Ranger Bill

RB164 - Freddy's Story

2012-01-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

Freddy Burns tries to get a job as a cub reporter at the Knotty Pine Sun. His family needs the extra income to survive. The secretary sends Freddy out to find and write a story to show his talent. Bill and Stumpy send Freddy to meet Old Ben, an old prospector who never found any gold.

Knotty Pine Gazette

2012-01-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

Knotty Pine Local News

Skiing
Skiiing is good to excellent on all hills of the Big Six Ski Lodge. There are several hills ranging in difficulty from novice to expert levels. The Big Six Lodge is at near full capacity at this time, and reservations are required at least three weeks in advance.

Ice Fishing
Ranger Bill reports that ice fishing is not permitted on the Shady River anywhere in Canyon County at this time. The extreme cold then warmth in recent weeks (caused by Chinook winds) has made the ice on the river thin to broken over the majority of the river's surface. More seasonal cold is expected over the coming weeks, and Ranger Bill predicts ice thicknesses should reach safe levels in about two weeks.

Winter Ice FestivalRanger Gray Wolf tells the GAZETTE that the Winter Ice Festival is still scheduled for mid-February. Should the Chinook winds cause more problems with the Shady, all river events will be cancelled but all other events will remain.

Tech Center at Ranger Headquarters
Ranger Roxanne "Rocky" Mcguire would like to remind all Knotty Pine residents and schools in Canyon County and surrounding counties that the Tech Center addition to Ranger Headquarters is up and running and available for school and group tours by reservation during regular business hours. The center highlights how technology is now in use in the Forest Service to improve monitoring of the forest - fire fighting, animal counts, disease control, in all aspects of communication, and much more. The Center also includes educational material on identifying the trees, plants, and animals of the forest. Please contact Ranger Rocky for more information or to make a reservation.

Jr. Ranger Hike
Ranger Stumpy Jenkins and Henry Scott are getting their Junior Rangers ready for their annual Winter Hike. The hike is an all-day educational event including hot meals. The main hike is preceeded by several weekend of shorter hikes to prepare the Junior Rangers for the main hike. The hike is not limited only to Junior Rangers. The public of any age may join the hike, provided they can show they are fit for the hike. The hike will conclude at Ranger Headquarters where hikers will get to see the night sky through the telescopes of the members of the Knotty Pine Astronomy Club. Stumpy and Henry would like to thank the club for its participation in the hike.

RB163 - The Lost Pig

2012-01-21T10:36:00.001-08:00

Young Jody and Jill’s family has little money. They hope their pig Tangerine will win the cash prize at the fair. But Tangerine has other ideas. She escapes from the fair and hides in a herd of pigs stranded when their delivery truck crashes. The pigs are headed for the butcher. Will Tangerine end up on some family’s dinner table instead of the winners’ circle at the fair?

RB162 - Rules

2012-01-12T17:38:00.000-08:00

Little Norman Clark doesn’t want to listen to his mother. She is trying get Norman to obey a few simple rules such as “Clean your room”. Norman refuses to mind and runs away to teach mom a lesson. Meanwhile, Bill gets a visit from a fellow ranger from England, Hugh Fitzhughvits. What a way to spend a vacation – on the hunt of a missing child.

Ranger Shot and Killed at Mt. Rainier

2012-01-02T04:40:00.000-08:00

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. — A Mount Rainier National Park ranger was fatally shot following a New Year's Day traffic stop, and the 368-square-mile park in Washington state was closed as dozens of officers searched for the armed gunman over snowy and rugged terrain.

Pierce County Sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said late Sunday afternoon Benjamin Colton Barnes, a 24-year-old believed to have survivalist skills, was a "strong person of interest" in the slaying of Margaret Anderson. A parks spokesman said Barnes was an Iraq war veteran. Authorities recovered his vehicle, which had weapons and body armor inside, Troyer said.

Barnes was also a suspect in the early Sunday morning shooting of four people at a house party south of Seattle, police said.

Authorities believed the gunman was still in the woods, with weapons. They asked people to stay away from the park, and for those already inside to leave.

"We do have a very hot and dangerous situation," Troyer said.

(This is an excerpt of an article by the Huffington Post.)

Blessed New Year!!!

2012-01-01T06:34:00.000-08:00

A joyous and blessed to everyone from all the folks in Knotty Pine!!!!

Bill and the gang will be helping with a New Year's lunch held at Forest Road Church. Later the boys plan to settle in at Bill's house to enjoy some time with Mom. Monday morning the fellas are participating in a hike for hunger.

Bill and Henry plan to read through the Bible this year. Henry intends to learn a little Biblical Greek.

RB-160 The Foreman's Accident

2011-12-31T08:33:00.001-08:00

Randy Williamson has just been made foreman over the work in tunnel 13 at Knotty Pine Mines. Sandy soil in tunnel 13 makes the digging slow and dangerous. Randy must also deal with two difficult miners who don’t like his Christian faith. Could anything else go wrong in tunnel 13?

Merry Christmas from Ranger Headquarters!!!

2011-12-25T04:06:00.000-08:00

Ranger Bill, Stumpy, Gray Wolf and Henry would like to wish you all a safe and blessed Christmas Day!!!

The fellas attended an 11pm Christmas Eve Service at Knotty Pine Church which concluded at midnight with the pastor welcoming in Christmas. The fellas will be back in church this morning for a 10:30 service and then head to Bill's house for Christmas dinner.

I would like to add my own "Merry Christmas!" to everyone. May the birth of our Lord and Savior bring you joy and peace.

Dave

Ranger Bill on Moody Wi-Fi

2011-12-23T02:31:00.000-08:00

Ranger Bill can also be heard on the Moody Wi-Fi Family Radio!!!

The new unit is now available for only $119 (over 30% savings from the original model) at moodyradio.org/wifiradio.

RB201 - Christmas Bells

2011-12-23T02:26:00.000-08:00

It's Christmastime in Knotty Pine. Officer Pat O'Roark is stricken by a severe heart attack and battles for life. He seems to find strength in the Christmas music coming from the church bells. The church bells break and Pat gets closer to death. Herman Schmidt is the only person who knows how to fix the bells, and he is bedridden with a terrible case of rheumatism.

RB159 Gray Wolf and the Tamed Cougar

2011-12-16T16:39:00.000-08:00

A young cougar wanders into the Knotty Pine Supermarket and chases out all the customers. The boys are called in to remove this “vicious” beast from the store. Bill soon realizes this is a tame cougar. The cougar quickly becomes attached to Gray Wolf. Laugh along with the fellas as Gray Wolf tries to deal with the affectionate cat!

RB158 - Ceiling Zero

2011-12-09T16:35:00.001-08:00

Air Force test pilot Gary Metzger is badly hurt when the plane he is testing crashes. Gary develops a fear of flying. Bill and the boys go to see Gary’s brother Paul to see if there is anything he or they can do to overcome Gary’s new found fear of death.

Ranger Bill Cross-Stitch

2011-12-04T05:01:00.001-08:00

We have created a cross-stitch pattern of the Ranger Bill patch you see at the bottom right of this page. The patch fits on a 4" square piece of cloth. It is designed for 14-point cross-stitch cloth, but could be adapted for any other cloth as well. The patch took us about a week of evenings to stitch. I would be happy to send a free 4" piece of the 14-point green cloth and a copy of the patter to anyone who asks for it. A photo of the finished patch is on our Facebook page. The pattern only requires white and either gold or yellow thread. We are working on a second patch with a wider border for both the green and white patches.

