SMEATON — Update: Lois Chartrand has been located deceased.
Original release: RCMP are searching for a woman who became separated from a fellow mushroom picker and who has been out overnight in the wind and rain.
74-year-old Lois Chartrand was last seen around 11 a.m. Aug. 4 when she was on foot mushroom picking northeast of kilometre 30 on the Hanson Lake Road (Highway 106). RCMP say she is an experienced mushroom picker and became separated from another person she was with, who began searching for her and called police for assistance.
Severe thunderstorms, wind and rain that came through the area impacted the search for Chartrand last night. Members of Saskatoon Search and Rescue, RCMP Search and Rescue, local people familiar with the area and Nipawin, Carrot River, Deschambault Lake and Smeaton RCMP Detachments are currently searching for her.
Police have communicated with Chartrand via a radio she is carrying, as recently as 6 a.m. this morning, but she has not yet been located.
RCMP say if members of the public are familiar with this area and are available to assist with the search for Chartrand, there is a command post set up approximately 32 kilometres north of Smeaton on Highway 106. Please attend this location and sign in so everyone is accounted for and a methodical grid search can be completed. There is limited to no cell service in this area and RCMP stress they do not want people unfamiliar with the terrain to get lost.
Lois Chartrand is described as being approximately 90 pounds and is five feet tall. She was last wearing blue jeans and a blue jacket. If you see Lois Chartrand, please call 911 immediately.
