Basin Business - August 14, 2014

Basin Business

KLAMATH BASIN

Business

August 2014

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

Teen inspires with work ethic — Page 6 GET OUT: Mid-week Farmers Market See page 3 OPEN ARMS: Welcoming ‘Burners’ See page 4 FOR WOMEN: Social Security and you See page 5

Also Inside: nNew Downtown Bank nOIT orientation nThird Thursday for kids

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Mazama High graduate and C&D Burger Shoppe employee Shelby Hill emphasizes working hard and saving money is the way to achieve her dream to one day become a large animal veterinarian. Story on page 6.

New business in town — Page 2

A publication of the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce klamath.org

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Basin Business

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

Welcome chamber members We are launching a newly designed Basin Business monthly chamber publication and hope you will enjoy it.

It is in conjunction with the fine folks at the Herald and News.

This is a work in progress, but it depends mainly on our membership giving us information about what is new and newsworthy about your business.

It you have new employees, made significant changes to your business, inventory, approach or just want to share some imporant news with your membership, please feel free to email Heather Tramp with any updates at heathert@klamath. org Comments and critiques of this publication are more than welcome.

The goal here is to highlight what is happening in our county businesswise.

There are some important dates coming up that are noted here. One is the series of Business Builder workshops that will help your firm get an edge in the 21st century world of social media.

Also, we are looking for new recruits for our Leadership Klamath group. This is an excellent program aimed at business people interested in networking with others in the community and the Basin.

There has been a lot happening in the county of late, espeically the well-attended economic forums sponsored by the state and local agencies. It shows that the community is poised to develop business expansion and welcome complementary businesses to the community.

We hope you help make this publication a success. Keep us posted on any business news you may have.

Enjoy the rest of the summer and we’ll see you in the fall.

New business

Eye Center opens aesthetic clinic

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lamath Eye Center and Mark Fay, M.D., have announced the opening of Almond Aesthetic Medicine to the Klamath Falls community, according to a news release.

Almond Aesthetic Medicine will feature medical and cosmetic services provided by Cathy Noble, PA-C and Erin Miller Card.

After a couple months working out of Klamath Eye Center, the firm is scheduling patients at its permanent location, 2613 Almond St. Appointments are available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Almond Aesthetic Medicine offers medical and cosmetic Botox treatments, dermal facial fillers, as well as laser procedures. Intense Pulse Light procedures for skin rejuvenation, hair reduction, pigmentation spots and rosacea, as well as Yag Laser procedures for vascular lesion and vein treatments are “Having multiple available.

Fay has provided medical physician owned and cosmetic Botox for patients in the Klamath Basin for more and operated than 25 years through his ophclinics will give thalmology practice. In addition ophthalmology care, Fay has Klamath Falls a to provided patients with functionstronger presence al and cosmetic eyelid surgery as well as laser procedures. in the aesthetic “Our hope is that with the addition of Almond Aesthetic field.”

Medicine, Klamath Basin resi­­ Dr. Mark Fay dents will have increased access to functional and cosmetic services provided in a professional medical setting; while minimizing the need to take their business out of town,” Fay said.

“Having multiple physician owned and operated clinics will give Klamath Falls a stronger presence in the aesthetic field and help deter unlicensed providers from providing these services, he said.

Noble began her career in Klamath Falls, serving as

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Cathy Noble, left, and Erin Miller Card are now operating Almond Aesthetic Medicine.

a registered nurse for 10 years. She graduated from UC Davis in 1985 as a physician assistant. Noble now limits her practice to medical aesthetics, which she has been practicing since 2007.

Erin Miller Card began her career with medical aesthetic lasers in 2001. Having started with patient care in 1995, Card continued her education in the medical field, completing her bachelor of science with an option in Vascular Ultrasound at Oregon Institute of Technology in 2001. She has been working alongside Cathy Noble for more than five years.

Call the office at 541-887-8229 or stop by, 2613 Almond St. The office’s website, AlmondAesthetic.com, will be online soon.

Klamath Freedom Celebration, Saturday, Aug. 23 The fifth annual Klamath Freedom Celebration returns with a poker run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.

Everyone is welcome to participate in the drive which begins at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1383 at 515 Klamath Ave. and continues up through Crater Lake National Park as they collect cards to get the best hand.

