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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 3, 2018)
Wednesday, January 3, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 5 Local teen receives new-old gift By Cody Rheault Correspondent Two years ago, on the Christmas of 2015, local resident and Sisters High School student Ethan Tolle opened a gift many teenagers would appreciate. Inside was a famous action camera, used by amateurs and profession- als alike — a GoPro Hero 4. The next summer, on June 27, 2016, Ethan and his friends went to the Tamolitch Blue Pool for an afternoon of fun and cliff jumping. They attached the camera to a mount on his friend’s chest and hit record. His friend launched off the side of Blue Pool into the water below and when he came up, the camera was gone. Ethan’s GoPro fell off the mount and sank 30 feet to the bottom of Blue Pool — recording as it slowly spun to the bottom. But what was a disappointment for Ethan in the moment, would turn into an amazing set of events that would return the GoPro back to Ethan in the best act of re-gifting. Louie Wray, a resident from the Florida Keys, found Ethan’s GoPro shortly after the plunge. He was visiting Central Oregon and Blue Pool when he found Ethan’s GoPro, along with two others. For the next year and half, Wray took the GoPro along with him on his adven- tures across the country. He recorded scuba diving adven- tures in the Florida Keys and captured himself slack-lining in West Virginia. Louie found old clips on the GoPro of Ethan and his uncle biking in Deschutes River Woods. He researched the street signs and man- aged to narrow down where exactly Ethan was. Through research and effort, Louie eventually contacted Tolle’s aunt and uncle, and through them, Ethan’s address. This Christmas, Ethan opened a gift he once thought lost. In a box, he found a personal letter from Louie, talking about doing good deeds for others and an intro to slack-lining booklet. Wrapped inside the box was Ethan’s old GoPro, which was last seen at the bottom of Blue Pool and had since trav- elled around the country. He found a 25-minute video Louie had made for him showcasing his adven- tures and filming endeavors. Original clips, including Ethan’s old footage, were on the camera’s memory card as well – including the footage of it spiraling to the bottom of Blue Pool. “It was crazy to watch,” Ethan said. “I never thought I would see it again.” It was crazy to watch. I never thought I would see it again. — Ethan Tolle The story of his GoPro finding its way back to him has been shared over a num- ber of news networks since Christmas. KTVZ, CNN, Fox19 in Cincinnati, NBC, and even Hawaii News Now have shared the story of the camera finding its way home through the generosity of Wray. Ethan was inspired by the footage. After watching videos of Louie slack-lining, Ethan said he looks forward to try- ing it out himself and using the camera that had once been lost. PHOTO BY CODY RHEAULT Ethan Tolle’s lost GoPro has returned — with tales of adventure to tell. Have a story idea for The Nugget? We’d love to hear it! Send an email to editor@nuggetnews.com Sisters’ own Dr. Eric Wattenburg is in the running for appointment to the Oregon State District 30 Senate Seat! This district includes Sisters. This Thursday, January 4, 2018, county commissioners will be voting at a meeting/election in John Day. If you’d like Dr. Eric Wattenburg to represent you in the Oregon State Senate, please contact our county commissioners (and surrounding counties as well) urging them to vote for Dr. Eric Wattenburg. Anthony DeBone: 541-388-6568 , Tony.DeBone@deschutes.org Phil Henderson: 541-388-6569 , Phil.Henderson@deschutes.org Deschutes County, Tammy Baney: 541-388-6567 Baker County: 541-523-8200 Grant County: 541-575-0059 Wasco County: 541-506-2520 Jefferson County: 541-475-2449 Wheeler County: 541-763-3460 Malheur County: 541-473-5124 Harney County: 541-573-6356
