At Least 2 Nebraska Drowning Deaths Over Holiday Weekend

      Despite pleas from state, local, and federal officials leading into the 4th of July weekend for safety while on the water, Nebraska suffered at least 2 drownings during the holiday period  – both on Independence Day.

       Nebraska Game and Parks says a 16-year-old northeastern Nebraska boy drowned Sunday afternoon while trying to swim across Lake Yankton, which lies on the Nebraska/South Dakota border. The name has not been released.

     The call came in at 3:22 with witnesses reporting the teen fell into the water from a float and did not resurface. The body was recovered from the lake about 8:30 PM/

     Five Nebraska conservation officers took part along with Cedar County Sheriff’s deputies, park rangers from the Army Corps of Engineers, and several South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks conservation officers.

       Harlan County Sheriff Chris Becker says a 23-year-old man drowned late Sunday afternoon while swimming in south-central Nebraska’s Harlan County Lake. 

       Sheriff Becker says the man, whose name has not been released was swimming on the south side of the lake about 5:30 when he went below the surface and didn’t reappear. Becker thinks he may have become fatigued. 

     Army Corps of Engineer rangers, Nebraska State Patrol troopers, Game and Parks conservation officers  joined Becker’s office in responding. 

     The body was located by rangers on a boat equipped with side-scan sonar while members of the Oxford Fire Dive/Rescue Team recovered it around 830 p.m. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week.