By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Body of Browntown man found in river
51820a.jpg
Argyle firefighters Brent Leigh and Brandon Lantz help the Dane County Dive Team search for Kevin Holverson Sunday on the Pecatonica River at the Argyle dam. (Times photo: Marissa Weiher)
ARGYLE - Crews searching the Pecatonica River on Monday recovered the body of a Browntown man who was missing for 48 hours after a boating accident near the Argyle dam.

Kevin L. Holverson, 42, is the second fatality from Saturday's boating accident. Thomas L. Melland, 46, Monroe, died as a result of the accident Saturday night. Michael H. Wilson, 46, Brodhead, was also hospitalized and treated for hypothermia.

The Lafayette County Sheriff's Office received a call at about noon Saturday, reporting that three men fishing in a boat just below the dam in Argyle had been thrown into the water when their boat overturned.

Melland and Wilson were both recovered from the river by first responders and taken to Monroe Clinic hospital. Melland was later taken by Medflight to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison where he died.

On Tuesday afternoon, Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill said there were no updates on Wilson's condition.

Crews continued to search for Holverson all day Saturday and Sunday. The search continued Monday, and his body was recovered just before noon.

Although the accident is still being investigated by the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, authorities believe the boat was pulled into the dam's spillway due to the high water level, which caused a strong current.

"The sheer volume of water was a contributing factor," Gill said. "That much water coming over the dam creates an undertow."

Gill said the water temperature was just below 40 degrees.

Argyle Fire Department and EMS, Blanchardville EMS, Green County EMS, Darlington Fire Department, the Southwest Wisconsin Technical Rescue Team and the Dane County Dive Team assisted in the search for Holverson.