Arson trial begins today in county building fire

The trial begins today for Michael Scott Wynn, the man accused of setting a fire that caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage to a county mental health building in February. During a hearing yesterday Wynn waived his right to a jury, so judge Marci Adkisson will hear the case and give a verdict.

Man tries to set fire to mattress at Klamath County Jail

A man allegedly tried to burn a mattress at the Klamath County jail yesterday afternoon, and now he faces arson charges. 48-year old Phillip Garber was being booked on a criminal trespass charge and was uncooperative. After he was put into a cell, he tried to light the mattress on fire with a lighter he had smuggled in. It didn't catch fire and was only singed. Garber is held in lieu of $120,000 bail.

Man sentenced after February crimes

Klamath County Circuit Court Judge Roxanne Osborne sentenced 24-year old Bryce Logan Willhite to 70 months in prison this week for second degree robbery and third degee assault. Willhite was indicted back in February for attempting to steal a vehicle and causing physical injury to the owner. He also was caught attempting to elude the police.

Judge hearing case against Klamath County Treasurer dies

Earlier this month, judge Charles Mundorff heard the cases of two female employees in the Klamath County Treasurer's office who say Treasurer Mike Long sexually harassed them and mismanaged county funds, causing them undue stress. That judge has died unexpectedly. Judge Mundorff suffered a heart attack while camping, at age 52. The Oregon Workers' Compensation Board says another judge will be assigned to the case.

Police recognize man, make arrest

19-year old Seth Gregory Hernandez of Klamath Falls has been arrested on weapons charges and failure to appear charges. Hernandez reportedly tried to escape Klamath Falls Police officers on foot. Officers recognized Hernandez as having outstanding warrants while they were in the area of North Eighth Street and Lincoln Street looking for another theft suspect. Hernandez is being held at the Klamath County Jail in lieu of $80,000 bail.

Fireworks sales expected to pick up

Fireworks stands around Klamath Falls told the Herald and News they haven't been too busy yet, but they expect sales to pick up this weekend. Most fireworks buyers seem to be the last minute kind, so sales are expected to spike Friday through Monday.

Cedarville man killed

48-year old Craig Gordon Lafferty was arraigned in Modoc Superior Court this week on voluntary manslaughter charges in the death of Kevin Scott Konz of Cedarville. The Modoc County Sheriff's Office is still investigating, but for now authorities say Lafferty might have thought Konz was a prowler or burglar. Laffery was visiting his neighbor in Lake City when the death happened.

Klamath County deputy arrested

A Curry County police investigation has left a Klamath County Sheriff's Patrol Deputy without a job. Joshua Andrew Bryant has been arrested on a number of sex abuse charges. Bryant had been on administrative leave during the investigation into an alleged incident that happened May 21. Bryant resigned during the investigation. A warrant for Bryant's arrest was issued last Friday and he was taken into custody Monday. He's currently out on bond.

Forest bans fireworks

The Klamath National Forest is reminding visitors and campers that the use of all fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices is prohibited on all national forests and national grasslands regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Regulations are strictly enforced..

Modoc County man convicted of sex crimes

Shannon Damron of Modoc County man has been convicted of numerous sex crimes and burglary charges in connection to a relationship he had with two minor females. A jury handed down eight counts of unlawful intercourse with a minor, along with four other charges. The jury was hung on three other related charges. Modoc County District Attorney Chris Brooke said the charges stemmed from a nearly two-year relationship he had with one of the girls. He was 34 at the time. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 2.

Two hospitalized after Highway 97 wreck

Oregon State Police from the Klamath Falls office are continuing the investigation into Tuesday morning's two-vehicle head-on crash on Highway 97 north of the California / Oregon border. Troopers say a car driven by 18-year old Andrew Sayles Klamath Falls man was northbound on Highway 97 near milepost 290 when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound car driven by 19-year old Chelsea Schepps from Anderson, California. Both drivers were initially taken to Sky Lakes Medical Center, then airlifted to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. The investigation continues.

State lawmakers approve healthcare initiative

Health care reform in Oregon is a top priority for legislators. The Oregon House has approved Gov. Kitzhaber's initiative to change the Oregon Health Plan from a fee-for-service model to one that rewards care providers for keeping their patients healthy. The measure would create community-based organizations to coordinate mental, physical and dental health. The bill now goes to the Senate.

City Council agrees to fund swap

The Klamath Falls City Council has approved the agreement to swap funds for the county jail. In a 3-1 vote last night, the council gave the go ahead for an exchange of of $633,000 next year with Klamath County Commissioners. The swap will help fund 116 beds in the Klamath County Jail, and keep it from closing a pod again.

Court fees could go to General Fund under new bill

Fees collected by the court system could become taxes under a late-session House bill. Currently, filing in small claims court or getting a divorce have a fee attached to them. Under House Bill 2710, those fees would be redirected from the fund allocated only to the court system to the general fund. In committee, Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, opposed the idea and said it's a tax for the privilege of access to justice.

