Jan. 26, 2022
Liz Writes Life
There is some follow-up on Mike Hunt, the Etna Police Chief who
died Sept. 8, 1972. Etna resident, Ryck Kramer, called and suggested that I
contact someone who was working on the Etna Ambulance during the time that Mike
was killed. I was able to talk with this person and apparently, Mike was
driving the ambulance and turned from Main Street to the left onto Highway 3
and rolled the ambulance. The other person with him was not injured much and
survived.
I didn’t learn if he was wearing a seatbelt. I have had
discussions with folks my age about the “old days” when as kids we rode in cars
and pickups without seatbelts and how, as young moms, we tried to strap-in
flimsy car seats for our infants and toddlers.
At 10 months of age, my youngest could escape those child car
seats as fast as I put him in. No wonder, as a grandma, I have trouble getting
all the straps and buckles right in the complex modern versions!
I think that is the end of the discussion on Mike Hunt.
Bigfoot meeting
In another Etna-related story, but jumping forward 50 years, what
started out as a fairly low-key meeting to share information regarding local
sightings of the mysterious Bigfoot, saw the meeting grow and include a famous
Bigfoot researcher from Oregon.
Dennis Jensen called and invited me to a meeting held Jan. 15,
2022 at the Pay Streak brewery in Etna. Dennis has spent much of his life
riding horses in the backcountry, living in Trinity and Siskiyou Counties and
has had several experiences with Bigfoot. He has cast giant footprints he found
in several different areas and finds it interesting that people often share
their encounters with him. Dennis told Deb, the owner of Pay Streak about his
idea to hold a local symposium and she offered the brewery as the meeting
place.
Then, Deb put the meeting on social media and interest grew with
eventually Cliff Barackman being invited. Cliff has produced a program on
Animal Planet called “Finding Bigfoot.” He amassed so much information, foot
castings and specific sightings, that he and his wife, Melissa, recently opened
a Bigfoot Museum in Boring, Oregon – near Portland.
Cliff did arrive at the
Etna meeting with his film man and shared a slideshow with specific sightings.
Dennis said local experiences were shared including some new ones.
Unfortunately, I was not
able to attend, so didn’t get to hear the experiences firsthand. Some people
don’t believe in Bigfoot and other folks have had encounters and experiences
that make Bigfoot real to them. I understand the skeptics, but find that I
believe in Bigfoot – even if I have not had a personal experience.
Cliff became well-known
as the evidence analyst on the four-member “Finding Bigfoot” team that searched
for Bigfoot in 100 episodes from 2011 through 2017 with a final 100th episode
that aired on Feb. 8, 2028 titled “Return of the Legend.”
While they have not yet
filmed actual proof of Bigfoot, the team uses new and advanced technologies at
areas of known sightings. And on Feb. 8, 2021, the series returned for a
two-hour special entitled “Finding Bigfoot: The Search Continues.” This has
been made available exclusively on the streaming service Discovery-plus.
There are a number of groups and researchers that study and
document the locations of Bigfoot sightings and encounters – throughout the
world.
In a quick search on the Internet, I found an article that
appeared in the “Siskiyou Daily News” back on Dec. 3, 2009 and was updated on
July 1, 2012. It was written by Charlie Unkefer and discussed a map published
by North America Bigfoot Search, which is an organization based in Los Gatos,
CA. Like Cliff and the “Finding Bigfoot” television show, the goal is to
develop scientific proof that the animal does exist.
I found this NABS website interesting, because the group has
written a book called “The Hoopa Project” with the testimony of 45 “solid”
witnesses. Research groups investigate and scrutinize encounters and
experiences with Bigfoot and document them on geographical maps. At the time of
the 2012 SDN article, the NABS listed 47 locations throughout Siskiyou County,
where Bigfoot had been encountered.
One of the first experiences recorded and mapped is from 1850,
when a miner observed a huge hairy creature walking on two feet break a
sluiceway against a tree. A Bigfoot or two have been seen crossing highways,
I-5 and county roads during the past 100 years. The Klamath River and Happy
Camp have a number of encounters.
According to Dennis, another local Bigfoot symposium may be held.
I will share that date with you, if and when it is set.
May peace and calm be with you this week. Smile – just cuz it
makes you feel better!
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in
newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County. Columns from the past
can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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