There were several rescues from flooded rivers in the area this past weekend. According to a report in the Springfield News Leader, 10 paddlers were rescued from the upper Jacks Fork River Saturday night. Chris Figge, who is Law Enforcement and the Emergency Service Supervisor for the Jacks Fork District of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways said they received a call from a cell phone that the paddlers needed help. Frigge responded along with other rangers, the MSHP and Mountain view Police and Fire Departments. They were able to rescue the paddlers who were from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. The paddlers had three canoes that went under and one kayak overturned. The paddlers had put in despite signs saying the river was closed. All ten were given citations and a $80 fine.
They were not the only ones rescued. a 67 year old veteran paddler missed his takeout late Sunday on the upper Current River. He was found safe on the shore around 10:30 Sunday night.
Then around 2am rangers got a call that three people had tried to float the Jacks Fork on tubes. They found the tubes but no people at first. They were found around 5:30 Monday morning . they had walked off the river and found shelter in a barn near Summersville.