

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.
“Monique will deliver for the people of Oregon”
House Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA 1) of the U.S. House of Representatives announced his endorsement of
Republican candidate Monique DeSpain to represent Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District.
“As a retired Air Force Colonel, attorney, and single mother, Monique DeSpain knows what it means to roll up her sleeves and get things done. She will fight to secure our border, rebuild our economy, reduce crime, and support law enforcement. Unlike her democrat opponent, Monique will deliver for the people of Oregon and I am proud to endorse her in her race for Congress in Oregon’s 4th Congressional District,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
“It’s my distinct honor to have the endorsement of Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise in my campaign to unseat corrupt career politician Val Hoyle and bring my commonsense, accountability focused, problem-solving leadership to Congress on behalf of the people of Oregon’s 4th District,” said Monique DeSpain.

Oregon's 4th Congressional district includes Benton, Coos, Curry, Northern Douglas, Lane, and Lincoln Counties. The largest city in the district is Eugene.
“Leader Scalise is a fighter who, despite having to battle back from a near-fatal gunshot wound and fighting off cancer, he continues to fight for the American people every day,” added DeSpain. “Demonstrated grit and determination are required to deliver victory in all our personal and public fights. I understand what it means to fight for my family, my clients, and my country. Results are what counts. I’ve served my country for 30 years in the Air Force, stood up to the Governor on behalf of crime victims, and raised my twin boys as conservatives right in the heart of progressive Eugene. Voters are ready to end five decades of failure, neglect, and waste at the hands of career
politicians and deploy me, a political outsider, to fight for them in D.C.”
--Staff ReportsPost Date: 2024-04-29 10:45:23 | Last Update: 2024-04-29 10:59:01 |