Expect increased patrols over the holiday weekend

Oregon State police, along with county and city law enforcement are stepping up efforts to catch impaired drivers this 4th of July weekend. If you see a suspected drunk driver, report them at 1-800-24DRUNK (1-800-243-7865) or call 9-1-1.

Military enlistment up

Military recruiters say enlistments in the area are up. The Herald and News reports that more college graduates are among those joining up. One Navy recruiter said he enlisted a man who had a doctorate in engineering from Oregon State University but couldn't find a job. Military enlistees also are serving longer too because of the uncertain economy.

Local banker disciplined by FDIC

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has disciplined a Klamath Falls banker for unsafe practices. According to an FDIC order made public Friday, Shannon M. Kuhlman took part in "unsafe or unsound banking practices" and is barred from any conduct with a financial instituion. Kuhlman was a branch manager for Sterling Bank in Klamath Falls, and agreed to the consent order from the FDIC without admitting or denying any wrongdoing.

Kruise of Klamath a success

The annual Kruise of Klamath Show N Shine brought out thousands of spectators over the weekend at Moore Park. Hundreds of Classic Cars impressed adults as well as the kids. The park held the big gathering Saturday afternoon, then the restored cars took to Main Street Saturday night to strut their stuff.

Area economy adding jobs, but slowly

The good news is, there are jobs available to job hunters. The bad news...many are applying for the same position and the competition is solid. WorkSource Klamath reports they had 161 job openings last week, which is up 27 percent from the first half of 2010. The Oregon Employment Department says Klamath County's economy shrunk by 14 percent during the recession and lost 2700 private sector jobs that haven't come back yet.

Accident near Grants Pass kills a young boy

A 9-year-old boy was killed in an accident near Grants Pass Friday. A 3-year-old was injured when the driver of their SUV lost control of the vehicle and struck a motor home on Interstate 5. 29-year old Sadhana Kumar from California was the driver, and the crash ejected 9-year-old Krish Kumar. He died at the scene despite resuscitation efforts by the driver of the motor home, who is a retired firefighter. 3-year-old Arav Kumar is still at a Portland hospital.

Minor earthquake happened this week in Klamath Falls

Ddi you feel the earthquake on Wednesday? Most people didn't. But a 2.8 magnitude quake happened 6 miles southwest of Klamath Falls eary that morning, about 3.7 miles underground.

Prison sentence handed down after fight

31-year old Tyrone Wright of Klamath Falls has been sentenced to 38 months in prison for Attempted Assault in the second degree. Wright was indicted by the Klamath County Grand Jury last September for hitting a victim with a piece of rebar, which is considered a dangerous weapon under Oregon Law. It happened during a fight on Pine Street. District Attorney Ed Caleb says Wright has prior convictions for assault in the fourth degree and robbery in the third degree.

California man arrested for theft

44-year old Patrick Eugene Stout from Lakeport, CA was arrested Wednesday on theft-related warrants. Stout was booked into the Klamath County Jail and charged with 11 counts of first-degree theft, one count of racketeering and 10 counts of criminal mischief. He's being held in lieu of $154,000 bail.

Area jobless rates drop, but still high

The jobless rates in Siskiyou and Modoc counties dropped again in May, but they're still well l above state and national averages. The Siskiyou rate for May was 16.4 percent, and Modoc's is 13.3 percent. Both counties saw seasonal gains, especially Modoc County with a spike in farm-related jobs.

Woman arrested for impersonating an officer

18-year-old Chazzeree M. Tarango-Lugo of Klamath Falls was arrested Wednesday for allegedly pepper spraying another person while claiming to be a police officer. She had a t-shirt with "police" written on it and displayed a weapon, according to a Klamath Falls police department release. Taranga-Lugo was booked into the Klamath County Jail for criminal impersonation of a peace officer, second-degree use of a stun gun/tear gas/mace, harassment and fourth-degree assault. She is held in lieu of $23,000 bail.

Will Klamath Falls see a downtown historic district?

There seems to be interest again in a downtown historic district in Klamath Falls. Property owners have resisted in the past over fears about the impact it might have on development. Becoming a historic district would mean a portion of downtown Klamath Falls would go on the National Register of Historic Places. The Oregon Bank Building at Main and Ninth streets and the Klamath County Museum already are registered. Nothing has been decided yet.

Ruby Pipeline workers finishing up

Ruby Pipeline officials say two local sections of pipeline should be in the ground by this weekend. Then they'll check for leaks and start backfilling the trench. The sections employee about 800 workers locally, most of whom will be out of work once the project finishes.

Oak forests are important to wildlife, but they're threatened

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife biologists based in Klamath Falls say the oak system is the most valuable habitat in Oregon for migratory birds. But in several cases the oak tree is threatened, and Oak woodlands are the third most endangered forests systems in the US, with just 4 to 7 percent of Oregon's original oak woodland habitat remaining. Conservation efforts are underway in Jackson and Siskiyou counties.

Street closures this weekend for Kruise of Klamath

This weekend, 500 cars will strut their stuff at Kruise of Klamath. Organizers say public parking is extremely limited for Saturday's Show 'n Shine at Moore Park so the free shuttle is best from OIT to Moore Park. The shuttle is available from 10am to 4pm and all riders are entered into a raffle for dinner for two at Starv'n Marv'n Family Restaurant.

