01:39 – Brogan expresses his frustration of the day, Steve shares what he’s been up to since he last visited with them, and answers the question around AstroTurf as the ring flooring. He explains the different types of AstroTurf that’s out there, the benefits of using it, and the things that have changed over the past couple months. He shares when the next event will be coming up, the number of fights that will be happening, and the professional camera crew that has joined his team.

22:03 – Firechicken talks about being into weightlifting at the beginning of his fighting career, the limitations to having an extensive amount of muscle when fighting, and Scott expresses the want to have Pookie on the podcast. Firechicken tells the back story behind Streetbeefs, how he got involved with them, and Scott expresses his appreciation for being able to watch Streetbeefs and Streetbeefs Scrapyard grow over time. Firechicken discusses where he would like to take the club, the importance of giving fighters time to share “who they are” before their fight, and the benefit of video’s like Concrete Breakdowns.

46:04 – Steve talks about the risk behind the fight, matching up beginner fighters with other first-time fighters, and how humbling fighting can be for the involved. He talks about the amount of thought that goes into matching fighters up, the GCP guys thank him for stopping by, and the plans for bubble suits so they can finally meet in person. Justin talks about Brogan and him taking Tiquando as kids, they continue their conversation from the last episode on Cobra Kia, and Justin talks about his recent visit to It’s Greek to Me in Tacoma.

63:45 – Scott talks about the grilled cheese sandwiches he gets from Burbs Burgers in Seattle, Justin gives a shout out to Tacoma Tool Library from their friend Derek, and his next home project. Scott talks about shutting off his Facebook, how that’s impacted him, and Justin talks about bustin out the good old Game Boy. He shares his plans to eventually get a stand-up arcade game, Scott talks about how he mises hanging out with the guys, and the show closes down with them opening the conversation up to the listeners.

Thanks Steve for taking the time to stop in and update the GCP guys on what’s been going on with Streetbeefs Scrapyard!

Special Guest: Steve Hagara.

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• ARMAN HAMMER vs GOLDEN HANDS - YouTube
• Pete Souphasith (@psoup206) on Instagram — Streetbeefs Scrapyard's new camera crew!
• Streetbeefs Scrapyard on Facebook — We are a Pacific Northwest backyard fight organization located in Gig Harbor.
• Street Beefs Documentary by Jynx Productions — Easily one of the best characters and all-around good humans we have ever worked with, this documentary follows Chris “Scarface” Wilmore.
• SCARFACE From StreetBeefs Fighter Breakdown and Analysis — StreetBeefs Fighter Breakdown and Analysis
• STREETBEEFS SCRAPYARD on YouTube — Streetbeefs Scrapyard main YouTube Page.
• It's Greek To Me
• Burbs for the people
• Chung Chun Rice Dog Chain Will Open Its First Seattle Location Soon — Massive Korean Rice Corndog Chain Will Open Its First Seattle Location Soon!

This episode kicks off discussion of Justin ghosting Andrews Ghost Tour, wizard beards, and what DND class Derek would be. Derek chats about how long he’s been doing RPG’s and his preference of video games over RPG. He then tells that guys about his new podcast, Rolling Misadventures, it’s release date, how often they record, and where people can find the new podcast online.

20:43 – The ladies talking about what their business does, what brought them together and how they got started. Jennifer explains the idea coming to life while throwing pottery in April’s garage and the importance for them to keep a “laid back” atmosphere that makes learning fun.

34:18 – Talk turns to Octomom and what she’s been up to since her TV show, including her recent article in People Magazine. Jennifer dives into SPUN being in business for two years and her taking the step outside of the corporate world, leaving her job after 20 years to pursue something different.

44:04 – They jump into the conversation of shaving, why the guys set the 1 drink limit for guests, and Jennifer’s hate for raw onions, cucumbers, and yellow mustard. Jennifer also illustrations her salutary voice, gives the guys her recipe for barbeque sriracha street corn, and they discuss different combinations of food that shouldn’t work but do.

56:00 – April and Jennifer talk about the decision to provide kids classes, realizing the memories they’re making for the kids, and nick names that they have with each other. The topic then turns to what’s included with the cost of a session at SPUN and they delve into the pics of each other’s phones.

