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Totem pole will watch athletes Football players and supporters gather at Rogue River's future Field of Dreams to witness the installation of a powerful symbol By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER - Supporters of the Chieftain Field of Dreams project have a little something extra to be thankful for this year - 44 feet of something extra. A hand-carved, 44-foot totem pole bearing symbols of strength, wisdom and good fortune will keep watch over future athletes, thanks to local supporters Larry Johnson, Richard Lamb, Tommy McIntosh and Don Worthington Jr., all of Wimer, who spent three months carving it. Football players gathered with a crowd of 80 supporters Saturday to watch as the totem pole was erected on their future field, first throwing rocks bearing their team numbers into the posthole - which, according to tradition, brings good luck. "It can't hurt," said organizer Debbie Smith. "It's been a rough year. We're hoping the new field and everything will boost spirits." Smith is one of several parents, teachers and coaches who formed the Chieftain Field of Dreams Organization three years ago to build a new $650,000 facility at the high school using donations and volunteer labor. The football team currently plays on the aging Beck Field about a mile away at the middle school. Because the fund-raising group was busy focusing on necessities such as lighting, Smith said, the totem pole came as a welcome surprise. "We were working on just what we had to have and they came and said they wanted to do this, " said Smith. "It's just going to be awesome." Johnson, who along with Worthington carved the totem pole at the covered bridge in Wimer, said he wanted to give something to the community. "I've lived here 27 years. My kids went through school out here and it was time to give something back," he said. "Besides, I love doing carvings." The top of the totem pole depicts an eagle bound to Earth, the Indian symbol of the late Jim Martin, a longtime Wimer resident and Nez Perc� Indian who shared a teepee on his property with more than 30,000 schoolchildren over the years. Below the eagle is a Kolus, the Alaskan symbol for strength and power; a traditional eagle; a bear; an elk with real antlers; a beaver and salmon; the Indian Princess Nobelee next to an Indian shaman wearing an owl mask; and a Chieftain Indian and a buffalo. The side of the chieftain bears an American flag to represent the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "That happened while they were working and really affected everyone's outlook," explained project helper Dori Bies, adding that the totem pole would be "the perfect touch" to the new facility. Once completed, the stadium will house an all-weather track and a 1,000-seat grandstand. To date, contributions of labor, material and cash have totaled more than $500,000, with the largest contributions coming from local resident Bob Gail, Nike and an anonymous donor. A recent contribution of an undisclosed amount from the Keywish family of Wimer and a $1,000 donation from Ken's Auto Body will go for lighting, a necessity for the field to be usable next year. Organization president Ron Smith said the project was still $100,000 to $150,000 short of completion. "We'll definitely get there. This whole project has been unpredictable, so we don't know specifically where we'll get it. We just know it's going to happen," he said. Donations can be mailed to Chieftain Filed of Dreams Organization, P.O. Box 1760, Rogue River, OR 97537. For more information, contact Debbie or Ron Smith at 582-1923 or Bob Branch at 582-2618. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.