Stumpy's Joke Book

2011-12-04T04:54:00.001-08:00

We now have some of Stumpy's jokes from at least 15 different shows. Laugh along with Stumpy and the boys! You'll find the joke book on our FaceBook page.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/60851447435/#!/groups/60851447435/doc/10150411585187436/

RB157 - The Mad Bison

2011-12-03T08:46:00.001-08:00

It’s springtime in the Shady Valley. And in spring, young buffaloes battle for the right to lead the herd. If the young bull wins, the old lead bull is run out of the herd. Old Snort is an old buffalo bull who just lost his job as leader, and now he’s a lone marauder, savagely attacking any animal in his path. Can Bill and the boys find and stop Old Snort before he causes any more harm in the Shady Valley?

RB156 - The No Good Dog

2011-11-26T07:00:00.001-08:00

Skinny (Horatio Thornwall Skines) works for successful bloodhound breeder Jarvis Engell and his son Ed. Jarvis gives Skinny a runt pup Peanut. Jarvis says that Peanut should grow up to be a great show dog. Ed gets jealous and wants his own top show dog because wants to defeat Skinny at dog shows. Which dog will win, the one raised on love or the one raised with a club?

Thank You from Dave

2011-11-20T06:33:00.001-08:00

I have been hosting the Ranger Bill Fan Club now for almost 10 years and I have loved every minute of it. The web page has moved from Geocities to AOL and now to Blogger and Facebook. I want and need to thank the wonderful folks at His Kids, especially Dodd, who have been so generous by providing us with Ranger Bill every week 24/7 so faithfully. And I want to thank each of you members of and visitors to this website. Your continued support and interest in Ranger Bill make this a very rewarding job. The numbers of hits both on Blogger and on Facebook are very gratifying.
Thank you all, especially His Kids!!! Thank the Lord for His continued blessing on us at the Ranger Bill Fan Club. And I hope to serve you here for a long time to come.

Thanks,
Dave

Thanksgiving Thank You Dinner

2011-11-20T06:09:00.001-08:00

Ranger Bill, Stumpy, Henry, and Gray Wolf will spend this Thanksgiving Eve at worship at Knotty Pine Church. The feelas, along with Bill's mom, Frenchy DeSalle, Maggie Murphy, and the rest of the congregation at KPC will gather with ranger Rocky McGuire in the fellowship hall of her church, Forest Road Church, to serve a Knotty Pine Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone in and around Knotty Pine is encouraged to attend. The Thanksgiving meal will open with prayer at 11:00 am Thanksgiving morning and will go until 4:00 pm.

RB-155 Henry's History Lesson

2011-11-18T16:40:00.001-08:00

Henry is having trouble memorizing dates and places for history class. Stumpy tells Henry to put himself into the history he is studying. Henry dreams he is part of a wagon train on the Oregon Trail in the 1840s approaching an unnamed river. Hostile Indians are waiting to ambush the pioneers at the river.

Stumpy's Joke Book

2011-11-13T04:15:00.001-08:00

I am gathering all of Stumpy's jokes into one document. I am calling it Stumpy's Joke Book. If you remember a story with one or more of Stumpy's jokes in it, e-mail me and I will add it to the book, and I'll include your ID (e-mail, whatever) with that joke. Please be sure to mention which story the joke is in. I will be posting Stumpy's Joke Book as a document on our Facebook page.
I may also create an mp3 of all of these jokes so you can sit back and laugh with Stumpy.
Good joke hunting, everyone!

RB154 Ronnie's Bear

2011-11-11T17:14:00.001-08:00

Henry runs a boys club at the grade school. He has assigned a nature study projects. The boys are to collect things from nature and do talks about them. Ornery little Ronnie Edwards wants to bring a bear to the meeting. Coincidentally, school janitor Sam thinks he spotted a bear. Ronnie couldn’t really have a bear – could he?

Ranger Bill - Knotty Pine Man of the Year

2011-11-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

Rangers Bill Jefferson and Stumpy Jenkins Honored

Ranger Stumpy Jenkins was awarded the Lifetime Service Award from the Forest Service. Presenting the award were regional commander Colonel Joshua Anders and Knotty Pine's Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson. Stumpy has faithfully served the forest service here in Knotty Pine for over 40 years from his graduation from the Ranger Academy to the present. Stumpy has served under four chief rangers in that time, including the late Chief Ranger Jackson who died while fighting a forest fire.
After the award presentation to Ranger Stumpy, Mayor Ingalls surprised Ranger Bill with his own award, 2011 Knotty Pine Man of the Year. The mayor noted that this was the first time in Bill's career that he was truly speechless. Many of Big Pine's rangers were in attendance, including Bill's ward Henry Scott and close friend and fellow ranger Gray Wolf.

RB153 - Pete's Civil War

2011-11-04T17:36:00.001-07:00

Pete Granville has spent his whole life collecting relics from the Civil War. Pete has sacrificed for years to buy those relics. He even dreamed of turning his home into a museum. But today Pete put up a sign – “Junk for Sale.” Stumpy is determined to help his old friend turn his collection into a working museum.

RB152 Birthday Rescue

2011-10-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

It’s Henry’s birthday, and the guys give him some wonderful gifts. Meanwhile a lone hunter falls into a small canyon and is badly hurt. No one knows where he is. He will probably die there in the wilderness unless something happens to change his situation. Can Henry’s birthday possibly be a gift of life to a man without hope and alone?

RB-151 "Bridge Out!"

2011-10-22T10:34:00.001-07:00

Bill and Henry are checking fire lanes deep in the forest and pretty high up in the mountains. Henry takes a walk out on an old, unused railroad bridge for a bird’s eye view of the Shady Valley. Henry sees that a fallen tree has damaged the bridge. He decides to get off when the bridge collapses dropping him hundreds of feet into the valley. Things go from bad to worse when a train whistle announces that a train is headed for the collapsed bridge.

RB-150 Cliff Rescue

2011-10-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

Spring cleaning at ranger headquarters is interrupted by trouble on Mt. Evergreen. Champion mountain climber Keith takes his family climbing on Mt. Evergreen. Little Tim goes wandering off from camp and gets trapped on a crumbly, narrow ledge. Bill and the fellas must find a way to rescue the young climber before he falls off the ledge.

RB149 - The Law of the Golden Rule

2011-10-08T08:37:00.001-07:00

Horace Butler holds the mortgage on Knute Hobson’s ranch. Knute doesn’t have the money to pay the note. Knute needs two extra months to pay the note. Horace gives him one weekend or he will foreclose Knute’s mortgage. Then Horace gets in trouble with Bill for not correcting safety violations on his ranch.

