Wednesday
August 23rd , 2023
The Atlin Whisper
“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.”
Margaret MeadA KILLER ON THE YUKON BORDER
Part 2
Sheslay Mike
by Paul LucasAtlin, Spring,1976. The story begins just one year before my first trip to Atlin to visit my old friend Jamie Stephen. Jamie was Atlin’s current fish and wildlife C.O. (conservation officer). In the late spring of 1976, he had heard about a strange bush dweller occupying the area around Tatsamenie Lake, about 100 miles SE of town.
Now strange bush dwellers are not scarce in the North. In fact, I would venture to say that strange bush dwellers, in one form or another, are the meat and potatoes of this land – a fact that tickles me no end. But this was different.
Jamie had a report that Michael Eugene Oros, aka ’Sheslay Mike’, had evaded an arrest warrant issued for illegal trapping in the Dease Lake area, and was currently living and trapping in the bush south and east of Atlin.
The first indication of trouble was a report from Dick Bond (yes, the same Dick involved in the Border Lake flying shenanigans of an earlier tale), that somebody had taken a shot at his plane as he flew over a cabin on the upper Teslin River.
Sheslay Mike Oros
Around that same time, Jamie began discovering pole caches in the area, (small storage shelters designed to keep animals out). They contained illegal furs, firearms, magazines ranging from ’Soldier of Fortune’ to porn, and several scribbled journal pages that indicated the author was unbalanced and paranoid. These scribblings amounted to a disturbing and threatening diatribe, much of which was aimed at local law enforcement. It was pretty clear they were Mike’s.
Mike Oros had the notion that the ‘powers that be’ were poisoning him by spraying the bush and water supply, and that government agents were stalking him night and day. The escalating paranoia demonstrated in these journals was marked by continued references to killing these agents whenever possible. The whole business was starting to look serious.
Further evidence of Oros’ poaching activities prompted the Justice of the Peace, Peter Newall, to issue an arrest warrant, and Jamie was charged with arresting Oros - a task easier said than done. The first unsuccessful round involved a hair raising flight with Dick Bond. Assisted by Wayne Merry, famed climber and auxiliary C.O., they attempted a landing on Teslin Lake in severe weather. The hard landing in whitecaps damaged the port float and it began to leak, causing the plane to list and the propellor to
clip the wave tops - tearing small divots out of the leading edges of each blade. They barely made it to shore, and only because Jamie volunteered to climb out on the starboard float to balance the weight as the plane inched its way towards the beach. By the time the floats ground up on those pebbles, Jamie looked like a drowned rat.
They pumped out the damaged float, and patched the popped rivet holes with whittled willow plugs (clever lads), and now they were ready to try a take off. The first few attempts met with failure, but finally that torn up prop dragged them into the sky and they limped home.
After landing in Atlin, an undaunted Jamie hopped in his truck and drove the circuitous 100 or so road miles back to Teslin Lake and Mike’s last known whereabouts. He finally found him at Morley Bay, although arresting him turned out to be problematic.
Short of shooting him, Jamie could find no way of physically catching the man. Thing is, Oros had spent years in the bush, was in fantastic physical shape, and there was no way Jamie could, with any grace, snap the cuffs on his wrists. In the end, he managed to talk Mike into voluntarily appearing at the Atlin courthouse on his due date, and with that, one long and arduous day finally came to a close.
As it turned out, Oros chose not to appear at that court date. To Jamie, that seemed to mark the beginning of the end for Sheslay Mike.
Hutsigola Lake, Fall, 1981. The pilot who flew us in to Hall Lake that Fall of 1981 was Dave Weibe. Dave, as it turned out, had dropped off trapper Gunter Lishy at Hutsigola Lake earlier in the summer with a plane load of building supplies and the understanding that he was to rendezvous with him again on Sept. 10.
When Weibe returned to Hutzigola as agreed, however, there was no Lishy to be found. Instead, a man meeting the description of Mike Oros paddled out to meet the plane in a canoe, claiming he had been there for some time and hadn’t seen the trapper. There was no sign of the huge pile of supplies, and no sign of Lishy. The whole thing struck Dave as suspicious. He turned the plane around and took off for Atlin. He had no idea how close he had come to being shot himself that day. The only thing that saved him, according to Oros’ scribblings, was the impossibility of hiding a missing aircraft.
