NE-Jason Jolkowski [Archive] - Page 3 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

Kelly

07-16-2006, 05:42 PM

Project Jason is pleased to announce that we won our first grant! While it's not a huge one, ($500) it's big and important to us. We were also the only organization in the state of Nebraska to win this.

Here is the official press release from Radio Shack:

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Nonprofit Receives Grant from RadioShack Corporation

Project Jason among 80 agencies nationwide chosen to receive grant money from the Company's StreetSentz Community Grants program.

Fort Worth, Texas ‑ May 19, 2006 ‑ As part of its continuing effort to improve the quality of life for America's families, RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) has awarded Project Jason a StreetSentz Community Grants. Project Jason is one of 80 agencies and the only one in Nebraska to receive grant money in the latest quarterly cycle of RadioShack's StreetSentz Community Grants program. The program funds worthy causes that help families protect children from abduction, violence and abuse.

"Through the StreetSentz Community Grants program, RadioShack has the ability to support programs in local communities that aim to help keep children safe," said Laura Moore, senior vice president and chief communications officer for RadioShack Corporation. "We believe our contributions to agencies like Project Jason will positively impact families across the nation, reinforcing RadioShack's commitment to the safety and security of the American family."

StreetSentz Community Grants are accepted year‑round and are evaluated quarterly by local review councils coordinated through RadioShack district offices. Grants are awarded quarterly in February, May, August and November.

To be considered for a StreetSentz Community Grants, an organization must be a tax exempt nonprofit designated as a 501 (c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service, offer solutions to help prevent family violence/abuse and/or child abduction, and directly impact or benefit, through programs or services, a RadioShack community. Grant requests should be limited to $500 or less.

Local Nonprofit Receives Grant from RadioShack Corporation

StreetSentz Community Grants guidelines and the application form are available online at the RadioShack corporate Web site (www.RadioShackCorporation.com), click on Corporate Citizenship, then StreetSentz Community Grant or at www.StreetSentz.com.

A list of this quarter’s winners can be found at http://www.radioshackcorporation.com/cc/SCGgrants2006Q1.html

About RadioShack Corporation

Fort Worth, Texas-based RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) is one of the most trusted consumer electronics specialty retailers in the U.S. and a growing provider of a variety of retail support services. The company operates a vast network of sales channels, including: nearly 7,000 company-owned and dealer stores; over 100 RadioShack locations in Mexico; and more than 600 wireless kiosks. RadioShack's knowledgeable and helpful sales associates deliver convenlent product and service solutions within an estimated five minutes of where 94 percent of all Americans either live or work.

For more information on RadioShack Corporation, visit www.RadioShackCorporation.com. To learn more about RadioShack products and services or to purchase items online, visit www.RadioShack.com."

Gabby

07-21-2006, 09:31 AM

bumping for Jason, and the friends and family who continue to pray and to search but most importantly to HOPE. :blowkiss:

Kelly

07-24-2006, 12:13 PM

The Project Jason Voice for the Missing blog is a year old. We share highlights from the past year and specific stories of things that happened because of the blog in today's edition. We thank our readers for making the blog a success!

The link: http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/07/72406-happy-birthday-voice-for-missing.html

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org
Read our blog about missing persons:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

christine2448

07-25-2006, 05:04 PM

Hiya everyone!

I just wanted you all to know I have spoke with Kelly and she has given me permission to put a page up about Jason on the new Wiki site for the missing http://72.41.66.103/index.php/Main_Page (http://72.41.66.103/index.php/Main_Page). I am currently working on this. I will post a link when it is completed.

Kelly

07-26-2006, 03:25 PM

Christine, you are so awesome...thank you!

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1638&u_sid=2213061

Published Wednesday
July 26, 2006

Relatives of missing urged to submit photos

BY LESLIE REED

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN - Although a photograph probably is the key aid to tracking down many missing people, fewer than one in three listings on Nebraska's missing persons database includes a picture.

"Can you find a missing person from that?" asked Kelly Jolkowski of Omaha, pointing to a missing persons poster that featured only a blue square labeled "photo unavailable."

Jolkowski, who became a missing persons advocate after her son Jason, disappeared five years ago at age 19, today enlisted the aid of Gov. Dave Heineman in urging families of missing Nebraskans to be sure authorities have a photograph of their loved ones - as recent and as good quality as possible.

"Those of us who have experienced this have the face of our loved ones etched on our minds and our hearts," Jolkowski said.

The photos are needed so others can help in the search.

"Any picture is better than no picture, it helps put a face to the name," she said.

Heineman added, "We need more leads, more photographs and more eyes in the field."

Jolkowski was accompanied to a press conference with Heineman by Melissa Harris, mother of Amber Harris, the 12-year-old Omaha girl who was missing for more than five months before her body was found in May. Harris said her daughter's disappearance has compelled her to help other families in similar situations.

As of today, Nebraska listed 379 people on its Missing Persons' Clearinghouse Web site, 139 of them juveniles.

Chris Price, clearinghouse manager, said about 350 names are added to the list each week - and about 350 are removed as people are located.

The clearinghouse, an online searchable database run by the Nebraska State Patrol, was created last year through legislation sponsored by State Sen. Pat Bourne of Omaha at Jolkowski's request.

Kelly

07-26-2006, 09:08 PM

http://www.ketv.com/family/9581169/detail.html

State Asks For Everyone's Help Finding Missing Persons
Many Missing People Lack Photo On State Site

POSTED: 4:47 pm CDT July 26, 2006
UPDATED: 5:06 pm CDT July 26, 2006

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska state officials are asking for help in tracking down missing persons.

Of the 379 listed on the State Patrol Web site, less than half have pictures to identify them. Some have been gone for decades, and others just a few hours.

Chris Rice helps run the online tool. She said the photos are needed to help get the missing persons' families closure, or bring them home.

"We're really relying on a person's name. It doesn't have the same impact, which the picture would have," Rice said.

That's why state leaders and family members of the missing are asking for help.

"Go to the Web site, look at the pictures, the information. It might strike a chord," said Gov. Dave Heineman.

Kelly Jolkowski's son, Jason, has been missing since 1991. She wants anyone who has pictures of those missing to submit them to the clearinghouse.

"One in every six children whose face is featured in various places, like a Web site, are recovered as a direct result of the public's direct exposure to that photograph," Jolkowski said.

Jolkowski told the story of a 30-year-old woman recently reunited with loved ones after being abducted by her grandmother 25 years ago.

"Even with a great passage of time, anything is possible. We can always have that hope until we know the truth," Jolkowski said.

The state patrol said 19 people listed on the site have been found since the beginning of the year.

Kelly

07-27-2006, 02:25 PM

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/07/27/local/doc44c7f9f8bd0bc644720467.txt

Missing person site is missing pictures

BY NANCY HICKS / Lincoln Journal Star

Print from a digital camera: 29 cents. Photos from a wedding: $700. Picture on missing person Web site: Priceless.

More than half of the people listed on Nebraska’s missing person Web site have a blue spot where a picture should be — no image available.

Yet photos are a vital part of finding missing people, said Kelly Jolkowski, who was instrumental in pushing through a state law that set up the Web site.

Nationally, one of every six missing children whose pictures are featured in some way are recovered as a direct result of the exposure of the photograph, said Jolkowski, whose 19-year-old son disappeared in 2001.

Putting a face to the name helps find missing people, she said during a Wednesday news conference at which Gov. Dave Heineman focused on the missing person Web site.

Awareness of the Web site is key, Heineman said.

He asked Nebraskans to take a look at it to help in the search for missing persons and to provide pictures of missing persons. A relative, a neighbor, a former school friend may have a photograph, he said.

Police work and public involvement are important in finding missing people, he said.

Police closed a case this year in which a 34-year-old woman kidnapped when she was 4 in South Sioux City by her grandmother was reunited with her parents, Heineman said. The grandmother was sentenced to three years of probation on a conviction of false imprisonment.

The Web site, launched in December, is the latest tool in finding missing people. It lists about 350 people at any given time. Most are juvenile runaways, but some have been missing for years.

About 2,900 people have been listed as newly missing since the start of this year. Nineteen have been found, and more than 2,500 reports have been canceled, many because runaways were found.

Nebraska is one of few states to have a public searchable data base for missing children and adults, said Jolkowski.

“We are leading the way.”

Many Web sites only post missing persons when they have all the data, which can take 30 to 60 days. Others won’t post a case at all unless a photo is available.

Nebraska posts information as soon as it is available, said Chris Price, State Patrol staff member.

“These efforts can only succeed with public involvement, public interaction and public scrutiny ,” said Heineman. “We need more leads, more names, more photographs and more eyes in the field.”

On the Web

To look at the state’s missing person list go to the Nebraska State Patrol home page at www.nsp.state.ne.us

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org
Read our blog about missing persons:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Kelly

07-28-2006, 03:33 AM

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16975540&BRD=2703&PAG=461&dept_id=555107&rfi=6

Missing IWCC student's case highlighted
PHIL ROONEY, Staff Writer
07/27/2006

The case of missing Iowa Western Community College student Jason Jolkowski was highlighted during a Wednesday news conference in Lincoln, Neb.

Jolkowski disappeared on June 13, 2001. He was last seen walking to Benson High School in Omaha to meet a coworker for a ride to work. Then 19, Jolkowski was a student at IWCC and a disc jockey at 89.7 The River, the college's radio station.

His mother, Kelly Jolkowski, appeared with Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and members of the Nebraska State Patrol to promote that state's Missing Person's Clearinghouse, which was created on May 25, 2005, when the Nebraska Legislature passed Jason's Law.

Heineman praised Kelly Jolkowski and Omaha State Sen. Patrick Bourne for their efforts in passing the bill and said more pictures are needed on the Web site that generally lists around 350 missing people, many of them runaways.

"We need your help to raise the awareness of the Web site and the good it can do," Heineman said.

Jolkowski said her son's case remains active, and the family recently distributed posters at a park near their Omaha home to mark the fifth anniversary of the disappearance. She also stressed the role the public can play and the pain felt by the families who are missing a loved one.

"There's an empty place at the dinner table, one that longs to be filled again," she said. "We need your help."

To access the Nebraska Missing Person's Clearinghouse, go to the Nebraska State Patrol's Web site at nsp.state.ne.us and click the missing person's link or contact the hotline by calling 1 (877) 441-LOST.

The Omaha Police Department has announced that a $5,000 reward will be paid for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any suspects involved in the disappearance of Jason Jolkowski. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (402) 444-STOP (7867) or the Omaha Police Department at (402) 444-5600.

Jason Jolkowski is described as a white male, 6-feet tall and weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Heineman encouraged the public to the Web site and become aware of the numbers of missing people.

"We need more names, more leads, more photographs, more eyes in the field," Heineman said. "There are eyes and ears in the field. The patrol can't do this alone."

Gabby

08-02-2006, 09:31 AM

Bumping back to first page.... Jason we all pray for your return...

Gabby

08-10-2006, 09:22 AM

Woke up this morning with Kelly & Jason on my mind.... Bumping this thread up for those who continue to search and pray for Jason's return home.

Kelly

08-15-2006, 03:26 PM

Hello all,

Melissa Harris (mother of Amber Harris) and I are going to the state capital in Lincoln tommorrow afternoon.

I have arranged a meeting with my state senator, who helped push through Jason's Law, and another senator. My senator is in his last year there, so we will be meeting to discuss possible sponsorship by the other senator for the new bill we will be pushing in 2007.

While Jason's Law focused on awareness and communication, the new law encompasses procedures for LE for both missing persons and the unidentified deceased. (UID's) There are also sections that deal with the capture of DNA from the missing person or his/her family members for the federal database.

This law will be called Amber's Law in memory of Amber Harris, who was missing and was then found brutally murdered here in Omaha. It is important to Amber's family that her death serve some purpose, so we asked the Harrises to help us pass this bill.

This is a part of Project Jason's national Campaign for the Missing in which we are working on passing this legislation in each and every state. We have already achieved bill sponsorship in several states with many more in progress.

You can learn more about the Campaign for the Missing and the proposed law here (http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2005/12/121305-campaign-for-missing-2006.html).

Thank you.

Montanagirl

08-15-2006, 03:33 PM

Kelly and Melissa,
Good luck and God bless you both.:clap:

inquiringmindz

08-18-2006, 02:25 PM

Thinking of Jason today and wishing for answers for his family.

christine2448

08-18-2006, 02:48 PM

Thinking of Jason today and wishing for answers for his family.Me too. I put Jason's mailing labels on all the truck drivers pay checks (on the outside envelope so wherever the envelopes go, the mail carriers, mail workers and truck drivers traveling around the US will see his picture) I sent out for the last 3 weeks. I just finished them today and was thinking of him.

Straitfan

08-19-2006, 12:38 AM

Dear Kelly,

I have followed your site on and off over the years. You are one truly amazing person and I commend your strength in all you do! Jason is fortunate to have such a wonderful Mom! Also your "adopt a missing person" project is a wonderful idea.

I don't know if this has been posted elsewhere as I recently started visiting WS again and there is a ton of info to read through so if it has I don't mean to repeat it but people can sign up through their cell phones to receive Amber Alerts via text.

Kelly

08-19-2006, 11:48 AM

Hello everyone,

Thanks for your kindness and prayers. Thank you to Christina for your proactiveness. The labels are a great idea!

We did get tentative sponsorship for Amber's Law. Now we begin the negotiation process with the senator to what stays in the bill. (Hopefully everything.)

I'll keep you posted.

Kelly

Kelly

08-19-2006, 04:19 PM

http://www.ketv.com/news/9703002/detail.html

Mother Of Missing Man Proposes New Alert System

Project Jason Alert Would Be Less Restrictive Than Amber Alert

POSTED: 4:46 pm CDT August 18, 2006
UPDATED: 4:54 pm CDT August 18, 2006

OMAHA, Neb. -- The mother of a missing man met with local law enforcement officials on Friday to press for the creation of an alert system less restrictive than the Amber Alert.

Kelly Jolkowski's son, Jason, disappeared five years ago. She formed a nonprofit foundation in his name called "Project Jason."

Jolkowski said an Amber Alert isn't activated for most missing children because law enforcement can only activate one when investigators know a child is kidnapped or in immediate danger.

"I wanted to come up with something less strict than an Amber Alert to create awareness for that missing person," Jolkowski said.

Deputies, police chiefs and officers from 10 law enforcement agencies around Omaha agreed to meet with Jolkowski to brainstorm about a Project Jason Alert.

Papillion Police Chief Leonard Houloose said agencies would need to get on the same page about how to define a missing person.

"The devil is in the details," Houloose said.

The chief said his colleagues agreed during Friday's meeting that asking TV stations to turn on a bottom-of-screen ticker would help their searches.

"It could put (out) information on a regular basis," he said.

The officials may not yet be convinced by the idea for a Project Jason Alert, but Jolkowski said their presence spoke volumes.

"I see they care and are concerned," she said.

The chief deputy in Sarpy County told Jolkowski he would meet with law enforcement agencies across the county next Thursday to see what they can do better to find missing children.

Kelly

08-21-2006, 11:39 PM

http://www.action3news.com/NewsArticle/tabid/898/xmid/3958/Default.aspx

MOM WANTS BETTER AMBER ALERT
Omaha, NE- One Omaha mother may have a solution to help find missing persons who do not qualify for the Amber alert. Kelly Jolkowski has come up with Project Jason Alert named after her son who has been missing for more than 5 years. The rules for the alert will be flexible and allow more missing persons to be broadcast on television with an alert ticker at the bottom of the screen. Jolkowski has met with law enforcement agencies throughout the metro to come up with a list of criteria for the Project Jason Alert. More meetings are planned to determine if and when the alert will be put into action.

Posted August 21, 2006

inquiringmindz

09-01-2006, 08:57 PM

Thinking of the family and wishing for news about Jason.

inquiringmindz

09-16-2006, 01:11 PM

Bumping for Jason and all who love him.

Kelly

09-24-2006, 04:54 PM

Hello everyone,

Previously, I sent out an invitation via email for families of the missing we have contact with about a regular online chat we sponsor. We want to make this available for other families we haven't had contact with as well. You you may be interested in a special guest who will be in our chat. The letter below was sent to our regular chatters recently.

If you are interested in coming to this online chat, please let us know, and we will include you in the email list that will contain the details of the chat and where to go on the Internet. (For family members of missing persons only)

We are working on other special guests for future chats, so it would certainly be beneficial for you to be on the mailing list so you are aware of what we're offering.

Let me know if you would like to be on the email list for chat events by writing to kelly.jolkowski@projectjason.org. Please use Family Member Chat in the subject line of your email.

My recent letter:

I have excellent news for you!

We have arranged for a special guest for the next Project Jason Family Member Chat. His name is Duane Bowers, and he is a nationally known and respected grief and trauma counselor. He also specializes in the type of loss faced by families of the missing, and is one of only two known counselors who have in depth case knowledge of our special needs. He is in fact, finishing the very first book on this specific topic. We are very privleged to have him come and join us, because, as you might imagine, he has a very full schedule.

