www. LovellChronicle.com
April 8, 2010 I The Lovell Chronicle 111
We're 5"t, art, ing a
Scout troop 71's trial by lightning earned them special recognition
BY BRAD DEVEREAUX
Scenes from a Boy Scout
troop's trial by lightning
more than 40 years ago is
still burned in the memory
of scoutmaster Frank Wilk-
erson, who lead the group
on the unlikely outing in
1962.
To later recall the fleet-
ing memory that pushed out
of his mind like a thunder-
head moving down a moun-
tain, Wilkerson wrote down
a detailed account of the
events that occurred dur-
ing a camping trip at E-La-
Ka-Wee atop the Big Horn
Mountains Thursday, July
19, at 6 a.m. The campers
were greeted with an early-
morning rainstorm and a
surprise that shocked many
of them right out of their
boots.
"I was walking toward
the boys from my tent when
a bolt of lightning hit our
camp," Wilkerson wrote.
"I was hit in the stomach
and legs, picked up off the
ground and floated through
the air 20 feet, falling to the
ground on my back.
"As I seemed to float, it
was as though I was watch-
ing a slow-motion movie
and I saw all of my boys hit.
Later when we all compared
stories, most of the boys felt
like they had floated, but
they didn't know what had
happened to them."
On the trip were scouts
age 11 and up, including
Lynn Morrison, 12, Pete
Brown, 15, Bruce Bassett,
13, Don Black, 14, Da-
vid Clark, 14, Allen Burn-
ham, 13, Mike Wilkerson,
11, Frank Wilkerson Jr.,
13, Scott Ericksen, 12, Ter-
ry Liebel, 14, Billy Doerr,
12, Max Zeller, 12, Wilford
Jones, 14 and Bobby Paul,
13. S/Sgt. John Stoneburn-
er of Denver was along as
a canoe instructor and was
blown out of his boots by the
lightning bolt.
As Wilkerson staggered
to his feet, whiCh felt numb
and paralyzed, he said
eight of the 16 others at the
campsite were knocked un-
conscious, some not breath-
ing. The eight scouts were
burned and thrown around
the camp by the static elec-
tricity blast.
A few of the other
boys were stunned but not
knocked down. Billy Doerr,
12, hardly felt anything be-
cause he was insulated from
the ground by a rubber air
mattress under him. Doerr
"For a time you could see smoke
rising off the boys' bodies. The oxygen
had been burned out of the air and it
was hard to breathe ... the noise was
deafening as the lightning kept striking
and roaring through the camp. Flames
were everywhere."
- Frank Wi|kerson
other carload followed soon
er, and the remainder of
the boys who stayed at camp
were checked out at the Red
Frank Wilkerson shows a badge from Camop E-La-
Ka-Wee on the Big Horn Mountains.
told Wilkerson that he wit- "I was so grateful they
nessed two balls of fire pass weren't dead," he said. "For
by Mike Wilkerson's head a time you could see smoke
as he stood in the door of rising off the boys' bod-
the tent. ies. The oxygen had been
Frank Wilkerson said burned out of the air and it
he began scrambling to was hard to breathe ... the
check on the boys, fearing noise was deafening as the
they were dead from the lightning kept striking and
lightning strike. He fetched roaring through the camp.
the conscious boys and Flames were everywhere."
asked them to cover the un- Wilkerson bolted to
conscious boys with blan- his car parked nearby and
kets and be ready to give took four of the most seri-
artificial respiration if they ously injured campers to
stopped breathing, the hospital in Buffalo. An-
4-H 5hoo ,ing 5ports
Frogranl!
Cross tent, Wilkerson said.
Returning to camp,
Wilkerson said he could re-
trace the path the lightning
took through camp, riding a
barbed-wire fence, jumping
into some iron pipes near the
wood tent and welding two
timber saws together along
Intereseed?
Call Bill Miller, 272-6546 or
548-7804, a.d leave a message.
We're hopin0 to kick i'c off:
in early April.
the way. The stoves and grill
were red hot after the light-
!
ning finished its path of de- The Family of I
struction through the metal
objects to the ground.
Melvin
Winterholler
Wilkerson said knowl- to thank family & friends
edge gained in scouting ~1,~
helped him, the boys and who supported us during
other leaders to handle the
extreme situation. They the loss of our father. Your
cleared all the rocks out of expresssions.-- ofsympathy
camp on the previous night
and had reviewed first aid were appreciated and will
and even practiced a sce-
nario of treating someone always be remembered.
who was hit by lightning.
