Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

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Make sure to read today’s article about part of the original US Constitution that was recently found. You won’t believe how much it is estimated to sell for…

Culture

Original US Constitution Found in a Cabinet

A significant piece of U.S. history has been uncovered and is expected to fetch $20 million at auction. In preparation for the Constitutional Convention of 1787, 100 copies of the U.S. Constitution were printed, but only eight were signed by Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress. These signed copies were sent to each state for delegates to review.

One of these signed copies was recently discovered in a North Carolina home, making it the only privately owned signed copy in the country. It’s now up for auction at Brunk Auctioneers, where the opening bid of $1 million has already been met. The document was found by a family that had maintained the Hayes Plantation in Edenton, previously owned by Samuel Johnston, North Carolina's governor from 1787 to 1789, and the person who ratified the Constitution for the state. The family had held the plantation for seven generations, but while preparing to transfer the property to the state as a historic site, a large-scale cleanout revealed the signed Constitution.

“We wouldn’t be surprised if it sells for $20 million, though it could go higher or lower. Another copy sold for $42.3 million at Sotheby’s,” said Andrew Brunk, CEO of the auction house, in an interview with CBS News. The document is preserved as two sheets containing eight pages, with the famous "We the People" in the top right. A resolution from the Confederation Congress is also attached, explaining the document’s purpose and what state officials should do with it.

US News

The Many Heroes of Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene has brought a great amount of destruction and disaster to the south-eastern states of the US. In the midst of this, we have seen people rise up to aid there fellow Americans in the time of need.

Hurricane Helene struck first in Florida, then swept north and east, causing unprecedented damage as high as Virginia and as deep inland as Tennessee. While Florida has bounced back in record times, many other states were not prepared when they found themselves in a completely new situation. While the Federal and many State governments have been slow to respond, local emergency personal, private companies, and volunteers jumped in to fill in the void.

Some of the most hard hit areas are in Appalachia. Many of the roads to the communities are flooded or destroyed making it difficult to get people or emergency supplies in and out. However, heroes like Mountain Mule Packer Ranch hiked up the ruined roads with bags filled with supplies that were donated by people and companies to help those in need.

People with private helicopters and airplanes have done supply drops and even airlifted people out of the worst areas. One of the first organizations to act was Operation Airdrop, which is an organization created after hurricane Harvey, that coordinates volunteer pilots fill the gaps in emergency response efforts and delivering life-saving supplies to isolated areas. Other Organizations such as the Samaritans Purse were quick to mobilize volunteers to help. Many GoFundMes and local fundraisers also helped bring in donations.

There was also aid organized by state representatives:

Private citizens, and more well know people such as NASA driver Greg Biffle, have been donating and installing Starlink hubs for public use and for first responders because cell towers are down for much of the effected regions.

While the loss in this disaster have been terrible, the outpouring of support from volunteers of all means, companies, and the hard work of first responders and national guardsmen, have shown what Americans are willing to do to help their neighbors in need.

If you can, please consider donating to organizations like Samaritans Purse or Operation Airdrop. You can also find more organizations on Charity Navigator that are helping with the relief effort.

Environment

Virginia Parks Add Viewfinders for Colorblind Visitors

Virginia State Parks have installed special viewfinders for the colorblind at all 43 managed properties, allowing people with red-green Color Vision Deficiency (CVD) to see the full range of fall colors. These lenses, created by EnChroma and fitted by SeeCoast Manufacturing, help those with red-green CVD, the most common form of color blindness, to better distinguish reds, oranges, and yellows.

Red-green CVD affects 300 to 350 million people globally, including 13 million Americans, significantly reducing their ability to perceive color. While most people see over a million shades, individuals with CVD perceive only about 10% of them, often leaving fall foliage looking dull and sepia-toned. This initiative began in 2023 at Natural Tunnel State Park, led by Chief Ranger Ethan Howes, who is colorblind himself. The remaining parks received their viewfinders starting July 26, with a ceremony at Pocahontas State Park where several colorblind visitors tested the new devices. Bryan Wagner, one of the participants, remarked on the difference, saying, "Everything’s not the same green. The colors are more vibrant."

The installation reflects Virginia’s efforts to make outdoor experiences more accessible, setting a new benchmark for state parks across the country. According to Matt Wells, director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, “We’re proud to help colorblind visitors experience nature like never before.” Color blindness, which is linked to the X chromosome, is about 10 times more common in men than in women.

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Mind Stretchers

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Lighter than what I am made of,
More of me is hidden Than is seen.

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:
What’s black when you get it, red when you use it, and white when you’re all through with it? -Charcoal

Linda Runatz got the correct answer first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to[email protected]or reply to email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.