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Commander's Corner

Tonto Rim Search and Rescue has only had one mission so far this month. Forest Closures due to extreme fire dangers has limited access to the north land. Many of us were ready to evacuate our homes due to the Willow Fire and the potential for a fire almost anywhere in northern Gila County. So far, the Monsoon has been good to us the past two weeks. Now the forests are open, so action should pick up for our squad. The fall hunting draw results are out, which will bring more families up north to camp and to scout. Any missions this time of year will be hot and muddy with the potential for wet and cold later the same day. Be prepared!

Our Web Site is coming along nicely, thanks to Jack Quinn our webmaster. Mike Taylor has been working closely with Jack to provide many enhancements. The Monthly Newsletter and many pictures are now online. Les Hulse has also been working with Jack to provide the Squads Database on our Web Site. Updates can now be downloaded from www.trsar.org Many thanks to these fellows for all of their hard work.

Tom Sander and his loyal Fundraiser compatriots continue to work hard with the Raffle. I encourage all of you to help in this effort. We will be doing more mail outs requesting donations in the near future.

Jim Martin and the YES presenters have had four YES programs this month. Youth Education for Survival (YES) is a very rewarding program to educate young people on preparedness and survival if they become lost in the woods. Jim and his crew present this program for Boy and Girl Scouts, Church groups, Elementary class rooms and at Forest Service campgrounds. Get involved with this effort. It's a very worth while program.

Sgt Terry Hudgens is building another Yagi Antenna for the Squad to use as a Directional Finder for Personal Locator Beacons. The Squad has authorized expenditure for a Yeasu VX-5R handheld radio and additional hardware to build this Antenna. With the original Directional Finder Terry built and the one he's building for the Squad we will have some tools for finding lost people who utilize PLB's. Training for these antennas will be forth coming.

Stay Active and Stay Healthy!

Dave Pirtle
Commander


Don't forget; the meetings this month are August 10th for the Board and August 12th for the General Meeting.

A Senior Moment By Jane Boyles
THE COORDINATORS GET THEIR MAN

Late one night we were called to Globe to search for a lost fellow. It seems after an evening of "fun" his female companion had hiked down into Globe to report he was missing up in the Signal Peak area. After a heated discussion of the correct direction into town and he being physically unable to walk the distance out to Globe, they separated. The car was high-centered on rocks. Globe SAR had done an initial search and had located the car but not the subject. Tonto Rim responded with several ATV's and we were lead in a caravan to the top of the pass just under Signal Peak. At the end of the very crooked dusty "maintained" road we all met with Search Coordinator Andy Brunson where he drew a rough map of the area, buildings, and old mine sites. The ATV's were assigned in groups of two to cover the trails down the hillside and when reaching certain trail junctions, they were to build a bonfire with a hope of attracting the lost. With a total of three fires which could be seen from most every vantage point in that basin, it was about all that could be done until daybreak. Not only was the hill side extremely rugged, but covered with chaparral brush. Mountain Rescue arrived and bedded down until first light when they would start out covering the brushy hill side. Andy and I picked a high spot and waited until all three fires were lit and with his night vision binoculars we could see the searchers moving around the fires. We then began a rolling command. As Range Deputy, Andy had a back road truck which was the envy of all serious four wheelers. I was on the ride of a lifetime as he crawled down the washed out "road". Having been raised by a father who treated me like one of the boys and who always owned and used off road vehicles to the fullest capacity, I was quite comfortable with my driver on this trip. It was nearing daybreak when we inched our way to the bottom where there was an old ranch cabin. Tracks were visible around it, but disappeared on the rocky terrain. From there we directed the ATV's to follow different routes searching for sign. Andy and I went on up the road to another vantage point where we could see forever. Far down in the valley, I could make out a man walking, wearing blue jeans and a white tee shirt. Knowing it was not one of our searchers who all were in orange shirts, we did a little "tundra crossing" to a point above the man where we made voice contact and, yes, he was our man. We called all of the team leaders and sent them back to their vehicles and we loaded our subject in the truck and headed around by way of the highway to the Sheriffs Office where the man had a lot of explaining to do to his worried wife.

Again-THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE (though he might of wished he hadn't)

Payson Area Habitat for Humanity
PAHH is taking applications for the next home they will be building and are seeking applicants.
If you know of a 'family' or a 'single parent family' that would be interested in owning a new home of their own through this program - please encourage them to contact PAHH asap.
 

FUNDRAISING

The following event is planned and we will need assistance from all possible to staff the booth

September 4 and 5 Pine/ Strawberry Arts and Craft Show.
Last chance to help in the fund raising raffle, Contact Tom Sander to assist.
The drawing will be on Sept 5 at the show.

PLEASE BRING IN ALL SOLD RAFFLE TICKETS TO THE AUGUST MEETING

Website
Tonto Rim SAR Members can now have your very own email address through our site. Just contact our to arrange for it, no cost to you or us.

We are promoted and you'll also find our newsletter on the Rim Country Volunteer site;

http://www.inpayson.com/Whats_News.htm

http://www.inpayson.com/Tonto_Rim_Search_and_Rescue_Site_Page.htm

http://www.inpayson.com/vip/vip_organization_profile.php?track=ggdjaqxrcb

 

August 2004 Training Schedule

14 Aug. Sat Man Tracking Cert.- Time: 0800- Location TBA (for selected trainees only) - Instructor J. Martin
18Aug. Wed. CPR & Recert.- Place: Ira Gibel's home - Time: 1800 - Instructor Ira Gibel

21 Aug. Sat Rope Practice-Time: 0800 - Place: Pine Canyon Narrows - instructor Roger Miotto assisted by rope instructors
25 Aug. Wed Overnight ATV Exercise: Time 0800 - Stage at:0473017-3766178 - Supplies: Coconino FS Map, GPS, Scales, Ruler, Pencil, Paper, Food, Radio, Batteries, and Water (may be canceled by forest closure)

Planned Training Sessions (after next general meeting)

11 Sept. Sat Man Tracking-Field Exercise - Time: 0800 -Location TBA- Instructor J. Martin

15 Sept. Wed. First Responder- Place: Ira Gibel's home - Time: 1800 - Instructor Ira Gibel

18 Sept. Sat Rope Training - Time: 0800 - Place: TBA - Roger Miotto and rope instructors in charge
22 Sept. Wed Roberts ATV Exercise- Time: 0800 -Staging Area : TBA

Planned Operation and Familiarization of 2 ½ T diesel Truck -Dep. Rod Cronk Instructor

Requested Training Sessions

… If you would like to volunteer to run a training session, or if you have a training session request contact
Any Board Member or John Boyles

Sign-up required to attend this training

* See following notes:

 To reserve use of squad ATV, contact John Avery at 928-476-2106 or 480-892-4424
Jacket, gloves, boots, helmet, and eye protection required to operate Squad ATV
 

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Thanks to those who contributed to this issue of the newsletter.