Georgia
Dad of five vanishes while kayaking on Georgia lake long rumored to be haunted
A huge search is underway for a Georgia father of five who appears to have vanished while kayaking on a lake long rumored to be haunted.
Dustin Valencia, 43, was reported missing Wednesday by his wife after he didn’t show up to pick up his children from school — with cops then finding his car parked at Little Ridge Park on Lake Lanier, 11 Alive reported
Evidence suggested that Valencia had gone kayaking on the lake, but his inflatable raft was nowhere to be seen, according to authorities.
A huge ongoing search was launched Thursday on land and water, with multiple units using drones and specialist marine search equipment.
Lake Lanier, where Valencia disappeared, was built in the 1950s over submerged towns, forests, and cemeteries — and has been a location for eerie scenes in the Netflix drama “Ozark,” CNN previously reported.
Since 1994, over 200 people have died in the lake’s waters — with locals long suggesting the lake is haunted.
One of the most-repeated legends is the “Lady of the Lake,” supposedly the ghost of a woman whose car crashed into the lake who has since been spotted restlessly wandering at night in a blue dress.
Friends say Valencia, a triathlete, was in peak condition.
“A group of us met at his church for a vigil, prayed, and then we left to come find him,” Cat Fritts, a friend who last saw Valencia early Tuesday morning during a workout, told WBSTV about the hunt to find him.
“He’s got five kids. I can’t imagine what his family is going through. I think they would want everyone to know and go look for him and spread the word,” she said.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who spots a stray inflatable kayak to contact their office.
As we approach the nation’s 250th birthday, the weather looks to cooperate for the most part. However, there is one thing that will be certain, it will be hot.
For most of the day, skies look to be partly cloudy with a small chance to see some pop-up showers or storms. If they are to appear, they will likely be short lived. The chance for rain will also dwindle as the sun goes down.
The big story will be the heat.
Butts, Jasper, Putnam, and Hancock counties are under a Heat Advisory until July 4th at 8 PM.
This means that heat index values could reach 105 degrees or above.
Even if you’re not included in a Heat Advisory, it will be hot.
FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE FORECAST 10 AM
The heat index values, or the feels like temperatures, around 10 AM are forecasted to already be in the low 90’s.
FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE FORECAST 4 PM
By the time we make it to the peak heating of the day, the feels like temperatures are forecasted to be in the low 100’s.
FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE FORECAST 9 PM
When it’s time to shoot off fireworks, it’s forecasted to still feel like the low 90’s to the upper 80’s.
HEAT RISK FOR MIDDLE GEORGIA
Most of Middle Georgia is under a major risk for heat risks on Saturday. This means that you should take plenty of breaks and drink plenty of water. Also make sure to listen to your body.
If you plan on traveling up to Atlanta, they will be an even higher risk, an extreme risk.
Overall, it will be a very hot day with a small chance to see some rain and storms.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Driver Services urges residents to add an emergency contact to their driver’s license record, saying the update takes two minutes and costs nothing.
The agency said the information becomes immediately accessible to police and medical teams through their systems—a critical advantage if a driver is unconscious, or if their phone is locked or broken following a crash.
No new physical license is required, officials said. Drivers can complete the update online through the DDS website at no charge. Visit the website here for more details.
Officials said the update is especially important for people with medical conditions or memory loss who may not be able to communicate during an emergency.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Officials in Georgia launched a new program that will allow survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, human trafficking, stalking and other similar crimes to shield their addresses on public records.
Georgia’s Safe at Home Program will give qualified residents a substitute address for use on most state and local public records, a spokesperson from the Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s Office reported.
The goal of the program is to prevent abusers from locating survivors through public information, the press release said.
“Every Georgian deserves to feel safe in their own home,” Raffensperger said. “For far too many survivors, something as simple as a home address can become a tool for those who seek to harm them.”
The program will also provide mail forwarding and protected voter registration.
“This program is about more than protecting an address. It’s about protecting people,” Raffensperger said. “Survivors should be able to build a new life without constantly worrying that the person who harmed them can find them through a public record.”
The Safe at Home Program was established by Senate Bill 324, which passed the Georgia General Assembly in 2024, and officially started Wednesday.
Advocates called the bill a historic milestone for survivors across the Peach State.
“This program recognizes that every survivor deserves the opportunity to rebuild their lives without fear of being found by the person who harmed them,” said Karimah Dillard, Director of Policy for Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “The Address Confidentiality Program is a lifesaving investment in survivor safety, dignity, and independence.”
To learn more about the program, click or tap here.
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