Jacksonville author waited a lifetime to publish his first novel

Jacksonville author waited a lifetime to publish his first novel

Jacksonville, Oregon resident Thomas Withenbury is a retired journalist and educator who recently released his debut novel, "The Color of Indigo." [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2509073/2147483647/strip/false/crop/712x495+0+0/resize/712x495!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F46%2Fa1%2F6e7c93c445189a7cfe3cf197ec12%2Fcolor-of-indigo-by-thomas-withenbury.jpg]Jacksonville, Oregon resident Thomas Withenbury is a retired journalist and educator who recently released his debut novel, "The Color of Indigo." After a career in journalism and higher education, Jacksonville resident Thomas Withenbury has published the novel he says he wanted to write since childhood. "I have wanted to do that all my life, even back to the sixth grade," Withenbury said. "But I never had an opportunity to do it." "The Color of Indigo [https://jacksonvillereview.com/tag/the-color-of-indigo/]" is Withenbury's first novel. It follows multiple generations of one family, beginning on a fictional Mississippi plantation before shifting to 1972, when a Vietnam veteran and a young journalist uncover a long-buried mystery. The story explores ancestry, race, family and resilience across nearly 150 years of American history. The idea began with his own family history. Withenbury said he drew inspiration from the logbooks of an ancestor who worked as a Mississippi River pilot, as well as genealogy research compiled by his mother's family. "I was inspired mostly by my ancestors," he said. The novel's opening chapters center on Major, a skilled blacksmith, and Indigo, a laundress, who risk everything to prevent their child from being born into slavery. Withenbury said he intentionally gave his enslaved characters identities rooted in their work and relationships rather than reducing them to their legal status. "I thought it was important because he was a master of his craft," Withenbury said. "I just thought it was important to give him some identity other than just being Major the slave." Writing about slavery presented another challenge. After discussing the manuscript with an African American college administrator, Withenbury decided not to try to recreate the dialect of enslaved people. "I'm an old white man," he recalled thinking. "I can't do this." Instead, he chose dialogue that modern readers could understand while remaining respectful of the characters and the period. The novel's second half shifts to 1972, drawing on Withenbury's own experiences graduating from college and beginning a career in journalism during the Vietnam War era. Withenbury said he hopes readers come away with an appreciation for the resilience of families who preserve their history and identity through generations. "They've survived with dignity," he said. "They've hung on to their ancestry. They've hung on to their culture." "The Color of Indigo" is available at Rebel Heart Books and Art Presence in Jacksonville. GUEST * Thomas Withenbury, retired journalist, educator and author of The Color of Indigo [https://jacksonvillereview.com/tag/the-color-of-indigo/].

How one French winemaker is shaping Southern Oregon wine

Jean-Michel Jussiaume of Del Rio Vineyards handles a case of wine. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fc9752b/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2524x1684+0+0/resize/791x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fab%2F1f%2Ffd3195c54c828afb731ed77682a1%2Fjean-michel-jussiaume-through-the-wine-glass-paula-bandy.JPG]Jean-Michel Jussiaume of Del Rio Vineyards handles a case of wine. (Courtesy of Jean-Michael Jussiaume ) As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary and France celebrates Bastille Day, Oregon winemaker Jean-Michel Jussiaume says the ties between the two countries continue to shape Southern Oregon's wine industry. A native of France's Loire Valley, Jussiaume now makes wine at Del Rio Vineyards and under his own label, Maison Jussiaume, in the Rogue Valley. He said his French upbringing gave him a deep appreciation for winemaking, but Oregon has given him the freedom to experiment. Jussiaume said his career reflects a blend of French tradition and Oregon innovation. A specialist in traditional-method sparkling wines, he uses centuries-old techniques while taking advantage of the Rogue Valley's growing reputation as a wine region. Growing up in a family of winemakers, Jussiaume said wine was simply part of everyday life. "That was my life, and the life of my neighbors, and the friends of my parents, and of my grandfather," he said. "It was all around me, and that's all I knew." Seeking a different path, Jussiaume moved to the United States, eventually settling in Southern Oregon after spending time in Virginia Jussiaume said his approach to winemaking combines traditional French techniques with the opportunities offered by Oregon's young wine industry. He said the Rogue Valley allows winemakers to experiment in ways that are more difficult in France's centuries-old wine regions. "You feel like a pioneer," he said. "Like someone who can create winemaking history." While his methods are rooted in French tradition, Jussiaume said Oregon's climate, soils and spirit of innovation continue to influence his work. GUEST * Jean-Michel Jussiaume, Del Rio Vineyards

