K E E P I N G Y O U I N F O R M E D
November 5, 2009
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Police are searching for Jerry Welsh
Police are asking for assistance in locating one of our neighbors, Jerry Welsh, of Cross Road.
A search for him began when a sailor who had spoken with him while he was out kayaking later spotted the empty kayak, life vest and paddle adrift on Tuesday. Maryland Natural Resources Police are looking for anyone who may have seen Mr. Welsh. His Chevrolet Avalanche was found parked at the Oyster Harbor beach and his family has since moved it. There has been no sign of Mr. Welsh since Tuesday.
Natural Resources Police, the Coast Guard and Anne Arundel County firefighters and police conducted a water and land search Tuesday and Wednesday. The search resumed today. Anyone with information is asked to call Cpl. Brian Rothgeb at 410-260-8888.
Text of the three stories that appeared in The Capital is below. Our thoughts are with Mr. Welsh's family.
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Coast Guard hunting for missing boater
The Capital
Published 11/03/09
The Coast Guard is engaged in a search for a possible missing kayaker who was last seen this afternoon off the mouth of Oyster Creek near Highland Beach just south of Annapolis.
The Coast Guard was contacted this afternoon by a man aboard a sailboat who came upon a man paddling his kayak. A short time later, the sailor saw the kayak drifting, without the man, who was believed to be about 30 years old. The kayak's paddle and a lifejacket were found nearby, but the man who was on it was nowhere in sight.
A Maryland State Police helicopter, four Department of Natural Resources boats and boats from Anne Arundel and Queen's Anne counties searched for the missing man but could not find him. DNR officers recovered the kayak, but were unable to determine who owns the craft from information found on the boat's hull.
As of 10:45 p.m. tonight, a Coast Guard helicopter continued to search the area of the bay south of the Bay Bridge for the missing kayaker who was wearing plaid shorts and a dark shirt.
There was a small-craft advisory on the bay that extends until 6 a.m. Wednesday. The water temperature in the bay is about 59 degrees.
Search for missing kayaker suspended
The Capital
Published 11/04/09
HIGHLAND BEACH - The Coast Guard suspended its search for a possible missing kayaker who was last seen yesterday afternoon off the mouth of Oyster Creek near Highland Beach just south of Annapolis.
The search was suspended about 10:45 a.m. today after an overnight and early morning search by the Coast Guard, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, and Maryland State Police came up empty.
The Coast Guard received a call from a cell phone about 4:30 p.m. yesterday from Jason Miller, a Good Samaritan, reporting he contact with the kayaker as he was sailing on Oyster Creek earlier that day. When Miller returned from his trip, he found the yellow Perception Jazz kayak with no one aboard, and a life jacket and paddles floating nearby.
Rescue crews searched 62-square nautical miles throughout the night and morning, using a helicopter to search overhead and boats to search the water, taking a break between 4:30 and 7 a.m. today. After 15 hours of searching, the Coast Guard decided to suspend the search pending further developments.
The missing kayaker was described as a white man in his 30's. He was wearing plaid shorts and a dark shirt. Anyone with information regarding the missing kayaker is asked to call the Coast Guard at 410-576-2525.
Police seek help in finding kayaker
The Capital
Published 11/05/09
HIGHLAND BEACH - State Natural Resources Police are seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing boater who apparently owns a yellow kayak found drifting on Oyster Creek Tuesday afternoon.
Police want to hear from anyone who saw or heard from Gerard "Jerry" Robert Welsh, 49, who lives alone near Annapolis, said spokesman Sgt. A.A. Windemuth.
Welsh's Chevrolet Avalanche was discovered parked near the Oyster Creek Community Harbor. His family told police they haven't heard from him in three days, Windemuth said. They said Welsh owns a yellow Perception Jazz kayak.
The Coast Guard was contacted Tuesday by a man aboard a sailboat who came upon a man paddling his kayak. A short time later, the sailor saw the kayak drifting, without the man. The kayak's paddle and life jacket were found nearby, but the man who was aboard the kayak was nowhere in sight.
The Coast Guard and Natural Resource Police searched through the night and yesterday morning. The Coast Guard suspended its search yesterday afternoon, but Natural Resources Police continued to investigate, Windemuth said.
Today, police will continue surface searches around Oyster Creek.
Anyone with information about Welsh is asked to contact Cpl. Brian Rothgeb at 410-260-8888.
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Oyster Harbor Citizens Association
PO Box 3174
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
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