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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend January 10, 2007 Proposed rule changes aim to address problems faced during Kim search Sen. Atkinson hopes to streamline and centralize state searches for missing people By Don Jepsen for the Mail Tribune SALEM — A state senator who represents Jackson and Josephine counties is proposing legislation to address mistakes made in the search for a snowbound San Francisco family in November. Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point, said he didn't want to "point fingers" in the search for James Kim and his family. "What didn't happen was the wise use of resources with local know-how," Atkinson said. Kim, 35, his wife Kati, 30, and their two daughters were en route to a Southern Oregon coastal resort on Thanksgiving weekend when their vehicle became stuck in snow on a winding unpaved logging route off Bear Camp Road, itself a treacherous road in winter. A gate at the turnoff was supposed to be locked. Kati Kim and her daughters stayed with their vehicle and were rescued, but her husband died of hypothermia after striking out on foot to seek help. Advertisement Official investigations and media reports have characterized the search as a bureaucratic morass involving 10 government agencies often working at odds with each other. Under current law, the sheriff in the county where a search is centered — in this case Josephine County — is responsible for search and rescue operations. But the hunt for the Kims ranged over much of western Oregon's mountainous areas and was not begun until four days after the family was marooned. Atkinson's legislation was still being worked on by legislative counsel, but it would contain the following provisions: A central agency, such as Oregon Emergency Management, would take command in statewide searches and would be responsible for a lead agency to head a unified command. Allow access to cell phone records and information on subscribers who are the subject of missing person reports or emergency search and rescue operations. "That's a tricky one," Atkinson said. "There are privacy concerns and we would need to define what constitutes an emergency." Citing the national publicity on the search for the Kims along with the three climbers on Mount Hood, Atkinson said it is imperative that Oregon address its problems on wilderness searches. "It's a mess," he said. Gov. Ted Kulongoski is awaiting a report from a special task force on the tragedy and how emergency responders can operate more effectively. At the national level, U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-California, asked the Bureau of Land Management to investigate why the spur road gate was open. The BLM initially said the gate was locked, but broken open by vandals. BLM officials then said an inspection concluded that a worker had left it open. Don Jepsen is a freelance writer living in Salem. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com