SAR Coordinates - March 2004

This years Fund Raiser has gotten off to a great start. The grand prize this year is a Starcraft 11RT Folding Camping Trailer made possible by Payless Auto & Camper Sales in Phoenix. This is an awesome looking trailer. It's not hard to sell tickets for this prize. We also have as prizes a 2.5 carat Four Peaks Amethyst gemstone from Payson Jewelers, four tickets to Knott's Berry Farm, two passes for the Verde Canyon Railroad and $50 gift certificate for the Sportsman's Warehouse in Phoenix. So far we have sold tickets at the International Sportsman's Expo at the Fairgrounds and at the big RV show at the Civic Plaza. Sales at these two shows have been great. Tickets will are $10 each. Squad members can pick up tickets to sell at the next general meeting.

At the General meeting in March, Dave Beckstead should have the Squad photos available to members who would like one. Price is $10 each.

My thanks to Ira Gibel, Les Hulse, Doug Conklin and Cliff Sage who helped with Traffic Control for the Celebration of Life for Mike and Janet Carter at the Pine Community Center. Mike and Janet died in an early morning fire February 20th. Ira Gibel organized this small crew on short notice. Again, thanks to all that helped.

Also, I join with all the Squad in congratulating J.D. and Willow Carter on the birth of their first child, Jeffrey Dell Carter III. He was born Feb. 25th at 2:24 PM and weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz and was 20" in length.
Both Willow and Dell are doing great. J.D. is walking about 3 feet off the ground these days.

Stay active and stay healthy.

See you on the trail.

Dave Pirtle 507

Don't forget; the meetings this month are Mar 9th for the
Board and Mar 11th for the General Meeting.


― A SENIOR MOMENT ―

By Jane Boyles

THE LITTLE YELLOW BRAT

Anyone who has lived in the Pine Strawberry area for some time, remembers the Little Yellow Subaru Brat. It was kind of like your dog, never far from its master. Its master was a unique sort of man. A Viet Nam veteran, he was proud of his contribution to his Country as an Army helicopter door gunner. Hanging out that door might have had a part in making him appreciate and respect life.

Mike Williams was an icon in the community. He taught sixth grade at Pine school helping to form young minds and teaching them to have respectful caring hearts. By taking his group to Cucurpe, Mexico each year in the Hands-Across-the-Border exchange program, the kids learned about poverty, family values and life. Those same Mexican children then came to visit in Pine each year for a taste of rural American life.

Back to the Little Yellow Brat- it was a wood hauler as Mike was a wood cutter. It didn't take long to get a load of fire wood and he would be out after school getting another load. Mike was a caver and the Brat was often seen outside Mike's favorite cave south of Pine. The cave was used as a teaching tool and often on Saturday mornings he would have a group of kids from school down in the cave. Being sort of packrat, Mike carried home every antler, bone and skull that he found as he hiked in the woods. He was seldom ever seen without his old military hat and his big knife in a sheath on his belt.

The Brat went out on every search as Mike Williams was a very active member of Tonto Rim SAR. He might be a little late getting there as the Brat was kind of temperamental and slow. It had to be parked on a little hill so Mike could get it rolling to start. On one search down at the L/F Ranch, Mike asked me if he could catch a ride back out in the Jeep. As we were riding out the rough road, with Mike perched on top of all our gear and his pack, I asked him where the Brat was and his reply was 'at the top of the hill.' When we arrive at it, John asked him if he needed a push and Mike's reply was "no, it starts easy." So with a nudge, he jumped in, popped the clutch and we followed him on out to the highway.

The Memorial Service for our friend Mike Williams was held at the squad building. So many young ladies and gentlemen that had benefited by being in Mike's class were present. Many of them spoke before the group. With teary eyes a van load of his friends from Cucurpe arrived for the service. SAR members from Maricopa County came to show respect as Mike had participated in many trainings and searches with them. You see Mike helped in every way he could wherever he was needed.- SO OTHERS MIGHT LIVE

Do you suppose he is still driving the Little Yellow Brat around that big woods in the sky?

Please come see yourself in TRSAR photos on PhotoIsland.com!

To get there, simply click the address below and enter your guest password: tonto rim

 http://www.photoisland.com/servlet/GuestLogin?USERNAME=trsar502

If that doesn't work, go to www.photoisland.com, and log in to our albums with the following information:

Log-in ID: trsar502 Guest Password: tonto rim

I still solicit your photos to add to this archive. Email them to me at; myknle@starband.net.

Thanks to those who have, and those who will.

Check out our site at: www.trsar.org

Courtesy of Bill Pitterle 541

http://wjpitterle.mystarband.net/weather/wx.htm

2-WAY RADIO

Fujitsu 10 with remote microphone, charger and 2 batteries, 16 channel, $200 OBO.

Call Gary Taylor, 476-4684

(Gary is a former member and purchased this unit while active)

Scheduled Training Sessions (current)

Planned Training Sessions (after next general meeting)

If you would like to volunteer to run a training session, or if you have a training session request,
Contact Les Hulse or John Boyles

* See following notes:

To reserve use of squad ATV or trail bike, contact John Avery at 928-476-2106 or 480-892-4424
To use trail bikes: gloves, boots, helmet, and eye protection required. Denim jacket on ATV required.

We now have in our hands the new satellite phone that was paid for by the AEMS Grant. Thanks to those involved in the Grant Writing and procurement process. Hopefully this will aid us greatly while in the field.

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

Mike