Art Johnson, 09-23-05

Charlene Johnson



Alaska Digest

Published: September 24, 2005

DILLINGHAM

Search is on for two duck hunters whose skiff was found overturned

Two people were missing Friday night after their boat was found overturned near Dillingham and their dog was found swimming in the harbor, Alaska State Troopers said.

Art Johnson, 42, and sister-in-law Charlene Johnson, 37, left for duck hunting around 8 p.m. Thursday in a 16-foot Lund, troopers spokesman Greg Wilkinson said.

They were headed northeast of the city, Wilkinson said.

When they had not returned after midnight, troopers were notified.

The dog, a yellow lab named Flash, was found alive and swimming in the harbor Friday morning, Wilkinson said.

The overturned skiff was found about 1 p.m. Friday on a sandbar southwest of town in the opposite direction of where the Johnsons were thought to be headed, Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson said weather had been bad Thursday night.

Wilkinson did not know if the Johnsons were wearing personal flotation devices.

The search continued Friday night.

-- Anchorage Daily News


DILLINGHAM

ADN, 09-27-05

Troopers suspend search for hunters missing since Thursday

Two Dillingham duck hunters missing since Thursday are presumed drowned, the Alaska State Troopers said. The search for them was suspended Sunday night.

Art Johnson, 42, his sister-in-law Charlene Johnson, 37, and a dog left on a duck hunt around 8 p.m. Thursday in a 16-foot Lund. They were headed northeast of the city, troopers said. Troopers were notified at midnight they were missing.

The weather that night was bad, troopers spokesman Greg Wilkinson said.

The dog, a yellow lab named Flash, was found alive and swimming in the harbor Friday morning, troopers said. The Johnsons' overturned skiff was found about 1 p.m. Friday southwest of town, in the opposite direction from where they were thought to be headed, Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson said family and friends were continuing their search efforts Monday.

-- Anchorage Daily News