The chat date will change due to his other committments. Instead of being on Tuesday, September 26, (Tuesday is our regular night) the chat will be held on Wednesday, September 27th, at 7:30pm Central Time. Most likely, the chat will be very full, as I will be re-inviting the other families of the missing we serve. I suspect that most will want to join us. Because of this, the chat will be very structured. I will send out details as we get closer to the date.

In the meantime, mark your calendars and be thinking of questions you would like to ask him about dealing with the emotional aspect of having a missing person in your life.

Here is his bio:

Duane T. Bowers, LPC is a grief therapist and educator in private practice, and author of Guiding Your Family Through Loss and Grief. As a therapist Duane’s specialty is working with survivors of traumatic death and suicide, which includes assisting families who must identify loved ones at the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, through the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing. He also provides support to families of abducted, missing, exploited and murdered children through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

In addition, Duane serves as a training consultant to NCMEC, and is deployed by them to provide crisis intervention at Amber Alert sites with Team Adam. He also serves as a consultant and trainer for Team HOPE, a telephone support line for parents of missing children, and has provided services to AMECO (Association of Missing and Exploited Children Organizations).

As an educator, Duane teaches seminars nationally, internationally and regionally on dying, death and grief, as well as trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and traumatic loss. He has served as an Adjunct Professor of Counseling at Trinity College in Washington DC, and has been an invited guest lecturer for graduate and undergraduate classes at the University of Maryland, Howard University, University of the District of Columbia, Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University and Gallaudet University.

Duane is responsible for the clinical supervision and training of staff and volunteers for a variety of organizations that deal with trauma and loss, and serves as an on-call hospice bereavement counselor. He served as the Director of Training and Education at the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing in Washington DC, and was the Senior Director of Emergency and International Services for the National Capital Chapter of the American Red Cross. Duane spent three months during the summer of 1999 in Macedonia/ Kosovo/Albania supervising family reunification work in camps with war refugees.

In September 2001, Duane responded to the Pentagon immediately following the terrorist attack on September 11th, providing support to rescue and recovery workers. He continues to volunteer with the Red Cross as a Disaster Mental Health Technician, and with the Capital Area Crisis Response Team as a therapist, educator, and as a member of the Board of Directors.

Many blessings,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Gabby

09-25-2006, 09:39 PM

Bumping for Jason and those of us who continue to pray for his safe return

annemc2

09-25-2006, 11:01 PM

Oh! I thought I saw this thread with Jason's name in the "located" fourm and my heart leapt into my throat! Thanks for bumping, Gabby, and here's to seeing Jason's name in the located fourm (for real) very soon.

Gabby

09-26-2006, 07:00 AM

Kelly

09-30-2006, 10:56 AM

Thanks to my steadfast prayer warriors!

The transcript from the Project Jason Family Member Chat with guest Duane Bowers has been posted.

Chat Transcript (http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/09/92706-transcript-of-project-jason.html)

inquiringmindz

09-30-2006, 03:42 PM

Jason is always in our prayers! :blowkiss:

Kelly

10-07-2006, 02:17 PM

KPTM - Video - KPTM VIDEO (http://www.kptm.com/video/2098442.html?id=1041)

Working Together To Find The Missing
10/04/06

Jason Jolkowski, Jessica O'Grady. They are all familiar names on Omaha headlines. They are also only two of hundreds of missing Nebraskans. State leaders say that we know nothing about most of them.

That is why Project Jason is teaming up with the National Center for Missing Adults and others to help Nebraska police find them.

Things are just wrapping up here for the first day of a training seminar. Families with missing loved ones had a chance to lean on each other for support.

On Wednesday, police officers were trained to help them better handle these kinds of cases. Training organizers hope will help them find missing people.

Kelly

10-07-2006, 02:18 PM

WOWT | Missing Persons Training (http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/4308227.html)

Missing Persons Training

Investigators educated about missing adults

Across the country, more than 50 thousand adults are reported missing. With so many cases to keep track of, some officers undergo special training to help give them direction.

While some missing person cases involve suspicion of foul play, many others are simply cases of leaving voluntarily. Police often have trouble deciding which category a person falls into and which cases will benefit most from further investigation.

Carolyn Pospisil's 15-year-old daughter disappeared five years ago. She says, "The original question (police) asked of us was, 'what do you want us to do?"

Training programs not only help police answer that question, but they also provide comfort for families of the missing, reassuring them that investigators have the tools to find their loved ones.

"When we talked to other families and other people that have been in the same situation, they had the same reaction. 'What do you want us to do?' or 'We don't know what to do.' It was very rare that law enforcement has that training to fall back on," Pospisil said.

Kelly Jolkowski's son Jason disappeared when he was 19. She says she understands the difficulty involved in missing adult cases compared to missing children.

"There you have to deal with the legality of an adult can disappear if they wish, so you have more at stake than a case with a missing child," Jolkowski said.

In fact, training instructor Scott Blonien says the older a missing person is, the more likely it is for police to regard that person as a runaway.

"A lot of agencies won't even take a report of a missing adult case until enough time has passed," Blonien said.

But as the time passes, especially in cases where foul play is suspected, the challenge for investigators increases.

"If you wait 24, 48, 72 hours that trail is so cold it's very, very difficult to pick up again," Blonien said.

One of the main goals of police missing persons training is to make sure officers understand how important it is to take every case seriously.

Blonien says, "The single most important benefit we've seen is just to sensitize law enforcement about the importance of conducting meaningful investigations of missing adults."

Instructors hope that benefit could lead to saved lives and closure for families.

Training for Omaha Police started today and ends Friday. The next session will be held in Florida in January.

Kelly

10-07-2006, 02:23 PM

Jason's profile will be shown on Nancy Grace: Closing Arguments, on Tuesday, October 17th. Closing Arguements airs from 3-5pm EST.

Project Jason celebrated it's 3 year anniversary on Friday, October 6th, 2006. Kelly Jolkowski and Rita Baughman of Project Jason spent the day wrapping up the 2.5 day Investigating Missing Adults training conference held in Omaha, which is taught by Fox Valley Technical College. (See media reports above for more information. )

Kelly

10-13-2006, 11:18 PM

Missing 5 years and 4 months too long today............

Kelly

10-14-2006, 01:52 PM

411GINA.org…Uncovering Missing Pieces To Find The Missing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GINA for MIssing Persons Launches
THE SQUEAKY WHEEL World-Wide Tour

Oct 17-Nov, 2006

London-Berlin-Chicago-Sydney-Columbus-NYC-Orlando-KC-Phoenix-Philadelphia -Boston-LA-DC-San Francisco-Detroit-Little Rock-Indiana-Belfast-Sweden-Vegas-Idaho-Iowa-Canada-Boston-Baltimore-Minnesota- Wisconsin-Missouri-Vegas-New Hampshire-North & South Carolina-South Dakota-Nebraska-Nashville-Seattle-Texas-West Virginia-Scotland and your city…

Hundreds of Artists Banding Together in Events spanning the U.S. and 8 Countries to Reach over 150 missing people and Bring ONE Home….

Los Angeles, CA (Oct 8, 2006)---“GINA for Missing Persons”, the internationally acclaimed concert series to raise awareness for those who go missing every year, announces The Squeaky Wheel Tour, Oct 17-Nov 4, 2006. This worldwide tour will feature several hundred artists performing in 150 events throughout the 50 states and eight countries. The focus of the events is to gain attention for over 150 missing people in the effort to bring at least ONE home.

The international “Squeaky Wheel Tour” honors Gina Bos, who disappeared from Lincoln, NE 6 years ago Oct 17, 2000 with her birthday being the last official day of the tour, Nov 4. The 19-day tour is the creation of her sister, Jannel Rap who developed the “GINA Concert Series” in 2001, bringing together recording artists from all over the U.S. to obtain attention for ALL people who are missing. Every missing child, every missing adult is an important missing person. When loved ones disappear a large part of family members lives have been carved out, snatched away, and their only focus is to have their missing loves one returned. It is a devastating experiencing no family should have to go through.

Each missing person’ story is unique, important and as valuable as the next, said Rap. “If someone took your child or your sister or brother, what would you do? Would you pull down the moon? Would you look under every rock? Would you scream as loud as you could?”

Would you become the Squeaky Wheel? added Rap.

The Squeaky Wheel Tour will have its kick-off event in Lincoln, NE on Oct 16th, 2006 and officially conclude with an event in Little Rock, Arkansas on Nov. 4.

In addition, pre-and post- “Squeaky” events are currently taking place which began September 6 with a Webcast concert In Hollywood, CA. A daily updated list of the musical artists, locations, dates and most importantly the missing to be profiled are posted at www.411Gina.org.

Missing persons featured at the kick-off event include: Gina Bos, Erin Pospisil, Jason Jolkowski, Tammy and Kylee Walnofer, Melvin Uphoff, Jackie Rains-Kracman, Melissa Schmidt, Bernadette Caruso, and Debra Wilhite.

Jason Jolkowski will also be featured at the tour's closing on November 4th in Little Rock Arkansas.

To watch the live webcast of the tour’s kick-off on Monday, October 16th, from 8pm-1am CST, please click on http://www.411gina.org/webcast.htm

About GINA for Missing Persons

ABOUT GINA: Singer/songwriter, Jannel Rap’s sister disappeared on Oct 17, 2000. Gina’s story had no scandal, no suspects and lacked the hook and intrigue to get the attention of the national public. Gina had simply vanished after performing at a pub in Lincoln, NE. Six months of slamming doors inspired Jannel into action…and the concept of using entertainment get attention for the missing was born.

In 2001, Jannel organized a concert series in honor of her sister, called GINA Concerts. This series brings together recording artists from all over the country in an effort to raise awareness of all the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children who go missing every year. In addition, through GINA (www.411Gina.org) Jannel has produced a TV series called “America Lost and FOUND”, and now hosts a monthly international webcast featuring missing persons from around the globe the 3rd Sat. of every month called “The GINA Sessions.”

###

FOR MORE INFO:

Jannel
Rap
GINA for Missing Persons
877-411-GINA
714-779-2754
Jannel@411GINA.org

Straitfan

10-22-2006, 01:41 AM

Bumping up for Jason... I pray God provides an answer soon, you are remarkable in all you do to help others! May God continue with you on this journey and provide comfort for you.

Take care:angel:

Kelly

10-30-2006, 09:36 PM

(I have permission from the author and her editor to reprint the entire article.)

http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2006/10/30/news/news08.txt

Monday, October 30, 2006 8:53 AM CST
‘18 Wheel Angels’ Helps Spread Word On Missing

By Wanda Freeman

TIMES RECORD

Like thousands of others, Laura Allen Hood and William Felter watch the road, the news and the phone for their missing loved ones — and they follow every lead that comes their way.

Felter, of Dallas, hopes a phone call he recently received from Roland will lead to his mother, Faith Van Nortrick, last confirmed to be in Sallisaw two years ago.

Hood, a Fort Smith resident, hopes a program called 18 Wheel Angels will help lead to her brother, Anthony “Tony” Allen, who disappeared 28 years ago.

Sponsored by Project Jason — a nonprofit organization founded by Kelly Jolkowski of Omaha, Neb., whose elder son disappeared at age 19 in June 2001 — 18 Wheel Angels is a volunteer program in which truck drivers and other highway travelers print off posters of a featured person and distribute the posters along their routes.

“Kelly has a missing son, Jason, and I have a missing brother, Tony. ... There’s a whole Internet community of the families of the missing,” Hood said. Hood’s brother disappeared at age 16 after leaving his mother’s Fort Smith home in October 1978. He would be 44 now.

The 18 Wheel Angels program is one of several Project Jason initiatives that connect with truck drivers and the trucking industry, Jolkowski said.

“I was looking for a program that was not expensive to run, and I would hear from truck drivers who knew about Project Jason and would call saying, ‘I put out posters of your son on my route,’” she said. Those contacts inspired her to create 18 Wheel Angels. Jolkowski said she has heard of posters showing up as far away as Alaska.

Two 18 Wheel campaigns run each month, from the first through the 15th and from the 16th through the 31st. During a given campaign, a poster containing one or more likenesses of the featured person and text providing contact information is posted on the Project Jason Web site, where volunteers may download five or more copies for distribution.

Each 18 Wheel poster is also published in Through the Gears, a trucking trade magazine published out of Alabama.

A table of statistics keeps track of posters downloaded for each person featured. A recent update of the Web page showed 337 posters downloaded for Jason Jolkowski, who was featured during Campaign 18.

Anthony Allen is featured in Campaign 56, running through the end of October. Hood said an age-progression picture depicting her brother in his mid-40s is paired with a school picture taken when he was 14. While that picture provided good information about bone structure and other characteristics used to develop the age-progression picture, she said a later photo showing Allen at 16, with longer hair and facial hair, is more accurate.

Kelly Jolkowski said another trucking-industry sponsor donates space on his Web site for the Project Jason Forum, where volunteers around the country post news about missing people.

“It’s like a case history,” Jolkowski said. “And it does become a record of the case, as well.”

A forum posting about Anthony Allen, originated in March 2005, has received several updates as news articles appear, and contains that more-accurate picture Hood described.

The forum also shows a copy of an Oct. 22 article in the Sequoyah County Times about Felter’s mother, who disappeared from her Hitchcock, Texas, home in August 2004 and was arrested several days later in Sallisaw. The article shows a color picture of Van Nortrick, whose 44th birthday passed Oct. 19 without word from her.

The forum can be accessed from the ProjectJason.org Web site or directly at www.truckingboards.com/trucking/upload/project-jason/

Kelly

11-02-2006, 05:24 AM

Press Release: The Two Million Dollar Story

Omaha, NE—November 2, 2006) The simple act of sending an email may have a far reaching impact upon 20 families of missing persons across the United States. Last month, Pennsylvania businessman and millionaire Joe Mammana received an email about a worldwide concert tour that had the goal of generating awareness for missing persons. The Squeaky Wheel Tour, the brainchild of singer/songwriter Jannel Rap, sister of missing Gina Bos of Lincoln, NE, captured Mammana’s attention.

Mammana then conversed with the email’s sender, Patti Bishop, stepmother of missing Karen Jo Smith of Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pennsylvania philanthropist decided to grease the squeaky wheel in a huge way by offering rewards of $100,000 each for 20 missing person’s cases for a period of 20 days from November 5th through November 24th, 2006. The total possible total reward payout is two million dollars.

The reward fund will be paid to any person offering information leading to the recovery of the missing person and/or information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the missing person’s disappearance.

With an average of 105,000 open missing person’s cases in the US at any given time, the odds of being selected as one of the 20 cases were astronomical, but one Omaha family beat those odds, and has been selected to have their missing son’s case included in this campaign, The Two Million Dollar Story.

Jason Jolkowski, then age 19, disappeared on June 13, 2001, from the driveway of his family’s home in Omaha, NE. Despite his family’s and the Omaha Police Department’s efforts to find him, there are no leads in the case. The Jolkowski family hopes that the $100,000 reward from Mr. Mammana will bring in fresh leads and resolve this painful mystery.

In the wake of Jason’s disappearance, the Jolkowskis established a nonprofit organization which assists families of the missing nationwide, Project Jason. They also passed Jason’s Law in Nebraska, establishing a full service missing person’s clearinghouse with a searchable public database of missing adults and children.

Through the organization, they’ve worked tirelessly to bring awareness for hundreds of missing persons through their innovative awareness programs. They also have spearheaded a grassroots movement to pass legislation in all 50 states that will solidify procedures in handling missing person’s cases.

While working in their son’s name for all missing persons, this family now has been given renewed hope to get the answers that have eluded them for more than 5 years. Anyone having information about the disappearance of Jason Jolkowski should call the Omaha Police Department at 402-444-5818.

To contact Kelly Jolkowski, mother of Jason Jolkowski, please call 402-932-0095 or email Kelly.jolkowski(at sign)projectjason.org

Information about the Squeaky Wheel Tour and the other 19 missing persons’ cases featured on the Two Million Dollar Story can be found at
http://www.411gina.org/twomillionreward.htm

####

Tranaice

11-02-2006, 09:52 AM

Lisahas2cats

11-02-2006, 10:32 AM

Tranaice pretty much said what was in my head. I'm keeping you and Jason in my thoughts.

Also, blessings to the Mammana for doing this.

Peabody

11-02-2006, 10:56 AM

Kelly, that is wonderful news that Jason has been selected as one of the 20. I pray that this brings in some new leads so that you and your family will finally have some answers. God bless you and all of the families with missing loved ones.
Dear Kelly,

I agree with Tranaice, but sadly soon after reading your “great” news I heard some “disturbing” news on tv.

I don’t want to rain on your parade, but these news links re Joe Mammana may dampen your spirits. I am sure there are two sides to every story, however Crime Stoppers is a very reputable organization in Central Ohio. Although Mr. Mammana says he only pays after conviction, it disturbs me to have Crime Stoppers saying he agreed to an exception in the Julie Popovich case and now will not pay.

There are also news stories about his recent commitment that includes Jason along with 7 internet links (does not include your link). I pray that he is the “real deal”. (For these links do a Google Search with the name Joe Mammana.)

