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CLEAR Temp: 62 °F Wind: NW at 6 mph Saturday, June 1, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend June 1, 2002 Search intensifies for 700 lbs. of dynamite By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune There’s 700 pounds of missing dynamite out there that might have fallen into the wrong hands, and federal officials and sheriff’s deputies in Siskiyou County are asking for the public’s help tracking it down. Rewards are available in exchange for information leading to the explosives’ recovery. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is offering a $5,000 reward. The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department has said $1,000 is available through their office. The dynamite and detonators, which have an estimated $6,000 value, were reported stolen on May 18 from the Gumboot Mine near Scott Bar, approximately 50 miles west of Yreka, Calif. Mining operators had proper permits for all the explosives, ATF investigators said. The dynamite was stored in an underground powder magazine in one of the mine shafts and secured with special-order padlocks, investigators said. The detonators were in an area outside the mine. Miners were last at the site on April 6. When they returned, someone had removed the magazines’ padlocks and stolen the explosives, deputies said. "Our concern with 700 pounds of explosives is that we get it back and put it in storage," said Martie McKee, spokeswoman for the ATF. McKee said investigators have no suspects nor established a motive, so there’s no indication that the theft is terrorist-related. The ATF wants to recover the explosives in the interest of public safety, she said. The ATF routinely investigates thefts of explosives and would have handled the case in the same manner prior to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, McKee said. It’s not unusual to offer rewards in cases for which investigators have run out of leads, she added. Explosives thefts are not uncommon in Siskiyou County, said under-Sheriff Mike Lyon. Lyon said he has known explosives to be re-sold for legitimate use or more sinister purposes, such as wiring marijuana patch against trespassers. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the ATF at 1-888-ATF-BOMB or the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department at 530-841-2900. The sheriff’s office accepts anonymous tips at 530-842-5564 or 530-926-5564. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S