Missing man’s body recovered

Members of the OPP’s North West Region Emergency Response Team located and recovered the body of missing Red Lake man Friday around 2:30 p.m.
John Haugland, 56, of Red Lake had been operating heavy equipment on Jan. 31 while constructing a winter road on Birch Lake.
Police located Haugland’s body in 23 feet of water around 800 metres north of where the winter road enters Birch Lake. The machinery remains submerged.
The initial investigation revealed the machinery broke through weak ice and sunk to the bottom of the lake.
A post mortem into the cause of Haugland’s death was scheduled for today.
The OPP and Ministry of Labour continue to investigate the incident.
The OPP would like to remind people that ice conditions remain unstable and unpredictable in many areas, and extreme caution must be used venturing out onto the ice.
Meanwhile, Ear Falls OPP are searching for a missing man in an area off Highway 804, 13 km southwest of there.
Former Ear Falls mayor and provincial Liberal candidate Geoff McClain, 41, was reported missing to police Saturday.
Members of the North West Region’s Emergency Response Team and canine unit were at the scene and continuing their search as of last report this morning.
Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of McClain can contact the OPP Communications Centre at 1-888-310-1122.