BY MIKE WARREN

EDITOR

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Two days of searching an area of the Wisconsin River near the village of Port Edwards turned up “numerous skeletal remains”, according to a news release from the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.

The human remains were initially discovered just before noon on Tuesday, July 19 by a maintenance crew working on a dam near the village. A second day of searching on Wednesday, July 20 turned up even more remains, according to Sheriff Shawn Becker. The Sheriff also confirmed the search methods being utilized included ground searches, divers and cadaver dogs.

The Sheriff’s Department was assisted initially by the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department, Wood County Rescue, the Wood County Coroner’s office and the state crime lab.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking the public to avoid that area of the Wisconsin River due to changing water levels, along with authorities performing detailed searches in and around that particular area of the river.

There is no threat to the public, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.