REGIONAL MAGAZINE FOR KLAMATH, LAKE, MODOC AND SISKIYOU COUNTIES
Klamath Life P ASTIMES
&
PASSIONS
Knot ready Klamath Yacht Club: boats, wind & water
In the fleet Turn the crank and hear ‘em roar at the museum
Puppy love
Klamath dog breeder spreads awareness
H e r a l d a n d N e w s | Fe b r u a r y - A p r i l 2 0 1 9 | w w w. h e r a l d a n d n e w s. c o m
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Klamath Life
Pastimes & Passions Inside:
On the cover: This lightning class sailboat is depicted in
a lithograph from 1978 by former, local artist Paul Tremain, who once ran a printing shop in Klamath Falls. This lithograph may be used on a pennant for the upcoming Pacific Coast Championships. Story on page 29
Still rolling: Fleet of vintage cars call the county museum home. Page 4
It’s showtime! Community effort behind every Linkville production. Page 11
On commission: Lexi Crawford, first woman on state potato board. Page 16
Passion for pups: Round Dog Square Dog finds perfect home for pups. Page 20
Get ready to cast: A look at closely guarded secrets of the Basin’s fishery. Page 25
Catch the wind: Pacific Coast races coming to Upper Klamath. Page 29
11
Quick fix: Familiar favorites are quick out of the oven, off the plate. Page 34
Quintessentials: Kathy King takes on international role for Soroptimist. Page 37
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16 25 4 This publication is copyrighted under Klamath Publishing LLC doing business as the Herald and News (c) 2017. All rights reserved.
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4 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
STill rolling after all these years Fleet of historic vehicles operated by Klamath County Museum thanks to volunteer crew By KURT LIEDTKE: H&N Staff Reporter
A
t one time, they ruled the road, but today few remain; yet thanks to the tireless work of volunteer maintenance technicians Terry Sandusky and Jim McClure, a fleet of historic vehicles remain operable and in pristine condition at the Klamath County Museum. See FLEET, page 5
Humming along: Terry Sandusky, left, and Jim McClure have volunteered countless hours to restore and maintain a fleet of historic vehicles at the Klamath County Museum, including a 1904 Oldsmobile. H&N photo by Kurt Liedtke
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 5
The museum now touts five cars, a converted pick-up truck, and a tractor that all occasionally leave the museum floor for tours of downtown Klamath Falls. There is also a 1940s-era fire truck, a trolley, and several historic wagons on-site. FLEET, from page 4 Located inside the historic Klamath County Armory and Auditorium, the Klamath County Museum is a fascinating day trip for exhibits, displays and record research. Some of its displays are not static, however, as old jalopies make the rickety, noisy trek every year down Main Street for community parades in Klamath Falls and Tulelake. Six out of seven motorized vehicles onsite
Street legal: A 1904 Oldsmobile, right, is one of six operable historic vehicles owned by the Klamath County Museum. Know-how: A book by author Gary Hoonsbeen, top, was instrumental in completing restoration of a 1904 Oldsmobile. Start your engine: Terry Sandusky points out the massive flywheel, above, needed to start the engine of a 1904 Oldsmobile. H&N photos by Kurt Liedtke
at the museum still operate, a testament to the volunteer restoration efforts of two local motor-heads and their love for greasy old mechanical junk. Terry Sandusky served in the Navy working on helicopters, and has spent a lifetime in vehicle maintenance. Jim McClure also has spent much of his life in garages tinkering on cars and motorcycles. Motor oil proverbially runs through their veins, and matched with a love for a challenge and anything
old and rusty, the pair have spent countless hours researching historic documentation and restoring the vehicles donated to the museum. For these two, their idea of fun is a complete engine overhaul or digging up blueprints from 1915 — all in a day’s work for the Klamath County Museum’s intrepid vehicle maintenance crew. With the addition of two vehicles donated in 2018, the museum now touts five cars, a converted pick-up truck, and
a tractor that all occasionally leave the museum floor for tours of downtown Klamath Falls. There is also a 1940s-era fire truck, a trolley, and several historic wagons on-site. The collection includes a 1904 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Model 6C, a 1915 Ford Model T, a 1919 Ford Model T with a converted pickup bed, a 1928 Buick Chauffeur luxury vehicle, a 1928 Rumely Oil Pull Tractor, and a 1967 Ford Mustang. See FLEET, page 6
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Traveling billboard: Several of the historic vehicles at the Klamath County Museum have been slightly modified with some wellplaced wood panel advertising. Cranky: Terry Sandusky demonstrates the crank start required for a 1904 Oldsmobile on display at the Klamath County Museum. Under the hood: Sandusky shows off the engine of a 1904 Oldsmobile that he restored for the Klamath County Museum. H&N photos by Kurt Liedtke
FLEET, from page 5 “We are thrilled to have these cars in our collection; it creates a challenge for space consideration,” said Todd Kepple, manager of the Klamath County Museum system. “It really supports the mission of the museum because travel was such an important part of living in America — we live in wide-open spaces and from the beginning people need-
ed means to travel. These vehicles may be primitive to us, but they were at the forefront of advancement at the time, so it’s educational for us to see how cars have progressed over the years.” The 1904 Oldsmobile welcomes visitors to the museum at the main entrance, a vehicle from a time that pre-dates steering wheels. Donated by the Miller Bros. auto-
motive dealership in 1978, its one-cylinder chain-driven engine pumps out a whopping 7 horsepower with uncomfortable seating for two and a tiller to steer. Resembling the look of a wagon more than a car, it represents the early era of the horseless carriage; before Henry Ford revolutionized the manufacturing line, and cars were considered an oddity. See FLEET, page 7
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 7
FLEET, from page 6
‘New’ acquisition: A 1915 Ford Model T joined the museum collection in December. Shown with the vehicle are museum volunteers Gary Mattos, left, and Greg Beckman, with museum maintenance technician Jim McClure. Submitted photo
Head lamps: Maintenance volunteer Terry Sandusky points out of the lights on a 1919 Ford Model T on display at the museum. Left-footed: The interior of a 1919 Ford Model T features an alignment of pedals and controls opposite of modern vehicles. Conversion: This 1919 Ford Model T at the museum was converted to a pickup truck. H&N photos by Kurt Liedtke
“It is a sweet little car to drive; for its age it runs remarkably well,” said Sandusky. “You have to know what you’re doing starting it or it could break your arm; it’s pretty mean to start — the flywheel weighs about 150 pounds.” The 1904 Oldsmobile was thought to be too badly damaged to ever run again when it was donated, after reportedly residing in a chicken coop for years and as a floor piece for the dealership. In the 1970s, Richard Groves had done some restorative work on the body, but it was thought to be a permanent static display going forward. Terry and Ron Sandusky proved the naysayers wrong, thanks to immeasurable assistance from a historical society specializing in vintage Oldsmobile automobiles, and an expert author on the subject — Gary Hoonsbeen. Communication between Sandusky and Hoonsbeen led to a wealth of original documentation, and recommendation of a welder to repair a cracked engine block. Some parts had to be recreated as genuine to the original design as possible, but as a 95-percent original, the 1904 Oldsmobile consistently turns heads at every parade. “He (Hoonsbeen) sent me the designs and everything that pertained to this car before his book went to publication,” said Sandusky. “We had to rebuild the radiator, and with help from Doug McCabe at United Mechanical Contractors we found pipes that were close to exact. By finding pictures and looking at diagrams, it was pretty easy to put together honestly.” The full restoration work on the 1904 Oldsmobile isn’t finished, as Sandusky and McClure next plan to work on recreating the original kerosene head lamps that attached to the vehicle, a problem they currently solve for evening parades by taping flashlights to the car. The 1915 Model T in the collection is one of the recent acquisitions, donated by John Wilcynski of Susanville, Calif. Configured with a “mother-in-law seat” in the rear, the classic Tin Lizzy is undergoing restoration work at Sandusky’s garage, but will be back on display at the Klamath County Museum later this year. The other Model T in the collection, a 1919 Ford production, sits prominently on the museum floor. Donated in 1988 by Robert Kennedy, the car had its rear section removed and a wooden truck bed installed — part of a kit that Ford offered that could be ordered via catalog. See FLEET, page 8
