Dawson County Emergency Services responded to a call Saturday evening to the area of Lake Pettit inside Big Canoe for an overdue boater.  A caller had reported an abandoned boat drifting on Lake Pettit.  “Dawson County and Big Canoe established a joint command initiating a bank search and a hasty search of the water,” said Dawson County Emergency Services Chief Lanier Swafford.  A ball cap, determined to belong to the missing man, was found.

Search efforts were renewed Sunday morning with personnel from Big Canoe Public Safety, Big Canoe Emergency Response Team, Dawson County Emergency Services and Sheriff’s Office, Dawson County CERT, two K-9 search teams, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, community members and family friends. 

Swafford stated searchers found a fishing pole inside the cove inside the Dawson County section of Big Canoe before lunch Sunday.  Shortly thereafter the K-9 team alerted in the same area and the DCES Dive Team deployed. “The subject was located around 13:30 hours in a cove in approximately 12 feet of water,” stated Swafford.

The subject was identified as James Ralph “Bud” Mathews, age 75 of Ball Ground, Georgia.  Mr. Mathews was a long time employee of Big Canoe who enjoyed fishing since his retirement. No foul play is suspected and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.