult Tuesday Afternoon
Following Erratic Behavior
The Oregon State Police and the
Klamath County District
Attorney's office are
investigating the death of a 52
year old man who was acting
erratically before his death.
police say the man ran back and
forth across U-S Highway 97 in
Chemult several times then
rolled around in the dirt behind
a gas station. Bystanders
tried to calm the man while
waiting for medics but he ran in
front of an ambulance and then
started moving towards an
apartment where a pregnant woman
lives. The woman's father
and others pulled the man to the
ground, he lost consciousness,
stopped breathing and died.
The man's name has not been
released.
>> 09/05/12 Chiloquin Man
Jailed On Numerous Theft,
Burglary Charges
Police arrested a Chiloquin man
Wednesday morning and charged
him with nine counts of Theft
One and two counts of Burglary
One. 44-year old Sonny
Wayne Blevins was arrested at
3:21 a.m. and lodged in the
Klamath County Jail with bail
set at $140,000.
>> 09/05/12 Commissioners
Reject Ballot Measure Request
The Klamath County Board of
Commissioners rejected a request
Tuesday morning by the League of
Women Voters to place a measure
on the November ballot that, if
approved by voters, would make
the Board of Commissioners
non-partisan. Currently
county commissioners run as
Democrats, republicans or
Independents. The League
President, Leslie Lowe says
voters in Polk and Coos counties
recently voted to make their
county commissioners
non-partisan.
Commissioners Al Sweitzer and
Cheryl Hukill told Lowe the
league of Women Voters should
take the initiative route and
gather the near-1400 signatures
to get the issue before voters
next May. Lowe told KFLS
News last week that if the
commissioners refused to put the
issue on the November ballot the
league would launch an
initiative campaign.
>> 09/04/12 Governor Orders
Flags At Half-staff In Memory Of
Oregon Soldier On Wednesday
Governor John Kitzhaber has
ordered all flags at public
institutions to be flown at
half-staff on Wednesday,
September 5th from sunrise to
sunset in honor of Specialist
Mabry Anders. The 21 year
old Baker City man was killed in
Afghanistan, August 27th.
Anders was assigned to the 4th
Infantry division based in Fort
Carson, Colorado.
>> 09/04/12 Klamath County
Steer Died Of Anthrax
The Oregon State Public Health
Laboratory has confirmed a
Klamath county steer died of
anthrax on August 22nd.
State health officials say the
incident does not (not) pose a
human public health threat but
is an issue for other livestock.
Two other steers on the same
ranch died at about the same
time. The Oregon
Department of Agriculture has
quarantined the ranch and other
cattle will be vaccinated and
monitored. State
veterinarian, Dr. Brad Leamaster
says thIs is the first case of
animal anthrax in Oregon in more
than 50 years.
>> 09/04/12 OSP Makes A DUII
Stop...Driver Arrested On FBI
Warrant
A Hillsboro woman who was
stopped by an Oregon State
Police Trooper on Friday night
at Lodi Street and Independence
Avenue on suspicion of driving
under the influence turned out
to be wanted for bank robbery.
Police say 33-year old Jennifer
Colleen Langwell was charged
with DUII and during the
investigation cocaine and
methamphetamine was found.
Police then found out Langwell
was wanted on a felony warrant
held by the F-B-I charging bank
robbery. Langwell is jailed on
DUI charges as well as Robbery
One and two counts of Possessing
Controlled Substances.
Bail was set at $57,500.
>> 08/31/12 Smoke Returns To
Basin
Smoke from wildfires in northern
California and near Lakeview has
returned to the Klamath Basin
although not as thick or as
dense as it was earlier this
week. The Air Quality
Index as of 10:30 a.m. is rated "moderate" at
70 in
Klamath Falls and "moderate" at 80 in
Lakeview. The Air
Quality Index is "moderate" at
82 at Crater Lake National Park.
>> 08/31/12 Barry
Point Fire In Mop-Up
Now that the Barry point Fire
southwest of Lakeview is 100%
contained crews are doing mop-up
work and repairing the landscape
from weeks of fire suppression
work. The +fire is still
burning inside the perimeter and
creating smoke. Fire
officials say it is likely the
Barry point Fire won't be out
completely until a major rain or
snow storm occurs in the area.
Numerous roads in the Fremont-Winema
National Forest and the Modoc
National Forest remain closed to
the public.
>> 08/31/12 Flags At Half
Staff Today
Governor John Kitzhaber has
ordered all flags in Oregon to
be flown at half-staff today
(Friday) in honor of the late
astronaut, Neal Armstrong.
A private service for Armstrong
was scheduled to be held today.
Armstrong the first man to walk
on the moon.
08/30/12 Winds Scour
Smoke From Klamath Basin
The skies
over the Klamath Basin are much
clearer today due to winds that
scoured the area of wildfire
smoke, at least for the time
being. The Department of
Environmental Quality Air
Quality Index in Klamath Falls
is at 15, which is a "good"
rating. Forest fires burning
southwest of Lakeview and near
Mt Shasta could send smoke back
to the basin if meteorological
conditions change.
>> 08/30/12 Man Arrested
And Charged With Sex Crimes
Involving A Child
As KFLS News reported Wednesday,
27 year old Travis Shane Dye has
been charged with Sex Abuse One
and Sexual Penetration With An
Object, One and is jailed with
bail set at $200,000.
Police are not releasing many
details except to say that the
alleged victim is a child.
>> 08/30/12 Avista
Utilities Asks For Rate Cut
The Oregon Public Utility
Commission is being asked by
Avista Utilities to allow the
company to cut the rate for
natural gas by 10.7% on January
1, 2013. Avista President
Dennis Vermillion says the
request to cut the rate is
largely due to increased gas
supply and if approved the rate
would be at or near 2004 levels.
>> 08/30/12
Hurricane Causes Cancellation Of
College Football Game
The Oregon State Beavers
football game against Nicholls
State of Louisiana has been
postponed due to Hurricane
Isaac. The game was
scheduled for this Saturday at
Reser Stadium in Corvallis.
O-S-U officials said last night
the game will be rescheduled.
The campus of Nicholls State in
Thibodaux, Louisiana is closed
because of the hurricane.
The team was scheduled to take a
charter flight to Oregon
tomorrow.
>> 08/29/12 Winds Reduce
Smoke Levels In Klamath Basin
Winds from the north have helped
disperse some of the smoke over
the Klamath Basin and air
quality is now rated as
moderate. The Barry Point
Fire, though 100% contained, is
still burning and is believed to
be causing some smoke in the
area. Smoke is also coming
form the 28,000 acre Bagley Fire
burning near Mt Shasta.
The blaze is only 24% contained.
>> 08/29/12 Klamath Falls
Man Arrested On Sex Charges
Police arrested a Klamath Falls
man on Tuesday afternoon
charging him with First Degree
Sex Abuse and First Degree
Sexual Penetration With An
Object. 27 year old Travis
Shane Dye is lodged in the
county jail with bail set at
$200,000.
>> 08/29/12 OSP, ODOT Urge
Football Fans To Drive Carefully
To & From Games
The college football season
begins this Saturday and because
both Oregon and Oregon State are
playing home games, roads and
highways to Eugene and Corvallis
will be crowded. ODOT's
Rick Little says the two home
games mean an estimated 30,000
additional motorists will be on
the I-5 freeway before and after
the games. The Oregon
State Police is urging drivers
to be careful and to not drink
and drive as patrols will be
watching for impaired drivers.
>> 08/29/12 Museum Offers
Friday Evening Hike On Hogback
Klamath County Museum Manager
Todd Kepple is leading a hike on
Hogback Friday evening, August
31st at 6:00 p.m. starting at
the parking lot of foothills
Christian Church at the north
end of Patterson street.
Kepple says the hike will go as
far as the middle point of
Hogback and the group will also
explore BLM lands with lots of
potential for hiking and
exploring. Participants
need to bring water and a
flashlight in the event the sun
goes down before everyone is off
the mountain. Kepple says
those who stay a little later
may see a full moon rise at
dusk.
>> 08/28/12 Wild Fire Smoke
Causing Very Bad Air Quality In
Klamath Basin
Smoke from wildfires in northern
California and the Barry Point
Fire southwest of Lakeview have
caused a serious degradation of
air quality in the Klamath Basin
with the pollution index
(24-hour average) at 152.
Anything over 151 means the air
quality is unhealthy for all
people. People are being urged
to limit outdoor activities
including hiking, bicycle riding
and jogging due to the poor air
quality. The National
Weather Service says winds may
shift by late Wednesday or
Thursday and scour the smoke
from the basin. Between
now and then health officials
urge everyone is urged
to limit all outdoor activities
as much as possible. More
information is at the website,
klamathair.org or by calling
541-882-BURN.
www.klamathair.org
>> 08/28/12 Protect Your
Pets From Smoke
Dr Samantha Wilson at the
Klamath Animal Clinic says pet
owners should limit the exposure
of their cats and dogs to smoke
from the wildfires. She
says smoke can cause allergies
to flare, lead to coughing and
cause watery eyes and noses.
Some pets may also become
lethargic and not want to eat
due to smoke exposure.
>> 08/28/12 Barry Point
Fire Fully Contained
The Barry Point Fire southwest
of Lakeview was declared 100%
contained this (Tuesday)
morning. The lightning
caused 93,000+ acre blaze
started May 5th and burned in
Oregon and northern California
on federal forestlands and
private timber lands.
Crews have started
rehabilitation work to repair
damage to land and property from
fire suppression efforts and are
expected to remain in the area
for a few more weeks.
>> 08/28/12 Search &
Rescue Crews Recover Body Of
Coos Bay Man From Four Mile Lake
After several days of intense
searching by air, land and boat,
members of the Klamath County
Dive Rescue have recovered the
body of 61-year old Andrew S.
Kaufman of Coos Bay at Four Mile
Lake. Kaufman was last
seen August 17th. On
August 23rd a campground host at
Four Mile Lake told police
Kaufman had not returned to camp
and his camp registration had
expired. Volunteers used
side scan sonar images on Monday
and spotted what looked like a
body in about 85 feet of water.
