A well-respected local woman and her grandson tragically went missing Saturday evening while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park. According to Park Services, an alert was received from a personal locating beacon in a backcountry area of the Grand Canyon on Saturday evening, April 15th. “The hiking party reported that the two hikers were last seen crossing Tapeats Creek below the confluence with Thunder River when they lost footing and were swept down Tapeats Creek.” Search and Rescue operations got underway immediately in the search for 62-year-old LouAnn Merrell of Vernal and 14-year-old Jackson Standefer. The search is ongoing and is being done from land and air, reports Park Services. Even local Search and Rescue members have joined the search. “Several have gone to assist; All were willing and wanting to go but knew they could not leave the County without their services,” shares Uintah County Sheriff Vance Norton. “It just shows that Uintah County has a great group of volunteers and are willing to sacrifice their own time and money to help out citizens no matter where they are.” Anyone with information on either missing person should call National Park Service at
928-638-7805
.