November 2, 2006 newlinks:

Crime Stoppers To Philanthropist: 'Pay Up'

Organization Says Philadelphia Man Owes Them Money

http://www.nbc4i.com/news/10218768/detail.html (http://www.nbc4i.com/news/10218768/detail.html)

Crime Stoppers Threatens To Sue Over Unpaid Reward

<snip>

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers said Philadelphia philanthropist Joe Mammana never came through with $31,000 in reward money he promised for tips in the killing of Ohio State University student Julie Popovich

<snip>

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/10218510/detail.html (http://www.newsnet5.com/news/10218510/detail.html)

Crime Stoppers Orders Philanthropist To Pay Promised Reward Money

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Central Ohio Crime Stoppers ordered a philanthropist who had offered reward money in local crimes to pay up now that the cases have been solved.

Philadelphia philanthropist Joe Mammana made a name for himself in Columbus after agreeing to pay reward money for information in solving several high-profile crimes, including the death of Julie Popovich, NBC 4 reported.

http://www.nbc4i.com/news/10213953/detail.html (http://www.nbc4i.com/news/10213953/detail.html)

Crime Stoppers seeks reward cash

Philly philanthropist told to pay tipsters

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=223603 (http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=223603)

Kelly

11-02-2006, 12:42 PM

Thanks all.

That news is indeed disturbing. I hope it's just a misunderstanding and that there will be none of this in our campaign. That would be hurtful indeed. I will also email that last link to some of the main people involved and see what they know about it.

Kelly

11-02-2006, 08:57 PM

Permission granted by KHAS-TV to post.

My note: This TV station covers the area of the Jolkowski family's hometown. Jason's grandmothers were interviewed for the story.

http://khastv.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=7195

$100,000 award offered in missing person's case

By Robert Price

A Pennsylvania millionaire breathes new life into a Nebraska missing person's case. More than 5 years after 19 year old Jason Jolkowski vanished from the driveway of his Omaha home, a businessman hopes a new $100,000 reward will help.
The news took both of Jason’s grandmothers by complete surprise.

That is because at any given time, there are roughly 105,000 open missing person's cases.

November 5th through the 24th, philanthropist Joe Mammana will be offering rewards of $100,000 each for 20 of those cases.
One, is that of Jason Jolkowski.

It has been over five years since Jason Jolkowski's disappearance and still no leads in the case.

“Not one clue at all, it is mindboggling,” said Jason’s grandmother Betty Jolkowski.

Five years of being in the dark.

But now a $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to a recovery or a conviction in Jason's case.

Jason's grandmothers Betty Jolkowski and Donna Murphy feel there may be new light shed.

“With this amount of money, possibly somebody is tired of living with the knowledge of what happened and will be willing to come forward,” said Donna.

They say the family feels extremely lucky and blessed.

“Very happy - a great opportunity for our family,” Betty said.

“I could not believe that out of the thousands and thousands of missing persons, that Jason was picked for this,” said Donna.

The family feels Jason's case was selected because of his mom's subsequent awareness work with missing persons through Project Jason.

“Help them, console them, tell them what they need to do,” said Donna.

Whatever the reason, they say the just want closure.

“Hopefully one way or the other way we can find out about Jason,” Betty said.

And once again, the $100,000 reward is being offered November 5th through the 24th.

If anyone has any info about Jason, they should contact Omaha police at 402-444-5818. For more information on the case visit www.projectjason.org.

Mabel

11-02-2006, 09:59 PM

That's fantastic news, Kelly. I hope the offer of a reward brings new information. What are you doing to get the word out, and how can we help?

Kelly

11-03-2006, 12:20 AM

Thank you. We're working on local media attention, as others have worked on national. We'll have a special poster uploaded during that timeframe, too.

Spread the word in anyway that you can. Place posters and pray.

Kelly

11-11-2006, 01:00 AM

Published with permission.

http://www.thereader.com/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1163094982&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6&

Missing Inaction

The families of two missing Nebraskans have gained renewed hope for finding their loved ones, thanks to a Pennsylvania philanthropist.

Jason Jolkowski of Omaha and Gina Bos of Lincoln are among a score of missing persons whose cases could get a boost from businessman Joe Mammana. The millionaire launched a campaign offering rewards of $100,000 each for 20 missing person’s cases, after hearing about a worldwide concert tour created by Bos’s sister, Jannel Rap.

The reward fund will be available Nov. 5-24, and will be paid to anyone with information that either leads to the missing person’s recovery or to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator responsible for the disappearance.

Mammana made news when he offered rewards in the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway in Aruba. And an Ohio anti-crime group has threatened to file suit after Mammana refused to pay $31,000 dollars for information that led to a suspect’s arrest in the slaying of an Ohio State University student. Mammana said he would only pay for information that leads to a conviction, and that case hasn’t been decided.

Bos, a singer/songwriter and mother of three, vanished Oct. 17, 2000, after performing at Duggan’s Pub in Lincoln. Rap lined up more than 180 bands to play on the Squeaky Wheel Tour across the United States and in nine countries this past fall to generate awareness for missing persons.

The announcement came as a relief to the family of Jason Jolkowski, a Benson High graduate who was 19 when he disappeared June 13, 2001 from the driveway of his family’s home in Omaha.

His mother, Kelly Jolkowski, says that with an average of 105,000 open missing person’s cases in America at any given time, the odds of being selected as one of the 20 cases were astronomical. While no one has led authorities closer to solving her son’s disappearance, “we hope that money makes them talk,” she said.

After Jason went missing, his family set up Project Jason, a nonprofit organization that assists families of the missing nationwide. They also passed Jason’s Law in Nebraska, establishing a searchable public database of missing adults and children.

“We help other families find their missing loved ones, but we don’t have ours back,” Kelly Jolkowski said. With this month’s added reward, “they want to give us that opportunity,” she said.

Coping with the loss of a loved one is difficult, but “the ambiguous loss [that occurs] when you don’t know what you’re grieving for” can be unbearable, Jolkowski said.

“It doesn’t get easier,” she said. “It’s Thanksgiving in a couple weeks. There’s still an empty place at the table. And there’s still a hole in our hearts.” ,

Anyone with information about Jason Jolkowski should call 444.5818. Anyone with information about Gina Bos should call 441.7204. Information about their cases can be found at projectjason.org and at 411gina.org.

09 Nov 2006

Kelly

11-11-2006, 10:42 AM

Geraldo Rivera is featuring the 2 Million Dollar Story on his show, Geraldo at Large. you can watch a video about Beatrice's recovery in the archive. Click on the 11/9 link. The other 19 missing persons are shown briefly. Here's the link:

Geraldo At Large - Video Archive (http://geraldoatlarge.com/video-archive.php?%20PHPSESSID=32e49d155476722023c5d4823 7a7707a#theTop)

2sisters

11-11-2006, 12:05 PM

I hope a reward can bring you the answers you need. I hope you and your family are doing OK, Kelly. My thoughts are with you and your family, especially with the holidays coming up.

Kelly

11-15-2006, 12:36 AM

Thanks sisters. We're doing good right now.

Published with permission:

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/4645531.html

Human Remains Found
Authorities: Skeleton belonged to a woman
Human Remains Found near Glenwood

Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation says human skeletal remains were found in rural Mills County at about 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Workers on a Mills County farm just northwest of Glenwood off of Interstate 29 discovered the body and called authorities.

Investigators arrived and found the body in very bad condition. They say the remains consisted mostly of a skeleton.

DCI officials did say that it was a woman's skeleton, but they have not released the approximate age of the person.

"There's clothes, and things like that, that we're looking at right now and seeing what we might be able to match up and what we can use to identify her," said DCI Special Agent David Dales.

Kelly Jolkowski knows the routine all to well when human remains are found. She is still waiting for answers concerning the disappearance of her son Jason, who has been missing for more than five years.

"You have dual emotions because your heart breaks for what is going on," Jolkowski said. "You want to know what happened to the person. On the other hand, someone has their answer."

Last year, Nebraska lawmakers passed "Jason's Law" to establish a missing persons clearing house through the state patrol. In one week alone, almost 40 people are reported missing.

Jolkowski is working to pass a similar law on the national level. (My note: This is a grassroots effort to pass a law in each state, not on the national level.)

Meanwhile, Douglas County authorities tell Channel 6 there is one high-profile case that Tuesday's remains are not likely to solve. Chief Sheriff's Deputy Marty Bilek says the department does not believe the skeleton in Mills County belonged to Jessica O'Grady. The 19-year-old went missing in May and is presumed dead. Her boyfriend, Chris Edwards, is set to stand trial for her murder next year.

Gabby

11-19-2006, 10:30 PM

Bumping up for Jason, and all who love him..those who continue to search and to hope... May Jason be home soon...

Kelly

12-11-2006, 08:22 PM

The family of Jason Jolkowski is pleased to announce that the Carole Sund Foundation has extended the $5000 reward for information that leads to Jason's recovery. The reward will now be in place until June 14, 2007.

For more information about the Carole Sund Foundation, please see http://www.carolesundfoundation.com/

A printable poster of Jason can be found at http://www.projectjason.org/downloads/JasonJolkowski0613.pdf

Thank you.
Kelly

Kelly

12-13-2006, 06:21 PM

Today marks 5 1/2 years since Jason disappeared. We're still hoping and praying for his safe return to us.

Thank you for your continued support of our family and for not forgetting Jason.

Montel William Show-11/29/04 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVmQHYylycs)

Video made by Jim Viola (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=660s90lORlg)

annemc2

12-14-2006, 02:06 AM

Thinking of Jason and his family, today and every day...

kholloway

12-14-2006, 03:00 PM

Just to let you know that you and Jason are never far from my mind and that today especially, I will carry you and Jason very close to my heart and make special mention of Jason at Jennifer and Adrianna's Christmas vigil tonight.

christine2448

12-19-2006, 12:23 AM

Just thinkin' of you, Kelly, and Jason, and all of your family. I hope you all take some time for yourselves over the coming holidays.

Kelly

12-30-2006, 11:39 AM

Jason, as you can see, you're never forgotten.

Love,
Mom

2sisters

12-30-2006, 11:48 AM

Here's hoping for answers for Kelly in the new year. Somebody knows something, please bring Jason home to his family.

englishleigh

12-30-2006, 12:26 PM

Kelly, I'm always thinking of Jason and praying for your family. God bless you for channeling your pain into so much good work for other missing people. May 2007 bring you answers about your son, and prayerfully, a safe homecoming to you. Hugs!!

Gabby

01-01-2007, 10:19 AM

Happy 2007 Kelly , Jason & Family

May this be the year that Jason comes home again.

Enrique Sparta

01-07-2007, 06:14 AM

new person here,

Jolkowski family I'm so sorry this has happened. My heart bleeds for you. I hope Jason is found safe asap. It's very noble of you to help so many others whose loved ones have also disappeared.

This is truly the most bizzare missing person's case I've ever heard of! Lemme get some things straight. So Jason's brother saw Jason bringing the trashcans in, just glanced outside and noticed him and then went back to whatever he was doing. And some neighbors noticed him putting the trashcans away too, yes? But then they went inside or turned away, whatever. So conceivably somebody could've driven up to your home and snatched Jason and sped off? He may not even have walked anywhere. Is the route Jason would've took to the high school residential or business? Quiet or busy? Safe area? Did Jason have any mental problems? mentally disabled at all? Is it possible he may have hitchhiked? (doubt it) I heard on the Montel segment that he liked to take walks. Long walks? Did he ever stay out longer than you expected? Have there been any other missing persons cases in your area....male, late teens, dark hair, just walking somewhere? Were there ever any real leads? I'm sure you had some tips come in but was there ever any that led somewhere or did it turn out somebody was just taking a shot in the dark and it had nothing to do with Jason? Did the police use bloodhounds to trace his scent?

This is ridiculous. What on Earth could've happened to this boy!? :(
I just can't believe he was walking to his school a few blocks away on a nice summer day and he vanishes. Tragic.

what does everybody think happened?

Kelly

01-08-2007, 03:28 PM

Hello,

Thanks for caring and for your questions. I would guess that most of the answers are elsewhere in this thread, but I will answer.

We have no idea what happened. We live in an older, fairly quiet residential area, but there are bad areas within 8 blocks away. Yes, someone could have taken him from near the driveway, but no one heard anything, and there were also two ladies out walking who did not hear or see anything.

He never did worry us by staying out too late and, as far, as I know, he did not walk further away than places in the neighborhood. He just did not mind walking. He has learning disabilities which could make him gullible. There are no other cases we know of in this area that are similar. There have been no viable leads, ever. No search dogs were used. We did not know of such things at that time, and it rained heavily two days after he disappeared.

Everything and everyone associated with him and the case has been thoroughly checked out and some persons even questioned as many as 3 times.

Enrique Sparta

01-08-2007, 05:09 PM

Okay, thank you for taking the time to respond. I was a little confused because some of the reports said he was waiting for his carpool in front of the house.

I read over some of the previous pages and you should absolutely be allowed to see the case files. You're his mother and the authorities should be letting you in on everything and making it clear to YOU that they are checking any leads, you shouldn't have to wonder if they're doing their job and especially since it was a while ago...they should still take this seriously. This is the last thing you need, wondering if the cops are helping. You mentioned you wouldn't be able to afford a PI but then eventually you did end up hiring one? (you wrote you wouldn't wanna be on the other end of his interrogations) I hope you ended up getting one. It's ridiculous the cops aren't even helping you search sex offenders in your area from that time. They said it's wasn't a sex offender beause it's not their "M.O."? Nonsense, there is no evidence in this case so there can be no M.O. to go on. All we know is that your boy has disappeared without a trace. Of course sex offenders DO kidnap people. Obviously some of the posts I've been reading over were written a while ago, I certainly hope you've had some success in hiring a PI and getting the police to not keep you out.

This always sticks with me because I happened to be in Omaha during that time and was leaving that very morning June 13th, 2001 (I was in town for the College World Series)

Thank you for everything you've done, you're an incredibly strong person. I don't think I'd be able to function if I had to go through what you've endured. You're very selfless. Best wishes.

Kelly

01-09-2007, 11:18 PM

The "carpool" statement was something media messed up on in the beginning and never really corrected. I would not refer to getting a one-time ride to work as a "carpool".

LE doesn't have to share their information. If parents want the case files opened to them, that would involve a lengthy and costly court proceeding which is generally not successful and that we could never afford. Even if a person could afford to do this, and did succeed, it would be difficult for a family to use the information without emotion. In certain situations, this could cause more problems than it might solve, and even cause harm if things get carried away and the family is dealing with less than scrupulous persons. If the family trusts that LE is taking action, they should leave it in their hands.

We decided that we trust the LE are doing what they can at this point. We have a different detective on the case, and he has checked into the SO issue. We did have a pro-bono PI at one time, but there was nothing more he could check out. We cannot afford a PI either. Most can't.

concernedperson

01-09-2007, 11:20 PM

I never stop hoping and praying for you, Kelly.

czechmate7

01-09-2007, 11:45 PM

Kelly

01-10-2007, 03:28 AM

Thank you concernedperson. You're very kind.

I should expand upon the LE sharing statement. LE does share info with us. They do not share all of the info with us. In reality, they are not required to tell us anything. Some LE don't cooperate with the family in this manner at all. Our does. We feel that they tell us what is appropriate for us to know once they have checked out any leads. We probably know alot more than some families. We know who was questioned in the beginning and how many times and LE's opinion about them, etc.

Since it is standard procedure not to divulge all the info, it doesn't mean anything at all if they don't tell us everything.

czechmate7

01-10-2007, 02:56 PM

Thanks Kelly....
Always praying for Jason and your family!!

Jeana (DP)

01-10-2007, 04:28 PM

Love and prayers to you and Jason, Kelly.

arielilane

01-10-2007, 06:55 PM

Dear Kelly,

Your story has always been an interest to me. First, I am so sorry that you and your family are going through this and no family should ever have to. You are amazingly strong.

I have not read everything on this thread and I apologize if this has already been talked about.

I have wondered if all the neighbors (not just persons associated with your son) within a 2-5 mile ratio have been checked out? Have all persons who have moved from the neighborhood since your son went missing been questioned? What are they doing now and where are they living. Why did they move?

I just finished a book written by Sherri Gladden & Brad Crawford called My Sister Is Missing. Sherri Gladden's sister Fran went missing and Sherri and Fran's daughter did most of the investigating since the police were too busy and had other commitments. It is a good read and amazing how things turned out.

My best regards to you and your family.

Peabody

01-13-2007, 12:55 AM

Dear Kelly and Family,

Think of you often, but especially today with the news of the Missouri boys being found.

I continue to pray for your family and Maura Murray's family; God willing, your families will experience the wonderful reunion that others enjoyed today.

mattsmom

01-13-2007, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by: Peabody
Think of you often, but especially today with the news of the Missouri boys being found....

Kelly - I'm sure the MO news is bittersweet and hope you know how many of us just want to give you a cyber hug today.

englishleigh

01-13-2007, 10:43 AM

Thinking of you and your family, Kelly...may you please, God, get a miracle like this!!
It gives me so much hope that Jason is alive out there and will return to you all soon!
BIG HUGS!