Divers recovered Kaufman's body
about 7:00 p.m. on Monday.
Anyone who was at Four Mile Lake
between August 11th and 23rd and
who may have information about
Kaufman, his inflatable raft
(not yet recovered) or, his 2011
Buick Enclave S-U-V is asked to
call Detective Nick Kennedy at
the Klamath County Sheriff's
office.
>> 08/28/12 Lindow Out Of Race
For County Commissioner
The man who won the Democratic
Party nomination for Klamath
County Commissioner Position One
in the May Primary Election has
filed papers to withdraw from
the November election.
Klamathonline.org reports Ted
Lindow filed the withdrawal
papers last week, citing
"personal and family health
issues" as his reasons for
dropping out. The race for
Klamath County Commissioner,
Position One now includes
Republican Tom Mallams and
Independent candidate Kirk
Oakes.
>> 08/23/12 West Nile
Virus Confirmed In Dead Horse
The Klamath County Department of
Public Health says West Nile
Virus has been confirmed in a
dead horse in Keno. The
test results were confirmed by
the Veterinary Diagnostic
Laboratory at Oregon State
University. The Director
of the Klamath County Health
Department, Marilynn Sutherland
says they want people to avoid
getting mosquito bites.
Sutherland says, "The risk of
contracting West Nile Virus may
be low but we encourage people
to take appropriate precautions
to protect themselves against
mosquito bites." State
Public Health Veterinarian Dr.
Emilio DeBess is urging horse
owners to vaccinate their
animals against West Nile Virus.
Health officials also encourage
people to eliminate sources of
standing water on their property
such as bird baths, clogged
gutters, old tires and watering
troughs and to use mosquito
repellant if outdoors at dusk
and dawn.
>> 08/23/12 Public Invited To
Escort The Wall That Heals To
Fairgrounds
The public is invited to join a
motorized procession escort of
The Wall That Heals from
Kingsley Field to the Klamath
County Fairgrounds this
(Thursday) morning.
Participants should gather at
9:00 a.m. at Kingsley Field.
There will be a ceremony at
Kingsley at 10:00 a.m. followed
by the escort procession from
Kingsley to south 6th Street via
Washburn Way. People who
don't have a motorized vehicle
are invited to line the route of
the escort procession. The
Wall That Heals will be set up
upon its arrival at the
fairgrounds and will be on
display during the 3rd Annual
Klamath Freedom Celebration,
24/7, through Sunday. A
kick-off party for the
celebration will be held this
evening at El Palacio Restaurant
at 601 Main Street.
>> 08/23/12 Tribal Offices
Closed For Restoration
Celebrations
The 26th Annual Tribal
Restoration Celebration begins
today with a presentation from
7-to-9 this evening at O-I-T by
Don Wharton and Kathy Hill
titled, Restoration And
Termination." The Klamath
Tribes Administration Building
in Chiloquin is closed for
business today (Thursday) from
8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will
re-open at 1:30 p.m. On Friday
the offices will be closed all
day because of the Restoration
Celebration. The event
continues through Saturday.
>> 08/23/12 Freeze
Watch Issued For Early Friday
The National Weather Service has
issued a Freeze watch for
Northern and Eastern Klamath
County and Western, Central and
Eastern Lake County from 3:00
a.m. to 8:00 a.m.on Friday. The
Weather Service says early
morning temperatures in Beatty,
Chemult, Crescent, Gilchrist and
Sprague River may drop to
28-to-32 degrees while some low
spots may fall to the mid 20's.
>> 08/22/12 Good Progress
On Barry Point Fire
Fire crews fought dry, gusty
winds but made progress and were
able to hold fire lines on
the Barry Point Fire on Tuesday
as temperatures cooled.
Fire Information officer Renee
Snyder told KFLS News, more gusty
winds are expected today and
tomorrow however full
containment of the now
93,000-plus acre blaze is
expected this Saturday. The only
evacuation order in place is for
three homes on the west side of
Goose Lake in California.
>> 08/22/12 Unemployment Up In
Klamath & Lake Counties
For the second consecutive month
unemployment went up in Klamath
and Lake counties. The
unemployment rate in Klamath
county in July was 11.6% up from
the June rate of 11.5%.
The private sector added 290
jobs in Klamath county last
month but government shed 710
jobs. The Lake county
unemployment rate in July was
13.2% up from the June rate of
13.1%.
>> 08/22/12 Gas Prices
Jump Up Again
A fire two weeks ago at a
Chevron refinery in California
coupled with higher crude oil
prices on the world markets is
driving up gas prices. The
national average is now
$3.72/gallon for regular
unleaded but Oregon's average
jumped 10-cents in the past week
to $3.98
>>
08/21/12 Klamath Falls City
Council Appoints Dottson To Ward
3 Spot
The Klamath Falls City Council
appointed Matt Dottson, a native
of Klamath Falls, to fill the
vacancy for Ward 3. The
position had been held by
Gregory Taylor who resigned
earlier this year. Dottson is a
Navy veteran. He has said
he will file for and campaign
for the office in the November
election.
>> 08/20/12 Barry Point
Fire Evacuations Lifted In
Oregon
The Barry point Fire burning 22
miles southwest of Lakeview has
grown to more than 93,000 acres
but the advance of the fire on
private lands has been stopped.
Evacuations on the Oregon side
of the fire have been lifted but
remain in effect in California.
The fire is 48% contained and is
expected to be fully contained
on Saturday.
>> 08/20/12 Holloway fire Almost
Fully Contained
The massive Holloway fire
burning on the Oregon-Nevada
border near Denio, NV is almost
100% contained. The
lightning caused fire broke out
earlier this month and blackened
245,505 acres in Oregon and
215,542 acres in Nevada.
>> 08/20/12 Areas Of Smoke Over
Klamath Basin Expected Until
Late Wednesday
>> 08/17/12 Red Flag Warning
This Afternoon Until Saturday
Night
The National Weather Service has
issued a Red Flag Warning for
the Klamath Basin and southern
Oregon Cascades predicting
abundant lightning from a storm
front moving in from the south
late this afternoon. The
warning is in effect from 4:00
p.m. today (Friday) until 8:00
p.m. on Saturday.
>> 08/17/12 Governor Declares
Statewide Emergency
Governor John Kitzhaber declared
a statewide emergency on
Thursday evening, allowing
National guard helicopters to be
used to help fight wildfires.
A spokesman for Kitzhaber says
the state will consider use of
the helicopters on a
case-by-case basis.
>> 08/17/12 Cold Springs Fire
and Barry Point Fire Grow
The Cold Springs Fire, which is
described as human caused, has
grown to more than 22-acres
leading to closure of the Cold
Springs Trailhead to the Sky
Lakes Wilderness Area.
Several fire fighting crews from
the B-L-M and the U-S Forest
Service are working to keep the
fire from spreading. The
Barry Point Fire, 22-miles
southwest of Lakeview, grew
overnight because of low
humidity, high temperatures and
gusty winds. The fire has
blackened nearly 80,000 acres
and continue to spread to the
east and south into northern
California. An evacuation
order remains in place for Drews
Resevoir. Containment not
expected until August 25th.
>> 08/17/12 Tigard Soldier Dies
In Afghanistan
A 22 year old Army private First
Class from Tigard died in
Afghanistan this week. The
Defense Department says Andrew
Keller died when enemy forces
attacked his unit with small
arms fire.
>> 08/16/12 PAC Formed To
Re-Elect Evinger
As KFLS News first reported on
August 3rd, a Political Action
Committee has been formed to
re-elect Klamath County Sheriff
Tim Evinger. The name of
the committee is "Write-In To
Re-Elect Tim Evinger" and has
been approved by the Secretary
of State. The PAC was
formed by Reserve Deputy Kevin
Kirk who says volunteers will
begin canvassing neighborhoods,
putting up signs and getting the
word out. Kirk says the
campaign will include radio,
television and newspaper
advertising. Evinger did
not campaign in the May primary
after announcing he was stepping
down and was going to look for a
new job.
>> 08/16/12 Businessman
Opposes Evinger Re-Election
Effort
Klamath Falls business owner
Michael Patti is leading a
campaign to not re-elect Sheriff
Tim Evinger. Patti, owner
of The Sign Guys, says he does
believe Evinger has done a good
job and it is time for a change.
Patti says he has bumper
stickers, flyers and signs
opposing the Evinger re-election
and says the materials are free
to the public and available at
his business.
>> 08/16/12 Angeli
Releases All Of His Sheriff's
Department Personnel Files
Klamath County Sheriff candidate
Mike Angeli has all of his
personnel files from his time
working as a Sheriff's Deputy
available for anyone to look at
at his business, The Ledge.
Angeli says the files can not be
copied or taken from the
building due to the confidential
information about him and his
family. Angeli released
the files after candidate Frank
Skrah accused him of wrong doing
while he was a deputy.
Angeli says the files prove he
was cleared of wrongdoing.
>> 08/16/12 Barry Point
Fire Grows Again
The Barry Point Fire grew to
more than 86,000 acres overnight
due to
high temperatures, gusty winds
and low humidity. The
blaze was started by a May 5th
lightning storm and is burning
on federal forestland and
private property southwest of
Lakeview and into northern
California. The fire is
expe4cted to be contained August
23rd.
>> 08/15/12 Barry Point Fire
Spreads To Northern California
The Barry Point Fire southwest
of Lakeview has grown to more
than 59,000 acres and has spread
to Northern California.
The fire is burning on the
Fremont-Winema and Modoc
National Forests as well as
private property including land
owned by Collins Forest
Products. More than 1400
firefighters are on the scene.
The fire is 25% contained with
full containment not expected
until Thursday, August 23rd.
>> 08/15/12 Fire In Sky
Lakes Wilderness
A fire that started in the Sky
Lakes Wilderness Area near the
Cold Springs Trailhead is under
investigation. The fire
broke out Tuesday and led to the
evacuation of some hikers in the
area. Jake Barnett at the
Klamath Interagency Fire center
told KFLS News, the blaze is
about 10-acres in size.
