NEW HARTFORD, Minn. — A LaCrosse man missing in the Upper Pine Creek drainage was found safe based on a tip from a person living up remote Rose Creek. Searchers described Elijah McCumber as hungry and tired after almost a week in the rugged southeast Winona County forests. He was taken 16 miles by ambulance to a LaCrosse hospital for evaluation. The search began Sunday after his family reported him possibly in a crisis mode and confused. His car was found abandoned up the Echo Valley tributary to Pine Creek. It was believed he hadn’t wanted to be found and moved coulee to coulee and crossed dirt roads and trails after dark. First-responders from Nodine and Dakota were the first to Rose Creek after the sighting which was about 10 a.m.
Drone up there in search sortie. Fifteen agencies participated in the search. Thermal-imaging devices, both airborne and on the ground, had failed to locate McCumber. He also eluded K-9 sniffer teams.
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