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Search & Dive Rescue needs support |
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December 12, 2011 |
For 35 years, the volunteers of Boundary County
Search and Dive Rescue have gone out in all
weather, in the most remote places, to come to
the aid of people reported lost or missing. The
organization hasn't asked us for much, but they
need us to step up to the plate.
Led by the caring people of Boundary County for
the past several years; the late Phil Davis and
the late Don Stolley, a position admirably
carried on by Don's wife, Edith Stolley, and
anchored by the skills of people like Dan
Krmpotich, Dave Kramer, Mike Naumann, Dave
Bodner and many more, Boundary County Search and
Dive rescue helped bring home many after long
cold nights lost; and they've been there to
bring closure to the families of those who
didn't survive.
They've gone to the aid of people whose
snowmobiles ran out of gas in the backcountry,
hunters who lost their way. Rafters who've
braved the wilder side of the seemingly placid
Kootenai River, people who've fallen overboard
on our county's many small lakes.
"Through the support of different sources," said
incoming commander Marcus Girod, who will take
office in January, "we have been able to
maintain operations."
Search and dive rescue was able to stay
up-to-date, through grants, donations and
government funding, with the technology and
equipment they needed ... giving them an edge
when it came to locating needles in haystacks,
needles important not only to themselves, but to
the families and kin who depend on them.
The brunt of the few dollars they needed, for
things like used GPS locators, avalanche probes,
radios, maps and compasses, came from federal
Craig-Wyden funding, funds Boundary County no
longer recieves.
"A decision has been made," Girod said, "to turn
back to the people of Boundary County, from
which this organization started."
Boundary County Search and Dive Rescue is
blessed to have citizens who have great skills
much needed when someone's in trouble, ready to
drop what they're doing at a moment's notice to
ride to the rescue.
What they need now,Girod said, in addition to
the continued efforts of the many experts who
call this place home and have yet to volunteer,
is local fnancial backing of local people and
businesses to help assure that they have what
they need, when the need arises.
We've enjoyed federal help for awhile, but it's
back on us to do what the people of this
community are famous for doing ... take care of
ourselves.
Girod said he's grateful, and he welcomes calls
and emails; (208) 610-3571,
marcusgirod@yahoo.com. |
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