American Patriot speaks out…
Thomas Jefferson – “If the Founding Fathers, by which I mean the delegates of the second Continental Congress, had known that this document would have become the most famous document in American History, one of the most famous in the history of liberty, I doubt that I would have received this assignment.”
That’s the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. The Virginia Planter almost missed the 2nd Continental Congress; and had other delegates known how important it would become, likely would not have been given the task of putting pen to paper.
Thomas Jefferson – “At the time it was regarded as a relatively minor assignment. They wanted a good scholar and a strong writer of prose to handle it, but they didn’t realize that it would become as central to our national understanding of ourselves as it became. If they had had any inkling of that, much more ambitious men would have insisted upon it. John Adams, certainly, eight years my senior, he was actually on the committee that drafted the Declaration.”
Jefferson and his alter ego, historian and writer Clay Jenkinson, will appear on a special holiday edition of KCST’s Our Town this afternoon on 106.9 from four to six pm. For the first hour of the program Jenkinson will be ‘in character’ as the third president.
Clay Jenkinson – “I try to take on characters who, who really raise the questions of what it is to be an American, what we value, how we’re different from other people, why the American experiment is so important.”
Jenkinson says Jefferson was extremely influential in the forming of the early republic.
Jenkinson – “We need to remember that this country is the most extraordinary experiment in the history of the planet in liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that has more to do with Thomas Jefferson than any other single individual.”
The two hour program will feature Jenkinson as himself in the second hour.
Host Bob Sneddon will speak with historian Clay Jenkinson, an writer and a Thomas Jefferson Scholar. For the first hour of the program he will be ‘in character’ as the third president.
201 – “I try to take on characters who, who really raise the questions of what it is to be an American, what we value, how we’re different from other people, why the American experiment is so important.”
Jenkinson says Jefferson was extremely influential in the forming of the early republic.
200 – “We need to remember that this country is the most extraordinary experiment in the history of the planet in liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that has more to do with Thomas Jefferson than any other single individual.”
The two hour program will feature Jenkinson as himself in the second hour… it airs from four to six pm tomorrow on 106.9 KCST.
Three Rescued, One Missing
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended their search late yesterday afternoon for the missing crew member of a commercial crabber that sank 2 ½ miles off Yaquina Bay. Three other members of the Sound Leader, based in Newport were rescued shortly after the vessel began taking on water and sank in the early morning hours. Two of the members were plucked from the water by a rescue helicopter based in North Bend, the third was rescued by the crew of a 47-foot motor lifeboat responding from Newport. None of the crewmembers had time to don their survival suits. The name of the missing crew member has not been released, he is presumed to have drowned.
Gas Prices Continue to Drop
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline has fallen in Florence by 50-cents over the past three weeks and is now at $3.52. That’s a reduction of 13-cents a gallon just since last Wednesday morning. In the same time period, Oregon’s statewide average, as measured by Triple-A has fallen from a high of $4.25 to $3.61 a gallon. The national average price is down to $3.33. After three weeks at the fifth highest average in the nation, Oregon has now dropped to tenth on the list.
Florence receives funding for major bike and pedestrian improvement.
The third time is the charm. After two previous unsuccessful attempts to secure grant funding for a major pedestrian and bicycle route along the Siuslaw River, the City of Florence struck paydirt last week.
Jacque Betz – “We were awarded the amount of $1.13-million to complete the Rhododendron Drive multi-use path which will be from 9th street to Wildwinds.”
Florence City Manager Jacque Betz says the project, funded by a special Oregon Department of Transportation grant, has been a major goal.
Jacque Betz – “As we’ve been going through our Transportation System Plan update this has been one of the biggest priorities that the committee has identified is finding a safer route down Rhododendron.”
The $1.13-million project will be the first of several phases that will eventually provide an alternative for bicyclists and pedestrians from 9th street to the Heceta Beach area. Betz says it will connect initially with the 9th Street bike path, as well as the recently completed 12th street pedestrian way. The City Council is already set to take action on the Transportation Plan next month… they’ll also be asked to formally accept the money and take the next step in the project.
Deadwood Man Surrenders After Shot Fired
A 28-year old State Trooper with three years experience has been identified as the police officer who fired his weapon at a Deadwood area man over the weekend. Michael Pelkey was one of two troopers who responded to a remote residence on Highway 36 at approximately ten pm Friday. They were looking to locate a known felon who was believed to be armed and had allegedly threatened to kill a relative earlier in the day. As the Troopers approached the home, they met Michael Dean Wasson, armed with an assault rifle. They identified themselves, but the armed man reportedly turned towards the officers. Pelkey fired once, missing the 53-year old Wasson who immediately dropped his weapon and was taken into custody.
