Saturday, November 03, 2007

11/3/07 22 Missing Persons Featured in Interstate Directory

Good Day,

We are pleased to announce that in conjunction with our trucking industry partner, Target Media Partners, 22 missing persons have been featured in this year's annual Interstate Directory.

Target Media Partner's annual Interstate Directory features state maps detailing useful information for truckers and other travelers along the interstate system including contact numbers and websites for weather and road conditions, state trucking associations, motor carrier offices, speed limits, a listing of all truck stops, and much more. This full size color publication can be found at over 2,500 truck stops nationwide, is free , and has a circulation of 100,000.

Target Media Partners also works with Project Jason and our 18 Wheel Angel poster distribution program to help bring awareness for missing persons.

The 22 featured missing persons listings are in full color and is sized to fit on 1/3 of the 8.5x11 page. It includes 1-2 photos, the physical and other descriptive data, a link to our 18 Wheel Angels webpage to encourage poster placement, and of course , LE contact information. If we paid for this ad space on our own, it would have cost well over $1,000 for each individual ad. The total value of the space donated by Target Media Partners in this year's edition is more than $10,000!

If you would like to pick up copies of the Interstate Directory, check with your local truck stops and inquire if they carry it. The Interstate Directory is available at Flying J, Wilco, AmBest, Pilot Travel Centers, Travel Centers of America and other locations. Remember that this publication will not be found with the for-purchase magazines, but in a special display along with other trucking magazines. At some truck stops, these displays are right outide the main entrance in a protected unit.

This year's featured missing persons include: (the links go to their news and information thread on our new forum)

Sabrina Allen http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=445

Karissah Butler http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=295

Kelli Ann Cox http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=128

Jesse Florez: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=570

Craig Frear http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=576

Ivory Green http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=800

Justin Harris http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=872

Jason Jolkowski http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=131

Jody Ledkins http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=681

Hope Meek http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=637

Maura Murray http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=568

Brianna Maitland http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=857

Clinton Nelson http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=702

Roxanne Paltauf http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=691

Branson Perry http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=15

LaQuanta Riley http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=450

Jesse Ross http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=729

Vinyette Teague http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=897

Leeanna Warner http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=680

Jennifer Wilkerson http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=333

Adrianna and Jennifer Wix http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=88

The Interstate Directory also included the story of the history of the 18 Wheel Angels program, which you will find below my signature line if you wish to read it.

We're pleased to have played a part in bringing awareness to these missing loved one's cases.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,Project Jason
Help us for free each time you do a websearch:
http://www.goodsearch.c/om/?charityid=857029


History of the 18 Wheel Angels

On June 13, 2001, my son Jason disappeared from the driveway of our Omaha, NE home without a trace. At that time, my family and I became painfully aware that there are very few services for the families of missing people, and especially missing adults. We founded Project Jason, a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, to create and increase public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities.

Almost immediately after Jason’s disappearance, I started to hear from kind people all over the country and despite not knowing us personally; they offered to help by putting up posters of our son. Many of those wonderful people were truck drivers and my husband and I were very moved by their generosity and compassion. Each time we were feeling low because of our circumstances, we would hear from one of these “angels” and it would lift our spirits and keep us going.

With a small organization like ours, we have little money to spend. Therefore, we must be innovative and find ways to make the most impact for the least amount of money. One night, I was driving down the road, trying to think of something we could do for a low cost that could be effective. I remembered the kindness of many truckers in offering to spread the word about missing people. As a result, the 18 Wheel Angels program sprang to life. It was natural that we would use the word “angels” in the name of the program as we considered the source of our blessings, the compassionate 18-Wheelers who came to our aid.

This program is not donation based but “people” based in the sense that we need drivers – the very people that are the “eyes and ears” of the United States – to help.

It is estimated that in the United States alone, an astounding 2,300 Americans are reported missing every day, including both adults and children. You have a unique opportunity as you distribute the campaign posters along your route to help thousands of people everyday as awareness is everything in a missing person’s case!

Every two weeks, the “18 Wheel Angels” program will feature a new missing person – and every two weeks, you have the opportunity to bring good news to families of missing people across the country.

