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After reviewing their investigation into the June drowning death of 36 year old William Wertheimer III of Farmington, the Coast Guard announced they will consider alerting local authorities as part of their plan for handing search and rescue operations in unreported and overdue situations.

"Reading through their review and action, I have one question, are they going to call us or not?," said Sanilac County Undersheriff Garry Biniecki. "It just says 'consider alerting local authorities'. I know that's what I've been told, that 911 will be notified. But I don't see this in the action plan."

Biniecki would like the plan to specify local agencies "will" or "shall" be notified. "I think there's been great movement that way. We've met several times with district and regional (Coast Guard) commanders. I do believe there is a strong push to work together...I was promised that 911 Dispatch Center would be contacted...I couldn't ask for anything more... But my only question is what does 'consider alerting' mean."

Rear Admiral John E. Crowley Jr., commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, stated in the action plan, "while this recommended step is normally considered implicit in the conducting of preliminary communication searches and extended communication searches, this addition will provide a clearer reminder for search and rescue personnel to consider this procedure".

Biniecki said Central Dispatch wasn't notified until almost three hours after the Coast Guard was contacted about the missing kayaker at 4 p.m. The Coast Guard left a message with the Port Sanilac Police Department at 6:32 p.m., which notified Central Dispatch at 6:55 p.m. Two officers from the county's marine patrol were patrolling the lake at the time and could have been searching an additional three hours.

The kayaker's father had told the coast guard his son intended to fish directly east of their residence, near the fishing channel. When his son did not return a few hours after his departure, Wertheimer Jr. took another kayak out to search for him. He contacted the coast guard after returning from his unsuccessful search.

To avoid searching the same area as the Coast Guard, the county boats patrolled to the north. At about 9 p.m., the deputies found Wertheimer's yellow kayak, and notified his family. At that time, the family mentioned that Wertheimer liked to kayak north along the coastline.

The Sanilac Sheriff Marine deputies and the Lexington police patrol boat found Wertheimer's body about 1.5 nautical miles off Mills Road at about 8 a.m. the following morning. His body was found about eight miles north of where he had launched the kayak at 11 a.m. Saturday.

He was wearing a life jacket, but it was not the type designed to keep the wearer's head out of the water if the person becomes unconscious.