— Misti Drew/Tribune-Courier || Members of the Calloway County Rescue Squad meet with Sgt. Tim Brinkley of the Marshall County Rescue Squad on Sunday as they discuss search patterns in the wake of yet another drowning in the area of Little Bear on Kentucky Lake.

Tragedy strikes again at Little Bear on Ky. Lake

Search and rescue
operation under
way for 69 year-
old Livingston man

By Misti Drew
Tribune-Courier News Editor
mdrew@tribunecourier.com

GILBERTSVILLE – A cold rain blew in the wind Sunday afternoon as rescue workers combed lake waters near Rocky Point for any sign of life.

The search began under the cover of darkness Saturday evening for a 69 year-old Livingston County man, Robert “Bob” Bramlett, who disappeared sometime Saturday afternoon in the Little Bear area.

Looking out over the lakeside, it was a familiar scene.

Search and rescue boats could be seen trolling just beyond the memorial marking the location where three Graves County teens drowned earlier this year. Crews spent more than a month in the same waters last time.

It was a difficult scenario, even for seasoned search and rescue veterans. “We started our year out here and now it looks like we are going to finish it here” Marshall County Rescue Squad member Vallery West said.

According to a release from emergency management officials, Bramlett’s family members became concerned when he had not returned by dark.

Law enforcement utilized the signal from his cell phone to pinpoint a location, which resulted in the discovery of his fishing boat which had run aground near Grand Rivers.

A search of the boat revealed the Bramlett’s cell phone and fishing gear.

Rescuers also found Bramlett’s truck and two dogs at Rocky Point.

Rescue personnel searched the banks overnight and spent more than 11 hours on Sunday in cold temperatures searching with side-scan sonar and using dragging apparatus in the lake.

The search was suspended as night fell and inclement weather moved in.

Officials say they do not have an exact perimeter in which they are searching. However, crews are focusing on an approximate 20 mile area, including fishing spots Bramlett was known to frequent and the area between Rocky poimt and the Dam.

Rescue Squads are utilizing much of the new equipment donated in the wake of the drowning tragedy of the three boys earlier this year, including side-scan sonars and winter weather gear.

Although there have been more than a dozen workers on scene, many local volunteers aren’t able to join in the effort.
Earlier this year, most search and rescue workers exhausted all vacation and sick time with employers volunteering during the ice storm and previous drowning incident. Even still, they say they grieve at not being able to be lake-side until their mission is completed.

“It’s our job to bring people’s family member’s home,” MCRS Chief Carl Curtner said. “It’s hard to rest until we know we’ve done what we need to do.”

Members of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, TVA Police, Marshall County Sheriff’s department, Lake Land Area Red Cross, Marshall County GIS and the KY Division of Emergency Management are assisting on scene.