Update at 10:55 a.m. by Josh Smith, News Channel 11 Connects:
Nate Morabito, News Channel 11 Connects, reports search crews have halted their search efforts on South Holston Lake. They're waiting for more resources to assist with the search in the deep waters around the boat dock.
Employees at the United Way of Johnson City are fighting to contain their emotions today while waiting for word on Alice Bachman, director of finances for the Johnson City charity. Lester Lattany, United Way of Johnson City exective director, called Bachman, "my right and left hand."
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BY CLAIRE GALOFARO
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. – Recovery operations for a woman reported missing at Lake View Dock Marina were suspended about 12:15 a.m. Thursday.
Alice Bachman, 55, of Johnson City has been missing since about 7 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities believe she fell into South Holston Lake while attempting to cover her boat.
Tennessee Valley Authority and Sullivan County rescue teams are co-investigating the incident, TVA spokesman Jim Allen said Thursday. He said an underwater camera and floodlight were brought in from Knox County about 7 p.m. Wednesday. The search was called off about five hours later when that proved unsuccessful.
Recovery operations have been hindered by deep water, about 200 feet, in the search area. Officials scrambled Wednesday to put together a deep-water diving team, but to no avail, Allen said.
On Tuesday, the Kingsport Life Saving Crew brought an underwater camera to the boat slips, and attempted to drag the lake. Those efforts were unsuccessful. Allen said there were divers on the scene Tuesday and Wednesday, although the exact number and specifications were uncertain.
Allen said the search teams would resume dragging operations today.
The Kingsport Lift Saving Crew said Thursday they were not authorized to release any information.
Gerald M. Dworkin, a technical consultant for aquatics safety and water rescue for the New Hampshire-based Lifesaving Resources Inc. said Thursday that at a 200-foot depth, the search area would have a 400-foot radius.
Bachman, an executive assistant and accountant for the United Way of Washington County, Tenn., took her son and his friend out on their boat Tuesday. When they arrived back at the marina, the son and friend left for food. Bachman’s husband, Tom Bachman, told the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office that his wife stayed behind to cover the boat.
Her purse, bags and shoes were on the boat when she was discovered missing.
The marina owner, John Slagle, said that the previous week, Bachman fell into the water while trying to cover the boat.
On Thursday, there was no sign of rescue or recovery vehicles at the dock, and Slagle ordered a Bristol Herald Courier reporter to leave the marina, which is privately owned.
“I’m not going to tell you anything. No one here is going to tell you anything,” Slagle said. “You will not take one step past there onto that dock.
“Learn to have a little respect for family,” he shouted as the reporter walked to the parking lot.
cgalofaro@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2531
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