Endangered Species Survey

2011-10-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ranger Headquarters - Knotty Pine
Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson along with a team of his rangers will be traveling across Big Pine National Forest to perform a survey of the endangered species in the Knotty Pine District. leading the list of animals on Ranger Bill's endangered list are the gray wolf, the wolverine, and the pika. Gray wolves can be found all across the national forest, while wolverines are found mostly in the more mountainous areas in the forest's northern sectors. The Pika is a small (guinea pig size) member of the rabbit family and lives in the upper elevations in rocky areas for shelter.
Ranger Bill is including one family of endangered pine tree in his survey, the bristlecone pine. These trees are not impressive in size or appearance. Most only grow 20 to 30 feet tall. They grow in gnarled tortured shapes and often lose much of their bark. But the bristlecone is one of the oldest forms of plant life on our planet. Some individuals have been found to be well over 4,000 years old! This pine grows in the mountains near the tree line at 10,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level where few other trees can survive. The weather is often cold and windy, and there is little rain along the treeline. The little moisture that falls is usually in the form of snow or sleet and hail that tear off bark and scour the bare wood.

Miron Canaday obituary -1995

2011-10-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

Miron S. Canaday Jr.
October 27, 1995
Miron S. Canaday Jr., 79, of Rockford, formerly of South Holland, a dramatist and radio announcer for Moody Bible Institute, died Monday in Rockford Memorial Hospital. Mr. Canaday worked for Moody Bible's WMBI radio station for 34 years. He narrated such programs as "Number 9 Elm St.," "Continued Story Reading," "Open Bible," "Ranger Bill" and "Stories of Great Christians." He also narrated the program "Show Me Thy Glory," which aired on WGSL in the Rockford area. He retired in 1978. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1943. He was a native of Ithaca, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Marion; three daughters, April Peterson, Sharon Zelenko and Bobbi McElroy; a son, Gordon; and 11 grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Smits-DeYoung-Vroegh Funeral Home, 649 E. 162nd St., South Holland.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Fall Trail Riding

2011-10-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

News from Ranger Headquarters

With fall officially here in Big Pine national Forest, the trail riding season begins. Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson's rangers will guide trail riding in the national forest three times a day each Saturday and Sunday beginning Saturday, October 1, 2011, to Sunday November 20, 2011. Rangers Gray Wolf and Henry Scott will lead mid-week trips for grade school students on Wednesday afternoons immediately after school throughout October.
Schools and other organizations may contact Knotty Pine ranger headquarters to schedule special trail riding sessions.
Trail sessions will vary in terrain from easy forest and meadow trails to more difficult back country and mountain trail routes. So be sure to contact ranger headquarters for a list of trail rides and routes.

RB148 - The Man of the House

2011-10-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Little Jerry Quinn is an orphan and he is only eight years old. Jerry lost both of his parents less than a year ago. He is having a hard time dealing with being alone and having to live in an orphanage. Paul, the director of the orphanage, knows how well Bill and Henry have bonded since Henry’s parents died. So Paul goes to see Bill for help with Jerry. Bill thinks he knows some folks who can help.

RB147 - The Monster of White Lake

2011-09-25T02:24:00.000-07:00

Boaters and fishermen are being attacked on White Lake and White River. The monster rises out of the waters, attacks an unsuspecting fisherman, and then disappears back into the depths of the lake. Folks are terribly frightened. Ranger Bill gets called in to identify and hopefully capture the beast.

RB146 - Rising Curiosity

2011-09-17T01:42:00.000-07:00

Bill and Stumpy are in Washington, DC, learning new weather forecasting techniques. Shipping crates full of weather equipment and weather balloons arrive at ranger headquarters. Curiosity over the boxes gets the better of Henry and his friend Jack. They look in one box then another. Pretty soon they’re up to the clouds in trouble.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE

2011-09-11T04:16:00.000-07:00

Sand Hogs Invade Knotty Pine !

Sand hogs have come to Knotty Pine and they have brought a TBM with them. No, everyone, don’t run and hide. Knotty Pine is not being overrun by some strange breed of wild pigs. In fact sand hogs are men, miners to be specific and special miners at that. Sand hogs are miners who did the water tunnels that bring fresh water from distant lakes and rivers to large cities. The term sand hog was first used to refer to the miners who dig New York City’s water tunnels.
So what are these tunneling miners doing here in Knotty Pine? They are here to dig a new water tunnel for Central City. Central City’s population has grown so much larger in the last ten years that city water supplies can’t keep up with demand. The city fathers have hired some of New York’s finest sand hogs to dig a new 9-foot diameter tunnel from the Shady River to Central City.
The sand hogs have brought a friend to help them with this massive undertaking, a Tunnel Boring Machine or TBM for short. The TBM is a giant rotary cutting machine that cuts through rock and earth to produce a nice round tunnel.
Work has already begun just a few miles south of Knotty Pine.

Blessed Day

2011-09-11T04:03:00.000-07:00

"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting."
"This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it"
- Psalm 118: vs. 1 and 24

Have a safe, blessed, and peaceful day this September 11, 2011.

Dave

RB144 Mystery Island

2011-09-06T16:03:00.000-07:00

Bill, Stumpy, Henry and Mary Lu go camping on Lake Arthur Island. They meet fellow campers kindly Mr. Overby and grumpy Mr. Meany. Both men appear to be keeping secrets about themselves. On their very first evening there, Henry and Mary Lu hear some very strange sounds. The kids get scared and want to go home. What are Bill and Stumpy going to do to salvage their camping trip and get rid of the strange noises?

Happy Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

Ranger Bill Jefferson, his ward Henry Scott, and rangers Stumpy Jenkins and Gray Wolf want to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend.
God bless your worship, your rest, and your time with family and friends this weekend.

Big Pine Ranger Headquarters News

2011-09-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

The 3-S Wildlife Tours
Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson has approved a new program at Big Pine NF thanks to a suggestion by ranger Stumpy Jenkins. Big Pine will now offer guided wildlife tours for physically handicapped and visually impaired visitors.
Ranger Jenkins came up with the idea for these tours while at the office of Dr. Hanson, Knotty Pine's eye doctor. Stumpy was chatting with some of Dr. Hanson's other patients while in the waiting room. Stumpy sees Dr. Hanson regularly after having cataract surgery. Stumpy was talking with another of the doctor's patients Will Thompson describing his work as a ranger at Big Pine National Forest. He mentioned that one of the best parts of his job is watching and listening to the wildlife, especially the many birds in the forest. Will is nearly blind and has never bothered to go bird watching. Other patients in the office also commented that they would enjoy listening to the birds and other animals.
Ranger Stumpy teamed up with fellow ranger Gray Wolf to lead "The 3 S's of the Shady Mountains." Those three S's are the sights, sounds, and smells of the Shadys. The rangers will take visitors to see the colors of the mountains, smell the scents of the flowers and trees, and hear the songs of birds and the calls of the wildlife.
Stumpy and Gray Wolf also lead tours for physically handicapped visitors. Bus tours with nursing aids for those who need help walking are available.

RB043 - The Crusher

2011-08-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

A cargo plane crash lands at Knotty Pine airport. A short time later, an airport employee is found dead inside a hanger near the plane’s cargo boxes. He has been crushed to death. Who or what could do this? Ranger Bill is called in to investigate. He suspects something escaped one of the cargo boxes.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Ranger Found!

2011-08-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Lost Ranger Located and Rescued!

