K9 heroes

As heart-wrenching as it is to lose a friend or family member, it's also devastating to not know whether a missing person is dead or alive, what happened to the person or where his or her remains are located.

For the past year this community and the nation have watched as law enforcement, friends, family members and others have searched for Jacque Waller, who has been missing since June 1. In an effort to assist in long-term missing person searches, such as the Waller case, 14 dogs and their owners have been participating in training sessions to become part of the Cape Girardeau County Search and Rescue K9 Unit.

A similar volunteer unit in Scott County has participated in several of the Waller searches as well as searches in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Florida. Now with the Cape Girardeau County unit, hopefully others that are missing will be found alive. For those found who have died, the unit's efforts will likely help bring closure to the friends and families mourning the loss.

If you'd like to help support this not-for-profit search and rescue unit, a rummage and bake sale at the Missouri National Guard Armory will be held April 21. Funds that are raised will help cover training costs.