From the Sunday, Feb. 18, 1968 issue of the "Daily Northwest Alabamian"– state Rep. Rankin Fite placing the first-ever 911
call from the mayor’s office–that’s Mayor James Whitt behind him.

February 16, 1968 saw the first official "911" call placed in the
United States. Now taken for granted as first course of action
in the event of emergency by nearly all of the nation’s 327
million people, 911 is a relatively recent invention and was
still not standard across the United States for many years
after its adoption by Congress.

As telephones became common in U.S. households, fire
departments around the country recommended establishing
a single, simple number to be dialed in the event of a fire or
other emergency. A similar system had been implemented in
the United Kingdom decades earlier, in 1936, when the code
999 was chosen for emergency telegraph and phone
communications.

Sander Lloyd "Sandy" Nelson
(December 1, 1938 – February 14, 2022)

September, 1961

Destined to become one of the state’s major exports, the first
trainload of oranges grown by Southern California farmers left
Los Angeles via refrigerator cars of the transcontinental railroad.

Today is not not only Valentine’s Day, it also marks Oregon’s
birthday! The Beaver State turns 163 years old today!

Over 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are sold each year, the
second most purchased seasonal card in the U.S. While the
holiday’s exact origin is up for debate, the celebration of love
and friendship we know today first gained popularity in the U.S.
during the mid-19th century.

During this time, Esther Howland of Worcester, MA, is credited
with mass-producing the first American valentines. Romantic
European cards inspired Howland to design and create her first valentines by hand—intricate, layered collages of ribbons, lace,
and paper ornaments. In 1913, Hallmark (then Hall Brothers)
printed their first Valentine’s Day card, making the tradition
more accessible and affordable.

The sentiment and imagery expressed by valentines changed in popularity over time. The Victorian era favored cherubs, hearts,
and flowers paired with romantic poetry. In the 1920s and 30s,
cards featuring die-cut shapes, animals, and children became
prevalent and often included playful messages with puns and
wordplay.