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Homeless man tries to save 15-year-old crash victim from burning vehicle in Oak Harbor
Known as “Jeff the Giant,” Jeff Pangburn is well-known around Oak Harbor, Washington.
OAK HARBOR, Wash. — Jeff Pangburn has lived on Whidbey Island for 43 years. It’s his home, even if he doesn’t technically have one.
“I stay out in the woods,” Pangburn said. “It’s my time with God.”
For the past 15 years, Pangburn has lived in the woods of Oak Harbor. He’s a friendly face known all around town. People honk and wave to him as they drive by.
“I’m a popular guy, I guess,” Pangburn said.
But a recent tragedy has cast a shadow on Pangburn’s spirit.
“I’ve been bawling my head off like crazy,” Pangburn said. “I was sobbing tears, you know?”
Pangburn was bedded down for the night in a gazebo on Dec. 2 when 15-year-old Grace Horn’s car came crashing just 4 feet away. She failed to negotiate the curve at the intersection of state Route 20 and Libbey Road. Horn was reportedly delivering food to make money for Christmas presents.
Pangburn said he immediately called 911 and tried to pull Horn from the car as it burned, but the flames were too much. A power pole was also burning. Pangburn feared he might be electrocuted if the wires came down, so he ran into the woods.
Pangburn said he was heartbroken he could not do more.
“I couldn’t get in,” Pangburn said. “I couldn’t get in the vehicle and then the fire. I couldn’t do any more than what I did. If you know me you know that must really hurt for me not being able to do anything.”
Pangburn returned to the scene and spoke with authorities about what he saw. He freely admits he was in and out of jail for two decades, but said he has been on the straight and narrow for 15 years.
“I was a lousy criminal,” Pangburn said.
He now makes his home among the trees where he is most comfortable. By day he pulls his overloaded cart to Spin Café, which helps people in need on the island.
“This situation has been very hard on him,” said Valerie Roseberry, a case manager at the café.
At 6-foot-10, Pangburn is known as a “gentle giant” with a heart to match.
In recent weeks he has been offering extra blankets to those who might need them at the café. No one is surprised Pangburn would try to help someone in a desperate, dangerous situation like the one Horn found herself in.
“Of course, Jeff would do that,” Roseberry said. “Of course, he would. Honestly, as a mom, I am so grateful he was there so that she had somebody.”
Community members established an online fundraiser for Pangburn.
Pangburn said he does not want to profit from the misery of others but would like to use any donations to buy an RV and move out of the woods.
People can also donate size 17 shoes, socks, 2XL sweatpants, 4XL-sized hoodies, coats, hand warmers, beanies and gift cards at DK Market in Oak Harbor.
The Washington State Patrol said there have been at least 23 crashes at the intersection where Horn died over the past five years.
Pangburn believes the best way to honor her and him is to demand safety improvements be made.
On the eve of a big holiday event in downtown Northfield, someone cut down a tree in the center of town. It wasn’t down for long.
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — On the morning of the annual Winter Walk event in downtown Northfield, the brightly colored Christmas tree at the center of it all was in shambles.
“I got a text from one of the city streets guys saying the Grinch has been downtown and took out a tree,” said Jane Bartho, president of the Northfield Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. “I’m like, are you sure the wind didn’t take it out?”
After seeing a photo of the tree, Bartho had a definitive answer to her question.
Jane Bartho: “Yeah, clearly it was not the wind. It looked like a chainsaw took it off. You could see a path where somebody dragged the tree across the street.”
Kent Erdahl: “So you see the path and then you think, ‘Okay, it is the Grinch.’
Bartho: “It was the Grinch because who else? Who else would do it? I just can’t imagine. I cannot imagine who… who would have done that.”
But dwelling in ‘who?’ville wasn’t an option for Bartho, not with a event just hours away, which would draw thousands of people into downtown.
“Honestly, most of my focus yesterday was about the event,” she said.
Though the city crew was able to trim the base of the tree and get it upright again, the decorations were in disrepair.
“I mean, even the lights were cut,” Bartho said.
“Yeah, they cut the lights,” said Zandra Bornhauser, who was part of the team with Home Town Credit Union who sponsored the tree and had decorated it. “So we had to redecorate it fully, pretty much.”
“We were just shocked,” said Kurt Halverson, who helped with the tree repair. “It was just hard to understand who would take the effort on such a cold night to come down here in such a public space and cut down something that’s just meant to be a symbol of good and cheer.”
Thanks to their quick work, the team of helpers made sure that Grinch didn’t rob anyone of that cheer. The tree was back shining bright by the time the festival began Thursday night.
“It was magical,” Bartho said.
“It was so inspiring to see how everybody rallied around to wish us good luck in re-setting up the tree,” Halverson said. “It really did bring the community closer together on such a cold evening.”
As for the cold-hearted grinch, Bartho says they’re still checking security cameras and asking around.
“To see if anybody was looking out,” she said. “If anybody saw anything.”
And if they are eventually identified?
Bartho: “Maybe the punishment would have to be to decorate the tree every year in this frigid weather.”
Erdahl: “If you’re going to keep with the theme, you’ve got to invite them down and sing with them, right? You’ve got to warm that cold heart.”
Bartho: “At the end, yeah, his heart was warmed by the people in his life, so maybe the punishment would be to come down and have hot chocolate, feel the Christmas spirit and never do that again.”
Almost 80 percent reported that they have less than a year before they face financial distress.
MINNESOTA, USA — Despite Give to the Max Day breaking donation records, nonprofits tell us they still need help to keep up the demand for their services.
According to a recent survey by the Council of Nonprofits, 73 percent of Minnesota organizations reported they have grown programs and services to meet the demands of Minnesotans.
Almost 80 percent reported that they have less than a year before they face financial distress.
Open Arms is a nonprofit that delivers food to critically ill people. It said December is a crucial month for donations, because they will make decisions on their programs and services for the next year.
“Wages and the cost of ingredients have gone up 30% since the end of COVID or the end of the COVID years, and so that is really, really hard on all nonprofits,” said CEO Leah Hébert Welles. “And then the second thing, government funds have dried up.”
“It’s almost kind of like the way that the tide works and a big body of water where there is still significant need, but that wave of resources from 2020 has backed up, and the need for nonprofits is still right there,” said Jake Blumberg, the executive director of GiveMN, the organization in charge of Give to the Max Day.
Blumberg says 30% of donations for nonprofits happen in the last six weeks of the year.
“We have to make really hard decisions about what we can do next year, how many more people we can help, how many more staff we can hire,” said Welles,
To consider donation or volunteering to Open Arms of Minensota, click here.
To explore more nonprofits, visit GiveMN.org.
According to the report, the BPPD said Andre Lane has been missing since 11 a.m. this morning.
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — The Brooklyn Park Police Department is asking for the public to help find a missing man who has Alzheimer’s.
According to the alert, the BPPD said 57-year-old Andre Lane has been missing since 2 p.m. this afternoon.
He stands at 5’9″ and weighs roughly 250 pounds. Lane suffers from Alzheimer’s and dementia and may not be able to take care of himself, said the BPPD.
Lane was last seen wearing grayish-blue Levi’s jacket, black hat, black sweatpants, a gray long sleeve t-shirt and black Jordan shoes, according to the report.
Officials believe Lane left his residence, near the 6600 block of Tessman Terrace, on foot. The BPPD is asking people who live near Tessman Farm Road/85th Avenue North to check yards and properties.
Anyone who sees Lane is asked to contact the Brooklyn Park Police Department at 763-493-8222.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
