Missing Teen Found Safe

Yalobusha County EMA Director Dalton Coleman reported almost 10 volunteer fire fighters completed a 12-hour vehicle extrication course last week. Following classroom instruction, the class culminated as the volunteers received hands-on training using salvage vehicles at George’s Garage.

WATER VALLEY –  A 16 year-old teenager reported missing on County Road 56 Saturday was found safe around 10 p.m. that night. Yalobusha County EMA Director Dalton Coleman reported the teen had been missing around three hours before she was discovered on a gravel road in the area.
Coleman explained that a large group of family friends and volunteers started the search while coordination was underway to bring trained search and rescue teams from neighboring counties to the area.
“We had a strong response including a team coming from Calhoun County with a drone that has thermal imaging. Thankfully she was found safe and they weren’t needed,” Coleman added.
In other EMA news Coleman urges anyone planning a controlled burn to alert the dispatch center at the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department. Coleman said this courtesy helps prevent fire fighters being toned out to controlled burns. Citing an example from last week, he explained that multiple fire departments were toned out to a reported structure fire that was a controlled burn.
“They were burning an old shed and we had a bunch of folks responding. If we had known it was a controlled burn, one department would have been dispatched to check it out,” Coleman explained. Call (662) 473-2722 to talk to a dispatcher.
With an uptick in grass fires this month, Coleman also advised using caution with controlled burns.
“Be sure to check the weather, especially the wind to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand,” he noted.