Body of Granite man recovered after search and rescue operation at Phillips Reservoir
By Joe Hathaway on Monday, January 29th, 2024 in Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – (Release from the BCSO) On January 27, 2024, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office continued recovery efforts at Phillips Reservoir to locate Mark Norenberg (69 yoa) of Granite, Oregon. Norenberg was presumed
to have drowned while ice fishing, after Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a report of a suspicious situation at the reservoir on January 25th. The reporting party was concerned after locating a chair on the ice with what appeared to be a large hole next to it. The caller also noted there was a vehicle parked at the boat ramp with a dog hiding under it but had not seen anyone else in the area.
After a deputy responded to Phillips Reservoir to investigate the report, Baker County Search and Rescue was deployed to the scene. Recovery efforts were unsuccessful but several items belonging to Norenberg were located in the water.
Recovery efforts resumed on Saturday, January 27th. Baker County Search and Rescue, Baker County Sheriff’s Office along with friends and family of Mark Norenberg gathered at Phillips Reservoir that morning. To allow BCSO SAR divers to search the area, it was necessary to remove large amounts of ice due to the danger posed to divers. Family and friends of Mark Norenberg used two jon boats to pull themselves across the ice. From there, they used chainsaws to cut a channel back to shore. As the ice slabs were sawed into smaller pieces, crews utilized a rope system and manual labor to clear the channel. Using boats, SAR members located the body of Norenberg, and SAR divers were sent in to perform the recovery.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in this operation. A number of people made this mission possible by contributing their time and personal equipment, including Mark’s friends and family. This was a tragic situation, and I offer my sincerest condolences to those grieving the loss of Mark,” stated Sheriff Travis Ash.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Baker County Search and Rescue, Greater Bowen Valley Rural Fire Protection District, Powder River Rural Fire Protection District, Baker County Emergency Management, and numerous friends and family members of Mark Norenberg.
