Latest news with #MissionMules
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Mules, Horse Who Helped With Helene Recovery Meet Tragic End
Vader the horse and his mule buddies Kev and Amigo were among the many heroes after Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina. They were part of a team that carried supplies into places rescue trucks couldn't go, featured last year in the video above. But the animals met a tragic end recently when a tree fell, allowing them to escape their pasture and wander into a road half-mile away. All three were hit by a vehicle and died. Vader, Kev and Amigo belonged to Mountain Mule Packer Ranch in Mt. Ulla, North Carolina, and also were used to train military personnel. Michele Toberer and her husband Mike operate the ranch. They also have a nonprofit called Mission Mules, which aims to deploy their animals to other disaster zones. 'All of our animals are very special to us on many levels," Michele told us over the phone Tuesday. (MORE: Helene Survivor Recounts 'Apocalyptic' Destruction) The Toberers were out of town when they got a call from a neighbor at around 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 9, alerting them to what happened to Vader, Kev and Amigo. 'Hard situation," Michelle said. "We've played it through in our minds a million times in the past week.' Toberer said she wasn't sure what caused the tree to fall that night, but it may have been weakened by time or weather or a combination of the two. digital meteorologist Sara Tonks noted that there had been stormy weather in the days leading up to the tree falling. High winds were reported in the general region in the hours before the animals were hit. 'The nearby weather station in Charlotte, North Carolina, reported mildly gusty winds on Feb. 8 up to 18 mph,' Tonks said. 'Light rain was reported during the day. Winds picked up overnight, and the weather station at UNC Charlotte measured a 27 mph gust at midnight.' (MORE: February Is US Winter Storm Peak Much Like September Is For Hurricane Season) A week after Vader, Kev and Amigo died, Mike Toberer headed out to help victims of recent flooding in other parts of the South. 'We have to keep going forward," Michele said. senior content writer Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'A nightmare come true': Mountain Mule Packer Ranch mourns loss of mules used in Hurricane Helene relief
ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Three mules that helped bring supplies to western North Carolina residents after Hurricane Helene have died. 'It's pretty, pretty shocking to have that kind of a nightmare come true,' Michele Toberer said. She and her husband run 'Mountain Mule Packer Ranch' in Rowan County. Michelle Toberer never thought she'd say goodbye to three of her mules so soon. She says a tree fell on the fence keeping them in the pasture– letting them loose Saturday night. Then, on Sunday, she and her husband got the call that the three animals — Amigo, Vader, and Kev — had been fatally hit by vehicles. 'Instant tears. I mean, it's definitely anyone that has horses and mules or cattle, livestock in general. I think everyone can agree that it's the fear you have when you leave' Since Hurricane Helene, the Toberers have used their packing mules to haul supplies into inaccessible parts of western North Carolina. After the accident, they're down to six mules. PREVIOUS | 'They're saddled with pack saddles and they can carry anywhere from 150 to 200 pounds of supplies per mule. And so, you know, when we're taking nine, nine mules in, that's, you know, nearly a ton of supplies that can be brought in,' Toberer said. So fewer mules means fewer supplies — or more trips. Either way, the Toberers can't rotate the workload as easily. She says the work hasn't been as strenuous now that most roads are open again. 'Unless there were certain situations where someone's bridge was out or there was not another easy way to get supplies to them,' Toberer said. There was an outpouring of community support after the family posted about the mules' deaths. Neighbors grew fond of the animals as well. 'Knowing that people that had never even met these mules have fallen in love with them and they cared about their loss to definitely light and lighten things. And it made it much more bearable day yesterday to be receiving calls and messages. And I wish we could reply to every single one, but I want everyone to know how much everyone has met,' Toberer said. The Toberer family will host a relief event on Saturday between noon and 4 p.m. in Black Mountain. As a token of their appreciation, they plan to bring their mules for a meet and greet for the community. If you would like to donate to the Topers to help get more mules — Mission Mules. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Mules aiding Helene victims in NC killed on road after leaving pasture
Three mules that worked countless hours getting supplies to Helene victims in western North Carolina escaped their pasture over the weekend and were hit and killed on a nearby road, ranch officials said. Supplies arrive by mule in NC as Helene's death toll tops 130 Officials with Mountain Mule Packer Ranch said a tree came down on a pasture fence Saturday night, and Vader, Amigo, and Kev left the pasture and were hit while on the road. 'We could not be more heartbroken over this incredible loss, and it is with great pain that we share it with you, as we know many of you have also fallen in love with these sweet animals,' officials stated in a Facebook post. 'Please pray for us at Mountain Mule Packers and Mission Mules as we cope with this terrible loss while continuing to go forward in their honor. We know that God can comfort us and show us the way going forward.' Mule Packer Ranch is located in Mount Ulla in Rowan County. VIDEO: Supplies arrive by mule in NC
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
3 mules killed on road in Rowan County after leaving pasture due to fallen tree
ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — It's with a heavy heart a local ranch had to say goodbye to three of its mules after a tragic accident on Sunday. said that a tree fell on a fence and three mules left the pasture. Tragically, Kev, Vader, and Amigo were hit and killed while on the road. The mules were used to train military members and helped numerous families affected by Hurricane Helene, the ranch said on Facebook. 'In the heart of a mule lies the spirit of persistence, unyielding to the weight of its load,' it reads on the Mission Mules website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Mountain Mule Packers reports 3 mules killed after tragic incident
MOUNT ULLA, N.C. (WJHL) — North Carolina's Mountain Mule Packers, which provided Hurricane Helene flood relief in Appalachia, said on social media that three of its mules died after an unfortunate incident. Mountain Mule Packers reported Sunday that three of its mules, Vader, Amigo, and Kev, were tragically killed after escaping from the pasture and being struck in the road. The ranch said a tree fell on the pasture's fence. The ranch said the following in a social media post on Sunday: We could not be more heartbroken over this incredible loss, and it is with great pain that we share it with you, as we know many of you have also fallen in love with these sweet animals. We will forever honor them for their faithful, loyal, and honorable service to others as they were used in training of some of the finest military members our country has, and especially the countless hours of work they have done to help so many families affected by Hurricane Helene. Besides their service, they were more importantly a part of our family, and loved. Please pray for us at Mountain Mule Packers and Mission Mules as we cope with this terrible loss while continuing to go forward in their honor. We know that God can comfort us and show us the way going forward. Mountain Mule Packers News Channel 11 reported on Vader, Amigo and Kev in December when the trio helped bring Christmas magic to the region after Hurricane Helene. That story can be read by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
