Two drown at fishing outing

From staff and press reports

Summer events like swimming and fishing can turn deadly as it did for two Winston County men on Saturday, July 11.

The bodies of LeMorris Terrell Tucker, 28, and Donnie Ray Mullins, 28, were discovered in a Sixteen Section pond near Poplar Flat Road. They had been missing since July 11.

Winston County Sheriff's Deputies discovered the victim's vehicle and boat July 13 near Poplar Flat Road around 8 p.m. and searched for the two until after 10 pm when the darkness and other factors prevented a more thorough search. The sheriff's department and others resumed the search around 5:30 a.m. and called in divers from Neshoba County after other methods failed to locate the victims. When the divers could not locate the bodies due to the murkiness and other factors of the water the deputies ordered the pond drained. Both bodies were recovered around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries who hold boating safety classes across the state offers a few reminders for all boaters:

¥ Always make sure others know where you will be boating and when to expect you to return.

¥ Always wear a life jacket. Mississippi law requires anyone 12-years of age and younger to wear them but the department recommends all persons wear a lifejacket while on the water.

¥ Always make sure your boat motor runs properly.

¥ and avoid alcohol use while on the water.

See page 3 obituaries for funeral details.