1. On January 8, 1851, Oregon's first official weather observation was recorded at Fort Vancouver. This marked the beginning of systematic weather recording in the state.

2. In 1906, the first commercial radio communication in Oregon was made on January 8 between a radio station in Portland and a ship anchored in the Columbia River.

3. On January 8, 1937, the first ski tow in the United States was installed at Tumalo Mountain in Bend, Oregon. This invention revolutionized skiing and made the sport more accessible to the public.

4. Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield was born on January 8, 1922. He served as a senator for 30 years and was known for his work on environmental and nuclear disarmament issues.

5. The first issue of the Portland-based magazine Oregon Business was published on January 8, 1981. The magazine has been a leading source of news and analysis on Oregon's business community for over 40 years.