JanetElaine

01-13-2007, 05:16 PM

Kelly,

The first thing on my mind after hearing about Ben and Shawn being found safe was that I wish this will be you and your family. I know this may sound weird coming from a total stranger who doesn't know you or Jason, but I so bad want him to come home. I pray for you guys a lot.

{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}

I also have a question for you - are there any plans for bumper stickers or those car 'clingies' or magnets to be made for the 'adoptable' missing persons?

Sincerely,
JanetElaine

Sundayrain

01-13-2007, 10:21 PM

I know we all thought about Jason and other missing ones........
Maybe the local LE will all pull out their files of missing children, and
relook, research, restomp and rewind........to find more of the lost children.
This finding has to bring up the hope......
The stories are all too heartbreaking......
May God be with us to find more miracles and answer our prayers.
Thinking of you Kelly........Sunday

concernedperson

01-13-2007, 10:36 PM

Kelly

01-14-2007, 02:49 PM

Wow...I am so blessed to have all of you remembering Jason and our family.

Sometimes these events are bittersweet, yes. Usually though, if I have that feeling, it's only fleeting. This time, I did not have that feeling at all. My overwhelming concern with this story is Shawn's mental health and well being. I also hope that Ben did not have to endure any violation by that man.

We don't have any plans to add any awareness pieces to the Adopt program at this time. Those are very good ideas, but there is no budget for it.

With Hope, Always,
Kelly

Tranaice

01-15-2007, 09:33 AM

I, too, thought of Jason and you and your family when I heard this news Kelly. I continue to hold all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Kelly

01-16-2007, 12:01 AM

Thanks, tranaice.

http://www.ketv.com/family/10754128/detail.html

Missouri Boys' Discovery Fuels Hope For Omaha Mother
Kelly Jolkowski Watches Boys' Reunion With Interest

POSTED: 3:36 pm CST January 15, 2007
UPDATED: 5:16 pm CST January 15, 2007

OMAHA, Neb. -- A local mother said Monday that the discovery of two boys in Missouri gives her hope that she'll find her own son.

Jason Jolkowski disappeared more than five years ago at age 19. His mother, Kelly, has been tracking the case of Shawn Hornbeck in Missouri for years.

On Friday, police found Hornbeck and Ben Ownby, 13, another missing boy, in the home of 41-year-old Michael Devlin. Shawn was 11 when he disappeared in 2002.

Devlin has been arrested and jailed on $1 million bond. He was awaiting arraignment on one charge of kidnapping but more charges are likely, authorities said.

"I was shocked. I thought it sounded too good to be true," Kelly Jolkowski said on Monday. "I did think that Shawn was most likely dead because of his age, and it sounded like he was abducted, and it had been so long."

Jolkowski monitors hundreds of missing persons cases through ProjectJason, the organization she founded that helps families of the missing.

"You can't help but picture the possibility of your own reunion in your mind, too," Jolkowski said.

Despite hefty reward offers and all of her resources, Jolkowski and police still don't have a clue in Jason's disappearance.

"It just seems to be the most clueless case I know of. A lot of cases they have some indication of this happened versus that happened. But we have no indication whatsoever," she said.

Jolkowski counsels people to be aware of their surroundings.

"Look at the faces of the missing. You never know if you might see them somewhere," she said. "When we hear about these stories we know that just because they've been missing for awhile, even though most people think the odds are against them, we still have hope."

Project Jason helps families of the missing all over the United States, but Jolkowski said that despite the number of missing people in the Omaha area, she rarely gets calls from families in Omaha.

Kelly

01-21-2007, 11:03 PM

Family is what Project Jason is all about. We want to assist families of the missing and provide them with the hope and resources that they need in their time of need. In order to continue to do this, we need your help. Your contribution to Project Jason will allow us to potentially reunite families torn apart by this tragic circumstance. It will also be used to bring about public awareness for the missing and provide educational opportunities in our community. Project Jason receives no government grants or funds and does not charge for services. We rely entirely upon corporate donations and gifts from individuals like you. Please be generous!

You may send donations to:

Project Jason
P.O. Box 3035
Omaha, NE 68103

Another way you can help us fulfill our mission statement is by placing a Pampered Chef order through this site. (link below) Project Jason will receive 10% of the profit for each order you place.

http://www.pamperedchef.biz/mikechamp?page=home

IRS 501 (C) (3) Non Profit Charitable Organization - EIN# 20-0256753

Many blessings,
Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Kelly

02-03-2007, 11:14 AM

Bumping for Jason....never forgotten, loved by so many.

Kelly

02-04-2007, 02:22 PM

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/NEWS02/702040545

Push is on to improve search for missing.
Madison woman's case prompts action

February 4, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS -- The cousin of a missing Madison woman is working with state lawmakers to establish new procedures for police to follow when adults are reported missing.

Bills introduced in the House and Senate also would require police to collect DNA evidence for people who are missing as well as from unidentified bodies and put them in the same national database so matches can be found more quickly.

"It's going to save time and save money if things are done right in the beginning," said Keri Dattilo, whose cousin Molly Dattilo of Madison disappeared more than two years ago.

Molly Dattilo was in Indianapolis attending summer classes when she vanished. She has not been located.

"This legislation helps law enforcement prioritize cases," Keri Dattilo said. "My family and I just don't want to have any other families go through the experience we went through. We want to see some changes."

Molly Dattilo's brother reported her missing two days after she disappeared. But although police took a report, her cousin said, they did not seem to consider the situation serious for several weeks.

According to the Dattilo family, Molly did not take her money, car or other belongings. Keri Dattilo said that kind of situation should prompt a more intense investigation.

Last month, Scott Robinett, the deputy chief of investigations for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, said the Dattilo investigation continues as a "missing persons case" but not necessarily a criminal one.

House Bill 1306 and Senate Bill 464 establish criteria for police to determine whether an adult is a "high risk missing person" and then sets out procedures for dealing with those cases.

It also requires police to provide family with contact information for missing-persons organizations and to collect DNA evidence for anyone missing more than 30 days.

The bills are based on model legislation prepared by the U.S. Justice Department and pushed by groups that serve as advocates for families of missing people.

The House bill, written by Rep. Dave Cheatham, D-North Vernon, is tentatively scheduled to be heard in the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee on Feb. 15. Dattilo plans to come to Indianapolis to testify.

The state police already have raised questions about implementing some of the procedures outlined in the bill and are working with Cheatham on amendments. He said those will be introduced at the February hearing.

"This is model legislation, so there are always going to be changes to make it work for a specific state," Cheatham said. "I think we can work it out."

The Senate bill, written by Sen. Connie Sipes, D-New Albany, has not been scheduled for a hearing.

Capt. Sherry Beck, the legislative liaison for the state police, said the department doesn't oppose the ideas in the bills. But they might go too far.

"The way the current bill is written, if a man with a green hat was standing on the corner and somebody noticed he was there a few days and then he's not, they could walk into the police department and say the man was missing and the police would have to do a report," Beck said. "He may not be missing, but we would have to assign resources to it."

Police often receive calls about people who haven't shown up for work and are feared missing or about people who are trying to escape an abusive spouse and don't want to be found. As written, bills don't account for those situations, Beck said.

"Currently what we do is ask enough specific questions and find out whether there is an issue," she said.

The model legislation suggested by the Justice Department has been adopted in some form in Washington, Colorado and the District of Columbia, said Kelly Jolkowski, founder and president of Nebraska-based Project Jason, a group that helps families. But she expects all states will make some changes.

She's recruiting volunteers, including Keri Dattilo, to try to get the legislation passed across the country. Dattilo also is working to get the bill passed in California, where she lives.

Volunteers also are active in Oregon, Connecticut, Ohio, Tennessee, Florida and Missouri. Jolkowski said she doesn't have a volunteer working in Kentucky, although she said she's always looking for help.

"So many missing persons are lost in the system because the right steps aren't taken," Jolkowski said "These procedures will hopefully resolve cases quicker."

More than five* years ago, Jolkowski's son Jason, then 19, disappeared from their home. He was last seen dragging trashcans up the driveway from the curb. He has not been found.

Jolkowski said a key of the proposed legislation is the DNA procedures, which would allow law enforcement with a missing person in one jurisdiction to link the case to an unidentified body in another place.

Currently, she said, many states allow unidentified bodies to be buried or cremated without ever obtaining DNA that could be used to identify them later. The bills would prevent unidentified bodies from being cremated.

"This is about connecting the dots," Jolkowski said. "There's an average of about 105,000 open missing-persons cases at any one time, and there's an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 unidentified remains. Who knows how many other bodies out there have been buried or cremated without identification, with families somewhere without knowledge of what happened."

* Corrected from original text, which said six years.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

JanetElaine

02-06-2007, 05:07 PM

Thank you, Kelly, for keeping us all updated on things like this. I hope the legislation passes! I cannot believe that they wouldn't take DNA from unidentified bodies, and worse, that they actually cremate them. Unbelievable.

JanetElaine

02-09-2007, 09:46 AM

Bumping for Jason.

JanetElaine

02-19-2007, 02:58 PM

Bump.

Kelly

02-20-2007, 03:41 AM

I will be speaking at the following national conference:

Uniting in the Search for Missing Children and Adults

http://www.fvtc.edu/public/content.aspx?ID=1238&PID=3

Providing a Voice for Those Who Have Vanished

February 21-23, 2007
Appleton, Wisconsin

This national conference is designed to promote public awareness and to provide law enforcement and community professionals with tools to best serve the families of missing children and adults. Learn about national, state and regional resources. Obtain information on evolving technology and investigative practices to assist in local and international searches for the missing. Find out how the Internet and other information systems can be effective investigative tools. These and many other topics will be explored during this 2½ day event.

I will be sharing Jason's story with the hundreds of attendees to aid in the understanding of what the family of a missing person goes through.

Please pray for all involved to open their minds and hearts to the needs of the families of the missing.

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

JanetElaine

02-20-2007, 04:28 PM

Please pray for all involved to open their minds and hearts to the needs of the families of the missing.
You got it, Kelly. And good luck!

christine2448

02-20-2007, 05:13 PM

Please pray for all involved to open their minds and hearts to the needs of the families of the missing.

I will be 'lifting you up' in prayer during your conference! Thank you for all you do for the missing!

Kelly

02-26-2007, 03:22 AM

Thanks for the prayers! Everything went very well.

Hello,

As you all know, my son, Jason, has now been missing without a trace for 5 years and 8 months. There are no leads to follow up on, and we, at this time, depend on the general public to provide new leads to help us find our son. For those of you who have a missing loved one, you already know the struggle to find ways to get the word out, especially as time passes. You know that you must be creative in order to get the media to react and to be able to reach your target audience.

The purpose of my letter is to inform you of a new campaign which has the goal of creating awareness for Jason, targeting every radio station in the country. I am looking to amass a team of volunteers to email each radio station Jason’s story (already prepared for you) and link to more information, photos, and a poster. If you are familiar with his story, you know that Jason was once a D.J. for a local community college. It was something he enjoyed and he became very popular in the local area. He had some financial setbacks, and had to leave school and the D.J. internship. We, his immediate family, feel that if he is still alive, it’s very possible that he is working for a radio station, thus, our campaign, Radio Waves for Jason. (We will make “waves” in the radio industry looking for him.)

If you are either a family member with a missing loved one, or one of our peers in the missing person cause, this email is merely to inform you of our campaign. You often ask about Jason, so we’re letting you know what we’re doing. We wouldn’t ask you to become involved as we understand you are very busy with your work or seeking your own missing loved one. This campaign might even give you an idea for one of your own, which is another good reason to share it with you.

If you are a friend, family member, or a friend of Project Jason, and feel you would have the time and commitment to help, we would be happy to have you assist. As mentioned earlier, you would be given a prepared statement with links to email radio stations in a set area. I estimate that it will take 3-5 minutes to email each radio station. Even if you can only email a few locations, each effort will help us reach our goal.

If you are interested in volunteering to help, please send an email to us at radiowavesforjason(at sign)projectjason.org You will then be sent an email with more details about the campaign and the prepared letter for the radio stations.

*This campaign is suited for persons who are already comfortable navigating the internet and using copy and paste functions.

Thank you for all you do for our family, Jason, and Project Jason, whether it’s a simple prayer or more, all efforts are greatly appreciated.

With hope for all of our missing loved ones,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Kelly

03-03-2007, 12:29 PM

Here is a link to a new YouTube video about Jason:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwBLq-gXR30

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org

christine2448

03-03-2007, 01:14 PM

Here is a link to a new YouTube video about Jason:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwBLq-gXR30

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org (http://www.projectjason.org/)Awesome! Thanks for the link.

I sent Jason's labels out again this week on all of our mailings.

I ran into some of the church workers (recently my company purchased a large building and one of our tenants is a church) and they saw the labels I was carrying (I had Jason's, Georgia DeJesus, Brianna Maitland, and Audrey Herron) and they grabbed them from me and just started praying over them, touching them, it was kinda neat.... :D May good be with those labels on their journey...some where some one knows some thing!

Kelly

03-05-2007, 01:46 AM

How neat, Christine! Prayers are very important in this.

A press release from our friends in Native American radio:

"NAMAPAHH First People's Radio
Home website: NAMAPAHH First People's Radio (http://mysite.verizon.net/res7dwhg/)
Host/Producer Robin Carneen
(stay tuned from 8:30-10pm Thurs: Massive Mix Session/DJ Defkawn)
Thurs 7-8:30pm Sun 4-5pm PST

Ways to hear our show online: KSVR 91.7 FM in Mt Vernon (http://www.ksvr.org)
Or via MYSPACE! www.myspace.com/namapahh (http://www.myspace.com/namapahh)
Main MYSPACE page: www.myspace.com/nativeradio4all (http://www.myspace.com/nativeradio4all)
Pictures: Swinomish1's lill' nest (http://spaces.msn.com/members/NativeRadio4all/)
Studio line: (360)416-7000

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Coming up on NAMAPAHH:
3-4-07: NEW MUSIC will be featured & announcements on Sunday’s show
4-5pm PST (lots from CANADA!) Call studio line to make announcements!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

3-8-07:

Thursday is going to be a very significant show...not necessarily a specific Native American topic or focus, but one that should be very important to us all, no matter what our origins!...We will be talking about Missing People & Missing Children's programs & honoring the women & their families who have either lost a child and/or some who have grown children who are now adults & missing...find out about these organizations & campaigns & how you can get involved & what prevention kits & tools are available out there to hopefully prevent other children & adults from disappearing...its heart wrenching!

Kelly Jolkowski, whose son Jason has been missing since June 13, 2001 will be my first guest. I am especially interested in her special focus campaign for her son, because at one point he was a college radio DJ (student at IWCC and a disc jockey at 89.7 The River), which makes this hit home for me, for obvious reasons: she will talk about her campaign: Radio Waves for Jason.

Related Websites:

www.missingjason.com
Project Jason - Assistance for families of the missing (http://www.projectjason.org)

Contact:

Kelly Jolkowski
Kelly.jolkowski(at sign)projectjason.org

Help Find Jason Jolkowski-Podcast-The day he went missing
YouTube - Help Find Jason Jolkowski-Podcast-The day he went missing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwBLq-gXR30)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My new friend Tara Weber, who is also a volunteer for the Campaign: Radio Waves for Jason, will be my guest as well, talking about Gina's case and this one too: Amanda: index (http://www.amandaberry.net) & we may even have Nancy Ruiz on as well, who asks you help find her daughter is Gina DeJesus: Find Georgina DeJesus (http://www.findgeorgina.com)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

PLEASE cc me at: tetawin38@hotmail.com
NAMAPAHH First People's Radio (http://mysite.verizon.net/res7dwhg/)
Home of NAMAPAHH First People's Radio
Host/Producer Robin Carneen
Thurs 7-8pm Sun 4-5pm PST
New group: (my photo album location)
Swinomish1's lill' nest (http://spaces.msn.com/members/NativeRadio4all/)
www.myspace.com/nativeradio4all (http://www.myspace.com/nativeradio4all)
Want to hear NAMAPAHH???
http://www.myspace.com/namapahh"

Kelly

03-08-2007, 08:55 PM

Reminder press release:

PROTECTORS OF LIFE: THEIR INITIATVES TO FIND THE MISSING

March 8th is International Women's Day & we will be speaking to women who are involved with Campaign for the Missing & Radio Waves for Jason, initiatives to find missing children & adults.

