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Patchwork

The State of Washington is considering a commemorative license plate to honor “J.P. Patches” — a TV clown that had a show on Seattle television from 1958 to 1981. Often running twice a day, around 12,000 episodes were broadcast. After it went off the air, Chris Wedes, who played Patches, continued portraying the clown for another 30 years at charity events, and died in 2012 at 84. A bill to create the new plate has already been approved by the State House. “We hope to see as many J.P. Patches fans as possible in attendance” at a hearing in front of the state’s Senate Committee on Transportation, said organizer Erik Madsen. If the bill passes muster at the Senate committee level, it will go to the full Senate for a vote, and then to Governor Jay Inslee for his decision and signature. (RC/KIRO Seattle) ...So the clown plate’s availability now depends on the clowns in the Senate.