"Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue was awarded a NASAR State Award at this year's NASAR conference. We were nominated by California OES, and Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue will also receive a state citation from the Governor's Office. We are in good company with four other groups (Alaska, Colorado, Maryland and Vermont) that received the 2004 NASAR State Award."

"You know, this is a good thing. I realize that we don't do this stuff for the sake of recognition, and as a group we generally just aren't all that interested in, or even comfortable with, awards and the like. Nevertheless, I'd really like the team to feel good about this. So, at the risk of being a cheerleader, I'm going to ramble on."

"There are several things that I like about this recognition. Most importantly, it's a team award."

"The nomination letter (see below) also recognizes several different aspects of MOSAR's work. The letter emphasizes the team's long history of doing difficult work in a difficult environment and commends the unit for setting a standard for excellence in alpine SAR."

"So, the award pays tribute to the hundreds of people who have worked with the team over several decades. The letter also calls attention to several specific operations that were conducted in 2003 and 2004 and the resulting positive impressions that were left with other agencies that saw our unit at work."

"I believe that every single person who was on the team during this period contributed to at least one of the operations that were discussed, so everyone truly "owns" a piece of the award. And, the letter points out the efforts of our SO coordinators who make many contributions to statewide SAR planning. The nomination thus includes all of the unpaid and paid personnel, past and present, who have made MOSAR such a strong organization. You can't beat that for inclusiveness."

"Our team always works hard, and that was particularly the case over the last year as we responded to forty-some calls and put in a tremendous number of hours. We work when some other teams would not, and we do a good job. It's great to be recognized for that quantity and quality of effort."

"So, go ahead and pat yourself on the back. I promise not to tell anyone. And buy yourself a beer, a mocha, or an entire cheesecake while you're at it. Run around like a golden retriever for five minutes. You deserve it."

"I'm proud to be on this team."

"Jeff"

There is no better county in California to get lost and found in than Mono, says the Governor's Office and the National Association of Search and Rescue.

The Mono County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Team received a commendation from the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Law Enforcement Branch. The award was presented by the State's Mutual Aid Coordinator, Matt Sharper, recently.

The State award will make a good bookend with the NASAR's "State Award" for 2004. Mono County's Search and Rescue Coordinator, Sgt. Robert Weber, accepted the awards at NASAR's annual conference held in Lansdowne, VA on June 2.

"It's really quite an honor to be on this Team. You take all the special strengths that each one brings and you have an amazing group of individuals. We all have different strengths that add up to a successful effort every time," said Sgt. Webber.

Mono's SAR Team was recognized for their "proficient actions during the many complex searches and rescuesŠ in very extreme conditions as well as their outstanding leadership on statewide SAR issues."

Despite the extreme complexity of missions in Mono County, and the limited number of SAR volunteers, the Team goes beyond the call of duty in utilizing all of the resources available to them. The team has 40 about members. There's another 10 support team and reserve members that do fundraising, PR, websites, administration.

"The Virginia ceremonies for the national search and rescue teams were very moving, said Sgt. Weber. "NASAR showed a video tribute of all the volunteers who had died in the past year. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. These men and women give their all."

Rescue missions are often completed in the face of extreme environmental conditions and at elevations in excess of 12,000 feet. This means dealing with cold and windy elements year-round in some of the State's most remote regions.

Recently, the Team was successful in finding a missing skier that had gone out of bounds and was found alive after several days. Another case involved a missing person that lasted 14 days before he was found alive.

These are all routine searches for the Mono County SAR Team. Still, due to its proximity to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and several other recreational activities, such as backpacking, mountain biking, climbing and snowmobiling, many times the team is stretched to its limits with multiple ongoing rescues.

The US Marine Corp. Mountain Warfare Training Center is located within the county at Pickel Meadows. Last October, three Marines went missing while on a training exercise. Although the US Marine Corp. has many resources they called on Mono County's SAR Team to assist with their search. The Marines were successfully found the next day.

Mammoth Times has a personal relationship with the SAR Team. One of our own staff, ad sales rep Dave Michalski, was honored this past year as the Team's top (rookie) candidate.

Many other local businesses support the SAR Team with gifts of staff time, donations and resources. It's truly a community effort that deserves additional accolades and honors.

Mono County's SAR leadership has also been at the forefront of making Legislative change by being a mover and shaker in Sacramento. Their efforts have resulted in improved search and rescue operations and coordination with all 58 California sheriff's departments. They have also worked closely with the US Forest Service in improving relationships and methods when operating in Wilderness Areas.

As small as they are, the Mono County SAR Team leads the pack when it comes to courage, tenacity and expertise when it comes to search and rescue.

We wholeheartedly agree with the NASAR's choice for this year's California State Search and Rescue award. Our hat's off to you.