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High-end ride: A 1928 Buick, with a “Goddess of Speed” radiator cap and luxurious interior by 1920s standards, is among six historic vehicle still operable on display at the museum. Even in the late 1920s, most vehicles had wooden-spoked wheels. H&N photos by Kurt Liedtke
FLEET, from page 7 The Model T originally belonged to a farmer in the Macdoel area. The four-cylinder, flathead-four engine runs, topping out around 50 miles-per-hour, though Sandusky and McClure don’t recommend any operation over 30. In an era when cars were beginning to dominate the streets, but few aspects of vehicular operation were standardized, its operation can be tricky. The brake is the far-right pedal, the accelerator is a lever just beneath the steering wheel, and additional pedals act as gear shifts. “Safety was not a consideration, you sit
on the gas tank and there are no seat belts, all the wheels had wooden spokes, and that steering wheel could break a face,” laughed Sandusky. “It is the most uncomfortable car ever to drive, you have to reinvent the wheel when driving this and it’s tough to remember what to do because it’s opposite of everything we expect on a standard car.” 1920s luxury The other recent acquisition for the museum is its 1928 Buick, a luxurious testament to the roaring ‘20s rich and famous lifestyle. Donated by Alan Eberlein, this prominent vehicle features a couch complete with footrests for two, and space for
a chauffeur with a foldable front seat for added legroom. The engine is massive, a six-cylinder monster equipped with a beautiful radiator cap that could be an art piece all on its own. The controls by the late 1920s had started to resemble modern cars today — except perhaps for the manual hand-turned windshield wipers. “(Alan) Eberlein had two of these, and he decided to donate both to museums — lucky for us we got one,” said McClure. “It has four pedals and two gear shifts, and thankfully by this era the accelerator was the pedal on the right.” See FLEET, page 9
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 9
FLEET, from page 8 Oh, baby blue The last of the vehicles kept indoors on display is a 1967 baby blue Ford Mustang, donated by the estate of Don R. Carnes — a prominent member of the Klamath Kruisers who passed away in 2006. Surrounded by artifacts dating back much further in age, the Mustang stands out on the museum floor as a bit of an oddity, one which according to Kepple has drawn scrutiny for not being “historic” enough. “It is my personal favorite in the collection,” said Kepple of the Mustang. “Some people think it’s too modern to have here, but others have personal memories of the Mustang and love it.” The Classical Age: A baby blue 1967 Ford Mustang, sold at the former Balsiger Ford dealership, and donated by Don R. Carnes remains on display inside the museum. H&N photos by Kurt Liedtke
Spiked drive Venturing out to a gated outdoor section of the museum rests the final two vehicles in the collection. See FLEET, page 10
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10 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
FLEET, from page 9 A 1928 tractor sits menacingly with massive tires that once were adorned with spikes for better grip in fields, but were converted to rubber to be more pavement-friendly. The 2-cylinder engine turns at only 700 RPMs, generating 25 horsepower. It clocks in at around 8,000 pounds, and gets its name as an “oil pull” because its oil reservoir is used to cool the engine, rather than using water or antifreeze. The tractor operates through a mixture of kerosene, water, gasoline and oil. While it creeps slowly, according to McClure, it makes up for it in deafening volume and a shake that can rattle loose fillings. “I can’t imagine operating it in the field all day long because it will vibrate your teeth out and it’s very loud,” said McClure. “It will also blow oil all over your clothes, it’s quite the beast. We drive the tractor every year in the parade here and at the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair. Interestingly it came with a manual, which included how to completely tear down the entire thing and repair it because these farmers did all the repairs on their own equipment.” Automotive mystery Last in the collection is the most mysterious, an old fire truck that still bears the markings of the Klamath Agency Fire Department. Built in the 1940s, it operated out of the Fort Klamath area, likely until 1954 when Congress ended federal supervision of Klamath Tribes under the moniker of the Klamath Indian Agency. Little else is known about the fire truck — who donated it, when it was added to the museum’s collection, or how it operates. One of the small rusted plates on its exterior indicates it is an International K5-233 Harvester Fire Truck, likely built in 1947. The odometer lists less than 5,000 miles tallied, and a placard on the passenger side emphatically states its top speed limit of 15 miles-per-hour when on post, and 30 when offpost. “We don’t know much about it and what it would take to get it running,” said McClure. “Some things are just beyond repair, but they told us the 1904 Oldsmobile was beyond repair too. If we wanted to throw enough money at it, we could probably make it run.” “It isn’t something I want to do, it’s too big and once we get into this era I start to lose interest,” added Sandusky. Whether or not the fire truck blares its siren once more for parade onlookers, the remaining historic fleet of vehicles at the Klamath County Museum offers a functioning and fascinating part of Klamath’s evolution of transportation. “These vehicles help us appreciate the modern conveyance we have now, so we are very pleased to have these donated vehicles,” said Kepple. “It does create a good problem for us in trying to find space for them.” The Klamath County Museum is at 1451 Main St. in Klamath Falls, open Tuesday — Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. kliedtke@heraldandnews.com
Fire engine enigma: A 1940s-era International Fire Truck that once belonged to the Klamath Agency Fire Department now rests outside of the museum, one of seven historic vehicles owned by the museum. Much is unknown about this vehicle in the museum’s collection. Rough ride: An operating historic Rumely tractor in the museums collection is said to be able to rattle out fillings from the vibrations it creates when the engine is running. H&N photos by Kurt Liedtke
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 11
IT’S SHOWTIME!
Backstage: Actors keep it loose while applying makeup before another performance of M*A*S*H at the Linkville Playhouse. H&N photo by Kurt Liedtke
Community effort behind every Linkville production
By KURT LIEDTKE H&N Staff Reporter
I
t is a small setting with cramped changing rooms, a miniscule stage from which to work, and extensive clutter crammed into every backroom to store props; and for the group of Klamath actors who perform regularly there, that’s just the way they like it.
The Linkville Playhouse has for decades provided an annual run of theatrical plays, musicals and children’s events in the heart of downtown Klamath Falls; an intimate room that has cultivated a beloved culture around it for both the returning audiences and those directly involved in bringing stories to life onstage. Operated by the Linkville Players, a collective of community members passionate about theater, the Linkville Playhouse in collaboration with the much-larger Ross Ragland Theater, offers live performances in a close-knit setting. See SHOWTIME, page 12
12 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
Linkville lines: The he Linkville Players is the oldest community theater group in the Klamath Basin. cessor organizations included the Its predecessor Pelican Players and the Klamath Civic Theater. Linkville Players have been presenting theatrical productions for more than half a century. The Linkville Playhouse seats 118, with 63 orchestra seats, 20 loge seats and 35 balcony seats Linkville Players usually offer four plays and a musical production September-to-June, plus three original children’s plays. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Pelican Players and Klamath Civic Theater played in whatever space available: the Winema Hotel, the basement of the former City Library — which is now the City Hall at Fifth Street and Klamath Avenue, Sacred Heart Auditorium, and the old armory — which is now the Klamath County Museum, among other places. H&N photo by Kurt Liedtke
Tight quarters: Actors prepare for a January performance of “M*A*S*H” in the cramped quarters backstage at the Linkville Playhouse.
