Search for Lanier boater to continue Sunday
The search for a missing boater will continue to a seventh day Sunday at Lake Lanier.
The state Department of Natural Resources identified the boater as George “Marty” Counts, 47, of Tucker.
Various agencies have been searching for Counts since around 9:40 Monday night, when his boat was spotted going in circles in the lake with no one aboard near Bald Ridge Creek in Forsyth County, the DNR said. The boat ran out of gas and was on the bank when rangers arrived.
Divers, helicopters and a canine unit have all been part of the search, which has included crews from the DNR and Forsyth and Hall counties. “Side-scan sonar” was used to determine where to send divers into the water, estimated to be about 80 feet deep in the area.
More surface searches are planned for Sunday for Counts, whose name was released Friday night. Investigators believe Counts was operating the boat Monday evening.
Pictures on his Facebook page show an avid fisherman who was no stranger to the lake. Friends have posted thoughts and updates on the search.
