LA CROSSE, WI (WTAQ) – Authorities have suspended a long search for a boater who’s missing and presumed drowned in the Mississippi River near La Crosse.
27-year-old Joshua Xiong of Onalaska has been missing since November 9th, when he failed to return from a fishing excursion close to the lock and dam at Dresbach Minnesota, just northwest of La Crosse.
Winona County Sheriff Ron Ganrude said a search has continued for almost two months — but it was suspended because the river has frozen over. He said the search effort will resume this spring.
Ganrude said the search was the longest in recent memory, with at least some effort every day since Xiong disappeared.
Officials said his boat apparently went through a roller gate at the Dresbach Lock and Dam Number 7.
A life jacket and a gas tank were found near the dam, and a heavily-damaged boat was found about a mile downstream.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
