OQUOSSOC — Nearly three years ago, a group of Oquossoc residents formed the Oquossoc All-Terrain Vehicle Club to work on connecting the western Maine town with the rest of the state through ATV trails.

They wanted to help grow the economy by bringing off-road riding tourism to the region, President Clyde Chapman Jr. said Thursday morning.

“Over Memorial Day weekend last year, our parking lot was full,” he said. “This year, the parking lot and the road were both full of bumper-to-bumper vehicles. Things are changing, and ATVs are the big things now, so we’re trying to bring in economy to the town.”

The club also holds fundraisers to help charities and families who have lost loved ones and has grown its membership to 103 members since starting in October 2012. They’ve had 64 new members join so far, as of Saturday. They also have 20 supporting businesses.

However, someone possibly living in the Bemis Track area took a strong dislike to the club, ATVs or both. Bemis Track is a gravel road built over the bed of the old Rumford Falls and Rangeley Lakes Railroad that was abandoned in the 1930s.

Last year, someone dumped household trash all over the club’s Park and Ride lot off Route 17.

Since then, someone has stolen 26 of the club’s trail signs and spray-painted 15 of them with roofing tar, completely obliterating the sign. The vandal also uprooted trail signposts.

Chapman estimated the damage at more than $1,200. He said the Maine State Police are actively investigating the destruction and thefts.

“It’s just our club that’s being targeted,” he said. “Our neighbors, the Roxbury Riders ATV Club, hasn’t had any of their signs defaced or stolen, and I’ve had no complaints about our club itself, so this is hitting close to home.”

Chapman said he believes the vandal is an adult.

“There probably is a lot of people up here who don’t like change, but change is coming,” he said. “We’ve got 25 miles of trail that we’re working on right now and $40,000 worth of bridges to build, and we’re getting hit (with this vandalism). It’s probably someone who owns a home here.”

Chapman said it takes two weeks to get new signs made, and then they have to be installed. Signs cost the club $25 each. They have to mark their trails, telling visitors where to go to reach destinations, connect with other state trails and warn them of hazards or reduced speed limits.

The club is seeking help from the public to help find the vandal for prosecution. To help, call Chapman at 207-239-7224 or write him at oqcatvclub@gmail.com.

tkarkos@sunmediagroup.net