Update…

buehnerValley City Fire Chief Gary Retterath says the body was located beneath the 8th Avenue bridge in Southwest Valley City, about 200 yards from where he went into the river.

The body was identified as 23 year old Dan Buehner, a senior, at VCSU, from Blaine, Minnesota.

Buehner’s body has been transferred to the Grand Forks medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Buehner was a member of the VCSU baseball team (photo). The baseball team has canceled its scheduled games on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Vikings were scheduled to host University of Winnipeg on Tuesday, April 22, and play at University of Jamestown on Wednesday, April 23.

Earlier Tuesday, water releases were reduced to 50 cfs from Bald Hill Dam to reduce the water level in an effort to help searchers recover the body.

Buehner, along with two other men were tossed from a rubber raft into the Sheyenne River in Valley City early Monday morning.

The call coming into 9-1-1 about 1:15 a.m.

They got into the raft near the footbridge by West Main Street and floated downstream on the fast-moving river about a half mile to the Little Dam, where they ended up in tailwater that was at least 12 feet deep.

Valley City Police Chief Fred Thompson says 22-year-old Ryan Shaw and 21-year-old Hayden Johnson made it ashore, but Buehner did not.

Buehner was last seen in the tailwater of the “Little Dam.”

Shaw and Johnson are recovering from hypothermia at Mercy Hospital, as the National Weather Service says the water temperature was 40 degrees.

There condition has not been released.

Thompson says the three were not fishing and that no paddles or lifejackets were found after the raft capsized.

Authorities continue to investigate what led to the incident. and if any criminal charges would be in order.

Since Monday morning searchers had been using boats and walking along river banks with search dogs, looking for the missing person.

Retterath says members of Valley Water & Rescue out of Fargo assisted Valley City crews by using a sonar device to help search for the missing man, as the water released from Bald Hill Dam was cut back about 3:30 a.m., Monday to aid in the search, as the river was high and dangerous when the incident occurred.

Tuesday morning, Valley City State University President Dr. Steven Shirley said “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness to inform you that authorities this morning discovered the body of VCSU student Dan Buehner in the Sheyenne River. Dan was a senior majoring in business administration and played catcher on the VCSU Baseball Team. He was from Blaine, Minnesota.”

Valley City Mayor Bob Werkhoven said, “It puts some closure on the tragic situation for the family and the city of Valley City.”

 

Previously…

Valley City (CSi) The Bald Hill Dam flows were further reduced on Tuesday morning, in an effort to assist in the search for a Valley City State University student who along with two other men were tossed from a rubber raft into the Sheyenne River in Valley City early Monday morning. The two surviving VCSU students are recovering from hypothermia at Mercy Hospital, while the search continues for the third man.

The missing man has not yet been identified.

He was last seen in the tailwater of the “Little Dam.”

Army Corps of Engineer’s Bald Hill Dam Manager Rich Schueneman says Lake Ashtabula will rise to an elevation of 1,268 feet by Thursday this week. Inflows into the lake dropped last weekend allowing the Corps to cut the dam release flows, and lower the river level, at the request of Valley City officials, upstream from the Little Dam

Valley City Fire Chief, Gary Retterath says, officials secured by ropes will wade into the river to continue the search.

Valley City Police Chief, Fred Thompson says the three were not fishing and that no paddles or lifejackets were found after the raft capsized.

 

Previously…

Valley City (CSi) Search and recovery efforts continue this Tuesday morning, on  the Sheyenne River in Valley City for a Valley City State University student who was one of three men that fell out of a rubber raft early Monday morning. The call coming into 9-1-1 about 1:15 a.m.

Valley City police Chief Fred Thompson says the missing man and two other men got into the raft about 1 a.m. Monday near the footbridge near Main Street.

The raft floated downstream on the fast-moving Sheyenne in Valley City about a half mile to the Little Dam, where the raft capsized.

Valley City Fire Chief Gary Retterath says the two individuals were rescued from the river by Valley City police officers and local residents this morning.

The two men rescued were taken to Mercy Hospital, in Valley City, where they are being treated for hypothermia.

Searchers have been using boats and walking along river banks looking for the missing person.

Retterath says members of Valley Water & Rescue out of Fargo are assisting Valley City crews by using a sonar device to help search for the missing man, as the water released from Bald Hill Dam was cut back about 3:30 a.m., Monday to aid in the search, as the river was high and dangerous when the incident occurred.

With the reduction in flow, the Corps lowered the level to 4.25 feet… Flood stage is 15 feet.

Authorities are investigating if alcohol was involved, and if the men were wearing life jackets.