SHOWTIME, from page 11 Many familiar faces return for every show, while each new production inevitably almost always includes at least one or two new community cast members gaining their first stage experience. Each play’s development begins approximately six months to a year in advance of opening night with a pitch session, where board members discuss and preview potential productions for the upcoming season. Many factors must be considered before a production is green-lighted: is there sufficient stage and backstage space, what set design will be required, will there be a music director and choreographer needed, how big must the cast be, and perhaps most importantly — would it be appealing to the Klamath audiences that loyally pack the theater each night? “For the past couple of years we have been lucky enough to have just enough pitches to fill out our season, so we have
been able to pick all of the shows that have been presented,” said Jeff Gardner, president of the Linkville Players and veteran actor who appears in many of the productions. “There are times we definitely need a bigger stage, but we make it work. Sometimes subject matter is too risqué for the community and we have to consider if it might offend audience members. I like to push the envelope, but I don’t think we could do ‘Hair’ considering the full-frontal nudity.” Much of what the Linkville Playhouse provides has been designed, built, or collected by the Linkville Players themselves. Same too with many of the amenities available, from equipment to a small concession stand offering candy and drinks before each play. While every show includes a costume designer, oftentimes cast members are also proactively involved in procuring costume elements or props. See SHOWTIME, page 13
From 1980 to 1985 the Linkville Players did not have a home and no performances were produced. The Linkville Players’ theater, at 201 Main St., was formerly the “Pine Grove Room” a ballroom in the former Willard Hotel, which was constructed in 1926-27. The theater’s odd-shaped stage is 35 feet wide and 24 feet deep. Comedies account for more than 50 percent of Linkville Players productions. The Linkville Theater has never presented a production of William Shakespeare. The Linkville Players have presented several “original” works during its history. The backstage of the theater was never intended to be used as a backstage. The formerly cramped and dark space parallels the very steep section of North Second Street as it rises from Main to Pine Street. For many years, cast and crew stumbled across a rocky path to make it from one side of the stage to the other. In addition, water seeped down through the rocks and out on the stage. Over the years, volunteers tried to chip away at the exposed bedrock in an attempt to enlarge the area but their efforts were largely unsuccessful. In 1999, thanks to a generous grant from Jeld-Wen, the backstage area was remodeled significantly with rock being removed, a sump pump installed, retaining walls constructed, a stagelevel cement floor poured, a tool closet created and a bathroom constructed. Source: linkvilleplayers.org
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 13
SHOWTIME, from page 12
H&N photo by Kurt Liedtke
Room with a view: The sound booth, where lighting and audio needs are handled for plays, offers a view to the Linkville Playhouse stage.
The Linkville Playhouse is equipped with a 24-light board and sound mixer for microphones, though the main room is small enough that rarely are microphones ever needed for actors — it’s for sound effects and off-stage banter sometimes needed for the performance. There are small changing rooms upstairs and a bench backstage, while occasionally the lobby is quickly utilized for fast mid-show costume changes. Office space doubles as prop storage, while larger props and staging is kept at one of the theater’s sponsors — The People’s Warehouse. The one thing the theater sorely lacks that Gardner would like: a laundry room for costumes that after sweaty performances can get a tad rank. Shows have been known to include food fights and more clothes-staining props as well. The tight quarters necessitate nearly as much backstage choreography as onstage during a show,
with pre-determined locations for quick costume changes and assistants required to quickly move staging and props. The larger the cast the bigger dilemma this becomes, often necessitating utilization of a side stage or walkways to be able to present the play. “A lot of figuring out the show is rehearsing backstage space too so that everybody gets their paths down,” explained Gardner. “It’s a lot of, ‘I have my stuff here, you have to get out of the way’ — sometimes it can become a bit of a ‘Lord of the Flies’ situation.” “We have to think about all the choreography and blocking on stage, but it’s the same backstage, too,” added Charles “Chip” Massie, who has participated in over 50 community productions but is directing his first play at the Linkville with “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” in February. “It is all part of it, there are people backstage to help with a quick change, and that all comes with rehearsal.” See SHOWTIME, page 14
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14 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
SHOWTIME, from page 13 The theater survives thanks to a supportive group of friends who inevitably are involved in nearly every single play in one way or another. While some choose to exclusively be actors, many take on different jobs such as operating lights, backstage, costumes and directing to develop skills for every aspect of a stage production. “I love the people that are attracted to it,” said Massie. “A lot of the same people may be in a play, help produce, and design the set. Particularly being a smaller theater the intimacy lends itself to camaraderie for the people involved. Everybody who is in a play here is also a member of the theater, so everyone has bought in.” “We try to have a family atmosphere,” added Gardner. “We have many very old friends here. Once we find somebody who is reliable we do our best to try to keep them around as a member.” It is common that while one show is currently active, with performances Fridays and Saturdays along with the occasional Sunday matinee, much of the same cast is rehearsing mid-week for the next play to be produced. Once a production completes the stage is taken down typically within a day or two, and new staging for the next show installed quickly so that rehearsals can continue. Often the next production premieres only a few weeks after the previous show ends. Additionally, the theater also hosts “Little Linkville” shows throughout the year — plays designed specifically to engage little kids. These often rambunctious shows encourage audience participation and interaction. See SHOWTIME, page 15
Backstage muses: Rehearsals for February’s production of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” begins a typical mid-week evening at the Linkville for cast and crew. Character’s mirror: Sally-Ann Palcovich preps for a January performance of “M*A*S*H” in one of several dressing rooms that also doubles as prop storage. Heel-toe-glide: Dance steps are rehearsed on stage at the Linkville, a small stage that necessitates extensive trial-and-error practice to determine each actor’s position so as to avoid accidental collisions. H&N photos by Kurt Liedtke
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 15
18 | Klamath Life |
‘We have more ideas than we can and plausibly pursue.’ rehearsals started in January. The first — Franny Howes, Lemon Brick Road Studios club organizer
Story lines: Comics created by teens in the Lemon Brick Road Studios club includes “The Adventures of Wizard Mayor or Something” and “Penguins vs. Pandas.” H&N photo by Kurt Liedtke
two weeks we devoted almost entirely to the music, then we start in on dance choreography. Then we move on to block for the show for stage movement — the first few rehearsals for that is largely traffic control determining the logistics of where to move everyone so we aren’t bumping into each other with the size of our stage. The show gets about two months of rehearsal time.” By the time “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” reaches its opening night, many of the same cast and characters will again be fully immersed in rehearsals for the next show, and beyond. It is a cyclical life in Klamath’s diminutive but beloved playhouse, where every story is compelling and every role important. Through adversity and a collective of close friends, the show must go on. The Linkville Playhouse is at 201 Main St. in Klamath Falls. Shows are held on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information visit www.linkvilleplayers.org. kliedtke@heraldandnews.com
Lemon Brick, from page 17
Ladies Intensive, she H&NComics photo by Kurt Liedtke has led the group in monthly
Intimate intense: Cast andof crew rehearse for the February of Based&on the success sessions to create eight-page, the Linkville’s production of “Dirty those events, the following Rotten Scoundrels.”
hand-drawn comic books year another workshop was that can now be found in the held, and to Howes’ surprise all teen section of the library or SHOWTIME, from 14 in attendance hadpage previously are available for purchase at It takesaupward of 30 people a show to reach openattended workshop and were for Edible Earth in Klamath Falls ing night. Beyond cast there is stage crew, marketing more interested inthe making at 107 N. Ninth St. Their main help, sponsors, the director, choreographer, their own ratherdesigners, than learning comic book, “The Adventures music director, and more. Even on large shows, there are the history. of Wizard Mayor or Sometypically more people involved off-stage than onstage. thing,” recently closed its main “They asked me at the end Larger shows for problems, and 19-edition story arc prior to the of the session if itcreate couldmore be a potential the to get creative the diminutive setting.Con last Klamath Comic club,necessity and nobody had asked amidstannual For the production “M*A*S*H,” play based on the popme that before, butof I loved the a October. ular film and television show, a cast of 30 required extenidea,” reflected Howes. “I asked The Lemon Brick Road sive blocking work to figure out how to fitname the entire show the youth librarian and she was not surprisingly, is a onto the stage and side-stage, andStudios, even incorporated delighted. It is hard to get teens spin-off of the Land of Oz, an aisles in the theater for select scenes. The lobby area was to come to recurring things, homage totent Dorothy’s famous also converted into a Korean War-era military space to but as it turns out we have had yellow brick road as an allegory further add to the ambiance. many of the same teens comexploring infor audiences onfantastical Friday new ingWhile every“M*A*S*H” month for was this packing proworlds where imagination and Saturday evenings, during the week much of the same is gram now for over two years.” the only limitation. There is team was meeting back at the Linkville for rehearsals of of course the obvious “if life Armed with an extensive February’s production of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” a hands youBy lemons, make lemknowledge of the fascinating musical based on the 1980s comedy hit film. the time onade” metaphor that aptly fits “M*A*S*H” completed runitsthe “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” history of comic booksits and a collective of creative teens stage and show was mostly refined and ready. creators (Howes once appeared developing their own often on “We the game show Jeopardy!), proposed ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ in June of last bizarre comic books. and two of“We art training year,” saidweeks Massie. began auditions before Christmas, at the Adventure School for See Lemon Brick, page 19
16 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
On
Lexi Crawford, first woman on Oregon Potato Commission
commission
By HOLLY DILLEMUTH H&N Staff Reporter
O
ne golden opportunity often leads to another.
