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Donate directly to the Klamath/Lake Counties Food Bank. Contact infomation: Klamath/Lake Counties Food Bank 304 Vandenberg Dr., Suite 41 Klamath Falls, OR 97603-1939 PHONE: 541-882-1223 FAX: 541-882-0065 Read below for appreciation of the need. This is the text version of the PDF file http://www.leg.state.or.us/harper/pr6_7.pdf. G o o g l e automatically generates text versions of PDF documents as we crawl the web. Representative Tom Butler Senator Steve Harper R-Ontario, District 60 R-Klamath Falls, District 30 Representative Bill Garrard 71 st Assembly of R-Klamath Falls, District 53 The Oregon Legislature NEWS RELEASE JUNE 7, 2001 _____________________________________________________________ Klamath County Advocates Call on State Leaders For Help (Salem) "I've never felt so powerless in my life," said Klamath County Commissioner Al Switzer during a news conference at the State Capitol today. Switzer was one of several local advocates who met with legislators and the Governor today to ask for help for their drought stricken region. The federal government cut off irrigation water in the Klamath Basin in early April and ever since farmers have been feeling the effects. Niki Sampson, Director of the Klamath-Lake Food Bank says promises of government assistance may not become reality for another six months and she pointed out, "you can't wait that long to eat." Her organization is currently feeding 5,000 families, that's up 700 from a month ago. The Oregon Grocery Industry Association put a call out to its members for help. Fred Meyer responded and brought a semi truckload full of food and parked it in front of the Capitol today. It contains 23,000 pounds of food, enough to feed 600 families for three days. Calls for help to the Klamath County Mental Health Department are up over 60 percent this spring. More and more residents in distress are in need of counseling services and County Commissioner John Elliott told reporters today, "I'm not sure where this is going to end." Representative Butler, Representative Garrard, and Senator Harper are currently working on a comprehensive aid package for the Klamath Basin. The package includes money for well drilling, and possibly job training. Hundreds of farmers have applied for unemployment benefits and the Oregon Health Plan but can't qualify because they still have land assets. The legislative delegation is working on exemptions to those programs. There is also a concern about allowing farmers to restructure mortgages. The advocates at today's news conference are hoping to raise awareness statewide. A new clearinghouse is being established to assist families in need. The Merrill Drought Relief Center has been set up at the Merrill Health Clinic. The new number people can call to get help or offer to provide help is 541-798-5171. The Oregon Food Bank is also accepting calls to 800-777-7487. For more information contact Dawn Phillips 503-986-1314 |
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Questions? Comments? Corrections? Additions? Convoy Logistics Discussion Board: http://disc.server.com/Indices/164197.html Klamath Basin Water Crisis: http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org
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