Donations for the Food Bank are encouraged at the Show 'n Shine at Moore Park. The Food Bank will have truck stationed at Moore Park to accept donations or they can be dropped off at the Kruise of Klamath booth.

There's no parking on Main St. or Klamath Ave. between 5th and 12th streets after 6pm on Saturday. The downtown loop will be closed for the Saturday night cruise and cars not removed will be towed.

Police investigate fatal accident

State Police from the Klamath Falls office are investigating yesterday's fatal motorcyle accident on Highway 140E near Bly. A 51-year old woman died and her name will be released later this morning. A convertible driven by Paul Miller was was eastbound on Highway 140E attempting to turn left onto Deer Run Road when it was struck from behind by the motorcycle. The motorcycle was trying to pass. The vicitim was ejected from the motorcycle and died at the scene. There were no other injuries

Man suffers burns in fire

A Klamath County man suffered serious burns in a fire late Monday night at his home in eastern Klamath County. Patrick Johnson was burned on about 8 percent of his body when his trailer caught fire. He was taken to Sky Lakes medical center first, then transferred to the Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emmanuel Medical Center in Portland.

Connections Academy to graduate three local students

Oregon Connections Academy is the state's leading tuition-free, vitual public school. They'll graduate their largest class to date this Saturday in Salem. Around 150 students from all over Oregon will get their diplomas, and the ceremony will be broadcast live online. Graduates from Klamath County include Shelby Driscoll, Malin; Aliesha Hamar, Klamath Falls; Katherine Pannel, La Pine. The school is K-12, and is enrollilng for the coming school year.

www.connectionsacademy.com

Oregon National Guard has first female Brigadier General

Oregon National Guard officer, Colonel Julie A. Bentz, currently the Director, Nuclear Defense Policy, National Security Council in Washington, D.C., has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be promoted to Brigadier General. Colonel Bentz has won more than 15 awards, and is the first female from the Oregon National Guard to be selected for Brigadier General. Her promotion date is to be determined.

Tulelake Fair to let attendees pay what they can

The Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair is trying something new for this year's fair. California fairs have lost 100% of their funding due to the state’s financial crisis, and that was 40 percent of Tulelake's budget. So this summer they're trying “Pay What You Can” Admissions. They'll have a suggested daily admission of $15 for large families, and $3 to $5 for adults. The fair provides a service, and just asks for support. The fair is September 8 through 11.

Jobs may not be what you want

Feel optimistic about getting a job? A state survey finds that about 40 percent of Oregon employers plan to hire over the next 6 months. Many of those jobs would be seasonal or recession-based. Only 19 percent of those surveyed intend to increase overall staffing levels.

State police cracking down on marijuana operations

As you're camping and spending time outside this summer, Oregon State police would like you to report any suspicious activity you come across. Six people were arrested last week for an illegal marijuana growth operation in northeast Oregon, which could be the largest in Oregon to date. Police know there are others, and if you see the fields let police know.

Local fire serviceman tapped for state board

Dave Jones has been tapped to serve on the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training. Jones has been a member of the fire service for 28 years, serving in Keno, Klamath Falls, Kingsley Field, Jefferson, and the Office of State Fire Marshal. He retired as Supervising Deputy State Fire Marshal in January 2011. As a member of the board he'll represent 35,000 public safety professionals.

Fire season begins

Wildfires have already been a problem in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other states this year. Oregon is not exempt. Last week's 1,800-acre forest fire in the Modoc National Forest is believed to have started from someone burning debris. Fire season officially begins today, and forest service agencies across the Klamath Basin are gearing up to prevent other large fires. Rainfall has been adequate, but the fire risk is still there.

Boat inspections now mandatory

With growing concerns about invasive species, boat inspections are becoming mandatory. That's any kind of boat, from a yacht to a canoe. You'll be required to stop at check stations and be inspected, which takes 10 to 15 minutes. The fine if you bypass it is $90 under a new bill passed Thursday by the Oregon Senate. The bill still has to be signed by Governor Kitzhaber.

State Unemployment rate drops

Governor John Kitzhaber says the drop in Oregon's unemployment numbers for May are confirmation that the recovery is underway. He added, we need to make sure the recovery is reaching all communities. The state unemployment rate for May is 9.3%. So far in 2011, 16,800 jobs have been created.

Contractor who failed to do the work is sentenced

Klamath County Circuit Court Judge Dan Bunch this week revoked the probation of 46-year old John Thomas McGuire and sentenced him to 18 months in prison. McGuire was sentenced to probation two years ago for theft charges after taking money to put in a septic system and failing to do the job. He violated probation by being arrested in Deschutes County for Burglary, using alcohol, and failing to pay restitution.

Klamath Community College students excel in testing

KCC Auto Tech students are good at what they do. The inaugural Automotive Technology program has accomplished something that no similar program in the nation can claim: an 80 percent student pass rate on Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) testing. KCC says students are proving they're prepared for good jobs in the real world.