On landing in Atlin, Weibe reported the incident to our local cop, Peter Bird. There was an immediate call out for backup, but it took 24 hours to assemble a team to fly in to Hutsigola. That team consisted of two civilian pilots - Darry Bruns in the helicopter and Dave Weibe in the Beaver, Peter Bird, and 6 police in combat gear with assault rifles. The feeling was that a major crime had occurred, and nobody was taking any chances.
The only cop in regular uniform was Bird. The logic was that one policeman approaching Oros would be less likely to cause him to balk, so it was to be Peter who approached the cabin. The charges were, after all, minor - theft and illegal trapping, so an all out assault would have raised alarms, and likely escalated the confrontation into a real fire fight.
As it turned out, Mike had already fled. He’d wasted no time in gathering supplies, his three dogs, and beating it out of there to the south - not the actions of an innocent man. They did a thorough search of the area. A partially built octagonal shaped cabin (a Sheslay Mike trademark) now stood on the property and several caches were found - caches that contained many
more of Gunter Lishy’s possessions along with a collection of Sheslay’s diaries - a find that was to provide a lot of insight into this madman’s outlook on life. It was all seized.
Meanwhile, Mike was well on his way to the abandoned town of Sheslay (his early base and the source of his nickname). It lay to the south on the Telegraph Trail. His destination was the outfitting camp of a man he considered his arch rival - Fletcher Day. There he hoped to steal provisions and then … well … he hadn’t really thought that far ahead. Should he head down the Taku River system to Juneau Alaska? … Should he find a place in the vicinity to hole up for the winter? … What?
His eventual decision was to return to Hutsigola and the home base he knew best. It was a long and arduous trip on the heels of his long trek south, but north he went. When he arrived, it was clear that he had been raided, and he fell into a fury when he found that all his belongings, including his precious diaries, had been seized. Despite his frustration, he decided to hunker down for the winter - a fateful decision which was to, in the end, guarantee his capture.
Hall Lake, September,1981. Just down the trail at Hall Lake, we were carrying on as if nothing was amiss. At that very moment, in fact, I was quietly eyeing a big old lake trout sitting under a rock a few feet from the boat, its snout barely poking into a crystal clear pool that flickered in the shadows cast by the pale fall sun.
The air was crisp and clean, and a canopy of brilliantly hued leaves danced above me in the light breezea breeze with just a hint of winter in it - that little nip that singes the nostrils and signals the countdown for the first dusting of snow. It was a beautiful day and all was well with the world.
“Now if I can just cast past that rock a hair and drag the lure in front of big Willy … “
*My sources and credits for this story can be found at the end of Part IV. Thanks to all.”
Message from the Atlin community representative on the G2G Forum.
The G2GF oversees several Joint Initiative (JI) Working Groups, each of which address important issues on the land base, including mining and mineral exploration, protected areas, fish and wildlife management, as well as research and monitoring.
As your Atlin Community representative, I would like to hear from you about topics that are important to you so I can be the conduit of Atlin Community interests at the Forum.
The latest Newsletter from the G2G Forum states: For over a decade, the Government-to-Government Forum (G2GF) with the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and BC has been responsible for overseeing the implementation of the WÓOSHTIN YAN TOO.AAT LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND SHARED DECISION MAKING AGREEMENT and the Wóoshtin wudidaa Atlin Taku Land Use Plan.
The G2GF has also provided a venue for strategic dialogue and engagement between BC and the Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN) on other land and resource management topics. You can get In touch with me by emailing infoatling2g@gmail.com
Åsa Berg—
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Tail Gate Sales 2023
Mark Your Calendars
September 2
10 to 1 or 2 PM depending on weather and vendors
Call, message or email Jane to reserve a spot or if you have questions. 651-7697, janecurry245@gmail.com
$5.00 for each table or by Donation All proceeds this year go to Atlin Museum
The family of Atlin Mountain Inn would like to congratulate all those at TRTFN for planning and managing the Haa Kustyee event. It was a great weekend for all attendees and the events and programs were rewarding to watch or participate in. Experiencing the races with the beautiful canoes, the fish fillet contest and all who braved the cold waters of the lake for a swim, conveyed a vibrant, active, involved community. A job well done and a spiritual success.
