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35 boats, helicopter searched 75 miles of river Tuesday with no luck

The TWRA has suspended search efforts until Wednesday for the high school fishing team that went missing at Pickwick on Saturday.

The groups 20 foot bass boat was found, and it is believed they were in it when it went through the dam.

More than 100 volunteers were used in teh rescue effort, according to the TWRA.

TWRA released the following statement Tuesday evening at 5 pm.

DAY TWO UPDATE FOR THREE BOATERS MISSING NEAR PICKWICK DAM

HARDIN COUNTY, Tenn.— Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has suspended its second day of searching for missing boaters near Pickwick Dam. Search operations were suspended at sunset due to hazardous water conditions. The search will resume Wednesday morning.

Over 35 boats and 100 volunteers searched 75 miles of river on Tuesday, along with two helicopters and one drone. TWRA, Hardin County Fire Department, Sumner County EMA, Decatur County Rescue, Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, Henry County Rescue, Henderson County Rescue and EMA, Carroll County Rescue, Chester County Rescue, Obion County Rescue, Fayette County Sheriff’s, TVA Police, Pickwick State Park staff, Jackson Police Department Aviation Unit, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol Helicopter have assisted with searching for the missing boaters on the Tennessee River near Pickwick Dam.

TWRA is asking for only established volunteers for search efforts on Wednesday. No further volunteers are needed. Established volunteers should check-in at the command post at Botel Road.

A 20-foot bass boat believed to have three occupants, went missing on Pickwick Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22. However, they were not reported missing until Sunday, Feb. 23, at approximately 9 p.m. The missing boat was recovered Monday morning on the Tennessee River below the dam near Savannah. Search efforts are concentrated on a 14 mile stretch the Tennessee River for the missing boaters. The preliminary investigation indicates that a 43-year-old male and two 15-year-olds from Obion County were reported missing after the fishermen failed to return from a local club bass tournament.

Jon R Myers

Jon R Myers is he executive editor of the Mississippi New Group, the largest digital only media company in Mississippi.

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