Lost Meeker boy found

MEEKER I Mike and Samantha Lopez were reunited with their eight-year-old son Austin after being separated for approximately six hours east of Meeker.
The Lopez family was gathering cattle and Austin was helping push cows along a fence line last Saturday afternoon.
“When he didn’t hear our four-wheelers, he thought we left him and started walking back to the truck,” Austin’s mother said. “Only he started walking south instead of north.”
Search and rescue teams were called at 5:45 p.m. Local outfitter Paul Janke found Austin and his dog Lexi approximately six miles from where he was last seen by his mother.
“He asked Paul if he could help him ‘get out of here,’” Samantha said.
Lopez said her son was “cold” but not afraid when found and was grateful for the large response to the search by everyone.
“This is a wonderful community,” Lopez said.