Communities unite to bring missing northern Sask. men home

Communities united to bring three missing men home after a planned foraging trip near Jayjay Lake in northern Saskatchewan ended with them being found safe Friday following a two-day search. Saskatchewan RCMP said an aircraft located Roderick Bird, 49, Emil Ratt, 67, and Ricky McKenzie, 48, in a remote muskeg area near Jayjay Lake early Friday, and a Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency helicopter airlifted them to safety for assessment by EMS. Police said the men were not believed to have suffered serious injuries. The trio had been reported missing after failing to return from the foraging trip; they were last seen near Highway 165, about 10 kilometres north of Highway 106, at around 6:45 p.m. on July 22. Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson thanked RCMP, emergency agencies, and community volunteers, as well as specific teams including CASARA and RCMP Police Dog Services. Search efforts began when La Ronge RCMP received the missing report on July 22.