By BETH ZUMWALT
The Pearl Community was rocked Monday, Aug. 19 with the death of one of the community’s pillars.
Roger Hatcher, 89, was reported missing after another fisherman saw him trying to put his boat into the Illinois River at Kampsville. The fisherman reported the boat floated out, and Hatcher went out to get it, went under and never resurfaced. The call was reported to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office at 7:11 a.m.
Authorities, including the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, North Calhoun Fire, Illinois Department of Conservation Police, Morgan County Dive Team, Calhoun EMS and the Green County’s Sheriff’s office initiated an extensive search.
Hatcher was found around 8:30 p.m.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police has taken over the investigation.
Hatcher was a life-long resident of Pearl and had served as the village mayor for two terms, was president of the Pearl Fire Department and also served a road commissioner for Pearl Township.
Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 23 at Niebur Funeral Home. Burial was at Green Pond Cemetery near Pearl.