A rural Baxter County man was rescued from a pond Wednesday evening, February 28th, after the tractor he was operating slid off the muddy edge of the levee and was pulled into the water, trapping the man.  This was in the area of Baxter CR 1175, North of Mountain Home.

     At approximately 5:10 PM, 49 year old ELDON E. COOPER called his wife and asked her to meet him at Church around 6:00 PM.  When he did not arrive at the Church, his wife went home to look for him.  She went to the pond and found the tractor on its side and placed a call for help at 7:31 PM.  The Clarkridge Volunteer Fire/Rescue Squad responded, as did Sheriff’s deputies and the Sheriff’s Office diver, Sgt. Lee Sanders. 

     At 8:39 PM, sounds were heard from the tractor.  Fire/Rescue personnel along with MR. COOPER’S brother got into the water and found him still alive inside the cab of the tractor. Two fire/rescue personnel and our diver, upon his arrival, were able to get MR. COOPER out of the tractor and to the shore.  He was then transported by ambulance to Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home to be treated.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff