Search and Rescue

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By Sarah Gravlee

Story Published: Apr 5, 2010 at 6:30 PM MST

Story Updated: Apr 6, 2010 at 9:50 AM MST

BILLINGS - In the last five years, Yellowstone County has conducted 37 search and rescue missions without a search and rescue team. That's something one candidate for sheriff would like to change.

"Twenty-three or 24 years ago I went into the ice looking for a 7-year-old boy drowned by Blain's Trailer Court. From then on I thought: we need to be doing more," said Mike Linder, a republican running for sheriff of Yellowstone County. He said of the seven most populated counties in the state, Yellowstone is the only county without a search and rescue team.

"I don't think we're equipped like we should be," Linder said.

Yellowstone County Sheriff, Jay Bell, a democrat who is running for re-election, disagrees. "Any resources that are needed for a rescue, we have them in place," he said.

Yellowstone County has a boat, an ATV and a contract with an aviation company for air searches. They also work closely with the Billings Police and Fire Departments for searches. He added that 100% of the county's rescue calls in the last five years have been for river rescues, an area he said is well covered.

"To put resources into search and rescue group, I think county taxpayers money could be spent in better places," Bell said.

Linder said he would pull volunteers from local outdoors clubs, where people are already trained on the equipment. "It wouldn't really cost that much," he said.

Costs aside, Bell said there simply isn't enough to keep a search and rescue crew busy in Yellowstone County. "I'm afraid if you put a group together that would be a search and rescue group, there's not a lot for them to do," Bell said.

Voters will have a chance to choose their favorite candidate this November.

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MTPete68 said on Monday, Aug 30 at 2:44 PM

I have talked to Mike about being a volunteer. I hope Bell is right about not a lot to be done but if I and other volunteers could help find that lost hunter or kid and keep deputies where they need to be onthe job would be well worth it. So appointed sheriff Bell if you want my vote maybe read this post and think about the priorities of the county not what your prconceived notion would be.

walleye said on Wednesday, Apr 7 at 11:02 AM

change your mind yupper dont comment on something you know nothing about...........

Yupper said on Tuesday, Apr 6 at 8:39 AM

So we are the only county that seems to think putting a group like this would be a waste of taxpayers money. To me it is a waste of money to buy all the fancy euquipment, prance around it like a proud man, but never really get good at using it.

uhaukl said on Monday, Apr 5 at 9:27 PM

Bell isn't running for reelection. He's never been elected before. he was appointed. so he's running for election, not relection.

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