Author Archives: klamathalerts

Bonanza woman charged with 1st Deg Manslaughter

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Ashley Grace Irwin was arrested upon a secret indictment for the charges of Manslaughter I, due to neglect or maltreatment of a child under 14 years of age. She also faces four counts of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree for each of her other children who were either caused physical injury or deprived of adequate food, physical care or medical attention. The Klamath Department of Human Services was alerted to this family in April of 2018 when the youngest child, a sick week-old infant, showed at the hospital for apparent cardiac arrest at Sky Lakes Medical Center. The infant was life flighted to Doernbeacher’s Children’s Hospital but passed away despite medical efforts. The Klamath Department of Human Services took the children into protective custody immediately.

The Oregon State Police were alerted and Detective Patrick Irish took this case under his wing with the assistance of Detective Thomas Andreazzi. The Oregon State police talked with witnesses and obtained-necessary medical documentation of the causative nature of the child,s death’ They further collected evidence regarding the treatment of the other children. Ms. Ashley Grace Irwin and her significant other, Douglas Dale Johnston, fled the area almost immediately. Detective Irish’s continued diligent investigation led to the location of Ms. Irwin in Baker City, Oregon and an arrest was made recently. She has been returned to Klamath County to face charges. Oregon state police remain interested in locating the father.

As Klamath County District Attorney I commend Detective Irish’s dedication to this matter. His continued efforts along with those of Detective Andreazzi show admirable dedication to bringing justice for these children.

Press Release from Klamath county District Attorney’s office 4/19/19

Highway 97 Closure Alert

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Highway 97 is closed from South Side Bypass North to Main for a semi truck related crash. We recommend avoiding the area.

The recovery process is expected to take some time. Major damage occurred to the semi truck.

Icy roads are reported in area. This MVA is reported as no injury.

Update: 7:13am the highway is reported open with flaggers. Delays possible.

More information is available on our Breaking News App

Guest Blog Post: Survival Prep “Supplies List”

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Guestblog

Disaster Dave | Survival For The Rest Of Us | “Supplies List”

Every so often when a major storm is reminding Gulf Coast residents why they should consider relocating, you will find F.E.M.A. reminding people how to stock up.  Here’s what F.E.M.A. says people should have on hand, in addition to a manual can opener, camp stove and sufficient water supply:  (Even for those of us living in comfort on the Oregon Coast, or anywhere else for that matter!)

In the past experts recommended we store at least a three day supply of non-perishable food.  Now those same experts are recommending folks have a fourteen day food supply on hand.  Select foods that require no refrigeration, little preparation and little or no water.  Choose food items that are compact and lightweight. Avoid foods that will make you thirsty. Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned foods with high liquid content.

-Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables

– Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)

– Staples–sugar, salt, pepper

– High energy foods–peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix

– Vitamins

– Don’t forget food for infants, elderly persons or persons with special dietary needs

– Comfort/stress foods–cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee, tea bags

Keeping Food Safe During Power Outages

If your power goes out for more than a few hours, here are some recommendations for keeping your food safe as long as possible:

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.

The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full, chest freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) and the door remains closed.

Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after 4 hours without power. Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below when checked with a food thermometer.

If the power has been out several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer. If the appliance thermometer reads 40°F or below, the food is safe to refreeze. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.

Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved.

Liberal doses of common sense are your best commodity, but staying informed, having your plan in place and getting your kit together can turn a potential disaster into “just another fire drill.”

As always send your comments and questions to disasterprep.dave@gmail.com. Dave Robinson is an author, pastor and freelance writer.  Previous columns are on his blog at www.disasterprepdave.blogspot.com  His book, “Disaster Prep For The Rest Of Us,” is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers.

Residential Structure Fire Yesterday In Stewart Lenox Area On Douglas Ave

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Residential Structure Fire on Douglas Ave 4-11-19

On April 11, 2019 at approx. 1244 pm, Klamath County Fire District No. 1 responded to the report of a structure fire in a home on Douglas Ave. The residence was occupied by a family of five who was home at the time of the fire. The fire was discovered by a family member when they opened a door to a bedroom and found the room filled with smoke and heat. Everyone was able to evacuate the home safely, however several pets did not survive the fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental from an unattended candle.

