From the Desk of Sheriff Scott Bradley

On August 17, 2010 Deputies with the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department responded to 243 Essie Road for a drowning victim.  Steven Eldridge, 46, had gone fishing in a nearby pond that morning at approximately 6:30 am.  Mr. Eldridge was seen on the pond bank approximately an hour or so later.  By 9:00 am, some friends went to locate Mr. Eldridge but were unable to locate him.  A search of the pond he was fishing at and other area ponds began with Mr. Eldridge being found just under the surface of the water and approximately 20 feet from the pond bank.