Inside the Oregon coast's hands-on marine science center

A home slug is part of many sea creatures featured at the Charleston Marine Life Center on the campus of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Coos Bay. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5dd2e46/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x856+0+0/resize/792x353!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe2%2F01%2Fa046c16e4eb48909b896e74be501%2Fcharleston-marine-life-center-homeslug-tightcrop.png]A home slug is part of many sea creatures featured at the Charleston Marine Life Center on the campus of the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Coos Bay. (Charleston Marine Life Center ) Visitors to the Charleston Marine Life Center can touch tidepool animals, examine the skeletons of whales and learn about marine life found along the Oregon coast — all while getting a behind-the-scenes look at research taking place next door. Located on the campus of the University of Oregon's Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, the center opened in 2016 to connect the public with marine science through interactive exhibits and educational programs. "Our primary mission is to serve as an education resource," Director Trish Mace said. "It's a very interactive place, but it's all geared to informing people about the remarkable diversity of marine life here on the Oregon coast." The center features touch tanks, a 10-foot humpback whale skull and the skeletons of orcas and gray whales. Students from the institute also gain hands-on experience caring for animals and communicating science to visitors. The center also partners with the Coquille Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians on programs that combine marine science with traditional ecological knowledge. "We work with the Coquille Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw on a range of education projects where we work to get youth outdoors and combine marine science and traditional knowledge," Mace said. Pictured is a Matacarcinus magister. One of many sea creatures on display at the Charleston Marine Life Center in Coos Bay, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/519bbb5/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1920x1280+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2Fbb%2F1c046f1042fbaedd9a392118a80c%2Fcharleston-marine-life-center-metacarcinus-magister.jpg] Pictured is a Matacarcinus magister. One of many sea creatures on display at the Charleston Marine Life Center in Coos Bay, Oregon. (Courtesy of the Charleston Marine Life Center ) Admission is free for students from preschool through graduate school. Mace said she hopes to strengthen the center's partnerships and ensure it remains a long-term resource for the South Coast. "My goal would be to help make sure the center is on stable financial footing so that we can be here as a longtime resource and to broaden all the partnerships so that it really is a community center," she said. GUEST * Trish Mace, director, Charleston Marine Life Center

Oregon's native turtles are imperiled by invasive snapping turtles

A common snapping turtle crosses the road. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c9e5e9/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1129x672+0+0/resize/792x471!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2F32%2Fff89b0e44529bd845850b505e25e%2Fcommon-snapping-turtle-crossing-road.png]A common snapping turtle crosses the road. (https://turtlesurvival.org/turtle-of-the-week-arakan-forest-turtle-copy-copy-copy/ ) Large snapping turtles native to the eastern United States have been spotted in the Lower Rogue River, raising concerns about their impact on native wildlife. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently confirmed sightings about 23 miles downstream from Grants Pass. Regional conservation biologist Jade Keehn said the invasive reptiles compete with native species [https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/r-a-i-n-rogue-aquatic-invasives-network], prey on juvenile salmon and northwestern pond turtles, and can introduce new parasites into local ecosystems. The common snapping turtle can weigh 40lbs and live from 40 to 100 years. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b370780/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1074x800+0+0/resize/709x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2Ffe%2Fc72d8ce146439165398e6d8ffe55%2Fcommon-snapping-turtle.png]The common snapping turtle can weigh 40lbs and live from 40 to 100 years. (https://nhturtlerescue.org/info/turtle-crossing/snapping-turtle ) "If we don't control the problem quickly, these turtles can start reproducing in the wild," Keehn said. "We're working to prevent that from happening in the Rogue River." Unlike Oregon's native Northwestern pond turtle, snapping turtles are aggressive ambush predators. Keehn said they can weigh up to 40 pounds and are known for their powerful bite. Their flexible necks allow them to strike well beyond the edge of their shells, making them dangerous for members of the public to handle. Snapping turtles are easy to recognize by their large bodies, serrated shells and long, spiked tails. Keehn said their relatively small lower shells leave much of their bodies exposed, making them more defensive when they're out of the water. A biologist holds an adult male northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) captured as part of a long-term monitoring study in southern Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/169c458/2147483647/strip/false/crop/2048x1536+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2F04%2F697ec399499581919ab7c176b0ee%2Fimg-4110.JPEG]A biologist holds an adult male northwestern pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) captured as part of a long-term monitoring study in southern Oregon. (Courtesy of ODFW ) "It reminds me of a very large person in a very small life jacket," she said. ODFW believes the turtles likely entered the Rogue after being released by pet owners. Keehn said snapping turtles can live 40 to 100 years, and owners sometimes release them after they outgrow their aquariums. "Not to vilify them too much because they are incredibly cool creatures," Keehn said. "But in Oregon, there can only be one winner, and it needs to be the northwestern pond turtle." People who spot a turtle with a serrated shell and long, spiked tail should report it to ODFW or through the iNaturalist app [https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/oregon-wildlife-conservation]. Keehn said the agency is also encouraging people never to release unwanted pets or other aquatic species into the wild. GUEST * Jade Keehn, regional conservation biologist, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife As of 2025, the Oregon Zoo has raised and released 850 Northwest pond turtles into the wild. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a60156c/2147483647/strip/false/crop/660x437+0+0/resize/660x437!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F80%2Ffc%2F2a8e5b434034b88df92e8e18a05c%2Fnorthwest-pond-turtle.png] As of 2025, the Oregon Zoo has raised and released 850 Northwest pond turtles into the wild.(https://www.oregonzoo.org/animals/northwestern-pond-turtle)