Klamath County Fire District No. 1 responded with a total of 18 fire personnel from four engines, a Battalion Chief, Division Chief and Fire Marshal. Damage is estimated at $60,000.00. The residents are being assisted by the local Red Cross.

Want to know about incidents like these faster? Consider becoming a subscriber to our breaking news app. For about 3 cents a day you can be alerted to incidents such as these as they happen. This fire incident was covered live in the app yesterday.

We are grateful that everyone was able to escape the fire unharmed. We would like to remind everyone to use safe practices with open flames such as candles. Keep candles at least 1 foot from combustible decorations and curtains. Never burn a candle all the way down- put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container. Never leave open flames unattended and always keep children away from open flames. For more information on candle safety please see the attached flyer from the National Fire Protection Association.  Click the link below for information on candle safety provided by Klamath County Fire District 1.

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Above: photo of fire scene yesterday provided by KCFD1

Fisher-Price Recalls Rock ‘n Play Sleepers Due to Reports of Deaths

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Product Safety

Fisher-Price Recalls Rock ‘n Play Sleepers Due to Reports of Deaths

Hazard: Infant fatalities have occurred in Rock ‘n Play Sleepers, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact Fisher-Price for a refund or voucher.

Consumer Contact: Fisher-Price online at www.service.mattel.com and click on “Recalls & Safety Alerts” or at 866-812-6518 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for more information.

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Recall Details

Units: About 4.7 million products

Description: This recall involves all Rock ‘n Play Sleepers.

Incidents/Injuries: Since the 2009 product introduction, over 30 infant fatalities have occurred in Rock ‘n Play Sleepers, after the infants rolled over while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.

Sold at: Major retailers for approximately $40-149.

Importer: Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y.

Manufactured in: China

This recall was conducted voluntarily by the company under CPSC’s Fast Track Recall process. Fast Track recalls are initiated by firms who commit to work with CPSC to quickly announce the recall and remedy to protect consumers.

About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction.  Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/fisher-price-recalls-rock-n-play-sleepers-due-to-reports-of-deaths#

U.S. Secret Service Responds To Incident Near White House. Man Sets His Jacket On Fire

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Above: U.S. Secret Service File Photo 

National Breaking News: 

A person has set his outer jacket on fire near The White House. The U.S. Secret Service uniformed division responded quickly and provided first aid and detained the suspect.

This event and many others were covered live in our breaking news app. Below are alerts from the app we began to send about 45 minutes ago. You can customize alerts within our news app to receive only the notifications you would like.

Breaking: Secret Service personnel are responding to a police/medical incident on Pennsylvania Ave. along the White House North Fence Line.

UPDATE: A male subject operating an electronic wheelchair-type scooter lit his outer jacket on fire while sitting along Pennsylvania Ave. outside the North Fence Line. Uniformed Division Officers immediately responded, extinguished the fire and rendered first aid. The male subject has been transported to a local hospital with what appears to be non-life threatening injuries.

 

 

 

 

 

Fatal DUII Related Traffic Accident Overnight On Lakeshore Drive

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BreakingNPolice

Traffic Accident Claims Life On Lakeshore Drive just after 1AM 4-12-19

At approximately 1:23 a.m., during the early hours of Friday April 12, 49-year-old Mike Fowler of Klamath Falls crashed his vehicle on Lakeshore Drive. Klamath County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched and upon arrival found that Fowler’s vehicle had rolled over and sustained extensive damage.

This incident and others were covered live in our breaking news app. Consider becoming a subscriber to learn about incidents like these as they happen.

 

His passenger, 58-year-old Dale Faust of Klamath Falls, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Fowler was heading west on Lakeshore Drive traveling at high speeds when he lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway, and collided with multiple trees.

