Search for overdue hunter continues today
A grid search is being conducted today for a local man who failed to return from a weekend hunting trip in the Medicine Bow National Forest south of Rawlins.
Forty-four-year-old Mark Strittmater was last heard from Saturday morning before weather conditions turned bad in the National Forest.
According to Carbon County Sheriff Archie Roybal, Strittmater sent a text message to his girlfriend Saturday morning around 11 o’clock. Heavy snow and blizzard conditions overtook the region later that day.
According to a release from the sheriff’s department, a friend of Strittmater’s, Kimberly Meis, reported him missing Sunday evening.
Deputies located his truck shortly after 9 p.m. that night on the Sage Creek Road (Forest Road 801) near Forest Road 830. Because of nightfall and weather conditions, rescue efforts resumed Monday morning.
Searchers on foot, with a drone and an Air Force helicopter scoured the area. Air searches continued Monday night and again last night without results.
Sheriff Roybal said yesterday that his office is deploying as many resources as possible to find the missing hunter.
Sheriff Roybal said Strittermater traveled to the area alone to hunt elk.
The search for him is one of three rescue missions that the sheriff’s office has undertaken since the weekend storm. All three missing person reports were made on Sunday.
The sound of helicopters flying in and out of Saratoga Monday were part of the rescue efforts, the sheriff told Bigfoot 99.
The Sand Lake area above Arlington is where a Laramie man, Rodney Pasley, and his seven-year-old son became stuck on Forest Road 101 Sunday during a hunting trip. They traveled into the area in the midst of a blizzard warning that was in effect across the region at the time. Pasley’s wife reported them missing early Monday, shortly after midnight.
Because of knee-high drifts, rescue teams had to use the county’s Snowcat, as well as other tracked vehicles and a helicopter to reach the pair. They were brought back to Saratoga safely and the family was reunited. No medical attention was required, according to the sheriff’s office.
Also on Sunday, a 31-year-old Washington State man and his brother became stranded while hunting in the Bridger Peak area in a storm that dumped a foot or more of snow in the high country. Search and rescue teams reached the brothers and returned them without incident to Saratoga.
Sheriff Roybal told Bigfoot 99 that all search and rescue team members returned from the three missions safely.
The sheriff reminded hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts to take the necessary precautions when heading into the back country. Among them, Sheriff Roybal, noted is letting others know your destination and sticking to the plan.
Also bring along extra food, water and warm clothing.
The search for the hunter missing south of Rawlins will continue today. Firefighters and others from the U.S. Forest Service will conduct a grid search in the area where Strittmater’s truck was found.
Close calls and chaos at Rawlins hotels
In Rawlins, hotels on either end of the city were scenes of what police describe as “close calls.”
On Sunday night, the RPD responded to shots fired at a hotel on Spruce Street. Then, on Monday morning, an apparently drunk driver led patrol on a short chase before crashing into the lawn of a hotel on Cedar Street.
Cali O’Hare has the latest updates from local officials on the two cases.
CCSD2 earns positive remarks in peer review
During Monday’s meeting, Carbon County School District Two board members were presented with the results of a peer review made last month. Those who rated the district provided positive comments about their observations. Emma Diercks has the story.
Residents recognized for Hispanic heritage contributions
Two individuals from Rawlins have been recognized by a city council member for their contributions to the community as part National Hispanic Heritage Month. Cali O’Hare has more.
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