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Fall Prescribed Fire Season starting in South Central Oregon

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Fall Prescribed Fire Season starting in South Central Oregon

LAKEVIEW, ORE. – Planned fall prescribed fire operations will start as soon as conditions allow for smoke management and desired prescription outcomes. Fire managers on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Lakeview District Bureau of land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex are looking for opportunities to apply prescribed fire to the landscape.

Prescribed fire is a proactive approach to fire and land management, reintroducing fire in a manner that reduces hazardous fuels, improves range and forest health, and benefits the fire-adapted ecosystem.  Prescribed fire can be strategically located across the landscape, is carefully managed to meet resource and smoke management objectives, and incorporates consideration for sensitive resources.  Unplanned wildfires generally do not afford such benefits, burn with high intensity, and often requires costly suppression efforts.

Cooler temperatures, adequate humidity, and favorable winds for smoke management, will allow firefighters to start applying fire to planned units. Burning operations will be monitored and patrolled frequently by fire professionals to ensure public safety.

Prescribed fire will occur on days when the Oregon Department of Forestry Smoke Management Office indicates there are suitable weather conditions for smoke dispersal. Following that approval, if overall fuel and weather conditions are favorable, firefighters ignite a test fire before moving forward. If the test fire indicates conditions are not suitable, the prescribed fire will be postponed until conditions improve.

Residents and visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings and watch for prescribed fire operations to maintain personal and firefighter safety. Areas where prescribed fire operations are taking place will be well signed and may have increased fire personnel, traffic and smoke in the area.

Smoke may be visible on public lands in various areas for the next few months as prescribed operations continue. Each prescribed fire can appear different visually depending on the forest type, fuel load, prescribed fire objectives and how long fire has been absent from the area.

Hunters and other recreation users should check current conditions in the area, especially during September and October with the possibility of prescribed fire operations.

Prescribed Fire Notices will be posted prior to ignition once timeframes have been established. SCOFMP employees are committed to safe and successful prescribed fire operations within these designated areas.

Sheriff Says Don’t Fall For IRS Scam

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Scamalert

Don’t Fall For The IRS Phone Scam Circulating

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office is busy making sure we have enough bed space in our jail for people not properly taking care of their tax obligations to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Scores of citizens are being continually contacted by telephone (including myself) from thieves claiming to be from the IRS and threatening arrest if they don’t provide bank account information or submit payments in a timely manner.

Well, if this is true, then our jail needs to make sure there is enough bed space available for all the people who will be arrested for not providing this information via telephone. We’ll make sure this happens.

Seriously, it’s time again to warn vulnerable citizens that the IRS does not solicit payment of delinquent taxes in this manner. It is perfectly okay to hang up on these fraudsters or take up as much of their time on the phone as you can stand so they can’t try to steal from anyone else.

Health Advisory Issued For Seal Rock State Park Beach

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The Oregon Health Authority issued a public health advisory today for higher-than-normal levels of bacteria in ocean waters at Seal Rock State Park Beach in Lincoln County.

People should avoid direct contact with the water in this area until the advisory is lifted. Higher-than-normal levels of fecal bacteria can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. This applies especially to children and the elderly, who may be more vulnerable to illness from waterborne bacteria.

Increased pathogen and fecal bacteria levels in ocean waters can come from both shore and inland sources such as stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, failing septic systems, and animal waste from livestock, pets and wildlife.

While this advisory is in effect at Seal Rock State Park Beach, visitors should avoid wading in nearby creeks, pools of water on the beach or discolored water, and stay clear of water runoff flowing into the ocean. Even if there is no advisory in effect, officials recommend avoiding swimming in the ocean within 48 hours after a rainstorm.

Although state officials advise against water contact, they continue to encourage other recreational activities (flying kites, picnicking, playing on the beach, walking, etc.) on this beach because they pose no health risk even during an advisory.

The status of water contact advisories at beaches is subject to change. For the most recent information on advisories, visit the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program website at http://www.healthoregon.org/beach or call 971-673-0482, or 877-290-6767 (toll-free).