The winner will take home half of all money raised during the event, while the other half will go to the VFW. It will cost $20 for participants to enter the poker run, and all cards need to be returned to the VFW by 3 p.m. to be eligible for the prize.

Klamath Avenue, between Fifth and Sixth streets will be closed for the event from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There will be music and vendors

in the street, and those traveling to the Burning Man festival in Nevada are welcome to attend.

Interested vendors can set up at the Freedom Celebration for free, but should contact Doug Brown, 541-2817094, founder of the celebration, to get authorization.

There will be food available in the afternoon and the VFW bar also will be open for the celebration.

Basin Business

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

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Marking 15 years

Consider the Ostrich: Meat, oil, leather, eggs and feather

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Oregon Ostrich, LLC in affiliation with Ostrich Country announces that it is now open to the public, located at 5777 Hwy 97 S., Klamath Falls.

Ostrich are the largest living bird, the only bird with two toes and unique in many ways.

Originally domesticated for the feather trade, interest in these big birds has expanded beyond feathers to include meat (a healthier alternative red meat), leather that is both strong and supple with a unique quill pattern and ostrich eggs for consumption, incubation or used in craftwork.

Ostrich chick More recently, ostrich fat has become a source for oil production for cosmetics and candle making.

A viewing and feeding area is available to the public to view the breeders and feed older chicks.

As available, guests may view chicks during the hatching process.

Personnel are available to provide information and answer questions about ostrich. There is also a gift shop and educational section.

Future plans include working within the local community to provide educational events for the public Oregon Ostrich is owned and operated by Don and Karen Holmstrom, 5777 Hwy 97 S, Klamath Falls, Oregon.

They have owned ostrich for more than 20 years, starting with a pair in 1993. This season consists of 10 breeders; 7 hens and 3 roosters. The eggs are incubated and chicks reared on-site until 3 to 4 months of age at which time they are transported to a grow-out facility in Idaho.

Ostrich Country will be open daily 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. through October.

There is a charge of $1.00 per person (three and under are free) and $2 per cup of feed. During the off-season or for large groups tours can be arranged by calling 541-810-2855.

For more information call Karen at 541-810-2855, visit their website at www.oregonostrichllc.com or email karen@oregonostrichllc.com.

Don’t forget mid-week market he Klamath Falls Farmers Market has done a bit of “growing” over the last four to five years, and we’d like to thank everyone who has supported and believed in our mission, which is first, to provide a venue and support for local small agriculture and a source for super-fresh produce to the public.

We continue to strive to invigorate our downtown community and offer visitors to the area an experience that reflects the greater Klamath Basin “flavor”, not only with great produce and prepared food, but also local artisans and craftsmen/women and their creations.

This season we’ll have more than a dozen local area producers with a great variety and quality of veggies, fruit and herbs, local grass-fed beef, honey and eggs and canned-pickled foods.

Over the years, the increase of foot traffic/customers has provided our farmers H&N file photo the incentive to expand what they have to offer…the variety through the season is Wednesday’s Farmers Market at Town & country a hit as well. impressive and continues to grow. on Saturdays, you won’t be disappointed! Also available, Our artisans have a great mix of different media, from as in the past, we have yummy bakery/pastry vendors for woodworking, textiles, jewelry, pottery, massage therapy breads and a cure for your sweettooth. and visual artists to local authors…wonderfully creative 2014 will be the fourth year to provide a program for local talent on display. folks to use their EBT Oregon Trail card to make healthy Our Children’s Program director Susan Smith has local food choices. This program, as well as providing a very cool lineup of craft projects for kids of all ages access for the State run Senior Farm Direct Program through the season, always free, educational and very fun, every week. Local musicians have always been a sta- and WIC, continues to grow and gain awareness…providing this access for low income families is a part of our ple at the market and we have a great bunch scheduled mission and very gratifying that it’s getting more attenthrough the year to make you tap your foot or maybe do tion and being used more and more every year. a jig.

We’ve added seating, shade and tables to our venue, And here’s a big deal, we’ve added a Wednesday Marand continue to make the Market a more welcoming ket. This will be a second or alternate opportunity for place to stay and visit for longer, like grabbing a bite to folks to access our farmers and produce. It runs every eat at one of our two hot food vendors.

