5-28-07 RESCUE

THREE RESCUE SQUADS, FOUR RECOVERIES, 30 MINUTES!
Monday, May 28 3:56 p.m. A call to 911 from a stranded boat on Bear Creek Lake set off a series of events that lead to the rescue of three stranded boats. The caller said their pontoon boat motor had problems and not only were they strained, they did not know exactly where they were. Coordinating with the Bear Creek Rescue Squad Assistant Chief, Ralph Taylor, Haleyville dispatcher Randy Stults notified all three rescue squads from Haleyville, Bear Creek and Phil Campbell. Within 15 minutes, all three units had boats in the water. Haleyville put in at Quarter Creek, Bear Creek at Twin Forks and Phil Campbell at Mon Dye. Within 15 more minutes, Haleyville and Phil Campbell had located a strained boat, Bear Creek two boats, one of which was the pontoon boat. With a little help with towing, all four were returned to their respective launches. A call that activated all three rescue squads ends with four rescued boats, all within a half hour. It is good to report four happy endings to this story.