HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Ahead of what is expected to be a crowded Memorial Day weekend on North Alabama waterways, state law enforcement and safety officials are issuing an urgent plea for boater responsibility following two recent tragedies in the region.
The safety warnings coincide with National Safe Boating Week, but local officials say the danger has already hit close to home. Last week, a 2-year-old child drowned at Talucah Landing in Morgan County. On Tuesday, rescue crews on Lake Guntersville recovered the body of 25-year-old Jeremiah Gamble of Tallassee, who disappeared underwater on Sunday.
Officials with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division say these incidents underscore how quickly a recreational day on the water can turn catastrophic if boaters are unprepared…