LYBURN — The Hatfield-McCoy Rangers have received new gear and new training to go with it.

John Hall, Chief Ranger for the Logan Division, said that on Saturday, March 27, he and Noah Lombardo, Chief Ranger for the Southern Division, along with Rangers Jeremy Collins and James Brown, received training and made qualifications with their new .45 caliber Glock duty pistols.

"We finally got everybody together to be qualified with the new pistols," Hall said earlier this week.

Prior to the new pistols being issued, the Rangers carried a varied collection of service pistols from different makers, some in different calibers. Earlier this winter, the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority decided to issue agency-owned weapons in a standard caliber and of the same make to the Rangers, along with bulletproof vests.

The new equipment was purchased on state purchase contract bids and Hall said the Glock pistols were lower in cost than the equivalent Smith & Wesson Military & Police pistols in the same caliber but were otherwise very similar in all ways performance wise.

"We got good weapons in an effective caliber at a lower cost to the taxpayers," Hall said. "Now all of our men carry the same type of gun which makes it easier when dealing with access to spare magazines, ammunition or needed repairs or parts."

Hall said that the new gear and training is very important considering that Rangers work alone and are often in the wilderness where an unexpected and unhappy encounter with wildlife or a criminal is a distinct possibility.

All the Rangers are sworn law enforcement officers with police academy training.

Hall said that in addition to enforcing safety regulations on the trails, sometimes the Rangers are called upon to assist in other emergencies such as a recent missing persons call.

"Our officers recently assisted in the search for William Cochran, who was believed missing," Hall said. "We responded around 10 a.m. that day (Monday, Sept. 22) and we worked with County Public Rescue to search the Bear Wallow trailhead area."

Apparently the missing man was not missing in the woods, however. Reportedly he turned the ATV over to a friend in the Peach Creek area for safekeeping then left.