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Contact: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 284 State Street 41 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 Contact: Doug Rafferty - 287-5248

Media representatives can receive press releases via e-mail.

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December 31, 2012

Update Rangeley/Search - Body Recovered

RANGELEY LAKE – SNOWMOBILE THROUGH ICE – DECEMBER 31, 2012:  At approximately 7:30 PM last evening, game wardens responded to Rangeley Lake to investigate a call of a snowmobile through the ice. Dawn Newell, age 45, from Yarmouth, Maine and her 16-year-old son from Durham, Maine were travelling on separate snowmobiles when the mother’s machine drove into open water. Her son was following her and also started to break through the ice. He was able to jump to solid ice and get to shore and call 911. Game Wardens recovered the body of Dawn Newell from Rangeley Lake at approximately 11:30 this morning. Recovery efforts included the Maine Warden Service Dive Team, Warden Service aircraft, several Maine Game wardens and Rangeley Fire and Rescue personnel.

CARRABASSETT VALLEY – MISSING SNOWMOBILERS – DECEMBER 31, 2012:  Game wardens are also investigating three missing snowmobilers from Maine who were supposed to return to Carrabassett Valley last evening. Early this morning at approximately 2:30 AM, Warden Service received a call that the men had not returned. A search was started in the area. While search efforts were underway on Rangeley Lake for Dawn Newell, several pieces of evidence were recovered indicating that the three subjects may have gone into Rangeley Lake as well.

Beginning tomorrow morning, the Warden Service will resume search efforts utilizing airboats, side scan sonar, as well as Warden Service and Maine Forest Service aircraft to help locate the three men. Rangeley Police Department and Fire and Rescue, as well as Franklin County Sheriff’s Office are assisting with search efforts. The names of the men are not being released at this time.

SAFETY STATEMENT: With the first day of ice fishing season beginning tomorrow, the Maine Warden Service reminds everyone to use extreme caution when accessing lakes and ponds either by foot or recreational vehicle. Ice conditions remain very hazardous.

 

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