When Lexi Crawford enrolled at Oregon State University in the mid-2000’s, she wasn’t expecting to make connections that would lead her to Klamath Falls and eventually a seat – and as the first woman – on the Oregon Potato Commission. In a whirlwind of serendipity, the native of Albany, Ore., met her future business partner Weston Walker the first day of college, after which he introduced her to her husband, Bart Crawford. When the couple married and returned to the Klamath Basin, where Bart grew up, she started working in the office at Gold Dust & Walker Farms in Merrill. “I think it was fate,” Crawford said. See CRAWFORD, page 17
Representing: Lexi Crawford, 34, is the first woman to hold a position on the Oregon Potato Commission in its nearly 70-year history. Crawford is junior partner at Gold Dust & Walker Farms in Malin. H&N photo by Holly Dillemuth
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 17
‘It’s good to get some different perspective on everything, whether it be marketing or legislative stuff or whatever we’re working on.’ — Dan Chin, co-owner of Wong Potatoes Fresh Organics and Klamath Basin District representative with the Oregon Potato Commission
CRAWFORD, from page 16 Now she’s worked her way up from office manager to junior partner of the company and manages many of the company’s accounts along with Weston Walker. Gold Dust sells potatoes to Inn-Out, Hormel Foods, Frito-Lay, and Pik Nik Foods. The company, which incorporates brothers John Walker and Bill Walker’s operations, exports to Calbee in Japan, as well as companies in the Philippines and South Korea. “We grew so fast,” Crawford said, noting potato loads more than doubled to the burger chain alone in the last four years. Adapting to change Growth meant she and the company have needed to continually adapt to the changes of a fast-paced potato industry, something she brings to the statewide commission. She is one of three representatives from the Klamath Basin on the commission, including Lon Baley for Malin, and Dan Chin for Klamath Falls. Chin, past chairman of the commission and in his 20th non-consecutive year on the commission, expressed excitement about having Crawford on board. “It’s good to get some different perspective on everything, whether it be marketing or legislative stuff or whatever we’re working on,” Chin said. Crawford is excited to serve on the commission, but wasn’t expecting the role, either. A decade of working in the potato industry and a Master’s degree in business administration has more than prepared her. The commission, in its 70th year, is heavily involved in potato research, education, trade and promoting related issues in the Oregon Legislature. H&N photo by Holly Dillemuth
Packing ‘em in: Gold Dust & Walker Farms has seen growth and change with new clients for their potato growing, packing and marketing business located northwest of Malin.
See CRAWFORD, page 18
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CRAWFORD, from page 17 “She’s young and has got good ideas,” Chin added. “She’s working with a company that’s progressive and is exporting a lot of potatoes … they’re looking for new markets all the time.” Crawford’s at-large position was previously held by Nels Iverson of the Willamette Valley. But without interest from the Willamette Valley, it was opened to applicants from throughout the state of Oregon. Able to draw on her Willamette Valley roots, and with a decade of experience in potatoes, Crawford has filled the at-large position and said she’s been committed to catching up to speed on the transition from the private to public sector. “Our biggest goal is investing in potato research,” Crawford said of the commission. “We spend the majority of our assessment money on that. “I love having the opportunity to travel and do things to help our industry advance,” she added. And travel she has since assuming the board role in fall 2017. In May 2018, she represented the Oregon Potato Commission in Shanghai, where she spoke at a trade show. While in Asia, she also visited the company’s export customer in Japan, where she met with the first female plant manager at the company’s Hiroshima plant. The commission also sent her to speak to the West Coast Longshoremen in San Francisco, where she said relationships between Gold Dust & Walker Farms and the union were boosted and concepts floated for the possibility of an inland port in Millersburg, Ore., near Albany. Such a port could allow easier transport for potatoes for the Klamath Basin company as all exports are shipped out of the Tacoma/Seattle area.
‘She’s working with a company that’s progressive and is exporting a lot of potatoes … they’re looking for new markets all the time.’ — Dan Chin, Wong Potatoes Fresh Organics
H&N photos by Holly Dillemuth
Wash, sort, ship: Workers sort potatoes as they roll through the line at the Gold Dust & Walker Farms facility. Serving worldwide: Lexi Crawford, a junior partner with Malin’s Gold Dust & Walker Farms and member of the Oregon Potato Commission, enjoys the opportunity to travel for the commission and work to help the potato industry advance.
Sending them south through California would be too much of a financial burden with potatoes being such a hefty crop. Whatever needs doing, Crawford’s motto is: “Make it happen.” That’s Crawford’s modus operandi, and it fits well with Gold Dust & Walker Farms, too. “Jump in wherever I’m needed and figure it out,” she said. “That’s a big part of the philosophy here. We’ve had to figure out almost everything to run this business.” Bill Walker manages the company’s account with Frito-Lay. Weston Walker, also a partner in the company, and Crawford work together to manage all other accounts. “Potatoes are definitely our main focused crop and water is key — they need lots of it,” Crawford said. “Over the last few years, our company strategy has been to acquire land with really good water rights. So in case of a crisis, we could move our potato acres to those properties and never falter on a contract. That’s our main goal. One of the things Weston and I always say is, ‘We never want to over-promise and under deliver.’ ” See CRAWFORD, page 19
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 19
One of Crawford’s biggest points of pride is having her daughter tell the entire elementary school what she wants to be when she’s older — a potato saleswoman for Gold Dust & Walker Farms. CRAWFORD, from page 18 The business is also set up in a way that hopefully shields operations from the effects that drought can bring. “... we would be able to make it happen if we did have a catastrophe like 2001,” Crawford said. Despite this, the business remains very involved in water efforts. Bill Walker is a board member of the Klamath Drainage District and Tricia Hill is a member of the Klamath Water Users Association board of directors, which represents the interests of more than one dozen irrigation districts in the Klamath Basin.
“When I was given the opportunity to become a partner, my outlook changed considerably and I felt myself taking an even stronger position on ownership,” Crawford added. “I saw it reaching into other departments and looking into things for improvement.” Along with her role at Gold Dust, Crawford also juggles family life as a mother of two children, ages 6 and 9, and she and Bart have made their home in the Merrill area. When asked what she would say to other women in business looking to excel, she advised them not to be afraid and not to underestimate one’s own abili-
“We have a strong presence to stay plugged in and helping drive things forward,” Crawford said. Crawford prides her care for customers, but emphasizes the company has proven itself with its quality, service, and followthrough. In the last four years, she’s seen potato loads double just with the burger chain. “That’s all about finding what the customer needs and finding solutions,” she said. “That’s something that Weston and I focus on every day.” Crawford said she’s felt an ownership while at Gold Dust & Walker Farms, which only grew as she stepped into her role as junior partner.
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ties. One of her biggest points of pride is having her daughter tell the entire elementary school what she wants to be when she’s older — a potato saleswoman for Gold Dust & Walker Farms. “Oh my gosh, I screamed,” Crawford said, with a laugh. “I’m like, ‘Yes!’” “She always wants to go with me, no matter where I’m going,” Crawford said.
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20 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
Passion for
puppies Round Dog Square Dog owner takes time to find perfect home for pups By SEAN BASSINGER: H&N Staff Reporter
Investing time: Dawn Perth holds a young Shih Tzu dog in an outdoor play area at Round Dog Square Dog in Klamath Falls Tuesday, Jan. 15. As a pedigree dog breeder, Perth believes it’s important to socialize her dogs. H&N photo by Sean Bassinger
W
hen Paisley, an 18-year-old mixed breed greets guests, she often makes high pitched squeaks that get louder as people pet her.
Her owner, Dawn Perth, said she was a rescue dog who had five owners in a five-year period. Perth has kept her for 13 years now. The dog owner and breeder mentions that Paisley deals with high anxiety, adding that many who greet her should not make direct eye contact and get ready for the noises. “I’ll bring her out,” said Perth. “She is a good girl.” And she was.