Beginning in November, we’ll feature one new missing person each week, thanks to the generosity of Target Media Partners. Target Media Partners publishes photos and information about two different campaigns/missing persons each in their publications, Through the Gears and Independent Contractor.

For additional information about the program, go to our website at http://www.projectjason.org/ and click on the 18 Wheel Angels link. This webpage contains a FAQ to explain what we ask of participating drivers and also showcases the current campaigns and all of the past ones. If the person is still missing, their special campaign poster will still be available for you to download, print, and distribute.

Also, we may have the opportunity to speak with the local media in your area regarding the “18 Wheel Angels” program. If you are a participating driver and are willing to speak to the media about this program, please let us know. It only takes a few minutes and the media exposure for these families mean everything! As a parent of a missing person myself, I know just how important every possible bit of public exposure is for a case. Awareness of missing persons is a key to resolution. These families need your help. Please try to put yourself in their place for a moment and help us bring home our missing loved ones! Thank you.

Sincerely,
Kelly Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason

11/3/07 Jason on America's Most Wanted Website

Our missing son, Jason is now on the America's Most Wanted website. (not to be confused with being on the show, unfortunately) A long time ago, he was listed, but when AMW redid their website, for some reason, they removed his case and did not restore it. We had our law enforcement submit his case twice, and now with a push from one of our volunteers, we finally have him back on there!

Jason Goes Missing

On June 13, 2001, Jason Jolkowski went missing from his home in Omaha, NE. Jason's boss called that morning to find out if he could come into work early. But according to his mother, Jason's car was in the shop so he arranged to meet a c-worker boss at Benson High School, only eight blocks away. Jason showered and changed and headed out the door. His little brother, Michael, recalls last seeing Jason around 10:15 a.m. taking garbage cans to the garage. But when Jason's employer called back to the house 30-45 minutes later because he had not shown up at the high school, the family knew something was wrong. Jason had simply vanished.

"Someone, somewhere, knows where our son is and could help us find him. Six years is too long to live without knowing."

Into Thin Air

Jason had a close relationship with his family, so no one believed he just made up his mind to disappear. Authorities monitored his bank account, cell phone and the body shop where Jason left his car. Nothing. The family estimates that Jason had no more than about $60 when he disappeared, and Jason never picked up his remaining checks from work. With no clues, police relied on information from neighbors that remember seeing Jason leaving his home near the Benson area in Omaha. But no one reported seeing anything suspicious. According to police, in addition to working and attending community college, Jason was a radio announcer, considered a trusting kid and naive when it came to the streets. Omaha authorities suspect foul play.

A "Shy Guy"

Jason was a shy young man who spent his time with family. He typically did not spend a lot of time socially interacting with friends. His family says he was not a drinker or drug user and that he spent most of his time either at home or at work. Before he disappeared, Jason was preparing to start a new job, about which the family says he was excited.

Jason was last seen wearing a blue Cubs hat and a white Cubs or "Sammy Sosa" t-shirt, black pants and black dress shoes.

Since Jason's disappearance, his family has become advocates on behalf of missing persons, founding a non-profit organization, Project Jason, and passing Jason's Law in Nebraska.


If you have any information about Jason, please call the Omaha Police at 402-444-5818, or at 402-444-STOP if you wish to remain anonymous.

There is currently a $5,000 reward offered by the Carole Sund Foundation.

To help the organization founded in Jason's name, click here.

Thank you for caring,
The Family of Jason Jolkowski

11/3/07 Important Information for Families of the Missing


Families of the Missing: Don't forget to take advantage of Project Jason's free Healing Harbor benefit! This is even more important now as we head into the holiday season, traditionally a difficult time of year emotionally for most families of the missing.

Healing Harbor is a free service provided to families of the missing by nonprofit organization Project Jason and Duane Bowers, LPC.

Families of the missing suffer a unique tragedy, one with which many professional counselors do not have the training or experience to be able to properly service their clients. In addition, many families do not have the financial means to seek professional counseling. Duane is one of the nation's most qualified counselors in regards to issues faced by these families, and we are honored to have him with us to answer your questions.

