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BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — A Blackfoot woman received the shock of a lifetime Sunday night, after a soaking wet pilot emerged from the frigid Snake River and knocked on the door of her nearby home moments after his small plane crashed into the water. Bobette Brown, who initially mistook the crash sound for a car accident, says she was stunned when the injured man, soaking wet and shaken, appeared on her doorstep.

“We were sitting in the living room and heard the doorbell ring, and there stands a gentleman who is soaking wet,” Brown explained. “You can tell he’s kind of in shock, and he’s got some scratches on his face, and his hand is bleeding and… he’s very cold and shaken up.”

According to Blackfoot Police, the small single-engine plane went down sometime before 6:05 PM on November 9th. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, successfully swam and struggled his way out of the river and reached Brown’s home. Brown immediately called for help, and the pilot was taken by ambulance to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Plane Recovery Effort

The Bingham County Sheriff’s office, with assistance from a local wrecker service, began the complicated retrieval process this morning at 10:00 AM, successfully pulling the aircraft from the Snake River.

The pilot’s name and further details regarding the cause of the crash have not been released, pending an investigation by the FAA.

Eliana Mackley of Blackfoot describes how she was “surprised” and “unsure” when she was contacted by the charity organization Colossal and their “Fab Over 40” contest to be a possible spokeswoman for the organization next year.

“I’ve done some acting for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Mackley, “but this would be something different.”

After sending in a few videos, getting response emails, and then sending in a few more videos, things proceeded slowly until just a few days ago.

“I answered a few more questions and then they told me ‘Oh, you’re number five,'” said Mackley. “Fifth place in the country.”

Being fifth place in the country means Mackley easily made the top 10 finalists that go onto the final round for the contest.

“I want to win. So I’m going to speak as if I won already,” said Mackley. “If I win, I will be like, a spokeswoman for this organization, Fab Over 40.”

Collosal’s “Fab Over 40” contest is in its fifth year. The funds raised from the competition go towards supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), a non-profit that promotes cancer research, education, early detection, and supports women diagnosed with cancer. According to Colossal’s website, they’ve raised over $25 million dollars for the NBCF since the “Fab Over 40” competition started five years ago.

“To me, it’s it’s very important because I like to be able to show women that we can do these things,” said Mackley. “We can also shine, and its important that we live our dreams too.”

In order for Mackley to win, she will need support from the community in the form of votes. Those interested can click on the link HERE to vote.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — On this day, in 1885, German Engineer Gottlieb Daimler unveild a mechanism called the ‘Einspur’, or ‘single track’.

It was essentially a wooden bicycle, with a fire-breathing “grandfather clock” engine strapped to the side. The contraption would become known as the world’s first motorcycle.

But as American Author Melissa Pierson put it, “The first motorcycle looks like an an instrument of torture.”

Daimler’s 17-year-old son made the first long distance ride, an important proof of concept to be sure, if not a little uncomfortable with no suspension system. It wasn’t as bad as a ride someone else took eight days later though, where the seat caught on fire!

Sources for this story:

The Perfect Vehicle: What It Is about Motorcycles – By Melissa Pierson

Medium.com

AEhistory