Man sentenced for probation violation

Klamath County Circuit Court Judge Roxanne Osborne this week sentenced 35-year old James Duran to 36 months in prison on a probation violation. He was on probation for a felony domestic violence charge. He failed to comply with his probation by using alcohol and failing domestic violence treatment.

Big R closed for repairs after fire

Big R on South 6th Street in Klamath Falls suffered an electrical fire Wednesday night in a chainsaw display rack. An assistant department manager told us by phone they were notified of the fire when an alarm went off. There were no injuries, but the store did suffer damage. They're closed until further notice for repairs.

Vehicle becomes airborne, lands on golf course

A man drove through the intersection of Greensprings Drive and the Southside Bypass yesterday and didn't stop for a flagger. He ended up traveling 20 feet in the air and driving across part of the golf course at Reames Golf and Country Club. No injuries reported and the man hasn't been identified, but he was taken to Sky Lakes Medical Center for observation. Police are investigating.

OIT raising money for a new basketball floor

In a tough budget climate, repairs and renovations sometimes can't wait. There's an effort going on now to raise $150,000 to put in a new basketball floor at the Oregon Institute of Technology. The current floor is on its 47th year, and it was only supposed to last 35.

For more on how to donate, call 541-885-1138
russel.mcmahon@oit.edu

Fireworks season opens next week

June 23 opens the season for fireworks sales in Oregon. Legal fireworks may be purchased only from Oregon permitted fireworks retailers and stands. The Office of State Fire Marshal has issued more than 810 retail fireworks permits, and 185 display permits. Fireworks that are banned by Oregon law include fireworks that fly, explode or travel more than six feet on the ground or 12 inches in the air. Bottle rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers are illegal in Oregon. And all fireworks are prohibited on beaches, in parks, and campgrounds.

Wine makers can enter State Fair contest

The Oregon State Fair will host amateur winemakers and home brewers from across Oregon to compete for top honors at the Oregon State Fair. The deadline for entry to the Amateur Wine Competition is July 1st. Wine be dropped off at the Oregon State Fairgrounds July 14th and 15th, or received in the mail by July 15th, 2011 at 5 p.m. Judging will be held on July 21st and 22nd. Awards will be announced by August 12.

For more information, including entry forms, visit http://www.oregonstatefair.org/competition/wine
or email Kim Grewe-Powell, the event coordinator, at kim.grewe-powell@state.or.us

Pipeline workers uncover human skull

Ruby pipeline workers found a skull with a bullet hole last week that may be the remains of a California man missing since 2008. The Herald and News says DNA analysis will be needed to positively identify the remains and that could take months.The family of the missing man was notified and asked to provide a sample for analysis.

Medical officer worker found guilty of taking money

A Klamath Falls woman has been convicted of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a medical office over a three-year period. 54-year old Barbara Jo Hunter was found guilty in Klamath County Circuit Court of six counts of aggravated first-degree theft. She is being held in the Klamath County Jail without bail until a sentencing hearing in early July. Hunter worked as a bookkeeper for Dan Benson and Phil Smith, two Klamath Falls ophthalmologists.

Klamath County sees productive timber harvest

Timber harvesting in 2010 in Oregon...a bright spot for an industry that has been struggling. A spike in lumber prices and increased log and lumber exports to China drove up log prices by 21 percent, which fueled more harvests. Klamath County was grouped with other counties in eastern Oregon and led the group with a harvest of 94 million board feet. That's up 23 percent from 2009.

Jobless rate improves

Governor John Kitzhaber says the drop in Oregon's unemployment numbers for May are confirmation that the recovery is underway. He added, we need to make sure the recovery is reaching all communities. The state unemployment rate for May is 9.3%. So far in 2011, 16,800 jobs have been created.

Modoc fire fully contained

The wildfire at the Lava Beds National Monument in Modoc National Forest is fully contained now. There are still crews there monitoring the situation and continuing clean-up efforts. They'll most likely stay through Friday. Authorities determined the fire is human-caused after finding burning debris near the site.

Meeting next week addresses air quality

The Klamath Air Quality Advisory Committee is working on reducing fine particulate air pollution the Klamath Falls area. Next Wednesday, June 22, the committee will discuss pollution from industrial facilities, how DEQ regulates facilities like that and ideas for reducing fine particulate air pollution from industry in the Klamath Falls area. The meeting is open to the public. It's 2 to 5pm in the Klamath County Government Center on Main Street.

Klamath County debt forgiven

Klamath and Lake counties don't have to pay back tens of thousands of dollars mismanaged by a former job and workforce training agency. State labor officials say financial liability from Klamath-Lake Employment Training Institute’s mismanagement between 2003 and 2006 was forgiven by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Chance to tour the new 911 Center

The public is invited to tour the new operations center of the Klamath County 911 Emergency Communications District from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday. It's at 2543 Shasta Way next to the Klamath Falls Police Department headquarters. Dispatchers started operating there at the end of April.

Remains found by pipeline workers

Lake County authorities think they may have the remains of a man who abandoned his truck in the Fremont-Winema National Forest with a suicide note in 2008. Workers from the Ruby Pipeline found the remains last week. There was a human skull with a bullet hole in it. ID won't be complete until DNA analysis is conducted but the suspected victim's family was notified and has provided a tissue sample for analysis.

