Fatality Confirmed At Fort Peck Lake

Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer told the Northern Plains Independent that authorities recovered a body from Fort Peck Lake on Sunday, March 8. Boyer said the victim was recovered from the lake after an ice fishing accident over the weekend.

According to Boyer, Ronald George Spomer, 79, of Cody, Wyo., was fishing alone when his all terrain vehicle fell through the ice. Spomer was not participating in the ice fishing tournament held over the weekend at Fort Peck.

Boyer said two fisherman from Wyoming noticed Spomer missing March 7, but were occupied with an accident of their own until Sunday, when they reported his disappearance.

The two men had an incident leading an icy dip March 7, when their ATV also fell through the ice.

Reports of as many as seven additional ice-related incidents at the lake could not be confirmed at press time.

The ice on the lake is currently very thin and there is a lot of open water, making it extremely dangerous to venture out.

The Valley County Long Run Fire Department was called to assist Valley County Search and Rescue with the recovery of Spomer’s property.