Wednesday through at least September, at the Town & This season we have both K’s Purple Onion with a Country Shopping Center, 3842 South 6th Street (Big quality blend of Greek and American, and Chris Hoss Lots), from 3pm to 6pm…we will have a number local with his “Mac ‘n Cheesesteaks”, unique and creative agriculture producers, increasing as the season progressartisan-cart menu. es. Stop in and pick up farm fresh local veggies. EBT, If you come down to the Market for breakfast or lunch WIC/SFDNP are available at this new location too.

Local firms invited to OIT orientation Oregon Tech Career Services invites local businesses to participate in our Fall 2014 Student Employment Fair on Friday, October 3 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the College Union Bookstore Lobby.

The fair will provide Oregon Tech students and local employers a simple

and timely way to connect for community job opportunities. We are happy to provide this fair at no charge and appreciate your involvement.

Tables for the Student Employment Fair can be reserved online at www. myinterfase.com/oit/employer. Go to

“Career Events” on the blue navigation bar and select “Student Employment Fair 2014.”

For more information, contact Jan Goodyear, Oregon Tech Career Services office, 885-1023 or email jan.goodyear@oit.edu.

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Basin Business

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

Two new brews on tap, two awards earned Klamath Basin Brewing has two seasonal brews on tap, a brand new Breakfast Blend IPA and a refreshing Frontier Lager.

“Wake up and smell the brewski!” says Corey Zschoche, the head brewer at Klamath Basin Brewing, of his Breakfast Blend. This beer is flavored with espresso coffee beans sourced from Berds Beans in Boardman, Oregon.

The grist is comprised of 3 malts, and it’s hopped with six different varieties. You might expect a darker look, but the light colored Breakfast blend packs plenty of aroma and a hoppy finish.

Frontier Lager is dedicated to those of who never give up the urge to explore. This long fermented golden lager has a fruity nose and a bit of a malty backbone from heavy use of Munich malts. It’s crisp and refreshing, making it perfect

for our hot summer days.

Klamath Basin Brewing also just received notice of winning two awards for their beer at the North American Brewers Association in Idaho.

Their Notch Eight IPA won gold in the Double/Imperial Red Ale category and their Crater Lake Amber Ale won bronze in the (Extra Special) Strong Bitter category. Now in its 18th year, the NABA Awards provide an opportunity for commercially produced beers to be judged against the best beers in the country.

Certified judges, major national brewers, and beer journalists conduct a single blind sampling followed by rank ordering of the entries within given categories. Klamath Basin Brewing has been honored to receive ten category awards in the last four years.

All the Klamath Basin Brewing beers are available at the Creamery Brewpub & Grill on tap or in growlers, as well as 22 ounce bottles of Notch Eight IPA, Rebellion Red, Headstrong Blonde, Defiance Double IPA and Backroad Vanilla Porter.

The flower filled, outdoor patio area at the Creamery is open daily, and is hosting musical events throughout the summer. Follow the bands, events and specials through Facebook (http:// www.facebook.com/KBBREWandCreamery) or better yet, the Creamery invites you to just stop by and check it out yourself.

Klamath hopes to welcome Ways you can roll out the red carpet ‘Burning Man’ travelers

By Jim Chadderdon From the Herald and News

If there is one message Discover Klamath wants to send those traveling to and from Burning Man, an artist festival held in the Nevada desert this month, it’s this: you are welcome in Klamath Falls.

Discover Klamath Executive Director Jim Chadderdon and Tonia Ulbricht, of the tourism and convention center, unrolled large vinyl banners at the tourism office on recently, signs they plan to place next week at a variety of entrances to the city: Highway 97 North, Highway 97 South, Highway 66 East, Highway 140 East and areas of downtown.

Additional resources are available at the center for local businesses to extend a welcome to travelers coming through town from Aug. 21-25, enroute to and from the artistic festival in the festival-created city of Black Rock in the Nevada desert. Kits for Burning Man travelers, known as “Burners,” contain a pamphlet outlining

places to see, stay and eat as well as things to do in Klamath County. There’s also a flying disc and a questionnaire to rank Klamath Falls as a host in the pamphlet.

“While most road trips have a planned itinerary, a journey through the Klamath Basin is a destination in and of itself,” reads a new Discover Klamath bag with information for travelers.

“We’ve never done anything like this,” Chadderdon said.

“Nobody’s ever done anything like this.”

C h r i st y Dav i s i s working with a taskforce hoping to accommodate “Burners” in Klamath Falls, and knows from

experience what it’s like traveling to and from the festival. She attended in 2003.

“It is really a festival that is largely dedicated to creative expression,” Davis said.

T h e D i s c o ve r K l a m at h website also provides a list of resources for “Burners” where they can pick up groceries, art supplies, and where to find lodging, dining, or automotive services on their way through town.

Davis said the festival draws many full-time employees in their mid-20s to mid-30s, a demographic she said is able to afford the experience and to shop local on their way to and from the event.

Davis, who serves as librarian for Klamath County Library, said the facility will likely put up a sign welcoming the travelers, as they do all who come through the Klamath Basin.

“We really welcome all tourists to our community,” Davis sa id. “ Directing people to resources will hopefully make them want to come back.”

Executive Director of Discover Klamath

Many of those going to Burning Man travel through the Klamath Basin and Klamath Falls.

In fact, it’s one of the last large cities before going deep into the Nevada desert for five to seven days of camping; hence, many of the festival goers rely on Klamath for key supplies.

Last year the festival attracted 68,000 attendees and this year organizers expect over 70,000.

Not all travel through our area, but, perhaps 20 percent do.

A couple months ago, social media was abuzz suggesting Klamath Falls was not overly friendly/ accommodating towards those traveling through Klamath en route to Burning Man. That is an entirely wrong perception and we are involved with a group of citizens who aim to welcome travelers to our community as they travel through. We will help them navigate our community with improved signage, extended hours in selected retail stores, longer hours at our Welcome Center, and a custom map and resource guide.

On the way back, we’ll offer weary travelers a place to dump trash, get the Nevada dust off their cars with community car washes, and possibly set up temporary showers. We’ll also deploy local food carts to roads/areas where these folks will be traveling.

If you like the idea of a community rolling See BURNERS, Page 5

Basin Business

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

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Third Thursday tonight Women should know what to expect from Social Security

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Downtown event focuses kids.

The final Third Thursday event of the summer will be all about the children.

The theme for the event Thursday, Aug. 21, will focus on kid-friendly fun, including a Kid’s Fair and Toy Exchange on the grassy area on Main Street near the Klamath County Library, said Third Thursday coordinator Linda Warner.

Children are encouraged to bring used books and toys that are clean and unbroken to trade or sell to other kiddos, Warner explained.

“It’s kind of a swap meet for children,” she said.

The rest of Third Thursday will feature games, face painting, and more, she added.

“It’s really going to be fun,” Warner said.

This will be the last Third Thursday of the summer, its 15th season; so far, Warner has been pleased each of the events this year.

BURNERS Continued from Page 4 out the red carpet and welcoming travelers then please LIKE the Burners Welcome to Klamath Falls Facebook page; and, check out the Burning Man pages on our website at www.DiscoverKlamath.com. If you think a community shouldn’t do anything extra for thousands of people traveling through, then you don’t need to LIKE the page.

The website pages and Facebook page have been up about a week now and already have over 444 ‘Likes’.

We would like to see additional support for efforts of this local group of about 15 community citizens to not just attract this audience, but generate goodwill for our community along the way.

Why would we alienate thousands of travelers and the economic benefit they provide as they travel through our community twice in two weeks? We are excited to roll out the Welcome mat and let this group know we appreciate their business and welcome their presence.

If you/your business would like to get more involved, here’s how you can do it: •Put up a BURNING MAN Poster in the window of your business, •Give away BURNER RESOURCE GUIDES in your store(s), •Implement a brief BURNING MAN SURVEY in your store(s), •Donate something to give away to participants of burning man, •Join the committee helping to make Klamath a friendlier place.

To learn more, contact Tonia in the Discover Klamath office at Tonia@ DiscoverKlamath.com

From a press release

Everyone needs to be aware of the financial resources they will have available in retirement. But if you’re a woman, you must be particularly diligent, for a variety of reasons. And that means you’ll need to know just what to expect from Social Security.

Why should you, as a woman, pay extra attention to Social Security?

For one thing, women often take time off from their careers to care for children and older parents, so they may accumulate less money in employer-sponsored retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans.

And women still live several years longer than men, according to the Census Bureau.

Clearly, then, you need to get the most you can from Social Security.

To do so, you will need to consider at least three key factors: • Age — You can start taking retirement benefits as early as 62, but your benefits may be reduced by up to 30% unless you wait until your “full retirement age,” which is likely 66 or 67.

