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| Update: Information Discussed During December 6th 10:00 A.M. Media Briefing on Search for James Kim | ||
| 12/06/2006 | ||
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Lieutenant Gregg Hastings Public Information Officer Office: (503) 731-3020 ext. 247 Pager: (503) 323-3195 Search efforts continue today for JAMES KIM who last seen leaving the location where his vehicle was found by searchers Monday afternoon. The focus continues to be the Big Windy Creek Drainage about 30 miles west of Grants Pass north of Bear Camp Road. According to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, this section of focus is a 5-mile long canyon and is about five miles from where the car was found. Approximately 100 individuals continue to be involved with the search efforts. Elevation in the area is about 3,000 feet. Information discussed during this briefing included: 1) The KIM family and searchers have prepared 18 CARE packages that will be straategically dropped from helicopters in the drainage area. These packages include: * Bright orange sweat shirt * Sweat pants * Stocking camp * Socks * Gloves * Bib overalls * Three 1/2 hour flares * Flashlight * MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Packets * Blanket * Letter from the KIM family 2) On late Tuesday afternoon, December 5th, searchers discovered several items spread over a defined area near Big Windy Creek. These items have been positively identified by family members as articles of clothing and items taken by James Kim when he left the car on Saturday, December 2nd. Items included: * Two (2) Gray long sleeve shirt * Red short sleeve t-shirt * One (1) wool sock * Blue girls skirt * Pieces of an Oregon State Map 3) Five teams ready to go out Wednesday morning including three 4-person teams consisting of Jackson County Sheriff's Office SWAT team members certified for short haul drops from helicopters, and two other teams from US Forest Service and Eugene Mountain Rescue that will be brought in on the road and placed to approach the Big Windy Creek Drainage from the top down to the creek area. A second Eugene Mountain Rescue team is on standby at the Command Post if needed. A 5-member Swift Water Rescue team will be deployed in Big Windy Creek working their way downstream in the water. This team will be hiking into their starting location. 4) Edge Wireless is completing the temporary installation of a cell tower in the area to provide for communication for the searchers. They also donated 30 cell phones for use by searchers to maintain communications. 5) Update: On Tuesday, December 5th, Jackson County Deputy Dave Penkava was operating an ATV at about 15 mph when he lost control on a patch of ice and went down an approximately 100 foot steep embankment. He was transported to Rogue Valley Medical Center where he was treated and released for a shoulder injury. 6) Clarification: Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce – information provided earlier of a tip that a person at the chamber of commerce building provided a map and recommended travel routes has been determined to not be credible. Interviews with Kati Kim revealed they chose this route after looking at a State of Oregon map. Other Items of Interest: The following agencies are reportedly involved in today's search efforts for James Kim: • Josephine County Sheriff's Office • Jackson County Sheriff's Office • Oregon State Police • Douglas County Sheriff's Office • Klamath County Sheriff's Office * Bureau of Land Management • US Forest Service Resources currently being utilized: • Ground units on foot • 4x4 vehicles • Helicopters (3 – Carson Helicopters secured by the Kim family; 1 – Jackson County) • Sno-Cats • Rafts (2) • Swift Water Rescue Specialized units: • Eugene Mountain Rescue No further information to release. The next media briefing is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. at the same location in Merlin. ### www.oregon.gov/OSP ###
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