How Klamath Basin students hand-built a wildfire command bus

Henley High School students retrofitted a school bus and transformed it into a mobile command center for the Klamath Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Kristi Lebkowski, Ph.D. (far left) is the engineering and robotics instructor at Henley who led the two-year project. Graduating student Dylan Orr (fourth from right) was the student leader on the project, which included 80 students. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e142327/2147483647/strip/false/crop/5004x2952+0+0/resize/792x467!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa8%2Fb1%2F16f5106d4d738bc06ef3ed8f11d1%2Fhenley-hs-bus-retrofit-kristi-lebkowski-dylan-orr.jpg]Henley High School students retrofitted a school bus and transformed it into a mobile command center for the Klamath Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Kristi Lebkowski, Ph.D. (far left) is the engineering and robotics instructor at Henley who led the two-year project. Graduating student Dylan Orr (fourth from right) was the student leader on the project, which included 80 students. (Courtesy of Kristi Lebkowski ) For the past two years, students at Henley High School have transformed a retired school bus into a mobile command center that Oregon firefighters will use during wildfire season. About 80 students, led by engineering and robotics instructor Kristi Lebkowsky and student leader Dylan Orr, recently handed the completed vehicle over to the Oregon Department of Forestry. The project, developed through Team Oregon Build and the Southern Oregon STEM Hub, was designed to give firefighters a dedicated workspace for planning operations in the field. The bus includes custom-built workstations, a 12-volt battery system and a Starlink satellite internet system to provide connectivity in remote areas. Lebkowsky said the project reflects the program's emphasis on giving students hands-on engineering experience while meeting community needs. "We really aim to take our projects to the next level and have community impact whenever we can," she said. Pictured is the interior of a retrofitted school bus by 80 students at Henley High School at the completion of a project spanning two years. The project, led by Kristi Lebkowski, Ph.D., Henley's engineering and robotics instructor, transformed the bus into a mobile command center for the Klamath Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e546bb/2147483647/strip/false/crop/5712x4284+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7d%2Fe7%2F55647b5042d8bd3abc1b97a67232%2Fhenley-hs-2-bus-retrofit-kristi-lebkowski-dylan-orr.jpg]Pictured is the interior of a retrofitted school bus by 80 students at Henley High School at the completion of a project spanning two years. The project, led by Kristi Lebkowski, Ph.D., Henley's engineering and robotics instructor, transformed the bus into a mobile command center for the Klamath Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. (Courtesy of Kristi Lebkowski ) For Orr, the project was an opportunity to help address a challenge familiar to many in Southern Oregon. "I've lived in the Klamath Basin my whole life, and I've known wildfires for a really long time," Orr said. "It was really inspiring to see that we could make a change on this issue and have a lasting impact on our community." Lebkowsky said the project also showcased collaboration among local businesses, educators and students. Although the mobile command center is complete and ready for use, the team is still seeking funding for a final exterior paint job. GUESTS * Kristi Lebkowski, engineering and robotics instructor, Henley High School * Dylan Orr, student leader on mobile command center project, Henley High School