Cathy Perfect-Kern Valley Sun

Kern Valley Search and Rescue's open house on Saturday included the usual accoutrements of fresh brewed coffee and baked goods from the kitchen of Shirley Fisher, wife of SAR Captain Bob Fisher. But it was also a demonstration of the unique ties that bind the people of the Kern River Valley.

The main attraction of this year's event, held at SAR's compound off Erskine Creek Road in Lake Isabella, was a brand new Ford F 250 Super Duty 4 x 4 truck, powered by a Triton V-10 motor. Specially equipped with a laptop computer and GPS, a custom designed rack for carrying rafts and a robust heavy duty winch. “It's exactly what they needed here,” said Bill Holcomb, who retired from SAR last spring.

Above, Kern Valley Search and Rescue Capt. Bob Fisher addresses community members at SAR’s annual open house held at the group’s compound in Lake Isabella on Saturday. The open house was designed to inform the public about SAR’s role in the community as well as educate the public about their work of rescues, recoveries, and searches. Fisher concluded by dedicating a new Ford F 250 super duty truck made available to them through generous community donations.

Fisher gave a brief chronology of the unit's quest for vehicles and equipment. “More than 90 percent of what we have has been donated to us over 51 years,” Fisher said. He thanked Richard and Barbara Rooney and Southern California Edison Company for the trucks they donated over the years. Time has taken its toll on these vehicles. Fisher said the members decided to establish a “truck fund” to purchase a new vehicle. Their definition of “new”-anything with 100,000 miles or less on it.

After the tragic loss of their son, Forest, in May of last year, Mike and Pietra Wallace of Weldon put their energies into raising money for SAR's truck fund. They soon joined forces with Joan and Ralph Collins and organized a fund raiser dinner at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Mt. Mesa, which boosted the fund by $13,000.

“Things were looking hopeful,” Fisher said, but he conceded that he continued “whining and crying all over town” for more when, as fate would have it, he met Kernville residents George and Darlene Randall.

“I got a call from George one day,” Fisher said. “He and Darlene had talked it over and George said, ‘What do you need? Send me the specs of what you want.'”

Fisher acknowledged “specs” was not his area of expertise and turned it over to Brian Baskin of CARE Ambulance.

The next thing Fisher knew, the Randalls had purchased the Ford F 250 cab and chassis.

With the monies accumulated in “truck fund,” Baskin went to work outfitting the new Ford with the specialty equipment SAR needed. Upon completion, Baskin said, “It's like going from a dilapidated house to a luxury mansion.”

Fisher concluded his presentation by saying, “The best way we can say thank you to the community is to continue to serve and be the best we can be as we dedicate this vehicle in the memory of Forest Wallace.”