If you delay taking benefits until 70, your monthly benefits may be up to a third larger than if you started collecting Social Security at your full retirement age. You’ll need to weigh a variety of factors — such as family longevity, income from employersponsored retirement plans and your anticipated financial needs — in determining when you should start taking Social Security.

• Employment — If you work while receiving Social Security benefits before you reach full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn over an annual limit, which generally increases each year. In the year you reach full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced by $1 for every $3 you earn over the limit before your birthday.

But once you reach full retirement age, your benefits will no longer be adjusted for earned income.

• Marital status — As a spouse, you can generally receive Social Security payments based on your own earnings record or collect a spousal

benefit of up to 50% of your husband’s Social Security benefit. The benefit will be reduced if you start taking it before your full retirement age. To start collecting Social Security spousal benefits, you must be at least 62 years old and your husband must also have filed for his own benefits. If you’re divorced, and you’re not currently married, you can generally receive benefits on your ex-husband’s Social Security record, as long as you meet certain conditions. (For example, you had to have been married to your ex-husband for at least 10 years.)

No matter how much Social Security you ultimately receive, it’s almost certainly not going to be enough to provide all the income you’ll need.

So during your working years, try to contribute as much as you can, for as long as you can, to your IRA and your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan.

At the same time, look for other investment opportunities. And when you reach retirement, create a withdrawal strategy that allows you to stretch out the income you receive from your investments for as long as you can.

By saving and investing as much as possible during your working years, maximizing your Social Security payments and carefully managing your financial assets when you’re retired, you can help improve your chances of enjoying the retirement lifestyle you deserve.

This information is believed to be reliable, but investors should rely on information from the Social Security Administration before making a decision on when to take Social Security benefits. It is general information and not meant to cover all scenarios. Your situation may be different, so be sure to discuss this with the Social Security Administration prior to taking benefits.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

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Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

Basin Business

Finance and teens

Business Builder Work ethic prepares workshops schedule The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce has begun scheduling monthly workshops as part of their Business Builder series ­— an exciting program that helps strengthen your business through marketing.

Each month, the Chamber offers a workshop focused on marketing.

The workshops cover a wide variety of topics from traditional marketing to social media and more. The topics were chosen with a broad audience in mind. “We wanted the courses to be suitable for both small and large businesses, for staff as well as management,” says Heather Tramp, the Chamber’s program and marketing coordinator.

The classes are around the lunch hour. Because of the unique timing around the lunch hour, attendees are encouraged to bring their lunches.

Coffee, tea, cookies and fruit will be provided.

The following is the schedule through November 2014:

What Makes an Effective Website August 27 (noon to 1 p.m.)

In this one-hour workshop, the Chamber will help you understand what makes an effective website. By providing tips and ideas for auditing your own website, the Chamber can help you increase the effectiveness of your site. Does it draw your customers in? Does your site appeal to your target audience? Is it easy to maneuver? Let the Chamber help you audit your site.

Make Membership Work for You September 24 (12 p.m. to 1 p.m.)

In this one-hour workshop, the Chamber will help you get the most from your Chamber membership. You’re a member - now what? There are dozens of benefits to being a Chamber member - which ones should you be using? How do you use them? Join us as we help you get the most of your membership.

LinkedIn to Stand Out October 29 (Noon to 1 p.m.)

Stand out from the crowd, get more quality leads, and stay top of mind with the decision makers when you know how to use LinkedIn correctly and strategically. You’ll learn what LinkedIn can do for your, how to get results, and how to create a powerful profile plus many more tips!

Video Marketing for Your Business November 19 (Noon to 1 p.m.)

Video is THE way to market your business. Learn how to implement video marketing strategies for your business and use video to stand out in a crowd.

Pre-registration is required. Workshops are $5 for Chamber members, $10 for non-Chamber members. To register or for more information, please visit www.klamath.org or call (541) 884-5193.

youth for stable future Reprinted from the Herald and News

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ineteen-year-old Shelby Hill is wise beyond her years when it comes to keeping track of her

money.

The 2013 Mazama High School graduate plans to work her way through community college in Reno, Nev., so she can transfer to Oregon State University, and eventually become a large animal veterinarian.

“I’ve worked since I was 12,” Hill said while mopping up the floor of C&D Burger Shoppe Friday afternoon, where she works during the summer.

“I bought my car — I paid for all of it,” she said. “Now my plan is to not use any loans (for college).

