JonInMiddleGA
08-09-2004, 03:05 PM
I'd like to ask those who are so inclined to please remember this situation in your prayers.
From the online edition of The Monticello News (my little hometown paper)
Calvin "Jake" Fish, John Fish, Mike Jackson, and Keith Smith have been reported missing by their families after not returning from a fishing venture off the Gulf of Mexico shore near Steinhatchee, Fla.
A prayer service for four Jasper County men who have been declared missing will be held today, August 9 at 7 p.m. at the Monticello Baptist Church, according to Dr. Kerry Bunn.
Mrs. Gina Smith, wife of Keith, informed authorities on Sunday morning that her husband had not returned the night before as he had planned.
The Coast Guard started searching for the four men around 7 p.m. Sunday. Two HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and one C-130 airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., the Coast Guard Cutter Hawk from St. Petersburg, Fla., and a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown, Fla., have since participated in the search as well as the Coast Guard Cutter Cobia and an HU-25 Falcon jet from Mobile, Ala.
According to family members, Smith and Jackson had planned to return late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Calvin Fish and son, John, had planned to stay on through Sunday and return late Sunday night.
Local Florida authorities searched the Woods Gulf Breeze Motel where the group was staying and the marina from which the group departed. The four men were planning to fish offshore in John Fish's 18-foot John boat.
The authorities determined that Smith and Jackson had not left for home as their clothes were still in the hotel room, and one of the group's two trucks was parked at the hotel. The other truck, boat trailer attached, was parked at Woods Gulf Breeze Marina.
The Taylor County, Fla. sheriff's department, Florida Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard have been alerted and are searching for the missing fishermen.
Any information helpful to the investigation should be reported to the Taylor County, Fla. sheriff's office, the Florida Wildlife Service, or the U.S. Coast Guard.
Jake Fish is one of the nicest all-around people I've met since moving here 10 years ago, a familiar face to everyone in this small town & a friend to most of them. His son John is roughly my age & has a couple of children, and Keith Smith is the father of one of my son's classmates.
The story hasn't been picked up by the big-city news outlets yet, not sure that it really matters, it's not like these guys are going to be spotted at the mall or anything. But there's a great feeling of helplessness in a situation like this, it's not like we can go charter a boat and go look for them; that'd be futile & probably end up in the way.
About all we can do here is pray for them & their families, and maybe ask folks to expand that prayer circle a little wider.
Thank you,
Jon
From the online edition of The Monticello News (my little hometown paper)
Calvin "Jake" Fish, John Fish, Mike Jackson, and Keith Smith have been reported missing by their families after not returning from a fishing venture off the Gulf of Mexico shore near Steinhatchee, Fla.
A prayer service for four Jasper County men who have been declared missing will be held today, August 9 at 7 p.m. at the Monticello Baptist Church, according to Dr. Kerry Bunn.
Mrs. Gina Smith, wife of Keith, informed authorities on Sunday morning that her husband had not returned the night before as he had planned.
The Coast Guard started searching for the four men around 7 p.m. Sunday. Two HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and one C-130 airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., the Coast Guard Cutter Hawk from St. Petersburg, Fla., and a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown, Fla., have since participated in the search as well as the Coast Guard Cutter Cobia and an HU-25 Falcon jet from Mobile, Ala.
According to family members, Smith and Jackson had planned to return late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Calvin Fish and son, John, had planned to stay on through Sunday and return late Sunday night.
Local Florida authorities searched the Woods Gulf Breeze Motel where the group was staying and the marina from which the group departed. The four men were planning to fish offshore in John Fish's 18-foot John boat.
The authorities determined that Smith and Jackson had not left for home as their clothes were still in the hotel room, and one of the group's two trucks was parked at the hotel. The other truck, boat trailer attached, was parked at Woods Gulf Breeze Marina.
The Taylor County, Fla. sheriff's department, Florida Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard have been alerted and are searching for the missing fishermen.
Any information helpful to the investigation should be reported to the Taylor County, Fla. sheriff's office, the Florida Wildlife Service, or the U.S. Coast Guard.
Jake Fish is one of the nicest all-around people I've met since moving here 10 years ago, a familiar face to everyone in this small town & a friend to most of them. His son John is roughly my age & has a couple of children, and Keith Smith is the father of one of my son's classmates.
The story hasn't been picked up by the big-city news outlets yet, not sure that it really matters, it's not like these guys are going to be spotted at the mall or anything. But there's a great feeling of helplessness in a situation like this, it's not like we can go charter a boat and go look for them; that'd be futile & probably end up in the way.
About all we can do here is pray for them & their families, and maybe ask folks to expand that prayer circle a little wider.
Thank you,
Jon