Local business rescues youth group stranded by Syringa mud slide
By Kyra Hoggan
A group of seven Grade 7 kids and their four adult group leaders are singing the praises of Scottie’s Marina after being stranded with no supplies or communications during yesterday’s flooding.
Youth leader James McFaddin said the convoy set out, prepared to camp in the rain and experience some adventure, when Nature changed their plans.
“The car in back was the one with all the tents and food and everything,” he said. “He was maybe two to three minutes behind them when the mudslide happened in front of him, cutting the group off.
“He called me right away and said , ‘You won’t believe this,'” McFaddin added. “I didn’t realize how bad it was, so I got in my truck thinking I could four-by-four over the mud and bring them thier supplies, but I got there and there was no road at all.”
Meanwhile, the kids on the other side of the slide had no cell reception and no way of knowing their supplies weren’t on route, and no one on this side could contact them to let them what was happening.
Finally, McFaddin said, they realized something was up and headed to Scottie’s Marina, where there is cell reception.
“The youth group owes a huge thanks to Scottie’s, they were super kind,” he said. “They loaded them all onto boats and ferried them to a boat launch on this side of the slide, free of charge. The water was really high, but we were able to get them and their stuff.
“Everyone’s home and safe and happy,” he added. “They were soaked, but it was an adventure for them – some of them had never been on a boat before, so it was exciting for them.”
He said the kids haven’t been turned off camping and are looking forward to re-trying their aborted trip sometime soon.
A Source tip of the hat to Scottie’s Marina for so generously pitching in and asking nothing in return – a perfect example of the benefits of shopping local.
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