Sign of the times: Clinton critic hijacks Highway 97 sign

As America heads into the home stretch of a wild, intense presidential campaign, we’ve already seen trash cans as Donald Trump “ballot boxes,” and plenty of election signs, buttons and bumper stickers. But one person took his or her politics to the next, potentially dangerous level.

It might be funny to some, but it’s also vandalism that could make for danger on the road.

Highway 97 travelers headed to Bend Tuesday evening encountered an usual construction sign near Sunriver, alternating the traditional “Please Slow” message with one that read: “Hillary for Prison.”

To some, at least, it was very politically incorrect.

“To my surprise, I was like, ‘Did that say Hillary for prison?” witness John Mikkola said.

Yes, it did. In bright orange type. And while some might have thought it was funny or no big deal, it was no laughing matter to the contractor on the road project, Tumalo-based Knife River.

“I thought he said last night that it said ‘Hillary for President,’ and I heard today it said ‘Hillary for Prison.’ I’m not sure what it was, but it wasn’t the message we needed to have,” said general manager Chris Doan.

After tips and complaints, ODOT called the contractors Tuesday night.

Knife River, which owns the message sign, rushed to fix it, and was not laughing at the joke.

“It’s our name that’s on the message board. It’s our project.. We don’t want that.” Doan said.

For others, it just prompted a big laugh.

“She said, ‘Oh, my God,’ so I went down turned around, and came back,” Mikkola said. “I said, ‘I’ve got to get video of this to put on Facebook.'”

The vandal is probably familiar with electronic signs, as they picked one of the few that didn’t have a padlock.

The correct message was restored by 9:30 p.m.

Doan said the company will bump up security so it doesn’t happen again.

“It’s not the first time this has happened,” he said, but “it’s the first time that message has been on there.”

No one was hurt by the sign change. But with Highway 97 one of the busiest roads in Central Oregon, and some vital warnings of road work ahead, it could have been worse.

A big question remains unanswered: Who did it? Those involved say they don’t know. But with an election season like no other, anything is possible.

“I think this is one of the weirdest presidential races I’ve ever seen,” Mikkola said.

So when you get those lawn signs planted this fall, you should definitely keep an eye on them.