Bozeman Magazine

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Montana State University will present “Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue: Demands and Expectations of a Growing Community” for a Friday Forum on Feb. 11. The event will take place noon to 1:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. From snow to water to trails, Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue, or SAR, experienced the busiest year in its history in 2021. SAR responded to 34 searches and 69 rescues, using helicopters in 17 of those calls, according to the organization. Collectively, 161 volunteers spent 4,472 hours responding to 134 missions and dedicated almost twice those hours on volunteer training alone. Last year was the first year SAR had a full-time staff to lead the charge, thanks to community support for a mill levy passed in 2020. The demand for SAR continues to rise — as does its ability and capability to respond to more technical terrain — as the county’s population grows. Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue commander Scott Secor, training coordinator Jason Revisky and administrative assistant Erin Metzger will answer questions and discuss SAR services, trends, challenges, inner workings in Gallatin County and more. Participants must register in advance and no later than 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11. For more information or registration, visit montana.edu/olli/register or call 406-994-6550. Upon registration confirmation, participants will receive an email with the Zoom link and instructions to join the program. Friday Forums are offered on the second Friday of each month, September through May, by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at MSU. OLLI at MSU is a program of Academic Technology and Outreach. ATO works across the university to support and advance its land-grant mission through unique and innovative opportunities for outreach and engagement.