>> 08/15/12 Judge Says
Civil Suit Against Terri Horman
Can Move Forward
A Portland judge, Henry Kantor,
ruled this (Wednesday) morning a
civil suit against the
stepmother of Kyron Horman can
move forward, ruling a delay
wouldn't serve a purpose.
Desiree Young filed the civil
suit against Terri Horman
accusing her of kidnapping Kyron
Horman, by herself or with
others. Terri Horman the
last person known to have seen
the then 7-year Kyron Horman on
June 4th, 2010. Terri
Horman had asked for a two year
delay of the civil suit however
the suit will begin Thursday
with a deposition of Terri
Horman's biological son, James
Moulton.
>> 08/15/12 Special Baldwin
Hotel Tours Offered Saturday
A special tour of the Baldwin
Hotel is planned for this
Saturday, august 18th. The
tour will focus on Andy and
Cordelia Moore who took over the
hotel from the Baldwin family
and later turned it over to
their daughter and son-in-law,
Vera and Mart Jones. The
tour will be offered at 10:30
a.m and again at 2:00 p.m. The
cost is $5 for adults, $4 for
seniors and children over the
age of 12. Children under age 12
are free when accompanied by
adults.
>> 08/14/12 Unemployment
In Oregon Goes Up In July
The unemployment rate in Oregon
increased to 8.7% in July, up
from 8.5% in June, despite the
fact that 1800 jobs were
created. Economists say
one reason for the higher
unemployment rate may be that
once discouraged workers are
back trying to find a job or,
people have entered the work
force after graduating from
school or moving here from
another state.
>> 08/13/12 Barry Point
Fire Grows Over Weekend
The Barry Point Fire, burning on
Fremont-Winema national Forest
Land and some private property
is now estimated at 30,000
acres. The blaze grew over
the weekend due to high
temperatures, gusty winds and
low humidity. The fire is
only 25% contained and full
containment is not expected
until late next week.
There are numerous Forest
Service road closures around Dog
Mountain and Dog Lake.
>> 08/13/12 Klamath Falls
School Board To Decide School
Closure Issue In Early October
The Klamath Falls City School
Board will hold an Open Forum at
the O'Neal Education Center at
7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September
19th to provide the public with
the opportunity to express their
opinions about whether an
elementary school should be
closed. The issue will
first be discussed by the board
at its next meeting on September
10th at the Lucille O'Neal
Education Center. The two
schools being considered for
closure are Fairview Elementary
and Pelican Elementary. A
final decision by the board is
expected at the October 8th
meeting.
>> 08/10/12 Group Nearing
Launch Of Evinger Write-In
Campaign
A group of citizens led by
Sheriff's Reserve Deputy Kevin
Kirk, says they expect to
finalize formation of their
Political Action Committee next
week. Kirk says once the
committee is formed volunteers
will begin canvassing
neighborhoods and putting up
signs and buy advertising to
spread the word about their
efforts to convince voters to
write-in Sheriff Tim Evinger's
name on the November ballot.
The names of the winners of the
May primary election, Mike
Angeli and Frank Skrah will
appear on the ballot.
Angeli says he hopes to discuss
matters with Evinger, admitting
he was caught by surprise by
this report. Frank Skrah has not
made any comments about this
campaign which was first
reported by KFLS News on August
3rd.
>> 08/10/12 High Temps
& Gusty Winds Spread Barry Point
Fire
The Barry Point Fire, burning 20
miles southeast of Lakeview grew
dramatically since Thursday and
is now covering more than 7500
acres. On Thursday morning
the Barry Point Fire was 2000
acres. Overnight 15
families had to evacuate their
homes near Drews Resevoir. The
Klamath/Lake Chapter of the Red
Cross sent an Emergency Response
Vehicle to Lakeview to help
those families. The fire
is about 30-per cent contained.
>> 08/10/11 Kingsley
Field Student Pilots To Conduct
Night Flying Training Next Week
The 114th Fighter Squadron will
conduct night flying operations
Monday through Friday, August
13th to the 17th between the
hours of 9:00 p.m. and 11:30
p.m. Night flying is one
part of the course curriculum
for F-15 student fighter pilots.
Planes will take-off after
sundown and land about
90-minutes later. .
>> 08/08/12
REMINDER! Fire
Restrictions Start Thursday
Morning
Because of high fire danger
Industrial Fire Protection Level
III will be implemented at 12:01
a.m., Thursday, August 9th on
lands administered by the U-S
Forest Service, the Bureau of
Land Management and the
Sheldon-Hart Mountain Wildlife
Refuge. Under the IFPL
!!!, both personal and
commercial woodcutters are
prohibited from operating power
saws. In addition Public
Use Restrictions will also be in
effect beginning at 12:01 a.m.
Thursday, August 9th. Only
camp or stove fires in
designated campgrounds will be
allowed...no smoking except
inside vehicles or
buildings...no motor vehicle use
in areas where vegetation does
not come into contact with the
undercarriage.
>> 08/08/12 Barry Point
Fire Spreads In Lake County
The Barry Point Fire burning 20
miles southwest of Lakeview on
the Fremont-Winema National
Forest has grown to more
than 1700 acres. The fire
is burning near Dog Lake and a
Level One Evacuation Notice was
issued Tuesday night, however no
campers or homes in the area
were evacuated. There are
numerous road closures in the
area of Dog Lake. The fire
was started as a result of a
lightning storm that moved
across south central Oregon on
Sunday night. The weather
is expected to be very hot in
the area again today. No
estimated time of containment.
>> 08/08/12 Fire
Threatened Homes At Ridgewater
Development
A wildfire off Beatty Butte
Drive that threatened some homes
at Ridgewater Development on
Tuesday morning is being
investigated. The fire
sent smoke drifting over Klamath
Falls but was later put out
after scorching almost
two-and-one-half acres. No
homes were damaged.
>> 8/07/12 Three Downtown
Fires Deemed Suspicious
Investigators are try to
determine if three brush fires
in downtown Klamath Falls late
Saturday night and early Sunday
morning were human-caused.
The first fire was reported at
11:54 p.m. on Saturday and was
at North 8th and Lincoln
Streets. A second call to
9-1-1 came in at 12:12 a.m.,
Sunday about a fire at North 7th
and Jefferson Streets. The
third report of a brush fire
came in at 12:25 a.m. on Sunday
at 4th and Lincoln.
Division One Chief John Spadley
described the fires as
"suspicious" but also said it
has not been determined if they
were human caused. The fires
threatened nearby homes and/or
businesses.
>> 08/07/12 Governor
Orders Flags At Half-Staff
At the request of President
Obama, Governor John Kitzhaber
has ordered all flags at public
buildings in Oregon to be flown
at half-staff until sunset
Friday, August 10th, in honor of
the victims who were shot at a
temple in Wisconsin last Sunday.
>> 08/07/12 Third
Candidate In Race For County
Commissioner
A Chiloquin man, Kirk Oakes,
filed to run as an independent
for Klamath County Commissioners
Position 1 last Friday.
Oakes is a member of the
Independent Party of Oregon.
Republican voters
nominated Tom Mallams in the May
primary and Democrats nominated
Steve Lindow..
>> 08/06/12 Lightning
Storm Causes Wildfires & Power
Outages
A powerful lightning and
thunderstorm rolled across the
Klamath Basin on Sunday evening
sending trees crashing into
power lines, flooding some
streets and sparking 21
wildfires in Klamath and Lake
counties. At one point
more than 7000 customers of
Pacific power were without
electricity but by early Monday
morning service had been
restored to all but about 60
customers. The wildfires, 5 in
Klamath county and 16 in Lake
county were all less than 1.5
acres, according to Erica Hupp
at the Fremont-Winema National
Forest. Hupp says crews
will be out today to determine
if more fires were started since
last night. City of
Klamath Falls work crews were
busy Monday morning cleaning up
downed tree limbs at the west
end of veterans Park.
>> 08/06/12 Citizens
For Safe Schools Awarded Grant
The Southern Oregon Regional
Action Initiative of the Oregon
Community Foundation has awarded
a $43,000 grant to Citizens For
Safe Schools. Kelley
Minty-Morris says this grant is
the third and final payment of a
three-year grant. She says
the money will be used to
support the Kids In The Middle
mentoring program. Thje
funding is aimed at improving
academic outcomes for youth
including better attendance
rates. Minty-Morris says
an evaluation shows students in
the Kids In The Middle program
showed a 27% drop in unexcused
absences from school. The
grant money will also be used to
increase the number of mentors
recruited and trained.
>> 08/03/12 UPDATE ON
EVINGER STORY
Klamath County Sheriff Tim
Evinger told KFLS News this
(Friday) afternoon, he is
"humbled and honored" by the
discussion of forming a
Political Action Committee that
would seek to get him re-elected
via a write-in campaign but said
he would have no further comment
until the committee is, in fact,
officially formed. Earlier
a Source told KFLS News Evinger
"is not opposed to the concept
(of forming a Political Action
Committee) at this time."
>> 08/03/12 BREAKING
NEWS...EFFORT LAUNCHED TO
RE-ELECT EVINGER
KFLS News has learned that a
Political Action Committee is
being formed with the goal of
launching a write-in campaign to
get incumbent Klamath County
Sheriff Tim Evinger re-elected
in the November election. No
comment yet from Evinger
although sources say he's not
opposed to the concept.
More from KFLS News as details
become available.
>> 08/03/12 Should Ambulance
Service Be Privatized In Klamath
Falls?
The President of Emergency
airlift, Ed Langeveld, urged the
Public Safety Advisory Committee
Thursday to have his company
take over ground ambulance
service in Klamath Falls.
Langeveld noted that property
taxpayers money could be saved
because Fire District One does
not receive tax dollars for
ambulance calls and bills are
over and above taxes paid.
Public safety Committee member
Monty Keady, a Division Chief
with FD #1 said the firefighters
are cross trained as Emergency
Medical Technicians and if there
is less demand for EMT's that
could mean fewer fire fighters
to respond to home and business
fires. The committee took
no final action on the proposal.