Motorcylist arrested after topping 100 mph

A 22-year old Winston man was arrested Sunday night by state police after attempting to elude the trooper on his motorcycle. It happened south of Roseburg on Interstate 5 where the trooper was on patrol. When the trooper tried to pull the motorcylce over southbound on Interstate 5 and took the exit 119 off ramp onto Highway 42 and continued at speeds between 110 - 120 mph, then ran a red light. Eventually the driver gave up, and 22-year old Wyley Bartlett arrested for attempting to elude and reckless driving.

Elderly man cited after accident near La Pine

Two people received minor injuries yesterday in an accident at Highway 97 and State Rec Road near LaPine. An Oregon State Police cited 84-year old Howard F Snider for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. A police investigation showed he pulled out into the path of a driver from Tuscon, Arizona. The two drivers and a passendger were all were using seat belts.

Gov. Kitzhaber applauds Cool Schools passage

Governor Kitzhaber is pleased with the state House's unanimous passage of the energy-saving Cool Schools legislation. Kitzhaber says this is a central job creation tool and will put people in both rural and urban areas of the state back to work. It will also save save money that can be put back in the classroom, and make schools healthier places to teach and learn.

State prison inmate has tuberculosis

Health officials at the Dept of Corrections have confirmed one inmate has an active case of tuberculosis at Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, Oregon. Tuberculosis is a contagious, serious infection of the lungs. TB can be successfully treated The inmate has been isolated and is undergoing treatment. He will continue to be tested and treated until he is no longer contagious, and they are monitoring the situation in case of an outbreak.

Klamath County man arrested for outstanding warrant

33-year-old man was arrested over the weekend near Ashland for driving under the influence of intoxicants, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and a warrant out of Yreka, Calif. for sale and transportation of marijuana. A 26-year-old passenger arrested on warrants from Klamath Falls Circuit Court for failure to appear on a driving-while-suspended charge and a Jackson County Circuit Court warrant for failure to appear on a DUII charge. Both men were lodged at Jackson County Jail.

Rescue mission busy

The executive director of the Klamath Falls Gospel Mission says it is seeing more people than ever before and feeding more people than ever before. Kent Berry tells the Herald and News that, despite the greater numbers being served, they aren’t seeing an increase in the number of confrontations between the homeless and other Klamath Falls residents as the weather warms up.

Oregon Institute of Technology holds graduation

OIT held graduation over the weekend, with 315 students attending the ceremony to recieve their diplomas. There were 580 total in the graduating class.

Speeder clocked doing 103 mph

A state trooper Saturday used a horn to scare a herd of mule deer off of Highway 138 west of Highway 97. Moments later the trooper said he clocked somone traveling 103 mph on that stretch of road, which is a 55 pmh zone. 21-year old Ji Wang from Forest Grove was cited, and the scheduled fine for an offense of that level is $1148. State police say hundreds of deer are killed annually on the roads, and this case could have been much worse.

Highway 97 sees work this summer

More work is being done this summer paving eight miles of Highway 97. Crews are also widening road shoulders, constructing rock fall barriers, improving pavement striping at the Modoc Point Road intersection, and installing new and upgrading existing concrete barriers and guardrails. On Spring Creek Hill, they'll install a new camera and weather information station.

City will fix patrol cars rather than buy new ones

City Police Chief Jim Hunter has withdrawn his request to buy 10 new police vehicles. The plan now is to refurbish outdated patrol cars as a way to save $255,000. Hunter told the Herald and News, refurbishment means everything is new from bumper to engine, and that can buy the cars another two years or so. They'll use local mechanics and do it gradually.

Guilty but insane ruling sends man to state hospital

Klamath County Circuit Court Judge Dan Bunch last week sentenced 30-year old Ronald Lidyoff to the Oregon State Hospital on a 20 year sentence. The court found that Lidyoff was guilty but insane for arson charges that occurred on April 30 and August 10 of 2010. The fires were set at 1401 East Main.

Autopsy results show Ashland teen drowned, most likely

The 16-year-old boy found dead in Ashland Creek recently, mostly likely died of drowning, according to autopsy results. There was no evidence of fould play. Ashland High School student Sammy Hayes was last seen at graduation over a week ago. His family reported him missing on Saturday and his body was found in the creek on Tuesday. Toxicology results have been ordered, and those could take another four weeks.

Second jail pod will stay open

Klamath Falls City Council agreed to the city-county fund swap last night that will keep a second pod open at the Klamath County jail through the next fiscal year. It was a 3-1 vote, that will allow for the equal exchange of restricted road funds and unrestricted city street money.

Man sentenced in roommate's death

A Chiloquin man has been sentenced for criminally negligent homicide after a female roommate died. 52-year old Peter White pleaded guilty in late May in the death of Wendy Dollar, who died several days after an argument with White in August of last year. She died of blunt force trauma, according to medical examiners. White was sentenced to nearly three years in prison.