As this episode comes to a close the girls talk about what’s included with their cost, April shares the story of Chad, and their hours and where people can find them. Thanks April and Jennifer for joining the guys for a look inside SPUN.

Special Guests: Derek G and SPUN.

Sponsored By:

• Wizard's Keep Games: Building Community Through The Power Of Games. Stop by and check out the weekly events. Commander, D&D, Friday Night Magic, It all happens at Wizard's Keep Games in Renton. 17148 116th Ave SE Renton WA, 98058
• The Lindsay Jackman Group: We understand that buying or selling a home is more than just a transaction: it’s a life-changing experience. That’s why our team of highly-seasoned real estate professionals are dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized service for all of our clients. We take great pride in the relationships we build and always work relentlessly on the client’s behalf to help them achieve their real estate goals. Lindsay Jackman, Broker 253.857.3366 RE/MAX EXCLUSIVE 7201 Pioneer Way Ste A 101, Gig Harbor, WA 98335

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(Guest writer Steve Dunkelberger)

The strange story of Jake Bird is as good as it gets if you are looking for a creepy story about the Gritty City. It is often referred to in serial killer circles as the most famous serial killer story you have never heard.

Sit back, sip a beverage or blaze one up. Sit back and prepare for a great tale. This is that story, one of murder in many states, and a curse … that came true.

I’ll start in the very beginning. Jake Bird was born in Louisiana in 1901 and had a relatively troubled life from the start. He left home at the age of 19 to seek his fortune by riding the rails of America.
He was a hobo, day laborer … traveling the nation and trading a day’s work for a night’s sleep and a warm meal wherever he stopped. He would reportedly kill with savage swings of an ax or knife before hopping on the rail on his way to another town. But I’ll get to that later.

He was otherwise unremarkable wherever he went, just one face in the growing crowd of “Gandy Dancers,” as rail-hopping day workers were called in those days. But that would change when he reached “the end of the line” in Tacoma. The City of Destiny, after all was the terminus of the transcontinental railroad, a fact that coined the term.

It was October 30th, 1947. Bird was 45. He was looking for work and can across the home of Bertha Kludt and her daughter Beverly June. The house still stands at 1007 South 21st Street. He hacked them to death with an axe. They screamed during the attack, screams so loud that neighbors called police. Two officers arrived to the scene only to find Bird covered in blood, still holding a knife as he ran from the scene. They cornered him. So he attacked, one officer was slashed in the hand while the other was stabbed in the shoulder. But they managed to still tackle him and handcuff him with all the gentility expected when an African American man kills two white women before then attacking two police officers in the 1940s. He was taken to the hospital for his injuries and then taken in shackles to the Old City Hall jail cells. It was called Siberia because it was so isolated from the rest of the world. It had no window or light, other than a bare blub hanging from the vaulted ceiling. It was hot all the time since it was located on the opposite side of the massive furnace that heated the entire building.

He first almost convinced the officers that he was innocent, but the fact that he still had brain matter spattered on his shirt finally convinced the officers that they had their man. He then confessed to the killings, stating it was a burglary gone bad. His trial came a month later. It lasted three days. He was convicted of Murder in the First Degree and giving the sentence of death by hanging.

This is where the case gets weird.

As he was being sentenced, Bird declared, "I’m putting the hex of Jake Bird on all of you who had anything to do with my being punished. Mark my words. You will die before I do.”

Taken as just another idle threat by a murderer. The “hex didn’t get much notice. That is. Until people started dying.

First the judge died of a heart attack. Then Bird’s defense lawyer died of a heart attack. Then the police officer who recorded his confession died of a heart attack. Then another police officer who wrote an official report on Bird passed of a heart attack. Then one of Bird’s prison guards died of a heart attack. And finally the court’s clerk died, but not of a heart attack. He died of pneumonia.

While still alive on Walla Walla’s death row, Bird continued to confess to crimes during his years on the rails. He tallied 44 murders to his butcher’s bill. He provided enough details about 11 of those, that the cases were officially closed.

