Search and Rescue receives recognition and awards

By Patsy Stoddard

The Emery County Search and Rescue hosted a recognition and appreciation dinner for their search and rescue members at the Orangeville community center.
Sheriff Greg Funk welcomed everyone to the event. “Thank you for the support you give our county. Most people in the county don’t even know who performs this service for us. Thank you to your wives for letting you go out on rescues and spending time away from your families. We are right behind Salt Lake County with the busiest call outs for the DPS chopper.” The number of search and rescues in Emery County is way up over the last couple of years. “We used to go out on 12-15 calls a year and it’s escalated,” said Sheriff Funk.
Commissioner Kent Wilson said, “I’ve been a commissioner now for five months and learning about the volunteers in the county has been a pleasant surprise. People in our county who serve their community with a passion. You love and serve our county. You’ve been under a lot of pressure with all the rescues and the service you perform. You have the county’s gratitude.”
Capt. Kyle Ekker presented plaques to the members of the rope team for their help with the military when they were here during the summer for training. The training puts the participants in stressful situations. Awards went to Dal Gray, Ben Orgill, Jerry Price, Zac Crawford, Jim Byars, Greg Jewkes, Bret Guymon, Lee Magnuson, Jim Jennings, Larry Johansen and Mike Taylor.
Plaques were presented to search and rescue members who have been involved for a number of years. Howard Tuttle was given an award for 50 years of service; Brad Reed-30 years of service; Leonard Norton-20 years; Randy Lake-25 years; Kirk McQuivey and Chuck Ebeling 30 years. Sheriff Funk recognized Sgt. Les Wilberg for his many years of service to search and rescue and the Castle Valley Pageant. Sgt. Wilberg will retire on Jan. 31.
Sheriff Funk presented an award to Bret Hutchings “Hutch” one of the DPS pilots for all the help the pilots have given the county throughout the many rescues. Hutchings said, “It’s a privilege and a pleasure to work with you guys. We’re just the Uber drivers and you guys do all the work. You’re out there freezing, at least I have a heater in the chopper. Your county has the second highest rate of rescues in the state.”
Molly Barnes prepared a slide show of all the search and rescue pictures from throughout the last couple of years.
Wade Allinson presented the Manly award to Bret Guymon for his part in a rescue that saved a family near Goblin Valley. The award is named for an explorer that passed through Emery County near Green River and became friends with Chief Walker. Allinson said, “With me, you’re going to get a history lesson. We decided to name this award the William Lewis Manly award with an Emery County twist. This award is presented to someone who helped with a rescue that saved someone’s life. William Lewis Manly was a 49er headed to California. His boat broke up near Green River and Chief Walker was there. He told them not to float down the Green River, but to go overland. He gave them a map and they hiked along the old Spanish Trail and they met up with their wagon train in Spanish Fork. The map said to go due west. The wagon train hit Death Valley and everyone died but a couple of people. Manly hiked 500 miles and into a settlement where he tried to buy a horse, but the only thing available was a one eyed mule. So he took the mule and some oranges and went back to Death Valley and rescued the survivors.
 “We had a search this year on June 15. A family of four was camped at Little Wild Horse. They went on a hike and became lost. The husband hiked out 11 miles to the Goblin Valley ranger station. But, he had no idea where he’d left his family.
“The wife and son had been out there for two days. Another of the sons walked out and search and rescue located him. Bret Guymon located his tracks and followed them and he shouted and heard a response and they were able to locate the wife and other son. They were in poor condition. Bret and Jim found them and they didn’t have much time left,” said Allinson. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack to locate the family.
The wives of the search and rescue members were presented with flowers. Each search and rescue member received a gift.
Search and Rescue president Greg Jewkes presented Sheriff Funk with a gun. “We want to thank the sheriff for all he’s done for us over the last eight years.”
Sheriff Funk said, “You guys mean everything to me. You don’t complain and you give 120 percent. It’s been an honor to be with you guys. You don’t know how much we appreciate you. I’d like to thank my wife for providing food on some of the rescues.”