FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 5
Local
BCPD, Charley’s reward kids Nilsson
for good helmet use
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
BY SAMANTHA
O’CONNER
Samantha@TheBakerCountyPress.com
The Baker City Police
Department (BCPD) will
be looking for children rid-
ing bicycles, skateboards,
roller blades, or scooters
who are wearing their
helmets.
These children will be
given a reward—a cer-
tificate for one free kiddie
scoop from Charley’s
Handcrafted Delicatessen.
The new owners of
Charley’s, Jodi Furtney
and Daniel Bachelor, have
donated 100 certificates to
the BCPD to hand out.
Oregon State Law
stipulates, “A person com-
mits the offense of failure
of a bicycle operator or
rider to wear protective
headgear if the person is
under 16 years of age,
operates or rides on a
bicycle on a highway or
on premises open to the
public and is not wearing
protective headgear of a
type approved under ORS
815.052.”
Oregon State Law also
stipulates, “A person
commits the offense of
failure of a skateboarder,
scooter rider or in-line
Samantha O’Conner / The Baker County Press
The local police department has a selection of helmets available for kids and
teens for free. The helmets are donated by Baker City Rotary.
skater to wear protective
headgear if the person is
under 16 years of age,
rides on a skateboard or
scooter or uses in-line
skates on a highway or
on premises open to the
public and is not wearing
protective headgear of a
type approved under ORS
815.052.”
Children not wearing
protective headgear will be
subject to a citation of $25.
“The goal is child
safety,” explained School
Resource Officer Lance
Woodward.
Woodward explained
that they give warnings
to children before giving
citations.
Children who do not
have protective headgear
will be given helmets from
the police department.
Baker City Rotary
donates around $1,400 a
year, which is the funding
for the helmets given to the
children.
Lloyd Nelson, the cur-
rent president of Baker
City Rotary, explained that
Jodi Toole is the head of
this project and that they
have been helping with it
more than five years.
He also explained that
they always look for op-
portunities to serve the
community, particularly
the youth.
They have also given
scholarships to the youth
and worked with foreign
exchange students.
Sumpter Fire centennial marked
BY MEGHAN ANDERSCH
Meghan@TheBakerCountyPress.com
Sunday, August 13th
marked the hundredth an-
niversary of the Sumpter
fire that destroyed much of
the city within a few hours.
Sumpter Valley Commu-
nity Volunteers hosted a
community breakfast and
afterward LeAnne Woolf
gave a presentation com-
memorating the centennial.
After a few brief remarks
about her family’s inter-
est and involvement in
Sumpter History, Woolf
presented information on
the day of the fire from the
possible perspective of Dr.
Samuel Clinton Browne,
who had owned the local
hospital for seven years.
The day of the fire,
Browne went picking
huckleberries with wife,
Ida Browne, hospital
matron.
Woolf talked about and
showed photos of some
of the buildings in town,
including the opera house,
Basche Hardware store,
Sumpter Hotel, and the
school.
She mentioned the plank
streets laid in 1900.
By 1917, the town popu-
lation was in decline due to
the rising cost of gold min-
ing and decreased price of
gold, but was still a good
place to live.
When the Browns
returned from their berry-
picking expedition, they
would have been shocked
at the devastation.
The Sumpter Hotel and
First National Bank were
just brick shells.
All that was left of the
Bank of Sumpter was the
vault.
Woolf said that in just
three hours, twelve blocks
were destroyed, at an
estimated loss of one-half
million in 1917 dollars.
The Presbyterian Church
was the last building to
burn.
Woolf said fire hoses
don’t last long when laid
across burning streets.
Sumpter boasted three
wooden-planked streets
that were eighty feet wide.
The streets were de-
signed to be wide enough
for 20-mule teams to have
room to turn.
Woolf commended the
work of Miss Margue-
rite Harris, the telephone
operator.
She remained at her sta-
tion at the hotel as long as
she could, then she and her
assistant ran to fill buckets
and hang wet blankets out
the windows of the hospi-
tal and school.
Both buildings were
saved, in part because of
their assistance.
Baker attempted to send
aid, but by the time would-
be helpers arrived by train,
the damage was done.
Many people lost furni-
ture and belongings they
had moved to the Sumpter
Hotel as it was brick and
not supposed to burn.
Edwards Drug owner, L.
C. Edwards, managed to
save his malt shop chairs.
Nancy Myers mentioned
that Edwards’s store, along
with an apothecary, carried
everything one might need
for a home, including items
like crystal chandeliers.
At the time of the fire,
his inventory was valued at
$250,000.
Edwards did not rebuild,
but moved to Baker after
the fire and worked as a
druggist there.
Though the hospital
was saved, Browne also
decided to leave.
He sold the hospital to
Mrs. Bessie O’Neill who
quickly turned it into the
Mountain View Hotel.
Leland Myers stated
that Mrs. O’Neill’s hotel
was “mostly a house of
ill-repute.”
The building was pur-
chased by the Masons in
1918.