Several other puppies and dogs in an outdoor play area jumped with joy on Jan. 15 as Perth described her passion: she raises puppies and works close with families to find them the perfect home. This, Perth says, is how it “should be,” as opposed to descriptions of “puppy mills” that often come up in media reports. “It has to be your passion,” Perth said. See PASSION, page 21
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 21
PASSION, from page 20
Play time: Cookie, top, a young Shih Tzu, stops to look at the camera in an outdoor play area at Round Dog Square Dog in Klamath Falls Tuesday, Jan. 15. Dog pack: Several young Shih Tzu dogs, above, meander around an outdoor play area at Round Dog Square Dog in Klamath Falls Tuesday, Jan. 15. H&N photos by Sean Bassinger
Introduction to dogs Perth retired after more than 40 years as a dog groomer and has bred dogs for more than 30 years. She says that her love for dogs started very early. Her family bought their first dog, Pepsi, while she lived on a farm in the Willamette Valley. She has since worked with several breeds, eventually discovering that the best fits include Pomeranians, Shih Tzus and Yorkshire terriers, often called “Yorkies.” She also recently picked up some Chihuahuas. Her property consists of an open outdoor play area for the dogs, a heated kennel and all the proper permitting and licensing from groups such as the American Kennel Club. Perth takes time with socializing her dogs — the process can take several weeks, in addition to making sure that the puppy and owner get along very well. “I think I have a good selection of pet puppies that are lap dogs that pretty much fit every situation,” Perth said. See PASSION, page 22
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PASSION, from page 21 Watching for scams In the age of fly-by-night sellers, false websites and weird posts all over the web, Perth also makes it a goal to spread awareness about how to avoid scams online. The breeder admits that even she was once taken advantage of. A dog scammer from Tennessee posed as a woman who inherited several dogs after the original owner supposedly died. But in the end, the story did not check out. Perth did receive seven dogs after the fact — but not an eighth that she paid for. Each dog also had a series of dental conditions that the previous owner neglected to mention. Perth estimates that the ordeal
caused her to lose $3,000. The Better Business Bureau states that online puppy scams can be quite common, especially during the holiday season. Tips offered on its North Central Texas division’s website include doing extensive research, educating yourself and requesting personalized photos. Known puppy scams should also be reported to the BBB, Federal Trade Commission or Oregon’s Attorney General office. But even this may not be enough — after her own experience, Perth said she now triple checks for veterinarian references on the side. She advises that everyone else do the same. “There are so many scams out there,” Perth said. “Get references.” See PASSION, page 23
The Better Business Bureau states that online puppy scams can be quite common, especially during the holiday season. Tips offered on its North Central Texas division’s website include doing extensive research, educating yourself and requesting personalized photos.
Puppy loves: Dawn Perth kneels down to greet several young Shih Tzus in an outdoor play area at Round Dog Square Dog in Klamath Falls Tuesday, Jan. 15. H&N photo by Sean Bassinger
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 23
PASSION, from page 22 The best fit Several Oregonians and others have shared their own experiences purchasing from Perth, some of which appear on one of her public social media pages. David Kempas, who lives in Prineville, reflected on his own experience after buying Boo, a now 4-monthold black Pomeranian. As a retired West Linn police officer, he has first-hand knowledge of what an unkempt shelter or kennel looks like. This was not the case after finding out about Perth and stopping in Klamath Falls. “The dogs look all happy and healthy so we made the decision then to buy Boo,” Kempas said. Kempas and his wife, Betty, travel around a lot and wanted a dog who could join along in the adventures. Boo even had a chance to meet a celebrity: Kempas said he introduced Boo to Tigger, the “Klepto Cat” known for stealing a bag of weed and other items before bringing them to the West Linn police. See PASSION, page 24
Speaking up: A chocolate Shih Tzu lets out a bark while sitting in a small puppy pen at Round Dog Square Dog. Home safe: Dawn Perth, owner and breeder at Round Dog Square Dog, holds Paisley, an 18-year-old mixed-breed rescue dog during an interview Tuesday, Jan. 15. H&N photos by Sean Bassinger
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PASSION, from page 23 The Kempas family has plans to eventually buy another Pomeranian so Boo has a buddy. Kempas said he would definitely return to Perth when the time comes. “She obviously takes very good care of her dogs and it looks like she’s invested her life into that,” Kempas said. This is the life Perth puts a lot into where she is today with Round Dog Square Dog — more specifically, she said at least 75 percent of her retirement fund went to start and upkeep the business. Dog breeders, Perth added, do not always make large profits when they do things right. Even one of her most recent vet bills put her out another $2,000. But she has enough to live on and said she has no problem caring for her furry friends as a lifestyle. “Someday I’m going to make some money,” she said. “But right now it’s just money out.” “This is my life and I love it,” Perth added. sbassinger@heraldandnews.com
Perth puts a lot into where she is at today with Round Dog Square Dog — more specifically, she said at least 75 percent of her retirement fund went to start and upkeep the business.
‘Tired’ out: Cookie, a young Shih Tzu, runs around a tire in an
outdoor play area at Round Dog Square Dog in Klamath Falls Tuesday, Jan. 15.
H&N photo by Sean Bassinger
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 25
2019 fishing primer
Closely guarded secrets of the Klamath Basin’s world-class fishery Shore: If you can get a boat out on the water, congratulations. More often, you’ll be limited to shore fishing as winter becomes spring, so dress warmly. Photo provided by Luke Ovgard
BY LUKE OVGARD: For the Herald and News
S
o you just moved to the Klamath Basin? First of all, welcome.
Secondly, take a page from the Vikings with the naming of Greenland and Iceland, and tell your family and friends you hate it here. Please. You’ve just moved to the preeminent wild, native rainbow trout fishery in the Lower 48. You may not know that because we closely guard the secrets of the Klamath Basin to protect this little-known gem for generations to come. So brace yourself and expect a group of anglers clad in all black with hooded robes to kidnap you in the night and initiate you into the fold. See PRIMER, page 26
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PRIMER, from page 25 INITIATION The Klamath Basin has a community of anglers who protect this place with all they are, and that is what sustains it as a world-class fishery. As the lake begins to thaw and fish start to pour back into the lake following the spawn, you must understand the rules of fishing here before you ever pick up a rod. Start by reading the regulations, cover-to-cover. So many people don’t understand the laws, it’s disturbing. Generally speaking, rivers and streams in the Basin are limited to artificial flies and lures. They are also typically catch-and-release. Both Upper Klamath and Agency lakes allow flies, lures or bait, as well as the harvest of one fish with a minimum length of 15 inches. That said, most anglers that care about this Basin don’t keep fish, and I’d strongly encourage you to carefully release every fish you catch. There are hatchery trout an hour in any direction you can kill and eat without ruining a wild trout fishery.
Rules beyond the law: 1. Respect the fish. The Oncorhynchus mykiss newberri rainbow trout living here are part of a unique population that grow to trophy sizes in a few short years. This happens because people respect fish and let them go to let them grow. 2. Respect the water. Water is the Basin’s most sought-after and fought-over resource. Without it, our wonderful fish would cease to exist. What little water we do have must be treated with an almost deferential respect. Avoid littering and polluting it and make sure you police others who would presume to damage it. 3. Get fishing. The Klamath River watershed covers an area about half the size of New Jersey, and the highly migratory fish are hard to find. The best way to figure it out is spend time on the water. If you don’t catch fish, try another spot. Then another. Take notes and see when and where you caught fish last. If you can abide by these rules, we will welcome you into the fold. Some will ask for a blood oath, but that is your call. I’ll take you at your word. Now take me at mine, and you might find some fish as winter thaws into early spring. See PRIMER, page 27
The Klamath River watershed covers an area about half the size of New Jersey, and the highly migratory fish are hard to find.
Catch up on the 2019 Oregon Sports Fishing Regulations online at https://bit. ly/2MWblix.