The Nature of Giving – Wyatt Heavenor
Really, what defines a possession?
It’s a thing which you hold dear And guard with an obsession For tomorrow’s need is near.
Observe, if you give not of yourself
Little you give, yet if much; If you give and of yourself, It’s much, yet if not the such.
Give now would you hide what’s passed to you? Your things are ships on your shores; The winds call them to lands new, For your things were never yours.
Fear not; is not fear of nakedness
With your chests of wardrobes full, A sign of forsakenness And prudence insatiable?
Shoot up. Aren’t you a machine gun
And with you the Cosmos shoot?
Things are bullets aimed at none, Caught for times not absolute.
See, it’s good of you to give when asked, For they who asked may have need. But, better to give unasked, For from their desire they’re freed.
Are there still those from who you’d withhold?
Flowers breathe fragrance to share.
On all men the sun pours gold.
Trees keep men warm without care.
Now give, lest you be annihilated. The orchard tree gives its fruit; For this it’s consecrated
The farmer cuts not its root.
Time to give because you are able.
The sea of life gives to all.
Have a seat at God’s table
Can’t you hear our Parent’s call
“Trust”
When we see the good people have to offer we put our trust in them. Most often they come through and we love them for it as they enrich our life.
On those occasions when they disappoint us we put our heart on hold. As we learn to trust again a richer life will ensue.
Life is a two way street with people judging us too. When they invest faith in us and we come through for them connections will be formed and we’ll live a richer life.
Jeff Salmon
Dinner and Dance
With The Shaggy Manes/Midnight Sons
Friday August 25, 2023
Full Bar Service with non alcohol choices
Minors permitted till 9:30 pm
Dinner 6:30pm
Dance 8:30pm
Tickets:
Dinner & Dance $30
Dinner Only (all ages) $20
Dance Only (19+ after 9:30) $15
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/698133715737 or exploreatlinsales@gmail.com
Facebook: @ExploreAtlin Email exploreatlinsales@gmail.com
Presented by Heather Keny
Sunday & Wednesday Movies
Doors open 7:00, movie starts 7:30
Wednesday August 23:
Man on Fire:
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning
Directed by: Tony Scott
Sunday August 27:
Fathers Day:
Starring: Robin Williams, Billy Crystal
Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Wednesday Aug 30:
The Girl on The Train:
Starring: Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett
Directed by: Tate Taylor
Sunday September 3:
Training Day:
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke
Directed by:
Atlin Community Improvement District
The Atlin Community Improvement District (ACID) is accepting resumes for employment as a Part Time Administrator.
Hours: Approximately 70 – 100 hours per month
Closing Date: Until filled
Start Date: A.S.A.P.
