LC Search and Rescue there 'in time of need'

Lake County Search and Rescue (LCSAR) is worth it’s weight in gold, and it’s been part of the county for going on for nearly five full decades. In fact, LCSAR will celebrate its golden anniversary of 50 years in operation in 2020.

LCSAR currently features at team of about 35 dedicated men and women who volunteer their “free” time to the residents of Lake County, and many others who reside elsewhere. The team also includes about six horses, whose owners/handlers are LCSAR members.

One of those trusty steeds, Blue, passed away on April 2 at the age of 24. The gentle, friendly blue roan was a “part of the team” for 14 years. His owner was Ed Hendrix, who has been a LCSAR volunteer for 16 years. Blue was in service for the last 14 years. (More about Blue and other LCSAR service horses is coming up later in this article.)

JARED BELL is the senior member of LCSAR.This is his 14th year with the organization, and he’s served as president for the last five years. Victor Moldenhauer is the vice president; Barb Merritt, secretary; and Hannah Elmore, treasurer. Bell is chairman of the LCSAR board that has four other members.

According to Bell, there are currently about 35 members. “There are quite a few who joined right after I did,” he said. “We’ve had an influx of new members over the last year. We’re trying to get out name out there. Not a lot of people know we have a volunteer organization.

“Everybody loves helping people and everybody loves the outdoors,” Bell said of the current members. “It’s kind of like a family.”

He said, “It’s definitely a team effort. I’ve got a lot of great people. I appreciate all the team does.”

Bell said LCSAR tries to do a different training every week, like knot-tying, fire building and communication. “We build up on skills you need for the season,” he said. At this time, LCSAR is getting into boat training.

Their “big” boat is a 28-foot cruiser that is ideal for manuevering over the surface of Flathead Lake. It has a V hull, but is inflated all the way around. That allows volunteers to easily retrive a victim from what are often icy waters.

“It’s an amazing boat for the lake,” Bell said. “It’s the most stable boat that I’ve ever been on on the lake. It’s powered by twin 250hp motors, and LCSAR has owned it for about seven years. The Lake County community stepped up to help purchase the boat by making donations.

LCSAR also has the use of a 17-foot aluminum boat and a stable rubber raft, plus 4-wheelers.

Operational costs are mostly covered by receipts of mill levy money — thanks to the Lake County Commissioners and taxpayer dollars.

THERE IS a fairly long list of horses that have served LCSAR over its first 49 years, and some that continue in service. There are currently about a half-dozen steeds standing at the ready to provide solid footing along a narrow, rocky trail in the mountains, or in other service aspects — such as on ice in the winter.

Ted Courson — who raises horses for a living — is in charge of the “mounted party” of LASAR.

Hendrix, who lost Blue several weeks ago, pointed to Courson and Bruce McMillan who have been horse owners/handlers the longest. Bill Smith and others were in the mix years over the years.

Those owners not only volunteer their horses but their own time when their horse goes into service on a search or rescue.

Chris Hughes is a member of both the rope and horse teams.

Hendrix said that Hobby Horse gives LCSAR a good deal on use of its arena for horse training, usually on Tuesday evenings.

“Sometimes I would bring in a second horse, a pack horse,” Hendrix said. “Ted was always very generous with his horses.”

Hendrix spoke about how often horses were saddled and put into service on a call. “It always seems to be 9, 10, 11 o’clock at night,” he laughed. “It was always dark. And these guys have worked all day. Now they’re out all night. They still have to get home from where they left off.”

HENDRIX KNEW that something was up with Blue, dating back a couple of weeks. “I notice he was losing a little weight ... That was a tip,” he said, recalling Monday, evening April 1. He set up an appointment to see veterinarian Leroy Hoversland on Thursday, April 4, and brought him back to the barn. “He was unsteady. When he stood his legs would quiver.”

Tuesday morning, Hoversland called Hendrix and told him to bring Blue to his clinic. “We can try to do some stuff but that would only extend his life just a couple of weeks,” he said.

Hendrix hauled Blue to the clinic, left him there in an indoor stall. Later that day, Hoversland put Blue down in his own trailer.

“He said come by and take him back home in my trailer and you can bury him at home,” Hendrix said. He has a “pet cemetery” on his home on Ridge Road outside of town.

Hendrix complimented Hoversland for the special care he gives to animals.

“He just had a good temperament. I liked riding him in the parades,” Hendrix said of Blue. “Others had a tendency to get spooked.”

Just like the other service horses who went before him, Blue will be missed. And the rest of the LCSAR family will carry on.