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.
“I bitterly regret that my body and soul were not able to withstand the endless assault.â€
Effective March 11, State Senator and Oregon Republican Party Chair Dallas Heard
has resigned as Chair of the Oregon Republican Party citing frustration with internal battles in the party. In a letter released to party members, Heard said:
It is clear, no amount of political success, hard work, honesty, and self-sacrifice will ever be enough to garner the lasting support of a strong and consistent majority of people who currently represent this party across the state. I can say I have given my best to save the state I love, but when a true servant leader recognizes that his people would rather attack and question him rather than follow, it is time to say goodbye. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you amazing men and women that gave your all to help me save this party and move Oregon forward. I bitterly regret that my body and soul were not able to withstand the endless assault.
The Party had stable leadership under the previous Chair, Bill Currier, but his leadership style caused factions to sprout and after two failed recall attempts on Governor Brown, he was voted out of office in favor of Heard.
Heard called out for party unity, saying:
I will say that ignoring the wickedness within our organization would be a mistake. It must be exposed and removed if this party is to be relevant in supporting Republican candidates in a meaningful way that leads to actual election victories. I hope you find a way to purge this darkness from the ORP and I will be praying for your success and protection.
The party will be led by vice-chair Herman Baertschiger until a new chair can be elected.
--Staff Reports| Post Date: 2022-03-09 09:21:18 | |