>> 08/03/12 Trucker
Accused of Almost Hitting
Workers At Salt Creek Tunnel
Project
Oregon state Police arrested 71
year old William Colvin of
Watsonville, California on
Thursday morning after he
allegedly almost hit a flagger
and other workers at the salt
creek Tunnel construction
project on Highway 58.
Colvin was also accused of
driving his truck over several
hundred feet of concrete forms
inside the tunnel. Colvin
was arrested and jailed in Lane
County on six charges of
Reckless Endangering and one
count Reckless Driving. He
was later released and then
cited to appear in Klamath
County Circuit Court ona charge
of Attempting To Elude In A
Vehicle.
>> 08/02/12 Wyden Says
Commitments Made To Pursue
Funding For Basin Water Issues
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden says
the chair of the Senate Energy
and Natural Resources Committee,
Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and
Bureau of Reclamation
Commissioner Michael Connor have
made commitments to pursue
funding for a long-term solution
for the Klamath Basin's water
issues. In a statement
Wyden says the commitments by
Bingaman and Connor, "Represents
a tremendous help to those who
continue to work to resolve
resource disputes in the region
and identify funding sources to
put those solutions in effect."
>> 08/02/12 City Says
Signs Have Created Problems
The City of Klamath Falls says
people who post "Garage Sale"
and "Yard Sale" signs on public
property have caused problems
because the signs are not
removed after the sale.
Code Enforcement Officer Rick
Bowman says when signs are not
removed from poles and traffic
signals it creates a visual
obstruction at the
intersections, damage to the
poles and several hours of staff
time each week to remove them.
City code allows the city to
recover the full costs of
removal of the signs from the
owner or the person who posts
the sign.
>> 08/02/12 Western U-S
Enters Most Dangerous Month For
Wildfires
The month of August is expected
to be the most dangerous for
wildfires in the west as hot
weather patterns dry out forest
and rangelands. Ed Delgado
at the National Interagency Fire
Center in Boise says the biggest
concern this month is for
Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming.
Delgado says the hot dry
conditions are expected to last
most of this month but forecasts
also predict higher chances for
thunderstorms.
>> 08/01/12 UPDATE:
Chiloquin Man Accused Of Setting
Three Wildfires
53 year old Dennis James Wysocki
of Chiloquin
is accused of setting three
fires on U-S Forest Service Road
5810 on May 3rd. Wysocki is
facing three Arson 1 charges.
The fires burned about 11-acres.
The investigation continues.
>> 08/01/12 Lava Fire
Grows
Fire crews continue to work to
contain the Lava Fire which has
grown to 10,000 acres in
northern Lake County. the
lightning caused fire is burning
in a Wilderness Study Area and
firefighters are trying to
prevent it from spreading
outside of the study area.
The fire is 25% contained and is
being fought by more than 260
firefighters. The Bureau
of Land Management says full
containment is not expected
until mid-August.
>> 08/01/12 Keno Man Dies in
Motorcycle Wreck
A Keno man died in a motorcycle
accident on Clover Road Monday
afternoon. The Klamath County
Sheriff's Department says 62
year old Richard Donald Blackard
was riding a Harley when he left
the road at Milepost 8. A
passerby found Blackard at about
4:43 p.m. on Monday and called
911. Police don't know why
Blackard's motorcycle left the
road although they believe he
may have been an inexperienced
motorcycle rider.
>> 07/31/12 Chiloquin Man
Faces Arson Charges
Police arrested 53 year old
Dennis James Wysocki of
Chiloquin on Monday afternoon
and charged him with three
counts of 1st Degree Arson.
Wysocki was jailed with bail set
at $250,000. No other
details available at this time.
07/31/12 Lava Fire grows
To 10,000 Acres
Firefighters continue to work to
prevent the Lava Fire from
spreading outside of a lava flow
area inside a Wilderness Study
Area in northern Lake County.
The lightning-caused fire
started late last week and fire
teams are using "firing
operations" along existing
perimeter fire lines. The
fire is about 25% contained
however full containment is not
expected until August 15th.
>> 07/31/12 Community Yard
Sale This Weekend at Tulelake-Butte
Valley Fairgrounds
The Tulelake-Butte valley Fair
is going to hold a Community
Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday and
Sunday, August 4th and 5th.
The sale will be held from 8
a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and
will feature items turned over
t9o the fair from delinquent
mini-storage units.
Consignors who want to
participate in the sale can
apply with the fair by calling
530-667-5312. The per
consignor cost is $20 for both
days of the sale.
>> 07/30/12 Klamath Falls
Woman Charged With 20 Crimes
Police arrested 52 year old Mary
Ellen Cole of Klamath Falls on
Saturday night charging her with
20 crimes including Identity
Theft, Fraudulent Use of a
Credit Card and Forgery 2.
Cole is jailed with bail set at
$130,000.
>> 07/30/12 Another Quake Off
Oregon Coast
A magnitude 4.0 earthquake was
recorded off the Oregon Coast
shortly after 6:00 a.m., Sunday
morning. The epicenter of
the quake was 236 miles
West-Northwest of Bandon. No
damage or injuries have been
reported.
>> 07/30/12 Bend Girl Drowns On
North Umpqua River
A 16 year old
girl from bend drowned in the
North Umpqua River after a raft
she was in capsized.
Police say Nichole Pomeroy of
Bend became trapped in debris
under water after a raft
carrying seven people flipped
over. everyone else in the
raft made it to shore.
wing a
rafting accident
>> 07/27/12 Gas Prices
Moving Up Again
The Triple-A Auto Club says
higher crude oil prices are
driving up gas prices. The
average price for a gallon of
regular unleaded in Oregon is
$3.64, up 9-cents in a week.
The average in the Klamath Basin
is $3.66 per gallon.
>> 07/27/12 Governor
Offers Medical Malpractice
Reforms
Governor John Kitzhaber promised
Republicans in the Oregon
legislature last year that he
would pursue reforms of medical
malpractice laws in the 2013
session. Republicans tried
but failed to attach medical
malpractice reforms to an
overhaul of the Oregon Health
Plan last year. On
Thursday Kitzhaber released
recommendations for discussion
by a committee he has appointed.
If approved the changes would
require a health care provider
to make an offer of compensation
within 90 days or to decide no
offer is warranted. If the
injured party is not satisfied,
the matter goes to mediation.
If mediation fails then, and
only then, could a lawsuit be
filed.
>> 07/27/12 Blues Festival
This Weekend
The 5th Annual Klamath Falls
Blues Festival is coming up
tomorrow (Saturday) at Veterans
Memorial Park starting at 11
a.m.. The festival
features jazz pianist and singer
/ song writer Eden Brent, Gospel
blues artist Darrell Mansfield,
California blues artist Nathan
James, the local band The
Fifty Eights and the four piece
band called The Strange Tones.
Admission is $20. Half of
the proceeds from the festival
will go to the Veterans Memorial
Expansion. Should be a
great day for enjoying the
festival with temperatures
expected in the mid 80's.
>> 07/26/12 Police Arrest
Suspect In Shooting Incident
Klamath Falls Police say they
have arrested 26 year old
Michael Kenneth Randolph in
connection with a shooting
incident in Mills Addition on
Thursday, July 19th near East
Main Street and Home Avenue.
Police say Randolph was arrested
after being spotted in a vehicle
at the Wal-Mart parking lot
Wednesday night. During
a search police say they found a
weapon believed to have been
used in the incident last week.
Randolph is jailed on numerous
charges including attempted
Murder.
>> 07/26/12 Police Ask For
Public To Help Them Solve Armed
Robbery
Klamath Falls Police are asking
the public to contact them with
tips and other information about
an armed robbery at Three Doors
Down on South 6th Street that
occurred last Saturday, July
21st. Police say the armed
robber wore a ski mask and
hooded jacket and used duct tape
to restrain an employee while he
stole cash from the business.
This is the third robbery at the
business within the past six
months. Anyone with information
is asked to call the tip line at
541-883-5334.
>> 07/26/12 Shaker
Recorded Off Oregon Coast
A magnitude 4.3 earthquake was
recorded off the Oregon coast
Wednesday afternoon at about
1:25 p.m. The quake was at
a depth of about 8 miles and was
located about 240 miles
west-northwest of Bandon.
No damage or injuries reported.
>> Kyron Harmon's Stepmother
Asks For Delay Of Civil Lawsuit
Against Her
The stepmother of an Oregon boy
missing for two years is asking
a judge to delay a civil lawsuit
filed against her. The
lawsuit against Terri Harmon was
filed by Kyron Horman's
biological mother Desiree Young.
The civil suit asks the court to
order Terri Horman to return
Kyron or, if he is dead, tell
where the boy's remains are
located. Terri Horman's
lawyer filed a brief asking the
court to delay the civil suit
for two years while a criminal
investigation plays out.
>> 07/25/12 Former Volleyball
Coach Jailed On sex Abuse
Charges
On Monday police arrested 52
year old Robert Lloyd Thompson
of Klamath Falls and charged him
with 18 counts of Sex Abuse 2,
Burglary and Tampering with A
Witness. Thompson is the
former volleyball coach at
Mazama High School and the
alleged victim is a 17 year old
former Mazama student who was
coached by Thompson during the
2011-12 season. The
Klamath County District
Attorney's office says the
charges stem from alleged
incidents between April and late
July of this year.
>> 07/25/12 Serious Injury
Traffic Wreck Tuesday On Highway
140
Three people suffered serious
injuries on Tuesday afternoon
after a collision on Highway 140
about 22 miles west of Klamath
Falls. The Oregon State Police
say a vehicle driven by 19 year
old Halie Budden of Klamath
Falls turned in front of a van
as she tried to enter the
driveway of the Odessa Market.
Budden was airlifted to a
Medford hospital. The
drive of the van, 69 year old
Samuel Oetinger III of Central
Point and a passenger, 51 year
old Tony Pruitt of White City
were taken to Sky Lakes with
minor injuries. The other
passengers in Oetinger's van, 72
year old Charles Whittington of
Central Point and 58 year old
Thomas Bocast of Central Point
were taken by ambulance to Sky
Lakes with serious onjuries.
