From the Mayors Desk
On Monday, January 7, 2013 at approximately 6:30 p.m., I was relaxing at home after driving from Philadelphia that day, when my wife told me that she saw a Facebook post about a rescue effort occurring on Budd Lake. I immediately jumped in my car and …
On Monday, January 7, 2013 at approximately 6:30 p.m., I was relaxing at home after driving from Philadelphia that day, when my wife told me that she saw a Facebook post about a rescue effort occurring on Budd Lake. I immediately jumped in my car and drove to Sandshore Road to see how I could help. It turns out that I would spend the better part of the next several days there.
At approximately 6:23 p.m., a 911 call had been received by the Mount Olive Police Department requesting help for several persons who were believed to have fallen through the ice on Budd Lake and were yelling for assistance. Within minutes, Mount Olive Police and Members of the Budd Lake Fire Department were on and in the Lake searching for those in need of assistance.
As we all know now, those yelling for help were Nick and Clyde and the story did not have a happy ending. Nick and Clyde had been ice fishing at night, had ventured several hundred feet on the lake, onto ice which was ultimately too thin to support their weight.
For several hours, members of the Budd Lake Fire Department Ice Rescue Team and members of surrounding towns teams tried to rescue the boys without success. When the effort began it was unclear as to how many individuals we were looking for, at one point believing that a female might have also been on the lake with the boys. Ultimately, the police were able to confirm that only the two boys were missing.
As the hours passed, it became clear that the effort had turned from one of rescue to recovery. As the hours passed, the decision was made by the State Police to resume the search in the morning. Thanks to the efforts of the first responders. The general area of the search was defined.
The first night and the second day of the effort showed incredible outpourings from both Township businesses and residents, all trying to find a way to help in some manner.
The families of the two boys remained at the Budd Lake Chapel, to whom a tremendous thank you is owed for the comfort and shelter which the Pastor and parishioners showed throughout those few days.
Ultimately, the two boys were located and brought home over two excruciatingly long days that we all just wanted to end. We all grieve with the two families as if we had lost our own children.
I would like to thank all who did what they could to help and support the two families as well as the first responders. In particular, I would like to thank the Mount Olive Police, Fire and EMS for all they did and always do in protecting all of us.
Rob Greenbaum
Mayor, Mount Olive Township
Short URL: http://www.mypaperonline.com/?p=3527
Posted by MJMedia
on Jan 30 2013. Filed under The Mt. Olive News.
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