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Police identify body found Wednesday in Rock River

The body was recovered from the river at about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday near Rock River Estates.

DIXON, Ill. — UPDATE (11:10 a.m. Aug. 4): Police have identified the body recovered from the Rock River as 40-year-old James Shirk of Dixon, Illinois.

Shirk was reported missing by his family members Tuesday evening, Aug. 2. He was last seen at about 2 p.m. Tuesday near the Custer Avenue boat ramp.

At the time of the police release, the orange-colored kayak had not been recovered. 

Anyone with information regarding the kayak or any other relevant tips was asked to call the Dixon Police Department, the Lee County Sheriff's Department or the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

UPDATE (2:25 p.m. Aug. 3): A body was recovered from the Rock River at about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3 near Rock River Estates in Lee County, according to the Dixon Police Department.

The identity of the individual was being withheld pending notification of family, police said.

The investigation was ongoing as of Wednesday afternoon.

ORIGINAL (11:22 a.m. Aug. 3): The Dixon Police Department on Wednesday, Aug. 3 asked for the public's help in its search for a missing kayaker on the Rock River.

The kayaker, whose boat is orange, was last seen at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2 near the river's Custer Avenue boat ramp, and his vehicle was located at the ramp.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office, Dixon City Fire Department, Dixon Rural Fire Department, Lee County Emergency Management, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Sterling Fire Department are assisting Dixon police in a search for the Rock River and surrounding areas.

RELATED: Missing Camanche woman found safe Sunday evening, police say

The search for the kayaker was ongoing as of Wednesday morning, according to Dixon police. No other information was available.

If you have any information regarding the missing kayaker, contact the Dixon Police Department at 815-288-4411 or the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 815-284-6631.

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