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 Christian Evans gets a hug from his worried mother, Tammy Evans, after a canoeing trip on a fast-running Republican River took longer than expected Sunday afternoon. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette) [Click to enlarge] |
About an hour after the search began, the adventurers -- unaware they were the subject of a wide-spread search -- were spotted in a pickup on Highway 6&34 as it drove past the lookout near Strunk Memorial east of McCook, which had become the sheriff's command post. "I'm glad it turned out the way it did," said Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon. "I was getting worried. We were running out of daylight, and I don't like to have anyone on the river at night."
Mahon said that Christian Evans' parents alerted the sheriff's office about 6:20 p.m., that Christian Evans, 12, Eric Paz, 13, and Rich Brown had not arrived at the bridge south of Southwest High School after leaving McCook's Barnett Park in a silver canoe about 4 p.m.
Officers checked further east down the river, and about 7 p.m., McCook pilot Griff Malleck started to fly the river. As the sun set and a south wind turned cool, Mahon prepared to request the Nebraska State Patrol's airplane equipped with infrared sensors.
Sheriff's officers and Jim Evans, Christian's dad, Donny Ruppert and several other landowners joined the river-bottom search in vehicles and on four-wheelers.
About 7:30 p.m., Rich Brown, the two boys and a silver canoe were spotted in a westbound pickup as it pulled onto the highway at the "Jack Kidd farm," an intersection between the high school and the lookout. Brown dropped off Christian at the lookout and delivered Paz to his mother in town.
Christian, in his stocking feet because his shoes were wet and somewhat embarrassed by the commotion and attention, told his mother they'd had fun on the river. "It was nice," he said. "The water was warm, and we flushed lots of deer."
Mahon was pleased with the outcome of the incident, that no one was actually lost, just overdue. He said he appreciated assistance from Malleck and neighbors and from the Nebraska State Patrol, the McCook Police Department and particularly, the police department's dispatcher.
Sounds like kids being kids to me. Maybe a few folks over reacted.
had to respond to ace 1965 one more time especially since this person may be my age if 1965 is a grduation year..so i'm pretty sure they had to be part of the huge group of us who were always down in the water somewhere playing with friends...i have a feeling that from the things i've read about you if people had to spend time and money looking for your *Lost* kids your reaction would be the same..wonder how you decide who is going to pay for my kids stunt..probably me (THE TAXPAYER) i feel so sorry for you ..you must have to think long and hard about what you will have to get up the next day to B**** about today..whose life will you make miserable with your rude, snide remarks..
At least those boys won't grow up to be a bunch pansies, they are the type that grow up to be green berets and Navy Seals. You don't sound like an ace to me. These boys will probably have to protect your pansy rear someday. I and a friend boated from Haigler to Beneklman when we were twelve years old. I went conoeing in Canada the thrirteen. They are fond memories for this "old" sixty-five year old. I sure hope my wife lets me go to Red Willow this year and if I fall in Gene Mahon can come and pull me out. Cal at Arkval
Ace1965 do you NOT have kids of your own or what is the deal ?? Yes the other person with the boy's was an adult but they were still overdue for when they were to meet their contact for pick up .As for the cell phones yes the boy's had cell phones but everyone (adult included ) left them behind becuz (in case you dont know ) water & cell phones do NOT mix !!
I just hope that if you do have children maybe you will take the time to thank the people involved with doing their job rather wondering who is going to pay for what .....I wonder if it was YOUR child would you still be wondering who was paying for what or would you be instead thanking the people who were there helping you look for your child ??
ace1965 you do sound like a horse's rear...every kid who ever lived in McCook has played, canoed, enjoyed the river..i know my friends and i spent hours during our childhood enjoying playing there..and no, no cell phones..our parents just *knew* to look for any one of us down by the river...taxpayer dollars are wasted every single day..to look for what was perceived as *lost* kids is not and was not a waste..shame on you ace1965!!!
By the way, at least the sheriff department was earning their keep. They don't have the guts to prosecute people when needed so they have to go elsewhere to prove that they are worth keeping around.
ace1965, weren't you a kid once and went "tubing" down the river or went exploring? Kids are kids and at least they weren't causing trouble (illegal). Yes, they should have had a plan so in case they got separated or at least thought about letting someone know of their whereabouts. However, at least THANK GOD, they are safe. At least also, we have water in the river! How many years has it been that we haven't been able to go play in the river like we used to when we were kids. Maybe next time a little more caution will take place. But HAVE FUN!
WHO! in the right mind would let a 12 & thirteen year old go conoeing on any river, espically one that is running fast. I take it that the other person that was with them was an adult. Why did they not have a radio or a cell phone (now days almost every kid has a cell phone) with them!!!!! Totally unexceptable!!!!! Who's getting the bill for this (Tax PAYERS?)