Wilkerson said he want- . ' ' ° ', 0
e d the boys to stay at camp ..~,A~,~eLpp, ~, ~~~
and asked their parents to
not come up the mountain Sherry and Mi
to meet them.
"It's like drowning," he
said. "If you don't get back
into the water right away,
you may never go near wa-
ter again. I had to keep the
boys there until the worst
part of the fear was over
and they would want to
come back next year."
Many of the scouts
formed a club, with the re-
quirement of having to be
struck by lightning to join.
The Central Wyoming
Council later issued all the
boys that were hit along
with Wilkerson and two
staff members a special
patch denoting "Camp E-
La-Ka-Wee Lightning Rods
of 1962."
The Central Wyoming
Council later awarded the
Silver Beaver Award to
Wilkerson. His actions dur-
ing the lightning strike
-were noted, .........
"Double-quick action
was taken by leaders and
several boys were taken to
the Buffalo Hospital," the
award citation states. "With
grateful hearts, all returned
home alive."
Wilkerson said the ex-
perience was frightening
and touching.
"I had a great love for
the boys in my troop before
the accident, but the love is
much greater now," Wilker-
son said. "This experience
will never be forgotten."
Lunch Buffet $6s°
Tues. - Fri. 11 am - 2:30 pm
Sat. & Sun. 11 am - 4 pm
Dinner Buffet $899
Tues. - Fri. 4:30 - 9 pm
Sat & Sun. 4 - 9 pm
151 E. Coulter, Powell, 754-7924
Open Tues. - Sun. ~'
C a rry-Out Ava i la b le
~:
Water is scheduled to be
turned into the canal on
Monday, April 12, 2010
Weather Permitting
Water will not be available
for irrigating before
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Willwood Irrigation District
BY BRAD DEVEREAUX Volunteers are asked to bring The shrubs to be planted- buffalo
Volunteers are needed to help work gloves and dress appropriately berry- are native to the area and are
plant shrubs that will take the place of in outdoor clothes and meet Thurs- a really good replacement for Russian
Russian olive trees that have been the day, April 15, at 9 a.m. at the end of olive, King said, because they provide
target for removal by the Yellowtail Road 18 near the Yellowtail Habitat similar cover and food.
Coordinated Resource Managementsign, according to Lovell Game War-For questions, contact King at
group over the past several years, den Rick King. 548-7310.
Women's Caucus crease and strengthen wom- son, former Wyoming Sen-participants at the Nicolay-
to host third Leap en's leadership, ator E. Jayne Mockler and sen Museum during an eve-
The Wyoming Women's former Wyoming Represen-ning reception on April 22,
into Leadership Legislative Caucus invites tative Clarene Law. with Sen. Kathryn Sessions
women to Casper College "There are so many tal- and Representatives Rosie
event on April 22 and 23 for lead- ented women just waitingBerger and Deb Hammons.
ership workshops, speakers to be invited to participate For more information
From city councils to the and networking, in government at all levels," or to register for Leap into
state legislature, women Panelists will speak Fri- said Rep. Elaine Harvey (R- Leadership, visit www.
hold less than 25 percent of day at lunch about "Find- Lovell). "I hope they leave wyowlc.org/leap-into-lead-
political seats in Wyoming, ing your Voice." The panel this event feeling ready to ership. Registration for the
with just two women in the features Lola Spradiey, the use their voice to campaign, two-day event costs $45. A
state senate. The bipartisan first woman in Colorado's contribute, educate or orga- limited number of scholar-
Wyoming Women's Legisla- history to be elected Speak- nize for what they believe ships are available. Wyo-
tive Caucus is hosting Leap er of the House, as well as in." ming women of all ages and
into Leadership 2010 to in- Miss Wyoming Anna Nel- Harvey will address professions are welcome.