A flash of color: Respecting fish should be your first priority. That means wetting your hands before handling them, keeping fish wet and releasing them back into the water as soon as possible. Photo by Luke Ovgard
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 27
Anticipating autumn: Big yellow perch are the name of the game north of Klamath Falls at Hagelstein Park in the fall. They’ll hit darn-near anything, but they can be a blast on the fly rod. Throw a heavy white or black from streamer Mission, pageon 26sinking line and work it slowly The woman explained how in the cold water.
their nine-day trip, then as a caravan, traveled to assist California fire agencies in battling the Camp Fire. They returned Nov. 18, one day before Thanksgiving.
she was collecting buckets of Photo by Luke Ovgard water to pack into her car trunk, then drive about a quarter mile down the road to her home. Jake Weems, another KCFD1 Electricity and running water firefighter the mission, had been out in her neighborPRIMER, from page 26 year-round oron at least most said theyyear. got different assignments hood for four to five days since of the the Some fire started. needed the each day. For the most part, he years, She the entire This include said would they found andEagle connected water flushinher toilets. lake istoopen February. Ridge County Park and the animals to rescue services, “We were like, put all your In 2018, I took my boat north of Hagelsteinstrucprotected endangered buckets outside we’ll fill waters out several timesand before Park but and south of The Nartures mopped up hotspots them up with the fire engine!” March 1. Other years, you’re rows, a canal-like waterway where the fire blew through. said Toni Brimmer, Klamath desperately praying for a that connects Upper KlamCounty Fireto District heat wave open 1upBattalion a few athPossibilities Lake with Agency Lake. Chief and Strike Team Leader hundred yards of water. “People in the trainee for the Camp misKeep in mind thatarea just were just Regardless, in lateFire Februso generous,” Weems sion. the water isn’t said. “I ary, you must start by locat- because think it these opensplaces up your eyes to iced-over, tend woman them, ingThe open water,thanked as the ice the possibility that this could Brimmer andget thethick fire team to be frigid for the same typically said, doesn’t happen to any freeze: of us at any reason they don’t met her back at her home enough to safely allow ice time. For me, it was perfect to about an hour later. They filled unrelenting wind. Dress fishing. come back home after Thanksup every trash can and warmly. Therebucket, are three things giving and be with family and bowl she had with water. Bait tendsthere to beare theother best people that keep water open: let know “I thought, let’s do whatever bet at these locations, so earth, wind and fire. Wait. who are hurting. What we have, we canatoband. make her life a little sit on frozen minnows 3-toThat’s we’re blessed.” bit easier because it’s going be 5 inches in length. Use a I meant to say: wind, No. 4than hookanything, and cut Brimpretty terribleand for flowing months and singleMore wave action mer and Weems they the line as closely toagreed, the months,” water. Brimmer said. were thereif to make things fish’s mouth they swallow Ready to assist forlet thethem people thebetter bait and go.who lost Brimmer was one of 18 everything. The hook will rust out, and WIND County firefighters in Klamath they’llWhen be fine. they first saw the The team windiest parts the a strike of 22, withoffour wreckage, Brimmer and Weems See PRIMER, page 28 lake tend to remain open from Roseburg. On Nov. 9, the said they were struck. team packed up five trucks and one trailer with supplies for See Mission, page 27
Strike team: Oregon Strike Team 8, a group of 22 firefighters from local fire departments, stand near Paradise, Calif., in front of trucks and equipment they brought to help fight the Northern California Camp Fire. There were 18 Klamath County firefighters in the group from Klamath County Fire Districts 1 and 2, Keno Fire Department and Crescent Fire District, and four firefighters from the Douglas County Fire District. Submitted photo
28 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
Photo provided by Luke Ovgard
Scaled prize: The golden colors of brown trout shine in the Klamath Basin sunshine.
PRIMER, from page 27 WAVE ACTION If the boat ramps open up even briefly during the winter, the wave action from boats will help keep them open. If they never open up, that means the only wave action on the lake is near pumping sites on both sides of the lake. Keep an eye out for water pumping into the lake at Algoma, Hank’s Marsh and Howard’s Bay because that wave action will open up the ice. Pay attention to signage, and don’t trespass. Remember to respect the water, as noted above. Bait can work here if the water isn’t too dirty, but fish are often feeding actively, so throw a swimbait or a spoon with a single hook as close to the churning water as you can.
FLOWING WATER Though the rivers are closed, the river mouths are not. If you don’t mind a long, rough walk, you can access the mouth of the Wood River. If the Eagle Ridge County Park boat ramp happens to be open, you can jet over to the mouth of the Williamson River by boat. Remember not to fish in the rivers themselves; that’s illegal this time of year. Instead, fish past the end of the narrow banks to intercept trout cruising back out of the river to gorge themselves post-spawn. The other places with flow are Putnam’s Point and the waters above the Link River Dam. Both have a steady flow and rarely ice up. Fish in these areas tend to be moving through, so bait often isn’t too effective. Instead use big, flashy baits like spoons with single hooks
to entice passing trout. LEGACY This is the most frustrating time of year to fish the Basin. It’s full of “almosts” and “soons” that make you long for March and April and May. You will be alone on the water most days, but is that a bad thing? No matter how many hours you fish, you’ll always learn something new about these fish. To help with the learning curve, find a mentor. If you know someone who likes to fish and is willing to share their secrets, go for it. Just be sure to keep that knowledge safe and honor the legacy we’ve fought to protect. Read more at caughtovgard.com; Follow on Insta and Fishbrain @LukeOvgard; Contact luke.ovgard@gmail. com.
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 29
Catch the Wind Pacific Coast races coming to Upper Klamath in July By GERRY O’BRIEN: H&N Editor
T
his year the Klamath Basin Yacht Club will see a new class of boats racing in its annual regatta over the long — and extended — July Fourth holiday weekend. See RACES, page 30
At the tiller: This lightning class sailboat is depicted in a 1978 lithograph by former, local artist Paul Tremain, who once ran a printing shop in Klamath Falls. This lithograph may be used on a commemorative pennant for the upcoming Pacific Coast Championships over the July Fourth weekend.
30 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
RACES, from page 29 Normally known as the Firecracker Regatta, the event will be July 6 and 7 instead of on the Fourth, since the Fourth falls on a Thursday. “We felt that most people would take July 5, a Friday, off, as a day to travel, so we put the regatta forward to that weekend,” said vice commodore Vince Wachter. The signature holiday event hosted by the Klamath Yacht Club draws sailors from Eugene, Redding, Calif., and other parts across the Northwest. With 25 to 40 sailboats on the water, it could get congested out there, but will be great viewing for the general public from Moore Park. The boats will race two to three routes on the lake, pretty much in a triangular format and can be viewed from various locales around the lake or on the water if one has a boat and stays out of the racing lanes. See RACES, page 31
‘Cat’ racing: Multi-hulls, or catamarans, above, competed for bragging rights during the 2017 Firecracker Regatta on Upper Klamath Lake. H&N file photo
Port of harbor: A retired lightning boat, dubbed the “Bar Ley Afloat,” serves as the front portion of the bar in the Klamath Yacht Club facility. H&N photo by Gerry O’Brien
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 31
RACES, from page 30
Sail strategy: Spinnaker sails pop out as sailboats race downwind during the 2017 Firecracker Regatta on Upper Klamath Lake. This year’s regatta will be July 6 and 7. H&N file photo
The idea is to get at least five races in for the weekend regatta. Skippers start arriving Friday night at the Yacht Club marina off Front Street. This is the 43rd year for the club-sponsored Firecracker Regatta. There will be a wide variety of classes sailing in it. Those include multi-hulls such as Hobycats; Performance Handicap Racing fleets; centerboard keels; and the 21-foot San Juan class. There are few classes of racers as not all the boats are the same length or sail capacity. Fans will see “working-sails class” using two sails and the “all-sails class” which uses an extra spinnaker sail to race downwind. It makes for dramatic sailing, strategy and great photo opportunities. Racing fans should see Santana 20s (20-foot boats) and San Juan 21s (at 21-feet). There will be larger, longer craft racing, too. See RACES, page 32
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Most sailing boats are small enough that there will be two- to three-person crews, including the captain.
