Flint’s waters continue to rebuff rescue efforts

ALBANY — After heavy rains brought mild flooding to the Flint River for a few days, the waters of the river have pretty much receded to their banks while still flowing at a deceptively rapid pace.

Activity around the section of the Flint that runs through the heart of downtown Albany has returned to a semblance of normalcy. Mothers are bringing their kids to “Turtle Park” to burn off energy as springlike weather makes an initial appearance. Couples walk hand-in-hand along the adjacent Riverwalk, and individuals lay on blankets, basking in the abundant sunshine.

Meanwhile, the mean waters of the Flint, which have apparently claimed two new victims, continue their inexorable race toward Lake Seminole at the Georgia/Florida state line. Those waters flow with no consideration for the two men — Darrious Stephens and Cameron Jones — who it now seems all but apparent lost their lives in the Flint. Stephens, a city of Albany employee who was collecting water samples in the river, fell into the Flint on Feb. 16, and Jones reportedly fell in a week later.

Even as hope of finding the men — or at least recovering their remains — has dwindled, the search continued Tuesday.

“There’s no change; we’re still searching,” Albany Police Cpl. Y. Wood, who was among a handful of law enforcement and rescue personnel who sat under or near a tent Tuesday set up on a portion of the Riverwalk just south of the Broad Avenue bridge. The tent serves as a command center for the grizzly duty these individuals, and others on the water in boats and in the sky in a helicopter, have undertaken.

Even as the frightening scenario surrounding the lost citizens — which brings to mind the valor of D.J. Vinson, who boldly dived into the Flint on Aug. 3, 2008 to try and save two young boys who’d fallen into the Flint, saving one, but succumbing along with 11-year-old Joshua Perry — hung like a pall in the air surrounding the river, there were elements of normalcy nearby.

Three young Columbus mothers, who came to visit the nearby Flint RiverQuarium and brought four of their collective nine children to the park to enjoy the sunshine and burn off energy, said they weren’t aware of the tragedy that had unfolded in the nearby Flint.

Asked if they felt any unease being near where tragedy had twice unfolded in the past few days, the trio said they were unaware of the circumstances.

“Oh, my God, that’s horrible,” Nikki Casevolt, who was holding 9-month-ol Ruthie — one of her three children — said.

The trio discussed the tragedy and compared the Albany Riverwalk to a similar attraction in Columbus.

“The city provides life vests when people go on the Riverwalk in Columbus now,” said Emma, who asked that neither her last name nor the name of her 10-month-old baby be used. “If you don’t wear the life vest and the police see you, they’ll give you a ticket.”

Tamarica Akannubi, a Georgia State University student who was visiting her family, lay on a blanket, half-in, half-out of the sunshine, listening to some soothing music while reading a book. She said she was aware of the tragedy that had unfolded in the waters of the Flint.

“It’s tragic; certainly that’s something you can’t help but think about,” Akannubi said. “You just have to accept that God is in control and that everything works according to His plan.”

Local officials said they will continue the search for Stephens and Jones, hoping that at least they can provide a measure of closure for their families.

Staff Photo: Tara Fletcher