Governor Walz authorizes Minnesota National Guard support as search continues for missing canoeists in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
May 24, 2024 09:03AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: St. Louis County Rescue Squad dog "Rooster" watches the Minnesota National Guard Chinook Helicopter. St. Louis Co Rescue Squad Facebook.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - May 24, 2024
On Wednesday, May 23, Governor Walz authorized an emergency order to provide support from the Minnesota National Guard in the search for two missing canoeists in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Four MN National Guard crew members and a CH-47 (Chinook) helicopter have been assigned to assist in the search for Jesse Melvin Haugen, 41, of Cambridge, and Reis Melvin Grams, 40, of Lino Lakes, who have been missing since Saturday. Specifically, the MN National Guard will help transport necessary equipment, including a jet boat, from the Ely Airport to the Curtain Falls area.
In a press release, Governor Walz said "No one expects their vacation to turn to crisis. Yet, when four canoeists went over Curtain Falls in the BWCA, this became a reality,” said Governor Walz. “My family is intimately familiar with the fear and heartbreak these canoeists are feeling. We are praying for those involved and immensely grateful to everyone from the Sheriff’s office to the National Guard who are supporting this mission.” In 2016, Governor Walz's brother Craig was killed during a strong thunderstorm on Duncan Lake in the BWCAW when a tree fell on the campsite he was at with his son, Jacob (who was injured).
Around 9 pm last evening, the St. Louis County Rescue Squad posted on Facebook that "Six aircraft participated in a huge blitz of sorties today. Twelve members are spiked out below Curtain Falls, and with weather coming we’ll likely be here through Saturday."
Jesse Melvin Haugen, 41, of Cambridge, and Reis Melvin Grams, 40, of Lino Lakes were fishing in a canoe with another group on Iron Lake at the top of Curtain Falls, when one had an issue and the other went to try and assist. Both canoes went over the falls. Two people, Kyle Thomas Sellers, 47, from Ham Lake, and Erik Michael Grams, 43, from Ham Lake, also went over the falls in their canoe but were found and rescued. Sellers was airlifted to a hospital in Duluth with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A fifth person, Jared Jay Lohse, 33, from Cambridge, MN, was with one of the groups but not involved in the incident. Multiple sources report that the group was anchored at the top of the falls, and were familiar with the area.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - May 24, 2024
On Wednesday, May 23, Governor Walz authorized an emergency order to provide support from the Minnesota National Guard in the search for two missing canoeists in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Four MN National Guard crew members and a CH-47 (Chinook) helicopter have been assigned to assist in the search for Jesse Melvin Haugen, 41, of Cambridge, and Reis Melvin Grams, 40, of Lino Lakes, who have been missing since Saturday. Specifically, the MN National Guard will help transport necessary equipment, including a jet boat, from the Ely Airport to the Curtain Falls area.
In a press release, Governor Walz said "No one expects their vacation to turn to crisis. Yet, when four canoeists went over Curtain Falls in the BWCA, this became a reality,” said Governor Walz. “My family is intimately familiar with the fear and heartbreak these canoeists are feeling. We are praying for those involved and immensely grateful to everyone from the Sheriff’s office to the National Guard who are supporting this mission.” In 2016, Governor Walz's brother Craig was killed during a strong thunderstorm on Duncan Lake in the BWCAW when a tree fell on the campsite he was at with his son, Jacob (who was injured).
Around 9 pm last evening, the St. Louis County Rescue Squad posted on Facebook that "Six aircraft participated in a huge blitz of sorties today. Twelve members are spiked out below Curtain Falls, and with weather coming we’ll likely be here through Saturday."
Jesse Melvin Haugen, 41, of Cambridge, and Reis Melvin Grams, 40, of Lino Lakes were fishing in a canoe with another group on Iron Lake at the top of Curtain Falls, when one had an issue and the other went to try and assist. Both canoes went over the falls. Two people, Kyle Thomas Sellers, 47, from Ham Lake, and Erik Michael Grams, 43, from Ham Lake, also went over the falls in their canoe but were found and rescued. Sellers was airlifted to a hospital in Duluth with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A fifth person, Jared Jay Lohse, 33, from Cambridge, MN, was with one of the groups but not involved in the incident. Multiple sources report that the group was anchored at the top of the falls, and were familiar with the area.