Welcome Home “Hollywood”

Garrett B. Anderson, Grandson of Dick and Sharyn Epler, owners of the Elkhorn Saloon, is home from a recent tour in Afghanistan with the United States Marine Corps.

Join us, as Sumpter gives Garrett  an old-fashioned “welcome home” parade on Monday, Feb 20th, at 3:00 pm.  The parade will be from Austin St. to N. Mill St. at the Stage Stop Gas Station. “Hollywood,” as he is sometimes known in his Marine Corps Unit, served on two different tours in Afghanistan………….

December  2009 to July 2010, and  from July 2011 to November  2011.

Garrett was awarded a purple heart medal for wounds he received in combat action with the Marines in Afghanistan.

For more information, call Sharyn at the Elkhorn Saloon and Restaurant

541-894-2244 

Let’s all turn out for the parade and let this Marine know that we are proud of his service to our country!

 Semper Fi Marine!

Sumpter Poker Run

Time for one of the biggest events in Sumpter – the Poker Run,  Saturday, February 18th. The Annual Poker Run is sponsored by the Sumpter Valley Blue Mountain Snowmobile Club.  The fun begins at 7 a.m.  and poker sheets must be turned in no later than 3:30 p.m.  so they may counted.  Advance tickets will be sold from 6 pm – 7 pm on Fri, Feb 17th, at the Schoolhouse. If you’ve never been to the Poker Run before, this is how it all works…….go to the Sumpter Schoolhouse (475 N. Mill St. – above the Stage Stop Gas Station) and buy a ticket.  Tickets are $10.00 each and you may buy as many as you like.  Next, go to each Poker Station at local businesses in Sumpter, all within walking distance, to draw your card.  You can only draw one card at each business.  The businesses participating this year will be:  Stage Stop Gas Station, The Gold Post, The Elkhorn Saloon, The Depot Inn, Sumpter Municipal Museum,  and the Scoop-N-Steamer Restaurant. You are allowed to draw 7 cards total, to make the best “poker” hand possible.  The best poker hand wins. There will also be a Poker Station out on the trail as well. The trail will be a 70 mile run. You can draw your first card right there at the schoolhouse.  Once you turn your poker hand in, then you can hit the trail, or browse the Winter Bazaar down at the Sumpter Municipal Museum.   The awards will be given out down at the Groomer Shed, next to the Cracker Creek Museum of Mining at the South end of town. In addition to cash prizes being awarded - $3,000 worth – there will also be lots of great door prizes donated by local businesses in Sumpter and throughout Baker County.  There will also be a special raffle drawing, for which you may purchase tickets at the time you buy your poker sheet.  Don’t worry about the snow……the Poker Run is guaranteed “snow or no snow.”

 Call 541-894-2217 or 541-894-2498 for more information.                  Snowmobiles are not required!

Winter Bazaar

If you missed the popular Christmas Bazaar back in December….no reason to worry!   There will be another Winter Bazaar on Feb 18th, 2012, from 9 am – 5 pm.  Tables are for rent by donation only.  This second Bazaar of the winter, is sponsored by the Sumpter Municipal Museum and money raised will go to fund ongoing work on the Museum building.  For more information, or to reserve space as a vendor, call 541-894-2359.

The Orange Monster

The unusual winter season this year, had me doubting I was going to get a promised ride on the Orange Monster.  But, thanks to a couple of good snowfalls, and the generosity of today’s grooming operator, Terry Nordstrom, I was able to climb on board for a great ride on the trails today!  In case you are wondering, the “Orange Monster” is actually a Tucker Snocat, that can tow a grooming machine that cleans the almost 350 miles of trails in the Sumpter Trail System.  In a good season, it’s not uncommon for the grooming crew to log almost 2,000 miles!  Most snowmobilers may ride an entire season without ever having a chance to meet the groomer.  But, if riders notice a clean, packed trail, they’ll know the Orange Monster has been at work.  Another sure way of knowing the Orange Monster is working the trails you’re riding, is to meet it head on while coming around a blind curve! If you’re going too fast when you meet the Orange Monster, I would be willing to wager that the Orange Monster will win! The Tucker Snocat was given to the club in Sumpter,  by the Oregon State Snowmobile Association,  as part of an agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation.    This equipment wouldn’t be of much use if it weren’t for all the volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure the trails are groomed and clean all season. In fact, the grooming crew even works when there isn’t any snow on the ground!  That’s right, the Snowmobile Club has an agreement with the U.S. Forestry Service to clean the trails, which are mostly Forest Service Roads, in the summer.  To learn more about the Orange Monster and the grooming crew, visit the Sumpter Blue Mountain  Snowmobile Club.  If you are planning a ride in the Sumpter area, be sure to check for regular updates throughout the season on the Sumpter Trail Report.

