CLARK FORK — The periodic whir of Austin Casson's power tools can be heard from a shed tucked away in the farmlands surrounding Clark Fork. 

Sparks spray as he melds metal to metal, drapes steel sheets, and plasters cement atop the framework of what will soon be a 12-foot sculpture honoring the Clark Fork community that rallied in 2024 to find a lost girl amid a storm. 

The nationally recognized sculptor and former Sandpoint resident's work can be found around the globe, including pieces at the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Library of Congress, and the British and Ukrainian embassies. 

But something about the small community's shared heroism stirred within him, leading him to pursue the project. 

The sculpture tells the story of when a 10-year-old girl and her 100-pound dog, Tundra, became lost in a blizzard in Antelope Flats — an off-grid, remote area northeast of Clark Fork.  

Looking for Tundra, the girl entered the silent forest. While the youth found her dog, she became lost, leaving them wandering in the bitter elements.  

With four younger children at home, the girl’s mother was unable to search on her own, so, in a desperate attempt to find her daughter, she contacted her church group for help. 

The community has roughly 650 people, yet within an hour, hundreds of Clark Fork area residents showed up to help. Within two hours, nearly 300 people had dropped what they were doing to join the search.  

Several hours later, long after the sun had set, searchers found them. The event became the largest community search-and-rescue in Clark Fork's history. 

Despite being wet and somewhat hypothermic, the girl survived — the big dog had kept her warm. 

Last summer, Casson was in Clark Fork when he pulled his boat into a private dock after it was experiencing problems. The boat dock owner told him about the event, and Casson was amazed. 

"I just think it's an amazing thing," Casson said, "I just love it." 

After being asked to design a monument to commemorate that day, Casson didn't hesitate to say yes. 

"What this is about is the community supporting this lost child and dog," said Casson, "I'm a dog guy, so the dog part of it really got me." 

Casson has three dogs of his own — Moose, Charlotte and Flower. 

He began the project July 17, and plans to spend the bulk of the remaining summer finishing it. 

The sculpture depicts the girl walking alongside her dog, standing in the palm of a hand supported by a tree trunk. 

"It's an extremely difficult piece," Casson said. 

From ensuring accurate measurements to meticulously crafting details — like using a grinding tool to create Tundra’s fur — Casson said the process is slow. 

Casson acknowledges that he couldn't have funded the project alone. Community members who have donated to the GoFundMe launched for the project are helping bring his vision to life.

The sculpture will be installed in the center of the city, next to Clark Fork Junior-Senior High School. 

"For all the terrible stuff that we hear about every day, this is something really positive," he said, "What a great statement for a community." 

Though other small communities have rallied for their town members, Casson said it is especially significant that the event happened in Clark Fork. 

"It happened here. With this town, and these people. It's worth remembering, and that's what this is about." 

Community members can donate or read more about the project at gofundme.com/f/clark-fork-heroes.