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Thursday, August 24, 2023

Klamath Basin Weather

An AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM TODAY

Today’s Headlines

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Pollution Advisory…in effect until 5 PM today, Thursday. Wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate and reach unhealthy levels at times for Klamath and northern Lake counties. Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. People at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the AQI index in Klamath Falls was 187, which is calculated to be in the “unhealthy” range.  Local high schools and college athletes are already practicing for the fall season.  The OSAA handbook says at the level reported yesterday, all outdoor activities shall be canceled or moved to an area with a lower AQI

Protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high:
Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it’s too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. Use a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in indoor ventilation systems or portable air purifiers. Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest levels. If you have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to follow it and keep any needed medications refilled. (national weather service/ODEQ)

The Klamath County District Attorney’s Office announced that yesterday afternoon, Halie Harkins received a mandatory minimum 25-year to life prison sentence for shooting and killing Tyler Bates and injuring two other victims.This investigation began on August 7, 2022, when law enforcement responded to the shooting in Chiloquin. On December 16, 2022, a full evidentiary hearing regarding bail and release was held.

The Honorable Judge Alicia Kersey found that the proof was evident and the presumption strong that defendant murdered Tyler Bates; bail and release were denied. On August 18, 2023, the defendant appeared in front of The Honorable Roxanne Osborne and pleaded guilty to Murder in the Degree and two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree.

Wednesday (yesterday), the defendant was sentenced to 25 years in prison and only after completion of that minimum period of confinement may she petition the State Board of Parole and Post-Prison for release.

It was through the work and coordination of the Klamath County Major Crimes Team (MCT) that this case was investigated and prosecuted. The Klamath County District Attorney’s Office would like to recognize members of the MCT who responded to the 9-1-1 calls including the lead investigator, Klamath County Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Daniel Towery for all their dedicated and expert efforts investigating and assisting throughout this case.  (kc district atty office press release)

Residents of Klamath Falls voiced concerns about the ongoing test and potential shift from downtown traffic signals to two- and four-way stops at Monday night’s Klamath Falls City Council Meeting.The public outcry comes in response to an ongoing traffic test conducted by city staff during which traffic signals along Main Street and Klamath Avenue are converted to flashing yellow and red lights.

Pending the outcome of this three-month testing period, traffic signals may be removed and replaced with stop signs where necessary.

But many city residents and downtown businesses have expressed strong disapproval of the change in traffic control.

Klamath Falls resident Rachel Lowther presented petitions to council with over 750 signatures collected so far. Cary Fenton and Jon Passmore, owners of the Daily Bagel and World of Akai Family Fun Center, shared the struggles their businesses are experiencing since the traffic test began.

Pedestrian safety was a focus for many of the residents who spoke during the meeting, some of whom shared stories of nearly hitting pedestrians or nearly being hit by motorists while crossing the streets.

Focus on the downtown area of Klamath Falls continued during the meeting with a public hearing held on behalf of the city’s proposed change in downtown parking permits.

Assistant to the City Manager Aaron Snow explained the item before council, noting that this was just a first step in the process which would allow the city to consolidate the current five different parking permits — full-time employees, part-time employees, overnight, reserved and residential — into one simplified permit.

The ordinance amends the city code sections relating to prohibited downtown parking in the parking district as well as the application and permit processes.  (herald and news)

The Klamath County Commissioners are considering a county-wide resolution that would change how advisory board members are appointed.Commissioners discussed a draft of the resolution during the regular administrative meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Commissioner Kelley Minty told Herald & News the topic came up when commissioners realized that the Klamath County Library Advisory Board (KCLAB) has multiple members who have served more than their two-term limit due to a lack of new applicants.

The goal of the potential resolution, Minty said, is to ensure county residents have equal opportunities to participate and serve the community.

According to Resolution 2016-17, the previous process by which appointments to advisory boards, commissions, committees and task forces required current advisory group members to conduct reviews of applications and make a recommendation to county commissioners.