Police say drugs and alcohol
were not a factor in the wreck.
>> 07/25/12 Community Watch
Meeting Tomorrow Night
The public is invited to attend
a Community Watch meeting on
Thursday (July 26th) at 6:30
p.m., at the Klamath Falls
Police Department.
Detective Peter York will make a
presentation about personal
safety and explain how people
can look for cues that may
evolve into a dangerous
situation. The event is
free.
>> 04/27/12 Flood Watch For
Sprague River Near Beatty
The National Weather Service
says the Sprague River near
Beatty is near action stage of
7-point-5-feet due to recent
rainfall and snow melt. The
river is expected to remain
below flood stage but slight
additional rises are possible
through tonight (Friday) before
receding on Saturday.
>> 04/27/12 Condition Update On
Woman Hit By Bus
54 year old Deborah Grant, who
was hit by a bus at 7th and
Klamath on Wednesday remains
hospitalized in Bend.
Grant is conscious and stable
although her condition was
downgraded from good to fair
overnight.
>> 04/27/12 Man Arrested, Jailed
For Domestic Violence
On Wednesday evening police
arrested 42 year old Robert Gene
Stallsworth on a charge of
Second Degree Assault in
connection with a domestic
violence incident. A woman
with Stallsworth suffered a
broken wrist. Police say
alcohol was a factor.
Stallsworth is jailed with bail
set at $100,000
>> 04/26/12 Judge
Sentences Man To 15 Years, No
Chance of Early Release
Circuit Court Judge Marci
Warner-Adkisson sentenced Reggie
Lee Townsend Jr., to 15 years in
prison after he plead guilty to
Manslaughter in the first
degree. Townsend fatally
shot Troy Shane Allen November
18, 2010. District
Attorney Ed Caleb says the crime
was a Measure 11 offense so
Townsend will serve the full 15
year sentence, with no early
release.
>> 04/26/12 Former State
Representative Denny Jones Dead
At 101
A former Republican State
Representative who served in the
Oregon Legislature from 1973
until 1999 died Wednesday at his
home in Ontario on Wednesday.
101 year old Denny Jones was the
co chair of the Joint Ways and
Means Committee.
Congressman Greg Walden said in
a statement, Denny defines
eastern Oregon. He always
called it as he saw it, and
never wavered from his
conservative principles.
His word was better than a
written contract. When it
came to property and water
rights, we had no stronger ally
than Denny Jones.
>> 04/26/12 Teachers In Eagle
Point Threaten Strike
Teachers in eagle Point say they
will strike next month if they
don't get a contract.
Negotiators for teachers and the
Eagle Point School District have
talked for more than a year
without reaching an agreement.
The issues dividing the two
sides are salaries, benefits and
teacher prep time.
>> 04/25/12 Board Of
Commissioners Sends Support
Letters For Coordinated Care
Organization
The Klamath County Board of
Commissioners voted unanimously
this (Wednesday) morning to send
"Letters of Support" to the
Oregon Health Authority for
Klamath Falls-based Cascade
Comprehensive Care, Greater
Oregon Behavioral Health Inc.
and PacificSource
to become the first C-C-O's, or
Coordinated Care Organizations
in the county. Under
changes to the Oregon Health
Plan (the state's version of
Medicaid) approved last year,
Coordinated Care Organizations
are to provide medical, dental
and mental health services to
low income Oregonians. The final
decision about the C-C-O's will
be made by the Oregon Health
Authority in late May.
04/24/12 REMINDER: Today Is The
Last Day To Register To Vote In
The May Primary
04/24/12 Klamath Falls City
Council Settles Runway Paving
Lawsuit
The Klamath Falls City council
voted Monday to accept an out of
court settlement agreement of
its lawsuit against Kerr
Contractors and Safeco
insurance. The suit was
filed after a 21-point-9-million
dollar runway repaving project
went sideways in 2009 with rocks
popping up out of the asphalt.
Under the agreement Knife River
Materials will redo the work.
>> 04/24/12 Unemployment
Down In March In Klamath County
Unemployment in Klamath county
dropped in March to
11-point-1-per cent. The
March 2011 unemployment rate was
12-point-4-per cent.
economists say the private
sector added 80 jobs, half in
trade transportation and
utilities. Educational and
health services lost 10 jobs.
The public sector added 30
federal government jobs.
>> 04/23/12 Man Arrested For
Hunting Violations
A 30-year old Klamath Falls man
identified as Trevor Lawrence
Harris, was arrested Sunday
morning and charged with hunting
violations and other charges.
Harris accused of hunting bear
with bait, using illegal methods
to hunt bear, wasting of game
fish - baiting bear, 2nd Degree
Criminal Mischief and Driving
While Suspended or revoked.
Bail was set at $30,000.
>> 04/23/12 County
Commissioners Hold Town Hall
Tonight In Malin
The Klamath County Commissioners
will be in Malin this (Monday)
evening for a Town Hall meeting.
The meeting is at 6:00pm at the
Presbyterian Church, 2302 5th
Street.
>> 04/23/12 Gas Prices Drop...A
Little
The AAA Auto Club says the price
of a gallon of regular unleaded
gas in Oregon has dropped
3-cents in the past week to
$4.05. The price is
19-cents higher than the
national average.
>> 04/23/12 City School
Superintendent To Deliver Budget
Message
Klamath Falls City School
Superintendent Dr. Paul Hillyer
will present his Budget Message
for the 2012-13 school year
tomorrow (Tuesday ) evening. The
meeting is at 7pm at the Lucille
O'Neill Education Center at 1336
Avalon Street.
>> 04/20/12 County Budget
Committee Balances Budget, Sets
Up Reserve Fund
The County Budget Committee this
week balanced the budget,
restored funding for the
District Attorney's Office,
granted $35,000 to the Meals On
Wheels Program and set-up a
reserve fund of $376,000.
Commissioner Al Switzer says the
goal is to "grow the reserve
fund" noting that it isn't a lot
of money but will allow some
budget flexibility if unexpected
things happen.
>> 04/20/12 Caleb Gets $93,000
Restored To His Budget
Klamath County District Attorney
Ed Caleb asked the budget
committee to restore $93,000 to
his budget and his request was
granted. Caleb will use
$17,000 for a Deputy Medical
Examiner. In addition
Caleb will use $77,000 to retain
a prosecutor who handles
domestic violence cases.
Caleb says for the past four
years the county had paid a
prosecutor to handle domestic
violence cases from a federal
grant that has now expired.
>> 04/20/12 REMINDER:
Walden Town Hall AT O-I-T
Saturday, 330pm, Mt. Mazama Room
>> 04/19/12 Elections
Complaint Against Klamath County
Dismissed
A complaint that was filed
against Klamath county for
posting videos of "This Week In
Klamath County" on the county's
website was dismissed today by
the Oregon Elections division.
Stephen Rapalyea of Chiloquin
complained about the videos but
the elections Division found all
candidates were invited on the
program, including candidates
previously unavailable to
participate. The decision
found "it is allowable to edit
the video to include contact
information for the candidate so
long as the same service is
provided to other candidates who
choose to participate, and it is
done so in an equitable and
impartial manner." In
addition the ruling states, it
is allowable to post the videos
on the county website, so long
as they are impartial.."
The Elections Division declared
the investigation closed and
"does not intend to pursue this
matter further."
>> 04/19/12 K-C-C Raising
Tuition
Facing a $1-million budget
deficit Klamath Community
College is raising tuition.
Community Relations Director
Ryan Brown told KFLS News, the
per credit hour fee will
increase from $73-to-$83 per
credit hour. Brown noted
while the tuition increase will
raise $400,000 it won't solve
the entire budget problem.
He said it is "too early" to
tell which programs or services
or staff may end up being cut.
Brown says a tuition hike became
a necessity due to increasing
enrollment and reduced funding
from the state of Oregon, a
situation he described as a
"perfect storm" that hit the
college.
>> 04/18/12 Romney Names Walden,
Smith To Chair Committee
Republican presidential
candidate Mitt Romney has
selected Oregon Congressman Greg
Walden and former Oregon Senator
Gordon Smith to be the Honorary
Chairs of his Oregon Leadership
Committee. After his selection
Walden said, The members of Mitt
Romney's Oregon leadership
Committee have been hard at work
in the state spreading Mitt
Romney's message of more jobs,
lower spending and smaller
government. He is a proven job
creator who will be able to get
our economy going again."
>> 04/18/12 Walden In
Klamath Falls Saturday
Oregon Congressman Greg Walden
will hold a Town Hall meeting on
Saturday, April 21st from 3:30pm
to 4:30pm in the Mt. Mazama Room
at O-I-T The public is
invited to attend and ask
questions. At 6:00pm on
Saturday Walden will attend the
annual CARES Banquet at the 9th
Street venue in Klamath Falls.
>> 04/18/12 KCFD #1
Administrative Office Reopens
Thursday
The Administrative Office of
Klamath County Fire District #1
will reopen tomorrow at 8:00am.
The office had been closed this
week because staff was moving
back into the Central Fire
Station at 143 Broad street
after the building was remodeled
and given a seismic upgrade.
An Open House will be planned
for early summer.
>> 04/17/12 City Street Light
Work Wednesday & Thursday
Klamath Falls City Maintenance
crews will perform traffic
signal maintenance and upgrades
at Shasta Way and Washburn on
Wednesday and Thursday.
Crews will work from 7am to noon
both days and drivers may
experience short delays at the
intersection.
>> 04/17/12 Mail Tax Returns
Today By 530pm
If you are sending your tax
returns via the U-S Postal
Service you need to get them to
the post office by 530pm today
in order for them to be
postmarked before midnight.
Mail is taken to Medford via
truck shipment and if the 530pm
pick-up is mixed the returns
will not have an April 17th
postmark.
