In December 2025, the Lower Kiski Water Team was called to assist with a missing-person search in Manor Township along the Allegheny River.

During the search, the team put its specialized Whaly Roto-Molded Plastic Boat to work, using it to break through ice along the shoreline. This allowed the crew to deploy its side-scan sonar technology and continue the search.

According to the Lower Kiski Water Team, no other boat available to them would have been capable of breaking through the ice without risking damage. The specialized boat provided the capability the team needed to safely navigate the icy conditions and support the search effort.

The boat was ultimately used by the search crew and divers to help bring closure to the family.

The boat was purchased with support from a grant awarded through the Richard G. and Barbara A. Snyder General Charitable  Fund, a component fund of the Armstrong County Community Foundation.

This is Beyond the Grant—seeing how a community investment can make a difference when it matters most.

We are grateful to the Lower Kiski Water Team for sharing this story and for the important work they do to serve our communities.