Man dies in drowning mishap

QUINCY - Grant County Coroner Craig Morrison has identified the victim of an accidental drowning near here on Aug. 18 as Wilbert O'Neal, 75, of Quincy.

Morrison did not have a detailed account of the Quincy Lakes incident but enough to determine it was accidental. He said it was not a case of O'Neal going swimming.

Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones said emergency responders were called to the Evergreen Reservoir portion of Quincy Lakes at about 1:40 p.m. He said bystanders said they heard the elderly man yell out for help but, by the time they arrived at the reservoir's edge, they could not see him.

O'Neal's body was recovered later by Sheriff's Search and Rescue divers. There was no indication of foul play.

"I feel so sad for this man's family, and I pray they can find peace," Jones said.

- Staff report