His first kills were reportedly those of two women in Evanston, Illinois in 1942. Other victims were confirmed in Louisville, Kentucky, Omaha, Nebraska, Kansas City, Kansas, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Cleveland, Ohio, Orlando, Florida, and Portage, Wisconsin. Police in Houston, Texas, suspected he murdered a woman there as well.

His story would end on July 15th, 1949, almost two years after his last crime, at the age of 48. He was hanged on the gallows. He is buried in an unmarked grave at the Prison Cemetery at Walla Walla Correctional Center. His grave is marked with his prison number, 21520.

The only two that Jake's hex didn't affect were officer Pat Steele and Dr. Larson medical examiner.

In his practice throughout the years, Larson has helped convict about 100 people of murder. A number of these men had threatened to kill him in reprisal, so Bird was no different. He actually hadn’t heard about the hex until Steele told him about it as it came true. But it still didn’t faze him.

"The desire for revenge is a very immature reaction," he said at the time, "and whereas your average murderer is seldom a very mature, well-rounded character, he is nevertheless subject to the cooling process-the changes that come with the passage of time. Come to think of it, that's what our penal system is all about, isn't it-to put people on the shelf until they cool off? I like the thought, anyway."

After a great reading, they discuss the research behind the story and upcoming stories for future shows. They also discuss other things going on in the community, including The Eye of the Totem and the project to restore the movie. They discuss a previous Kickstarter out so local residents can help in remaking the movie.

Don'f forget to pick up Steve's Books at Amazon!

Special Guests: Donaven B. and Steve Dunkelberger.

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Links:

• Original Episode 44

The show kicks off with discussion on Tacoma’s weather. Andrew gives the guys a history on Tacoma Ghost Tours, the tours they offer, and how they got started. They talk about Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Galloping Gertie, that collapsed November 1940 and other disasters in Tacoma, including the Hamilton Candy Company fire.

14:45 – Scott shares the story of GCP’s ghost hunt at Brandy’s Attic Antiques with Andrew. They guys take a short break and when they return they discuss Scott’s interaction with one of Malarkey’s customers around the shirt Scott wore that day. They also discuss Tacoma’s open community where, unlike other cities, strangers regularly strike up conversations and the diverse types of people in the area.

27:56 – Andrew shares a clip of him provoking ghosts to communicate with them during the ghost hunt with GCP. Justin talks about working security at the Tacoma Road Center and the creepy things he experiences while working there. Andrew talks about the corrupt history of Tacoma, rumors on how railroad officials took over Tacoma early on due to a crooked mayor and where the name ‘Opera Alley’ came from.

37:07 – Andrew talks about the Tacoma Undergrounds use for smuggling and the original purpose of it being for utility use. He talks about the rumors around items being smuggled from the port where Stadium High School is and Stadium Bowl Gulch where homeless women and children often lived in the early 1900’s. He then turns to discussing Tacoma Ghost tours, the length of each tour, and tours being open to all ages except for Downtown Part 2 that starts at Wingman Brewers.

The show comes to an end with info on where people can find Tacoma Ghost Tours online and future plans for him to join the guys again sometime soon. Justin does a ‘GCFU’, catching up with Ken Carlson, director of Penny Palabras and the upcoming showing at the Blue Mouse Theatre on May 19th at 10 pm.

Thanks Andrew for joining the guys for an intriguing conversation around the paranormal history of Tacoma!!!

Special Guest: Andrew.

Sponsored By:

• The Lindsay Jackman Group: We understand that buying or selling a home is more than just a transaction: it’s a life-changing experience. That’s why our team of highly-seasoned real estate professionals are dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized service for all of our clients. We take great pride in the relationships we build and always work relentlessly on the client’s behalf to help them achieve their real estate goals. Lindsay Jackman, Broker 253.857.3366 RE/MAX EXCLUSIVE 7201 Pioneer Way Ste A 101, Gig Harbor, WA 98335
• Wizard's Keep Games: Building Community Through The Power Of Games. Stop by and check out the weekly events. Commander, D&D, Friday Night Magic, It all happens at Wizard's Keep Games in Renton. 17148 116th Ave SE Renton WA, 98058

Support The Grit City Podcast

Links:

• Tacoma Ghost Tours — The first and longest running ghost tour company in Tacoma. Tacoma Ghost Tours has been in operation since October 2012.