A Lebanon man who got lost while hunting mushrooms in the Whitcomb Creek area was found Thursday afternoon, Dec. 10.
Linn County Sheriff Bruce Riley said mushroom picker Jason Lee Key, 38, who was reported missing Wednesday evening, Dec. 9, was located at approximately 1:30 p.m., about half a mile from where he was last seen by an acquaintance.
On Wednesday evening, about 6:30 p.m., Linn County 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a Robert Dwayne Pollock, 42, of Lebanon, who reported that he and Key were picking mushrooms in the area of the Whitcomb Creek 700 line, off of Quartzville Road, which is heavily wooded. The location is about 9½ miles northeast of Sweet Home.
Pollock reported last seeing Key in the area at approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday. Pollock said he and four other people had been searching for Key and were unable to locate him.
Pollock reported Key only had a flashlight and a lighter with him and did not have a cell phone.
After receiving the call, Linn County deputies responded to the area and activated approximately 10 Linn County Search and Rescue volunteers, Riley said.
Key was located Thursday by Search and Rescue members. Riley said he had traveled approximately 400 feet in elevation down very rough terrain within the Whitcomb Creek Drainage area.
He said that, when found, Key did not appear to need medical attention.
A total of 45 Search and Rescue members assisted in the search.