ASHLAND, Ore. – A man died Monday afternoon at a remote swimming area north of Howard Prairie Lake.
On June 17, 2019, at 4:10 p.m., dispatch received a 911 call reporting that a juvenile had been found unresponsive in the water at the Keno Rock Quarry, located on Keno Access Road just south of Dead Indian Memorial Road.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies and personnel from Greensprings Fire and Mercy Flights responded to the scene. Deputies determined the victim was an 18-year-old male.
According to witnesses, the man had been swimming when he went underwater and did not surface. Bystanders pulled him from the water and began CPR. Medical personnel arrived and continued resuscitation efforts, but the man died at the scene.
The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the cause and manner of death. The man’s identity will be released at a later time to allow time for family to be notified. No further information is currently available for release.
UPDATE: The Oregon State Police are continuing the investigation into the fatal hit and run crash which occurred on Saturday, June 15, 2019. OSP is providing the attached photo, of a piece of the suspect vehicle, in hopes that someone will recognize the piece or damage to the front bumper area of a vehicle they are familiar with.
Contact the Oregon State Police by dialing *OSP or 541-883-5711.
On Saturday, June 15, 2019, at approximately 3:47 AM, Klamath County 911 received a call of a man found in the middle of South 6th Street at the intersection with Gary Street.
Klamath County Fire District 1 responded to assist the man, who was later identified as Henry Rittenhouse, age 36, of Klamath Falls; however, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
On scene investigation determined that Mr. Rittenhouse had been struck by a vehicle that left the scene. The suspect vehicle is gray in color; however, there are no additional descriptors of the vehicle that struck Mr. Rittenhouse at this time.
The Oregon State Police was assisted at the scene by the Klamath Falls Police Department, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office, Klamath County Fire District 1, and ODOT.
Any one with information on this incident, or with information on the suspect vehicle, is asked to call Oregon State Police Dispatch at *OSP or 541-883-5711.
Fatal Pedestrian MVA On 6th Street This Morning Leaves Man Dead. Police Seek Suspect
Note: Additional details about this MVA are available in our breaking news app. If you would like to be more informed about incidents like these please consider becoming a subscriber.
New Policy Permits Public Safety Shut Downs Of Power During Extreme Fire Conditions
Pacific Power issues the following statement from Scott Bolton, Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Customer Solutions:
As wildfires become more frequent and intense throughout the West, protecting the communities we serve from this increasing threat, while providing safe, reliable power, is our highest priority. We are building on our work over past years to strengthen our system and implement additional safety measures to reduce wildfire risks.
As part of this effort, we are working with area emergency services agencies, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and community leaders across Oregon to expand and enhance existing emergency response plans and work in coordination with our communities. This includes some new actions we’re planning for this fire season.
We are enhancing vegetation inspections and vegetation clearance around our power lines or poles, increasing facilities inspections, making investments to improve equipment resiliency and fire-proofing, installing local weather stations, and training and equipping our field crews for wildfire suppression.
For areas at a higher risk of fast-spreading wildfires, we are establishing a new fire prevention measure called a Public Safety Power Shutoff. A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a new measure designed to help keep people and communities in high-risk areas safe, by proactively shutting off power during extreme and dangerous weather conditions that can result in catastrophic wildfires. This measure would only be taken as a last resort to help ensure customer and community safety.
Pacific Power is working with local governments and emergency services agencies to update them on the conditions when this protocol would be used and seek their input on coordination should we need to deploy a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
Pacific Power is also launching a public wildfire education and outreach campaignstarting June 24to share wildfire safety and prevention tips and to inform customers of the company’s Public Safety Power Shutoff measure. This will include public information workshops for communities in high-risk areas.
Customers can take steps now to prepare for emergencies by keeping vegetation around their homes trimmed and low and updating their emergency plans and supplies. Customers should also contact us to ensure their contact information is up-to-date, so we can keep provide updates about increased fire risk alerts, potential power outages and updates on power restoration.
On Wednesday, June 12, 2019 a search warrant was executed at 1236 Owens Street, Klamath Falls, OR. The search warrant was the result of numerous investigations involving fraudulent transactions made at ten or more businesses within the community. Joshua Eli Epps was believed to have fraudulently ordered nearly $20,000 of merchandise using consumer credit accounts at local stores and stolen credit information. Earlier in the day, co-conspirator William Adams, was taken into custody while attempting to acquire merchandise which was fraudulently ordered by Joshua Epps.
Due to information that the suspect was in possession of a firearm, the Klamath County Special Response Team (SRT) served the warrant at the residence. During the execution of the search warrant Joshua Epps, along with two other occupants were detained after their surrender following two hours of negotiations. The two other occupants were released after questioning while Joshua Epps was taken into custody and lodged at the Klamath County Jail on authority of multiple felony warrants. Additional charges related to thefts are expected to be added in the next few days.
A large quantity of stolen property (tools and a stolen pistol) were recovered during the search of the residence.
Epps, Joshua Eli Charges: Theft I, Theft II, Parole Violation, Identification Theft
Adams, William Anthony Charges: Attempted Theft I, Criminal Conspiracy I
*No booking photo available at post time for Adams.