Body Recovered At Lost Creek Lake From June Drowning

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Volunteer Side Scan Sonar Experts Located The Body In 135 Feet Of Water

TRAIL, Ore. – On June 9, 2019, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and other agencies responded to Lost Creek Lake for a reported drowning of two individuals. Deputies located the first victim, Irving Fuentes, 25, unresponsive in the water. He was transported to Providence Hospital where we was pronounced deceased.

The search for the second drowning victim, Juan Carlos Fuentes, 29, has been ongoing since the incident took place in June. Police, Fire, and Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel have worked diligently to recover Fuentes for his family.

Gene and Cindy Ralston, a retired couple from Idaho, were called upon for the search. The Ralston’s are experts in Side Scan Sonar and spend their retirement working to help families and searchers in situations like the one at Lost Creek Lake.

On August 20, the Ralstons arrived and quickly located an object believed to be a body approximately 135 feet below the surface.

On August 22, JCSO Marine Patrol and a JCSO Search and Rescue Dive Team began recovery efforts and were successful. The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office has positively identified the subject as Juan Carlos Fuentes.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Search and Rescue personnel as well as Gene and Cindy Ralston for their help in allowing the Fuentes family to move forward in their grieving process.

Case #19-11565

Oakridge man pleads guilty to a single count of unlawfully taking an endangered species.

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Colton Tony Dick, 22, of Oakridge, Oregon, pleaded guilty to a single count of unlawfully taking an endangered species.

According to court documents, on October 5, 2016, using a rifle and scope, Dick shot at an endangered gray wolf without legal justification as the animal was walking away from him in the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Dick was unable to locate the wolf.

Although Dick did not admit to killing a gray wolf, an investigation began on October 6, 2016 when an adult female GPS-collared gray wolf known as “OR 28” was found dead in the Fremont-Winema National Forest near Summer Lake, Oregon. On November 9, 2016, the US Fish and Wildlife Service Forensic Lab determined OR 28 died as a result of injuries sustained from a single gunshot wound.

Gray wolves (Canis lupus), located in Western Oregon, are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

Unlawfully taking an endangered species carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year of supervised release.

Under a deferred sentencing agreement with the government, Dick has agreed to submit to one-year of supervised release, pay restitution of $2,500 to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, not hunt any wildlife for a period of one year and perform 100 hours of community service.

If Dick complies with these conditions, he will be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and the government will move to dismiss his charge.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement and the Oregon State Police. It was prosecuted by Adam E. Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

If you or someone you know has information about a wildlife crime, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement by emailing fws_tips@fws.gov or calling 1-844-397-8477.

 

Klamath County Sheriff’s Office To Participate In Extra Traffic Patrols

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High Visibility Enforcement / Seatbelt & Child Seats / Labor Day DUII Enforcement

As summer comes to an end, many people will try to squeeze in one more vacation. To help us all get to-and-from safely. The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting random High Visibility Enforcement for Distracted Driving, Driving Under the Influence, Safety Belts and Speed.

Beginning Monday, August 19th and extending through Sunday, September 1st, law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon will use federally funded overtime to educate the public about safety belt and child seat laws including a law passed in 2017 increasing safety for children under age two.

Starting Friday, August 30th and extending through Monday, September 2nd, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office will also be conducting High Visibility Enforcement for Driving Under the Influence.

“I Am They” Concert This Friday In Malin. Seats Are Limited

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The popular Christian band “I Am They” will be performing a concert in Malin this Friday. Tickets are $25 per person, and group discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. Tickets are selling fast and the concert could reach a sell out condition this week. The Broadway Theater is advising anyone interested to get tickets now and not wait until the day of the concert. The Broadway Theater says “there are no bad seats” in the newly renovated venue.

Tickets can be purchased online here 

https://www.itickets.com/events/423379

“I Am They” is a very popular Christian band with millions of views on Youtube. Proceeds from the concert will help the Broadway Theater provide additional events for the local community in the future and will also benefit Basin Youth For Christ.

