Search & Dive Rescue needs support

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.