Mono County Search and Rescue honor team members

Members of the Mono County Search and Rescue Team conducted their annual awards presentation May 1 at an outdoor picnic at Mono County Park.

Team Vice President John Bush received The Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year award. Bush serves the team as a member of the Board of Directors, equipment officer and as a member of the training committee. He is a very active responder to search and rescue calls. Since joining the team, he has responded to 216 team events. 

The team’s primary annual honor for achievement is named for Pete Schoerner, a teammate who died in an ice climbing accident in 1996. 

New member Chad Senior received the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year Award. Mosher is the only team member to have died in the line of duty while searching in a small airplane that crashed during an operation on Aug. 15, 1979. Senior is active in many responses to calls and training. Since joining the team, he has participated in 111 team events and has advanced to rescue member. 

Twenty-year service plaques were awarded to Jutta Schmidt and Jeff Holmquist. A 10-year service plaque was awarded to Christina Ackerman as well as a photograph of her and SAR Dog Takoda rappelling off a cliff.

The team thanked members of the community for their support since the team’s founding 55 years ago in 1966.

An all-volunteer nonprofit organization, team members respond to searches and rescues at any time in any weather, for as long as it takes, for free.