Modoc fire continues to send smoke to Southern Oregon

The wildfire in Modoc County, Northern California, went from 100 acres Wednesday to 650 Thursday. Officials report the fire has covered 1800 acres now. Smoke is in southern Oregon as well as northern Nevada and the Truckee Meadows. The fire is burning near the Lava Beds National Monument, and the US Forestry Service says it's 60 percent contained. It may have started by a controlled debris burn.

Husband and wife arrested

Husband and wife Benny and Nina Quinn have been arrested on burglary and menacing charges. The two were arrested Wednesday for probable cause, without warrants, according to the jail booking sheet. Both are being held at the Klamath County Jail in lieu of $35,000 bail.

Two biomass facilities could be nearby

Klamath Falls could have two 35-megawatt biomass facilities by 2015 after a decision this week. Klamath Generation LLC will modify a proposed project from a natural gas turbine system to a wood-waste burning facility. The Klamath Generation Facility is scheduled for construction on Collins Products property on Highway 66 west of Klamath Falls near the junction with Highway 97. That's about a mile east of the planned site for another biomass facility, which is nearing final approval from the Oregon Department of Energy.

Town hall meeting Monday

Coming up next Monday, the Klamath County Board of Commissioners will hold its next town hall meeting at the Chemult Fire Hall, 109800 Highway 97 North. The community is invited to attend the open forum starting at 7 p.m. Monday.

Home prices held down by foreclosures

The Klamath County housing market is still a buyer's market. Prices are lower, thanks largely to foreclosures driving down prices. Properties owned by a bank usually sell for about 80 percent of the value, and to compete, other homes have to drop prices So far in 2011, the Klamath County Association of Realtors says home prices are about $25,000 less than 2010. Home prices may edge up a bit this summer, but not much.

Fire burns at Lava Beds Monument

If you saw the large plume of smoke yesterday, it was from a wildfire near Lava Beds National Monument. The fire has consumed at least 100 acres of land and still is burning. The good news, cooler overnight temperatures weakened the fire. The Modoc National Forest public affairs office says the fire hasn't harmed any structures.

Cool weather hurts crops

The unseasonable cool weather has crops behind schedule. Alfalfa is one crop that's suffered some this spring. Last week's average air temperature around Klamath Falls was 46 degrees, 11 degrees below average, according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

DMV office to close four days next week

Several DMV offices are closing for maintenance. The Klamath Falls office at 1909 Austin St., will be closed Tuesday, June 14, through Friday, June 17. It will reopen Monday, June 20. You can always check www.oregondmv.com to find offices, check hours and do some business online.

State lawmakers continue to address budget

Under new budget bills, The Oregon Health Authority's budget will increase nearly 11 percent, to $11.9 billion. The medical marijuana card annual fee doubles to $200. The Oregon Department of Transportation budget will shrink more than 13 percent. That's down to $3.8 billion.

Whitsett would like more time to study measures

Oregon lawmakers have launched into overdrive, trying to address as many issues as possible before the end of the legislative session. The Joint Ways and Means Committee barreled through more than 30 budget and budget-related bills yesterday, some of them getting only a few moments of commentary before passage. Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, said it's unacceptable to have such little study time.

Congressman wants to know about Palin

Democratic Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer says he wants to know if Sarah Palin’s “One Nation” bus tour is getting special consideration. Blumenauer has written a letter to the head of the National Park Service, asking what resources the agency devoted to Palin’s tour of historical East Coast sites last week. He says it would inappropriate for federal resources to be used supporting what some have called a political event.

Klamath Falls City Schools budget approved

The Klamath Falls City Schools district will lost 15 teaching positions next year and will have larger class sizes. They'll also lose vocational programs like auto mechanics and metal fabrication. There was an opportunity for the public to speak and ask for changes at a Monday night meeting, but no one signed up and the board approved the budget. This trims $3.8 million.

Chiloquin gets Youth Center

The Modoc-Klamath Native Partners is a newly created nonprofit organization that has just acquired a 4,000-square-foot building in downtown Chiloquin. They're quickly transforming it into a community youth center. It's the former Chiloquin Lions Club building, donated to the fire district when it disbanded six years ago.

Bill concerning Tribal Police heads to House

A controversial bill that would give more power to tribal police officers in Oregon passed the Senate Monday. Klamath Falls Republican Doug Whitsett says it goes too far, because it gives tribal governments power that no other police authority in Oregon has. It allows tribal police to pursue suspects off of tribal land and make arrests. The bill is opposed by the Oregon Sheriffs Association because non tribal officers still wouldn't have authority on tribal land. The bill now heads to the State House for consideration.

New law notifies parents

A new Oregon state law will require school districts to tell parents before the end of the school day if their child didn’t show up for class. This legislation was brought on my the disappearance of Kyron Horman a year ago. Some districts use an automated system of notification. Lawmaker’s say they don’t know if moving up the notification timetable would have made a difference in the Horman case, but at least it insures that each district will have a mandatory policy in place from now on.

Man being evaluated

A Jackson County man is being evaluated by mental health officials after a short standoff Monday. David Coryell was arrested after several units responded to a welfare check call at his house. Deputies were told he had several weapons inside the house, including 2 high-powered rifles and a handgun. Coryell’s wife was taken safely to another location while the suspect was heard breaking things inside the house. A negotiator talked him into surrendering.

