An open house on Saturday in Cody included refreshments and tools of the trade as personnel showed how Park County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit is always ready to step up, averaging 30 responses annually.

There were some 225 attendees at the organization’s Kirk Waggoner Search & Rescue Building. Among those on hand was Waggoner, 81, still an active participant and recognized as unit founder in 1970. With a small smile, he noted, “I was pleased that the building was named for me at the 50th anniversary in 2020, but not as my memorial,” he said.

“The purpose of the unit is to organize for, plan for, train for, maintain equipment for and respond to incidents requiring search and rescue assistance as requested, directed and authorized by the sheriff,” Deputy Bill Brown, SAR coordinator, explained of the service.

Regarding the open house, he added, “We have now done this event twice (this year and last) to thank the community for their support and to let them see more of what and who we are.”

He and Waggoner said it’s likely the event will become annual.

Although Waggoner was busy with his fellow SAR members, they managed to get him to pose for a group photo. Besides being the unit founder he worked for 38 years as a deputy, he said, and started the SAR group at the direction of his uncle, Harley Kinkade, who was sheriff at the time.

Brown said the unit “is composed of some 25 to 30 volunteers from all walks of life. They are trained in skills such as first aid and CPR, wilderness search, air-

They also undergo Incident Command System training, wilderness travel, land navigation, avalanche search and critical incident stress management. Brown said some team members are extensively trained in emergency medicine and other specialized rescue techniques, and many are community instructors of various outdoor skills and safety programs.

For its varied responses, Waggoner said besides water craft, snow and avalanche units and other tracked vehicles, SAR can call on two medical helicopters and a fixed wing aircraft. The group stands ready for whatever need arises.

“The teams also assist the local law enforcement, emergency management, volunteer fire departments and ambulance services when extra help is needed with logistical support or medical/rescue services during serious incidents,” Brown said.

Those who want to help SAR obtain new equipment, recurring member training and community education can donate to the Park County Search & Rescue Foundation by contacting pcsarfoundation@gmail.com.