The owner of a Chiropractic clinic Dr. Tom Payne had his prized mascot Sasquatch Sam stolen last year and the thieves were attempting to cut off the legs to cover up the theft when they were caught 4 blocks away in a neighborhood backyard.
Public sympathy stretched around the world in news photos of the event and back again to Jon Osterberg of Pemco Insurance here in the state.
Osterberg called Payne and asked if he could hold a public chainsaw carving event to replace the BIGFOOT that had been stolen. Dr. Payne agreed. Pemco has been running some ads in the media featuring NW iconic events including the roadside chainsaw carver.
The event was staged at Payne's Federal Way clinic at 14th SW and Dash Pt Rd. Three master carvers were brought in to compete. Public vote determined the ultimate winner, a 9 ft tall hunk of Cedar carved to resemble the Bigfoot from the movie Harry and the Hendersons.
Mark Herrington and his son Colby came out from Wilkeson. George Kenney showed up from Allyn where he has a school of wood carving and Charlie Hubbard drove up from Shelton to stage the competition. Colby (14) was hot from the start, using a smaller chainsaw, he managed to eke out a small bear and an owl. Colby was not in the actual Sasquatch competition, but many loved his creations. He sold both the same day.
Dad Mark, applied his artistic talent to his creation, adding spray paint for the darker haired look he imagined a Sasquatch might look like.
In the end the public favorite belonged to Charlie Hubbard. The two day event featured a fierce hail storm, plenty of wind, rain and eventually some sunshine. All of which Hubbard has seen in his more than 40 years in the forest. Hubbard is a logger. From Mt. St Helens to Hood Canal, Hubbard has cut, chopped, limbed, dragged and dodged old growth timber in all kinds of weather. This March event didn't faze him. He's a tough woodsman who's spent a few nights in the brush.
He says he doesn't think there really is a Bigfoot. "If he was out there, I would have seen 'em," he said.
Payne has plans for the new Bigfoot to stand at the entrance to his clinic, set off the road a bit and the reason for a visual icon in the first place."People had trouble finding us off the road, so Sasquatch Sam helped direct them," Payne said. He expects to keep Sam too. "I couldn't let Sam go. I'd sooner give up one of the grandkids," he added with a smile.