Pay: Commensurate with experience
Skills and requirements:
✓ BasiccomputerskillswithknowledgeofWORDprocessingpackage&EXCEL
✓ AbletodobookkeepingusingSAGEaccountingsoftware
✓ Typingspeedof30wordsperminute
✓ Goodcommunicationskills–verbal&written(letterandreportwriting)
✓ Abilitytouseandmaintainorganizedfilingsystems-paper&electronic
✓ Abletoworkunsupervised&beextremelyorganizedandself-motivated
As the ACID Administrator you will be expected to:
-Preparemeetings-agendas,organizepertinentdocuments,financialstatements,minutes
-Postnotices,minutes(&other)atPostOffice,ServiceBC,andtownbulletinboards
-Organize&keeppaperandelectronicfiles
-Followgenerallyacceptedbookkeepingprocedures-accountspayable/receivable, payroll& remittances,reconcileaccounts,prepareyearendpaperworkforauditor,etc
-Anticipate&implementmonthly/yearlyprocedures
-Submitnecessarygovernmentdocumentsandreportsinatimelymanner
-Preparetheannualbudget
-Write/manageallcorrespondence
-KeepTrusteesandChairpersoninformed-WorkdirectlywiththeChairperson
-OrganizetheAnnualGeneralMeetingandElections
-ManageadministrationdutiesoftheAtlinVolunteerFireDepartment
-OtherdutiesasoutlinedinBylaw#57(Seecurrentadministratorforinformation)
-Researchandrequestinformationfromvariousagencies
-CommunicatewithgovernmentMinistriesandagenciesasrequired
-Workinarandomlybusysharedofficespace
-Generallightmaintenanceoffirehall–janitorial
-Ifrequired,paintingandsummermaintenanceofwalkway
Administrative experience an asset. Training will be available. Please submit your resume via mail or email to:
Atlin Community Improvement District
P.O. Box 388 Atlin, BC V0W 1A0
atlincid@gmail.com
NORTHERN HOMES REAL ESTATE
Watson Avenue
Two adjoining lots totalling 75x100’ providing ample room to build a new home while restoring a colorful and historic building, if you chose. No neighbors or roads to the north so lots of privacy.
$225,000
4th Street
400 sq.ft., one bedroom cabin plus large workshop on two adjoining 50x100 lots, fully fenced. Quiet location with lots of room for expansion. Great potential for expansion.
$275,000
43.6 Acres
Beautifully maintained, inside and out, this cozy 2 bedroom home is so private featuring a second cottage with sleeping loft (often used as B&B), a third cabin for guests, great garage/workshop, plus various other craft/work shops and fencing. Mountain views in every direction plus short walk to Atlin Lake sandy beaches. Just waiting for you! Viewing by appointment ONLY!
$597,000
Pearl Street
1700 sq.ft. historical building suited for combination comfortable living plus retail. Living room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and 3rd huge room to adapt to your needs! Recent extensive foundation and roof restoration plus interior renovations utilizing the original wood and fixtures. This is original “Atlin” and your opportunity!
$395,000
Warm Bay Road
This gem is off grid, well maintained and absolutely the perfect retreat. 2 bedrooms, large open dining/living room, galley kitchen and spacious pantry. Storage in walk out cellar plus numerous outbuildings. Bonus is a warm spring flowing through year around!
$239,000
Lake View
A great view awaits in this well built, 2 level home with a fabulous open floorplan on the upper level with a master bedroom plus storage! The lower level boasts 2 extra bedrooms or bedroom and games room. Almost 1700 sq.ft., lots of room for the entire family and guests to enjoy! Dbl garage on lower level plus another garage for all those extras like boats, quads, sleds. $535,000 SOLD
5 Acres
With power, small log cabin, tenant occupied near the upper end of the acreage, application for subdivision has been submitted/approved to create two 2.5 acre parcels. Slope facing Atlin Lake. Build your dream home to take advantage of the view and keep the tenant as caretaker! Or build a series of guest cabins! Your imagination is your only limitation!
$237,000 SOLD
Fourth of July
Basic lake side cabin, 3 bedrooms, lots of big windows, hidden in the trees, on .544 acres, leased lot until 2042. Very private! 61,500 SOLD
4th of July
.78 acres of Crown Land lease, gated, partly cleared, the perfect spot to keep your RV and recreational necessities, there for year around enjoyment. Lease term to 2042.
$53,500
HIDDEN GEM
This stunning gem in an Enchanted Forest has been lovingly crafted by the hands of this talented owner – never to be duplicated! On 4 acres with guest cabins and a short walk to hidden lakes plus easy access to the highway,
$399,000 SOLD
STUNNING – Inside and Outside
Incredible views, quiet location and fabulous home. 1700 sq.ft. on main level, beautifully renovated with gyproc interior, lots of updated windows, open floor plan, kitchen, dining area, living room, bar/games room plus 2 bedrooms. Basement offers 3 more bedrooms, two baths, kitchenette and large living room with ground level access. One of a kind waiting for you.