If there were multiple applicants for the same seat, the county had the option of conducting interviews before appointing a member.

The updated process, as defined by the not-yet-finalized draft of the resolution, includes increased advertisements for more widespread awareness of the openings.

An updated draft of the resolution will be discussed and possibly approved at the next administrative meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the County Government Center, 305 Main St., room 214.  (herald and news)

Happy Camp Complex Morning Update Aug. 24, 2023

COMMUNITY MEETING: A community meeting will be held in Fort Jones on Thursday, August 24, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be at the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation, 9040 Sniktaw Lane. The meeting will be live-streamed on the Klamath National Forest Facebook page and YouTube (On YouTube, type in CIIMT5).

Today, there will be weather transitions over the Happy Camp Complex. This change is expected to lead to more active fire behavior. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for the area from 5:00 p.m. today through 8:00 a.m. Friday morning for thunderstorms and abundant lightning. The storms are expected to be dry, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain falling. The inversion will lift later this morning, and fire activity is expected to pick up on the west side. The east side will become more active later today as fuels continue to dry out.    

WEST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Elliot (1,862 acres, 3%), Swillup (1,168 acres, 0%), Malone (276 acres, 7%), Ufish (945 acres, 0%)

Yesterday, the Canyon, Three Creeks, and Elliot fires burned together and will now be known as the Elliot fire. The Swillup, Ufish, and Malone fires remained active through the afternoon.

Last night, crews executed two tactical firing operations. The first to tie the Elliot fire into Highway 96 by removing fuels between the fire’s edge and the highway. The second operation tied the north end of the Swillup fire to the 24 Road. Today, crews will focus on mopping up and holding the line along the roads. On the Elliot fire’s south end, firefighters will work to keep the fire from crossing Dillon Creek.

EAST SIDE OVERVIEW (ACRES/CONTAINMENT): Head (6,489 acres, 13%), Block (0.1 acres, 100%), Townsend (81 acres, 100%), Den (294 acres, 95%), Gold (968 acres, 60%), Scott (352 acres, 45%), Lake (174 acres, 5%) 

The east side of the complex exhibited smoldering fire behavior overnight. Fuels are still holding moisture following the rains but are expected to dry out as relative humidity drops today. Crews and dozers have been constructing fire line directly on the fire’s edge along all fires on the east side of the complex. Conditions have allowed crews to achieve high containment levels on the Townsend, Den, and Block fires. Many of the firefighting resources from these fires have been moved to higher-priority fires in the complex.

Today, firefighters will continue to build direct lines on all the fires on the east side of the complex. Containment is increasing as they move forward. Additional resources have been moved to the Head fire from lower-priority fires in the complex. A hose lay has been installed across the top of the Gold fire to strengthen the hand line and assist with mop-up.

It’s been a long wait, but tours of Crater Lake National Park in the new boats placed in the lake earlier this summer are finally happening.Reservations are recommended for the three different tours, which began operating Monday and will continue until Sept. 17. No tours will be offered, however, on Sept. 9 and 16 because Rim Drive will be closed for the annual Ride the Rim event.

The new boats — 41-feet long, 13-feet wide and constructed of aluminum alloy — can carry 55 passengers and two crew members. They replace boats that had a carrying capacity of 34. And, because each new boat will have two engines, one boat will no longer be required to remain at the Cleetwood Cove dock in case of an engine failure. It’s expected the upgrades mean many more people will be able to take the tours, which are often sold-out.

The new crafts also have an open boat design that, according to Katanacraft, the Grants Pass based company that designed and built the boats, will allow 360-degree views of the lake and caldera walls. Windshields will protect passengers from wind and spray off the lake.

