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Search for missing man suspended because of high waters

NEW ULM — The Brown County Sheriff’s Office is suspending the search-and-recovery efforts for Vincent Mathiowetz, 73, of Sleepy Eye, who went missing on the Cottonwood River south of Sleepy Eye on June 3.

This decision is due to the amount of rain that has been recorded in the area in the past few days, and expected rain in the near future, said a press release from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office Monday.

As of Monday, the Cottonwood River as reported at the New Ulm monitoring station had risen 6.50-feet in four days and was at 12.08-feet, said the press release. This is above the 11-foot flood stage level.

The Cottonwood River is expected to remain above the 11-foot flood stage level for the next four days and then is expected to drop slightly over the next couple of days, said the press release.

The river is currently running very fast and the current remains strong, with boat navigation nearly impossible, said the press release.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office will continue to monitor river levels daily and resume the search-and-recovery efforts when the Cottonwood River has lowered, and it is safe for personnel to return to the river, the press release said.

Mathiowetz was reported missing on June 3, approximately 3 1/2 miles south of Sleepy Eye on Highway 4 near the Cottonwood River, which triggered the search.

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