AIR SUPPORT: Call to donate to rescuers

I am proud to join the Coeur d'Alene Eagles Women's Auxiliary in funding the Kootenai County Regional Air Support Unit (KCRASU); a nonprofit group of volunteers that provides assistance to law enforcement and rescue personnel throughout our region.

It is the anniversary of my wife's disappearance when my wife became disoriented and lost while hiking the 4th of July pass. I found her car but my searching, calling out, and honking failed to get any response. Late into the night I called 911. The brave men and women of our community responded to my call for help. This included the KCRASU helicopter equipped with state-of-the-art radio communications, high-intensity spotlight, and infrared imaging camera. Hours later and miles from her car KCRASU found my wife dehydrated and bruised. Without the skills and technology by the volunteers of KCRASU's personnel my story would not have had such a happy ending.

With the recent loss of our first responders, I realize the risk I placed these hometown heroes in when I made that 911 call. I support the mission of KCRASU's ability to provide rescue personnel with radio communications in remote areas, GPS tracking, infrared imaging, and a high intensity spotlight to assist volunteers in their efforts. This technology not only assists searchers on the ground but provides these brave men and women an improved personal level of safety.

Please join me and the Coeur d'Alene Eagles Women's Auxiliary in providing financial support to our hometown heroes by donating to this volunteer nonprofit group that operates through private donations https://kcrasu.com/donate/

MICHAEL E. WIGLE
Coeur d’Alene