Bricks were salvaged
from ruins and the Basche
hardware store rebuilt.
That building served as
City Hall from the 1920s to
the 1970s.
The Bank of Sumpter
vault was preserved in the
1990s and the hospital is
now a Bed and Breakfast.
Sumpter’s rich historical
legacy continues.
Nilsson goes on to infer that he does not believe he
committed a crime, and states that the Sheriff’s office is
“poorly led, ill-equipped and under-trained.”
However, a post by Nilsson on Instagram from nearly
a month prior signals an awareness that tagging in Lime
is illegal, as he tells others not to worry about police
presence in the remote area. “They aren’t coming,” he
assures.
Nilsson writes under the screen name “Provolotus,”
which is also the name of his band, for which he has
recently been marketing a CD called “Americanto.” Ac-
cording to Nilsson’s Facebook page, he also works as a
farrier. His graffiti reflects his screen/band name. From
Utah, Nilsson considers himself an artist. He was ap-
pointed to City Council in February of this year.
On August 9, Nilsson posted regarding his current
criminal issues, “The best part about this, other that
the timestamp is evidence, is that I got blamed for the
#thrashbird @thrashbird13 #thrashexpress. That actually
helped calm me down at a very #stressful moment. The
#aerosol #aerosolart #stencil turned out pretty good for
how quickly it was made, and under abnormal duress. I’m
glad I got a photo before the #bakercountysheriff deputy
walked up the hill and farmed it. I’d like to get a photo of
it now; Maldonado, still wearing his black nitrile gloves
from his #illegalsearch, smeared it up quite badly. I bet
it looks #badass, though. And now it has a story. Test
result: I like the shiny silver paint. It covers well, resists
running, and looks pretty #fly. And in this case, maybe it
saved my life. It definitely busted by fake case wide open.
Thanks, #rustoleum. #lime #limecrime #limeoregon
#thrashbirdsvalleyofsecretvalues #easternoregon #aban-
doned #bakercounty #basecampbaker #pnw #highdesert
#thismachinekillsfascists.”
Thrashbird13 is the screen name of a prolific, though
eternally incognito, Los Angeles-based tagger with whom
Nilsson is pictured in other photos. Several of Thrash-
bird’s works also appear at Lime.
As Provolotus, Nilsson also takes credit online for graf-
fiti located in the underpass at Dewey Ave. / Hwy. 7.
As referenced in his public letter and posts, Nilsson
claims Maldonado violated his Fourth Amendment rights
by performing an illegal search of his motorcycle the
evening of August 1 in Lime. He has indicated that he
is seeking media attention outside the area and that his
companion, Shroder, is considering civil action.
If convicted of the trespassing with a firearm charge,
Nilsson could face up to 180 days in jail with a maximum
fine of $6,250. According to Shirtcliff, conviction of
that crime would mean revocation of the concealed carry
permit, which Nilsson does possess.
Police to use
DUII grant
The Baker City Police Department, utilizing grant funds
awarded through Oregon Impact, will be conducting
overtime patrols that will augment regular patrol shifts in
the search for impaired (DUII) drivers during the up-
coming Solar Eclipse weekend, specifically August 18th
through August 21st.
“Our goal is simple, to save lives,” said Lieutenant
Dustin Newman, “Whatever you drive, if you drive im-
paired, you will be arrested.”
High visibility enforcement, increasing the number of
officers on the streets aggressively seeking out drunk
drivers, is designed to deter people from driving when
they are impaired. “Impaired driving is a big concern
in Baker City during major holidays and large commu-
nity events such as the upcoming Solar Eclipse,” stated
Newman, “That’s why we’re joining forces with Oregon
Impact to crackdown on impaired drivers.”
Newman said, “We ask all of our citizens and visitors
to our community to please be smart, to drink responsibly
and to not drive impaired. In addition, please buckle up,
eliminate driving distractions and stay safe.”
No campfires on
beaches, parks
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is
prohibiting all campfires and open flames in Oregon State
Parks and other properties owned and managed by the
department beginning Aug. 16 until further notice. These
restrictions extend to all Oregon beaches. Charcoal bri-
quettes, tiki-style torches and candles are also prohibited
until further notice. Only fuel sources that can be turned
off instantly, such as propane stoves, will be allowed.
Some parks will also allow propane fire pits; campers are
advised to check directly with the park.
“Most state parks are already under a fire restriction
due to hot, dry conditions,” said MG Devereux, OPRD
Deputy Director. “We are expanding these restrictions to
prevent any unintentional fires in state parks that would
add an unnecessary burden to firefighting efforts.”
Fireworks are also prohibited year-round in Oregon
state parks and on beaches. The ban will remain in ef-
fect through the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse and will be
reevaluated based on fire status, weather and guidance
from state and local fire officials. Visitors planning a trip
should check with park staff for the most current informa-
tion. Information will also be posted at oregonstateparks.
org, or call the state parks information line at 800-551-
6949.