Winter Finally Arrived………sort of

We waited, and waited, and waited….and finally, after a few wrong turns, winter found it’s way to Sumpter.  But regardless of what you might have heard….we do have snow enough to ride the snowmobiles and put the snowshoes to use. Most agree, this will go down as a “light” snow year, with conditions not being the best we’ve seen, but if you love the snow, now is the time to come play in Sumpter!  The way the sun has been a bully by forcing it’s way into our winter skies, there isn’t much more time for you to “wait” until better snow comes along. The Sumpter Blue Mountain Snowmobile Club grooming crews, who were suffering from snow withdrawals most of the season, have now been very busy grooming over 200 miles of trails and they report that most trails in the area have now been groomed. Check out the latest updates at the Sumpter Trail Report. I was almost ready to sell my snowshoes, one good storm dropped enough of the white stuff for me to head out on the trails. Our first snowshoe hike of the season wasn’t until January this  year, but was  still enjoyable.  I was joined by State Park Ranger, Miranda Krane, and we stomped some snow on trails surrounding the Sumpter Dredge. Learn more about the hike at the Sumpter Dredge Blog.  I finally got some photos of Sumpter in the snow posted on the website just so we could prove that we really do have snow in Sumpter.  See Snow Photos Here.  The blessing in the lack of snow, has been that the City of Sumpter has not had to plow that much this year, saving the City money.  As much as I love snow, I do have to admit that spending less time shoveling snow has been a relief …………..

Spaghetti Feed 2011

There are two time honored traditions in Sumpter…..Hunting Season and the Annual SVFD Ladies Auxiliary Spaghetti Feed! The Ladies Auxiliary will be preparing the spaghetti and all the fixin’s, while volunteer Firemen of the SVFD will be serving. Sumpter, this is your chance to enjoy some great pasta with neighbors and friends, and support the local Sumpter Volunteer Fire Department at the same time!  Hunters, this is your chance to enjoy a great meal before you head out into the woods!  All proceeds from the Spagetti Feed will go to the Fire Department!  To see last year’s Spaghetti Feed, click here.

Even the Deer come for the Spaghetti!

 

 

“Prost Zu Oktoberfest!”

Cheers To Oktoberfest!

Join friends and neighbors as we celebrate Oktoberfest and help us usher in the new fall season-Sumpter style!  There will be free Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, German dance lessons, and German Music.  There will also be beer for sale in the Beergarden, operated by the Elkhorn Saloon. There will be no fee to attend and everyone is invited to bring a German Side Dish to share!  Food will be served on a first come first serve basis!  For info, send an email to: info@sumpter.org     or   call 541-519-7928

Last Of The Season (LOTS) Party

Saturday, October 15th, 2011  11 am – 4 pm

The last Flea Market  is over and nights are already getting cooler.  Yes, it’s that time of  year again….(go ahead, check your calendar if you don’t believe us!)  That means it’s time once again, for the Annual Last Of The Season (LOTS) Party at the Sumpter Dredge. Join friends and neighbors as they sit down to an old-fashioned potluck and celebrate a busy season down at the Dredge. Taco Soup and Chili will be provided and everyone is invited and encouraged to bring their favorite potluck dish!  Anyone who has ever been to a Sumpter Potluck knows there will be more food than you can shake a fork at! Friends Of The Dredge board members will be on hand to make a report of the season and will be available to answer questions about another busy year of grants and construction work. State Parks will also be presenting information about how hard they have been working throughout the park this summer.  The Sumpter Valley Railroad will be running Fall Foliage/Photographers train (this is the last run of the year) and  passengers are always welcome to stop by for lunch and a tour of the Dredge!  For more info, call 541-894-2472 or send an email to:  info@friendsofthedredge.com   See photos from 2010 LOTS Party   

Antique Appraisal Fair

Is that piece of furniture Aunt Betsie left you really an antique…..or is it just old? Bring your item down to the Appraisal Fair, at the Sumpter Municipal Museum on Saturday, Sept. 17th, from 9 am – 4 pm and let one of the Antique Experts appraise your item for only $5.00 per item. Allow at least 2 hours for the appraisal, and take a Sumpter Walking Tour, using a specially prepared tour map,  while you wait!  You can also have lunch at the Scoop-N-Steamer or the Elhhorn Saloon while you’re in town! Funds raised will help the museum pay for much needed bulding insulation.  Ladies, bring your jewelry to the museum and let Amy Giandomenico, of Prairie City Fine Jewelry, clean  your jewelry too! Members of the Sumpter Valley Museum Association will also  be on hand to give you a free, guided tour of the museum and answer any questions you might have. For more information, call Michelle at 541-894-2476   or send an email to: michelle@sumptermuseum.org

Labor Day Flea Market in Sumpter 2011

The weather was great as people came to town for the Labor Day Flea Market ~ the last flea market  of the season in Sumpter. Some folks walked, rode the bus, or rode ATVS  and some even rode an antique John Deere Tractor as they shopped and snacked their way all over town.  As usual, there were plenty of vendors of every type and  size, sure to catch the eye of folks looking for a bargain. The SVFD sold hot dogs and soda pop, while next door, volunteers from the Ladies Auxiliary sold home baked goodies to raise money for the Sumpter Fire Department. The Sumpter Municipal Museum was open during the flea market and held an old-fashioned rummage sale to raise money for needed insulation. The Sumpter Valley Blue Mountain Snowmobile  Club hosted a snowmobile safety trailer and signed riders up for safety classes, set to begin in the area soon.  The BLM and Oregon Dept. of Forestry hosted an information booth where folks could answer questions for a chance to spin a wheel for fun prizes.  As if all this wasn’t enough to make it a great flea market, the Baker Elks Drum and Bugle Corps entertained us at the Fairgrounds. Visit YouTube to see the video.  All in all, it looked as if everyone had a good time at the  Flea Market!  We  look forward to seeing everyone again next year!  Here is next year’s schedule: Sumpter Flea Market 2012 Schedule.  To see photo slideshows, please visit www.sumpter.org.  We would also like to say “thanks” to our dedicated city employees and volunteers who worked so hard to make the 2011 Labor Day Flea Market such a great success!