LOCAL: Miners Jubilee bed races get a new
lease on life. PAGE 7
BUSINESS: New painting of Sumpter
unveiled . PAGE 3
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Friday, July 21, 2017 • Volume 4, Issue 29
Tragedy strikes during parade
• BOY DIES IN MINERS JUBILEE ACCIDENT
BY GINA K. SWARTZ
Gina@TheBakerCountyPress.com
For the last 35 years in July, the Miners Jubilee, honor-
ing Baker County’s heritage, has been highly anticipated
throughout the community. Last Saturday, a cornerstone
of that event, the Miners Jubilee Parade, was changed
forever in a split-second with the death of seven-year-old
Dylan Scott Thomas.
Thomas was killed when he fell from a fl oat sponsored
by the local YMCA and was run over.
The morning began like so many before. Excite-
ment buzzed as participants lined up preparing to wave
and throw candy to children, friends and family as they
passed them lining the streets. The parade began an hour
later than usual, at 11 a.m., with happy smiles from spec-
tators and participants alike.
SEE PARADE TRAGEDY PAGE 4
Submitted Photo.
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Just after 8 p.m., the fi rst from what would turn out
to be a crowd of hundreds arrived for a candlelight
vigil to honor Dylan Thomas.
Dylan Scott Thomas’s passing has deeply touched
the entire community and beyond.
On the hunt for Bigfoot Pedestrian
struck by
truck
Gina K. Swartz / The Baker County Press
Streets were blocked off just behind Dairy Queen
while offi cers processed the scene where a vehicle
struck a pedestrian.
Samantha O’Conner/ The Baker County Press
BY KERRY McQUISTEN
News@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Scot Violette stands next to “Bigfoot” in the park during Jubilee.
BY SAMANTHA O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
For Miners Jubilee, Baker City’s Scot Violette opened a
booth to introduce people to his new group—Blue Moun-
tain Bigfoot Research.
At the booth, Violette had several pieces of Bigfoot
merchandise as well as information sheets on display and
a map of different sightings or encounters people have
reported in this area. He had a photo of a 12-and-a-half-
inch footprint he found in the woods during one of his
Squatching trips. He also had an eight-foot-tall Bigfoot
cutout next to his booth with which people could take
photos.
Violette had his “Squatch Pod”—his research unit—on
display. The pod has eight cameras, four attached to the
vehicle, and four that can go out 50 yards in any direc-
tion and run for 24/7 for thirty days in the woods. The
cameras have infrared at night and motion sensors that
tell what camera is picking up motion. They also have a
drone they can launch off the vehicle.
Violette’s group is run by donations, selling merchan-
dise on his website, and out of his own pocket. (They
have not received donations yet.)
“Over the Fourth of July, stuff was stolen,” explained
Violette. “If people want to donate to help replace that
stuff, it would be awesome.”
According to his website, “Blue Mountain Bigfoot Re-
search is a scientifi cally based research group dedicated
to the discovery and classifi cation of North America’s
Great Apes.”
Violette has been privately searching for Bigfoot for 25
years.
SEE BIGFOOT PAGE 4
Last Wednesday, just after 6:30 p.m., police and medics
were called to the 2100 block of 5th Street right behind
Dairy Queen for an incident involving a pickup truck and
a pedestrian.
The injured female was not moving, said Baker City
Police Chief Wyn Lohner and, “Offi cers could see a large
black pickup in the middle of the block facing south.”
Behind the left rear tire of that pickup was the unrespon-
sive female.
Two eyewitnesses were located at the scene and inter-
viewed by police, their accounts stating that the pickup
had been driving south on 5th Street when it began to
back up, striking the female victim who had walked out
into the street after the truck had passed.
The driver of the pickup was identifi ed as 46 year-old
James Pogue. The name of the victim was not released.
The investigation was turned over to OSP for recon-
struction of the scene and follow up.
Man stabbed in Madison Street assault
On July 17 at about 8:54
p.m. Baker City Police
offi cers were dispatched to
Madison Street behind Rite
Aid and Safeway for the
report of a man who had
been stabbed in the abdo-
men. The victim also had
several other injuries.
Offi cers arrived on scene
and found that a 24 year-
old Baker City Man, Tyler
Worstell, had been cut with
a sharp instrument. That
man was transported to St.
Friday
Mostly clear and hot, highs in the mid 90s.
Friday Night: Mostly clear and seasonable.
Lows near 60.
Saturday
Mostly clear and hot, highs in the mid 90s.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear and seasonable.
Lows in the upper 50s.
Sunday
Mostly clear and not as hot, highs in the upper
80s. Sunday Night: Mostly clear and a bit cooler.
Lows in the mid 50s.
Alphonsus Medical Center
in Baker City and later
fl own to St. Alphonsus
Boise, where he is being
treated.
The Baker County
Major Crime Team was
activated and members of
the Baker County Sheriff’s
Offi ce, Oregon State Police
and Baker City Police
Department responded to
conduct the investigation.
Multiple persons were
interviewed through the
night and into the morn-
The Fire, Weather & Avalanche Center forecast:
Our forecast made possible by
this generous sponsor:
Offi cial weather provider for
The Baker County Press.
ing hours of July 18, while
offi cers and detectives also
processed the crime scene.
On July 19, Harold Irvin
Wilkerson (08/27/1973),
of 3720 Campbell Street
in Baker City, was arrested
for the assault.
Wilkerson has been
charged with Assault I
and a Probation Viola-
tion, stemming from this
incident that left Worstell
hospitalized. Police believe
all witnesses have been
interviewed.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
Homemade Goodness Column
Stolen vehicle recovered
Man given 59 months in sex crimes
Car bash helps fund school event
$108K contract for Greg Smith
Quilting Club honors local veterans
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