Alcohol is considered the primary factor in the crash. Klamath County Fire District 1 personnel extricated Fowler from his vehicle. He was transported to Sky Lakes Medical Center for minor injuries and then lodged in the Klamath County Jail on multiple charges. Oregon State Police troopers assisted with the crash reconstruction.

Additional details are pending further investigation. Arrestee: Fowler II, Mike Russell, date of birth 08/26/1969 Charges: Manslaughter II, Criminally Negligent Homicide, Felony Driving While Suspended, Assault III, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, and Reckless Driving.

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Road Closure Alert: Altamont Drive Between Barry Avenue And Anderson Avenue

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Road Closure

Altamont Drive between Barry Avenue and Anderson Avenue will be closed to through traffic between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm starting Monday, April 15 through Friday, April 19, 2019. The closure is required to replace the existing asphalt road surface. Detour routes will in placed and the public is urged to avoid the area if possible.

Updated Report: Recent Earthquake Activity Includes 2.2 (Explosion) Quake In Klamath Falls Area Yesterday Morning

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Above: A Map From USGS Showing a 2.2 Explosion Quake That Occurred Yesterday Morning Just North Of Klamath Falls Near Highway 97.

Several minor earthquakes have occurred in our local region the past few days. A 2.2 “explosion quake” was recorded just north of Klamath Falls yesterday morning near highway 97. The following are reports on the quakes. The red lines in the images are fault lines.

Please note that these quakes were minor and they do not indicate or forecast additional quake activity in our area. Small earthquakes are common in our region.

More information from USGS about this Klamath Falls earthquake is available here.

A map of recent and nearby activity is available here form the USGS. 

Update: The Klamath Falls quake was caused by an explosion according to this USGS website and was not a result of fault movement. As seen below the quake registered as an earthquake on preliminary reports. The explosion could have been blasting operations occurring in the area.

 

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Above images from esri.

Former Madras Police Officer Sent To Prison For 6 Years For Repeated Sexual Abuse Of Minor

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Former Madras Police Officer given 6 years in prison for repeated sexual abuse of minor. Also gets life supervised release.

PORTLAND, Ore.—John Joseph Wallace, Jr., 35, of Madras, Oregon, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison and life term of supervised release for the repeated sexual abuse of a minor.

According to court documents, the government’s investigation of Wallace began in January 2018, when Warm Springs Tribal Police officers responded to Wallace’s home on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Officers were responding to a report that Wallace had abused a young girl. The minor victim and her mother, who contacted police to report Wallace’s crimes, are both Warm Springs tribal members.

An investigation later revealed that Wallace, over a period of years, had repeatedly abused the child by touching her breasts, buttocks, and genitals, both over and under her clothing. Wallace used his cell phone to communicate with the child and facilitate multiple incidents of abuse at his home on the reservation and on a separate occasion in Madras.

On January 3, 2019, Wallace pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts of abusive sexual contact with a minor. In a related state court matter, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Annette C. Hillman found Wallace guilty of attempted sexual abuse in the first degree and official misconduct in the first degree. Wallace will be sentenced in state court on April 12, 2019.

This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Safe Trails Task Force, the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department, and the Oregon Department of Justice. It was prosecuted federally by Paul T. Maloney, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) unites FBI and other federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in a collaborative effort to combat the growth of crime in Indian Country. STTF allows participating agencies to combine limited resources and increase investigative coordination in Indian Country to target violent crime, drugs, gangs, and gaming violations.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at (503) 224-4181 or submit a tip online at www.fbi.gov/tips.

Coast Guard Makes Drug Seizure Off Newport Oregon Coast

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A Sailboat Was Intercepted Off The Coast Of Newport. Coast Guard personnel located Meth onboard.

PORTLAND, Ore.—A criminal complaint was filed today in federal court alleging John Phillip Stirling, 65, a citizen of Canada, illegally possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine aboard a U.S. flagged vessel.

