NGE
Silver Member
- May 27, 2008
- 3,506
- 119
- Detector(s) used
- Etrac, Explorer XS II, Fisher 1266-X
- Primary Interest:
- Other
Monday afternoon at about 1pm, Our club ( Michigan Treasure Hunters ) lost another water hunter from drowning. He was not out there alone. He and a close friend of his were water hunting in Pontiac Lake at Pontiac Lake state park. The Oakland Press said in their headlines that a " SCAVENGER " had been rescued from the water. They also made no mention that he was already deceased on the spot. Our club is graetly incensed at the reporter ( Shaun Byron ) for reporting the late Bill Whitman as being a "Scavenger" The autopsy didn't show heart attack, but his wife has said that Bill didn't feel too well before he left for the hunt with his friend. His friend said that as soon as Bill turned his machine on and made a single pass, he found a gold charm, so both went out about waist deep and turned away from each other to hunt parrallel to the beach, and when they get to their respective ends of the beach area, they turn and face each other, and move over a couple feet and walk towards each other, that is when his friend said people on the beach were pointing to someone floating face down in the water (shallow water) When Bill's friend got to him, it was already too late, he was gone. His friend said that Bill's machine was off and that, that was peculiar, since Bill never shuts his machine off till they get back to the vehicle. So we all thorize that Bill was having a medical problem and had turned his machine off and was heading back to shallow water, but never made it out. Our prayers and condolences have gone out to Barb and George William " Bill " Whitman. Our webmaster has sent this letter to the Oaklnd Press asking for a retraction of the "Scavenger Title" and asked them to re-post their story as a "Detectorist" Not a scavenger on their front page. Here is the post from Greatlakesmetaldetecting.com Welcome to our web site! MICHIGAN TREASURE HUNTERS is an organization for those people who enjoy all kinds of treasure hunting. Metal detecting coin and jewelry, relic hunting, bottle digging and ghost town searching, to name just a few. A bonus treasure is found in the fellowship with others who are also interested in our hobby-treasure hunting!!!
In existence since 1974, our club's primary objective is the promotion of treasure hunting, while keeping proper conservation measures in mind, and teaching correct treasure hunting techniques. Our club's motto is "WE LEAVE IT CLEANER THAN WE FOUND IT."
Terrible News
It is with regret that I post the loss of another MTH member while water detecting. I received the news Monday evening that Bill Whitman (long time member of the Michigan Treasure Hunters club) passed away. He was found unconscious in the water while detecting in Pontiac Lake Monday with his friend Fred Christensen. Bill was taken to Pontiac General Hospital but never regained consciousness.
I only knew Bill for a brief seven years through the MTH club but considered him as a good friend. Reporting this saddens me as we approach the one year anniversary of the death of my other good friend, Tom Weaver. Bill was one of the pillars of MTH. He and his wife Barb Whitman would do anything to support the club. From setting up chairs at meetings to managing full club functions like the annual Open Hunts, Bill was there to help. I personally learned a great deal about MTH from Bill. His tips got me through my one year position as president in 2004. We at MTH will miss him. His passing is a great loss to all of us who knew him.
For arrangements see "George William "Bill" Whitman" on RJ Nixon Funeral Home website here or click here.
Please keep Bill and Barb in your thoughts and prayers.
Ross Soderberg
If you want to get involved and vent you IRE about how we have been labeled as Scavengers, go to http://www.greatlakesmetaldetecting.com and look in the main posting forum for the post titled " Bill Whitman by Pezhead, that's me. There is a link to the newspaer story. Thanks all..........NGE
In existence since 1974, our club's primary objective is the promotion of treasure hunting, while keeping proper conservation measures in mind, and teaching correct treasure hunting techniques. Our club's motto is "WE LEAVE IT CLEANER THAN WE FOUND IT."
Terrible News
It is with regret that I post the loss of another MTH member while water detecting. I received the news Monday evening that Bill Whitman (long time member of the Michigan Treasure Hunters club) passed away. He was found unconscious in the water while detecting in Pontiac Lake Monday with his friend Fred Christensen. Bill was taken to Pontiac General Hospital but never regained consciousness.
I only knew Bill for a brief seven years through the MTH club but considered him as a good friend. Reporting this saddens me as we approach the one year anniversary of the death of my other good friend, Tom Weaver. Bill was one of the pillars of MTH. He and his wife Barb Whitman would do anything to support the club. From setting up chairs at meetings to managing full club functions like the annual Open Hunts, Bill was there to help. I personally learned a great deal about MTH from Bill. His tips got me through my one year position as president in 2004. We at MTH will miss him. His passing is a great loss to all of us who knew him.
For arrangements see "George William "Bill" Whitman" on RJ Nixon Funeral Home website here or click here.
Please keep Bill and Barb in your thoughts and prayers.
Ross Soderberg
If you want to get involved and vent you IRE about how we have been labeled as Scavengers, go to http://www.greatlakesmetaldetecting.com and look in the main posting forum for the post titled " Bill Whitman by Pezhead, that's me. There is a link to the newspaer story. Thanks all..........NGE
Sad news...... Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
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