Healing Harbor can provide answers and assistance on a variety of emotional issues that effect family members of missing persons. This assistance may provide the boost needed for that family member to deal with and adapt to the situation without seeking counseling. (Please keep in mind that Healing Harbor should not be viewed as a substitute for individual, private counseling if needed.)

Families of the missing who elect to participate in Healing Harbor are invited to post their question to Duane in our private forum area. These questions may cover any topic of interest in respect to emotional issues that relate to having a missing person in their life.

Some recent topics covered include:

  • Helping a young child to deal with having a missing loved one

  • Understanding fear of change as it relates to having a missing person in your life

  • What it means to be "stuck on the day the person went missing"

  • Understanding feelings of guilt

If you are a family member of a missing person, and would like to take advantage of this service, please register at our forum, located at http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php

After registration, simply follow the instructions in the verification email you will receive, and then let us know that you have registered, so we can grant permissions for you to enter the special forum area. Email us with your username, the name of the missing loved one, and your relationship to them. After verification, we'll open up access to Healing Harbor to you. Once we set it up so that you have access to the Healing Harbor Forum, it will be displayed on the main forum page at http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php.

We hope that you will find healing in our safe harbor.

With Hope for all of our Missing Loved Ones,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,Project Jason

Friday, November 02, 2007

11/2/07 Shelva's Story

Important Update:

Sightings of Missing Shelva Rafte: Please Help!

ATTENTION: Positive sightings of Shelva have occured in PA in truckstops off I-81. This was a result of Shelva's 18 Wheel Angels poster campaign. Several people concur with the initial sighting.

It is important to get the word out to persons in this area and to anyone who knows truck drivers who run this route. Ask them to take the posters with them and distribute.

Shelva Rafte is now on Project Jason's 18 Wheel Angel campaign. A special poster has been made for her and can be downloaded and printed for placement. More information about the program, and the link for the poster can be found here:
http://projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml


In addition to the campaign, Shelva is also featured in a national trucking publication, either Through the Gears or Independent Contractor. These free magazines are distributed in truck stops nationwide and have a circulation of about 150,000 each.

Through the Gears and Independent Contractor are two of Target Media Partner's many publications. In partnership with Project Jason, they feature two missing persons each per month. You can pick up your free copies at a local truck stop, but if it's far from you, you may want to call and ask if they carry that magazine. These are NOT with the regular for purchase magazines.

You can also see the current campaign information on this Target Media Partners site: http://www.thetrucker.com/Features/Missing_Week_1.aspx

We hope this helps in the search for Shelva. Please consider printing and placing a poster in businesses in your community.

Family Website: http://www.findshelva.com/

Updates on Shelva’s Case: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=464.0

Direct link to Shelva's poster: http://projectjason.org/18wheel/18WheelAngel_ShelvaRafte.pdf

In addition to the 18 Wheel Angel poster campaign as noted above, Shelva's daughter shared the story about her mom's disappearance:

Shelva Rafte

By Janelle, Shelva’s Daughter

“That would never happen to us” is a common phrase when people see bad things happening to other people. You feel almost invisible from any harm until something does go wrong. Life was going on as normal for everyone in our family. We had all pulled together to plan a graduation party to remember for me. My mom was in charge of the meatballs and rolls and she was going to arrive early to finish the decorating. The day was perfect. It was Memorial Day weekend, 95 degrees and there was not a cloud in the sky. There were smiles on everyone who attended. Now that day seems to be such a nightmare.


I remember the phone call like it was yesterday. It was around 11:30 PM, May 29th. My aunts were calling me on a conference call to say that no one had been able to reach my mom all day and that they were concerned. It was normal to not reach my mom the second you called her, but for some reason I felt compelled to drive 45 minutes to Pittston. I called 911 on the PA turnpike and told them I needed an officer to meet me on Cleveland Street in Pittston, Pa “just in case”. I arrived just around 12:30 AM to see the cops sitting on the front porch. They had already looked through her apartment and there was no sign of her. Things were left as if she hadn’t been home all day. The only other place she could have possibly been was at her boyfriend’s home on Market Street in Pittston. He hadn’t seen her since 1:00 AM that morning after they had left my graduation party. The rest of the night was a crucial search alone until 4:00 AM. The search was on.