Mono County SAR Team, you're the best. -MT

NASAR State Award Nomination
California

SECTION I:

Mono County Sheriffs Department - Search and Rescue
100 Bryant St.
Bridgeport, CA 93517

SECTION II:

MONO County

Set on the eastern slopes of California's Sierra Nevada at the edge of the vast Great Basin, Mono County is a vacation destination that's wild and varied by nature and full of adventure. This is a rare environment of natural contrasts: soaring granite peaks and spacious desert vistas, quiet lakes and bubbling hot springs, winter snows and sunny Summer skies, rolling sagebrush hills and vibrant wildflower meadows.

The County seat is in Bridgeport. Created April 24, 1861. The county is named after Mono Lake, which, in 1852, was named for an Indian tribe that inhabited the Sierra Nevada from north of Mono Lake to Owens Lake. The tribe's western neighbors, the Yokuts, called them monachie meaning "fly people" because the pupae of a fly was their chief food staple and trading article.

Mono County is a popular ski resort in winter, places like Mammoth Mountain and June Lake, and an active vacation spot in summer. It is located in the eastern Sierra Nevada. One can ski in winter or fish or mountain bike or hike in summer, among other things.

SECTION III:

To the Mono County Sheriffs Department Search and Rescue Team for their proficient actions during the many complex searches and rescues conducted in their county in very extreme conditions as well as their outstanding leadership on statewide SAR issues. The dedication of the Mono County Sheriffs Department Search and Rescue Team is above and beyond the call of duty.

SECTION IV:

Despite the extreme complexity of search missions in their County, and the limited number of SAR volunteers, the Mono County Sheriffs Department Search and Rescue Team proficiently utilizes all of the resources available to them. These missions are often completed in the face of extreme environmental influences, elevations in excess of 12,000 feet; cold/windy conditions the year around and the mere remoteness of their area.

Often calling on California National Guard air assets, which are often the only air assets that can operate at these higher altitudes. This valuable asset is often unavailability because of extreme weather conditions, the Mono SAR Team members continue to move forward and operate with solely the best interest of the victim in mind.

Such missions vary from lost or overdue hikers, to missing skiers in the many ski areas in their county. Just recently they were successful in finding a missing skier that had gone "out of bounds" and was found alive after several days. Another such case was a missing individual that went 14 days before he was reported missing, this as well resulted in a successful operation.

These types of "routine" searches, and the only reason they are routine is because of the frequency that they occur, are frequently a daily occurrence in the many ski areas of Mono County. Often times multiple victims are missing at the same time and this is where the management skills of these teams pays dividends for the victims.

Located in Mono County is the United States Marine Corp. Mountain Warfare Training Center located at Pickel Meadows. This past October 3 marines went missing while on a training exercise, even though the U.S. Marine Corp has lots of resources they called upon the Mono County Sheriffs Search and Rescue Volunteers to assist with the search for their marines. The marines were successfully located the next day; however, this is a testament to the respect and confidence that many agencies have come to develop after working with Mono County SAR Teams.

Recently, one such mission put Mono County SAR to the test, and stretched their resources to the max. On Monday, 8-04-03 Fred Claassen of Livermore, CA was reported overdue from a weekend hike in the Twin Lakes area. Mono County responded and requested a California National Guard Black Hawk to deploy search teams at 11,500 ft.

Because of the size and altitude of the immediate search area, Mono County requested additional high altitude search teams for the next day to include California National Guard support for inserting these teams. Inyo and Kern Counties initially supplied those resources. Mono County advised that responding teams be prepared for a 48 hr. deployment at elevations over 9,000 ft. Again this is an example of the extreme conditions that Mono County SAR folks work in.

The following days we found, Fresno, Marin and San Bernardino SAR Teams enroute to assist with the search. San Bernardino Sheriff SAR folks were called upon to assist with the overhead team for the weekend, as the Mono staff had been going 24/7 for most of the week.

This mission continued for over a week with support from several out of County SAR Teams. Several all out efforts were made well into September to try and find some clue for the missing hiker. Even though the victim has never been found, the dedication and professionalism on Mono County's SAR Volunteers was never more outstanding.

Teams returning from this search were extremely complimentary about Mono County and the way the operation was handled. Many went away with operations skills that will improve their own response in the future.

The Mono County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Team conducted a landmark operation that went way above the call of duty. Their proficient efforts in these extremely complex missions set the stage for successfully overcoming future high altitude searches and the lessons learned will certainly be valuable for other SAR Teams within the State of California.

Mono County Sheriff’s Department has also approached their "Search and Rescue'' responsibility on another front and that is in the area of Legislative change. Mono County has been the mover and shaker when it comes to introducing legislation that will improve how the 58 Sheriffs in California operate when involved in "Search and Rescue". They have also been in the forefront in working with the United State Forest Service in improving relationships of how we can better operate in "Wilderness Areas".

Mono County, as small as they are, displays the courage and skills to truly understand the importance of Search and Rescue.