On this day, May 5, 1903, James Beard, US culinary expert, author (Delights & Prejudices), was born in Portland, Ore.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, A Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing Mrs. Elsie Mitchell, the pregnant wife of a minister, and five children after they attempted to drag it out the woods in Lakeview, Oregon. The balloon was armed, and exploded soon after they began tampering with it. They became the 1st and only known American civilians to be killed in the continental US during World War II.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, Bly minister Archie Mitchell, his pregnant wife Elsie, and five children from Mitchell's Sunday school class were on a Saturday morning picnic. Thirteen miles northeast of Bly, or about sixty miles northeast of Klamath Falls, Mitchell parked the car, and Elsie and the children headed to Leonard Creek. Mitchell later remembered: "As I got out of the car to bring the lunch, the others were not far away and called to me they had found something that looked like a balloon. I heard of Japanese balloons so I shouted a warning not to touch it. But just then there was a big explosion. I ran up there--and they were all dead." It was a Japanese balloon bomb. They were 70 feet tall with a 33-foot diameter paper canopy connected to the main device by shroud lines. Balloons inflated with hydrogen followed the jet stream at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
Salem radio pioneer, may he rest in peace
In the early 1990’s Mike Frith, a long time sales representative for large corporations like Aladdin, moved to Salem and bought AM 1430 KYKN which had been a classic country station for decades. He flipped it to talk radio fairly quickly and became one of the “heritage†Rush Limbaugh stations. He then added many other legendary Conservative radio shows like Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck and more. He was always involved in the Salem Keizer community and served many, many people, both customers and listeners well. He cared about sharing American values and America First thinking long before it was in vogue.
In 2008, I was an out of work deejay after the station I was working for went out of business. I went to Mike looking for work even though I knew my chances were slim since most of his programming was via satellite. He gave me a job reading news, sports and weather in short 3 minute breaks during Laura Ingraham’s morning show. Eventually, in 2009, he allowed me to try an one hour talk show which led to a three hour show later that year, The Bill Post Radio Show. His faith in me was humbling and I will forever be grateful for that.
Late Friday afternoon, he passed away surrounded by family. I will miss him but know that he is with his beloved wife Pat who passed a few years ago. I don’t know what the future holds for KYKN but know that Mike’s legacy will live on! “Ten Hut†to Sgt. Mike!
--State Representative Bill Post| Post Date: 2021-05-17 18:02:38 | Last Update: 2021-05-17 18:13:58 |
