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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-line-height-alt:9.6pt'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>For Immediate Release Date: Monday, October 3, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h1 style='margin-top:0in'><o:p> </o:p></h1><h1 style='margin-top:0in'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Columbia County Officers Honored for their Life Saving Efforts<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=509 height=331 src="cid:image002.jpg@01CC81D9.719D91E0" align=right hspace=12 v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5"><![endif]><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'> <span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The Oregon State Marine Board recognized the life-saving efforts of Deputy Russ George and Officer Ron Larson at their annual post-season Law Enforcement Conference, held on Monday, September 26 in Eugene. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> It was late in the evening on May 19, 2011 when Columbia 911 Dispatch received a call from residents in Prescott who said they heard screams coming from the river. There were no deputies on duty at the time of the call, but Marine Deputy Russ George was called in to attempt a rescue. Around the same time, another call was sent to the City of Rainier Police Department, where Officer Ron Larson responded. Both the officer and deputy arrived at sheriff’s boat launch in Rainier, and in less than half an hour, Deputy Russ George and Officer Ron Larson found the men, in nearly black-out conditions and rescued them from the frigid water. Both victims were barely conscious. Paramedics who arrived at the scene estimated that only a few minutes more, and the two would have lost consciousness completely. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> Both of the rescued men entered the canoe from their camping spot at Prescott Beach and were not wearing life jackets. Both men were in the water nearly an hour and drifted more than a mile. </span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“This is a case of quick action by the off-duty deputy when he got the call and a team effort with the dispatch center, the Rainier Police Department and Columbia River Fire and Rescue,” said Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>In a nomination letter to the Marine Board, Deputy George wrote, “Without Officer Larson’s assistance, the Marine Deputy would not have been able to perform the rescue of the two subjects.” Both officers clearly helped each other and thanks to their efforts, everyone was able to go home safe that night. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>*Photo (left to right): Marine Board Chair, George Tinker (Coos Bay), Officer Ron Larson, Deputy Russ George, and Marine Board Director, Scott Brewen.</i> <b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal> <span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ashley A. Massey<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Oregon State Marine Board<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>503-378-2623<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:Ashley.massey@state.or.us">Ashley.massey@state.or.us</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.boatoregon.com/"><span style='color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=52 height=52 id="_x0000_i1028" src="cid:image003.jpg@01CC81D9.719D91E0" alt="Description: cid:image001.jpg@01CC4556.A6D3E3B0"></span></a><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/boatoregon"><span style='color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=44 height=44 id="il_fi" src="cid:image004.png@01CC81D9.719D91E0" alt="Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: http://static.technorati.com/10/09/17/18465/Facebook-icon.png"></span></a><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/marineboard"><span style='color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=44 height=44 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image005.jpg@01CC81D9.719D91E0" alt="Description: Description: Description: http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/system/images/thumbs/www/articles_2009_10_09/twitter_logo_300x300.jpg?1273889336"></span></a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/MarineBoard"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=42 height=42 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image006.jpg@01CC81D9.719D91E0" alt="Description: YouTubeIconeMail"></span></a><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>