UPDATE:
July 4, 2007
Yesterday at about 11:30am the body of the last missingperson in the Alaska trajedy which has now offically taken
the lives of three young people. Many in Oak Park have
had their hopes and desires crushed with the final word that
Kathy Garrigan was not found alive. Three volunteers found
the missing Oak Park woman. Kathy's parents and younger
sisters are in the area and are likely to return home soon.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Kathy. Kathy
however did live the life that she chose and did so helping others
and enjoying her time here. Thank you Kathy for your help in
this world and for brightening many lives on your journey.
Final News Update, Click Here.
UPDATE:
June 30, 2007
Travis Alexander's body
was found on Saturday afternoon,
June 30th. Travis Alexander was to have had a birthday and
instead funeral plans are being made.
Updates as they become available, Click Here.
June 12, 2007
It is now unfortunately
a recovery effort only, and even that
has been scaled back dramatically. This came for us and the
many who called the lost friends as terrible news, but news
that was probably already being written before the action were
taken to role back the efforts. Today we also obtained an email
warning about the importance of life vests, ironic and too late it
seems for the lost in Alaska.
"As of 5 pm last night the AD Fish
& Game sonar experts, EAFB divers, Kulis AFB divers, and the Alaska
State Troopers pulled out of the recovery efforts."
Harding
Lake State Recreation area in Alaska is about 45 miles south of
Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway. The Lake is massive in size,
almost 5 miles in diameter, and about 6 or more miles at its widest.
Updates as they become available, Click Here.
June 6, 2007
The search for the two
missing people shown below is now being
viewed as a search for the remains of the individuals. The three
adults (one body recovered) were in a canoe on a large lake. All
craft like this one are required by State Law in Alaska to have
flotation devices, often the kind that are sat on as seats.
It is reported that they were not wearing their life jackets and
perhaps there were no flotation devices on board also. There has
been no official report as to where the canoe came from.
It is believed that it was taken from the volunteer organization that
the young folks were working for. The water temperature the other
day in Lake Michigan by Chicago was 57 degrees Fahrenheit and the temps
this time of year in Alaska could be near 40 degrees Fahrenheit or
less. Cold lake temperatures
could imply little current or water movement and it might be
a long time before any news of this tragic event is found.
Updates as
they become available,
Click Here.
Oak Park resident Kathy Garrigan has been
missing for
several days in a reported boating accident. There were three
young volunteers involved in the event. One person, Liza
Lomando has been found. Her body was recovered and no further
information is available at this time. We have not
heard any updates by email or phone on the search, but info
is updated
daily on the website for the region.
Click Here.
Harding Lake Search & Rescue
On behalf of the staff at Tanana Chiefs Conference and its 42 Member Tribes, we are deeply saddened and affected by the tragedy at Harding Lake, where the loss of three Tribal Civilian Community Corps (pronounced “T triple C”) members has recently been discovered. The three, Liza Lomando (New York), 20, Travis Alexander (Fort Yukon), 19, and Kathy Garrigan (Illinois), 24, were participants of the residential program based in Nenana, Alaska.
Lomando’s body was recovered Tuesday afternoon and the search continues for Alexander and Garrigan. The full account of the incident won’t be known until the search is over and information is very limited. We are providing support to the victims’ families, current TCCC members, and staff as we await further results.
Tanana Chiefs Conference is coordinating a volunteer search & rescue, and recovery effort for Travis Alexander and Kathy Garrigan. We welcome volunteers in every possible effort. Food donations are much appreciated and you can drop off at the Chena River Convention Center. Monetary donations are accepted at Administration on the 6th floor of the Chief Peter John Tribal Building.
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published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.