June's National Days

Drive-in movies became a staple for American leisure time in the 1950's. However, viewing film from behind the wheel was an idea originally born in New Jersey in 1933. According to an article by the Smithsonian Magazine, the first film ever screened at a drive-in movie theater was the British film Wives Beware and viewers were charged 25 cents per car and 25 cents per person to watch the movie. 

The idea of a drive-in movie theater was brought to life by innovator Richard Milton Hollingshead Jr.  Hollingshead had a background in automobiles from his father's business Whiz Auto Products Company, which sold greases, oils, and polishes. The first drive-in movie prototype consisted of a Kodak projector and a screen, which he nailed to a few trees in his backyard. 

Drive-in movies were a staple of leisure culture in the 1950s. The Smithsonian Magazine also interviewed a member of the United Drive-in Theatre Owners Association, Jim Kopp who explained, “They offered family entertainment. People could sit in their cars, they could bring their babies, they could smoke. Drive-ins offered more flexibility than indoor theaters.”

Believe it or not, southern Oregon offers drive-in movie experiences at various times throughout the year. Grants Pass Drive-In hosts drive-in movie events every Friday and Saturday at the Josephine County Fairgrounds. Their website and Facebook are perfect ways to keep up-to-date with the most recent drive-in movie events. June 6, and all throughout this summer, I encourage you to take some family, friends, or even yourself alone (if that is what you are comfortable with) to see a drive-in movie, as it is a perfect summer activity to get out of the house and do something fun.

June 15 is acknowledged as Nature Photography Day, and this national day is a perfect reminder for all to appreciate the beauty of the natural world that surrounds us.

From student to student, as we leave the 2022-2023 school year where much of our time was spent inside, it is important that we utilize our summer break to breathe fresh air, both literally and figuratively, and spend time outside. Whether it be planning a full camping or backpacking trip, going for a picnic with friends or simply taking an independent stroll in your neighborhood, we have a beautiful earth to see. 

Being outside is beneficial because, even though there is so much chaos and controversy in society today, and it continues to escalate, one thing has remained, and that is the natural beauty of Earth. With these photos, I hope to encourage you to go outside and enjoy the Earth we live on.

The tall tale of Paul Bunyan, a giant lumberjack hero with his blue-colored Ox Babe has been a staple in American culture for many, many years and, on June 28, it has its very own national day. 

The story of Paul Bunyan has circled America since its said creation in 1906. The first story featuring Paul Bunyan was called “Round River” and it was written for Oscoda, Michigan’s local newspaper by journalist James MacGillivray. So, what is the story of Paul Bunyan? 

The story of Bunyan originated during a time in American history of great westward expansion, which played a massive role in the design of the tall tale. Bunyan’s story was often shared by lumberjacks around the campfire because of the character's great size, strength, and even greater work ethic and kind heart. Bunyan is most commonly described as an extremely powerful giant, and his tales often include him working as a lumberjack with his equally giant blue ox named Babe. Most say Bunyan was born in Maine and, even as a baby, he was enormous in size, which the story perfectly illustrates by saying it took five full-grown storks to deliver him. His parents had to milk two dozen cows each morning and night to keep him satisfied and, on top of that, they had to feed him ten barrels of porridge every two hours to keep his stomach from rumbling and shaking the house down. When Bunyan grew he found a love for cutting trees, “One swing of his mighty ax was said to clear an acre of forest,” Mythology Unleashed explains. The story then continues until one winter it got so cold that the snow turned blue and out in the forest Bunyan found a baby blue ox who soon became his famous pal “Babe the Blue Ox”.  Once fully grown,  Bunyan now at “63 ax handles high” and Babe traveled from Maine to the forests of the Pacific Northwest cutting trees and hauling them.  According to the tale, America got her composition of mountains, craters and lakes due to the step of Paul Bunyan on his adventures westward. 

The History website addresses that it is believed the imaginary character of Paul Bunyan was actually based largely on a real-life lumberjack named Fabian Fournier who they state was a “French Canadian timberman who moved south and got a job as foreman of a logging crew in Michigan after the American Civil War.” It is said that Fournier stood at six feet tall at a time when most barely cleared five feet, which made him seem like a giant for the time. Strangely, many rumored Fournier would “bite off hunks of wooden rails, and in his spare time enjoyed drinking and brawling.” On a night in Nov. 1875, Fournier was murdered in the lumber town: Bay City, Michigan. His murder sparked stories and the creation of far-fetched legends about him. Perhaps, his height played a part in inspiring the giant that Paul Bunyan was. 

Presently, many sites throughout America showcase massive statues of Paul Bunyan, and various books and shows have told his tall tale story.  On June 28, if you are looking for something “Paul Bunyan” inspired to do, consider visiting Trees of Mystery located in Del Norte County, California, as they have a giant statue of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe, along with various other fun activities that can make your summer far more fun.

Living in Oregon, wildfires are an unfortunate staple of summer. The danger and fear wildfires bring to Oregon's habitat, wildlife and citizens is huge, but through the incredible work done by Wildland Firefighters fears can be, to an extent, allayed.  June 30 holds the start of National Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance.

An incredible example of the sacrifice and bravery of wildland firefighters is shown in the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, who battled the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire.

It was in 2013 that a lightning strike struck in Yarnell, Arizona, bringing alight an extremely dangerous and powerful wildfire. A tight-knit team of 20 wildland firefighters, known as the Granite Mountain Hotshots, were sent on duty June 30 after the fire jumped out of containment lines. While many on the job pushed to the southeast to aid in evacuations for Yarnell and the surrounding areas, the Granite Mountain Hotshots remained on the southwest ridge of the fire. Personnel who communicated with the firefighters expected them to remain southwest in a safe zone, but the crew did not.  The crew had begun heading southeast a little while after last contact but, unfortunately, wind began rapidly increasing. In a short time, the fire had turned south due to the growing winds and overran the Granite Mountain Hotshots. The crew had deployed their safety mechanisms of fire shelters, but the direct meet with the fire was too strong for the crews' protective gear. When the fire reached them, the crew only had two minutes to deploy their safety shelters before being taken over by a 2000-degree Fahrenheit fire. 19 of the 20 Granite Mountain Hotshots lost their lives fighting the Yarnell Hill fire. The website Fire Rescue One stated that the incident was "the greatest loss of life for the U.S. Fire Service since the September 11 terrorist attacks." 

A memorial service was held in memory of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, in which thousands of people including representatives from over 100 hotshot crews across the country. Every year on June 30 the community of Yarnell remembers the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

I encourage you, on this week of summer, to recognize the brave men and women who are Wildland Firefighters.