RACES, from page 31 Each race lasts about 1½ hours depending on the wind. Depending on the course — which is set just prior to the start of the race — the boats may race up toward Buck Island, then deploy their billowing spinnaker sails and race south, east and west across the lake. The lowest point is just off Moore Park and Lakeshore Drive. Most sailing boats are small enough that there will be twoto three-person crews, including the captain. There may be a few 12-foot boats called Lasers that are manned by a single person. But the new addition will be the Lightning Class. “I quit racing in them as you tend to get banged around by them a lot. But they are fast and fun to race,” Wachter said. “Every time I got on one of them, I was bleeding before I even got away from the dock; they have a lot of sharp edges.” Lightning boats have an open cockpit and usually carry a crew of three. They sport a low profile to the water, as sailors edge their way through choppy waves and constant sprays of water. The 19-footlong boats are designed for racing with a set amount of weight and sail size. They have raced in the summer Olympics from time to time. See RACES, page 32
Depending on the wind: This year’s Firecracker Regatta will be July 6 and 7 and will be the Pacific Coast Championships for the lightning class. About 20 boats are expected from up and down the West Coast. H&N file photo
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 33
KLAMATH YACHT CLUB
The Klamath Yacht Club is located on the east shore of Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon’s largest lake. Upper Klamath boasts a beautiful mountain setting, but the nearby low hillsides channel the winds for fairly steady sailing conditions. Average wind speeds of 8 to 15 knots make Upper Klamath Lake a great place to sail and race. The yacht club is home to keelboats, catamarans, trimarans, Walker Bay dinghies, centerboards, sailboards and powerboats. The 50-square miles of water offer more than enough sailing room. From anywhere on the lake, one can fish, watch eagles and pelicans, spend the entire day sailing and return to home port or anchor in a protected bay for overnight camping. The lack of city lights in the upper lake provide for excellent star gazing conditions.
On course:
Some 22 sailboats took part in the 2017 Firecracker Regatta on Upper Klamath Lake. H&N file photo
RACES, from page 32
“Bar Ley Afloat.”
The 100-member yacht club used to have a fleet of lightning that it raced yearly. In fact, one was “retired” and is now the front portion of the bar for the club, aptly named,
This year will be the Pacific Coast Championships for the lightning class. About 20 boats are expected from up and down the West Coast. Klamath Falls is sort of the
middle of the West Coast — so it was a place every other year someone could not have to drive so far. For more details, and to register, go to www.kycsail.us. gobrien@heraldandnews.com
Education at the Speed of Life! ENROLL TODAY!
34 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
Kitchen Pastimes These takes on old favorites are quickly mixed, out of the oven and off the plate
Easy-peasy Peanut Butter Cookies 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 tsp. vanilla extract Stir together peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract in a large bowl until combined. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, utilizing two teaspoons. Space dough balls 1-inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten the cookie dough balls gently with tines of a fork. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes, or until lightly browned.
This favorite recipe is one shared by Annah BackstromAschbrenner, a former assistant editor at the Herald & News.
Fast four: Easy-Peasy Peanut Butter Cookies are quick and easy to mix since it includes only four ingredients. H&N photos by Holly Owens
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 35
& Passions A
charming story about Katharine Hepburn and a neighborly friendship which developed at her corner grocery is connected to this recipe.
The week that Hepburn died, in June of 2003, Heather Henderson of St. Paul, Minn., penned a letter to the editor sharing the story of her father’s chance encounter with the famous actress, the friendship that developed over the years, and inspirational advice Hepburn rendered on education — and brownies. Read the letter from The New York Times at https://nyti. ms/2QwlE1Y.
K ATHARINE HEPBURN’S
BROWNIES 1/2 cup cocoa 1 stick butter 2 eggs 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup flour 1 cup broken-up walnuts or pecans 1/2 cup quartered maraschino cherries 1 teaspoon vanilla pinch of salt Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Melt butter in saucepan with cocoa and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Quarter maraschino cherries, patting dry with a paper towl. Whisk eggs into the cocoa powder and butter mixture, one at a time. Mix until Add sugar, flour, nuts, maraschino cherries, vanilla and salt. Pour into a greased 8-inch by 8-inch square pan. Bake 40 minutes. Follow Katharine Hepburn’s advice and ‘’Don’t overbake!’’ They should be gooey. Let cool (an essential step) and cut into bars. Adapted from the recipe printed by the New York Times at https://nyti.ms/2kOWGuE
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HOWARD’S DRUGS MORE THAN A PHARMACY
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PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 37
Quintessentials A close-up look at personalities who help make the Basin a great place to live
Kathy King — Soroptimist International
H&N photo by Tess Novotny
By TESS NOVOTNY H&N Staff Reporter
S
oroptimist International treasurer-elect Kathy King says helping women and girls through the worldwide service club has always been her driving force up the organization’s leadership ladder.
King has been part of the 100-year-old international women’s group for 30 years — 10 years in Davis, Calif., then 20 in Klamath Falls. Soroptimist is layered into international, national and regional groups split into about 75,000 clubs across 133 countries, King said. And while members spread far in location and profession — Klamath Falls to the Netherlands, brainy business women to attentive retirees — King believes their values are the same. “I really believe in the mission: improv-
ing the lives of women and girls,” King said. “We’ve come a long way but there’s a long way to go. Everything we can do to help educate women, make sure they have tools they need to be successful … that’s our goal.” And hopefully, King said, her crucial new Soroptimist role will scale up impact across its layered levels; locally, through scholarships for local college students and up to $2,000 grants for women’s education — and internationally, with projects and partnerships to address issues like sex trafficking and female genital mutilation. King said she applied for the treasurer position because she has seen the tangible help Soroptimist has given to women and girls to pay for education and stay safe from domestic violence and conflict. “It was important because as in any organization, if you don’t have members who are committed to help lead that organization forward, then it will die,” King said. “I had a desire to see this organization be the best it could be and decided I would do my very
best to help with that endeavor.” King said the position was open to worldwide Soroptimist applications. The job’s only prerequisite was previous experience as a club president, which she fulfilled in 2003 and 2004 for the Klamath Falls chapter. Since then, King served as a district secretary from 2004 through 2006, then district director from 2008 through 2010. She was governor-elect in 2008 through 2010, region governor from 2012 through 2014 and she sat on the Americas federation board of directors — overseeing the organization in 22 countries and territories — from 2016 through 2018. From 2017 through 2018, she was the Americas federation secretary treasurer. “I never anticipated that it would get to this level,” King said. “It’s very fascinating because it’s a whole new look at our organization. As you go up in these leadership positions, your global sphere increases.” tnovotny@heraldandnews.com
38 | Klamath Life | PASTIMES & PASSIONS
— Flora & Fauna of the Klamath Basin —
AMERICAN BISTORT
EVENING GROSBEAK
Polygonum bistortoides American bistort, also known as smokeweed, is a perennial which grows from a short rhizome with unbranched flowering stems to a height of about 1 to 2 feet. This plant is widespread, one of the most common mountain wildflowers, and grows across the Western United States and up into Canada. It flowers from May through July in meadows, stream sides, springs and other sunny wetlands and often can be found with bog orchid, arrowleaf groundsel, sedges and rushes. It is found at elevations from 2,000- to 13,000-feet. Basal leaves are leathery, oblong to strap-like, and up to 6-inches long with long leafstalks. Numerous small, white to pinkish, five-petaled flowers occur in dense, rounded clusters 1 to 2 inches long, at the top of long stalks with a few small leaves. American bistort is eaten by wildlife, though its palatability varies by location, regarded as worthless in some areas, and highly used in others. The stout roots of bistort were used in soups and stews by the Blackfoot Indians, and boiled with meat by the Cherokee, and used in a poultice that was applied to sores and boils by the Miwok Tribe of California. The young leaves were cooked as greens.
