| Water training funds needed
With visits to local waterways increasing yearly as sites like the Quemahoning Reservoir become more popular and accessible, so does the possibility of tragedy striking.That is one of the main reasons the Hollsopple Volunteer Fire Department is holding a fundraiser to benefit the shortest emergency responder on the water search and recovery team. Lilo is her name and smelling is her game, said owner Wendy Vogel.The “Hound Hike" to be held at the Quemahoning Reservoir Summer's Best Two Weeks site on May 19 will hopefully raise much of the money necessary to get Lilo certified in water rescue and recovery, she said.Already undergoing training, Lilo will need donations of more than $1,000 in order to meet the costs associated with water rescue, she said.Adding water to the search and rescue portion of the dog's abilities will be the important next step in the process, she said.The hike itself will feature a mile-long looped walk, vendor booths, kid's crafts, food and demonstrations, she said.Set to run from 10 a.m.
Fund-raiser aids canine rescue team
An upcoming fund-raiser for the Cen-Tex Search and Rescue team offers car washes, dog baths and shopping for goodies all in one place. The event is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 12 at Sevcik's Services Center on the corner of Longmire Drive and Harvey Mitchell Parkway. Proceeds will go to water recovery training and national certifications for the Bryan-based Cen-Tex Search and Rescue canines. Professionally trained and nationally accredited volunteers work with dogs and horses to help authorities find missing or deceased individuals. For more information, visit www.rothcala.com/CenTexSAR.html. .
K-9 units gather for training
Law enforcement personnel and their K-9 partners from different law enforcement agencies are in Okeechobee this week for three days of intensive drug training and certification. Taking part in the training are officers and K-9s from the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office, Glades County Sheriff's office, St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office and Bowling Green. The training sessions are being held at the Eckerd Youth Development Center (EYDC), and began Monday, May 7. Different types of drugs were planted throughout unused buildings and in various vehicles located near the maintenance department so the K-9s could hone their skills at drug detection prior to certification testing. Training for these K-9 units is ongoing to keep the dogs and their handlers in top form for the various tasks they perform within their communities.
Search dogs are a blessing for community and beyond
Dear Editor, As a working dog trainer and handler myself, it is always exciting to hear what others are doing with their working dogs, such as the bloodhounds you portrayed in the April 20 newspaper. The community is blessed to have so many resources available when criminals flee and people are lost.And all to often, the community is not aware of these resources until the media shines a spotlight on them, or they are given credit for a job well done. South East Search and Rescue has assisted with numerous local search missions, such as: two days in St. Augustine for a missing man, two days on the recent missing Kingsland sailor and three days in the Brunswick search for little Christopher (Barrios), and we are proud to have been a part of it, and to be there when Christopher was found. We have also worked numerous weekends attempting to locate the missing Ocilla school teacher.
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