Associated Press
Tue, May 13 2008
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DOVER — A nonprofit Georgia water safety and recovery foundation has joined in the search for a fisherman missing for nearly two weeks in the Tennessee River.
The Seth Foundation is using its high-tech sonar equipment and experienced recovery divers to search for Steve Medford, who is presumed drowned in a March 3 boating accident.
Medford and his brother-in-law Larry Everly were in a boat, fishing for crappie in a part of the river also known as Kentucky Lake when an accident occurred.
Everly's body was found the next day.
There were strong winds that produced choppy water conditions on the day of the accident, searchers said.
Seth Foundation executive director Sheila Burleson said her staff had been anticipating a possible call to join in the search for Medford and had prepared for it.
The recovery of a body is very important, Burleson said.
"It brings a peace of heart to the family so that they can rest," she said.
The call to the foundation's headquarters in Columbus, Ga., came Monday and Burleson and her three-person team arrived Tuesday evening.
They spent Wednesday searching and planned to continue through Friday. If Medford isn't found by then, another Seth crew will take over.
Burleson began the foundation after her son Seth — who was 20 years old — drowned on a rafting trip in 2001. It took 19 days to find his body.
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