Warmer weather usually leads to more incidences involving lost people. Disoriented hunters, lost children, missing people, afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, who have wandered aimlessly away from home, and individuals, suffering from depression, who have walked into the a cornfield or wooded area intending to commit suicide are all challenges that Mason County’s search and rescue teams have faced throughout the years. In a proactive step to become even more effective when a situation for a search arises, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office has reestablished the Posse’; more formally known as the Mason County Sheriff’s Office’s Mounted Search and Rescue team. On horseback, searchers will have a better vantage point than the ground search teams and will generally be able to travel to areas where vehicles are unable to access,” said Sheriff Wayne Youell. “Movement from the coordination/operations center to the search location should be quicker, and the search area will be covered in a shorter period of time.”
Currently comprised of five volunteer members, the mounted search and rescue team recently traveled to Henry County where they completed two days of certified training in ground search techniques. Each member of the team has their own horse, tack, means of transporting the horses, and other assorted equipment. The members include Havana dentist, Dr. Dan Stephens, retired army master sergeant Candy Gann, retired Havana Police Sergeant Gregory Cox, Hope Bridges, a registered nurse, and Larry Estep, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “The selection of these members was not accidental. Proven to be reliable and trustworthy, each person of our team is very knowledgeable of equestrian related matters and have displayed a sincere desire to help others in time of need,” said Youell. “I feel that our mounted search and rescue team will be a great advantage for our county and we are very fortunate to have quality volunteers for this organization.”Return To Press Releases