Crew rules out several locations in body recovery effort

A recovery crew spent more than six hours yesterday ruling out several locations on the Chattooga River for the body of Thomas Hill. According to Keith Wilbanks, incident commander, operations continue at 7 o’clock this morning. Oconee, Anderson, Pickens, Rabun and White counties supported yesterday’s effort as well as commercial whitewater guides and the U-S Forest Service. The Long Creek Fire Department continued to serve as the command post. And the American Red Cross and Sherwin Williams provided food for the crew. Wilbanks said, “The operations are very technical and detailed. Unfortunately, the river is unpredictable and currents can shift from day to day. But we’re dedicated to this effort to find and recover Mr. Hill’s body and return him to his family.”