Lost huckleberry picker found on Tuesday

BOUNDARY COUNTY — Boundary County Search and Rescue was activated Monday evening, July 17, around 7 p.m. to respond to a call of a missing woman in the Bethlehem area of Camp Nine Road in north Boundary County.

Search crews conducted a search for Chanteay Hem, 58, who was last heard from around 4:30 p.m. Monday, Andrew O’Neel, Boundary County public information officer, said. Hem had been picking huckleberries with a group of friends when she became separated from her group and became lost. She had last spoken with her husband on her cellphone around 4:30 p.m., at which point she notified him she was lost.

Multiple county agencies assisted with an overnight search, which involved Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, Boundary County Search and Dive Rescue, and North Bench Fire Department.

As additional search crews were activated this morning, word came in that a friend spotted Hem walking on Camp Nine Road and drove her into the incident command post at 9 a.m. She was in good spirits and declined medical attention.

Search and Rescue incident commander Missy Nelson thanked the fire agencies, Boundary Ambulance, and Spokane County Search and Rescue who were on standby to launch a search aircraft.

On social media, community members voiced concern on the volume of calls BSDRT responded to regarding missing wildcrafters and how it affects the taxpayers.

Last year, BSDRT responded to a missing huckleberry picker, and in June there was a missing mushroom picker. Both were recovered by BSDRT and both were from out of state.

O’Neel said like in most jurisdictions across the country, Boundary Search & Dive Rescue Team does not pursue cost recovery from people who need their assistance.

“The mission of SAR organizations is to save lives, not just the lives of those who can afford to pay the bill,” he said, quoting the National Association for Search and Rescue.

BSDRT members are 100% volunteer and provide their services to the county as a community service, he said. Their funding is primarily provided by charitable donations and fundraising, though a small amount of county funding helps cover operations and maintenance, about $2,000 a year.

Anyone requiring the skills and services of BSDRT can contact the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office at 208-267-3151 or dial 911 for emergencies.

Anyone interested in joining the BSDRT can find information at http://bsdrt.org.