Community shows support for couple with ties to New England missing in Italian cruise ship disaster

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A prayer chain has started in New England for a missing couple that has ties to the small southwestern North Dakota community.

Gerald and Barbara (Kohl) Heil of White Bear Lake, Minn., graduated from St. Mary’s High School in New England in 1959 and have been missing since last week’s cruise ship disaster in Italy, residents said today.

Classmate Carol Robinson said the two are gentle, sweet people that are always thinking well of others.

“I was in total shock,” Robinson said. “Anyone I know would have been on that ship, but then for it to be Barb and Jerry was just an unbelievable thing. I just felt helpless.”

The Heils were on the Costa Concordia luxury cruise ship when it struck a reef last Friday near Tuscany. Authorities have confirmed 11 deaths. The Heils are the only Americans among 21 passengers that are unaccounted for.

See Saturday's Dickinson Press for more on the story.

Tags: new england, news, local, italy, cruise, world, nation, updates