Lake Drowning

By Allyson Dix

Jobe Publishing, Inc.

 

Emergency agencies responded to a drowning on Barren River Lake on August 25 after 51-year-old Mike Aurand failed to resurface near Gilligan’s Island.

South Barren Volunteer Fire Department was the first on scene and obtained information from Aurand’s friends and co-workers of his last known location, according to Glasgow/Barren County Emergency Management.

Multiple units searched the area for hours; however, operations were ceased at dark due to low light visibility and the safety of those involved in the search. At daybreak on Monday, search efforts continued.

Emergency management personnel posted on social media asking the public to stay clear of the area on Sunday evening, “We ask that boaters and members of the public stay clear of this area as we will have crews searching with various types of sonar to include divers in the water.”

Aurand’s body was found at 9:40 a.m. on August 26. His body was recovered by divers with the Barren County Rescue Squad. Barren County Coroner’s Office will transport Aurand to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy. The investigation is being handled by the coroner’s office and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. No other information is available as of print time.

Aurand is originally from Corcoran, California, and moved to Kentucky in 2022.

He is an employee of our Jobe Publishing, Inc. company and Yancey’s in Glasgow. He is the father of two sons, Seth Aurand and Trent Aurand.

“Over the past few months, Mike has shared his beliefs with not only me but most of his fellow co-workers at Jobe Publishing,” Jeff Jobe, Community Publisher, said. “Mike often spoke of being blessed to spend time with his sons and witnessing the positives in life to them.”

“We have not only lost a great employee, but also a friend to many,” Jobe said. “He truly believed his ability to work was a blessing, and I know for a fact he knew we appreciated him, because I told him this as he helped me move this past Saturday.”

His friend, Michael Nightingale, said of Aurand, while at the lake on Monday morning during rescue efforts, “We grew up together. He was like my brother. He loved singing, we started bands together and wrote music together.”

“I will miss him. I just don’t want to believe he is gone.”

Michael’s wife, Chelene, echoed those sentiments.

“I loved Mike. Our sons considered him an ‘uncle’,” Chelene said. “He moved here because we lived here. He loved it here, and he loved his jobs. He brought joy to everyone around him. We will miss him. There will never be another like Mike Aurand.”

First responders on scene who joined on Sunday in recovery efforts included Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, Army Corps of Engineers, Rescue Squads of Allen, Barren, and Hart Counties, Austin Tracy VFD, Barren and Allen County Sheriff units, Kentucky State Police, Barren-Metcalfe EMS, and emergency management personnel from Barren, Hart, and Allen Counties.

Glasgow/Barren Emergency Management extended appreciation to all agencies who assisted and prayers for Aurand’s family and friends.

This marks the second drowning in less than a month at Barren River Lake. A paramedic from the Louisville area, 35-year-old Christian Smith, drowned in late July.