RB-036 Sleeping Death

Mosquitoes are spreading Sleeping Sickness rapidly around Central City. Local officials begin mosquito spraying immediately. But their efforts are not enough. District Chief Ranger Ralph Hodges helps with the equipment he has, but that isn't enough either. Hodges contacts the Knotty Pine's Northwest District Ranger Bill for more planes and trucks for spraying. Spraying is not coordinated or effective. Ralph asks Bill to try to fix all the problems. Then more trouble arises, a rancher Sy Boone won't let Bill's men and sprayers on his land. All the hard work will be for nothing if Bill can't get spraying organized and also get access to the rancher's lands.

RB-035 Henry for Mayor

It's Youth Week at Knotty Pine High, and Henry has a "Thorny" problem - Thornton Newcastle, that is. Henry is running for Youth Week mayor against young Mr. Newcastle. Thornton is the son of a big businessman and used to getting his way. Thorny is worried that Henry will win the mayor's race because of Henry's popularity at school. Henry is on the swim team and has the best grades in math. Thornton steals Henry's math notes and accuses him of cheating. Now Henry may not only lose the race but also kicked off the swim team and flunk math. Bill can't go to Henry's aid or he will interfere with the Youth Week. Henry must stand up for himself. But what can he do to defend his good name?

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Flanigan Box and 3C Boys

This is part two in the series about the 3C Boys and their connection to Big Pine National Forest.
In part one of this story, the GAZETTE reported that the locked box found at the Ranger Bill Jefferson residence belonged to the brother of Knotty Pine resident Maggie Murphy, John "Jack" Flanigan. Mrs. Murphy opened the box with a key belonging to her late brother. Inside the box were some letters from the Flanigan family to Jack during his time in Knotty Pine with the CCCs, The Civilian Conservation Corps, also Jack's diary and some photos of 3C Boys.
Ranger Bill commented that the story of Jack Flanigan and the 3C Boys found in Jack Flanigan's diary shows "God working all things together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28).
Maggie told the GAZETTE that her family lived in Ohio in the town of The Falls in the 1930's during the Great Depression. Maggie's father Ian had a factory job in Cleveland. He used to take a trolley called the Dootle Bug to work every day. As the Depression deepened, Ian's company lost business and he was laid off. Maggie was just a baby at the time. The Flanigans had little to eat. The kids were getting sick from malnutrition. Thousands were out of work all across the country. Charities ran out of food and money to help the poor and unemployed. Newly elected President Roosevelt created the CCCs as one way to help folks.
Maggie's oldest brother Jack had some struggles of his own. He stopped going to church. He began to hang around with a bad gang. He told his family that he stopped trusting God. But then a ray of hope came to the Flanigans. Jack was old enough for the CCCs and signed up. He was accepted in the corps and left for a little unknown town near the Rockies called Knotty Pine. His family couldn't even find Knotty Pine on the map, but Jack went there anyway. Jack worked hard in Knotty Pine, but he was well fed and had warm clothed. He grew strong and healthy. And he told his family all about this lovely little farm town and the friends he made in the 3Cs. And each month the Flanigans got a $25 check from the government for Jack's work in the 3Cs.
Jack had two friends in the corp, Paul and Bruce. The CCC leaders made sure that any boy who wanted could go to church. Paul and Bruce went every week. They kept telling Jack about God's love in Jesus until the seeds they planted began to grow. Jack started to go to Knotty Pine Church from time to time. Then it was every week. Jack had found his faith once more.
Jack learned carpentry and cabinet making along with Paul and Bruce. They built the big table at Ranger Headquarters, also Bill's desk, Jack's box and one just like it for Maggie . They also built the cabinets at the CCC leaders' house, which is now the Jefferson residence. Jack was allowed to keep his box there in the attic for safe keeping.
Jack forgot his memories box in all the excitement and confusion when the Camp Shady was closed and everyone was sent home. Jack joined the Army during World War II. When he left for the service he gave little Maggie her own memories box and a necklace with the key to both boxes on the end of the chain. Jack died in the war. He never told Maggie where his box was.
The Flanigans had fallen in love with Knotty Pine during Jack's time there. They finally did find the Shady Mountains were located and moved there. Maggie's dad got a good job on the Johansen farm. Maggie eventually grew up and became Mrs. Maggie Murphy. Jack's box was eventually forgotten about until Henry Scott found it in the Jefferson attic.
In the next installment of this story, you will find out about another CCC camp at Big Pine Forest and other Depression era New Deal work at Knotty Pine.

Knotty Pine GAZETTE - Big Pine Origins Revealed

Boxes and a shovel found at Ranger Headquarters have helped reveal much of the history of Big Pine National Forest. At least one, and probably two or more Civilian Conservation Corps camps were organized in the Knotty Pine District. Camp 1, as it was officially known, was nicknamed Camp Shady.
Many of the forested areas in the Shady Valley suffered from overlogging and forest fires that burned hundreds of acres. Approximately three fourths of the region's trees had been lost, and erosion caused further damage. Nothing had been done to repair or replace those pines until the CCC camp was established at Knotty Pine.
The boys at Camp Shady planted thousands of trees, repaired erosion damage, and dug ditches and creeks to prevent erosion. The boys also built Ranger Headquarters, including its fireplace of rock from all over the Shady Valley.
Camp Shady began as a military style tent camp. As time went along, the boys were moved into some of the Knotty Pine warehouses that the boys converted into barracks. The boys were well fed and warmly clothed. The Ranger Bill Jefferson home was home to the commanders at Camp Shady.
The 3C Boys were paid a modest $30 per month. $25 of that was sent to each boy's family to help support the family during the Depression. $5 went directly to each boy for personal expenses. Knotty Pine was a tiny one-horse farm town struggling to survive during the Depression. The money spent by the 3C Boys and to run Camp Shady kept Knotty Pine from disappearing at that time.
The boys were paid more than just $30 per month. Many boys has little or no education. Many could not read or write. Few had any working skills. The boys at Camp Shady were taught to read and write and learned trades like plumbing, carpentry, drafting, surveying and more during the evening hours. Many of these classes were held at Ranger Headquarters and at the Jefferson home.
The volume of information on Big Pine and the 3C Boys was too large for one article. So the GAZETTE editors have decided to break this into a series of articles. The editors felt that this information was too important to skip any of the details. Look forward to information on the Maggie Murphy family connection to Big Pine. Also Information Ranger Rocky McGuire has found more details on the CCC in Knotty Pine and another Depression era program, the WPA.

Weekly Ranger Bill Updates

Ranger Dave sends out a weekly Ranger Bill update. The update gives information on the show for the week and for the next two episodes. The update also contains a little show trivia, news from Knotty Pine, as well as news about other His Kids broadcasts and Sailor Sam.
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