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Monday, April 20, 2026 at 9:27 AM

Body of missing swimmer found in Lahontan Reservoir

  • 08/30/2023 11:33 PM
Body of missing swimmer found in Lahontan Reservoir

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

The body of a swimmer who disappeared in the water near Beach 30 at the Lahontan State Recreation Area was found Wednesday morning.

Churchill County Sheriff Richard Hickox, Jr. said the body of a Eureka County resident was found by a member of the Fallon/Churchill Fire Department dive team.

Hickox said the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office and Churchill County Search and Rescue responded to Lahontan Tuesday afternoon to assist State Park Rangers in searching for a missing swimmer who had last been seen near Beach 30 swimming toward the shoreline.

Utilizing sonar technology, they found what they called an object of interest on the screen that did not match the surroundings and other images visible on the sonar readout. Members of the Fallon/Churchill Fire Department Dive Team were requested. The divers were unable to locate the subject as the current and waves were pushing them and the boat off course. Shortly after dark the search was suspended until the next morning when visibility was restored, and the winds were calmer.   

Wednesday morning, members of the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office, Churchill County Search and Rescue and the Fallon/Churchill Fire Department Dive team reassembled at Lahontan to resume the search in the area where the unidentified image was observed the evening before. After a short time of searching, a member of the dive team found the missing swimmer near the lake's bottom. 

Hickox said no further details will be released at this time out of respect for the grieving family.  

Upload date: 08/30/2023 11:33 PM
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Comment author: Jack & Nancy CookComment text: Wonderful man. Created a precious family with Linda. Will always respect and admire his contribution to teaching at FHS.Comment publication date: 4/18/26, 10:27 AMComment source: Howard David JacksonComment author: JeffDickersonComment text: Very well reported, even though our motion was denied.Comment publication date: 4/15/26, 11:05 AMComment source: Judge allows Fernley City Council to proceed with corrective agenda item in Lau expulsion caseComment author: Todd fossumComment text: Hi my name is todd fossum i'm clarence's stepson, I was wondering if he had any siblings. I think he said he had a sister that just survived cancer. If she can get ahold of me or any buddy, my number is 916. 3 4 3 1 1 7 7.Thank you have a blessed dayComment publication date: 1/16/26, 4:33 PMComment source: Clarence L Shields C Comment author: Carl HagenComment text: So just curious, what is the point of a franchise agreement if it is not exclusive?Comment publication date: 12/15/25, 4:18 PMComment source: Council approves non-exclusive franchise agreement for waste collection C Comment author: Christine S GleasonComment text: In the first photo, the woman in the middle, wearing the black shirt, is SaraH Jean Gleason. She is not an FHS Leadership Student but is the person who is responsible (with the help of her father) for starting the Fernley Community Thanksgiving Dinner in 2011. She attended this year's dinner while home from Arizona State University, where she is working on her PhD.Comment publication date: 12/8/25, 8:52 PMComment source: About 400 meals served at Community Thanksgiving DinnerComment author: SusanComment text: RIP Sean. Prayers to the family, sorry for your loss.Comment publication date: 9/25/25, 1:11 PMComment source: Sean Everett Turner
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