There wasn’t a wink of sleep that night or for many nights after that. We had foot searches, flyers, meetings with the CIU and the State Police and the FBI, dog searches, helicopters, ATV’s, and boats in the river. Nothing was found.


The facts and evidence were slim to none. All we knew was that my mother was last seen leaving my graduation party at around 10:30 PM on May 28th with her boyfriend and she has not been seen since.


The boyfriend states that they had a fight and she left his house to walk home at around 1:00 AM in the morning. The police do not have any evidence to the contrary. Her house was left with the TV on, the doors locked, and her car in the driveway, just as it was left when she came to my party.


It has been over a year since her disappearance and there is still nothing to go on. We have been on the news, put up flyers, increased the reward, and yet nothing has come through.
My mom was last seen wearing powder blue capris with rhinestones on the back and a powder blue t-shirt.


Everyday when I wake up I am thinking about her, and every night I dream of her. And I am not the only one. I have three brothers who are 20, 15, and 11. We need our mom. All we want is closure so we know if she is dead or alive. She is still out there and someone knows something. It’s now about reaching as many people as we can and doing it quickly.


My mother worked at Scott 60 Truck Stop for many years. Scott 60 is located on I-81 in Scott, Pa. She was a waitress there and got to know many of the truck drivers pretty well. In fact, many people have recognized her and have asked me if she used to work there. One strong theory that my family believes is that her disappearance may have occurred very close to the Pilot truck stop in Pittston, Pa. We believe that it is very possible that she may have had someone pick her up that could be driving out of state. I don’t think that this possibility is a long shot. I believe that someday, putting her posters in truck stops may actually lead to finding her.


My family actually owns a small business in delivering stone across the United States. We have already begin putting them up at truck stops with our own drivers, however, we would never be able to reach as many as we would if we had volunteers from the 18 Wheel Angels to help us get the word out. Any help we would receive would be greatly appreciated.

11/2/07 Candles of Hope for LaQuanta

Candles of Hope for LaQuanta

December 7th, 2007 will mark 4 years since the family of then 19 year-old LaQuanta Riley saw or spoke to her.

LaQuanta disappeared from Montgomery, AL, and was last seen by relatives at approximately 11:30pm getting into a green car, either a Taurus or Caprice. She was wearing a yellow and green Ecko shirt, stone-washed blue jeans, and green and yellow Reebok tennis shoes. There are no leads in LaQuanta's case and the family clings to the hope that someday she will be found.

To honor and remember LaQuanta, her family will be hosting a vigil of hope for LaQuanta. The vigil will be held on 5:30pm on December 7th, 2007 at the Hayneville Road Community Center, 3315 Hayneville Road, Montgomery, AL 36108. The public is invited to attend.

At the vigil of hope, LaQuanta's family and friends will place candles, one per week since LaQuanta's disappearance, for a total of 208 candles. Her family is a simple one, and LaQuanta's case never generated much interest with the media or the public, so Project Jason is asking for your help.

To show this grieving, but yet hopeful family that we do care, we are asking for you to help the family reach their goal of acquiring 208 candles for use at the vigil, with at least one from each state in the US.

Would you consider purchasing a candle to send to the family? If everyone helps, it should be easy to reach our goal.

If you'd like to help, here's all you'd need to do:

Purchase a candle which is free-standing and will not allow wax to drip down the sides or out the bottom while lit. Attach a message of hope for LaQuanta's family and note your state on the card. Mail your candle, allowing enough shipping time to reach Montgomery AL by December 3rd, 2007. Indicate on the note if you prefer to remain anonymous.

If you'd like to purchase a themed candle, LaQuanta's favorite color is blue, she likes music, cooking, and has a great love of the Bible and God.

Mail your candle to:

Candles of Hope for LaQuanta
244 Cornell Rd.
Montgomery AL 36109

Updates on the candle campaign will be published here, along with any media stories about LaQuanta: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=450

LaQuanta also has a website, which you can find at http://www.findlaquanta.com/ Please sign the guestbook as another way to show your support, and forward this message so that we can meet our Candles of Hope for LaQuanta campaign goal.

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,Project Jason
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