Community shows support for Coultas“ morale-boosting garden
From our weekly issue dated June 02, 2010
It“s been nearly two years since a helicopter crash near Weaverville, Calif. resulted in the death of nine people and left co-pilot and Cave Junction resident William Coultas seriously injured.
But Illinois Valley resident Greg Anderson is determined to show Coultas that the community has not forgotten his sacrifice and subsequent struggle.
On Aug. 5, 2008, Coultas was among 13 people aboard a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter, owned by Carson Helicopter of Grants Pass, used to battle a wildfire at the Iron 44 Complex. The copter crashed near the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, causing the death of seven firefighters, a pilot and a U.S. Forest Service employee.
The tragedy was felt throughout S.W. Oregon, as the victims were from many communities throughout the region. They were:
Medford resident Shawn Blazer, 30; Phoenix resident Scott Charlson, 25; Grants Pass resident Matthew Hammer, 23; Ashland“s Edrik Gomez, 19; Bryan Rich, 29, from Medford; 19-year-old Ashland resident David Steele; Steven Renno, 21; Jim Ramage, 61; and 54-year-old Roark Schwanenberg.
Since then, Coultas has endured many surgeries, treatments and therapies for the injuries he suffered, including burns.
Anderson said that he has gotten to know the Coultas Family in the 10 years he“s lived in the valley. He heard that Coultas was interested in planting a garden, and began asking people around town to contribute to a public showing of support.
“We wanted to let him know that we haven“t forgotten him,“ Anderson said. “The pain and suffering he“s been through for the past couple of years are not unnoticed by members of the community.“
Prior to settling down in Illinois Valley, Anderson worked as a nurse. He said that experience familiarized him with the trauma that people go through when recuperating from serious injuries.
“I know how difficult it is to keep a patient“s morale up over a prolonged recovery period,“ Anderson said.
Anderson sought $5 donations to help fund Coultas“ garden project. Many people offered more, but Anderson said that it was not a fund-raiser, so much as it was a “morale raiser.“
“It didn“t matter where I went, everybody wanted to give five bucks or more,“ Anderson said. “It“s gratifying to know that everybody felt the same way I did.“
All the money that was raised was put toward a Shop Smart Food Warehouse gift card to pay for tomato plants. The card was given to Bill“s wife, Chris, who said that she is grateful for the support.
Contributors included many businesses including TC Computers, You Dirty Dog, Dr. Joe“s Pet Hospital, Dave“s Outdoor Power Equipment, the Hair, Face &Nail Place, Special Productions, Treehouse Florist & Gifts, Home Valley Bank and Oregon Caves Chevron.
Individual contributors included Charlie Valdez, Michael Owens, Lidia Morgan, Mike & Linda Hughes, Dave & Deb Bienenfold, Dale & Patti Brain and John & Laura Nolan.
Chris Coultas could not comment for this story, as the family is in litigation in connection with the crash.
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