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Isaac survives night in woods Two year old missing from Premier Lake found safe and sound C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The 2016 BC Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held in Langley April 15-17th. Four athletes represented the Kimberley Gymnastics Club, and all four placed in the top ten in the province in at least one event. Above, Katelyn Johnson won Bronze medal on beam, Bronze medal on floor, 5th on bars for a Bronze medal All Around. See more page 3.
A long journey to a new home BARRY COULTER
A desperate situation of more than a dozen years has come to an end for one woman and her family, and a new chapter begun in Canada. Members of the East Kootenay Friends of Burma and Fernie Friends of Refugees welcomed a family of 11 at the Canadian Rockies International Airport on Friday afternoon, April 22. The mother Edith, and her eight children and two grand-children, are starting a new life in Fernie after 12 years in a refugee camp in Ghana, Africa. Originally from the African country of Liberia, Edith’s family was victimized during the second Liberian Civil War (1999-2003), a conflict during which her husband was murdered. See JOURNEY, page 4
Two year old Isaac Leuenberger is a savvy little guy, well versed in the outdoors, says Kimberley Search and Rescue Search Manager Wendy Heatherington, and that stood him in good stead this past Saturday night. Isaac went missing around 7 p.m., (April 30) at Premier Lake Provincial Campground while walking with his Mom and siblings. Family and others initially searched the area and then called police who activated Search and Rescue. He was found about midday Sunday by one of the volunteer searchers, bringing a huge sigh of relief to family, friends and Search and Rescue teams from around the Kootenays. Cpl. Chris Newel of the Kimberley RCMP told media that other than a few scratches, the boy was in good condition. “We’re pretty gosh darn happy,” said KSAR member Peter Reid. There was a huge SAR response as teams from Kimberley, Cranbrook, Invermere, Fernie, Elkford and teams as far away as Castlegar and Nelson were still arriving at Premier Lake when the boy was found. “I wasn’t actually there when he as found,” Reid said. “Wendy and myself were out all night and had come back down to get some sleep, so we weren’t there. You always hate to leave a search for that reason, but we are
MIKE TURNER PHOTO
Safe in daddy’s arms. Two year old Isaac Leuenberger takes a nap with Dad Matt and Mom Shelly after spending Saturday night in the bush near Premier Lake, while a massive search effort was underway. Isaac was found by a volunteer searcher early Sunday afternoon. just so relieved and happy.” Reid says Isaac was found by one of the volunteers searching for the family. “It’s incredible. As you can imagine there is a great sense of urgency when you are searching for such a little guy. We were all extremely
stressed about finding him.” “It’s an incredible feeling,” agreed Heatherington. “We are so happy and relieved. Thank goodness. It really hit home with the search teams. So many people were so worried. It was hard.” She says that with
any search there is an urgency rating for searches. “With a little person under five, we go big really quickly. We called in as many teams and searchers as possible.” “The survival rate for a young child is quite high - 95 per cent if you find them within 24
hours,” Reid said. “But adding difficulty to that is that even two year olds can travel quite a distance. They found him at least three kilometres from the campsite.” The teams also searched all night, which they don’t always do. See MISSING, page 4