HELENA — On Sunday at McMaster Hills Trailhead helicopters, search and rescue teams, the Sheriff’s Department, and numerous volunteers continue the search for a 27-year-old woman, who went missing on Friday, October 4th. On Saturday, October 5th her horse and her phone were found.

On Friday Meghan Rouns went for a ride. Her family last heard from her around 2 p.m. Her parents called the Sheriff’s Department at 8:00 p.m. when she hadn’t returned. Friday, search and rescue was mobilized in the McMaster Recreation area.

Search teams of all forms have been pouring over the area since Rouns was reported missing.

Sunday focused on the west side of the area and working the waters.

Both Friday and Saturday saw temperatures in the mid to low thirties in the McMaster recreation area according to Chief Meteorologist Curtis Grevinitz at KTVH.

Multiple agencies from surrounding counties have taken part in the search for Rouns. Saturday night and Sunday a helicopter from the Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls joined in the search.

On Sunday the focus was on Hauser Lake, a robotic-operated vehicle and divers were brought in a mile and half downriver from Canyon Ferry Dam.

Madelyn Heath, MTN News

Since Friday the following agencies have assisted in the search: Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue Units, MT ANG, Mercy Flight from Great Falls, Malmstrom Air Force Base helicopter, Helena Police Department drones, Helena Fire Department drones, IFlyBigSky, Elkhorn Search and Rescue Dogs, True North Search Dogs, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Bureau of Land Management, and community volunteers.

Rouns’s cell phone GPS data maps heavy presence in the lake.

“Her horse was found just up the hill from the lake, so this has become our primary area to search from the evidence we have gathered,” said Willy Wegner, the operations lieutenant of Lewis and Clark County Search and Rescue.

In addition to the evidence that has been found, search and rescue teams have been using a process of elimination method.

“As we search areas, the more we search it the lower probability that area becomes, so then we will move to another area,” noted Wegner.

Madelyn Heath, MTN News

In addition to the heavy search presence on the water Sunday, volunteers are hiking the area to find even the smallest of clues.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton says, “With the amount of volunteers that we have we assign them to a sector and have them report back. They are doing a good job.”

Sheriff Dutton confirmed a spur found by volunteers Saturday did not belong to Meghan.

After speaking with Meghan’s parents, brother, and sister-in-law they shared their gratitude towards all the effort given by the community to find Meghan.

Search and Rescue and the Sheriff’s Department share those same feelings.

“We need to coordinate the search; we will use people that come and help. I’m inspired by everyone who has left what they are doing today to come out to this area,” Dutton said.

As we learn more we will share the updates.

Editor’s note: An original version of this story incorrectly said Meghan Rouns was expected to be back by 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct 4. 2 p.m. on Oct. 4, 2024, was the last time her parents directly heard from her according to officials.

(Montana Sports Information) Weber State struck with several big plays early to take an 11-point halftime lead and hit on more big plays in the second half to stifle a Montana comeback attempt, with the Wildcats upsetting the Grizzlies 55-48 in overtime at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Saturday.

WSU quarterback Richie Munoz threw for 364 yards and six touchdowns, with three of those scores from 50-plus out. The Wildcats also rushed for 177 more to gash the Grizzly defense for 541 yards and added a kickoff return touchdown as well in a Big Sky shootout.

UM quarterback Logan Fife piled-up big numbers for a second-straight week, completing 73 percent of his passes for 344 yards and a pair of TDs. Led by four total touchdowns with three on the ground from Eli Gillman, the Grizzly rushing attack put up 172 yards for 527 total but couldn’t punch it in for one last score in overtime.

In a back-and-forth thriller that saw six lead changes, the Grizzlies scored four touchdowns and a field goal in the second half to take a 48-45 lead with less than a minute to play. The Wildcat one-minute drill marched the visitors back into Montana territory in short order, however, setting up kicker Kyle Thompson for a 43-yard field goal that snuck just inside the left upright to send it to overtime, 48-48.

In the extra period WSU scored first on a reviewed touchdown catch where it appeared Damon Bankston had come back to the field of play from running out of bounds. He was ruled as having been forced out by a Grizzy defender, however, making him eligible for the go-ahead touchdown catch to make it 55-48.

With an opportunity to send it to double overtime on the ensuing Grizzly drive, Fife was sacked and stripped of the ball, which Weber State recovered to seal its third-straight win over Montana.

The heartbreaker of a loss drops UM to 4-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play, snapping the Grizzly streak of 15-straight wins at home. Weber State improves to 3-3 on the year and stays unbeaten in Big Sky play at 2-0.

“I’m proud of our team. They battled back. We were up against it, we were down, things didn’t go well early, but we really fought back, took the lead a couple times, but we just couldn’t come up with it,” said head coach Bobby Hauck, now 8-4 in his career over WSU.

“That’s unfortunate because we did enough to win it. There were a lot of close calls, it seemed like every break went their way, but those deep balls we gave up, the kickoff return, and the two fumbles really cost us.”