>> 04/17/12 Oregon Unemployment
Rate Unchanged In March
Oregon's seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate was 8.6
percent in March, essentially
unchanged from 8.7 percent in
February. The February figure
was originally reported as 8.8
percent. Oregon's unemployment
rate dropped a full percentage
point from 9.6 percent in March
2011. Meanwhile, the U.S.
seasonally adjusted unemployment
rate was 8.2 percent in March
and 8.3 percent in February.
>> 04/17/12 Another Quake Off
Oregon Coast
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake
struck off the Oregon coast at
about 10:15pm Monday. The
quake epicenter was 102 miles
west of Bandon, at a depth of 10
kilometers. No damage or
injuries reported.
>> 04/17/12 Budget Committee
Continues Work
The county budget committee
continues meetings today in Room
219 of the Government Center at
305 Main Street.
Today's meeting is from 2pm to
5pm and is open to the public.
The committee is expected to
hold another meeting Wednesday
from 9am to 5pm.
>> 04/16/12 Tea Party
Plans Tax Day Rally
The Klamath County Patriots, a
Tea Party organization is
holding a Tax Day Rally,
Tuesday, April 17th in front of
the Klamath County Government
center from 1130am to 1pm.
The featured speaker will be
Karla Kay Edwards from Americans
For Prosperity.
>> 04/16/12 County Budget
Meetings This Week
A six-member county budget
committee began work on the
budget this morning and will
continue meetings most of the
week. The county is facing
a deficit of $1.4 million.
Proposed budget cuts range from
$266,000 for the district
attorney's office to $351,000
from community development to
$158,000 from the sheriff's
office. Meetings are being
held in Room 219 of the County
Government center at 305 Main
street and are open to the
public. Today (Monday) the
committee will meet from 9am to
5pm, Tuesday 2pm to 5pm and
Wednesday 9am to 2pm. If
the committee does not finish
its work by Wednesday they will
meet Thursday 9am to 2pm and on
Friday from 9am to 5pm.
>> 04/16/12 Altamont Drive
Construction Starts Today
Construction work on Altamont
Drive started today and will
continue through late August.
The work is being done on
Altamont Drive from Hilyard
Street to Cannon Street.
>> 04/16/12 Two Doors Down
Lounge Robbed
An armed man wearing a mask
robbed the Two Doors Down Lounge
early Saturday morning and
escaped with an undisclosed
amount of cash. No one was
injured during the robbery.
Police say there are persons of
interest but no suspects. Anyone
with information is asked to
call Klamath falls Police.
>> 04/13/12 Normal Fire Season
For Oregon Expected
The Northwest Interagency
Coordination Center predicts a
normal fire season for Oregon.
A wet spring is expected to
delay the onset of fire season
but not affect its severity.
Temperatures are expected to be
higher and humidity lower than
2011, which saw a below average
number of fires and acres
burned.
>> 04/13/12 Home & Garden
Show Opens Today
The 38th Annual Home & Garden
Show opens today (Friday) and
runs through Sunday.
Admission for people over age 17
is $3 or, $2 with a
non-perishable food donation.
The show hours are 4pm to 8pm
Friday, 9am to 6pm Saturday and
10am to 4pm Sunday. The show is
at the Hancock center at the
Klamath County Fairgrounds.
>> 04/13/12 Some State Park
Campgrounds Set To Open
Three Oregon State Park
Campgrounds will open this week.
Jackson Kimball Recreation Site
north of Fort Klamath will open
Sunday, April 15th...Collier
Memorial State Park north of
Klamath Falls opens Monday,
April 16th and Goose Lake
Recreation Area south of
Lakeview opens Wednesday, April
18th. All openings are
"weather permitting. To
check if a park is open log onto
www.oregonstateparks.org
www.oregonstateparks.orgww.oregonstateparks.org
>> 04/12/11 Judge Sentences Man
To Prison For Parole Violation
Klamath County District Attorney
Ed Caleb says Circuit Court
Judge Roxanne Osborn sentenced
30 year old Daniel James Bryant
to 34 months in prison for
parole violation on Tuesday.
Caleb says Bryant violated
parole by failing to register as
a sex offender and failing to
report to a probation officer.
Bryant had been convicted of
First Degree Burglary and
Possession of methamphetamine.
>> 4/12/12 Quakes Strikes
Off Oregon Coast
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake
struck 160 miles west-northwest
of Bandon Wednesday afternoon at
about 3:40 in the afternoon. No
damage or injuries reported.
The U-S Geological Survey says
the earthquake was not related
to the two massive earthquakes
that struck Indonesia on
Wednesday.
>> 04/12/12 Some Local State
Park Campgrounds Open This Month
The Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department says several local
campgrounds will open within the
next week, weather permitting.
Jackson Kimball State Recreation
Site north of Fort Klamath will
open (first come, first served
sites) on Sunday April 15th.
Collier Memorial State Park (reservable
and first-come, first-served
sites) will open Monday April
16th. Goose Lake
Recreation Area south of
Lakeview opens Wednesday, April
18th (first-come, first-served).
Again campground openings are
"weather permitting."
>> 04/11/12 REMINDER Public
Works Doing Tree Trimming
Thursday
he Klamath Falls City Street
Division will continue tree
trimming on 9th Street between
Pine and Prospect Streets again
tomorrow. Crews will start
at 7am Thursday, April 12th.
For more information contact
Klamath Falls Public Works at
541-883-5363
>> 04/11/12 Construction On
Altamont Drive Starts Monday
Beginning Monday, April 16th
Altamont Drive will be under
construction from Hilyard Street
to Cannon Street. The work
isn't expected to be completed
until August 24th.
>> 04/11/12 Rote's Name To
Appear On Ballots
Klamath County Clerk Linda Smith
says a decision by Gregory Rote
to end his campaign for sheriff
doesn't mean his name won't
appear on ballots. Smith
says the deadline to withdraw
from the race was March 9th.
She says ballots have already
been printed and some have
already been sent out to
military troops serving
overseas. Smith also noted
that Rick Santorum's name will
also appear on the Oregon
republican Presidential primary
ballot in May despite his
announcement that he is
suspending his campaign.
Smith says the GOP ballots for
the primary have also already
been printed.
>> 04/11/12 Ban On
Motorboats On Waldo Lake To
Continue; Group Plans Appeal
The Oregon Marine Board voted
3-2 Tuesday to continue the ban
on gas powered motorboats on
Waldo Lake, one of the deepest,
largest and clearest bodies of
water in the state. The
ban was imposed in 2009. A
group of motorboat owners say
they will take their case to the
Oregon Court of Appeals to try
to have the decision overturned.
>> 04/11/12 Howard's To Host DECA Fundraiser On Saturday
The DECA Club at Klamath Union
High school is partnering with
Howard's Meat Center this
Saturday, April 14th, to raise
money to help pay for the cost
of nine students to attend the
International Career development
Conference in Salt Lake City,
Utah. The fundraising event at
Howard's Meat Center, 5717 South
6th Street, is from 10am to 4pm
and features marinated tri-tip
on a stick for $2 each.
>> 04/10/12 Public Works Doing
Tree Trimming Wednesday And
Thursday
The Klamath Falls City Street
Division will perform tree
trimming on 9th Street between
Pine and Prospect Streets for
two days. Crews will start
at 7am Wednesday, April 11th and
again at 7am Thursday, April
12th. For more information
contact Klamath Falls Public
Works at 541-883-5363
>> 04/10/12 O-D-F
Releases Draft Annual Operations
Plans And Request Public Comment
The Oregon Department of
Forestry (O-D-F) has released
operations plans for state
forestlands in seven districts
including Klamath-Lake.
The plans identify and describe
specific projects pertinent to
the economic, environmental and
social aspects of managing state
lands including timber sales,
road maintenance, stream
enhancement and trail building.
The public is invited to comment
on the plans and can do so until
May 21st. A copy of the
plan for this area is available
for viewing at the Klamath Falls
O-D-F Office, 3200 DeLap Road.
>> 04/10/12 TV
Program Features Panoramic,
Historic Klamath Basin Photos
A live TV program tonight
(Tuesday) will air on Charter
Cable Channel 14 at 7pm and will
feature panoramic photos of
historic scenes around the
Klamath Basin. If you want
to attend the live TV program go
to the Klamath County Government
Center, Room 219, 305 Main
Street. One of the
featured photos is one that
shows the Main street crossing
of the Southern Pacific Railroad
shortly after the railroad had
been built. County Museum
Manager Todd Kepple will be
joined by O-I-T History
professor Mark Clark for a
discussion of the photos.
>> 04/09/12 Rote Drops Out Of
Race For Klamath County Sheriff
KFLS News has learned that
Gregory Rote is going to drop
out of the race for Klamath
County Sheriff. Rote says
he will issue a news release
explaining the decision later
today.
>> 04/09/12 REMINDER- Get
Studded Tires Off Before Tuesday
The Oregon Department of
Transportation says studded tire
season ends as of 12:01am
Tuesday and will NOT be
extended. Driving with studded
tires after the deadline could
result in a citation and a $150
fine.
>> 04/09/12 Bureau Of
Reclamation Releases Klamath
Project Operations Plan For 2012
The 2012 Klamath Project
Operations Plan has been
released by the U-S Bureau of
Reclamation. Upper Klamath
Lake is currently full at
413,961 acre-feet of storage.
The Natural Resources
Conservation Service estimates
the inflow forecast for Upper
Klamath Lake is 400,000
acre-feet from now until
September 30th which is 78% of
historical average.
Current lake levels in Gerber
Reservoir indicate full
deliveries are available and
lake levels in Clear Lake
suggest about 80% of average
deliveries available this
irrigation season.
>> 04/06/12 KCC Selects Roberto
Gutierrez As New President
The vice president for academic
affairs at Rhodes State College
in Lima, Ohio, Roberto
Gutierrez, has been selected as
the new president of Klamath
Community College.
Gutierrez will replace Gerald
Hamilton who is retiring June
30, 2012.
