Infrared-equipped drone real lifesaver
With today’s technology, we often take for granted things today that would have blown our minds yesterday. And thanks to an infrared-equipped drone, a missing teenage boy was found on Feb. 20 in Liberty.
The teen was missing for about four hours before Hamilton County Emergency Management in Chattanooga, Tenn., and West Polk, Tenn., were on hand with their drones. The three drones flew a grid search pattern for two hours before the Hamilton County drones picked up the boy’s heat signature, leading rescuers to where he was lying down in a fetal position, clearly scared.
This is exactly the kind of technology Cherokee County’s search-and-rescue teams need to help find missing people, vehicles and more. With the tremendous amount of forest land around us, it makes a lot of sense to invest in drones that can easily go where human eyes cannot.
Risky, rewarding rescue
When a vehicle occupied by a mother and her 17-year-old son left Joe Brown Highway in Unaka, went down a 150-foot embarkment and wedged into trees on Feb. 13, it could have had a very unhappy ending. They were hurt and trapped in the vehicle, with little to no cell phone service.
Instead, the Hiwassee Dam Volunteer Fire Department, Unaka Volunteer Fire Department, Grape Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services, N.C. Highway Patrol and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office joined forces to pull off a rescue suitable for a big-screen movie. Everyone who played a part should be congratulated, including the wrecker operator.
Multiple “Jaws of Life” were used along with reciprocating saws, air hammers, come-alongs and jacks to open an access point for rescuers to reach the victims, then extricate them through the opening using a rope haul. This kind of bravery, compassion and skill-set shows just how dedicated our emergency workers and volunteers are in Cherokee County.
Amazing pilot saves lives
The pilot of the Life Force 6 helicopter that crashed Thursday evening in Franklin did everything possible to avert disaster, and as a result four people are alive today.
The landing alone – expertly taking down an aircraft with serious engine trouble on a narrow roadway lined with trees – is worthy of praise, as helicopter crashes don’t leave many survivors. In addition to getting a nice pay raise, we hope he’s teaching his fellow pilots on how to properly react during an emergency.
Saying goodbye to Tatum
Andrews lost a local treasure on Feb. 25, when Dr. Glenn Tatum Jr. went to be with his beloved wife, Ann, who died on May 19, 2016. He was 86 and, while Tatum lived most of his life in other areas, he made a big impact during his time in Valleytown.
Tatum was a Scout, a scholar, a veteran, a dentist, a Kiwanian and a dedicated community servant. His obituary reads like the accomplishments of several people, not just one humble man who retired in Andrews and became a familiar face at virtually every local event.
Especially when he was with his wife, Tatum always seemed to have a smile on his face and a good word to say. Special thanks to his family for sharing him with us for the last 25 years; to say he will be missed is an understatement.
Grieving together
When someone we care about dies, it’s only natural to grieve for our loss. We often need somebody to lean on to help get us through these tough times.
Rex Gruber of Martins Creek first lost his wife of many years, then his longtime partner. After receiving help from a support group in Blairsville, Ga., it was on his heart to start a similar group in Cherokee County so local residents wouldn’t have so far to drive.
With the help of Denise Cross, director of Cherokee County Senior Services, the Four Seasons grief counseling group started meeting this week at Penland Senior Center in Murphy from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Mondays through April 10. For details, email to AEntwistle@FourSeasonsCFL.org or call 828-692-6178.
It’s never easy being alone, especially when you expected a special someone to be there with you. We salute Gruber and Cross for caring and wanting to help.
– Publisher David Brown