Tune In: NAMAPAHH: March 8th 2007 on KSVR 91.7 FM
7-8:30pm PST

Hear our show online: www.ksvr.org
MYSPACE! http://www.myspace.com/namapahh
http://www.myspace.com/nativeradio4all
http://spaces.msn.com/members/NativeRadio4all/
Studio line: (360)416-7000

NAMAPAHH First People's Radio
Home website: http://mysite.verizon.net/res7dwhg/
Host/Producer Robin Carneen
(stay tuned from 8:30-10pm Thurs: Massive Mix Session/DJ Defkawn)
Thurs 7-8:30pm Sun 4-5pm PST
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Our Guests:

Kelly Jolkowski, mother of missing son, Jason.
Campaign for the Missing & Radio Waves for Jason, www.projectjason.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tara Weber Pretends Eagle, Hunkpapa Lakota, Standing Rock Rez
Advocate for Amanda Berry www.amandaberry.net &
Gina Dejesus
Campaign for the Missing-Author of the Bill for AMINA's Law in OH
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Nancy Ruiz, Mother of missing teen Gina DeJesus, www.findgeorgina.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Kelly

03-11-2007, 09:19 PM

http://www.stjoenews-press.com/main.asp?SectionID=81&SubSectionID=272&ArticleID=90677&TM=22524.46

3/11/2007 1:51:00 AM
Families of missing cope by sharing emotion

Ray Scherer
Regional Reporter

Families of missing people quite often don't have the means to express frustration over a situation grounded in the unknown.

That's when people like Kelly Jolkowski step forward. The Omaha, Neb., woman's 19-year-old son Jason disappeared from home in 2001. The sense of not knowing what happened to Jason and faith in God led her to create a nonprofit organization to assist families like hers with their own searches of loved ones.

"We had no idea what to do," Mrs. Jolkowski said. "You're frightened at what's going on. Nobody hands you a manual."

Project Jason eventually promoted a new Nebraska law that created a clearinghouse of missing-person information. Mrs. Jolkowski drew inspiration from an Iowa law written to help locate missing people. An effort is under way to pass a law in Missouri that would establish law enforcement's procedures for handling missing-persons and remains cases and using DNA to solve both types of cases.

More than just working through lawmakers, however, the organization acts to support families undergoing a host of emotions.

"Many families are isolated," she said. "No one really knows how you're feeling. We're there to help them understand."

Becky Klino, of Skidmore, Mo., whose son Branson Perry also disappeared in 2001, has relied on Mrs. Jolkowski and the organization's services to help her cope and spread calls for assistance. Several Internet Web sites, blogs and posters tacked on truck stop walls represent part of her effort to draw attention to Mr. Perry. Most of the Web sites contain an age-progression photo of how Mr. Perry might appear today in his mid-20s.

"Sometimes it's just important that I know you remember my son," Ms. Klino said.

She talks with other families in the blogs to consider their next sensible steps. The conversations revolve around reactions to special occasions such as holidays. Mr. Perry's recent birthday was a particularly difficult time for her to endure.

"It's OK to be mad. It's OK to survive," she said of lessons gathered in the forums.

She also receives encouragement and support from family and co-workers.

Anna Rea - mother of 18-year-old Crystal Kipper, who went missing in 1997 - offers to speak with families of missing persons and those of crime victims. She conveys the message through police and sheriff's departments, which she knows try to remain diligent in pursuing leads and evidence. She helped the Platte County Sheriff's Department by supplying information about her daughter's personal items, such as the type of shoes she wore when she was last seen.

"Every now and then it does help," she said of the talks. "It can be very frustrating. I let them know what they (law enforcement) are trying to do is preserve evidence. I just try to tell them to be patient. You can be active and (still) be involved."

Families linked by the circumstance of a missing loved one have attended a conference on a sponsorship by Project Jason, Mrs. Jolkowski said. The organization also held a gathering of families from the Kansas City and Omaha areas.

Family members can disagree on the best course of action to follow when a loved one goes missing.

"You can't tell someone to get over it," she said. "You do learn to adapt."

There are only two trained counselors in the nation who are experienced in missing-persons cases, she added.

Kelly

03-21-2007, 03:27 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TECHNOLOGY LENDS A HAND TO THE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES SEARCHING FOR MISSING LOVED ONES

Missing People Podcasts Highlight Individual Stories, Helpful Resources and Important Related Legislative Issues

OMAHA, NE—(March 17, 2007) Project Jason, a non-profit organization, announced today that it has created a partnership with the Missing People Podcast (MPP) to develop audio programming for missing people and the families who are urgently searching for them. The podcasts will feature a variety of subjects, including vital information regarding the circumstances surrounding a person’s disappearance and significant legislative efforts throughout the country that may impact the families.

Very few people would think of the number of missing persons in America as a crisis. The statistics, however, are sobering. In the United States alone, there are as many as 105,000 active missing person’s cases. Every year, tens of thousands of people vanish under suspicious circumstances. The number of missing persons can be estimated in the hundreds of thousands if viewed over a 20-year period.1

“I think it is very important to utilize whatever resources are available to help these families,” says Steve Bronnum, President of MPP, “We bring a true voice to the families of the missing and all those who care about them. Technology is helpful in so many ways and my greatest hope is to use it to bring some information to families desperate for news of their loved ones.”

The MPP programs will include a “News and Alerts” section focused on recent developments related to missing people and alerts about recently missing people. The “Portraits of the Missing” section provides profiles of specific missing persons. The “Interviews” segment is a dialogue with family members of the missing and experts in the field and, the “Programs” section will include voice talents telling the stories of the missing.

“This is a critical development in helping families locate their missing loved ones,” says Kelly Jolkowski, mother of Jason Jolkowski and founder of Project Jason, “As with any program that we support, our partnership with MPP is focused on the most important thing in all missing person cases – awareness.”

The MPP audio content is available for download or streaming on the internet with future plans for subscription podcasting and CD production. For more information, visit the website at missingpeoplepodcast.com.

1 Ritter,N. Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains: The Nation’s Silent Mass Disaster, NIJ Journal, NO.256, January 2007

About Project Jason

Project Jason was founded by the family of Jason Jolkowski after his disappearance on June 13, 2001. The nonprofit's mission is to create and increase public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities. Project Jason seeks to bring hope and assistance to families of the missing by providing resources and support. Project Jason is also responsible for presenting Jason’s Law, which passed on May 25, 2005. Jason’s Law allows for the creation of a Nebraska state missing person’s clearinghouse to gather and disseminate information about all missing persons. For more information, please visit Project Jason - Assistance for families of the missing (http://www.projectjason.org)

# # #

CONTACT:
Kelly Jolkowski
402-932-0095
Kelly.jolkowski(at sign)projectjason.org

Kelly

03-21-2007, 03:29 AM

BoilerStation - Purdue University News, Sports, and Information from the Journal and Courier. (http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070320/NEWS0501/703200327/1152)

Discovery of body could be 'at least an answer'
Closure may come today for Steffey family, friends

03/20/07

Six years ago, 19-year-old Jason Jolkowski disappeared from his Nebraska home.

His younger brother, Michael, was the last to see him -- outside dragging the trash cans up from the curb while waiting for a carpool ride to his part-time job. No clues have surfaced in his case since.

Families and friends of missing persons live in a suspended reality, holding out hope for a positive outcome no matter how long a disappearance may last, explained Melissa Nelson, bereavement coordinator for St. Elizabeth's Hospice program.

But answers may come today to those connected to 19-year-old Wade Steffey, who has been missing from Purdue University since Jan. 13. Officials hope to identify a body found on campus Monday near where Steffey was last seen.

"I've worked with hundreds of families across the country and even when they have a terrible answer, they always say, 'At least we have an answer,' " said Kelly Jolkowski, Jason's mother. "They always say the not knowing is the worst part."

Jolkowski's parents have turned their tragedy into a campaign pushing for legislation in all 50 states to improve the law enforcement community's ability to locate and ensure a safe return of missing persons. That work connected Kelly Jolkowski with Dale Steffey, Wade's father, earlier this year.

"I told Dale that I admired him," Jolkowski said, referring to e-mail contact she's had with the Bloomington family. "He hasn't been in the situation that long, but he's out there publicly speaking. I don't know if that early in I would have been able to do that."

During the first few months of her son's disappearance, Jolkowski said her life felt surreal. She recalls looking inside every car she passed to see who was inside. She kept the phone with her at all times -- just in case -- and broke down in tears when she saw the first story about him on the local news.

"Life is never normal again," she said. "It's really just an indescribable nightmare. Every night you go to bed and you just don't know: Where is he? Is someone hurting him? ... And you don't know what you're grieving for."

Jolkowski was shocked to learn of the body found on campus Monday but said she hopes it brings answers to Steffey's family.

"Once the body is identified, there's still going to be some shock and disbelief. The reality is just so hard to accept," Nelson said. "There may be some relief that the body is found ... but this is not the outcome they'd hoped for."

Kelly

03-26-2007, 12:55 AM

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-25123019.apds.m0579.bc-ct-xgr--mar25,0,5545169.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire

Relatives of missing adults work to pass laws across nation

Associated Press

Published March 25 2007

HARTFORD, Conn. -- When Janice Smolinski's 31-year-old son Billy disappeared in 2004, there were no Amber Alerts, no urgent police investigations.

Police made the family wait three days to report the Waterbury man's disappearance because a neighbor believed he had left town voluntarily. They had to organize their own search parties and pressure police to fingerprint Billy's truck, his mother said.

When authorities did take the case, they lost or misplaced the family's DNA samples - including Billy's razor shavings - three times, Smolinski said.

Two-and-a-half years later, Billy Smolinski is nowhere to be found and his mother has joined a national grass-roots effort to lobby for more consistent laws for handling missing adult cases.

The group's Campaign for the Missing is lobbying this year in Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, Oregon, New York, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana.

"Our system isn't working," said Janice Smolinski. "Unfortunately, when adults go missing, they don't really take it seriously."

Of more than 109,000 active records in the National Crime Information Center's Missing Person File as of Dec. 31, 2005, just under half involve adults.

But the National Center for Missing Adults, which handled more than 23,000 reports and helped nearly 25,000 family members in 2005, announced last year that federal budget cuts had forced it to close its Phoenix offices and attempt to relocate to a less expensive space.

Funding was cut to $148,000 last year for the center, which also helped families during Hurricane Katrina.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, in comparison, typically receives more than $35 million a year from the federal government.

Police say they don't have the resources to focus attention on every case, and adults are allowed to disappear voluntarily.

"It's a free country and we've got to remember that," said West Hartford Police Chief James Strillacci, legislative chairman for the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. "We have wanderlust in our blood and people get up and move once in a while."

Contrary to television crime shows, he said, the FBI rarely assists in missing adult cases.

"We cannot do for everybody that they would like us to do," he said. "We can only do what the law and our budgets allow."

The bills proposed by Campaign for the Missing touch on everything from banning cremation of unidentified remains to informing families about the clearinghouses for missing adults and children.

Each would prevent police from refusing to accept missing persons reports in most circumstances. They spell out data police must collect for a missing person, from eye color to blood type. They would also allow police to flag a missing person - such as someone with medical problems - as high risk, triggering more immediate action.

The families of missing adults also want police to enter all collected information, including DNA profiles, into applicable federal databases and provide timely case updates to family members.

They also want more publicity for missing adults.

The Amber Alert program, named for a 9-year-old girl who was kidnapped and killed, allows law enforcement and television and radio broadcasters to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child abduction cases.

But for adults, attention focuses largely on the bizarre or unusual, such as runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks, who fled days before her planned 2005 wedding and made up a story about being kidnapped and sexually assaulted to cover the fact that she got cold feet and went to New Mexico.

When Drew Kesse's 24-year-old daughter, Jennifer, didn't show up for work in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 24, 2006, a police officer suggested the attractive blonde financial analysts had gotten into a fight with her boyfriend and would return soon. More than a year has passed with no sign of her.

"There is absolutely no evidence. She has truly vanished," he said. "It's heartbreaking."

To drum up attention, the families of the missing have become amateur public relations consultants, creating web sites and organizing public events.

Kesse has flown banners over football games and printed playing cards with Jennifer's picture. Well-wishers have paid for eight billboards and posters in 24 bus shelters.

Kelly Jolkowski, whose Nebraska-based Project Jason created the Campaign for the Missing , has organized charity bike rides and appearances on the Montel Williams Show to generate interest in missing people, including her 19-year-old son Jason, who vanished from the family's Omaha driveway in 2001.

"The only thing you can do is get the story out there," she said. "One of these days you're going to hit the right person."

Though Omaha police did a complete investigation of her son's disappearance, Jolkowski said that's not the norm.

"When you have somebody disappear as an adult rather than a minor, it's an entirely different situation," she said. "There's no federal law that mandates them. Unless the state has passed this legislation, they are not mandated to do anything. They don't even have to take the case, period."

Jolkowski said families have told her of local police not aware of the federal DNA database. She has learned of unidentified bodies cremated or buried in unmarked graves without any DNA samples taken.

"It was a chore to get the police to take Molly's case seriously because she was 23," said Keri Dattilo, referring to her cousin Molly Dattilo, who disappeared July 6, 2004 in Indianapolis.

Keri Dattilo said it took six weeks before an investigation began in earnest.

"They could have tracked down more people in the very beginning with a fresh memory," she said. "I think they need to start taking these cases seriously in the beginning. They need to listen to the families."

New Jersey resident Jim Viola's wife, Patricia, disappeared six years ago, the day before Valentine's Day. He has since learned by trial and error what should be done when someone disappears. He didn't know for more than three years that a DNA profile of his wife could be created with a blood sample from his mother-in-law.

By pushing Campaign for the Missing legislation in his state, he hopes to save others from some of the heartache he's suffered.

"I'm basically trying to get New Jersey residents to write to their senator, to get them to understand that this law is for them," he said.

Gabby

03-27-2007, 09:27 AM

Bumping for Kelly and Jason... Prayers for his safe return home.

JanetElaine

03-27-2007, 04:21 PM

Kelly

03-28-2007, 12:54 AM

We are very excited about the national AP story, too!

It did not happen because of the other case, though. It was in the plans for well over a month that when it finally came out, the AP writer from CT was going to push hard to get it on the national AP, and she did!

JanetElaine

03-28-2007, 01:11 AM

mistagee

04-05-2007, 11:38 AM

Kelly

04-07-2007, 12:34 PM

Frist of all, I would like to commend the family of Jason for their hard work and faith and it is my greatest hope that Jason is found safely. I am wondering if some of the following angles were investigated:

1. Is there a history of drug activity in the area? Perhaps Jason witnessed something he shouldn't have.

2. Have all neighbors, particularly, single males, been investigated thoroughly?

3. Are there any precipices or bodies of water or sewer drainage nearby?

4. Are there any missing adult cases in the area over the past years that might be connected?

5. Did Jason have any visitors or receieve any phone calls at his job prior to his disappearance?

Im sure these have all been considered, but I figured I might throw it out there.

Thank you for your concern. To answer your questions:

1. There is a hotbed of drug activity to the east of here, but not any more so in this neighborhood than that one. Jason did not go over there that we know of.

2. Yes, as far as we know. They will not give us specific details about this other than it has been done.

3. No.

4. They did look into this and did not see any connections. Nor do I.

5. Not that I know of. Co-workers and managers there were questioned extensively and this never came up.

Kelly

04-13-2007, 11:44 AM

Today marks 5 years and 10 months since Jason disappeared.

Love keeps us searching and hoping.

Support, prayers, and God keeps us going.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

christine2448

04-19-2007, 01:23 AM

Thinking of you all. http://smilies.sofrayt.com/%5E/_950/bouquet.gif

murraydwyer

04-19-2007, 09:06 AM

As they so often are, Kelly, my thoughts are with you...

MyLilElves

04-19-2007, 10:36 AM

As are mine.

Tranaice

04-19-2007, 11:22 AM

My thoughts and prayers are also with you all......

Jeana (DP)

04-19-2007, 11:48 AM

petra

04-22-2007, 06:45 AM

Bumping for Jason and family on this early Sunday morning.

Gabby

04-26-2007, 10:37 AM

bumping for Jason and those who love him and will continue to search until he is found and home again.

Kelly

05-05-2007, 10:43 AM

A Project Jason Press Release:

"4 Families, 4 Mysteries

4 families who have experienced the tragedy of having a missing loved one will come together on Sunday, May 6th to share their stories with dozens of bike riders at the 4th annual Miles for the Missing Family Bike Ride, sponsored by Omaha nonprofit organization, Project Jason.

Riders will meet the family members starting at 9:30am on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail in Council Bluffs, IA. Miles for the Missing is a casual ride, and riders can go distances from 1 mile up to 44. Sag and free water will be provided. Rider cost is $17 each, and children under age 10 ride free.

Families represented at the ride include: Jim and Kelly Jolkowski of Omaha, parents of missing Jason Jolkowski, who disappeared from his Omaha home on June 13, 2001; Carolyn Pospisil, stepmother of Erin Pospisil, who was last seen in Cedar Rapids, IA on June 6, 2001; and the family of Michael O’Connor, who disappeared from downtown Omaha in February. Also in attendance will be Jim Rains, brother of missing Jackie Rains-Kracman. She was last seen in Columbus, NE in 1965. She was 18 years old at the time.

Project Jason members will be present to give away free Personal ID Kits and other safety information for families. They will also explain the services offered and awareness programs available for the missing. Proceeds from the ride enable Project Jason to continue to offer their free services to families of the missing nationwide and provide educational materials to all families.

For more information, please see Project Jason - Assistance for families of the missing (http://www.projectjason.org), and click on the Miles for the Missing link, or call Kelly Jolkowski at 402-932-0095.

