CANNON BEACH — After a search that brought in crews from throughout the state, officials announced they will curtail major efforts in Cannon Beach to find Raymond Hickman, the 87-year-old Haystack Heights man who was reported missing Saturday morning.

“As the fourth day ends, we’ve exhausted all different outlets that we could go to and that we could access, as well as just exhausted our resources,” Cannon Beach Police Chief Jason Schermerhorn said at Tuesday’s Cannon Beach City Council meeting. Throughout the week, rescue teams from Clatsop, Washington, Tillamook, Multnomah and Clackamas counties and Mountain Wave Search and Rescue scoured the coastline, highways and trails. 

About 75 people helped with the search, using four-wheel-drive vehicles, horses, and a drone from a Hamlet resident that flew over areas they couldn’t access and took photos that were extensively reviewed, Schermerhorn said.

The search teams responded to tips from people who had seen Hickman recently.

“It’s just really unfortunate because it’s so heavily forested and green, which we love down here,” Schermerhorn said. “But it’s hard to find different areas where he could have slid off the track or path.”

Described as 5-feet-9-inches tall, bald, blue eyes and wearing glasses, family members said Hickman may have memory issues.

Schermerhorn said he met with the Hickman family before making a decision.

“They understand the possibilities of what could have happened, but the difficult part is that they want some sort of closure,” Schermerhorn said. “The family was very thankful for the responses they got. They never expected it to turn into something like this.”

Don Hickman, Raymond Hickman’s nephew, said from his home in Big Lake, Alaska, “Everyone is hoping and praying that somebody called in and he’s somewhere and he’s safe and sound.”

“He’s just a good person. He’s there to help anybody that he could and he’s always been that way. We appreciate everyone doing what they are doing and hopefully he’s going to show up there pretty soon and there will be a good ending to this story.”

Others praised the alert system when someone goes missing.

“I’d like to comment on the alert system and the number of calls I got both on my cell and my landline,” City Councilor Melissa Cadwallader said. “It’s reassuring to know how much that’s working.” 

“It’s a great warning system,” Schermerhorn said. “We are very thankful for the search and rescue. It was an amazing collaboration working with the Coast Guard and the Fire Department.”

The fire station and the family are “overloaded” with food donations, Schermerhorn said. 

“Cannon Beach is a great community,” he added. “I have found time and time again that people step up and help out during these tough times for families.” 

The police department will continue to search as they patrol, Schermerhorn said, and encourage people to contact them if they have any information. 

Anyone with information about the missing man should contact Clatsop County Search and Rescue at 503-440-2650 or Cannon Beach Police at 503-436-2811.