Tracks in the Snow

Shortly before 9:00am Monday morning the Buckhannon Fire Department was called to assist in the search for a young man missing since 2:00pm Sunday afternoon. He was last seen fishing in the Buckhannon River near Island Avenue. Seven firefighters responded and searched both sides of the river from the Hall Road to just above the Poe Bridge. This is the only time you will hear me say I was glad for the snow cover. It was relatively easy to exclude search areas where there was no evidence of foot tracks and it was easy to determine if and where any anyone had gone close to the edge of the river. We searched without success until midday when we regrouped and considered alternate search plans. It was decided to conduct a bank search from the water both above and below the river dam.

Phase 2 of our search effort required launching boats in February. We used a large boat above the dam but before we could use the boat ramp at Wood Street, the ramp had to be cleared of snow that had piled up during the last several snow falls. A call to the city street department was all that was needed and the boat ramp was quickly made ready for launch. Two DNR staff and a Buckhannon firefighter made quick work of the river above the dam. Two firefighters launched a jon boat by the soccer fields near Fifth Street. They had a more challenging launch because they had to slide the boat approximately 300 yards over the snow before lowering the boat by hand into the river. Because that portion of the river can be shallow, they only had a trolling motor for propulsion. The river search from the jon boat took several hours and the two firefighters on board were chilled to the bone. The boat searches were completed about 3:30pm.

Phase 3 of our search began when we received information that foot tracks were found near the secondary small dam down stream of the large dam that suggested a possible slide to the waters edge. Firefighters responded and began a water search which was suspended at darkness for the safety of the searchers. Phase 3 will resume again onTuesday.

It is my hope and prayer that this situation will come to a successful end with the return of the missing young man. Our city is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers and employees that unselfishly, without hesitation, give their time and talents in time of need. I'm glad I live here.