Email: Milesforthemissing(at sign)projectjason.org"

christine2448

05-12-2007, 12:00 PM

http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/7468452.html

The remains of Amber Harris were discovered one year ago in Hummel Park. Roy Ellis faces trial for the murder of the 12-year-old. While answers have surfaced in that case, questions still haunt the stories of other missing persons.

Amber Harris is one of the most recognizable persons in the metro. She was on TV, in papers and on the Internet as her parents and authorities tried to find her.

Jason Jolkowski's picture is still part of the Nebraska Missing Persons Information Clearing House. His mother, Kelly Jolkowski, was instrumental in getting Jason's Law passed two years ago.

Run by the state patrol, it's supposed to inform us of young people and adults that are missing but Kelly says law enforcement agencies are not using the system.

There are 144 missing persons on the Clearing House created by Jason's Law but many have no pictures accompanying them.

Kelly says, "You think, gee -- if I did see that person, I wouldn't know it because there's no photo."

She says Omaha Police and other jurisdictions list names and descriptions but often do not include a picture.

"How many people are five-foot seven with brown hair and brown eyes?" Kelly asks. How many? That's not helpful. You absolutely must have a photo."

When asked, Omaha Police issued this statement: "We take missing kids very seriously. We make an immediate broadcast, request a photo and enter information into our system. As far as Jason's Law, we forward the picture if the parents request it or if we feel there's a threat."

Kelly says most parents don't even know they can request that.

"How many people making that report know about this law? Probably about point zero-zero-one percent," she says.

Jason's law requires that the patrol's monthly bulletins include photographs if available

inquiringmindz

05-19-2007, 12:16 PM

Kelly -
As always, your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

Kelly

05-20-2007, 03:47 PM

Thanks, Inquiring.

http://www.uticaod.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070519/NEWS/705190331/1001

'It's very powerful'

May 19, 2007

NEW HARTFORD — The cyclists who took part in Friday's Ride for Missing Children had prepared themselves for the 100-mile ride along hilly country roads in the Mohawk Valley.

But many found they were most challenged by the emotional journey of encountering the grief of families whose children have gone missing.

A number of riders had lost children or known lost children.

On Bleecker Street in Utica, the group of 380 riders paid silent tribute to fallen police officers, just miles from where Utica Officer Thomas Lindsey was slain a month ago.

And near Mohawk Valley Community College, riders stood with their bikes next to wreaths representing children who are missing.

"We cry all day on and off," said rider Debbie Edwards of Vernon, who like other riders wore a pin bearing a picture of an abducted child on her jersey. "When you think you can't peddle anymore, you look down at the picture, and the residents come out and cheer you on, and it keeps you going."

At the end of the ride, Edwards carried a floral bouquet and a single rose, one from her husband and children, and the other from her parents.

"It's not about a bike ride," said Edwards, of Vernon. "It's just so overwhelming."

Riders and their sponsors contributed funds enabling creation of more than 1,000,000 posters of missing children -- costing 25 cents apiece --to be distributed through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

For nearly 12 hours, riders wound their way through Oneida and Herkimer counties, stopping occasionally at schools for food, and to celebrate with the students who greeted. When tributes occurred to missing children, the group rode silently, using hand signals to communicate.

"It's an emotional roller coaster," said rider Paul Phillips, of Utica, who has participated for 10 years. "You feel the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows."

At the finish line, riders were greeted by parents, and family members of abducted children, who told the painful stories of their losses, and thanked the riders for giving them hope.

"You are heroes; you're my heroes," said Kelly Jolkowski of Nebraska, mother of Jason Jolkowski, missing since 2001. "You keep on riding, and we'll keep on hoping."

6:55 a.m.: 'Bringing children home'

ONEIDA — State trooper Jim Simpson tells the nearly 380 riders gathered at Troop D Headquarters that they will be a part of the biggest team they will ever be on.

Despite the day of exertion ahead, ride chair Frank Williams reminds the crowd that this is not about a bike ride.

"It's about bringing children home," he says. "It's about preventing abduction and exploitation."

Many of the riders have a personal connection to the cause:

•Eight parents of missing children are riding.

•Three riders are here in support of fallen police officers, including those riding in memory of Thomas Lindsey and Joseph Corr.

•Six recovered missing children are here. Two of them are riding.

•One recovered missing child from Syracuse was on Genesee Street to greet the riders.

7:08 a.m.: 'Our love is there for you'

ONEIDA -- The first missing child to be remembered Friday is honored in a ceremony. His name is Christopher, and he has been missing since Aug. 7, 1995.

As four wreaths are placed in front of the crowd, a woman sings a song titled "Bells of Love."

The riders are silent as the song is sung.

"Our love is there for you through the day and through the night, like an everlasting light," is one of the song's lyrics.

7:43 a.m.: A well-orchestrated day

ONEIDA -- The riders make one last run to the bathroom then get on their bikes to start the ride.

It's about 40 degrees, and the sun is starting to peek through the clouds.

The goal for the riders is to travel 14 to 17 mph on the flats. Dick Jordan of New Hartford is the lead rider. He lets Oneida County Deputy Sheriff Jeff Cuda in the truck know how fast to drive.

Along the 100-mile route, the community support is obvious, from the sponsors to the people who stand on the street cheering on the riders.

The riders will travel past about 10 schools, stopping at five of them. Child safety programs will be featured at those schools.

The ride is so well orchestrated, there are predetermined times when the group of riders is to turn onto each road.

9 a.m.: Party in Westmoreland

At Westmoreland Central School, kids are lining the complex with signs.

When the riders stop, they take a bathroom break and eat some breakfast. Some of the offerings are granola bars and fruit and egg sandwiches.

Nick Cuda, 16, of Deerfield, son of Deputy Cuda, said the atmosphere is crazy.

"It's cool when the kids want to slap your hand," he said.

Cuda is riding with friends from Whitesboro Senior High School.

11 a.m.: Jefferson students exuberant

Utica's Jefferson Elementary School's Leadership Club folded 280 missing children posters two weeks ago.

"They got a feel of why this is so important," said Steve Inzer, building coordinator for Peaceful Schools. "The hands-on experience let them see that they can make a difference."

Fourth-grader Trinity Brockington was a part of the welcoming committee. She also is a member of the Leadership Club. She also folded posters.

She said the posters were of a missing boy.

"I was thinking about if we could do more to help him out and help him find his family," she said. "When I see those posters at the store, it makes me want to cry. They don't know where their family is and they could be getting hurt."

11:15 a.m.: Meet the 'Biker Chicks'

Eszter Farago, 35, of New Hartford, is riding for the first time.

"All of my friends were doing it and it gave me inspiration," she said.

Farago, a Hungary native, is part of group that calls itself "Biker Chicks." The 12 women, led by "Mother Hen" Laurie Lennon of Westmoreland, have been taking spinning classes twice a week to prepare.

11:51 a.m.: Silent vigil

The riders pass Marcy Correctional Facility.

Mika Moulton of Palms Springs, Calif., says the facility has a high number of sexual predators and added the inmates should know the impact of what they've done.

Moulton's son, Christopher Meyer, was abducted and murdered in 1995 near their home in Ilinois. As the family van passes the jail, Moulton videotapes the large crowd that has gathered on the front steps for a silent vigil.

"It's very powerful," Moulton said of the ride, "It sends an important message to the kids and to the community. We've got to do whatever it takes."

12:45 p.m.: Ivory Green remembered

Riders stopped at Holland Patent Central School where they stopped to eat lunch at about the halfway mark of their journey.

Students from the school came outside with signs and cheered for the riders. A band, Dinner Dogs, played.

Charmaine Donato, a rider from Deerfield, wore a pin with Ivory Green's picture on it. Green, of Utica, has been missing since March 2004.

Donato said the reason she was involved was simple: "The kids."

5:35 p.m.: Tribute to fallen officers

The riders have just entered Utica and are approaching the Masonic Care Home. There, a silent tribute will be held for police officers killed in the line of duty. The Mohawk Valley has lost two officers since early 2006 — New Hartford Officer Joseph Corr and Utica Officer Thomas Lindsey.

About 30 officers from several law-enforcement agencies got out of their cars and lined Bleecker Street, saluting as the riders passed by. Overhead, a helicopter flew back and forth.

5:55 p.m.: Ring of hope

The riders have stopped at Mohawk Valley Community College for a 10-minute break. They are preparing to complete the final leg of the ride.

Along the way, they pass the "Ring of Hope" for children who are still missing. This was organized by the riders themselves.

A ring of wreaths, each representing a missing child, is flanked by a rider and his or her bike.

6:36 p.m.: Coming home

NEW HARTFORD -- Riders pull into the Recreation Center parking lot. The street is thronged with cheering crowds, waving flags and screaming, welcoming them home.

After a 100-mile journey, the riders have reached a place they want all children to be.

Kelly's Note: Jim and I were invited to attend the ride. Jim rode in on the last leg and I spoke at the morning and closing ceremonies.

Kelly

05-24-2007, 10:30 PM

A Project Jason Press Release:

Project Jason, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children team up to commemorate National Missing Children’s Day

Child Safety and Health Event Promotes Wellness and Prevention

Alexandria, VA – May 25, 2007 -- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Project Jason, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) will observe National Missing Children’s Day today by actively promoting child safety. On Friday, May 25, 2007, from 11:30am to 6:30pm at Crossroads Mall in Omaha, these local organizations will provide community health and wellness resources to families. FLEOA volunteers will photograph and fingerprint children and their parents. Douglas Country Sheriff’s Department representatives will give away free DNA kits, and Project Jason volunteers will discuss safety with parents and provide free safety materials.

“We are excited about our partnership with Project Jason, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and FLEOA,” said Ernie Allen, president and chief executive officer of NCMEC. “We look forward to working with these groups to raise awareness of our issues and provide parents and guardians with the tools and information they need to talk with their children and help them be safer.”

First proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, May 25th serves as an annual reminder to the nation that child protection must be a national priority. “National Missing Children’s Day calls attention to the estimated 2,185 children reported missing every day in this country,” said Allen. “Although the vast majority of these children are found quickly, we must keep hope alive for the many who are still missing and use this opportunity to educate families about how to help keep their children safer from abduction and sexual exploitation.”

Ed Sealock, President of the Omaha chapter of FLEOA stated, “We are pleased to initiate a coordinated effort with Project Jason to assist parents and guardians with protecting their children. This is an opportunity to have children and their parents fingerprinted and photographed as a safety precaution.”

“It is vital that each person, whether adult or child, have an ID Kit ready in case they were to disappear,” said Kelly Jolkowski, President and Founder of Project Jason.

One in nearly six missing children is recovered as a direct result of someone recognizing that featured photograph in NCMEC’s photo-distribution program. Therefore, we urge everyone to pay close attention to posters and photographs of missing children. In addition, NCMEC encourages parents and guardians to practice good safety measures by following the important safety tips noted below:

Keep an accessible, up-to-date, good-quality photograph of your child in
case of an emergency.
Never let young children go places alone. Be clear about the places and
homes they may visit.
Know where your children are and whom they are with at all times.
Never leave children unattended in a vehicle, whether it’s running or not.
Talk openly to your children about safety. Make an outing to a mall or park
a “teachable” moment.

For ways your community can get involved in this important issue, call NCMEC’s Hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.take25.org and click on the “May 25th National Missing Children’s Day” link.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN (NCMEC)
NCMEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. NCMEC’s Congressionally mandated CyberTipline®, a reporting mechanism for child sexual exploitation, has handled more than 441,000 leads. Since its establishment in 1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement with more than 127,000 missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of more than 110,000 children. For more information about NCMEC and the statistics in this release, call its toll-free, 24-hour Hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.missingkids.com.

About Partner Organizations

Our mission as a non profit organization is to create and increase public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities. Project Jason seeks to bring hope and assistance to families of the missing by providing resources and support.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and its members are committed to ensuring the safety and trust of all people, with integrity and respect; and to having the courage to uphold the law, professionally and with sensitivity and fairness. As a member, I take responsibility for the protection of the citizens of Douglas County, and am accountable for my actions in serving them.

The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) is the largest nonpartisan, professional association, representing exclusively federal law enforcement officers. FLEOA represents over 25,000 federal agents from over 65 different federal law enforcement agencies.

Media Contact Information

Kelly Jolkowski, Project Jason
Kelly.jolkowski@projectjason.org

Communications Department
NCMEC
703-837-6111

***

Kelly

06-06-2007, 03:24 AM

Dear Families, Supporters, and Friends of Project Jason,

We are pleased to announce that we have begun to provide law enforcement (LE) training by professional instructors, available in the form of audio files. These audio files can be accessed 24 hours a day on the website of our podcast partner, the Missing People Podcast. There is no charge to utilize this training.

We began our ongoing series with a 4-part program about DNA and CODIS as it pertains to solving missing persons cases. As you know, it is critical that LE make use of the available technologies and systems in place. Obtaining DNA samples from the family members of missing persons (or DNA from the missing persons themselves) in an attempt to match them to DNA from unidentified remains is one method of finding the answers about our missing loves ones, resolving cold cases, and solving crimes.

Our guests for the DNA training are Dr. Arthur Eisenberg and George Adams from the Center for Human Identification (CHI) at North Texas University. Dr. Eisenberg pioneered much of today's DNA testing protocol and is one of the world's leading DNA scientists. "First and foremost, there never should be a human remain, a skeletal remain of anyone's loved one that would be buried or cremated without the retention of a DNA sample for analysis. If those samples are in CODIS, there's always a chance." Dr. Eisenberg stated.

George Adams is the LE liaison for the CHI, has many years of law enforcement experience and regularly conducts training for the CHI. "Once you enter a sample into CODIS, you're not working within your jurisdiction, you're working within the jurisdictions of everyone entering samples into CODIS", said George Adams. "You are bringing in so much power into your investigation. It is explosive. If we can get everyone to do this, these samples will be matched, they will be made, and the sooner we match them the sooner the law enforcement can identify who the perpetrator is, and take him off the streets."

More detailed biographies along with the audio training files can be found on the Law Enforcement Briefing Link at http://www.missingpeoplepodcast.com Each audio segment is approximately 30 minutes long.

Topics covered in the training:

History and types of DNA

Best practices for obtaining DNA samples

CODIS and State Databases

Importance of Chain of Custody

CHI Services

The nationwide crisis and the need for these processes to become standard procedure

While this information will be helpful for the families of the missing and organizations which serve them, the main goal is to disseminate this information to LE. You may feel free to forward this email to all interested persons. For families of the missing and organizations which serve them, all 4 parts will be of interest, but there are several messages of hope and encouragement in the last section. Working together, we can accomplish so much. There is always hope!

If you have a missing loved one, and do not have either their DNA in CODIS or yours, Part II discusses steps for you, and then your LE, to take.

Quick technical tips for playing audio files:

Double-clicking on the audio file on the site will download it to your PC. It may begin to play nearly immediatetely, or may take several minutes to download, depending upon which audio players you have on your PC and how you have them set up.

You can also download the files to a MP-3 player or an IPOD.

Note: Persons using dial-up internet may encounter difficulties in playing the files. For additional audio file help, please email publisher@lumospub.com

Direct links to the audio files:

Part I: http://www.lumospub.com/images/Center_for_Human_ID_1_missingpeoplepodcast.mp3
Part II: http://www.lumospub.com/images/Center_for_Human_ID_2_missingpeoplepodcast.mp3
Part III: http://www.lumospub.com/images/Center_for_Human_ID_3_missingpeoplepodcast.mp3
Part IV: http://www.lumospub.com/images/Center_for_Human_ID_4_missingpeoplepodcast.mp3

Direct link for the biographies and CHI contact information for LE: http://www.lumospub.com/lawenforcementbriefing/dnaidentitylaboratory.html

We will add more LE training on a regular basis covering a variety of topics. Please check back and forward this notice to interested persons, including law enforcement.

Don't forget, families of the missing can share their stories on the podcast, so if you are interested, please let me know, and we can schedule an interview.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

JanetElaine

06-07-2007, 10:24 PM

Kelly,

These days leading up to yet another June 13th without Jason can't be easy for your family. I just wanted to let you know I'm keeping you all in my prayers.

Kelly

06-09-2007, 06:14 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

For further information contact:
Kelly Jolkowski
402-932-0095

kelly.jolkowski@projectjason.org

OMAHA MISSING PERSONS' DAY ON THE CUE CENTER NATIONAL TOUR

Omaha Area Families of the Missing Gather to Remember Their Loved Ones

Omaha, NE, - June 13th, 2007- June 13th, 2007, marks the six year anniversary of the disappearance of then 19 year-old Jason Jolkowski from his home in Omaha, NE. To bring awareness for area missing persons cases and garner community support for the families of the missing, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey is declaring June 13th as Omaha Missing Persons' Day. Project Jason, founded by the family of Jason Jolkowski, is sponsoring an event to commemorate this day. It will be held at Omaha's Memorial Park at 56th and Underwood Ave from 6:30-8:30pm. The public is invited to attend.

This event will also serve to honor four other families of missing persons from the area. They, along with the parents of Jason Jolkowski, will share their stories.

