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December 14, 2009 in City
Slip on snow-covered ice may have led to hunter’s fall
Colton, Wash., mourns loss of popular teacher
A popular Colton, Wash., high school science teacher may have slipped on ice covered by snow and then slid down a cliff to his death, officials said on Monday.
The body of Glenn Voshell, who went missing Saturday while spending the day bird-hunting, was found Monday morning during an extensive search in Whitman County.
Voshell, 45, was a Colton High School science teacher for the past 16 years and former high school basketball coach at the school, located south of Pullman.
He was reported missing Saturday night after his vehicle was spotted parked on a road west of Colton in a popular hunting area along the rugged Snake River canyon.
Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers said Voshell’s body was found along the canyon breaks above the Snake River, about 1.5 miles from his vehicle.
Myers says Voshell knew the region well and had often gone hunting there.
Difficult terrain hindered search efforts on the ground and snow covered tracks left behind by Voshell on Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
The sheriff said it appeared Voshell had fallen some distance.
Voshell’s hunting dog was found alive. The case was turned over to the Whitman County Coroner to rule on the cause of death.
Nate Smith, principal and superintendent at Colton schools, said a memorial service has not been set, but family members were considering holding it at the school later this week.
He said that Voshell was a valuable teacher who will be missed.
“He was pretty popular with the kids,” Smith said. “He was a genuinely good guy. It’s just a tragic, tragic situation.”
He had a son, Trevor, who is in the Navy and a daughter, Kirsi, who plays center for the Lewis-Clark State College basketball team in Lewiston, Smith said. Kirsi Voshell missed a Sunday game after her father was reported missing.
Smith said he was told after the recovery that Voshell may have slipped on ice that had been covered with snow at a spot where water springs from the ground. After losing his footing, he apparently slid down a chute and then over a cliff edge.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman, Smith said. “It’s not like he was inexperienced.”
“It’s going to be a tough time for Colton,” he said.
Voshell had served as coach for the boys and girls basketball teams earlier in his career at Colton. He also served on the Colton City Council and was regarded as a civic leader.
He taught all of the science disciplines in the small high school along with driver’s education and the Science Olympiad competitive science class, Smith said.
The search for Voshell was aided by personnel from Latah and Nez Perce counties in Idaho, Whitman County Emergency Support Team, Spokane County, the U.S. Border Patrol and Fairchild Air Force Base.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Returning farmland to a state of nature 
jessixa3 on December 14 at 9:51 a.m.
I hope that everything will be fine. He knows how to hunt and backpack. Please be ok!
SugarShane on December 14 at 11:58 a.m.
He’s fine. Just not alive. Usually thats what it means when they say they found a “body”.
mikep on December 14 at 1:10 p.m.
Jessixa3 posted her comment prior to the news of the recovery.
zelda on December 14 at 1:33 p.m.
So very sad. It’s even more tragic that he was by himself when the accident occurred. Thinking you “know the terrain” can catch even the most accomplished outdoorsman unaware. Condolences to family, friends and all who searched for him.
jessixa3 on December 14 at 1:51 p.m.
Thank you Mike Prager. I just Found out the bad news and I am torn apart. He was a great man and a great Science Teacher. I am also a science teacher and I have reached out to him for help so many times. I will miss him. I wish that I knew how to help his 2 kids and family during this time of need.
wcpeabody on December 14 at 2:09 p.m.
It is an area I have hunted pretty often. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends. He sounds like he was a great guy.
Fuschia on December 14 at 5:30 p.m.
Another reason to never hunt alone.
Truthbtold on December 15 at 6:05 a.m.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family and community.This is truly a loss of a great man who loved life, his family and his community.
Have faith that he is with God and you (his family) will meet him someday on heaven highest hill.
BUTTERFLYGAL0 on December 15 at 12:43 p.m.
Glenn will be missed by all that were blessed enough to have meet him. He had a winning smile that could light up a room when he entered.