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Authorities Identify Nebraska Man Missing in Flathead River Near Polson

Search continues for Richard A. Mitchell, of Minatare, Nebraska

By Dillon Tabish
Rafters float the Flathead River below Kerr Dam on Aug. 13, 2015. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Authorities have identified the 23-year-old Nebraska man who is missing after falling into the Flathead River near the dam in Polson.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said the search continues for Richard A. Mitchell, of Minatare, Nebraska.

Authorities received a report of an accident just past noon on Wednesday. Mitchell was with two friends when they hiked down to the overlook area near the Selis Ksanka Qlispe Dam, formerly Kerr Dam, on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Bell said they crossed guard rails and passed boundary warning signs at the scenic overlook and worked their way down the cliff face to the east side of the scenic overlook and that is when Mitchell ended up in the water. Mitchell fell an estimated 12 feet.

Search efforts are ongoing with the assistance of tribal game wardens, sheriff’s deputies, as well as a search and rescue canine unit. Two Bear Air, a Whitefish-based search and rescue helicopter, has also flown along a stretch of river multiple times, Bell said.

River flows have steadily increased in recent weeks due to spring runoff.

Bell said the rocky hillside is often slippery due to the mist from the nearby dam and is extremely dangerous. He said individuals who are caught crossing outside the posted boundary are cited due to its dangerous nature.