The red bells that toll for no one

Another truck became trapped last week on Main Street. It was the latest victim of the bollards and downtown McMinnville’s narrow compact grid turn radiuses. In my mind, I envisioned a smile spreading across the front of that red concrete bell – almost as if I had drawn it myself.

McMinnville officials had the bells placed after spending millions of dollars to renovate downtown. They were meant to protect the sidewalks, decorative tiles and buildings. From that moment on, the complaints began to stack up from residents and those passing through and getting trucks and trailers trapped on them.

Some years later, due to the ongoing complaints, officials began discussing a proposal to remove them. I went downtown and snapped a picture of a bollard in court square to go with that article. In the end, the bollards stayed to project the city’s financial investment.

When that decision was made, I decided I needed a different picture. Ater thinking about it and deciding to listen to the devil on my left shoulder, I grabbed some sidewalk chalk and a wet wipe. I stopped on the side streets between the Chamber and Hoover & Son Insurance’s buildings. There was less traffic and I was less likely to be noticed and caught. I parked and looked around – all was clear. I hopped out of my vehicle and looked around – all still clear. I quickly squatted down next to the bell and began to draw on it.

Going to be honest with you, dear reader. I was quite happy with myself at this moment. I’ve never really been someone who lives on the wild side, or the criminal side, so this was a rare moment for me. All the excitement faded and was replaced with panic when a law enforcement officer cruised past and took a quick glance at me. I was busted. Front page headline flashed before my eyes: Reporter charged with graffiti

The officer kept going, but I knew he was going to circle around. If there’s ever been an example of suspicious activity, this was it. I quickly completed the smiley face, leaned back, grabbed my camera and snapped a few shots. As the officer cruised up the street to where I was, I began wiping the bell down with a wet wipe. I stood, smiled, waved and walked back to my car and hopped into it. Hands shaking.

My editor loved the picture and my efforts to think outside the box or, in this case, inside the sidewalk caulk box. It ran on the front page of the newspaper and will forever live in my memory.