Local man dies at boat ramp

A Grand Coulee man was found dead on the Crescent Bay boat ramp Sunday.

The police report stated that James Carol Arbaugh, 68, of 37 Division Street, had been fishing and apparently left the edge of the water to return for something above the ramp, collapsing on the way up its steep slope.

He was found by Larry Rehn of Electric City who was in the area with his dog about 1:45 p.m.

Rehn said he was in the area to wash his dog off and found Arbaugh laying on his back on the ramp.

The man’s wife, Christie, told police that her husband had a heart murmur and was scheduled to have an ultrasound checkup next week.

As soon as he found Arbaugh, Rehn called Grand Coulee police Sgt. John Tufts, who in turn called police Chief Mel Hunt and the National Park Service, the agency in charge of the area.

The Grant County coroner’s office was also called and responded to the scene.

The body was then released to Strate Funeral Home.