Baker County, OR – The Baker County Sheriff’s Office announced the recovery of 69-year-old Mark Norenberg’s body from Phillips Reservoir on January 27, after an extensive search and rescue operation. Norenberg, a resident of Granite, Oregon, was presumed drowned following a report of a suspicious situation at the reservoir on January 25.
The incident began when a concerned individual reported finding an unattended chair and a large hole in the ice at Phillips Reservoir, along with a vehicle and a dog hiding underneath it at the boat ramp. The Baker County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched an investigation, deploying Baker County Search and Rescue to the site.
Initial search efforts on January 25 were unsuccessful, although several items belonging to Norenberg were found in the water. The recovery mission resumed on January 27, with the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, and Norenberg’s friends and family participating.
Due to the ice’s thickness, which posed a danger to divers, extensive efforts were made to clear the area. Friends and family of Norenberg used jon boats to navigate the ice, employing chainsaws to cut a channel back to shore. The teams used a rope system and manual labor to move ice slabs and create a clear path.
Ultimately, the body of Mark Norenberg was located by search and rescue members using boats. Divers were then sent to perform the recovery.
Sheriff Travis Ash expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the operation, highlighting the significant contributions of time and personal equipment by Mark’s friends and family. “This was a tragic situation, and I offer my sincerest condolences to those grieving the loss of Mark,” said Sheriff Ash.