BERRIEN COUNTY — An Adel man drowned during a fishing trip in a private pond in Berrien County over the weekend.
At about 5:20 p.m. Saturday, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Berrien County Search and Rescue personnel were dispatched to the pond located five miles southwest of Alapaha. The person who reported the incident said that he was fishing in a nearby pond when he heard someone yelling for help, according to an incident report.
Berrien County Search and Rescue arrived on the scene approximately 30 minutes after the request for help came in and recovered the body of 48-year-old Oldn Ralph Williams Jr. of Adel in five to 10 minutes, said Berrien County Sheriff Anthony Heath.
Williams had been fishing with his father and his brother-in-law at the time of the incident.
The brother-in-law attempted to rescue Williams, reports stated.
Authorities confirmed that Williams had consumed some alcohol during the day but could neither confirm nor deny whether this contributed to his death.
Heath did, however, mention that Williams was recovered six to eight feet off the bank of the pond in approximately eight feet of water. He said that the victim could reportedly swim.
Heath said Lt. Wayne Luke of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office conducted a full investigation into the drowning to provide closure for the family and to rule out any crimes. No suspicious activity was reported.
Williams’ drowning has been officially ruled an accident, Heath said.
No one else was injured during the incident.
Local News
Death ruled an accident
Adel man drowns on fishing trip
- Local News
-
-
Lake Park: Council members resign
Immediately following the Citizens to be Heard portion of the regular Lake Park council meeting Tuesday night, council members Eric Schindler and Paul Mulkey tendered their resignations.
-
Valwood goes global
Valwood School has hosted several international guests for the past several weeks.
-
City cuts ribbon on new home
With a snip of some over-sized wooden scissors, the City of Valdosta took another step in eliminating substandard housing.
-
Berrien clinic director loses job
Speaking to The Valdosta Daily Times about the possible discontinuation of the Berrien Elementary School MED Clinic led to the program’s executive director losing her job Monday morning.
-
From the CIA to man about town
Meet Jack Pruden, former member of the Central Intelligence Agency.
-
Berrien school medical facility faces an uncertain future
A state-of-the-art medical facility that was introduced in Berrien County public schools in 2010 might be ending soon.
-
New TV listings section debuts in print edition
In Sunday editions of The Valdosta Daily Times, keep an eye out for the updated TV listings section.
-
Man shot in Valdosta; police car, ambulance collide
Response to a shooting Saturday afternoon led to a collision between a police vehicle and an ambulance.
-
Annual Father-Daughter Dance enters 16th year
Three-week-old Emmaline Taylor lay contentedly on dad Trey Taylor’s shoulder Friday night, completely oblivious to the sights and sounds of the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance.
Now in its 16th year, the popular annual event is sponsored by Valdosta’s First Presbyterian Church and held at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.
“We’ve been looking forward to this,” Trey Taylor said. “When we first got pregnant, (my wife Sheya and I) looked to see if she would be here in time for the Father-Daughter Dance.” -
VPD offers online citation payment
The Valdosta Police Department has implemented a new online service to assist traffic violators.
- More Local News Headlines
-