>> 04/06/12 Studded Tires Must
Be Off By Tuesday
The Oregon Department of
Transportation says studded tire
season ends as of 12:01am
Tuesday and will NOT be
extended. Driving with studded
tires after the deadline could
result in a citation and a $150
fine.
>> 04/05/12 Former OSU Coach Joe
Avezzano Dead Of Heart Attack
Former Oregon State University
Football Coach Joe Avezzano died
of a heart attack while on a
treadmill in Italty. Avezzano
was 68. He coached the OSU
Beavers from 1980-84, and was
fired after the 1984 season.
Avezzano became a Special Teams
Coach for the Dallas Cowboys
from 1990-2002 and was named
three times as NFL Special Teams
Coach of the Year.
>> 04/05/12 South Valley Bank To
Be Bought By Washington Federal
Washington Federal of Seattle
plans to buy South Valley
Bancorp of Klamath Falls. The
purchase will make Washington
Federal Oregon's 7th largest
bank by deposits. South Valley
has 24 branches in Klamath
Falls, Medford and Bend and is
Oregon's 13th largest bank
insured by the FDIC. More
details on the Friday morning
KFLS News.
>> 04/05/12 New President OF
K-C-C To Be Announced
Friday
Klamath Community College will
name the new president of the
college on Friday. Current
K-C-C President Gerald Hamilton
will retire at the end of June.
The two finalists are Dr. Jerry
Migler and Dr. Roberto
Gutierrez. The two men
visited Klamath falls in March
for a series of forums and
interviews
with the board, K-C-C faculty,
staff and students and the
public.
>> 04/05/12 Biologists
Reject Petition To List Upper
Klamath Chinook Salmon Under ESA
NOAA Fisheries Service
biologists have decided not to
list upper Klamath River and
Trinity River Chinook Salmon
under the Endangered Species
Act. The federal
biologists found Spring Chinook
Salmon are part of the same
genetic group as Fall Chinook
Salmon.
>> 04/05/12 Sunshine, Warmer
temps Over Easter Weekend In
Klamath Basin
>> 04/04/12 ROTC
Instructor Arrested, Charged
With Sex Abuse
The Oregon State Police arrested
63-year old Kenneth Gardner on
Tuesday and charged him with
three counts of 2nd Degree
Sexual Abuse and three counts of
1st Degree Official Misconduct.
Gardner has worked at Henley H
School as a junior ROTC
instructor. Police say the
alleged crimes occurred during
the current school year.
Gardner resigned from Henley
High School on March 23rd
.
>> 04/04/12 KCFD #1
Administrative Office To Close
In Mid-April
The Administrative Office for
Klamath County Fire District #1
will be closed April 16th, 17th
and 18th to allow staff time to
move back to the Central fire
Station at 143 Broad Street.
All employees will be working
those days but will be in
transition between the current
temporary location and the newly
remodeled fire station.
The office will re-open
Thursday, April 19th with
regular hours of 8am to Noon and
1pm to 5pm, Monday through
Friday.
>> 04/04/12 Oregon National
Guard Soldiers Say K-B-R Knew Of
Toxin In Iraq Water Treatment
Plant
A complaint filed by Oregon
National guard soldiers says
military contractor Kellogg,
Brown and Root knew an Iraqi
water treatment plant kept toxic
chemicals on site and had lax
environmental standards that
caused contamination, but never
disclosed it. The
complaint alleges K-B-R knew
aboput the presence of sodium
dichromate at the water plant
months before the date they
originally gave in testimony and
depositions. Sodium
dichromate is an anticorrosive
compound that soldiers from
Oregon, West Virginia and
Indiana say caused them to
suffer respiratory and lung
problems. The Associated
Press called K-B-R for comment
but the call was not returned.
>> 04/03/12 All Irrigators To
Get Water At Start Of Season
All irrigators of the Klamath
Restoration Project will get
water at the beginning of the
growing season.
The Natural Resources
Conservation Service has
projected increasing inflows to
Upper Klamath Lake. Kevin
Moore at the Bureau of
Reclamation estimates
275-thousand to 325-thousand
acre-feet of water will be
available from Upper Klamath
Lake. Moore says
irrigators who receive water
from Clear Lake and Gerber
Reservoir will also have water
to start the year.
>> 04/03/12 Bid Opening
For Klamath Project lease Lands
The Bureau of Reclamation has
announced sealed bids for
agricultural leasing of 42
irrigated parcels of federal
lease lands will be received
until 10am, Wednesday, April
11th. A public bid opening
will be held that day at 10am.
For bidding instructions call
the Bureau of Reclamation,
541-883-6935.
>> 04/03/12 Whistleblower
Scientist Coming To Klamath
Falls In May
A scientist who challenged the
Department of Interior's
handling of environmental
reports on removal of four dams
on the Klamath River and was
fired, will be in Klamath Falls
in May. Doctor Paul
Houser's job was to review and
insure the scientific data and
honesty but when he complained
about the "positive spin" in the
report, was fired. Houser
will appear at Triad School,
Sunday May 6th at 5pm. Houser's
visit is being sponsored by the
Cal-Ore Bi-State Alliance.
The group has claimed fraudulent
science is being used by
government agencies to advocate
for destruction of four
hydro-electric dams on the
Klamath river.
>> 04/02/12 KID Holding Special
Meeting Tuesday
The Klamath Irrigation District
Board of Directors has called a
special meeting for tomorrow,
Tuesday, April 3rd.at 2pm.
The meeting will be held at 6640
Kid Lane and there may be an
Executive Session to discuss
labor issues. More information
at 541-882-6661.
>> 04/02/12 Senior Center
Hosts Tuesday Afternoon Voter
information Forum
The Klamath Basin Senior center,
2045 Arthur Street, is hosting a
Voter Information Forum
tomorrow, Tuesday, April 3rd at
12:15pm. The forum tomorrow will
feature the candidates for
Klamath County Sheriff.
The public is invited.
Another forum is scheduled at
the Senior Center, Tuesday, May
1st, also at 12:15pm. The
May forum will feature
candidates for Klamath County
Commissioner Position #1.
>> 04/02/12
Triple-A Says Gas Prices Keep
Going Higher
The Triple A Auto Club of Oregon
says the average price for a
gallon of gas is $4.11, which is
a nickel higher than it was last
week and 16 cents higher since
the beginning of March.
Oregon's average price is
18-cents higher than the
national average..
>> 03/30/12 Flood
watch For Sprague River Near
Beatty
The National Weather Service has
issued a Flood Watch for the
Sprague River near Beatty until
Monday afternoon. The
Sprague River was at 4.5 feet
late Thursday evening. The flood
stage is 8.5 feet and the river
could reach that level early
Sunday.
>> 03/30/12 Bend Girl With
Meningitis Upgraded To Serious
Condition
A 5- year old Bend girl stricken
with life-threatening meningitis
two weeks ago has been upgraded
from critical to serious
condition at Doernbecher
Children's Hospital in Portland.
Last week Deschutes County
health officials rushed to
provide antibiotics to 40 people
who had been in contact with the
little girl.
>> 03/30/12 High Radon
Levels Measured In Governor's
Mansion
High levels of radon have been
measured in Mahonia Hall, the
governor's mansion in Salem.
Tests showed 6.2 picocuries per
liter of air in a basement
billiard room and 4.8 in a
storage room. The EPA
recommends home repairs if radon
levels exceed 4 picocuries per
liter if air. The federal
government says Radon is the
second leading cause of lung
cancer in America.
>> 03/30/12 REMINDER! Today Is
"Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
Day" In Oregon
>> 03/29/12 District Attorney
Worried About Loss Of Grant To
Prosecute Domestic Violence
Klamath County District Attorney
Ed Caleb says The Violence
Against Women grant that has
funded his office and
several agencies will expire in
July. Caleb told KFLS
News, the caseload for the
prosecutor who handles domestic
violence cases was 522 of the
4400 cases referred to his
office in 2010. Caleb says
he will ask the county budget
committee to provide funds for
the domestic violence
prosecutor. Caleb says he
is pursuing state and federal
grants but is not overly
optimistic due to Congressional
reluctance to spend money and
tight state budgets.
>> 03/29/12 Wrong Way
Motor Home Driver Causes Near
Head On Collisions On Highway 97
An elderly man from Yuma,
Arizona is believed to have
suffered a stroke on Wednesday
while driving a motor home about
15 miles north of Klamath Falls
on Highway 97. Oregon
State Police say more than a
dozen drivers were forced onto
the shoulder of Highway 97 as
they tried to avoid a head-on
collision with the northbound
motor home in the southbound
lane. A state
trooper, using emergency lights
and a siren, followed the motor
home for almost six miles before
the driver saw the trooper and
pulled over. The man was
taken to a hospital, his name
not released.
>> 03/29/12 Friday Is Welcome
Home Vietnam Veterans Day
The state of Oregon celebrates
"Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans
Day" on Friday March 30th.
An estimated 120,000 Vietnam
veterans live in this state. The
Oregon Legislature passed
legislation in 2011 designating
March 30th a day to welcome and
thank Vietnam veterans for their
service to America.
>> 03/29/12 Rip City
Riders To Help Wounded Warriors
Sunday
A Myrtle Point man, Jamie
Summerlin is running 3300 miles
across the country to raise
money and awareness for injured
U-S war veterans. Locally
the VFW is offering a $6
breakfast at 9am Sunday.
In addition the Rip City Riders
plan to gather at the Parking
Lot E at O-I-T at noon Sunday
and then at 1pm will leave on
the by-pass, take a right on
Main Street to 6th Street and
then turn left for the journey
to Klamath Community College.
A closing ceremony will be held
at K-C-C. On Monday at 4pm,
Jamie Summerlin will be at a
"Meet-and-Greet" at Veterans
Park. The public is
invited to all events and of
course donations for the Wounded
Warriors Project are welcome.
For more information contact
Tammy Bancroft at 541-497-3978.
>> 03/29/30 Oregon
Women
Veterans Conference Friday &
Saturday In Salem
All women who have ever served
in the military are invited to
attend the annual Women veterans
Conference Friday and Saturday
at the Salem Convention Center.
