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Monday, November 18, 2024
HomeUncategorizedBody of Missing Ultralight Flyer Recovered From Lake Superior

Body of Missing Ultralight Flyer Recovered From Lake Superior

Last week, the Northshore Journal reported that Hovland resident Denny Pechacek went missing on Friday, August 18, while flying his ultra-light aircraft. He was last seen in the air around Hammer Road, which is just northwest of Chicago Bay off of Highway 61 in Hovland.

Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen announced on Thursday, August 24th that Pechacek’s body was found and recovered from Lake Superior offshore near Hov-land. Daily search efforts had taken place after he was reported missing.

“This is not the outcome that we want-ed, and our thoughts and prayers go to Denny’s family and friends. We are so very fortunate that we live in a community where people will drop what they’re doing and rally to assist those in need,” said Eliasen.

The Sheriff’s Office received information in the early morning hours of August 24 that a helmet had washed up on a beach near Hovland that was confirmed to belong to Pechacek. Search efforts were then concentrated in the water and along the beach.

Crossmon Consulting LLC of Herman-town, MN was brought in to perform the in-water search. Crossman specializes in drowning victim recovery, according to its website. Using a so-called side-scan sonar unit, Crossmon was able to locate the body after a few hours of searching. Officials then recovered Pechacek’s body. In addition to Crossmon, the Sheriff named the following organizations that assisted in air, land, and water searches

Steve Fernlund
Steve Fernlund
Typically these “about me” pages include a list of academic achievements (I have none) and positions held (I have had many, but who really cares about those?) So, in the words of the late Admiral James Stockwell, “Who am I? Why am I here?” I’m well into my seventh decade on this blue planet we call home. I’m a pretty successful husband, father, and grandfather, at least in my humble opinion. My progeny may disagree. We have four children and five grandchildren. I spent most of my professional life in the freight business. At the tender age of 40, early retirement beckoned and we moved to Grand Marais. A year after we got here, we bought and operated the Cook County News Herald, a weekly newspaper in Grand Marais. A sharp learning curve for a dumb freight broker to become a newspaper editor and publisher. By 1999 the News Herald was an acquisition target for a rapidly consolidating media market. We sold our businesses and “retired” again, buying a winter retreat in Nevada. In the fall of 2016, we returned to Grand Marais and bought a house from old friends of ours on the ridge overlooking Lake Superior. They were able to move closer to family and their Mexico winter home. And we came home to what we say is our last house. I’m a strong believer in the value of local newspapers--both online and those you can wrap a fish in. I write a weekly column and a couple of feature stories for the Northshore Journal. I’m most interested in writing about the everyday lives of local people and reporting on issues of importance to them.
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