American Scene

National Park Service superintendent Keith Newlin says victims’ relatives approved the idea. He says the 17-ton boulder was recently moved into place by a stone company that’s building the entrance road at the memorial in Shanksville. He tells Somerset’s Daily American newspaper he suggested a smaller rock but the company’s foreman said the victims deserve the big boulder.

Word of the boulder came as more than two dozen relatives of victims gathered Saturday with park and memorial officials for the ceremonial planting of the first three of 40 sweet gum trees to honor the victims.

WYOMING

Deputy found dead in river after rescue bid

DOUGLAS — The body of a Wyoming deputy who jumped in the North Platte River to assist a struggling girl was discovered Sunday.

It was the fourth day of searching for 29-year-old Bryan P. Gross of the Converse County Sheriff’s Office, who went in the river Thursday evening after a teenage girl who appeared to be struggling. The girl survived, but Deputy Gross was swept away in the river swollen by heavy snowmelt.

County Sheriff Clinton Becker said Deputy Gross‘ body was found late Sunday morning in the river about a mile and a half from where the deputy entered.

Searchers from several law enforcement agencies and civilian volunteers checked the banks of the river. Divers, dogs and a helicopter helped in the search. The sheriff did not describe how Deputy Gross was located.

• From wire dispatches and staff reports