Cool Schools bill moves through state legislature

Governor John Kitzhaber wants to put people to work by retrofitting schools with energy efficient technology. A bill moving through the legislature could be up for a vote in the House this week. It's the Cool Schools initiative that would give schools low interest or no interest loans to improve energy efficiency. If the House approves, the bill would go to the Senate.

Developers of biomass plant close to approval

Developers of a proposed biomass plant in Klamath Falls are close to getting final approval. Northwest Energy Solutions wants to build a $130 million facility that could produce 37 megawatts of electricity per day. Once the state approves, the company can start receiving public comment.

Transient arrested on robbery and theft charges

37-year old Vincent Troy Hammock of Klamath Falls was arrested Sunday night on robbery and theft charges. Hammock is a transient according to police, and was booked into the Klamath County Jail on a second-degree robbery charge, as well as second-degree theft and two counts of menacing. He's being held in the jail in lieu of $115,000 bail.

Campgrounds to close at Klamath National Forest

The Klamath National Forest will be temporarily closing several campgrounds in the headwaters of the Salmon River so they can safely remove hazardous trees. Log onto our website for a list of the closures and their dates. They'll have signs posted alerting you to specific closures at the site.

Trail Creek Campground: now through June 15th,
Carter Meadows Campground: now through June 29th and,
Hidden Horse Campground: June 15th through June 29th.

Death of Roseburg woman investigated

Oregon State Police are investigating the cause of death of a 60-year old Roseburg woman found unconscious in her vehicle Sunday night about three miles south of Cottage Grove. Preliminary investigation indicates her cause of the death is not suspicious and is possibly related to a medical problem. Someone passing by stopped to help and discovered Carol Lee Weaver was not breathing.

Man faces drug charges

A Klamath Falls man is facing drug charges after being arrested Friday night. 49-year old George Fredrick Engelhardt is charged with possession of Vicodin and hydrocodone and possession, manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine and marijuana. He is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Downtown Klamath Falls is picking up

Local leaders are saying downtown Klamath Falls could be on the verge of a comeback. A hot dog place just opened on Main Street. A dollar store will open June 16. And a restaurant with Indian cuisine just popped up. The owner of Janine's Coffee House that just opened two weeks ago told the Herald and News she picked downtown because of the potential foot traffic.

Oregon foreclosures up

One online reporting sight is saying foreclosure filings were up 236 percent in Oregon for April. ForeclosureRadar-dot-com reports most of the foreclosures came from ReconTrust Company, the foreclosure arm of Bank of America. Nationally, foreclosure actions were down 14 percent in April.

Pilot dies in crash along Oregon's north coast

The pilot died after his small plane lost power and crashed Saturday night shortly after taking off from Warrenton-Astoria Regional Airport on Oregon's north coast. The Clatsop County Sheriff's office said Kevin Dooney died in the crash. Dooney worked as a bar pilot on the Columbia River and led the Columbia River Bar Pilot Association. Dooney was from Ilwaco, Washington.

See fighter jets up close this summer

Kingsley Field will host its 13th air-to-air combat exercise and open house on July 23. Anyone can come see the fighter jets, flying demonstration and static displays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free. It's part of an overall training operation for the unit that begins three days earlier and help prepare them for combat situations. More than 45 vendors will be there selling food and merchandise. Parking will be available off-base, west of Spring Lake Road, across from Kingsley Field's south gate.

Last week of school this week

This Friday is the last day of school for Klamath Falls city schools, but that wasn't finalized until recently. The teachers union had to vote on whether to keep the furlough days. They kept them, and that saves the district $180,000 and ends school June 10th, with the last day for teachers June 13th.. The Klamath County School District will end classes Wednesday. Teachers finish Thursday.

Truck lifted out of Upper Klamath Lake

Gabriel Green's body was found floating in Upper Klamath Lake last week, and his truck was recovered Saturday morning, about 20 feet from where his body was located. Search and rescue teams found it near Moore Park Marina No. 3. The license plates showed it was Green's.

Schools get help with energy efficient upgrades

Governor Kitzhaber is pleased the Cool Schools Initiative passed out of committee. the bill expands finance mechanisms for public schools across the state to perform energy efficiency upgrades. Kitzhaber said in a release, it's a central job creation tool for the state. Studies show that for every $1 million we invest in energy efficiency upgrades, as many as 15 good, family-wage jobs are created.

State approves tuition hike

The state Board of Higher Education approved tuition increases for higher education Friday.
Fees and tuition will rise by 8.9 percent at Portland State and 8.8 percent at Oregon State. At the University of Oregon it's 7.3 percent. Most other schools will see jumps in the 5-6 percent range, but at the Oregon Institute of Technology there will be an 8.7 percent jump. All the figures are based on students carrying 15 credit-hours.

Plane crash victims not yet identified

A report on what caused an airplane flying from Roseburg to Susanville, Calif., to crash near Reno last weekend won't be completed for months, and the names of the three victims aboard have not been released. We do know the pilot's name. Eric Ling's mother says he was flying a couple to New Mexico when the plane crashed in Nevada.