In addition, the Cue Center, a nonprofit organization from North Carolina led by founder Monica Caison, which provides assistance for families of the missing, has included Omaha and this event as a stop on their national tour to bring awareness for numerous missing person's cases. The 4th annual "On the Road to Remember Tour" begins on June 11th and concludes on June 21st, covering 2,400 miles, 22 stops in 11 states, and 75 missing person cases.

This moving ceremony will begin with a march led by the Air Force Color Guard with bagpipe accompaniment. The Mayor's office will then present the Omaha Missing Persons' Day proclamation to Kelly Jolkowski, President and Founder of Project Jason, and to Monica Caison, Founder of the Cue Center.

The event will also include music and prayer, and will culminate with a symbolic white dove release by each represented family.

Featured Missing Persons' Cases:

Jason Jolkowski disappeared from the driveway of his home in Omaha, NE on Wednesday, June 13th, 2001. He was then 19 years of age. He was preparing to go to work at his part-time job, and was last seen doing his weekly chores outside.

Erin Pospisil was just 15 years old on June 3rd, 2001, when she left her home in Cedar Rapids, IA to go visit a friend. Her friend was not home, and when a car pulled up, Erin went over and spoke with the occupants. She entered that vehicle and was never seen again.

Singer-songwriter Gina Bos disappeared on October 17, 2000 after performing at a pub in Lincoln, NE. The next morning, her vehicle was found across the street from the pub with the trunk ajar and her guitar inside.

Nearly 42 years ago, 18 year-old Jackie Rains-Kracman left her home in Columbus, NE, telling her family she was going to a wedding with a friend in Glenwood, IA. The friend returned home, but Jackie didn't.

University of Missouri sophomore Jesse Ross vanished on November 21, 2006, after attending a model United Nations conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago, IL. After a dance, Jesse was seen heading towards his hotel room, which was a ten minute walk from the Sheraton. Jesse never made it back.

About Project Jason:

Project Jason, located in Omaha, NE was founded in 2003 by the parents of missing young adult Jason Jolkowski. “Our mission as a non profit organization is to create and increase public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities. Project Jason seeks to bring hope and assistance to families of the missing by providing resources and support.” Project Jason serves families of the missing nationwide and has been instrumental in the recent passage of missing persons' legislation in several states through their Campaign for the Missing program. To learn more about Project Jason, please see http://www.projectjason.org, or contact Kelly Jolkowski at 402-932-0095 or kelly.jolkowski@projectjason.org

About Cue Center:

Founded in 1994, the Cue Center, (Community United Effort) based in Wilmington, N.C., provides support, services and search efforts to families of the missing. For full On the Road to Remember tour dates and locations, as well as a complete listing of cases featured on the tour, e-mail cuecenter@aol.com or call Monica Caison at (910) 343-1131 or the 24 Hour Line at (910) 232-1687.For more information, please see http://ncmissingpersons.org/

###

Important Note: If it is raining, or rain is threatening, the event will be held at Holy Name Church at 2901 N Fontenelle Blvd. (As of this writing, the chance of rain is very high, so it is imperative that the rain location be communicated.)

If the event takes place at Memorial Park, attendees need to bring their own chairs.

Kelly

06-10-2007, 01:51 AM

http://www.ketv.com/news/13474249/detail.html

Mother Marks 6th Anniversary Of Missing Son

POSTED: 7:30 pm CDT June 9, 2007

OMAHA, Neb. -- Kelly Jolkowski's son Jason disappeared six years ago. His parents last saw him outside his house on June 13, 2001.

"It's hard to believe sometimes, the time seems very fast, sometimes it seems very slow, you just can't believe you'd be in this position," said Jolkowski.

Next week, she'll mark the anniverary of her son's disappearence by remembering him with the families of other missing people.

On Wednesday June 13, 2007, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey will declare the day Omaha Missing Persons Day.

There will be ceremony at Memorial Park in Omaha. The Air Force Color Guard and bagpipers will be there.

The founder of the Cue Center, a nonprofit organization from North Carolina led by Monica Caison, which provides assistance for families of the missing, will be there as well. Caison has included Omaha and the event as a stop on her national tour to bring awareness to numerous missing persons cases. The tour will cover 2,400 miles, 22 stops in 11 states and 75 missing person cases.

The ceremony at Memorial Park will go from 6:30p.m.-8:30p.m. If it rains, the ceremony will move inside to Holy Name Church at 2901 Fontenelle Boulevard.

Jolkowski founded Project Jason in her son's name. She now helps other families of missing persons across the country.

petra

06-10-2007, 06:16 AM

Kelly-wanted you to know that you and yours are always in my thoughts.

I'll be with you in spirit on the 13th, lighting a candle in honour of Jason. And a few more for all the missing.

Thanks for all your good work.

Petra

Kelly

06-10-2007, 01:37 PM

Thank you, Petra, and God bless.

Ntegrity

06-10-2007, 06:34 PM

Kelly, I don't know how you deal with it. Not knowing where Jason is must be horrific. I can't imagine what it's like, but I pray this mystery will eventually be solved. :blowkiss:

Kelly

06-11-2007, 12:20 AM

Thank you. We do it because we must. Jason would want us to, anyway. I feel he is pleased, wherever he is.

USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-10-unidentified-remains_N.htm

06/10/06

Bills would require DNA help in missing person cases

SALEM, Ore. — Their faces were everywhere — first on fliers passed out in their hometown, then on billboards and even on the cover of People Magazine and in constant rotation on CNN.

After months of searching, the bodies of Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis, classmates and fellow dance squad members from Oregon City, were found in August 2002, buried in a sadistic neighbor's backyard. They would have graduated from high school this month.

Now their mothers have joined with other families across the nation who don't know if spouses and siblings are dead or alive to press for passage of laws requiring police to expand their searches in missing person cases.

Their proposal — which is under consideration by legislators in Oregon, Connecticut, Indiana and New Jersey — centers on the nearly 50,000 unidentified bodies that are held at morgues across the country while an estimated 105,000 missing persons cases remain open.

Under the bill, police would be directed to send DNA samples from bodies that remain unidentified after 30 days to a central laboratory, where they'd be entered into a national database for comparison to missing-persons cases. Families could submit their own DNA samples for loved ones who have been missing for more than a month.

Similar legislation is already in place in Colorado, Washington state and the District of Columbia, said Kelly Jolkowski, one of the founders of the Campaign for the Missing, whose 19-year-old son Jason disappeared without a trace six years ago from their home in Nebraska. Future campaigns are being organized in Missouri, New York, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, she said.

"How do I know some body in some morgue somewhere isn't my son, and they just didn't get the DNA from his body, so I will never know?" Jolkowski asked. "Families can go for years and maybe forever without an answer because these processes are not in place, and they should be."

Lending her name to the bill has made some painful memories flood back, said Lori Pond. In the earliest days of her daughter's disappearance, police thought 12-year-old Ashley Pond might be a runaway and she had to print her own fliers and hand them out on the streets of their hometown.

"There are times it brings up the loss of my daughter, but I am hoping for good to come out of all of this," Pond said.

Michelle Duffy, mother of 13-year-old Miranda Gaddis, said that in one way she and Pond were lucky, since their daughters' cases drew the national spotlight and, when the girls' bodies were found, positive identification took less than 24 hours.

Hundreds of other families never get the same kind of resolution, she said.

"If the kids wouldn't have disappeared in the same way, from the same place, no one would have cared," Duffy said. "If it weren't for Miranda disappearing, you never would have heard Ashley's name and that's sad."

Without identification, Jolkowski said, bodies may be buried in pauper's graves, or cremated, lost to a family forever.

Kelly

06-12-2007, 01:09 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Please note we are using the rain location now and another honored family has been added. Links to additional information about the featured missing persons are also included.)

OMAHA MISSING PERSONS' DAY ON THE CUE CENTER NATIONAL TOUR

Omaha Area Families of the Missing Gather to Remember Their Loved Ones

Omaha, NE, - June 13th, 2007- June 13th, 2007, marks the six year anniversary of the disappearance of then 19 year-old Jason Jolkowski from his home in Omaha, NE. To bring awareness for area missing persons cases and garner community support for the families of the missing, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey is declaring June 13th as Omaha Missing Persons' Day. Project Jason, founded by the family of Jason Jolkowski, is sponsoring an event to commemorate this day. It will be held at Holy Name Church at 2901 N. Fontenelle Blvd. from 6:30-8:30pm. The public is invited to attend.

This event will also serve to honor four other families of missing persons from the area. They, along with the parents of Jason Jolkowski, will share their stories.

In addition, the Cue Center, a nonprofit organization from North Carolina led by founder Monica Caison, which provides assistance for families of the missing, has included Omaha and this event as a stop on their national tour to bring awareness for numerous missing person's cases. The 4th annual "On the Road to Remember Tour" begins on June 11th and concludes on June 21st, covering 2,400 miles, 22 stops in 11 states, and 75 missing person cases.

This moving ceremony will begin with a march led by the Air Force Color Guard with bagpipe accompaniment. The Mayor's office will then present the Omaha Missing Persons' Day proclamation to Kelly Jolkowski, President and Founder of Project Jason, and to Monica Caison, Founder of the Cue Center.

The event will also include music and prayer, and will culminate with a symbolic white dove release by each represented family.

Featured Missing Persons' Cases:

Jason Jolkowski disappeared from the driveway of his home in Omaha, NE on Wednesday, June 13th, 2001. He was then 19 years of age. He was preparing to go to work at his part-time job, and was last seen doing his weekly chores outside. http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=131

Erin Pospisil was just 15 years old on June 3rd, 2001, when she left her home in Cedar Rapids, IA to go visit a friend. Her friend was not home, and when a car pulled up, Erin went over and spoke with the occupants. She entered that vehicle and was never seen again. http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=927

Singer-songwriter Gina Bos disappeared on October 17, 2000 after performing at a pub in Lincoln, NE. The next morning, her vehicle was found across the street from the pub with the trunk ajar and her guitar inside. http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=280

Melvin Uphoff was last seen in Rising City, Nebraska on October 24, 1965. He and his wife took their four young children to Shelby, Nebraska and spent the day there before returning to their home in Rising City. At 11:30 p.m. that evening, Uphoff told his wife he was returning to Shelby for a beer. He drove away in his blue and white 1954 Oldsmobile and has never been heard from again. His vehicle was never found. http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=341

Nearly 42 years ago, 18 year-old Jackie Rains-Kracman left her home in Columbus, NE, telling her family she was going to a wedding with a friend in Glenwood, IA. The friend returned home, but Jackie didn't. http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=725

University of Missouri sophomore Jesse Ross vanished on November 21, 2006, after attending a model United Nations conference at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago, IL. After a dance, Jesse was seen heading towards his hotel room, which was a ten minute walk from the Sheraton. Jesse never made it back. http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=729

About Project Jason:

Project Jason, located in Omaha, NE was founded in 2003 by the parents of missing young adult Jason Jolkowski. “Our mission as a non profit organization is to create and increase public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities. Project Jason seeks to bring hope and assistance to families of the missing by providing resources and support.” Project Jason serves families of the missing nationwide and has been instrumental in the recent passage of missing persons' legislation in several states through their Campaign for the Missing program. To learn more about Project Jason, please see http://www.projectjason.org, or contact Kelly Jolkowski at 402-932-0095 or kelly.jolkowski@projectjason.org

About Cue Center:

Founded in 1994, the Cue Center, (Community United Effort) based in Wilmington, N.C., provides support, services and search efforts to families of the missing. For full On the Road to Remember tour dates and locations, as well as a complete listing of cases featured on the tour, e-mail cuecenter@aol.com or call Monica Caison at (910) 343-1131 or the 24 Hour Line at (910) 232-1687.For more information, please see http://ncmissingpersons.org/

###

Kelly

06-13-2007, 12:01 AM

lostwithoutyou

06-13-2007, 12:13 AM

I was thinking about Jason today, and I will include him in my prayers. God bless you, Jason, and your family. ♥

christine2448

06-13-2007, 09:16 AM

Hello,

For all Campaign for Missing Volunteers and other interested persons:

Media Alert: CNN American Morning for Wednesday, June 13, 2007, 8:40AM EST

Wednesday morning our friends Doug and Mary Lyall from the Center for Hope in central NY will be appearing live on the CNN morning show, American Morning. They are representing Project Jason's Campaign for the Missing and will be discussing DNA as it relates to the campaign legislation and missing persons. I was unable to go because of our planned event here for Jason's 6 year missing date.

I am pleased for this opportunity to further our cause and educate not only the public, but the need-to-know; LE, families of the missing, and medical examiners and coroners. At the same time, it will bring some awareness for the Lyall's missing daugher, Suzanne, and our missing son, Jason.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Praise God for this exposure to Jason and Suzanne and for The Campaign for the Missing! Kudo's Kelly! You are AMAZING. I am also praying that someone that knows something, somewhere will see CNN this morning and call in a lead. I am taping up, was up at 6 and the show is one of those ALL morning shows, so I had to leave for work and the segment had not yet been on. I did see it advertised last night, they said tune in at 6am (they all save the best stories for last).

I am praying for all involved today. We are all there with you, Monica, and the families of the missing today in spirit.

petra

06-13-2007, 04:24 PM

Prayers for Jason, Kelly and family on this six year anniversary of Jason's disapperance.

Also a remembrence in spirit tonght for all of Omaha's missing.

None of you are forgotten. Hoping for some answers soon.

JanetElaine

06-13-2007, 09:26 PM

For Jason....

I hope the Missing Person's Day event was, I don't know the word I'm looking for, helpful to you this day, Kelly and family.

Kelly

06-14-2007, 12:12 PM

Praise God for this exposure to Jason and Suzanne and for The Campaign for the Missing! Kudo's Kelly! You are AMAZING. I am also praying that someone that knows something, somewhere will see CNN this morning and call in a lead. I am taping up, was up at 6 and the show is one of those ALL morning shows, so I had to leave for work and the segment had not yet been on. I did see it advertised last night, they said tune in at 6am (they all save the best stories for last).

I am praying for all involved today. We are all there with you, Monica, and the families of the missing today in spirit.

Thanks to one and all for the prayers and well wishes.

The CNN segment is now supposed to air on Monday, but we don't know what time as of right now.

Kelly

06-14-2007, 12:13 PM

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10042595

Published Thursday | June 14, 2007

Missing people's stories told at ceremony

BY LEIA BAEZ
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Kelly and Jim Jolkowski aren't giving up.

Wednesday marked six years since they last saw their son, Jason Jolkowski, then 19, when he left their Benson area home to walk to work.

More than 50 people attended a ceremony Wednesday night at Holy Name Catholic Church to commemorate the day, which Mayor Mike Fahey declared Omaha Missing Persons Day.

Project Jason, founded by the Jolkowski family, sponsored the event where community members prayed and listened to stories from families of missing persons.

"Things are going very good for Project Jason," Kelly Jolkowski said. "We have had national recognition in many ways.

"Awareness is key."

Jolkowski said her toughest challenge has been living day to day not knowing what happened to her son.

Through Project Jason however, she is able to show support to other families of missing people and receive support in return.

The Cue Center, a nonprofit organization based in North Carolina that provides assistance for families of the missing, included the Omaha event as a stop on its fourth annual "On the Road to Remember Tour."

Monica Caison, founder of the organization, said it's important for families of missing persons never to give up, but also to maintain a healthy lifestyle for themselves.

The tour, which runs through June 21, will cover 2,400 miles, making 22 stops in 11 states and raising awareness for 75 missing person cases.

Don and Donna Ross of Belton, Mo., traveled to the Omaha event to show support and raise awareness for their missing son, 20-year-old Jesse Ross.

Jesse Ross, who was a sophomore at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, vanished Nov. 21, 2006, after attending a conference in Chicago. After a dance, Jesse was seen heading to his hotel room, a 10-minute walk. He never made it.

"Seven months later we are still hoping for word," Don Ross said. "Thanks to (Project Jason), Jesse's story has been heard nationwide."

Kelly

06-14-2007, 12:15 PM

For Jason....

I hope the Missing Person's Day event was, I don't know the word I'm looking for, helpful to you this day, Kelly and family.

I was inspired by the other family member's speeches. Everyone did a great job!

You might want to revamp your sig. We have a new revised poster up and the link is not the same. Check out our website and see!

Kelly

06-14-2007, 01:23 PM

http://www.ketv.com/family/13502516/detail.html

(Video Included which shows families of missing Erin Pospisil and Jesse Ross speaking.)

Missing Man's Mother Wants National DNA Database Used
Kelly Jolkowski Asks States To Change Laws
6/13/07

On the anniversary of an Omaha teenager's disappearance, his mother launched a campaign to help find closure for the families of missing people.

Jason Jolkowski disappeared in June 2001. On Wednesday, his mother, Kelly, said she is pushing for new legislation. Through her advocacy group Project Jason, Jolkowski said she's helping lead a nationwide grassroots effort to better use the national DNA database to help identify the estimated 40,000 to 50,000 unidentified bodies around the country.

