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State Forestry Helicopter Crew Honored for Rescue Mission

Nevada Division of Forestry Pilot Nick Lopes (left) and Helicopter Manager Lee Stewart (right) receive letters of appreciation from Commander Shane Yates, operations manager at Naval Air Station, Fallon, for their assistance in rescuing skiers near Heavenly, Nevada.

Nevada Division of Forestry Pilot Nick Lopes (left) and Helicopter Manager Lee Stewart (right) receive letters of appreciation from Commander Shane Yates, operations manager at Naval Air Station, Fallon, for their assistance in rescuing skiers near Heavenly, Nevada.

MINDEN, Nev. — When a skier went missing from Heavenly Ski Resort on March 3, an air-based search was determined to be the best way to look for the individual in the mountainous terrain.

Within an hour of being called out to the mission, the Nevada Division of Forestry’s helicopter crew spotted the skier. The skier was not in a position to be rescued on foot because of heavy snow, so Fallon Naval Air Station personnel, who were also part of the search and rescue mission, recovered the skier from its helicopter.

Meanwhile, NDF’s crew spotted two more skiers, who also appeared to be in trouble and out of resort’s boundary. Contact was made with the two additional skiers, and it was determined that because of heavy snow and hypothermia setting in, that naval ground crews would rescue the skiers.

NDF’s air operations provide search and rescue support, though the helicopter crew’s primary mission is initial attacks on wildland fires. The crew averages 100 hours of flight time 35 days a year helping to fight wildfires.

Nevada Division of State Parks offers a chance to win $50,000

 

Echo Canyon State Park in Nevada

PIOCHE, Nev. — There is $50,000 swimming in either Echo Canyon State Park or Spring Valley State Park. The catch is that the cash must be caught.

Several tagged fish in each reservoir are cash prize winners, but only one is worth $50,000.

To have a shot at catching one of these valuable fish, a Tagged Fishing event will be held May 2 from 7:00 a.m. through 5 p.m. and May 3 from 7:00 a.m. through noon at both the Echo Canyon and Spring Valley state parks.

Registration for the Tagged Fishing Event has begun and will continue up to the day of the event. Only 500 participants are allowed.

Participants may register at the Eagle Valley Resort in Ursine, Nevada on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is open to all ages. For more information, contact the Eagle Valley Resort at 775-962-5293.

Division of Forestry, Spring Creek High School and FFA Tree Sale

ELKO, Nev. — The Nevada Division of Forestry, Spring Creek High School, and the Silver Sage FFA Chapter are once again teaming up to bring northeastern Nevadans a wide selection of conservation trees and shrubs at reasonable costs.

There are 21 different species of shrubs, deciduous trees and evergreen trees available. Tree and shrub seedlings range from $2.25 to $3.75 each, depending on the size of the seedling and container. Plants are for conservation purposes for properties of at least one acre in size.

Plants are sold on a pre-order basis only. The deadline to place a pre-order is May 7, 2009. Pre-orders are to be picked up on either May 15 or 16 at the Spring Creek High School greenhouse, nine miles southeast on the Lamoille Highway. To receive an order form and a list of the plants with associated costs, please contact:

Ryan Shane
Nevada Division of Forestry
911 Falcon Lane
Elko, NV 89801
(775) 738-3454

rshane@forestry.nv.gov

Order forms may also be picked up at the following locations:

• Spring Creek High School
• Spring Creek Association Office
• NRCS Elko Office
• NV Cooperative Extension Offices
• NDF Spring Creek Fire Station #24
• NDF Regional Headquarters in Elko
• NDF Conservation Camps (Carlin and Wells)

Plant materials are from the NDF nursery in Washoe Valley and are selected for their adaptability to the region’s soils and climate. The plants come to Elko as container stock, making them easy to take home and transplant.