By Chase Jordan
Junction City Daily Union – December 31, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – January 4, 2014
After a recent drowning incident at Milford Lake, Geary County officials are working to be more prepared in the future.
On Monday, Geary County Commissioners approved $10,000 for the Geary County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management departments to purchase a craft to assist with rescue missions in the winter.
Verbally, Junction City’s police and fire departments have agreed to contribute money for training and equipment.
“We’re all going to pull our money together to get this equipment and training,” Sheriff Tony Wolf said. “This gives us a fighting chance in the future if anything likes this comes up.”
During the press conference, Commission Chair Ben Bennett discussed the drowning of Thomas Hedrick, a 31-year-old Fort Riley soldier. “That’s a tragedy,” Bennett said. “We feel for the family and we feel for his friends.”
Bennett said officials had a difficult time receiving assistance to save and recover Hedrick’s body because of wintery elements such as ice, cold and the wind. Local emergency officials lacked the proper equipment for taking care of accidents in the winter.
“If there’s an incident in winter during weather like this, we’re not prepared for it,” Bennett said. Bennett said he’s been in Geary County for almost 50 years and remembers when the lake was filled in the 1960s.
“They’ve had some winter instances, but nothing like this before,” he said.
Officials are considering buying a Rapid Deployment Craft (banana boat) to exist in winter emergencies involving water.
The cost is more than $4,000, but additional funds will be used for training and equipment.
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