Beaverhead Search and Rescue News

The Beaverhead Search and Rescue held its monthly meeting on December 1, 2021. The meeting was called to order by Commander Lawrence Morriroe at 7:02. There were 33 members in attendance. After attendance and treasurer’s report, training officer, Nate Freeman, informed the unit of the various ongoing and new training opportunities available for the membership.

The first training is an ongoing training which happens on Wednesday nights and is teaching “Low Angle and High Angle” rope rescue techniques. Up and coming trainings include:

• a Search Manager Class which trains individuals how to manage and run search/rescue incidents,

• Wilderness First Aid that teaches members how to take care of injured individuals out on the mountain in a rescue situation,

• Avalanche Training. The avalanche course teaches individuals how to approach an avalanche area, how to search an avalanche for victims and how to use proper equipment in these situations.

The next order of business was the long awaited fish derby. Derby chairperson, Tara Remely, reminded everyone the annual derby will be held on Sunday, January 16, 2022. It will have the same format as past derbies and the same amount of door prizes to give away as well as the same prize money for the largest trout and ling. The kid’s derby will also be going on with prize money for the biggest trout and ling. Tickets are available at various businesses around town and may be purchased from S&R members.

S&R members will be canvasing the county for door prizes to be given away on the day of the derby. Your generous support of this endeavor every year is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your generosity; it helps immensely with the success of our annual ice derby.

Other things coming up for the unit:

• A work party to clean and get rid of equipment that is no longer working/used and just taking up valuable space.

• Nominations for officers for the year 2022 were opened this month and the election of those officers will take place at the January meeting.

• Sometime in the next couple of months the unit will have its annual appreciation dinner which is to thank spouses for putting up with the early morning call outs and to recognize the Member of the Year and Rookie of the Year.

Commander Morrisroe informed the unit that there were 12 Search and Rescue incidents during the year 2021. There will be more interesting statistics coming next month about these searches/rescues. Remember, your Beaverhead Search and Rescue is “In the Business of Saving Lives”.