$349,000 SOLD
Mi 43 Atlin Highway
34+ acres of land, surrounded by grazing lease, with 1700 sq.ft., 2 BR, full basement home, great well, septic field, solar and generator plus lots of extras. If you wish, will come with 2 loveable nags who consider this home. Quick possession is possible.
$535,000 SOLD
Call Myrna at (250) 775-1019 7
Leave message via text or email myrnablake1@gmail.com Email above plus satellite at myrnablake1@zoleo.com Go to northernhomesbc.ca for more details.
Dr. Michelle James is Retiring
Michelle has contributed to orthopedic care for children in many significant ways and volunteered her services in less advantaged countries as well. She is retiring from her position as Chief of Orthopedics at Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento, California. However, she is continuing to share her skills, knowledge, and leadership in projects, research and teaching, in which she has great interest.
Michelle is the granddaughter of Stewart James who grew up in Atlin, took tourists to the glacier along with Mickey Eggert in the great White Pass tourist days, and taught school here at the ripe age of 17 or 18. He later moved to the States and became an accountant.
Michelle’s father, Preston James, came to Atlin some summers as a child, spending time with Granny James, Uncle Cyril and Aunt Win. He learned the very valuable skills of gold mining and panning at a young age. Thus began his love for Atlin. Preston was also an orthopedic surgeon in California, well admired for his expertise, he was also a volunteer, later an employee of Shriners Hospital for Children. Michelle was her father’s boss at one time, much to Preston’s delight!
Preston and his wife Beve brought their family to Atlin on several occasions, this being a special place in his heart.
I guess something stuck with Michelle and Laurel, also Preston and Beve’s daughter, as Michelle, her husband Dave, and Laurel are now coming to Atlin in the summers, enjoying the connection to ancestry, family, and of course the beautiful wild outdoors. We hope they will come for many years, along with their own family members, and continue to be a part of our Atlin summer community.
Michelle is an exceptional human being, and we the Atlin family (Beth, Donna, and all relations) are so happy to claim this very accomplished, kind, unassuming and lovely woman as our cousin, and we want to share the acknowledgement of her accomplishments over an outstanding career, in this, her other community. To follow is the official notice of her retirement from Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento, California
FOR SALE – Atlin Property at corner of
3rd Street and Pearl Avenue
In the middle of the Atlin townsite but tucked away for tranquility and privacy.
Spacious backyard with greenhouse (6x12 feet) and three raised garden beds, various fruit trees and shrubs (cherry, apple, haskap, saskatoon, raspberries etc.) and an outhouse. Property right next to the Alkali slough with great accessibility to walking and cross-country ski trails and with a view of Atlin Mountain
General info:
• Total property size fully fenced: 3 lots (12,600 sqft, ~0.3 acres)
• Finished area: 1050 sqft – living space all on one floor
• Interiors extensively renovated in 2009
• Cistern with 2300 litres capacity
• Septic tank and field – redone in 2020
• Wood heat with Pioneer Princess wood cook stove hand-crafted
• by the Amish; back up oil and electrical heating
• R65 insulation in ceiling/attic
Features:
• 2 arctic entrances
• 2 bedrooms
• 1 full bathroom (and 1 outhouse)
• Open kitchen, dining and living area
• Storage room with cedar wood infra-red sauna
• Large root cellar below
• Oversized garage with ample parking and storage space
• Large woodshed with some wood
• 2 additional storage sheds
• Appliances: washing machine, stove, fridge
Price: $330,000
Serious inquiries at cziegler@unb.ca
Custom Fish Art- Fiberglas and Wood
Please note that requests for same day water delivery must be received no later than 11 am of said day. Thank you!
Water delivery and Sewer Removal are available Monday through Friday
Home Heating Fuel, Bulk Fuel and Bulk Oil Available
Phone 250-651-7463
Email garypumpsltd@gmail.com
Mailing address is Box 147, Atlin BC V0W 1A0
Office hours – Monday to Friday
8 am – noon
With thanks, Gary McNeil and Jody
Smallwood
GARY HILL’S FISH ART
GARY HILL’S – CUSTOM, FISH REPRODUCTIONS
PHONE 867 334 4857.
