Search and rescue donation spurs challenge

Funding drive continues for team

GRANT COUNTY — The financial situation facing Grant County Sheriff's Search and Rescue program presents a challenge, but one area service group is hoping their donation spurs other groups to meet that challenge.

The search and rescue team has begun raising funds to replace its two vehicles, which have been plagued by mechanical problems in recent years. The team of volunteers currently transports its equipment to missions using a 21-year-old Ford Explorer and 33-year-old Chevrolet van that team leader Marv Maslen has said are not economically feasible to keep on the road.

"The issue of the vehicles has just become critical, it's our number one priority," Maslen said.

Coulee City Fire Chief Don Rushton also serves as president of the Coulee City Fire Department Hosers' Association, a group of firefighters who have worked with search and rescue crews in the past and know the transportation need facing the organization in order to respond to emergencies. Rushton's association has donated $500 to the new truck, and is inviting all other groups to fund the new transportation.

"I'd hope that if all these organizations kick in as much money as they can, if they can, match our amount or even more, it shouldn't take too long to get a new rig," Rushton said, noting the group is not only challenging other fire department organizations to donate, but all fraternal and civic organizations as well.

Rushton said the Hosers' Association wants search and rescue crews to reach their emergencies quickly when they are needed so the volunteers are dealing with a rescue, and not a recovery.

Rushton knows what it's like to have an old vehicle, until Coulee City Fire acquired a new truck in 2005, it had been using a 1962 fire truck. He and Hosers' Association Vice President Jay Atwood went to Moses Lake Wednesday to present their donation to Maslen.

"Whenever we see a need we try to cook up some funding," Rushton said.

The search and rescue unit is ultimately looking to obtain annual budget funding for the team, but is now focusing on obtaining help of $1 from every one of Grant County's approximately 80,000 residents to buy newer vehicles.

Some of the unit's other equipment does need replacing, but Maslen said the team's primary goal is to get funding for the vehicles. The team has scheduled a meeting with the Grant County Commissioners for 4 p.m. Monday to discuss the issue, Maslen said.

Maslen said the Hosers' donation has bumped the coffers of the search and rescue unit up by about $1,100.

But Maslen himself will no longer lead the group. He said he has to get away from the program for a while, and has resigned as team leader. While he will no longer lead the search and rescue team, Maslen said he will still do everything he can to support the group.

"It's going to benefit every citizen in the county as well as the 100,000 visitors that we get in the county," he said. The Grant County Sheriff's Office has estimated the county's population may reach as high as 200,000 additional visitors during summer months.

Search and Rescue donations can be made to the unit's account at Horizon Credit Union, at Grant County Search and Rescue, c/o Horizon Credit Union.