Fog limits search for drowned fisherman

Published 12:38 am Sunday, February 15, 2009

VIDALIA — The search for the last of the victims of Tuesday night’s fatal boating incident continued into the weekend, but to no avail.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office aided the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office in their search for Mack Kemp, 27, of Krotz Springs, La., by providing helicopter searches during breaks in the inclement weather Friday, Adams County Sheriff Ronny Brown said.

Visibility above the river was too low Saturday, however, forcing the county to suspend helicopter searches, ACSO Maj. Charles Harigill said.

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Searchers continued their work in boats at the river level Saturday, Brown said.

Kemp has been missing since Tuesday night, after the boat he was in on the Mississippi River was swamped by wind and waves from a storm.

Along with three other men, Kemp was reportedly fishing for shad north of the mouth of the Homochitto River.

Between 10:30 and 11 p.m., the two boats the men were using were crossing the river when both were overcome with water and began to sink.

Two of the other men, Michael Shane O’Connor, 34, and Nolton Sitting, 31, both of Krotz Springs, died in the incident, and their bodies were both recovered downstream Wednesday.

The fourth man and only confirmed survivor, Jason Snyder, 37, of Krotz Springs, was able to make his way to the Mississippi side of the river, where he was later rescued on a sandbar.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the Adams County and Concordia Parish sheriffs’ offices, the Adams County and Concordia Parish coroners’ offices, local volunteers and other law enforcement agencies have been involved over the course of the search.