Seven Missions In Past 48 Hours Keep Search and Dive Rescue Teams Busy

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Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers from Southern Oregon have responded to seven separate missions over the last 48 hours.

First, a male hiker from California requested medical aid for a suspected heart attack while hiking on Mt. McLoughlin August 14. Klamath and Jackson Counties SAR worked together and dispatched Brin Aviation to transport the hiker to a hospital in Medford. The gentleman is reportedly doing fine today.

Later that day, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) alerted in the Mountain Lakes Wilderness. These devices, easily purchased at many retailers, indicate distress by the user via satellite signals when activated in remote areas. Klamath County volunteers hiked to Lake Harriet and found an Ashland gentleman who was camping and had accidentally activated the PLB.

At the same time several of Klamath’s Dive volunteers, who were conducting a training near MP 57 on Hwy 140, were approached by a person who reported that their companion was going to attempt suicide. The SAR volunteers notified 911 and waited with the individual until additional help arrived on-scene by Oregon State Police.

Simultaneously, two horseback riders from the Medford area called for assistance because they had become lost in the Sky Lakes Wilderness. Since Klamath SAR was already engaged Jackson County volunteers responded, located the riders, and escorted them out.

While Klamath County volunteers were leaving the PLB case they were alerted to another lost hiker call. This time they responded to the Spence Mountain Trail, where a woman had become separated from her hiking partner. Klamath County SAR located the group, who were from Southern California, and led them to the trailhead.

On August 15 two separate calls for help came in related to hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). First, a Roseburg man hiking with a small group called for medical assistance, possibly related to altitude sickness. Klamath and Jackson Counties SAR found the hikers near Mt. McLoughlin and assisted them out; the man has recovered. Next, a through-hiker traveling the PCT from Mexico to Canada called for medical assistance, possibly related to dehydration. Klamath and Douglas Counties SAR coordinated and Douglas SAR responded. The hiker, found near the Klamath-Douglas line, was assisted by other hikers and SAR, recovered quickly, and continued on to Canada.

Jail Commander and SAR Coordinator Brian Bryson said this many lost or disabled hiker missions is not unusual; on average, Klamath County SAR responds to anywhere from 25 to over 100 calls for assistance per year. This many in a short period of time, however, puts a strain on the volunteers who perform the work.

“Coordination between all of our counties is vital to saving lives when so much is going on at the same time,” said Bryson. He also said that Klamath County’s SAR teams, which include north and south county teams and mounted and dive rescue, put in 10-12,000 hours of training and response time per year.

Klamath County’s dive rescue volunteers alone have performed tens of hours of work the past several weeks assisting Jackson, Jefferson, Deschutes, and Wasco Counties with searches related to drownings. Klamath County’s team has a specialized site scan sonar boat that allows them to perform this type of work.

“Our volunteers are simply awesome. They drop everything and do this on their own time,” said Bryson.

If interested in becoming a Klamath County SAR volunteer, contact Lt. Bryson at 541-883-5130 or checkout the volunteer section of the Klamath County Sheriff’s webpage.

 

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M.A.D.G.E Fentanyl Seizure in Jackson County

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Update:

Arrested: Dubinstov, Pavel – 22 years old

Dubinstov was lodged at Jackson County Jail on 8/6/2019 for:

Delivery of a Controlled Substance

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine

Unlawful Possession of Cocaine

Bail $42,500-

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On 07/28/19 at approximately 1:00 pm, MADGE detectives stopped a white 2008 Dodge Sprinter van on I-5 near milepost 16 and seized cocaine, scales and packaging.  The van was seized for a search warrant.  When the search warrant was served detectives found 60,000-80,000 fentanyl pills located in a hidden trap and packaged in such a way as to attempt to mask any odor.

The pills are similar in shape, color and markings to Oxycodone 30 pills; round, blue with a M on one side and 30 on the other side.

The street value a single fentanyl pills is approximately $50-.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but can be 50 to 100 times more potent.  There is a high risk of overdose associated with fentanyl.  According to Acetyl Fentanyl Fact Sheet synthetic opioids are the most common drugs associated with overdose deaths in the United States.

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