There will be workshops on
topics including military sexual
trauma, veterans benefits, post
traumatic stress and help with
employment. For more
information call 1-800-692-9666,
Ext. 2264. The conference
is free although registration is
required. The Salem
Convention Center is located at
200 Commercial Street, S.E.
>> 03/28/12 Klamath County
Unemployment Drops Again
The Klamath County unemployment
rate in February was 11.2% down
from the January rate of 11.6%.
This is the lowest unemployment
rate in Klamath county since
October 2008. State
economists say the drop is
attributed to people going back
to work as opposed to people
being discouraged and stopping
their search for a job.
The February 2011 unemployment
rate was 12.3%
>> 03/28/12 Huge Bird
Die-Off At Lower Klamath & Tule
Lake NWR's
A lack of water at the Lower
Klamath and Tule Lake National
wildlife refuges has spurred an
outbreak of Avian Cholera that
has killed at least 10,000
birds, most of them Snow Geese.
Klamath Basin National Wildlife
Refuges Complex manager
Ron Cole told KFLS News he
expects the number of dead birds
to increase dramatically before
the cholera outbreak runs its
course, which should take 2-to-4
more weeks. Volunteers
from Cal Ore Wetlands &
Waterfowl Council have been
helping to pick up bird
carcasses.
>> 03/28/12 Another Shaker Off
The Oregon Coast
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake
struck off the Oregon coast
Tuesday night at about 942.
The epicenter was 152 miles
west-northwest of Bandon. No
injuries or damage reports at
this time.
>> 03/28/12 Eighth Annual Model
Railroad Show At County Museum
Opens Tomorrow
The Klamath rails Model Railroad
Club will be operating its
HO-scale train layout at the
county museum tomorrow
(Thursday) through Saturday.
The show is one of the most
popular events of the year at
the museum. The hours are
Thursday and Friday 11am to 5pm
and Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Admission for adults and teens
is $3. Kids under the age
of 12 get in for free.
>>03/27/12 Street Closure
Tuesday
On Tuesday from 8am to 1pm 10th
Street between Main and Pine
streets will be closed.
Please use alternate routes.
>> 03/27/12 Weather
Advisories For Klamath Basin
Issued By Weather Service
The National Weather Service has
issued a wind advisory for the
Klamath Basin, Klamath Falls,
Beatty, Chemult, Sprague River
and Crescent until 5am
Wednesday. South-southwest
winds to 35 gusting to 45mph are
expected. A Winter
Weather Advisory has also been
issued for Klamath Basin from
5pm today (Tuesday) to 9am
Wednesday. Snow
accumulations to 5-inches
expected with hazardous driving
conditions on Highways 140 and
Highway 97.
>> 03/27/12 County Justice
Court Offers "Clean Slate"
Amnesty Program
Klamath county residents who
have had traffic, animal control
and other citations sent to
carter-Jones Collections have a
chance to have a 25% reduction
in court fees and collection
costs. People who want to
take advantage of the Clean
Slate Amnesty Program must pay
the balance of what they owe in
a lump sum payment between April
1st and June 30th with Visa,
MasterCard, money order,
cashier's check or cash.
No personal checks accepted.
For more information call
Carter-Jones Collections
at 541-882-3424.
>> 03/27/12
Candidates To Appear At Klamath
Patriots Meeting Tonight
The Tuesday night meeting of the
Klamath County Patriots from
630-to-830pm at TRIAD School
will feature two incumbents
seeking re-election.
Republican State Senator Doug
Whitsett and incumbent
Republican Klamath County
Commissioner Al Switzer will be
at the meeting to discuss issues
and answer questions. The public
is invited.
>> 03/26/12 Former Major
League Pitcher Dies
Former Major League Pitcher
Dennis Bennett, died at his
Klamath Falls home over the
weekend. The 72 year old
Bennett had battled cancer and
was hospitalized in Portland
until returning home last week.
The left-handed Bennett pitched
for Philadelphia, Boston, the
New York Mets and the L.A.
Angels. During the 1964
season Bennett and his brother
Dave pitched in the same
Philadelphia game.
>> 03/26/12 Helping The
Library Is Easy...Like Them On
Facebook
The Facebook Challenge
Fundraiser is continuing.
Go to the Klamath County Library
Facebook page and click the
"like" button. For every
"like" the library gets it will
receive $1 from sponsors.
>> 03/26/12 County Museum
Acquires Antique Saddle
An Army saddle believed to have
been used at Fort Klamath
military post in the 1800's has
been acquired by the Klamath
County Museum and will be
exhibited this weekend. A
free program is being held
Saturday, March 31st at 10am at
the Baldwin hotel Museum lobby.
A Civil War re-enactor and
student of history of the U-S
Cavalry, Shardon Lewis of Eagle
Creek will speak during the free
Saturday program.
>> 03/23/12 Missing North County
Man Found Alive
A north Klamath county man who
disappeared last week was found
alive and sleeping in his car on
Thursday morning. Two U-S
Forest Service Employees found
the car of 77 year old Donald A.
Jones near the Lane-Douglas
county line about 10:20am.
The vehicle had gone over an
embankment. Jones was
sleeping in the back seat.
Jones was transported to a
Roseburg hospital for medical
evaluation.
>> 03/23/12 Vehicle Theft,
High Speed Chase Leads To
Arrests
Three people were arrested late
Thursday morning following the
report of a stolen vehicle that
led to a high speed chase.
Klamath Falls police officers
spotted a car that had been
reported stolen at Sherm's
Thunderbird Market parking lot
and when the drive spotted
police sped away eastbound on
Shasta Avenue. The driver
got in a wreck with another
motorist then tried to run away
after the stolen vehicle hit a
tree. Police apprehended
24 year old Richard Ogle of
Klamath falls and charged him
with Vehicle Theft, Assault I.
Reckless Driving and Attempt To
Elude Two people
with Ogle, 26 year old Amber
Adams and 18 year old Kaeleeen
Koger, both of Klamath Falls
were also arrested and jailed.
>> 03/2312 Producer
Meeting Today At O-I-T
A reminder that a Producer
Meeting is at the O-I-T
Auditorium from 1-to-4pm today.
Farmers and irrigators are
invited to attend to ask
questions about Land Idling,
Prevented Planting and other
agriculture related topics.
>> 03/23/12 Lots Of
Activities For Kids Next Week
The Klamath County Museum is
offering free programs designed
for kids 12 and younger next
week, March 26th to March 30th)
in connection with Spring Break.
The Klamath County Children's
Museum is also open every day
until March 31st with activities
for kids. For more
information check
www.klamathmuseum.org and
www.cmkf.org. Volunteers
from the Oregon Parks and
Recreation Department will be at
24 sites along the Oregon coast
next week to help families spot
the migrating grey whales.
>> 03/23/12 Governor
Orders Flags At Half Staff
Saturday
Governor John Kitzhaber has
ordered all flags at public
buildings to be flown at
half-staff Saturday, March 24th
from sunrise to sunset.
The flags are in honor of 26
year old Air Force 1st Lt.
Justin Wilkens of Bend, who died
along with three other
crewmembers when their plane
went down february 18th in
Africa.
>> 03/22/12 AMTRAK Update
A spokesman for Union Pacific
Railroad says the line near
Chemult where a mud slide
occurred on Wednesday was
cleared early this (Thursday)
morning. AMTRAK officials
says passengers heading south
will be bussed from Portland to
Klamath Falls today.
Northbound Klamath Falls
passengers were bussed to their
destinations this morning.
Call 1-800-872-2745 if you are
traveling on AMTRAK tomorrow for
the latest information as to
arrivals and departures.
>> 03/22/12 AMTRAK Service
Disrupted Between Klamath Falls
& Eugene
AMTRAK service between Klamath
Falls and Eugene has been
disrupted after the Coast
Starlight train from Los Angeles
to Seattle hit a tree on
Wednesday, triggering a mudslide
that derailed the baggage car.
None of the 246 passengers was
injured although they sat in
train cars for several hours
without power. A freight train
engine was sent to take
passengers back to Chemult.
By Wednesday evening passengers
got sandwiches and beverages as
they boarded buses to Eugene and
Portland. It is not known
how long it will take to clear
the tracks. Passengers
planning on traveling AMTRAK to
Eugene and points north and
south out of Klamath Falls are
asked to call 1-800-872-7245 to
find out if trains are
operating.
>> 03/22/12 Lake Ewauna Trail
Wins ODOT Grant
The Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) has
awarded a $650,000grant
for the completion of the Lake
Ewauna Trail Project under the
Flexible Funds Program.
The program supports non-highway
projects that provide alternate
means of transportation.
Klamath Falls City parks
Superintendent Ken Hays told
KFLS News, his department is
"chomping at the bit" to get the
trail completed. Hay says
the trail will link residential
and business communities with
recreational trails. Hay says if
the grant money arrives in time
work could start on finishing
the Lake Ewauna Trail project
before the end of this fiscal
year.
03/21/12 Wind Advisory Today For
Klamath Basin
The National Weather Service has
issued a Wind Advisory for the
Klamath Basin from Noon today
till 11pm Wednesday. South
to southwest winds to 35mph
with gusts to 45-to-55mph are
expected in areas open to the
south and southwest and over
higher terrain.
>> 03/21/12 County Commissioners
Approve Drought Declaration
Klamath County Commissioners
approved a drought declaration
at their meeting Tuesday morning
as about five inches of snow
covered the basin floor.
Commissioner Al Switzer said the
county needed to declare the
drought now because it takes the
state of Oregon about a month to
decide whether to issue a
drought declaration. Switzer
said the move is designed to
protect area farmers. Recent
storms have raised the snowpack
to 85% of average in the Klamath
Basin.
>> 03/21/12 Gas Prices Just Keep
Going Up
For the first time since 2008,
the average price of a gallon of
gas in Oregon is $4. The
Triple-A Auto club says prices
moved up 2-point-5-cents in the
past week. The national average
is now at $3.85 a gallon and
Triple-A expects the national
average to peak at $4.25.
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