EMAIL – garyphill59@gmail.com
7 MONARCH Drive – ATLIN – BC. V0W 1A0
WANTED
Hi! I’m looking for antiques! Outdoor and indoor items/furniture. If you think you have something interesting for sale or to give away, please call me at 250-651-2111 or email me at: a.remon@me.com
Thank you!
Amélie Remon
Gary Pumps Ltd.Atlin Mountain Inn's New Hours
Breakfast 7-9am
Lunch 12-2pm
Dinner 6-8pm
Saloon open Wed - Sat
Atlin Coffee and Cream Cart
Featuring specialty coffees and more!
NEW_ Soft Ice cream!
Open daily 12-9pm. Closed Thursday. Located across from the Tarahne on Lakeshore St. Atlin.
Atlin Pet Care
287 Tatlow Street
Yourpetshomeawayfromhome!
Indoor/Outdoor Runs
Heated Kennels
Boarding-Grooming-Pet Supplies
Emergency Care-Veterinarian Referrals
SPCA AGENTS
George Holman 250-651-7717 or Marj Holman 250-651-7758
LANDFILL SPRING/SUMMER HOURS
SATURDAY-MONDAY
CLOSED ON ALL BC STATUTORY HOLIDAYS
Canada Day - Closed Saturday, July 1st …… Open July 2, 3, 4
BC Day - Closed Monday, Aug 7th …...…. Open Aug 5, 6, 8
Labour Day - Closed Monday, Sept 4th ………... Open Sept 2, 3, 5
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation - Closed Saturday, Sept 30 … Open Oct 1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving Day - Closed Monday, Oct 9th ... Open Oct 7, 8, 10
HOURS
11 AM - 4 PM
Operated by the Atlin Community Improvement District
Spring hours effective April 1, 2023
Monday to Saturday 9am – 5pm
Sunday 11am – 4pm
New bakery chef with take out options!
~Weekly freight truck run on Mondays and freight runs available upon request~
Atlin Christian Centre
Affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Service and Sunday School Sunday
11 a.m.
Come join us!
250-691-0128
St. Martin’s Anglican Church
10 a.m. Sunday Everyone welcome!
One who sows courtesy, reaps friendship; One who plants kindness, gathers love.
St. Basil
Sewing Machine
Cleaning, Repair, &Setup Terry 250651-7769
Mountain Shack Café Restaurant
Fast Fancy Food Great Service
110 Discovery Avenue In Atlin, B.C.
EAT IN OR TAKE OUT
Wednesday thru Monday
250-651-7789
MOBILE WELDING SERVICE AVAILABLE
Contact: Alain Vanier
250-651-0037
Reasonable Rates!
Smallwood Enterprises Ltd
We provide Concrete, Drain Rock, Screed gravel, Sand, Topsoil and Septic systems. We also provide Equipment Rentals, Excavations, Covered Storage, Firewood and Snow Removal. Please call (250) 651-2488 or email bobscontracting2020 @gmail.com
Atlin Community Library
Due to the Courthouse repositioning, will be closed from August 13th onward. Reopening date unknown, but watch for announcements.”
The next Whisper is Wednesday September 6th Submissions are due no later than Sunday 6pm September 3rd
The Purpose of the Atlin Whisper is to encourage, build-up and inform the people of Atlin concerning ongoing community events and happenings. The Whisper is not a political mouthpiece.
Compiled and edited by Lynne Phipps. Paper for printing courtesy of Northern Homes Real Estate Printing courtesy of Dani McNeil and the RCMP Atlin. Delivery by Bobbie Whelan and Gary Hill.
Classifieds, news, upcoming events Contact 1-867-334-7949 or lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com if you have, pictures or articles you would like to submit.
Please note that submissions should be sent in either WORD or JPEG whenever possible. PDF must first be printed and then scanned back into the computer in order to format it into the paper. This costs in both paper and ink. We know that at times a PDF is the only way, which is okay when necessary, but otherwise, as the Whisper is a FREE community service we appreciate your support in helping to keep the costs down as much as possible. Thank You!