Ranger Gray Wolf reports that the missing deep woods ranger, Ben Clipper, has been found and rescued. Ben was located on the Shady Mountain edge of his territory.
Gray Wolf tells the GAZETTE that Ben slipped and fell from a small, rocky rise which was on a trail he was hiking. Ben broke both his radio and his ankle. He was unable to travel on the broken leg. He crawled to a stream nearby and attempted to contact ranger headquarters. Ben was unable to fix his radio and his phone could not find a usable signal.
Ben decided to set-up camp as best he could. He marked his location with rocks and small tree branches.
Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson organized search teams immediately after ranger Clipper's call-in time was passed. After three days of searching, search teams found Ben at the edge of his work area.
Ben was taken by helicopter to Knotty Pine Hospital for overnight observation. Doctors at KPH report that ranger Clipper was suffering from mild exposure, but appeared otherwise fine.
__________
Forest Fire Threat Continues
Big Pine National Forest's Chief Ranger Jefferson tells the GAZETTE that the threat of fire continues for now. Camp fires and gas engines are not permitted in the forest right now. Mr. Jefferson may still close the forest to all visitors.
Ranger Bill has recalled all rangers on special duty such as farm harvest help. Also all vacations and time off are all cancelled during the fire threat.

RB-042 Forest Fire

2011-08-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

The towns of Silver Springs and Claytown are surrounded by 10 forest fires and their citizens are trapped. The southern district rangers can't fight these blazes alone. They call Bill and his men and equipment to control the fires. This is one of the biggest fires the state has ever had. And to top it off, the train bringing equipment from Knotty Pine breaks down. Can Bill help get these fires under control or will rangers and innocent citizens die?

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Lost Ranger, Fire Season

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ranger Headquarters-Knotty Pine
LOST RANGER
Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson tells the GAZETTE that one of his summer help, a deep-woods ranger failed to report in by radio yesterday. Ranger Bill thinks that it may be a simple radio failure, but he must be sure his rangers are safe. The summer ranger, Ben Clipper, has volunteered in Big Pine's deep woods for the past 8 summers. Bill says that Ben has been a very good and useful ranger. Ben knows Big Pine extremely well, having hiked and camped there for several years before becoming a summer ranger.
Ranger Bill has organized search teams composed of at least one Big Pine ranger in each team. Ben has a cell phone and GPS, on top of his radio, but has not contacted ranger headquarters by phone.
__________
THREAT OF FIRE!
The hot, dry summer here in Knotty Pine has placed the Big Pine National Forest in danger of forest fire. No camp fires or gas engines will be allowed in the forest until relative humidity levels rise. If the dry conditions continue much longer, the forest will be closed to all visitors.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Knotty Pine Fair

2011-08-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's that time of year again - fair season! The Knotty Pine Fair begins Monday, August 15, at the fair grounds on the south end of town on Highway Z. 4-H displays fill much of the fair, with 4-H judging going on all week long. See a huge display of cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and goats, not to mention chickens. Other events during the week include Tractor Pulls, Demolition Derby, Sports Car Race, Animal Shows, Rodeo with Trick Riding, and much, much more. A wide variety of rides will entertain and thrill both young and old alike - Ferris wheels, kiddie cars, crack the whip, and the like. And of course, all the food you can eat will be for sale - elephant ears, corn on the cob, hot dogs of every description, chillies, sausages, pop corn, cotton candy, as well as hot and cold drinks.
See you there!

RB041 - The Jealous Stepfather

2011-08-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

Our rangers are driving back to Knotty Pine after a long, cold day in the forest. They are just starting to get warm in their "snowmobile" when they pass a young boy walking along an isolated stretch of road. The fellas pick up the boy, who reluctantly agrees to go to town but not home. This young man Gary has been verbally abused and beaten by his stepfather. The stepfather Jake has trouble controlling his anger and lashes out at home and at work. Bill is willing to help both Gary and Jake. But will Jake be willing or able to change his life - even with help? Jake's and Gary's lives both depend upon it!

RB-040 Stumpy Gets 30 Days

2011-08-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

If you love Stumpy then this show is one you can't miss! This Ranger Bill episode is a fan favorite, and you'll see why in Stumpy Gets 30 Days!
It's winter and the snows are deep. The rangers are moving a herd of buffalo to good grazing land. A young bull in the herd gets upset with Stumpy and his horse Maude. Bill and Henry see the bull too late. It gores both Stumpy and Maude, then proceeds to roll on Stumpy crushing his chest!!! Stumpy is rushed to the emergency room with little life or will to live in him. If the Old Timer lives will he have the strength and the will to go on? What can Bill and his rangers do to keep their dear friend alive? They begin with prayer.

RB139 - Stumpy's Harmonica

2011-07-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

Stumpy’s harmonica playing is driving everyone at ranger headquarters crazy. Meanwhile, 20 miles away, a thunderstorm sets off blasts at Brown Brothers Quarry trapping several men. The rangers help the miners rescue the trapped men after hours of digging. Next Stumpy and Henry are buried alive by more explosions. They have no way of being located. Who can save our rangers from their rock tomb?

Prayer of Thanks

2011-07-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

Lord,

Thank you for the Ranger Bill program and for the writers, directors, cast and crew of the show - director Charles Chistensen, Miron Canaday, Roger Compton, Ed Ronne, Jr. and many others. Thank you for His Kids Radio for continuing to provide this Christian entertainment for us every week and the other fine programs like "Paws and Tales". Thanks for giving us Bill for more than 60 years now. And thank you for all the fine fans of Ranger Bill who have kept these web pages busy.

Amen

RB138 - The Last Fire Call

2011-07-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

“Grumpy” Jenkins is tired of getting up in the middle of the night and fighting forest fires. He decides to quit the service and retire. Stumpy buys some expensive fishing gear, a car, and a luxury vacation trip to Bermuda. Can this be the end for one of the finest rangers in the forest service? Bill shares how he and the Old Timer met.

RB stickers

2011-07-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

I would like to print up some Ranger Bill stickers for the kids. Your ideas for different slogans are always welcome. Some ideas I have are the Ranger Bill badge on this page, "I (heart) Stumpy", "Where in the world is Knotty Pine?", "I Visited Big Pine National Forest", "Official Ranger", "I (heart) Ranger Headquarters", and "I Climbed Fire Tower #3". How about the horses - Storm, Blackie, and who can forget Matilda? How about some favorite characters - Houseboat Charlie, logger Frenchy DeSalle, Lt. Garnet Greentree, Col. Anders, or even The Wolverine?
If you like any of these slogans or have some slogans or design ideas of your own, email me at rangerbillclub@aol.com or leave a comment on this message or post a comment on our Facebook page.

RB137 - Broken Bootstraps

2011-07-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Bob Benfelt is a struggling, young rancher and an incurable pessimist. Satan has broken his bootstraps. Ranger Bill takes Bob to see the Double Box M Ranch and its owners Myron and Hazel. Myron tells the story of his struggles as a young rancher and of his search for the courage to go on.

RB136 - The Crisis

2011-07-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

(aka Stumpy’s Sight) – Stumpy gets hurt while riding trail. Bill suspects that Stumpy can’t see very well. Bill makes the Old Timer go to the eye doctor. The news isn’t good – cataracts. Stumpy needs surgery before he goes blind. But fear is keeping the Old Timer from getting the operation he needs.

