Officials say enough is enough, and the buoy is coming out.

It's costing the City, and even county too much money to keep responding. Spokane officials say a marker buoy in the Spokane River near the Division Street bridge is going to be removed once and for all.

This last weekend, Dive and Rescue officials and police responded again to reports of a person struggling and drowning in the river, only to find the description of their clothing matched the brightly colored buoy that sits anchored in the middle of the river. It was apparently one of a number of such buoys that are stretched across the river, attached to a cable.  They think this one broke away, then became lodged downstream and triggered numerous calls.

To a distant or casual observer, it could seem it's a person struggling to stay afloat.

Spokane City officials say by removing the buoy, they estimate it will cut down on drowning reports by 78 percent!  Well, at least people are paying attention to the river!

More From 870 AM KFLD