MUNDAY RD. MAN MISSING FROM BOAT - Grantsville Firemen Dragging LK River

(04/05/2005)

Grantsville firemen launch search boat, LK River high and swift

Family members gather along dark riverbank at Munday Beach

Emergency workers were searching the Little Kanawha River late Monday night for a Munday Road man missing since about 5 p.m.

Family members reported finding an empty boat that had been used by Junior Rose shortly before 10 p.m., then called called 911.

Rose lives at Munday Beach, a well-known swimming and fishing hole, a short distance from the Wirt County line.

Sheriff Carl Ballengee said Rose left his house to test his fishing boat, getting ready for the fishing season.

Firemen from the Grantsville VFD and other emergency workers were using boats and river dragging equipment, traveling up and down stream from Munday Beach.

Calhoun EMS was on the scene, with Cpl. Doug Starcher and Sheriff Ballengee.

Firemen called the search at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to resume the operation in daylight.

"The LK is running high, water is really swift," said Ballengee, making it difficult and dangerous to drag.