Three tour options are being offered — standard two-hour cruises, cruises with three-hour Wizard Island layovers, and Wizard Island shuttles. Information on the various tours follow. For more information and reservations visit the Crater Lake Hospitality website at travelcraterlake.com/things-to-do/boat-tours.  (herald and news)

Upcoming Klamath County Library Events

BADGER RUN RUMMAGE SALE IS SATURDAY, Aug. 26th, Benefitting Wildlife Care in Klamath County

Around the state of Oregon

A Washington County jury has awarded nearly $4 million to a former Pacific University student who said the school improperly handled allegations that he sexually assaulted another student.Peter Steele, who enrolled in Pacific’s doctorate in psychology program in 2016, was suspended by the school in 2020 after a female student told school officials that he sexually and physically assaulted her. Steele maintains that his relationship with the woman was consensual and he did not assault her.

A jury last week found that Pacific had not acted in a fair and reasonable way toward Steele and had intentionally caused him emotional distress.

Pacific University is currently facing several additional lawsuits from former employees who allege that Pacific discriminated against them, including by improperly initiating Title IX investigations. (oregon news)

A Bend man was killed after the pickup he was driving rolled several times on the Cascade Lakes Highway early Tuesday morning. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said speed is believed to be a factor.

It happened about 3:45 a.m. just east of Sparks Lake.

Investigators say the 2004 Ford Ranger, driven by a 33-year-old Bend man, was going around a curve and ended up on the soft shoulder before rolling.

It was determined the driver died of his injuries. There was nobody else in the vehicle.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor. The man’s name wasn’t immediately released from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s office. (oregon news)

Kotek holds signing ceremony for bills on ghost guns, fentanyl and Oregon’s police training backlog

One of bills Gov. Tina Kotek highlighted on Monday, House Bill 2005, was one of the bills that Oregon Senate Republicans targeted with a six-week walkout.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek held a symbolic signing ceremony for seven new public safety bills Monday afternoon, touting legislation aimed at cracking down on “ghost guns” and fentanyl, bolstering Oregon’s overloaded public defender system and clearing a backlog at the state’s sole police academy.

The deadline for Kotek to sign bills from the 2023 legislative session has already passed; all of the bills she mentioned at Monday’s news conference were officially signed back in July, but the governor sought to highlight them as a group, declaring that they “represent concrete steps forward to ensure that Oregonians are safe and have trust in their justice system.”

The ghost gun bill was one of two bills targeted by a six-week walkout led by Senate Republicans earlier this year, which ended when Democrats agreed to scale down both pieces of legislation before passage — something Kotek acknowledged at Monday’s news conference, although she didn’t mention the parts that got cut.

“Because we know House Bill 2005 did generate some controversy in the legislature, and I want to thank the legislators and the advocates for getting that bill across the finish line,” she said. “It wouldn’t be here without your leadership, so thank you very much.”

The more expansive version of House Bill 2005 would have raised the minimum age to purchase most guns from 18 to 21 and given Oregon cities the option to ban firearms in public buildings, in addition to cracking down on untraceable firearms. The final version only maintains the ghost gun ban, establishing fines and jail time for the sale or possession of 3D printed guns with the serial numbers removed or unfinished gun frames and receivers.

Even the smaller version of HB 2005 ultimately passed the Senate on a relatively narrow vote — in terms of the legislature’s quorum rules — of 17-3, with 10 lawmakers absent or excused. Most of the other bills Kotek touted on Monday passed by large margins in both chambers.

The only other relatively close vote was for Senate Bill 337, which passed the Senate 17-8 with five absences. The bill aims to overhaul Oregon’s public defender system, but it made headlines during the legislative session when Kotek sent lawmakers a letter asking for amendments to the in-progress legislation.

The other five bills Kotek mentioned are:

• Senate Bill 5533 provides new funding for training and classes at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, Oregon’s only police academy. Mayor Ted Wheeler has cited a backlog at DPSST as one of the factors slowing down Portland’s efforts to fill police vacancies.
• House Bill 2676 updates Oregon’s Victims Compensation Program to expand counseling eligibility and offer compensation for additional expenses such as counseling or funeral expenses.
• House Bill 2732 provides funding for Children Advocacy Centers statewide, which provide services when child abuse is suspected.
• House Bill 2320 creates a Juvenile Justice Policy Commission Tasked with analyzing policy and making recommendations to the legislature about how to improve Oregon’s juvenile justice system.
• House Bill 2645 creates misdemeanor penalties for possession of a gram or more of fentanyl — or five pills — allowing violators to be sentenced to up to a year in jail or a $6,250 fine, or both.  (SOURCE)

Central Oregon Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison

On August 16, 2023, a Deschutes County, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl to Oregon for distribution.