Coccothraustes vespertinus Evening grosbeak is a showy, sturdy-looking bird with a massive conical bill for seed eating. It is not an uncommon sight anywhere in Oregon. This species is a year-round resident in Oregon and frequents mixed forests and backyard feeders. They eat sunflower seeds and are also attracted to the seeds, berries, and buds of trees and shrubs — especially maples. These fairly large birds often travel in sizeable flocks. The evening grosbeak is a songbird without a song, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it does not seem to use any complex sounds to attract a mate or defend its territory. It does have a small repertoire of simple calls, including sweet, piercing notes and burry chirps. Though they’re ferocious seed-crackers in the wintertime, in summer they eat insects, including the spruce budworm, a serious forest pest. “The grosbeaks are so adept at finding these tiny caterpillars that the birds often provide a first warning that a budworm outbreak has begun,” according to the Cornell Lab. In the mid-1800s, the evening grosbeak was uncommon east of the Rockies. They began a winter eastward migration, reaching Rhode Island in the winter of 1910–1911. They were a regular winter visitor by the 1920s in New England. The growing number of ornamental box elders may be related to the eastward expansion of the evening grosbeak, providing a steady food supply.
H&N photo by Holly Owens
American bistort facts
It is one of the most common
mountain wildflowers.
It is a perennial grown from a
short rhizome.
Edible plant varies in palatability from region to region. Was used as a food source and as a medicine by Native American tribes.
Resources:
ODFW photo
“Common Plants of the Upper Klamath Basin” at http://bit.ly/2fm4Jsj
Lady Bird Johnson Flower Center: wildflower.org Flora of North America: efloras.org Utah State University Extension: https://bit. ly/2WTVJAG
Evening grosbeak facts They are ferocious seed crackers in the wintertime, in summer they eat insects. Not an uncommon sight in Oregon.
Was uncommon east of the Rockies until the 1920s. A member of the finch family. Regular visitor to backyard feeders.
By HOLLY OWENS: H&N Assistant Editor
Resources: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://bit. ly/2GxTLAq U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: https://bit.ly/2Sl4Qfl The Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Allaboutbirds.org: http:// bit.ly/2FZSMWk
PASTIMES & PASSIONS | Klamath Life | 39
On the calendar around the region February SATURDAY, FEB. 23 Teen & Youth Super Smash
Bros. Brawl Tournament, 3:30 p.m., downtown Klamath County Library, 126 S. Third St. Choose your fighter and show off your skills in this classic Nintendo Wii fighting game. For ages 10 to 18. 17th Annual Red Tie Romp fundraiser gala, 5:30 p.m. Ross Ragland Theater. Proceeds fund the theater’s seven student education programs. Tickets $100 per person. Search for Mercury, 5:30 p.m., an astronomy event through the Klamath County Museum with an emphasis on viewing the planet Mercury. Location to be announced.
TUESDAY, FEB. 26 Northside Garden Club presents: Pruning — When, Why, How, 1 p.m., South Suburban Klamath County Library branch, 3625 Summers Lane.
March MARCH 1-30 The Linkville Players present “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” Lawrence Jameson makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. Freddy Benson more humbly swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother’s failing health. After meeting on a train, they attempt to work together, only to find that this small French town isn’t big enough for the two of them. They agree on a settlement: the first one to extract $50,000 from a young female target, heiress, Christine Colgate, wins, and the other must leave town. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday evenings, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees on March 17 and 24. Tickets are $11, $12 and $14. The Linkville is at 201 Main St.
SATURDAY, MARCH 2 OSU Gardening Workshop
Series: Earth-friendly Approaches to Pest Management, 10:30 a.m. to noon, downtown Klamath County Library. Monster Truck Insanity Tour at the Klamath County Fairgrounds Event Center. Includes some of the nation’s biggest monster trucks, along with wild side-by-side tough
FUN ON SNOW AND ICE Ice skating Bill Collier Ice Arena at the Running Y Ranch and Resort: Offers open skate session, broom ball, hockey, curling and more. Their 2018-19 season continues through March 17. For more information, visit klamathicesports.org, or call 541-850-5758. Snowshoeing Crater Lake National Park: Ranger-guided snowshoe hikes are offered through April 28 on weekends and holidays. They start at 1 p.m., last two hours, and cover 1 to 2 miles of moderate-to-strenuous terrain. No previous snowshoeing experience is necessary. Snowshoes are provided free of charge, and there is no cost for the tour (apart from the winter entrance fee of
$15 per vehicle). Space on each tour is limited, and advance reservations are required. For more information, visit nps.gov/ crla/index.htm, and to sign up, call 541-594-3100. Caving Lava Beds National Monument: Seasonal ranger-guided reservation-only tours of Crystal Ice Cave are offered annually starting in December and continuing into March. This wild and strenuous tour takes you through a lava tube with large ice stalactites and stalagmites, ice hoodoos, and ice waterfalls formed by unique environmental and geological conditions. For reservations and more information, visit recreation.gov/ ticket/facility/tour/231.
10:30 a.m. to noon, downtown Klamath County Library. Singer, songwriter Luke McMaster will perform in concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Ross Ragland Theater. Formerly one half of Canadian duo McMaster & James, McMaster cut his teeth on some of the biggest acts of the day, including sharing the stage with Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and more. Tickets are $15, $19 and $24 before transaction fees.
MONDAY, APRIL 8 OSU Gardening Workshop
Series: Gardening with Pollinators, noon to 1:30 p.m., Chiloquin Branch Library, 140 S. First St., Chiloquin. Attendees invited to bring sack lunch.
TUESDAY, APRIL 9 OSU Gardening Workshop Series: Gardening with Pollinators, 1 to 2:30 p.m., South Suburban Branch Library, 3625 Summers Lane.
SUNDAY, APRIL 14 The Ragland Classical Series
truck and UTV races, and the Monster Truck Ride Experience where spectators can take a ride in a monster truck. Advance tickets are $16 for adults, $10 for children age 3 to 12 at livealittleproductions.com, or $20 for adults and $12 for children at the gate. Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair Casino Night fundraiser, 5:30 p.m. casino and bar open, 6:30 p.m. prime rib dinner. Includes bucket raffle, roulette, craps and black jack. Information, 530-667-5312.
MONDAY, MARCH 4 OSU Gardening Workshop
Series: Earth-friendly Approaches to Pest Management, noon to 1:30 p.m., Chiloquin Branch Library, 140 S. First St., Chiloquin. Attendees invited to bring sack lunch.
TUESDAY, MARCH 5 OSU Gardening Workshop Series: Earth-friendly Approaches to Pest Management, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m, South Suburban Branch Klamath County Library, 3625 Summers Lane.
the nation’s oldest and most successful repertory dance company, will present a diverse range of modern dance styles and choreography. Tickets are $15, $19 and $24 before transaction fees. Earthshine Party, 6 p.m., an astronomy event viewing earthshine on a new moon. Location to be announced.
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
FRIDAY, APRIL 19
Nashville’s Heidi Burson’s
Jukebox Heroes: Foreigner
soul, rhythm and blues concert, 7:30 p.m., Ross Ragland Theater. Burson is an award winning artist and songwriter and has released two self-produced full length albums. Tickets are $15, $19 and $24 before transaction fees.
SUNDAY, MARCH 31 Women in Local History, a program on selected women who were prominent in local history. Presented at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Baldwin Hotel Museum, 31 Main St. Free admission.
April
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
SATURDAY, APRIL 6
Repertory Dance Theater, 7
OSU Gardening Workshop
p.m., Ross Ragland Theater. RDT,
presents the Young Musicians of Excellence concert, 2 p.m. on the Ross Ragland Theater’s main stage. Featuring a multitude of vocal and instrumental talent, these high school musicians are considered the best of the best in their chosen field by professional judges and competitions. Tickets are $15 each before transaction fees.
Series: Gardening with Pollinators,
Tribute will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Ross Ragland Theater. Jukebox Heroes is the premier live concert band to tribute the music of Foreigner and the solo material from its original lead singer and co-songwriter, Lou Gramm. Tickets are $19, $23 and $29 before transaction fees.
FRIDAY, APRIL 26 Dancing With Your Klamath Falls Stars, 7:30 p.m. at the Ross Ragland Theater. The Ragland stage will be transformed into a dance floor when the Utah Ballroom Dance Company comes to the Basin to perform with Klamath Falls’ celebrities. Tickets are $23, 427 and $32 before transaction fees.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE
Awarded
for excellent Pulmonary Care – 2019
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Awarded an (A) grade in patient safety – 2018
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Awarded for excellence in high-quality care – 2018
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Awarded for Performance Leadership – 2018
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