In November of 1971 an unidentified man hijacked a Boeing 727 as it flew from Portland to Seattle. The man, now known by the epithet of D.B. Cooper, extorted $200,000 in ransom and parachuted from the plane as it headed to Reno from Seattle. Cooper was never found, despite an extensive manhunt and an ongoing FBI investigation, and the case remains the only unsolved air piracy incident in American aviation history.

Saturday, February 23, 2013 • 2:00 p.m.
Downtown Bend Public Library

Sunday, February 24, 2013 • 2:00 p.m.
Sisters Public Library

The case of D.B. Cooper is just one of many mysteries and strange happenings borne out of the Pacific Northwest. From the legend of Bigfoot to the “exploding whale” in the town of Florence, Oregon, in 1970, our region is filled with stories of unique folk heroes and strange happenings. The community is invited to learn more about these tales as part of Deschutes Public Library’s “Know Clue” series in February. In these presentations author William L. Sullivan takes us on a slide show tour of legendary Northwest folk heroes from Sacajawea and D.B. Cooper to Opal Whitely and Bigfoot. Expect entertaining and educational tales about the historical figures that helped define the spirit of the Pacific Northwest, as told by one of Oregon’s favorite authors.

William L. Sullivan has written four novels, including The Case of D.B. Cooper’s Parachute, and a dozen nonfiction books about the Northwest as well as numerous articles about Oregon, including an “Oregon Trails” feature column for the Eugene Register-Guard and the Salem Statesman-Journal. A fifth-generation Oregonian, Sullivan began hiking at the age of five and has been exploring new trails ever since. After studying at Deep Springs College in the California desert, receiving an English degree from Cornell University, and studying linguistics at Germany's Heidelberg University, he earned an M.A. in German literature from the University of Oregon.

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Tina at 541-312-1034.