Klamath County Archives

Chiloquin man killed in head-on collision of two pickups on Highway 97

December 17, 2025 4:23 pm Barney Lerten

CHILQQUIN, Ore. (KTVZ) — A 26-year-old Chiloquin man was killed in the head-on collision of two pickup trucks Tuesday evening on Highway 97 south of…

Salmon return to Klamath Basin sparks urgent and renewed push for fish screens to protect farms

October 27, 2025 5:34 pm Harley Coldiron

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The discovery of Chinook salmon swimming through irrigation canals in the Klamath Drainage District is prompting renewed…

Comeback story continues: Salmon reach more milestones on the Upper Klamath River

October 17, 2025 5:16 pm KTVZ

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Salmon are making exciting progress in their return to the upper Klamath Basin, with fisheries biologists from the…

Oregon Health Authority issues recreational use advisory for Odell Lake due to harmful algae blooms

August 14, 2025 3:51 pm Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) —The Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use health advisory Thursday for Odell Lake on the Deschutes National…

2,000-acre Elk Fire in Klamath County forces evacuations; state fire marshal sends five task forces

July 9, 2025 4:09 pm Barney Lerten

BONANZA, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon State Fire Marshal is mobilizing several structural task forces and its Red Incident Management Team to the Elk…

‘Hardening the community’: National nonprofit helps neighborhood south of La Pine stay wildfire-ready

June 11, 2025 11:21 am KTVZ

Update: Adding video, comments from incident commander) LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A small community south of La Pine is getting some help this wildfire…

Highway 97 crash Klamath County TripCheck 2

Highway 97 reopens after car-semi collision south of Diamond Lake in Klamath County

May 13, 2025 2:53 pm Barney Lerten

A crash closed Highway 97 in Klamath County for a time Tuesday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Transportation…

Employees say severance packages at risk for hundreds laid off from Klamath County Jeld-Wen facility

May 2, 2025 3:15 pm Harley Coldiron

Jeld-Wen has announced that its Chiloquin Doors plant is closing permanently and the 128 people who work there are losing their…

Amtrak passenger arrested in Chemult, accused of stabbing fellow rider, waving scissors at others

May 1, 2025 6:12 pm Barney Lerten

CHEMULT, Ore. (KTVZ) – An Amtrak passenger was arrested on assault and other charges Wednesday night at the Amtrak train station in Chemult, accused…

Humane Society of Central Oregon Responds to Urgent Dog Surrender Bend, OR (March 27, 2025) – In a major coordinated effort with the Klamath County Sheriff’s Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control, the Humane Society of Central Oregon (HSCO) is currently addressing the surrender of over 30 dogs from a property south of La Pine. The dogs, ranging from young puppies to senior dogs, are suffering from various health issues, including malnourishment, significant injuries, and chronic disease. This urgent circumstance has put a strain on the resources of the shelter, which is at full capacity for dogs. With an ongoing effort to care for and manage this large intake of dogs, HSCO is calling for community support: Adoptions: Visit the shelter to adopt one of our currently available dogs, helping free up resources for incoming animals. All available animals are listed at hsco.org/adopt. Fostering: We are in need of short-term foster care for young and senior dogs. Donations: Many of the animals will need ongoing medical treatment and long-term care requiring significant funding. Secure donations can be made directly at hsco.org/donate. Executive Director’s Statement: Amber Kostoff, Executive Director of HSCO, says, "Right now, our top priority is giving these animals the medical care they urgently need. We’re calling on our community for help: adopt, foster, or donate. Your support will help ensure these animals get the care they need.” About the Dogs and Care Efforts: The surrendered animals are receiving comprehensive medical assessments and treatments from HSCO’s veterinary team. The dogs will become available as they are medically cleared and have been spayed or neutered. When the dogs become available for adoption, they will be listed on HSCO’s website: hsco.org.

La Pine-area woman facing 69 animal neglect charges; 18 of the surrendered dogs brought to HSCO in Bend

March 28, 2025 11:09 am Barney Lerten, Harley Coldiron

A woman was cited on 69 counts of first-degree animal neglect after surrendering dozens of dogs from her property south of La Pine, Klamath County…

Two people killed, two seriously injured in two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 near Chiloquin

February 5, 2025 4:26 pm Barney Lerten

(Update: Added video) CHILOQUIN, Ore. (KTVZ) – Two people were killed and two others seriously injured Sunday evening in a crash on U.S. Highway 97…

Highway 58 reopens after crash west of Hwy. 97 junction; ODOT had urged using other routes

January 31, 2025 4:29 pm Barney Lerten

CHEMULT, Ore. (KTVZ) – A crash closed state Highway west of the junction with Highway 97 for a time Friday afternoon and evening, prompting ODOT to…

Oregon State Police Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting in Klamath County

December 23, 2024 3:06 pm Gregory Deffenbaugh

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Monday morning at Collier State Park in…

Three dead in suspected murder / suicide Klamath County Police say

December 23, 2024 12:38 pm KTVZ - News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– On Friday, December 20, 2024, a deputy with the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a suspicious incident in the…

Forest Service further reduces Red Fire’s emergency closure area; FS Road 60 reopens around Crescent Lake

October 23, 2024 10:48 am KTVZ News Partners

CRESCENT, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest on Wednesday further reduced the temporary emergency fire closure area on the Crescent Ranger…

Jury convicts Klamath Falls man of abducting, sexually assaulting two women, holding one in cinder block cell

October 18, 2024 9:43 pm Barney Lerten

MEDFORD, Ore. (KTVZ) — A federal jury on Friday found a Klamath Falls man guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting two women,…

Little Lava Fire holds at 11,225 acres; Bachelor Complex 50% contained; Red Fire near Crescent Lake tops 2,000 acres

September 29, 2024 3:25 pm KTVZ News Partners

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Bachelor Complex, including the Little Lava Fire, held at 50% containment this weekend, with no change in acreage reported,…

‘Part of history lost:’ Redmond native who retired near Chiloquin loses everything to destructive Copperfield Fire

September 9, 2024 11:59 am Matthew Draxton

A Redmond native and Bend business owner, now retired and living “off the grid” just outside of Chiloquin, lost everything to the Copperfield Fire,…

Crews strengthen lines on nearly 3,700-acre Copperfield Fire SE of Chiloquin that destroyed 8 homes, 19 other buildings

September 1, 2024 8:05 pm KTVZ News Partners

A wind-fanned wildfire reported Sunday afternoon southeast of Chiloquin grew to over 3,600 acres by Tuesday but was fully lined by Tuesday night…

Evacuation notice down to Level 1 near Jackpine Fire south of La Pine

July 19, 2024 2:43 pm KTVZ News Partners

Firefighters continued Sunday to hold the 180-acre Jackpine Fire south of La Pine within its perimeter and brought the blaze to 25% containment.…