Ross lives on a farm in South
Weber and loves the outdoors. He graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Environmental Soils and Water. Currently he is looking for a job in that
field; however, the construction business keeps him busy. (We love the fact that his time
is flexible!)
Ross is also an avid runner and
loves to run trails. This is helpful when you call us on searches. We can send Ross
"running" all over the mountainside. On a recent search with San Pete Search and
Rescue, Sheriff Picket was amazed at Ross’s drive. After their search and rescue
located the victim, Ross offered to help transport the victim out. (This followed two hard
days of searching!)
Even though Ross has been with
search and rescue for only two years, he is knowledgeable and intuitive. His love of the
outdoors and keen understanding of nature’s forces, make him a definite asset on any
search. Ross says when the right girl comes along, he’ll snag her up in a heartbeat;
however, she will have to be willing to embrace his love of search and rescue--and of
course his dog. A wife would definitely play second fiddle to Salbei.
Debbie works for Icon Health and
Fitness. The nice part of her job is that her boss is also in search and rescue! It’s
easy to get time off for searches, but sometimes she has to flip a coin to see who gets to
go! Before Debbie worked for Icon, she was in the Air Force where she spent nine years as
an aircraft mechanic. She still has great dreams of working overseas doing the job she was
trained for, but for now her search work keeps her busy.
Risa is the love of her life! She
is also a very celebrated show dog having earned awards in Confirmation Show
Championships. Everyone who is around Risa loves her. She is gentle and well mannered, yet
all business when out searching. Debbie’s quiet thoughtfulness and dedication to do a
job effectively combine to make her an important resource in American Search Dogs.
Kristen, our new mother of the
group, is a valuable asset to American Search Dogs. This past year she has served as the
treasurer of ASD. Along with training Timber, she has kept herself very busy attending
State and National Search and Rescue Conventions and Board Meetings. But the most
important thing she has done this year surpasses all her work in search and rescue! On
August 31, 1999 she delivered a little boy, Kyler Brent Andersen, who is the spitting
image of Jordon! Kyler was eight pounds and 14 ounces.
Having a new baby has been a
challenge, but they are raising Kyler in the true Andersen spirit. Before he was even one
month old, he had attended his first dog workout. Kyler will have to be added to our
membership. He hasn’t missed a workout!
What Kristen misses most about
search and rescue is the late night calls, the trips through the poison ivy, and the plane
rides. Wait, she doesn’t miss any of that! In fact, having a baby has allowed her to
quit her job at the Idle Isle Candy store where she worked for the last four years. Now
she is a stay-at-home mom, and she can search full time. Watch out search and rescue, she
has a backpack for little Kyler. We won’t count Kristen out of all the fun!
Jill and Balto have been with ASD
for the past six years. Jill teaches English at Northridge High School where her principal
supports civic duties and community service. Through his support, she is often able to
take time off for searches.
Search and rescue is in her blood.
While growing up in Syracuse, her father was a sheriff for Davis County and then a Chief
Deputy for Salt Lake County. Because of his strong influence, she has embraced search and
rescue. Through her dedication, she has gained a lot of field experience and uses present
and past situations to strategize--making her a valuable asset.
Balto has become somewhat of a
legend in the group as he attempts to communicate with Jill. On several searches he has
demonstrated his uncanny ability to communicate by jumping on Jill’s back when she
leaves the scent cone, or grabbing her hand or sleeve to pull her back into an area in
disaster training. On one search he was able to identify an alleged murder suspect, which
led to a homicide trial where Jill had to testify.
Jill has served in the presidency
of ASD for the past several years, and does not foresee a life without search and rescue.
She has a very supportive family who steps in to help at home when she is away on a
search.
In ASD Vickie is thought of as the
guru of search and rescue. For the last 19 years she has dedicated her life to public
service. Vickie’s résumé of search experience covers a wide array of specialties,
including water searching where she has been instrumental in using new and upcoming
techniques to help understand the scent patterns of a victim underwater. She has traveled
to Texas to work as a consultant in water searching.
Vickie’s most exciting search
story has to be the one about the search in the Colorado mountains where she thought
Bigfoot was trailing her. No wait, it must be the one about John Denvers when he was on
the same mountain as her. No wait, maybe it’s the one when her plane almost crashed.
No wait, wait, wait, wait--there are so many amazing experiences that it’s hard to
choose the most exciting one, but the most fulfilling one has to be the search in
Yellowstone for a three-year-old boy who she found sleeping with a moose standing guard.
On a more serious note,
Vickie’s dedication to search work led her to quit the Weber County Mental Health
Department and start her own business. She has a doggy day care where she is surrounded by
her four footed friends 24 hours a day. Vickie donates countless hours conducting
wilderness safety demonstrations for children and adults. She also volunteers at several
day care homes and brings her dogs in as therapy dogs. Her wit and humor have touched
thousands of people. She is highly sought after as a public speaker and greatly admired in
ASD.
