Update: Missing Boater On Lake Allatoona

Jackson was a part of the extended GON family and community. Jackson and his family are close to the family of David Kirby, brother of the GON publisher. For several years Jackson’s mom Tina greeted guests as she helped GON at the ticket window for the Outdoor Blast at LakePoint Sports.

Jackson was reported missing after his Bass Tracker fishing boat was found slowly circling in Lake Allatoona with no one onboard. The boat was found in the main-lake bay just up the lake from the S Turns. Jackson had put in at Little River ramp, and his course was tracked toward the S Turns on the boat’s GPS electronics. He was alone in the boat.

Mark McKinnon, DNR Law Enforcement Division Public Affairs Officer, spoke to reporters at Little River Marina earlier in the day. “Yesterday afternoon (June 5, 2025) about 5:21, we received a call that there was a boat circling in Little River without an operator,” Mark said. “Cherokee Fire arrived first on the scene. They were able to stop the boat and secure it. DNR arrived shortly after and began a search with sonar. We searched until late last night.”

Family and friends also searched by boat throughout the night, scanning the shoreline in hopes of finding Jackson.

Please continue to pray in earnest for Jackson’s family and friends.