“Save where you can,” Hill added. “I don’t want to spend all of my money. I kind of monitor what I spend.”

In-demand skills When it comes to budgeting, learning to keep track of your money at a young age can lead to being a financial-savvy adult, which for former high school economics teacher Jennifer Hodges, is in high demand.

“We want something so we get it,” Hodges said. “That’s just a social norm. I think that as a society we don’t know how to save money, and invest money and be fiscally responsible.”

Hodges teaches personal finance to her social studies students at Ponderosa Junior High in Klamath Falls, and for her, it’s a lesson of getting back to the basics of budgeting.

Hodges taught high school economics in Michigan for 13 years before coming to Klamath Falls in 2013, and there is a lot to learn for students and adults a like. Hodges makes sure her students at Pon-

derosa learn how to save and how to purchase.

Hodges’ students took part in a week-long simulation last year through Junior Achievement, where students took part in a simulation where they learned budgeting skills needed with a family, as a couple or a single person living on a budget.

“It’s interesting how many parents don’t talk to their kids about personal finance,” Hodges said.

“Nobody had talked to them about saving, investing (and) planning for the future. That’s a critical thing for being responsible for our lives.”

For example, Hodges wants students to know that earning $10 an hour doesn’t mean they are paid $10 an hour, with taxes taken out.

“At the very basic level, we want them to understand how they get paid,” she said.

Lifelong lessons Budgeting is not just important for kids and teens to learn, but it’s a skill needed by many adults, according to Hodges.

“If kids don’t get it, they don’t learn it as adults,” Hodges said.

“People think budgeting and investing is so scary and it isn’t.

Sometimes we just need to make it simple.

Hodges said she gives her children a budget when they buy their lunches for the week, as one way to urge them to make sound financial choices. She also would like to organize a scavenger hunt at a local grocery store for her students in the 2014-15 school year to show them how much grocery items cost.

“Maybe that’s a need in the community,” she said. “Somebody needs to take that on and do that in the community.”

To learn more about Junior Achievement in Klamath Falls, go online at http://jaorswwa.org/ about_ja/klamath_falls_area.

Basin Business

Applications being accepted for Leadership Klamath 2014-15 The Klamath County Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for Leadership Klamath 201415, according to a news release.

Leadership Klamath was developed by the Chamber in response to need for leadership in all areas of public service. The program consists of 10 one-day sessions over the course of a 10-month period. Each meeting encompasses a specific topic or industry such as: tourism, emergency services, education, legal systems and economic development.

Since its inception, more than 250 people have graduated from this program. Leadership Klamath identifies and motivates emerging leaders and develops their potential for community leadership by exposing them to the realities, opportunities and challenges of our area. For 10 months, participants attend seminars, tours, lectures and briefings.

The registration deadline for Leadership Klamath is Friday, Aug. 29. The first session will be in September and continues every third Thursday through June 2015. To register, or for more information, call the Chamber at 541-884-5193, or visit klamath.org.

Lewis & Clark Bank opens Klamath Falls branch office Lewis & Clark Bank has announced that William “Bill” Castle, Southern Oregon area manager, is launching a community bank presence in historic downtown Klamath Falls at 810 Main St., Suite 101, according to a news release.

“The good people of Klamath Falls have spoken, and they said they want and deserve a community bank,” Castle said in a press release.

“Lewis & Clark Bank listened, Bill Castle and with the need clear, we have answered the call and are an ATM. pleased to bring our Bankerpreneur “Bill is not only one of most experistyle of community banking to the enced and well-regarded community Klamath Basin.” bankers in Central and Southern Castle, who has more than 20 Oregon,” said co-president and CEO, years’ experience working in bankJeffrey Sumpter, “he also knows the ing in Klamath Falls, is a career region first-hand and the banking community banker and former bank solutions that will best fit the KlamCEO. He has been building Lewis & ath Basin.”

Clark Bank’s presence in Southern Castle can be reached at 541-539Oregon since early this year. The new location is a loan production 3787, or at bcastle@lewisandclarkoffice that also will be equipped with bank.com.

