Rock Rapids, Iowa (KIWA/Sioux County Radio) — The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has added a new boat to its emergency response fleet thanks to a grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
Sheriff’s Deputy Alex Waagmeester tells us why the boat is needed.
He says the boat can be used in many ways and is not just a rescue boat.
According to the sheriff’s office, the grant funded the purchase of a 2026 Crestliner 1860 Retriever. It also comes with a trailer and a Humminbird XPLORE 10 graph system.
He says they will likely cross-train with county rescue, EMS, and fire personnel so that they can all utilize the boat.
Waagmeester gives us some information about the grant.
Members of the public have asked why the funds were used for a boat, and Deputy Waagmeester says the competitive grant funds were only for the purchase of a boat.
Lyon County experienced significant flooding in both 2014 and 2024, highlighting the need for specialized equipment capable of operating in shallow or fast-moving water. Waagmeester says that’s one of the reasons the boat costs a little more than you might expect — it’s especially designed for use in shallow water, as they would probably encounter during a flood, or in shallow rivers, as the county has.
Authorities say they hope the boat will rarely be needed, but emphasized its importance in protecting lives when emergencies arise.
The sheriff’s office expressed appreciation to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, as well as local Firehouse Subs restaurants in Sioux Falls and donors who contributed to the funding.
KIWA Staff Photo
