Conditions force scaled-back search for girl missing in river

Low visibility, high water and strong currents are prompting rescue crews to scale back their search for the body of Angela Girton.

Girton, 5, was reported missing in the Wisconsin River near Gotham on April 6.

Richland County Emergency Management officials said the public is invited to join the search, but is reminded to be safe on the water.

Divers and cadaver dogs have been taken off the river until conditions improve.

Richland County Emergency Management Director Darrin Gudgeon said Girton was with three other children, including a sibling, and had gone to the river for a picnic.

“I know that Angela went into the water, and I know that her sibling and another child reached out and made a chain and used a stick to try to help her out, but that was unsuccessful,” Gudgeon said.

The Cazenovia Fire Department, the Wisconsin DNR, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Sauk County Dive team, the Blue River Fire Department, Iowa County Emergency Management, the local amateur radio group, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Lone Rock EMS are involved in the search.