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

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New chamber member:

Sharky’s Shack, 210 S. Spring St., Klamath Falls Renewed Chamber Memberships for August: A-1 Budget Motel Abby’s Legendary Pizza Avista Basin Martini Bar Cascade Auto Group Cascade Wireless LLC Cheynne Insurance Agency Desert Lake Technologies ECO Solar Inc. First American Title Heart of the Basin Quilters Herald and News Hosanna Christian School House of Shoes Kingdom Coffee House Klamath Board Sports Klamath County Fairgrounds Klamath County Rotary Klamath Falls School District Klamath Watershed Partnerships Klamath KOA Motel 6 Novak’s Auto Parts Powley Pluming Inc. PROSPER Soroptimist International Thomas Tucker DMD Tofell, Sharon ZCS Engineering, Inc.

Mark Fay, M.D. Scott Stevens, M.D. Physician/ Surgeon of the Eye Physician/ Surgeon of the Eye

Edwin Tuhy, O.D. Optometrist

Jennifer Sparks, O.D. Optometrist

New Patients Welcome

2640 Biehn St. • 541.884.3148 • www.klamatheyecenter.com

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Basin Business

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

Paid Advertisement

August 2014 Newsletter for Oregon State Senator Doug Whitsett, District 28 Senator Doug Whitsett

R-Klamath Falls - District 28 I represent the citizens of Senate District 28, which includes Klamath, Lake and Crook, as well as parts of Jackson and Deschutes Counties.

As Senator of one of the largest Senate districts in the state, it is extremely important that my constituents remain in contact with me about the issues and concerns that affect their lives. You and I must work together to protect the common interests of rural Oregonians.

I encourage you to contact my office by either email or telephone so that I can know how to best serve you. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards, Senator Doug Whitsett

Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-303 Salem, OR 97301 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1728 Newsletters: www.leg.state.or.us/whitsett Email Senator Doug Whitsett: sen.dougwhitsett@state.or.us

ODOF “EVERY ACRE COUNTS” -- WHERE THE FEDS FAIL, OREGON EXCELS The Oregon Department of Forestry has done an exceptional job of putting out four wildfires in southern Klamath County during the past few weeks. The Algoma, Bryant, Moccasin Hills and Ferguson wildfires consumed a total of nearly 5,000 acres of privately owned timber and brush-covered land. According to the fire reports, twenty dwellings were destroyed and about that many other structures were burned.

Some readers may know that I worked for the USFS as a wild land fire fighter for several summers while earning my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State. Our “hotshot” crew was stationed in Redmond, Oregon.

We fought 43 major fires in eight western states while I was a member of the “Roadrunners”. I have been able to spend some time on site during this summer’s fires.

All four wildfires were man-caused. Conditions are so incredibly dry that a single spark and a gentle breeze can create an inferno within minutes.

The addition of steep terrain, hot windy weather and limited access added to the potential for disastrous outcomes.

Absent the Department’s immediate first-strike and sustained response, each of these fires would have been much more destructive and would have endangered many more lives and property. In fact, virtually no natural barriers exist on at least three of the wildfires that would have impeded their growth into tens of thousands of acres.

Landowners pay the Department of Forestry an annual per acre assessment to protect their property and forest land. The Department is contracted to fight fires that start or burn on landowners’ protected property, and fires that originate on federal or state owned land that threatens their property and timber resources.

The State essentially matches the first $10 million of those landowner assessments with taxpayer General Fund. The next $25 million of fire suppression costs is paid through a Lloyd’s of London fire liability insurance policy purchased by the State.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimburses the State for certain wildfire suppression costs on state protected land where peoples’ lives, homes and possessions are endangered. Fire suppression costs on state protected land in excess of $45 million, not reimbursed by FEMA, are paid out of the General Fund.

For the first time this budget period, the Oregon Legislature allocated about $5 million to enhanced “first strike” capabilities. Air tankers, helicopters, bulldozers, pumpers and other equipment and firefighters have been pre-positioned to enhance their ability to reach a fire and put it out before it gets out of control. The “first strike” capability is paying huge dividends.

The Department has been able to quickly respond to each major wildfire with sufficient equipment and manpower to knock it down and put it out. They have been able to access multiple air tankers, water dropping helicopters, bulldozers and pumpers, within the first 24 hours. In fact, more than 800 people were fighting the Bryant Fire on its second day.

All four fires have been stopped and extinguished in spite of very dry conditions, high winds, and sometimes treacherously steep hillsides. The Department has successfully implemented their new motto that “every acre counts”. They primarily employ direct attack fire fighting by getting in close and stopping the fire at its natural edges. They minimized the number of

private forest acres burned, by employing burn-out fires and backfires only when absolutely necessary.

