John Harper 39 year old and Jason Lister 31 year old missing while hiking over the weekend during camping near the Crown King area when they become lost north west of Lake Pleasant. The men called Deputies to send the information that their vehicle was sustained two flat tires and they needed help. The one working cellphone they had was almost dead and they had little water or supplies.

Later, Deputies learned that a friend of the men had been searching for them since Sunday but they had no luck in finding them.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office contacted the cellphone carrier and requested the latest GPS coordinates for the missing pair. The information helped Deputies to locate the last location within a 10 mile radius. Both men were still missing when the Forest Patrol began an active search targeting forest roads.

Last Tuesday October 14, 2008 the Sheriff’s Air Group composed of fixed wing aircraft was activated. The Sheriff’s Jeep Posse, Quad Rescue Team and Several Forest Patrol Deputies are on scene and involved in the search. In afternoon, a DPS Ranger Helicopter was called in to assist.

Last October 16, 2008 the Ground was broken at the Fulton County Conservation and Camping Area to renovate for a new campground toilet and shower building. The new building has been been replaced the shower and toilet building that was constructed around 1975.

The new Campground Building is expected to start constructed and be completed before the year of 2009 camping season.

The features for a new building:
- new showers for men and women
- new stainless steel toilet fixtures
- natural ventilation
- natural skylighting
- constructed split-face concrete block

We have to thanks to those people who support for the new Campground Building included:
1. Ed Ketcham - Chairman of the Fulton County Board
2. Ed Huggins - Chairman of the County Board Building and Grounds Committee
3. Jeff Harris - Site Superintendent
4. Mark Lynch - County Administrator
5. Kevin McGuire - Community and Economic Development, University of Illinois Extension
6. Bill Phillips - Phillips and Associates Architects, Inc.
7. Russ Zein off Ghelardini - Construction, Inc., the low bidder for the project.

The homeless people is now legal in Victoria to pitch a tent and sleep in city parks. A bylaw of a city of Victoria against camping in civic parks by the B.C. Supreme Court has been struck down.

The law was aimed at preventing the homeless people from setting up tents in parks, but the court says the rule deprives of the homeless of life, liberty and security that violates the Charter of Right. Lawyer Irene Faulkner, helped challenge the law, says the judge decided that a blanket and sleeping bag is not enough to protect people from the elements.

Atty Irene Faulkner says the court ruling means that sleeping under another structure or in a tent is not a public safety issue, rather a basic human dignity. Korina Houghton, Vancouver Park Board Chair says “It’s unclear at this time what affect the ruling will have here. Our staff is reviewing the the 108 page ruling, then we’ll have to seek some legal advice to see if it does violate our bylaws and charter. If it does affect us here, we’ll have to look at how we can deal with them.

Camping Blanket

Tech Blanket from Therm a Rest is very nice option for nights when a sleeping bag is too warm. The blanket is that can be snapped to a Therm a Rest Sheet that covers your camping mattress. The blanket has a draw cord at the foot that can use to seal out drafts or create ventilation or depending on what you need.

The feature blanket has a durable soft interior, nylon exterior and quilted synthetic filling. You can get it in regular which is 48 by 76 inches and weighs 1 pound, 5 ounces or in large which is 58 by 80 inches and weighing 1 pound, 11 ounces.

The price for the blanket is $50 for the regular and $60 for the large.

Find the sporting goods or outdoor equipment stores that sell Therm a Rest product go here iChatCamping Store. and also online retailers such as rei.com and campmor.com

On coming 2010 and 2011 to host the National High School Finals Rodeo from Gillette. The Gillette Cam-Plex will spend over $550,000 to improve the camping areas and spots for the Rodeo.

The revenue from the two Rodeos is expected to repay the money spent as soon as possible for the project.

The schedules for the High School Finals Rodeo are:
- July 18-24, 2010
- July 17-23, 2011