On Tuesday, February 9th 2021, Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer thanked the Klickitat County Search & Rescue volunteers at the annual appreciation ceremony. Sheriff Songer and SAR Coordinator Jeff King commended the volunteers for their dedication and commitment to the Sheriff’s Office, residents and visitors of Klickitat County. In 2020 the Klickitat County SAR volunteers donated a total of 2,638 hours, including 644 hours on 13 missions and 1,994 training hours. Sheriff Songer pledged continued support for the Search & Rescue Program.
Sheriff Songer recognized the SAR members and their families, saying how much he appreciated their contributions and dedication to the Search & Rescue Program. Sheriff Songer acknowledged the value to the citizens of Klickitat County in the way of the SAR member’s thousands of volunteer hours and use of personal equipment in helping people in their time of greatest need.
Eleven new members were recognized with commemorative SAR pins. SAR Program Coordinator, Jeff King recognized the two newly certified K9 search dogs, Griffin, handler Maija DiSalvo and Ellie, handler Jim Jones for their hundreds of hours of training to achieve certification. Recognition went to Chelsey Betterley, Maija DeSalvo, Fred Henchell, Angela Hoffman, and Garry Petrie for 5 years of volunteer service and Jeff King for 20 years of volunteer service. Special recognition was given to 2020 “Rookie of the Year”, Jim Jones and “Volunteer of the Year”, Deb Ireland for their outstanding levels of dedication and commitment to the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office Search & Rescue Program.
Klickitat County Search & Rescue Volunteers are looking forward to another successful year in 2021. If you would like information about joining the Klickitat County Search & Rescue Team, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 509-773-4455 or read more about KCSAR activities and download an application at www.klickitatsar.org or follow “Klickitat County Search and Rescue” on Facebook.