Their communications with landowners, and the local communities have been exceptional. They ask for and used community knowledge of the area to determine points of access and the availability of water. They were in constant contact with landowners and the local community explaining their plan of attack, why it needed to be done and how they intended to do it.

Virtually no natural sources of water were available for the firefighters on the Bryant Fire because of the extreme drought conditions. Local ranchers pumped groundwater into reservoirs and canals for helicopters and pumpers to use on the fire. In fact, one of the wells used extensively in the air attack effort is an irrigation drought well that the Oregon Department of Water Resources had initially told the owner he could not use this summer.

In my opinion, the Department’s fire fighting operations on the four local fires have been both professional and very effective.

It has not always been that way! In my opinion, the fire fighting effort two years ago on the Barry Point Fire near Lakeview was neither professional nor effective. The fire was under the management of professional US Forest Service fire teams. The Oregon Department of Forestry was, at best, ineffective in asserting their fire management goals and direct attack techniques.

That wildfire burned more than 90,000 acres. It raged out of control for eleven days, destroying more than 30,000 acres of privately owned forestland.

Backfires and burn-outs were employed so frequently that tens of thousands of acres of forests were needlessly destroyed.

Many of those fires, ignited at the direction of fire management, pointlessly incinerated private forested land. Several of those backfires never reached the edges of the original fire. Others threatened homes and ranches. Most egregiously, more than one of the backfires threatened the lives of landowners fighting to save their own property.

Effective communications with landowners and the Lakeview community were virtually non-existent. Fire crews were given inadequate directions, virtually worthless maps and too often left large sections of the fire lines unmanned.

Landowners who tried to help were ignored and shunned. Their property was not protected and too often incinerated by indirect fire fighting efforts.

Even professional fire fighters were stunned at the near total lack of effective fire management.

For the past two years, we have continued to work with the Department of Forestry to correct that travesty. Several landowner meetings were held in Lakeview. The meetings were attended by Department leadership as well as US Forest Service Regional Directors and their fire staffs. They were told of their failures, face to face, with the folks whose forest they failed to protect and whose lives they needlessly endangered.

We held a total of three contentious and adversarial legislative hearings in the Capitol. One of those hearings lasted nearly six hours. We asked tough questions and demanded straight forward answers.

Those hearings resulted in a two day meeting of statewide forestland owners, professional fire fighters, and agency employees. The meeting was

held in Bend after the 2013 fire season. The conversations were candid. The focus was on finding solutions.

To his credit, Oregon State Forester Doug Decker listened, and understood the issues and the public anger. He is taking a number of actions that we all hope will prevent another Barry Point.

Interagency contracts are being amended. Interagency agreements are being clarified. A new culture was developed that “every acre counts” in Oregon. The federal forest managers’ “let it burn” polices will no longer be tolerated.

The Department’s clear message now is to protect every acre of privately owned protected land. The focus is to “put the fire out first”, and to ask questions and deal with related issues after the fire is no longer a threat.

We are also working with the Department to create a source of funding to help private landowners rehabilitate the forests for damage caused by fire-fighting activities. The most effective time to repair that damage is soon after the fire is over. Funds must be available to do that work.

The cost of reforesting east-side forests after a wildfire often exceeds the salvage value of the burned timber. This reality may create a perverse disincentive to harvest and replant. We are working with the Department to create another fund to help with the costs of replanting those devastated forest lands.

Last year, Oregon wildfires burned the most acres in several decades. Nevertheless, the Oregon Department of Forestry has made huge improvements in their efforts to protect private forest lands. Forest owners have been quick and effusive in complementing that progress.

Severe drought conditions, coupled with the near complete lack of federal forest management, may cause this year to be the worst year ever for Oregon wildfires. The Department of Forestry has already responded to multiple major fires that have incinerated tens of thousand acres. Fire suppression costs are already approaching $20 million.

By all accounts, their fire suppression efforts to date have been exceptional. At this point, we couldn’t be more pleased with our combined efforts to restructure Oregon’s wildfire protection services, nor could we be more pleased with the fire suppression work of the Oregon Department of Forestry.

We can never undo the damage caused at Barry Point.

That scar will haunt the people of Lake County for at least the next two generations. However, that fire has become the rallying cry for better forest management and for more effective fire control efforts.

We must keep that momentum moving forward.

Please remember, if we do not stand up for rural Oregon no one will.

Best regards, Doug