Whippoorwill Farewell: Jocassee Remembered

My Personal Blog

 


Lake Jocassee


Debbie Fletcher

Little Joshua Dorchak is found!
Below is a link to read about the end to this tragic search. 

Bill, I told you once you are my hero . . . looks like I was right.  You still are.  Deb

http://www.whns.com/Global/story.asp?S=6699749
 (here is full story in case link expires);

Jocassee Tragedy Comes To A Close

June 22, 2007 11:46 PM EDT

Divers spent two weeks searching this Lake for Joshua Dorchak...each day that went by hope for finding him diminished.   But Friday morning during a memorial service there was a breakthrough.

Emergency Services Director Rodney Burdette says Bill Routh located the boat and notified Natural Resources divers that were here on the scene.

Burdette also says the moment they called for radio silence during the memorial service is the exact moment the bowie popped up from the water signaling the boat and baby Dorchak  had been found.

"I just broke down it was very emotional.   It's been a lot of hard work by a lot of people," says Bill Routh, Off The Wall Charters.

A lot of hard work that consisted of 40 different dive organizations from as far away as Texas.  Each person spending hours a day searching this Lake Jocassee.

"They have put in 10, 12, 14 hour days on the water and lost that much sleep trying to figure out what they can try different," says Routh.

-- Finally a breakthrough that can bring closure to the family after such a tradgic loss.

"They were releived and sad.  There's been a lot of mixed emotions.   It's been two weeks," says Routh.

The boat was found half a mile from where it went under in 120 feet of water.

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Posted by Jocasseegirl at 6/23/2007 8:45 PM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
THIS ENTIRE WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHTED!

I have had 2 instances in the last couple of days where either a photo or video clip from my website has been used on other websites.  Please resist the temptation to use any portion.  If you want to use something, please contact me, and we'll discuss what you would like to use and for what purpose.  These images are one-of-a-kind and have all been published in my book.  Thanks for your understanding and cooperation!

Debbie

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Posted by Jocasseegirl at 6/14/2007 8:05 AM | View Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
Missing Boy in Lake Jocassee
My prayers and sympathies go out to the Dorchak family whose 3-year-old boy is missing in Lake Jocassee.  I cannot imagine the grief they are experiencing.  Many of my diver friends send their sympathies, as well.  It is such a tragedy, and we send our love to them.

Sudden storms are not uncommon at Jocassee.  I have heard that it's a combination of storms moving in over the mountains, along with the wind whipping up over the dam.

Such a beautiful lake . . . such a tragic event.  We should all take a moment and count our blessings.

Debbie

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Posted by Jocasseegirl at 6/10/2007 6:37 PM | View Comments (7) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)
In the beginning . . .
Hi, there.  I see you have found my newfound toy . . . the blog.  Admittedly, this is my hubby's doing, as he is my webmaster, and I guess he figured I need another outlet to talk about Jocassee .

There are a couple of upcoming articles you might be interested in reading:  one will be published in this month's Jocassee Journal about diving in Lake Jocassee (I'm told I'm a centerfold - haha); the other is an article by a freelance writer for South Carolina Alive! about Attakulla Lodge.  I will post a link on my website to both articles.

I love to talk about Jocassee - past and present - so please feel free to join the blog with any questions or comments.

Dave and I are leaving on June 7th for Beaufort and Tybee Island to celebrate our 33rd anniversary.  I'm guessin' that Tybee is one of my favorite places, second only to Jocassee.

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Posted by Jocasseegirl at 6/6/2007 1:20 PM | View Comments (13) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (0)