Woman Arrested For Attempting To Drown 9 Month Old Child
Davie Lamburth was arrested in the 100 block of East Lowell Street, on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at approximately 10:00 a.m. Klamath Falls Police Officer responded to Sky Lakes Medical Center on Tuesday, June 11th, at 1:12 a.m. Officers were requested by Sky Lakes Medical Center Staff when the infant arrived. The infant had been transported by family members to ensure the infant was medically stable. The infant was removed from the home and placed with a family member. Read more
Coast Guard rescues man 800 feet down Crater Lake caldera
The Coast Guard rescued a man who fell into the Crater Lake caldera, Monday afternoon, assisting the National Park Service and a District 3 Technical Rope Rescue Team.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from Sector North Bend hoisted the man out of the caldera and transferred him to an AirLink Critical Care Transport team who flew the injured man to Bend for care and treatment.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a call at 3:47 p.m., from the Crater Lake National Park Service rangers requesting helicopter support for an injured man who fell into Crater Lake’s caldera near Rims Village.
The Coast Guard aircrew arrived on scene at 4:28 p.m. with the District 3 rope team already 600 feet down into the caldera. The District 3 team reported they could hear a man yelling from further down into the caldera.
The aircrew was hovering above the injured man within 15 minutes of arriving on scene and conducted the hoist before landing in a nearby parking lot and transferring the injured man to the AirLink helicopter crew. The aircrew departed Crater Lake at 5:27 p.m., stopped in Roseburg to refuel and returned to North Bend.
The condition of the injured man is unknown at this time.
Unrestrained Pit Bull Is Shot By OSP Trooper After Attempted Attack. Dog Survives Incident.
Last night around 9:00pm an Oregon State Police Trooper contacted a female who had a Pit Bull that was not restrained in the area of 6th Street and Altamont. Read more
NWS Issues Frost Advisory For Tonight. Heat Wave Is Expected To Begin Building Sunday into Next Week
A heat wave that will put parts of the local region into record temperature territory next week is expected to begin building Sunday. As of posting time, the hottest day looks to be Tuesday with highs in the low 90’s and a disturbance expected Wednesday that could produce thunderstorms. Temperatures are expected to remain warm in the high 80’s with possible cooling thunderstorms in the evenings Wednesday and beyond. Triple digit temperatures are expected in Medford during the heatwave.
Klamath Falls High Temp Records For Next Week: Monday, 96 in 1918; Tuesday, 95 in 1940; Wednesday, 94 in 1933.
We will likely see some heat warnings issued soon for some of our region to address the coming heat wave.
Frost Advisory For Tonight:
…FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 7 AM PDT SUNDAY…
…FREEZE WARNING HAS EXPIRED…
The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Frost
Advisory…which is in effect from 2 AM to 7 AM PDT Sunday.
* Frost Advisory Low Temperatures: 33 to 36 degrees.
* Timing…Widespread frost is expected late tonight and into
Sunday morning.
* Locations in the Frost Advisory include: Most valley locations
in Klamath and Lake Counties, as well as in Modoc County and
northeast Siskiyou County. This includes areas in and around
Klamath Falls, Lakeview, Alturas, Summer Lake, Tulelake,
Chiloquin, and Silver Lake.
* Impacts…Sensitive vegetation could be damaged or killed by
frost or sub-freezing weather.
Streets Division crews will be performing work during the hours of 6:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. The Streets Staff would like to thank our citizens in advance for proceeding with caution in areas where crews are working. Work may be delayed due to weather, equipment break-down or unexpected emergencies.
Asphalt crew 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 10 – 13, 2019 June 10 – Asphalt repair Utility cut at Kane St. and S 6th St. (5300 blk). Lane closure and traffic delays are possible.
June 11 – 12 – General street maintenance city wide.
June 13 – Utility cut repairs, South Suburban Area.
Sign and Paint crew 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. June 11 – 14, 2019
Due to weather delays, paint crews will be re-striping legends, parking T’s and crosswalks in the downtown core. Crews and traffic gear (cones and signs) will be in place. Sign maintenance city wide and street sweeping.
Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc Counties-Modoc County- Klamath Basin- Northern and Eastern Klamath County and Western Lake County- Central and Eastern Lake County- Including the cities of Dorris, Newell, Macdoel, Tulelake, Alturas, Canby, Likely, Altamont, Klamath Falls, Beatty, Bly, Chemult, Crescent, Gilchrist, Sprague River, Lakeview, and Valley Falls 322 AM PDT Thu Jun 6 2019
…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM PDT FRIDAY… …FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM PDT FRIDAY… …FREEZE WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING…
The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Freeze Warning and a Frost Advisory. Both are in effect from midnight tonight to 9 AM PDT Friday.
* Freeze Warning Temperatures: 25 to 32 degrees.
* Frost Advisory Temperatures: 33 to 36 degrees.
* Timing…Freezing temperatures are expected Thursday night into Friday morning, with another widespread damaging freeze possible Friday night into Saturday morning.
* Locations in the Freeze Warning include: Most valley locations in northern Klamath and Lake Counties. This includes Chiloquin, Chemult, Sprague River, Bly, Silver Lake, and Beatty. Tulelake and Macdoel are also in the Freeze Warning.
* Locations in the Frost Advisory include: Most valley locations in southern Klamath and Lake Counties as well as in Modoc County. This includes Klamath Falls, Lakeview, Alturas, and Summer Lake.
* Impacts…Sensitive vegetation could be damaged or killed by unusually cold weather.
* View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mfr/HAZARD
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Freeze Warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
A Frost Advisory means that widespread frost is expected. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.
A Freeze Watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible. These conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.