RB134 - The Cattle Rustlers of Coconino

2011-06-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

The Joe and Jack Jackson, identical twins, own the Big J Ranch. They mysteriously lose part of their cattle herd. The Jacksons suspect rustlers, but modern communications stopped rustling years ago. The boys keep losing cattle a few at a time. They finally ask Ranger Bill to check into their mystery. A mystery man, Mr. Dark, may be the key to this mystery.

RB-133 They Called Him a Coward

2011-06-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

Jerry is the new boy in town. He is afraid of everything because his father was killed in a fire. Jerry runs away and hides when a school full of children catches fire. Bill and his rangers try to help Jerry overcome his fears with little success. What will Bill do with Jerry when severe storms threaten the Shady Valley?

"Seal Island" questions

2011-06-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

You guys are really on the ball! Again, the vast majority got both questions right. Nice job. And thanks to everyone who played. Our questions were:

What is calving? The answer is the splitting off of a piece of an iceberg.

How much of an iceberg sticks out of the water? 1/8 of the berg is above the water line.

RB132 - Avalanche Rescue

2011-06-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

Bill and Henry are busy knocking down avalanches on the Big Six Mountains. Novice skier Jenny Bender aims to tackle those steep hills regardless of the risk. Bill closes the Big Six to any skiers until he and Henry clear all the dangerous drifts. Jenny sneaks out to go skiing before Bill opens the slopes. A huge avalanche threatens the ski lodge and the headstrong young lady.

RB-130 The Mountain that Moved

2011-05-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

Stumpy and Henry go fishing on Old Thunderhead. Strange sounds start coming from the mountain. Then a seismologist arrives to investigate strange readings coming from the mountain. Earthquakes trap Henry and Stumpy and threaten their lives. Then Old Thunderhead actually begins to move, leaving huge chasms and blocking all the mountain's roads. Bill must find a way to rescue his friends before it's too late.

RB-130 The Secret of Seal Island

2011-05-23T16:36:00.001-07:00

Bill and his rangers have a poacher in the national forest. This man has been able to hunt illegally at will and still avoid even being seen. Gray Wolf names this man lupe garu, Wolverine (the glutton). Wolverine disappears then shows up in Alaska poaching fur seals. Washington asks Bill and Gray Wolf to travel to the Arctic Circle to find and capture this criminal. Can the fellas even locate Wolverine in the Arctic, let alone capture him?

Forest Fire Poll Answers

2011-05-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

Congratulations on another job well done to all who answered our Forest Fire Poll questions. The majority of you got both our questions right.
The answer to "Where is Dr. Harris from?" is New Zealand. Also, the correct answer to "How does Bill seed the forest?" is by helicopter. Bill uses a farm seeder and flies at a low altitude in the helicopter to spread the tree seeds just where he wants them.

How to Become a Ranger

2011-05-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

Ranger Marty tells us a little about becoming a ranger:

Job qualifications for Ranger vary by agency - whether it be National Parks, US Forest Service, or each individual state's Park service and Forest service. For my agency (Tennessee State Parks), Rangers have to complete at least a Bachelors Degree at an accredited 4-year college. Acceptable majors would include forestry, wildlife management, ecology, history (for historic parks), or related fields. We also look at experience - folks who wish to become Rangers should have shown their interest by their volunteer work, their hobbies, and their previous paid employment. Rangers usually begin as seasonal (summer) employees while they are still in college.

For more detailed information, check out this website:
http://www.tpra.net/

Many thanks, Marty, for the information!

RB-188 Forest Fire

2011-05-14T04:09:00.000-07:00

Wealthy scientist Dr. Harris and his assistant Franklin come to Big Pine National Forest during a terribly dry spell. Because of the threat of fire, Bill closes the forest to everyone even Dr. Harris. The doctor and Franklin sneak back into the forest and get trapped by a huge blaze. Only God can save the two scientists.
I have called this "Hot Fire and Sewing Seeds".

RB-115 Three-Legged Deer

2011-05-07T03:56:00.001-07:00

Two hunters can't find any deer. So they decide to shoot little Jerry White's injured pet deer, Torpedo. One of the men even punches Jerry in the face! Jerry's parents ask Ranger Bill to find the men and bring them to justice. People in town are in a rage over the hunters' actions. The hunt is on for the hunters. Will Bill be able to find the men and bring justice and order back to the town of Three Forks? (The folks who made Ranger Bill each week are credited at the end of this show.)

RB-126 The Gospel Goes to Reform School

2011-04-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

Warden Dawson rules the reform school with an iron hand. Bill wants to come in and offer the boys education, sports, and Bible study. The warden finally lets Bill come. Then a riot breaks out at the school. Will Bill or the warden be able to bring peace to the school?

Listen to Past Broadcasts

2011-04-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

Someone asked recently how to listen to past Ranger Bill shows. His Kids and the Ranger Bill Fan Club do not archive broadcasts, so we can't play back past episodes for you. BUT, you can get ANY episode you like from Moody Broadcasting's website. Moody offers over 200 Ranger Bill shows for sale as individual mp3 downloads or on mp3 Cd's. Just click on the Moody Audio link on the right side of this page to view and order any or all 200+ Ranger Bill stories.

RB-125 Lover Boy

2011-04-23T05:23:00.000-07:00

Henry gets a big crush on the new lady doctor in Knotty Pine. Henry's girlfriend Mary Lu is angry with Henry and the doctor. To make matters worse, the rangers, especially Stumpy, don't want a lady doctor in Knotty Pine. Doctor Madge needs all the help she can get from Ranger Bill to stay in Knotty Pine.

Blessed Holy Week and Easter

2011-04-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Ranger Bill and all his rangers want to wish everyone a blessed and joyous Easter. And during this Holy Week, as we remember all the Jesus did to pay for our sins by His suffering and death, may you grow in your faith and love for Christ.

RB-124 Soup Truck

2011-04-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

A truck carrying nitroglycerin blows up just outside the town of Landslide. The mayor closes Landslide to all dangerous truck traffic. Closing Landslide will put the explosives company out of business and hurt many other businesses. Bill must find a way to prove to the mayor that even nitro can be taken safely through Landslide.

RB123 - River of Fire

2011-04-09T02:32:00.000-07:00

RB123 - River of Fire - Officers O'Roark and Ryan are walking the night beat along the docks on the Shady River. The smell of fuel oil stops them in their tracks. The pipeline over the Shady has sprung a huge leak! The river is covered with a solid layer of the fuel oil. The slightest spark could set the river on fire or even cause an explosion. Things go from bad to worse when a bad lightening storm strikes. Bill, the safety forces, and the pipeline company may not be able to handle this disaster.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Forest Feedings

2011-04-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

Chief ranger Bill Jefferson tells the GAZETTE that his rangers will continue feeding the buffalo, deer, and elk herds in Big Pine National Forest for the next several weeks. Continued heavy early spring snows have covered the Shady Mountains and Shady River Valley will deep snow making it difficult for wild animal populations to find food and shelter. Rangers will use trucks and airplanes to deliver hay to these herds. Also because of these late snows, ranger crews must wait several weeks to perform spring border surveys of the forest. Crews will be sent out as needed to clear out fire hazards along the borders and trails of Big Pine. Farmers and ranchers affected by these border surveys will be given extra time to make their lands clear and safe for fire crews.

