Well, the fund-raiser is over and complete.  We did not do as well as was expected. Nor did the sponsors of the Expo.  They said that there were approximately 1/2 the attendees this year as compared to last year.  Of course this hurt us, but we did sell quite a few tickets.  I personally sold more tickets the last week prior to the Expo than any other time.  I am sure you are interested in the winners. Here they are.

Grand Prize - Yamaha Grizzly Quad - Dr. Suzanne Bentz, Payson

Second Prize - Hand Carved Bear Cub - Trisha Pedersen, Strawberry

Third Prize - Onieda Bow - Christine Davis, Payson

Fourth Prize - 10X42 Swarovski Binoculars - Brent Ruttle Sr., Payson

Fifth Prize - Badlands Backpack - Ted Armstrong, Payson

Sixth Prize - Arizona Four Peaks Amethyst Ring - Sam Baker, Payson

Seventh Prize - One Nights Stay at Majestic Mt. Inn, Greg Williams, Payson

Eight Prize - One Nights Stay at Days Inn, Ken Ryan, Payson

Ninth Prize - Assorted Camping Gear - George Fowler, Scottsdale

Tenth Prize - Hands Free Rifle Holster - Mary Westergard, Mesa

 Thanks to one and all for all the sales and help with the Expo.  It went off pretty well.  We will look at the possibility of doing it again.  Maybe we can sell all the tickets next year.  Again, thanks for all the support from all of you.

MISSIONS   

We have been busy since the last meeting/newsletter with three missions. 

 March 31 -- Ellison Creek/Pyle Ranch -- An 83-year-old male with several physical and health problems was reported missing by his wife.  He had been gone for four days.  The mission started out in a snowstorm but the weather did get better as time went on.  This mission had a tragic ending with a near-by neighbor finding him deceased approximately 250 yards from his residence.  It appeared that he was headed back but due to his health problems he had fallen.  The exact circumstances of his mishap are not know due to the heavy snowfall and wet/muddy terrain where he was located.  

 April 6 -- Shoo Fly Ruins Area -- A 72-year-old male with heart problems had went into the forest in his pickup truck equipped with a GPS unit.  He was mapping the area to update local maps with the small roads that cover much of the area.  His sister and friends called the Sheriff’s Office when he did not return at his expected time.  He was located with his vehicle of which had a flat tire.  He was in good shape but a little thirsty.  He chose to stay with his vehicle, a very good thing.  He was located by Dacey Taylor TR-4, and since he had a GPS, others were able to assist by bringing a highlift jack to change the tire.  “Good Job” to all, even if Dacey did leave his GPS (Somewhere?) behind. 

 April 13 -- Four Peaks, Gila County Side -- Two men on horseback were traveling from the Maricopa County side of Four Peaks when they lost the trail they were on.  MCSO Fox 1 had previously located them the evening of the 12th.  The men had a cell phone and were in contact with the Globe S.O. Dispatch who assisted in their retrieval.  Water was the only problem they had with the exception of being lost from the trail.  They were taken water by TRSAR members, and guided to the trail.  Men and horses were brought out safely.  Thanks to all involved. 

 Remember that summer is coming.  Be prepared for more call-outs in the upcoming weeks and months.  Attend as much of the training sessions as you can.  The more proficient you are the better chances of a well party extraction.  Your actions may save the life of a fallen or injured person.  You all do a good job.  We commend you all for your efforts.  Thanks a lot for all your help.  I thank you; the squad thanks you and most of all, the subjects thank you.  (Well, usually they do.)

TRAINING    

I was unable to attend the last rope-training mission.  Hope it went well and everyone had a good time.  I should be at the next one.  There were more suggestions of which we take and try to interject them in our training sessions.  We are always open to suggestion. The Mock Mission on May 6th went well.  The Trackers did a really good job.  They found the subject about 1000 hours, only two hours after the page.  There were lots of false trails set and they did well with the tracking.  Over all, the training went very well.

TRAINING SCHEDULE

May 20 -------  Rope Training - Box Canyon - 0900 hours

May 24 -------  CPR - Pine Fire Dept. - 1830-2230 hours

June 3  -------  GPS Training - Location TBA - to be presented by the infamous Sgt. Terry Hudgens, well known GPS GURU!!!!!  If you haven’t attended this class yet, try to attend.  You have really missed something.

Sorry this Newsletter was so late.  I will be more prompt in May.  

Bill TR-28