Salas search and rescue team recognized by Senate

The search and rescue team that successfully found former Saipan Little League president Joseph “Joe” Salas after he went missing for almost a week following a hunting trip in Idaho is being recognized by a Senate resolution.

Senate Resolution 18-44, introduced by Senate President Ralph DLG. Torres (R-Saipan), passed the upper chamber by acclimation on Monday and it seeks “to recognize and commend the search and rescue team members for their determined and courageous efforts in assisting to rescue our brother and good friend Joe Sablan Salas after being missing from a hunting trip for six (6) days in the wilderness of Idaho.”

It read that on Oct. 11, 2014, the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office was advised of an overdue hunter in the Cloochman Saddle area in southern Idaho County at 9:40pm and the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office reported that Salas was last seen at 10:30am when he and his hunting partner split up.

The Senate resolution added that the search and rescue team for the State of Idaho was led by an experienced and competent Corporal Justin Scuka of the Idaho County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue in partnership with Idaho Sheriff’s Office, Valley County Search and Rescue and two Bear Air and Life flight helicopters.

“Numerous volunteers comprised of many families and friends from Boise, Idaho provided supplies, cooked meals, and participated in the search and rescue. Likewise, many other members from other states and Saipan flew in to assist in the search and rescue mission. All members of the search parties provided unrelenting support in the efforts to rescue Joe Salas and continued to search without ever giving up despite the fact that most members of the search and rescue had little to no experience in the extremely rugged terrain of Idaho wilderness,” the resolution stated.

Fortunately, after six days of continuous search, the search parties were able to successfully rescue Salas in a remote wilderness area in French Creek drainage, an area that leads into the Salmon River located in the Payette National Forest.

The resolution added that Moses Sablan, a former resident of the CNMI, found Salas after he traveled approximately 13 miles from the trailhead after hearing Salas shouting out for help.

“The Senate of the 18th Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature and this full body hereby recognizes with utmost appreciation to the search and rescue parties for their tireless and courageous efforts in assisting to find our brother and friend Joe Salas after being missing from a hunting trip for six days in the wilderness of Idaho.”

The Senate added that it “greatly admires” and “appreciates” the efforts of the people of the CNMI, while abroad from our islands, in supporting each other during critical times such as the search for Salas.