A 56-year old Cottage Grove man, and a female yellow Lab dog, drowned Saturday morning, March 28, while attempting to cross a rough Rogue River Bar. The capsizing was reported just after 7:30 a.m. The 18-foot boat overturned near the north jetty. Curry Co. Sheriff’s Office marine deputies happened to be at the Boat Barn when the call came in and responded immediately. They located two males in the water. Thomas Whiting was unresponsive and his nephew, 36-year old Charlie Johnson, Cottage Grove, was hypothermic. The two were taken to an awaiting ambulance and then transported to Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach. Whiting was pronounced deceased. The dog was not found.