Krista Vela, 39, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

“Today marks a significant victory in our ongoing fight against the scourge of methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking. With the successful arrest and conviction of Krista Vela, we have dealt a decisive blow to the criminal networks that seek to spread destruction in the central Oregon community,” said Sergeant Kent van der Kamp of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

“This outcome is a testament to the tireless efforts of the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE), and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We remain resolute in our commitment to ensure the safety of central Oregon, and this case serves as a powerful reminder that those who peddle in illegal drugs will face the full force of justice.”

According to court documents, in November 2020, as part of a broader drug trafficking investigation, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and CODE identified Vela as a key source of supply for a prominent area drug dealer. In early December, investigators seized several pieces of luggage being removed from a hotel room rented by Vela in Sunriver, Oregon.

The bags contained drug packaging materials, a digital scale, a GPS tracking device, 15 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 2 kilograms of fentanyl. One of the bags also contained several pieces of paperwork with Vela’s name on them.

On December 6, 2021, Vela was charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Later, on April 21, 2022, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Vela and an accomplice with conspiring with one another to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. On July 5, 2023, Vela pleaded guilty to both charges.

Vela’s sentence will run concurrent to an 84-month federal prison sentence imposed on March 16, 2023, in the District of Montana for a separate drug trafficking conviction.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, and CODE. It was prosecuted by Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The CODE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. CODE includes members of the Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Sunriver, and Black Butte Police Departments; the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department; the Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices; the Oregon State Police; the Oregon National Guard; DEA; and the FBI. Updated August 22, 2023 (SOURCE)

Potential Impact of $24.6 Billion Kroger-Albertsons Merger on Oregon’s Grocery Market Competition

Kroger, Fred Meyer and QFC’s parent company, and Albertsons, Safeway’s owner, are on the verge of a substantial $24.6 billion merger. This move promises to reshape the retail landscape of the Pacific Northwest and bolster competition.

Concerns are surfacing, though, regarding the potential reduction in shopping options for Oregon residents. Regulatory hurdles such as Federal Trade Commission (FTC) scrutiny over potential monopolistic results and price increases are also present.

Kroger’s CEO, Rodney McMullen, strongly backs the merge. He refers to the grocery industry’s drastic changes over the past ten years to support his point. He believes that the merger will fortify Kroger and Albertsons’ standing against big players like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco.

Another objective of the merger is to enhance their online grocery wing in response to the growing trend of online grocery shopping.

However, industry analysts have a cautious outlook on the merger’s approval due to the FTC’s strict perspective on such proposals. They criticize the FTC’s interpretation of the grocery industry which might ignore major players such as Amazon or Costco. They warn that overlapping stores might need to be sold to preserve market competition, raising questions about finding willing buyers. The situation recalls the Albertsons-Safeway merger in 2015 which led to 150 stores being sold to a smaller grocer, who later went bankrupt. Such situations make it unclear whether the proposed merger will encourage competition or create a monopoly in Oregon’s grocery industry.

PODCAST: https://www.oregonlive.com/podcasts/2023/08/what-a-kroger-albertsons-grocery-merger-could-mean-for-oregonians-beat-check-podcast.html?outputType=amp

Another Illegal Grow Bust in Josephine County

Governor Tina Kotek is urging Oregonians to apply for over 130 open positions on 12 new boards and commissions that were created by the Legislature.

They include hospital discharge challenges, juvenile justice, cybersecurity, universal health and more. Kotek says true progress requires each and every one to be engaged.

Applicants should apply on the state’s website. https://oregon.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/SOR_External_Career_Site

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