Dick Anthony, Ranger Bill organist

2011-04-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

I was able to find some used vinyl record albums by Ranger Bill organist Dick Anthony or with him as the organist. These are all available used on Amazon.com or possibly through your local record store: Beyond the River by the Melody Four Quartet with Dick Anthony organist ($19.50) The Dick Anthony Singers: To Tell the Untold Story ($15.99) Pinnacles of Praise by Bill Pearce and Dick Anthony ($13.97) My Song by Dick Anthony ($9.99) Dick also published a short book called Dick Anthony's Musical Meditations. That is also available on Amazon.

What are Desert Rats on Ranger Bill?

2011-04-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

The term "desert rats" is the subject of several Ranger Bill stories. RB-127 "The Adventure of the Tarnished Gold," RB-164 "Freddy's Story," and RB-005 "Burning Sands," are among several stories that refer to these desert rats. In all of these adventures, desert rats are those old-time prospectors who mined or panned for gold in the hills, rivers, and streams. Most of the time these men worked long and hard in the desert sun looking to get rich. Some were able to eek out a living on the gold they found, often squandering what little they earned on riotous living.

RB-122 A Prisoner on Ice Island

2011-04-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

Knotty Pine's city council wastes time debating how to pay for a fence that is critically needed to keep kids off the ice flows on the Shady River. Two boys do get stuck on an ice flow, and that flow is heading for a drop into a deep gorge! Bill must find some way to safely reach and rescue the boys!

RB-121 The Locked Bag

2011-03-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

Miles runs the snake farm. He milks poisonous snakes for their venom. Miles shows up at ranger headquarters as white as a sheet. Somehow Miles lost a locked bag containing a deadly king cobra. The bag could be broken into and the snake could then get out. Bill, Miles and the boys must find the bag and the snake before someone gets hurt or killed!!!

RB-128 Danger! Deer Crossing

2011-03-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

Bill, Stumpy, and Gray Wolf are part of a huge team of soldiers, law enforcement officers and rangers. Their job - keep anything, man or animal, out of the blast zone of an atomic bomb test. Despite their best efforts, a family of deer (and two spies) manage to slip in to the test. The deer are exposed to the blast and must be found! But will they and those spies be able to elude capture? Gray Wolf may hold the key to a safe and successful end to this test.
(This show couldn't be more appropriately timed in light of the nuclear reactor disaster in Japan that has followed the devastating earthquake and tsunami that rocked that country last week. Please pray that the efforts of Christians to aid the people in Japan will move them to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.)

RB-127 The Adventure of the Tarnished Gold

2011-03-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Ben Barkley is a mining engineer. He has been digging on an old gold mine that ran dry years ago. Ben says he has found a new vein of gold using modern mine engineering techniques. But Gray Wolf and Henry think something is funny about Mr. Barkley's find. They suspect that Ben Barkley is trying to swindle folks with a phony strike. Bill is gone and Gray Wolf and Henry must step in and learn the truth about the Barkley mine.

Mules Racing a Truck?

2011-03-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, in a Ranger Bill story that had to be retired, mules were in a race against a truck to see who could haul more stone for a mining company. The story was "Skinner Raises a Storm." Skinner McNeil was the mule driver for the mine. He was very attached to his mules. They critters worked faithfully and hard for Skinner and the mine. The mine owners decided to have the mules destroyed rather than retired after the mine purchased dump trucks to do the mules' work. Skinner went to trial for stealing the mules to protect them. The judge gave McNeil the chance to prove the mules were better haulers than the trucks by pitting the mules against the trucks in a race to see who could move more stone in a day.

RB-118 The One-Wire Fence

2011-03-05T18:13:00.000-08:00

Jeremiah Sykes is a rancher and preacher on Elk Mesa. Young Herb Bradshaw, son of powerful rancher Thunder Bradshaw, is starting up his own ranch using electric fences. Jeremiah is misusing the Bible to oppose electric fences. Thunder and Jeremiah may go to war over Herb and his ranch. Bill and our rangers must be strong and on constant alert to deal with this range war!

Answer to "RB Show Title Used Twice" Question

2011-02-27T07:31:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in our question this last week, "What is the only RB show title used twice?"

RB006, aired in 1954, and RB192, aired in 1962, shared the same title, "The Fire Bug." Randolph Thompson was the 1956 "Fire Bug." Thompson would not put spark arrestors on his old coal-burning engines. Those engines passed through the big pines during the dry season setting off any number of fires that threatened those ancient giants. The 1962 "Fire Bug" found Bill and Ralph looking for the person or persons who were leaving campfires unattended up and down the Shady River. The boys suspected old hermit Buck Sawyer and also two out-of-town fishermen.

Congratulations to the 62% of you who got the correct title. I consider that one of our tougher questions. I think our next question is even tougher, it's about one of the retired Ranger Bill stories. Good luck and God's blessing!!!

RB117 The Measure of a Man

2011-02-25T18:02:00.000-08:00

Tough guy Muscles and his two friends terrorize Knotty Pine and beat up Henry and the school principal. Judge White sentences the three troublemakers to some hard time - on the trail with Bill and the rangers to experience what real tough men are like. Bill lets the boys "escape" into the mountains to learn that they aren't so tough roughing it in the wilderness.

RB-116 The Deadly Laundry Basket

2011-02-21T14:20:00.000-08:00

Bill gets a phone call from Sergeant Jim Donato of West Grove, IL. Jim's neighbor was bitten by a poisonous snake and is barely clinging to life. The snake was hiding in a laundry basket sitting in her garage. Bill thinks a rare plague of swamp rattlers has invaded the town. Bill and Henry fly to West Grove to try to deal with the threat. Then a child is bitten and the town begins to panic. What can the fellas do to protect West Grove from panic and this deadly menace?

(A list of the RANGER BILL cast and crew is given at the end of this show.)

RANGER BILL Openings

2011-02-20T08:15:00.000-08:00

There are roughly 200 Ranger Bill episodes that I am aware of. The show numbers, titles, and first airing dates that I have were provided by Moody Audio. AKA titles are Ranger Bill Fan Club titling.
The following are the two openings used on the show. These half-hour stories that His Kids provides us each week were produced from the fall of 1954 until 1962. Opening #1 was used from 1954 until the fall of 1959. #2 was then used through 1962.

Opening #1 - "Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snows, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done."

Opening #2 - "Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster, in the air, on horseback, or in a screaming squad car. Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal to his mission. And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done."
(This opening also contains the sounds of an airplane motor, running horse hooves, and a police siren.)

Ranger Bill patches

2011-02-20T07:56:00.000-08:00

I have gotten some requests recently for Ranger Bill patches. If there is enough interest in patches, I will get some made. These patches would be the Ranger Bill badge designs seen on the bottom of this page or the one on our Facebook page. The Facebook design is the same as the badge on this page but with the colors reversed (i.e., green lettering with white background).

Please note that these patches were designed by a member of this fan club, Marty, which he graciously donated to the club. They are not products of the original Ranger Bill show nor of Moody Broadcasting.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Weather and a BIG Gear

2011-02-12T18:25:00.000-08:00

FROM COLD AND SNOW TO WARM AND WET

The weather in and around Knotty Pine is the big news of the day, the week, and the month for that matter. Highs all along the eastern Rockies hovered around ZERO for much of last week, ranging from 14 above to 5 below zero. Temperatures today are expected to rise above freezing, possibly reaching into the mid-40's, along the Rockies and the Shady River Valley.