La Pine man sentenced for wife's murder

Darrell Middlekauff has been convicted of murdering his wife near their home in La Pine, and has been sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. The body of Brenda Middlekauff was found in 2002 in a partially buried barrel, bound and gagged. She had been shot in the head three times.

Highway 97 analyzed after accidents this week

Follow up now on the accidents that had parts of Highway 97 shut down Wednesday. At least eight vehicles were invovlved in four separate locations. A Klamath County sheriff's patrol car was involved in a wreck with a commercial truck after responding to the first accident around 12:20pm. Then a commercial truck jackknifed south of that and blocked traffic. Just a few minutes after the highway was reopened, a car rear-ended a commercial trcuk and blocked all traffic again. Highway 97 continues to be looked at for the sheer number of accidents that happen there.

Advocates work for crime victims, target sentencing process

Oregon's crime victim advocates asked lawmakers this week to delay or modify the state's newest minimum sentencing laws and shift more corrections money toward prevention and survivor support services. Rebecca Nickels is a crisis line director.






Two measures have recently been passed with minimum sentence guidelines. Advocates want lawmakers to delay or modify the laws.

Fund set up for drowning victim's family

A fund has been established to help the family of Gabriel Green. Green's body was found Sunday in Upper Klamath Lake, and autopsy results show he died of drowning. Police are still investigating the circumstances around his death. If you'd like to help his wife and children, you can donate at US Bank.

Autopsy results point to drowning, investigation continues

Autopsy results say the man found dead in Upper Klamath Lake late Sunday afternoon likely died from drowning. Authorities are still looking for the vehicle belonging to Gabriel Green of Klamath Falls and the full circumstances that led to his death are still unknown. The autopsy did not reveal any signs of foul play.

Man jailed for failing to pay child support

46-year old Stephen Paul Cudo of Klamath Falls is being held in the Klamath County Jail on $317,577 bail in connection to back child support he owes. That means, if he posts ten percent it will fulfill the amount of child support he owes.

Local building added to Historic Registry

The Klamath County Armory and Auditorium in downtown Klamath Falls is Oregon's latest entry in the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1935 during the Great Depression to accommodate large gatherings and help build a sense of community. Since then it's hosted many gatherings, and has been a venue for Duke Ellington and B.B. King, Tex Williams and Hank Thompson. The Armory and Auditorium was converted for use as the Klamath County Museum in 1969.

Groundbreaking ceremony approaching for new military building

The 173rd Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center building at 10 a.m., June 9th. The new facility will be located near the base's recently constructed main entrance. There will be areas for command, administration, classrooms, training rooms, mobility storage, and more. This building will be state-of-the-art and will replace several old buildings.

Thoughts on a mail transfer? Meeting Thursday night.

You'll have a chance to voice your opinion on the mail situation tonight. Public input will be accepted on the possible transfer of mail processing from Klamath Falls to Medford at 6 p.m. at the Klamath County Fairgrounds, 3531 S. Sixth St. The public is encouraged to attend.

Highway 97 sees two serious accidents

There was more than one accident yesterday that had Highway 97 closed. The first involved a jacknifed commerical vehicle near mile post 263 . While the Oregon State Patrol was on the scene of that accident, another one happened north of Klamath Falls near mile post 268. That one involved five vehicles and had Highway 97 shut down most of the afternoon. Winter driving conditions appear to be a factor, and an extended investigation is underway.

Free camping Saturday

There's free camping on Saturday, as par of State Parks Day. Visitors to state park campgrounds will pay nothing to rent full utility hookups and tent sites Saturday evening. Full rates are charged for cabins, horse camps, and group areas. There is an $8 reservation fee. Parking is free.

www.oregonstateparks.org

Lamere sentenced after April incident

35-year old Stephen John Lamere has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for Assault in the third degree and Attempting to Flee a Police Officer. This comes after smashing his car into another vehicle and then attempting to elude police officers in a high speed chase. Lamere has criminal convictions for drugs, burglary, assault (several times), harassment, escape, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

Klamath Falls sees high DUII arrest count

Preliminary statistics for the Memorial Day holiday weekend period show fewer statewide traffic fatalities and a 20 percent increase in DUII arrests by Oregon State Police. Three people died in separate accidents statewide over the holiday. One of those was a pedestrian south of La Pine. Two others were not wearing seat belts. In the Klamath Falls area there were 8 DUII arrests. This was second only to Salem and Grants Pass.

City-County fund swap on the table

Without a city-county fund swap, or some other additional funding, Sheriff Tim Evinger will have to close the B Pod at the jail at the end of June, reducing the jail's capacity from 116 beds to 72. Klamath County's budget committee has voted to support the swap. The city has been split on the issue, and will decide something in the next few weeks.

Bonanza to get a street makeover downtown

Klamath County officials agreed to give Bonanza more than $35,000 for a project that will add a center median and welcome sign to a section of Highway 70 through the main drag. The highway is the main east-west avenue through Bonanza and connects the town to Highway 140. The project will cost about $390,000.