By Tove Tupper
 
June 12, 2009
 
NEAR MERLIN, Ore. - Search and rescue teams from seven counties across Southern Oregon and Northern California have come together for the third annual CORSAR, or California Oregon Regional Search and Rescue Multi-County Annual Training Exercise.
 
The teams are practicing a variety of search methods for the conference, which runs through Sunday, including helicopter and horse patrols, k9 units, and ATV.
 
"All the different assists that we have in the rugged terrain that we live in, we depend on these different types of resources and different styles of search. So combined, we do a much better job," says Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson.
 
Search and rescue teams say they depend on one another heavily throughout the year. They say the training is crucial because crews are able to work together as a cohesive team.
 
Another reason why the teams train together is to save money. Josephine County is hosting this year's training, which costs about $20,000. The counties take turns hosting and paying for the annual conference.
 
Meanwhile, county officials are concerned about future funding for search and rescue departments.
 
Gilbertson says Josephine County's budget is okay for now, however, in 2012, the county is scheduled to stop receiving federal funds. Curry County Sheriff John Bishop agrees.
 
"We are the same as any other OLC county. Josephine, Coos, Curry, specifically, we're good until 2012. if we don't do something, we're probably going to lose all of it," says Bishop.
 
Curry County says besides cutting back on search and rescue, it might have to scale back its jail and police patrols.