SPALDING - Searchers continued their efforts, unsuccessfully, over the weekend to locate Gary L. Thompson, 66, of Potlatch, Idaho.

Just after noon Friday, the Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office got a call from passers-by of an unoccupied boat. Chief Deputy Dale Buttrey said deputies approached the boat and also found no one inside.

"We tried calling the registered owners home and we couldn't get any answer, so at this time were looking at it as a possible drowning," said Chief Deputy Dale Buttrey.

Divers were on scene near mile post 12 by Highway 12 early Friday afternoon to do a quick check of the river. Buttrey said the river was running high, fast, murky, and very cold, and they were going to do what they could without putting their divers in danger. Divers were unable to enter the water.

"At this point, officer safety, of course, is always our number one thing we want to look at when we put divers in the water," he said.

The Sheriff's Office believes Thompson may have fallen overboard while trying to lift his anchor, and is treating this as an accidental drowning.

If you have any information or know the owner of the boat, you can call the Sheriff's office at (208) 799-3131.