Body of missing swimmer found in Chickasaw Park quarry

New Hampton Tribune/Charles City Press staff report

THURSDAY, 5:43 p.m. – A diving team recovered the body of 18-year old Christopher Balvanz late Thursday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after Balvanz was initially reported missing by friends. The body was found within the Chickasaw Park quarry.

It was a successful mission for the team, but obviously not how they wanted it to end, Chickasaw County Emergency Management Director Ken Rasing told the Tribune.

More information will be released Friday from the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office, Rasing said.

NEW HAMPTON TRIBUNE – Authorities and rescue personnel were continuing their search Thursday morning in and around Chickasaw Park for a missing 18-year-old.

Christopher Balvanz was reported missing by a group of friends around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

He and his friends were at the park’s quarry, and one of the friends, who asked that his name not be used, said Balvanz was part of a group jumping off rocks into the water and swimming back to shore.

But when the friends looked back, Balvanz was missing.

Authorities were called to the scene and did an extensive search Wednesday night that was called off around 9:30 p.m.

Chickasaw Park was closed for the night and the search resumed Thursday morning.

Chickasaw County Emergency Management Director Kenny Rasing said authorities have tried using sonar technology, sound navigation and ranging to try to detect objects on or under the surface of the water.

A patrol plane arrived in Chickasaw County at about 9 a.m. to use infrared technology that picks up on heat sources.

The pilot was instructed to fly over the quarry and scan the area before following the Little Cedar River south.

If the pilot picks up anything, divers will then enter the water and inspect any areas that are singled out by personnel in the plane.