Wind was also a major factor. Winds have been averaging 20 miles per hour with gusts up to 30 and even 40 mph at times. This produced wind chill factors of -25 to -40 degrees all across the region. Residents were advised to stay indoors as much as possible and dress heavily in layers if they had to venture outside.

And yes, the snow was falling even harder and faster than the temperatures. Knotty Pine has seen more than a foot of snow just in the last week. Areas north of the city have seen snowfalls of up to two feet in that same period. Snow pack totals in may areas range from five feet deep to as much as six feet deep. City and state road crews have worked long and hard to keep area roads clear. Crews had been working around the clock for several days. Ranger Bill also has some of his men and machinery assisted city and state plows. Ranger crews have pulled out their big guns, Big Brute and their two "Little" Brutes.

Big Pine National Forest Chief Ranger Bill Jefferson tells the GAZETTE that the weather service is predicting heavy melting of snow all across the region, raising creek and river levels at or above flood stage all this week. Ranger Bill advises valley residents to be cautious around the Shady River, whether driving or fishing. Ice on the Shady is even now breaking up creating large ice flows and ice jams.

BIG BROKEN GEAR

All this snow and cold has been a big boon to the various ski lodges and resorts throughout the Shady Valley and the Eastern Rockies. All area lodges are reporting heavy use of all ski and snow boarding hills. Ski trails have also been very popular this past week.

A major breakdown has shut down skiing on the Rock Run Ski Lodge. The main gear that drives the ski lift broke on Tuesday, halting the big ski lift on Rock Run's big hill. The only lift is a small cable that skiers can use to ski up the hill. A replacement for the broken gear is being made by a small machine shop in Boston, Mass. This replacement should be done and delivered by the end of this week.

RB115 - 3-Legged Deer

2011-02-12T09:00:00.001-08:00

RB115 - Three-Legged Deer - Two hunters can't find any deer. So they decide to shoot little Jerry White's injured pet deer, Torpedo. One of the men even punches Jerry in the face! Jerry's parents ask Ranger Bill to find the men and bring them to justice. People in town are in a rage over the hunters' actions. The hunt is on for the hunters. Will Bill be able to find the men and bring justice and order back to the town of Three Forks? (The folks who made Ranger Bill each week are credited at the end of this show.)

Rattlesnake Sam

2011-02-12T08:47:00.000-08:00

One Ranger Bill fan asked if we have Rattlesnake Sam. The answer is yes, we do still play Rattlesnake Sam. Sam is program number RB-194. It won't be airing again for several months. It is available from Moody Broadcasting as an individual download or on their Ranger Bill CD #4. Please contact me if you have any trouble obtaining a copy of that show.

RB-114 The Hardhead

2011-02-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

Colonel Anders must take a couple of months off for surgery. A man from Washington, George Benton, comes to Knotty Pine to fill in for the colonel. Mr. Benton is rude and expects ALL the rules to be followed to the letter without deviation or exception!!! Bill refuses to follow Mr. Benton's rule book. Benton suspends Bill and the rangers revolt.

RB-113 Charlie's Nightmare

2011-01-30T17:36:00.000-08:00

This Ranger Bill story is right out of the Cold War 50's. An unidentified high-speed aircraft is circling over Knotty Pine and the Shady River Valley. This thing travels faster than fighter jets! Bill soon learns that it is a misguided test missile from a top secret project. The missile is loaded with tons of high explosives and only has enough fuel for a few hours of flight. Shooting the missile down could kill many people or cause a huge forest fire. What can Bill do?
This is one of only three or four shows with Bill's mom in it.

Jedediah Smith - Christian Mountain Man

2011-01-30T03:18:00.000-08:00

Jedediah Smith was born on January 6, Epiphany, 1799 in what is now Bainbridge, New York. Jedediah's family, especially his father had a great love for the new territories of the young United States. The family moved to western Pennsylvania in 1810 and then to Green Township in Ashland County, Ohio in 1817. With the family running low on money, Jedediah left home in 1821 to look for work, and he went west.
Smith was a Christian young man. Wherever he went, he carried three books with him, his Bible, his journal, and an 1814 first copy of Lewis and Clark's journals. (Only 1,417 copies of that first printing were sold to the public.) Jedediah practiced his faith. He prayed, read his Bible, and meditated daily.
By 1822 Jedediah had gone as far as St. Louis and was hired by General Ashley as a trapper with his American Fur Company. After only a few months of trapping in the wilderness, his party was attacked by Arikaras warriors and 13 men were killed. Jedediah fought bravely. Gen Ashley noted Jedediah's bravery and made him a trapping party captain.
In 1824, Smith was able to obtain a map made of buffalo skin and sand that helped him locate South Pass, a critically important break in the Rockies that made it possible to travel safely and easily through those mountains.
Also in 1824, Smith was attacked by a grizzly bear. The bear broke some of Jedediah's ribs and ripped open a place in his side. Then the bear bit his head, nearly scalping him and tearing loose most of his right ear. Smith directed a fellow trapper and friend, Jim Clyman, how to sew his scalp and ear back on. Smith survived the attack but was left with a nasty scar on the right side of his face that he covered with his long hair. Can you imagine being scarred like that at 25. That's tough for anyone to deal with!
In 1831, Smith was working on a wagon train delivering supplies to Sante Fe for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. The wagons were several days ride away from Sante Fe when they ran low on water. Jedediah went to find water. A group of Comanche hunters trapped him in a box canyon and killed him. The Comanches took his rifle and pistols and sold them in Sante Fe. The folks on the wagon train thought Smith got lost and hoped he would catch up with them in Sante Fe. When they got there they found Smith's guns for sale and heard about his death. They recovered Jedediah's guns and returned them to his brother.
None of Smith's other belongings or his body were ever found. Jedediah's Bible, journal, and his copy of Lewis and Clark's journals (all extremely valuable today) were never recovered. Could those three books still be somewhere along the Sante Fe Trail waiting to be recovered?

Stumpy "Chilkoot" Jenkins

2011-01-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

My name is Chilkoot. I come from the southeast part of Alaskee. I'm what you call a mountain man. I've been a hunter and a trapper, a wilderness guide, and even an explorer. I've hunted all kind of fur barin' critters - bears, beavers, foxes, wolverines, and more. I've hunted and trapped all the way from Alaskee to Canada and down to Californee.I've got more stories about mountain men than you can shake a stick at! I thought I might share a few of those stories with you from time to time. For a starter, how 'bout a story about a mountain man with a terrible scar. He's a Christian. And he left us a mystery to solve. I'll tell you more in my next post.
(note: I will be posting some Chilkoot stories here and on our Facebook pages. I hope you will enjoy these stories.)

RB112 The Mad Bats

2011-01-22T02:11:00.000-08:00

Bats invade the attic of the Phipps' home, and one even bites Edna Phipps. Bill and Stumpy go to evict the bats and discover the bats are sick with rabies! The boys get help fighting off the bats from some feathered friends. One of the Phipps' neighbors causes Bill even more trouble than those pesky bats.