For the first time In Big Horn Coun- 2010. Additionally, over- lette (5.6 percent), and Hot
since February of 2008, ty, employment rose fromthe-year job losses haveSprings (6.3 percent) coun-
Wyoming's unemployment 4,464 in January to 4,470 slowed somewhat from ties.
rate decreased in February in February. The number -6.3 percent in October of The highest unemploy-
of 2010, according to a re- of unemployed decreased 2009 to -4.5 percent in re- ment rates were found in
port released last week by from 538 in January to 461 bruary of 2010. Lincoln (11 percent), John-
the Research and Planning in February. Most county unem- son (10.6 percent), Fremont
section of the Wyoming De- Wyoming's unemploy- ployment rates followed (9.5 percent) and Sheridan
partment of Employment. ment rate steadily in- their normal seasonal pat- and Big Horn (both 9.3 per-
Big Horn County follo- creased from 2.7 percenttern and decreased slightly cent) counties.
wed the positive trend with in February of 2008 to 7:6 from January to February. Unemployment rates
a decrease in unemploy- percent in January of2010. The lowest unemploy- were higher in February
merit from 10.8 in January However, it !decreased to ment rates were found in2010 than a year earlier in
to 9.3 in February of 2010. 7.5 percent in February Albany (5.4 percent), Sub- al123counties.
Friday, April 9
Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet, Lovell
Community Center, 6 p.m. social hour, 7 p.m. dinner. For
tickets and more info. 548-7552.
Saturday, April 17
Pryor Mountain Ducks Unlimitited Banquet, door open
5:30 p.m. at the Lovell Communtiy Center, for tickets or
information call Christy at 548-6788.
BHC School District No. 1 Board, 2nd Thursday.
BHC School District No. 2 Board (Lovell), 2nd Monday, board room,
7 p.m.
BHC Treasurer at County Annex, 1st and 3rd Thursday each month,
9 a.m - 1 p.m.
Big Hom Basin chapter of Gold Prospectors Association of America,
Skyline Care in Powell, 2rid Tuesday, 7 p.m., 754-5921.
Big Horn County 4-H Leader's Council, 1st Monday, Extension Office
on Hwy 310, 7 pm.
Big Horn County Weed and Pest monthly board meeting, 2nd Tuesday,
1 p.m, W&P office at 4782 Hwy. 310, Greybull.
Byron Lions Club, 1st and 3rd Tuesday, Byron Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Cancer Support Group, 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m., NHCC multi-purpose
room.
Compassionate Friends Support Group, last Wednesday, Long Term
Care Center Conference Room, Wast Park Hospital, 7 p.m, Contact
Melodye Trusty, 578-2416.
Cowley Riding Club, 3rdMonday, 7 p.m.
Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting, 3rd
Monday, noon, Lange's Kitchen
Lovel! Bulldog Booster Club, 3rd Wednesday, Big Horn Federal Hos-
pitality Room, 7 pm.
Lovell Guitar Club, Thursday, 8 pm. Call Steve, 548-7227.
Lovell Library Story Time, every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
Lovell Lions Club, 2ndFrlday, noon; 4th Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., 548-
2431.
Lovell Riders, Inc. meeting, 2rid Thursday, Big Horn Federal, 7 p.m.
Lovell Town Council, 2nd Tuesday, Town Hall, 7 p.m.
Lovell Woman's Club, 2nd Wednesday, Big Horn Federal Hospitality
Room, 1 p.m. Contact Deanna Wagner, 548-7793.
NAMI Big Horn County, lstThursday, 548-2431, 548-6865.
North Big Horn County Health Coalition, 3rd Tuesday, noon, rotating
locations, 548-6410.
Ostomy Support Group meeting, 2nd Tuesday, 7 p.m., North Fork
room, wast Park Hospital in Cody.
Pindroppers Quilt Club, 4th Thursday, 7 p.m., Big Horn Federal hos-
pitality room.
Spokes-n-Folks, call 548-2431; 548-2883.
TOPS @ WY169, every Thursday, St. John's Episcopal Church base-
ment in Powell, 6 p.m. 754-2652, 664-2394
TrI-Mountain View Masonic Lodge, 2nd Thursday, dinner 6:30 p.m.,
lodge meeting 7:30 p.m.
VFW Meeting, 4th Thursday, 7 p.m., Big Horn County Annex bldg,
Lovell.
Veterans Representative, 1st Wednesday, Powell Workforce Center,
9 am - noon; 2nd Thursday
Frannie Town Hall, 9 am - noon
& Lovell Police Dept. 1 - 4 pm;
3rd Friday, Greybull Town
Hall, 9:30 - 1:30 am & Worland
Work'force Center 12:30 - 2:30
pm.
WyDOT Driver Licensing Facil-
ity open in Lovell everyTues.
day, 9:30 a.m. to4 p.m.
Call the Lovell Chronicle at 548-
2217 to list your club here.
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