A Community’s Heroism Carved in Stone
Austin Casson is building a 12-foot sculpture in Clark Fork to commemorate one of the most remarkable moments in the small community’s recent history: a winter rescue that brought nearly 300 residents together to search for a lost child and her dog.
The sculpture depicts a 10-year-old girl walking alongside Tundra, a 100-pound dog, standing in the palm of a hand sustained by a tree trunk. When completed, the monument will be installed next to Clark Fork Junior-Senior High School in the city center, serving as a permanent reminder of the community’s response during a crisis that unfolded in early 2024.
The story began when a blizzard swept through Antelope Flats, a remote area northeast of Clark Fork, trapping the girl and her dog. The child’s mother, unable to search herself due to caring for four younger children at home, reached out to a local church group for help. Within an hour, hundreds of Clark Fork residents mobilized. By two hours into the effort, nearly 300 people were combing the snow-covered terrain.
The girl and Tundra were found several hours after sunset. Despite being wet and hypothermic, the child had survived, kept warm by her dog through the ordeal. The scale of the community response — drawing from a population of roughly 650 residents — made it the largest search and rescue operation in Clark Fork’s history.
From Conversation to Creation
Casson learned about the rescue last summer while having his boat serviced at a local dock. A boat owner recounted the story, and the sculptor became inspired to commemorate the event. He began work on July 17, 2026, and plans to complete the bulk of the sculpture during the remaining summer months.
“I just think it’s an amazing thing. I just love it,” Casson said of the project. “What this is about is the community supporting this lost child and dog. I’m a dog guy, so the dog part of it really got me.”
Casson brings a personal connection to the project — he shares his home with three dogs: Moose, Charlott, and Flower. That bond between human and animal resonates throughout the sculpture’s design, capturing both the girl’s dependence on her canine companion and the broader message of mutual care that defined the rescue.
Funding the Monument
To support the project, organizers have launched a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraising effort reflects continued community investment in preserving this pivotal moment in Clark Fork’s identity.
The sculpture will stand as both a tribute to the child’s survival and a testament to the residents who answered the call in crisis. For a small mountain community, such monuments often carry outsized significance — they anchor collective memory and reinforce shared values. In this case, the sculpture will embody Clark Fork’s capacity for rapid mobilization and mutual aid.
When the sculpture is completed and installed, it will occupy one of the community’s most visible locations, ensuring that future generations of Clark Fork residents and visitors understand what happened in those hours during the blizzard, and what the community was capable of when one of its own needed help.
What Comes Next
Casson aims to complete the carving during the summer months. The sculpture’s installation at the school site will likely occur in late summer or early fall, pending final fundraising and any weather-dependent work requirements. Community members interested in supporting the project can contribute through the GoFundMe campaign.