RB-111 The Prehistoric Monster

2011-01-14T18:04:00.000-08:00

The circus has arrived at Junction City. A full-grown bull rhino is its main attraction. This particular rhino doesn't like being in the circus. The huge beast breaks his chains and charges off into the forest. Bill and the boys are called in to find and shoot the marauder before he hurts anyone or does any serious damage. Can our rangers safely corner this prehistoric monster? Will Stumpy's pride endanger the hunt and possibly endanger lives too?

RB-120 The Self-Made Man

2011-01-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

Dutch Vanderhaven lost his son in the war and is very bitter over his loss. He doesn't want any one's help, and he won't help anyone, not orphans, not even the church. Then Dutch is gored by a huge bull. Now Dutch is the one who needs help, but his neighbors won't give him any. Can Bill and Stumpy find a way to get the work done at Dutch's ranch and change a town full of stubbornness?

RB-119 Mrs. Murphy's Chowder

2011-01-02T04:25:00.000-08:00

Bill and the boys and Maggie Murphy take 50 boys from their church to camp for three weeks. Henry has some problems as life guard during swim times. Stumpy and Gray Wolf lead a snipe hunt. Bill deals with one boy's home sickness. But Maggie must deal with a filthy kitchen, feeding 50 hungry boys, and then a food thief. She threatens to leave if the thief isn't caught. Bill must find the guilty boy or lose the best cook west of the Mississippi! Find out what happens to Mrs. Murphy's famous chowder too!!!

Blessed New Year 2011!!!!

2011-01-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

I want to wish all our Ranger Bill fans and friends a joyous and prosperous 2011!!! May the mercy of God the Father, the love of Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be a real and constant part of your lives this new year!
I also want to take a moment and thank HisKids.net, and especially Dodd, for providing the fan club with all of the wonderful Ranger Bill programs we have been able to enjoy in 2010. Please support HisKids with your prayers and, if possible, with your gifts.
Keep listening each week as we share "RANGER BILL, Warrior of the Woodland!" with you. Catch Bill, Henry, Stumpy, and Gray Wolf as they watch over the forests and meadows and the mountains and valleys around Knotty Pine and Big Pine National Forest.
Have a wonderful year in Christ!
Ranger Dave

RB-108 The Wrong Valley

2010-12-27T15:50:00.000-08:00

Jacq McIntosh is Knotty Pine's blacksmith and one very powerful man. He is usually quite happy and full of joy. He likes to sing worship songs as he works. Trouble visits the McIntosh home suddenly one day with terrible force. His wife Annie is blinded in an explosion, and his son Ernie is badly injured in an auto accident. Jacq is angry with God and feels like Job. Can anything more go wrong for Jacq? Will anger and despair keep Josh in the terrible valley of depression? Can Bill do anything to bring Jacq out of that wrong valley?

A Ranger Bill "Merry Christmas"

2010-12-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and welcome to snowy Knotty Pine! Knotty Pine couldn't look more ready for Christmas. Christmas lights are shining all around town. There is a fresh coating of snow all around. Many businesses are playing festive music. Several churches are broadcasting Christmas hymns and carols or playing their church bells.

Henry, the Old Timer, Gray Wolf, myself and many of my rangers worshiped together both Christmas Eve and this morning on Christmas Day. Of course, Mom also was with me for worship. My family, Stumpy, Gray Wolf, and Ranger Rocky and her family are having Christmas dinner togehter at my home. Henry and Mom bought me a new chief ranger's hat for Christmas. I got Henry a study Bible. I got Mom a morning devotional and some ear rings.

Christmas is a wonderful time to share God's love in the giving of His Son Jesus as a baby. The story of Mary and Joseph, Bethlehem, and the Wise Men is a fascinating and compelling story. I plan to emphasize this today and in the days to come. Please join me in sharing Jesus with someone today and this week. Share the hope that is in Jesus so that other person or persons might enjoy the love of Christ throughout all eternity with God and also with you!

And may Christ, who was born in Bethlehem to save us from death and for Himself, bless and keep you this Christmas in His love and joy!!!

A blessed and joyous Christmas to you and yours!

In Christ,

Ranger Bill Jefferson

RB-201 Christmas Bells

2010-12-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

Officer Patrick O'Roark collapses in the street not far from Ranger Headquarters. It's a heart attack and a bad one. Pat is barely clinging to life. All that keeps Pat gong are the Christmas carols coming from the church bell tower. Suddenly the bells go silent, and Pat starts to slip away. Herman Schmidt, the bell repairman, is down with severe arthritis. Can Bill and the boys do anything to get the bells working and help Pat find the will to live?

Did You Know?

2010-12-11T06:31:00.000-08:00

Ranger Bill is in charge of over 200,00 acres of various lands - forests, prairies, rivers, mountains and more. He is also responsible for reforesting logged lands and reclaiming mines and their surrounding lands in and around Big Pine National Forest. Bill is in his mid-30s and holds an M.S. in Forestry from Brighton College.
Colonel Anders is Bill's boss and is responsible for over 1 million acres of lands in the Western District.

RB-096 Jimmy's Christmas Miracle

2010-12-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

Little Jimmy Benson was crippled in a fall and can't walk . It's just weeks before Christmas. The snow is falling, and Jimmy is full of joy and excitement. A doctor offers the Bensons the hope that Jimmy might walk with the help of a specialist back east. Bill tries to get financial help for Jimmy at church but board member Bert Leason is against it. Stumpy reminds Jimmy's dad Dave of the power of faith like a mustard seed. Can Bill and Stumpy be the start of a miracle for Jimmy and maybe warm the cold heart of Mr. Leason as well?

Ranger Bill highlighted in Christmas Musical

2010-12-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

Michelle Skolaski sent the fan club this note:
If you live anywhere in the Chicago area, make plans if you can to get to Village Church in Dyer, IN on Sunday Dec. 12, 2010. Village is putting on a Christmas musical entitled "A RadioLand Christmas" that features Miron Canaday and the Ranger Bill story. Miron was a member of Village Church, and the show is a tribute to the heritage of the church, and their long history with Moody radio that continues to today. Also featured will be keepsakes from Ranger Bill, including the costume Miron wore when promoting the show in public, original scripts, etc. To hear a teaser for the show, listen to WMBI Thursday Dec 9th 2010 at 10:30 am - the writer Greg Skolaski will be interviewed by Nancy Turner on This is the Day. Show times on the 12th are 3:00 and 6:00 pm. The show is free, and nursery care is provided. http://www.villagechurch.net - 14849 93rd Ave, Dyer, IN Hope to see you there!

RB107 - Petticoat Rangers

2010-12-03T18:44:00.000-08:00

Bill doesn't have enough men for all the work around the national forest. He and his rangers have to work 18 hours a day. Bill has a solution to the problem - women volunteers in the fire towers. The rangers refuse to allow women rangers. Will the rangers work themselves to death or will they give Bill's PETTICOAT RANGERS a chance? Can female rangers do a ranger's work if they get that chance?
In my opinion, this is one of the funniest Ranger Bill stories ever! You get to hear some of Stumpy's funniest and most famous lines! And you get to see a little of what life was like back in the 1950's.