According to court documents, on April 9, 2019, while on a routine patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alert detected a sailing vessel traveling north 225 nautical miles from Newport, Oregon. The vessel, named Mandalay, had a home port of Seattle, Washington and visible U.S. registration numbers. When Coast Guard personnel attempted to communicate with Stirling, he went below deck and would only respond via VHF radio. Once Coast Guard personnel determined the Mandalay was a U.S. flagged vessel, they boarded and found Stirling to be the vessel’s sole occupant.

Stirling stated he did not have vessel documentation and refused to produce identification. Upon further questioning, Sterling’s speech began to deteriorate and he displayed signs of a possible drug overdose. Coast Guard personnel administered medical aid to Stirling and evacuated him by helicopter to Astoria, Oregon. He was later transported by ambulance to Adventist Health Portland for additional treatment.

Coast Guard personnel conducted a search of the Mandalay and discovered 28 seven-gallon jugs containing liquid methamphetamine.

Stirling made an initial appearance today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman. Stirling was ordered detained pending trial.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

 

Fatal Vehicle VS Pedestrian Crash In Chiloquin. Incident Is Likely Suicide

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At approximately 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday (April 10, 2019) Klamath County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a report of a vehicle striking a pedestrian near the intersection of Chiloquin Boulevard (SR 422 South) and Highway 97 in Chiloquin, OR. The pedestrian, 29 year old Angelica Jackson, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Initial investigation conducted by the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office revealed there was no fault in the accident on the part of the vehicle operator. Chiloquin Fire and Rescue personnel also responded to the crash scene and assisted.

No further information is available at this time pending completion of the investigation in conjunction with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.

This incident was monitored by Klamath Alerts and covered live in our breaking news app. The initial reports indicated that the person had jumped in front of a moving vehicle. This incident remains under investigation. We will post additional details if they become available.

 

Final Lakeview Flood Update 4-10-19

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Final Update On Lakeview Flood

Highlights Of Final Press Release:

All road closures have been lifted and great progress has been made to remove debris and restore stream channels. Lake County School District 7 schools reopened this morning.

Emergency operations have gone into stand-by mode, prepared if rain in the forecast Thursday and remaining snowpack cause floodwaters to rise again.

Resources continued working on cleanup and assessing damage from the flood.

Homeowner damage reports, questions or concerns regarding the flooding incident in Lakeview can call the Lakeview Fire Department nonemergency number, 541-947-2504.

Incident managers want to thank everyone involved – from emergency responders, volunteers and the public, to helping ensure the incident was safe and cleanup happened quickly.

Unless there is a significant change in conditions, this will be the final update for this incident.

 

 

Flood and Water Update 4/10/2019

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The NWS in Medford has issued a Flood Warning for the Sprague River, indicating a crest of 9’. Minor flood stage is 8.5’. This should not cause any flooding impacts to residences or roads based on past events, but it is possible.

Water is still rising in most places, including the Sprague, Lost, Link, and Klamath Rivers. Avoid water edges, as they may be eroded and unstable. Yesterday both Gerber and Willow Creek Dams were overtopping.  The Bureau of Reclamation is working hard to make sure the river stays within safe acceptable levels to avoid flooding.

If it’s an emergency, please call 911. If you would like to report any flooding impacts from around the county, please call emergency management at 541-851-3741.

Highway 58 Now Open

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Expect multiple work zones and delays for cleanup

April 9, 2019

OAKRIDGE – OR 58 Willamette Highway reopened to all traffic in both directions just before 6 p.m. The road was closed by landslides Sunday afternoon, April 7.

Travelers should expect flagging and delays as cleanup continues from several landslides, the largest at milepost 27 between Lowell and Oakridge. About 4,000 yards of mud, rocks and trees slid down the hill between Sunday and Monday night. Smaller slides were at mileposts 28, 15, and 14. 

Crews also continue to remove trees damaged by the February snow storm east and west of Oakridge.

There are multiple work zones. Watch for crews and plan for several stops along the route.

Where traffic is routed through or around a work zone, pedestrians, including those with disabilities, will also be provided routes through or around the work zone. 

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