"Encourage families of the missing to have their DNA taken and entered into CODIS," Jolkowski said. "Then, when you have an unidentified body, these samples will match against family member samples."

Jolkowski wants states to pass legislation preventing remains from being cremated or buried without first identifying them.

"The law will stipulate that won't happen. They won't be able to do that. They must take a sample and get it into CODIS and match against family members samples," Jolkowski said.

While it could bring closure for many families of the missing, Jolkowski said it's not the outcome they will be wishing for.

Jolkowski said that currently there are eight states that have either put this legislation into place or are close to passing it. It is up for consideration in a number of others.

Jolkowski said she's been working with her state senator in hopes to have a proposal drafted for next year's legislative session in the Nebraska Unicameral.

Tranaice

06-14-2007, 01:38 PM

I think about Jason a lot. Kelly, Jason and all of you are still in my prayers.

christine2448

06-14-2007, 01:42 PM

Thanks to one and all for the prayers and well wishes.

The CNN segment is now supposed to air on Monday, but we don't know what time as of right now.

I taped yesterday morning and ran through the tape quickly but didn't see it, SO, it didn't play yesterday? OK, NP, will redo it again Monday :) Thanks!

JanetElaine

06-14-2007, 04:04 PM

You might want to revamp your sig. We have a new revised poster up and the link is not the same. Check out our website and see!

Thanks for letting me know. I check it every once in a while to see if it's still good but I hadn't done it recently.

Kelly

06-22-2007, 01:40 AM

Still no word about the CNN segment.

Good Evening,

Three years ago, our family received the shocking news that a body had been found in CA. Officials there thought that this young man was our missing son, Jason. What followed this revelation was one of the most painful periods in our life, other than when Jason disappeared.

We were told by authorities we would have to wait, possibly for months, for the information that would reveal whether or not this person was our son. I then began a diary about our experience, unsure of why I felt compelled to do this and what purpose it might serve in the future. In this diary, I documented my efforts to lessen the waiting. I decided that I would do whatever it took to find the answers and relieve my family’s pain.

For the first time ever, this diary is being made public. Most names and places in the diary have been changed. Our intent is not to disparage the involved agencies. We understand how overworked most agencies are when it comes to missing and unidentified persons. Budgets also often don't allow for training, especially in cases of missing persons.

As we always say, we’re going to have to help the public understand our cause in order for them to be willing to pay more taxes or whatever it takes to properly staff and train law enforcement to handle missing persons’ cases.

We are forever grateful for the assistance we’ve had with Jason’s case.

After we did receive the answer about this unidentified person, it took us a long time to recover from the hurt and then discover what we were to do with our story. What we learned from this experience will be revealed at the end of this series on the Voice for the Missing blog.

Our friends at the Missing People Podcast recorded a dramatized version of the diary using volunteer voice talents.

To learn more about the story and hear the audio version of the diary, please go to http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/06/62107-untold-story-awaiting-dna.html

We hope that in sharing this story, others who are going through something similar will be helped in some small way. And, as mentioned before, at the end of the series, we’ll discuss the other reasons and goals behind it.

With hope for our missing loved ones,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
News and Information Forum
http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/forum.php

christine2448

06-22-2007, 10:02 AM

Happy Birthday Kelly! Sending you lots of love!:HappyBday :HappyBday

Kelly

06-23-2007, 10:25 AM

Thank you, Christine!

Kelly

06-24-2007, 12:52 PM

Happy Birthday, Jason.

We love you and we miss you!

inquiringmindz

06-26-2007, 04:00 PM

The first thing I thought about when I heard Tanya Kach's story is you, Kelly. Keep the faith...

As always, Jason's return is in my prayers.

Kelly

06-28-2007, 04:28 AM

Project Jason Brief: Campaign for the Missing in San Diego and on America Back on Track

Good Morning,

I just returned from a 2 day trip to San Diego, CA, where I shared information about the Campaign for the Missing at the 2007 National Sex Offender Registration and Management Conference. I was the day two keynote along with Margaret Bullens, the founder of SafeNowProject. Marc Klaas, founder of the KlaasKids Foundation, and Mark Lunsford, father of Jessica Lunsford were on day one.

I was pleased to be given the opportunity to present this critical information to an audience of 200 participants, most of whom were law enforcement. (LE) Given time constraints, I was not able to review the entire model legislation, so decided to focus on the DNA mandates and the importance of connecting the dots between the missing and unidentified.

In my speech, I gave them a brief CODIS primer, discussed the Project Jason amendments, and reviewed the process of obtaining family member samples from a non-technical (advocate/'family member) standpoint. They've been given additional links and information to study (such as our DNA Training) and the contact information for our friends at the Center for Human Idenification. I was pleased to have several attendees approach me afterwards for further discussion.

For more information: http://www.performanceweb.org/CENTERS/LE/Events/L227/L227.pdf

On Thursday, June 28th, I will be a guest on the live internet show, America- Back on Track. This will air at 12:38PST. You can listen to it live on their site at http://www.qualitynewsnetwork.com/index.htm

The topic of discussion will be the Campaign for the Missing. I feel fairly certain that he will want to focus on the use of DNA to resolve missing and unidentified persons' cases. Be sure to listen in.

About America Back on Track and the program's host:

America Back on Track with award-winning broadcast journalist Tony Seton is produced by the Quality News Network to stimulate an informed discussion of where we are as a nation and how to get America back on track.

America Back on Track’s focus is to reinvigorate our country by restoring America’s honest practices and good name as a nation and to pioneer a healthy and productive future for our children’s children’s children.

Featuring news, interviews, and commentary, America Back on Track puts the day's headlines and the country's issues into perspective by exploring where we are, how we got here, where we want to go, and how to get there.

America Back on Track airs weekdays from noon to 1pm (Pacific) on numerous radio stations across the country, and live on-line. Listen to the latest broadcast! Podcasts and archives are also available. In our local Monterey, California area, America Back on Track airs on KRML 1410-AM (92.5FM Comcast).

Tony Seton got started in professional communications at age 19, on April Fool's Day 1970, working as a $73-a-week copyboy on the overnight assignment desk at ABC Network Television News in New York, while a full-time student at NYU. During the Seventies, he rose through the ranks to become a full producer at ABC, covering five space shots, six elections, Watergate, Barbara Walters' news interviews, and a decade of breaking news stories. Tony wrote, produced, directed, and reported in live and tape broadcasts for radio and television, both commercial and public, network and local, winning a number of national awards.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
News and Information Forum
http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/forum.php

Kelly

06-29-2007, 09:44 PM

If you missed the America Back on Track interview, it is archived here:

http://qnn.whiterosesociety.org/content/abot/America-Back-On-Track-28-06-2007.mp3

If you have the ability to fast forward the play to the 36 minute mark, you will be at the beginning of my interview with Tony Seton.

Kelly

07-15-2007, 01:37 AM

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10078719

Published Sunday | July 15, 2007

Advocate: Boost missing-persons staff

BY LYNN SAFRANEK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A consultant's suggestion that the Omaha Police Department create a missing-persons squad was welcomed by a local missing-persons advocate.

However, Kelly Jolkowski said her endorsement had one condition: The squad should consist of more than the one full-time officer and one part-time officer recommended in the consultant's report.

"One-and-a-half people is not enough," said Jolkowski, who has been a vocal missing-persons advocate since her then-19-year-old son, Jason, disappeared six years ago.

Changes to the way the Omaha Police Department handles missing-persons reports was part of an efficiency study released last week by Matrix Consulting Group.

Missing juveniles and missing adults currently are investigated by separate Omaha police units.

According to the study, a part-time officer in the Child Victim/Sexual Assault Unit investigates missing-juvenile cases. The caseload is high: nearly 170 cases a month.

A different part-time officer who works out of the Crime Analysis Unit investigates cases of missing adults. That officer also is responsible for investigating gas thefts and phone harassment complaints. The Matrix study recommended consolidating those efforts into a single missing-persons squad that functions under the Special Victims Unit.

Sgt. Teresa Negron, a police spokeswoman, said the study slightly mischaracterized the way Omaha police investigate missing persons.

All reports of missing juveniles under 14 are investigated by detectives in the SVU — not the part-time officer, she said.

The part-time officer checks in on missing-juvenile cases of those 14 and older and serves as a liaison between families and investigators. If a family calls with more information, the part-time officer passes it to a detective to investigate, Negron said.

Likewise, a part-time officer and an administrative sergeant review missing-adult cases, she said. Cases that need follow-up work are assigned to investigators.

Jolkowski said the benefit of having a separate missing-persons squad would be specialized training for its investigators.

But cutting the unit to the bone, Jolkowski said, would only hurt investigations.

"I'm quite sure that one full-time and one part-time officer are not going to begin to do the job properly," she said.

Amraann

07-15-2007, 03:57 AM

As always Kelly ... your awesome!
I know its little consolation as far as finding Jason goes ... but you have helped so many:)

:)

Kelly

07-16-2007, 02:25 AM

Thanks, Amraann. All the support means so much!

Kelly

07-16-2007, 02:27 AM

Healing Harbor: A Free Counseling Service offered by Project Jason

Project Jason is pleased to announce the opening of Healing Harbor.

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.
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://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/forum.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.

The Healing Harbor forum is: http://projectjason.org/dpforum/forum_display.php?id=25
Posting Guidelines, FAQ's, and other pertinent information: http://projectjason.org/dpforum/forum_display.php?id=26
The Waiting List and Questions area: http://projectjason.org/dpforum/forum_display.php?id=27

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
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Kelly

07-18-2007, 12:13 PM

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070
718/NEWS01/707180302/1002

Missing people's families await new Connecticut law

By GREG SMITH
Norwich Bulletin

NORWICH -- Families of missing loved ones are counting on a new state law to provide peace of mind when it comes to the law enforcement's handling of the cases.

Janice Smolinski of Cheshire spearheaded passage of the bill in the wake of the Aug. 24, 2004, disappearance of her son, William "Billy" Smolinski, 31, and what she said was a pattern of inaction by Waterbury police in the subsequent investigation.

She considers Gov. M. Jodi Rell's signing of what Smolinski calls the "watered down version of the bill" last month a small victory. The initial bill, as submitted, would have mandated a uniform set of procedures, covering everything from the dissemination of information to the submission of DNA samples from coroners and medical examiners.

"There is not a uniform national procedure for investigating these cases," Smolinski said. "I'm pushing to get Washington to make it a national issue. If we can just get people to grab hands here. It's not just a local issue."

The final version of Connecticut's bill rests with the Connecticut's Police Officer Standards and Training Council, which will develop and implement a policy by Jan. 1. The board is in charge of training and requirements for municipal officers across the state.

Executive Director Thomas Flaherty said the board is researching the document and will look at policies other states have in place as well as guidelines used by such organizations as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

"We plan to draw from all available resources in deciding what's appropriate," Flaherty said.

While state police follow a prescribed set of policies, there are no uniform guidelines for local police departments. Juvenile cases typically are handled with immediacy, but cases of missing adults sometimes are lost in the shuffle or not taken as seriously.

As of Jan. 1, there were 110,484 active missing persons cases in the FBI's National Crime Information Center.

Carol Cirioni of Norwich also believes the fact her missing daughter is an adult hasn't helped that case progress. Erika Cirioni, 27, a mother of two, has been missing since Dec. 31.

"I don't care how old they are, they're still our children," Cirioni said in tears Tuesday. "I just hope they're checking."

Norwich Police Lt. Stephany Bakoulis said missing persons reports are handled on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances. Because of Cirioni's history of substance abuse, the case has risen to the level of endangered missing. Because of a different, and complex set of circumstances, Billy Smolinski also is identified as endangered.

Divers search riverSeveral times city police detectives have acted on tips, searching areas for signs of Cirioni. Last month, divers searched the Thames River after a tuft of hair was discovered by a fisherman. Bakoulis said the DNA was tested and was not a match with Cirioni.

Smolinski and Cirioni say they have little hope of seeing their children alive again.

Kelly Jolkowski, president and founder of Project Jason, said the organization's Campaign for the Missing is focused on passing model legislation in each state to allow agencies across the country to use the best procedures and technology to help find the missing. Her son, Jason, 19, disappeared from her driveway June 13, 2001.

Janice Smolinski is a volunteer with the organization.

Jolkowski awaits to see the final outcome of Connecticut's law and wants to know if there are provisions requiring coroner and medical examiners to take DNA samples before disposing of bodies.

She said procedures for investigating missing person cases are minimal at best in many departments across the country. Without training and education for these departments, many of the missing will remain so, she said.

"We need to use DNA as a tool to resolve cases using the CODIS (the FBI's Combined DNA Index System)," she said. "Many time, bodies are found but never reported to other agencies. A lot of these unidentified bodies could be our loved ones and we don't know it. Thousands of these bodies have been disposed of and we'll never know the answer."

"It's not just Connecticut, it's across the board," Jolkowski said. "This is 2007. We have the technology, why aren't we using it?"

Kelly

07-20-2007, 10:51 PM

This is a repost of information, however all of the links have changed and I cannot edit an old post. We were also finding that many people did not forward this notice to LE, family members, coroners, and medical examiners they know, so it's certainly worth a repost for that reason alone. Thank you.

Dear Families, Supporters, and Friends of Project Jason,

We are pleased to announce that we have begun to provide law enforcement (LE) training by professional instructors, available in the form of audio files. These audio files can be accessed 24 hours a day on our website at http://www.projectjason.org/training.html There is no charge to utilize this training.

We began our ongoing series with a 4-part program about DNA and CODIS as it pertains to solving missing persons cases. As you know, it is critical that LE make use of the available technologies and systems in place. Obtaining DNA samples from the family members of missing persons (or DNA from the missing persons themselves) in an attempt to match them to DNA from unidentified remains is one method of finding the answers about our missing loves ones, resolving cold cases, and solving crimes.

Our guests for the DNA training are Dr. Arthur Eisenberg and George Adams from the Center for Human Identification (CHI) at North Texas University. Dr. Eisenberg pioneered much of today's DNA testing protocol and is one of the world's leading DNA scientists. "First and foremost, there never should be a human remain, a skeletal remain of anyone's loved one that would be buried or cremated without the retention of a DNA sample for analysis. If those samples are in CODIS, there's always a chance." Dr. Eisenberg stated.

George Adams is the LE liaison for the CHI, has many years of law enforcement experience and regularly conducts training for the CHI. "Once you enter a sample into CODIS, you're not working within your jurisdiction, you're working within the jurisdictions of everyone entering samples into CODIS", said George Adams. "You are bringing in so much power into your investigation. It is explosive. If we can get everyone to do this, these samples will be matched, they will be made, and the sooner we match them the sooner the law enforcement can identify who the perpetrator is, and take him off the streets."

More detailed biographies along with the audio training files can be found on the Law Enforcement Briefing Link at http://www.projectjason.org/training.html

Each audio segment is approximately 30 minutes long.

Topics covered in the DNA training modules:

History and types of DNA

Best practices for obtaining DNA samples

CODIS and State Databases

Importance of Chain of Custody

CHI Services

The nationwide crisis and the need for these processes to become standard procedure

While this information will be helpful for the families of the missing and organizations which serve them, the main goal is to disseminate this information to LE. You may feel free to forward this email to all interested persons. For families of the missing and organizations which serve them, all 4 parts will be of interest, but there are several messages of hope and encouragement in the last section. Working together, we can accomplish so much. There is always hope!

If you have a missing loved one, and do not have either their DNA in CODIS or yours, Part II discusses steps for you, and then your LE, to take.

Quick technical tips for playing audio files:

Double-clicking on the audio file on the site will download it to your PC. It may begin to play nearly immediatetely, or may take several minutes to download, depending upon which audio players you have on your PC and how you have them set up.

You can also download the files to a MP-3 player or an IPOD.

Note: Persons using dial-up internet may encounter difficulties in playing the files.

Direct links to the audio files:

Part I:
http://www.projectjason.org/audio/DNATrainingbyCHIPart1.mp3

Part II:
http://www.projectjason.org/audio/DNATrainingbyCHIPart2.mp3

Part III:
http://www.projectjason.org/audio/DNATrainingbyCHIPart3.mp3

Part IV:
http://www.projectjason.org/audio/DNATrainingbyCHIPart4.mp3

Direct links for the biographies and CHI contact information for LE:
http://www.projectjason.org/eisenberg.html
http://www.projectjason.org/adams.html

We will add more LE training on a regular basis covering a variety of topics.

Please forward this notice to interested persons, including law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, and other families of missing persons.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Free Online Counseling for Families of the Missing
http://www.projectjason.org/benefits.html#healingHarbor

Kelly

08-04-2007, 05:05 PM

I have re-written our services and benefits statement. Even though I posted this on the Resources threads, I like to post any news and updates on Jason's thread. Sadly, there are no news and updates on him.

Project Jason is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, and was established on October 6, 2003. Our organization primarily focuses on case assessment, resources, and support for families of the missing. We are not an investigative agency, nor do we perform searches. We offer services we are trained to provide. I handle all interactions with family members, and have over 100 hours of professional training in various aspects of missing persons, including emotional support, DNA, support tools, databases and related matters, case management, media interaction, and more.

All of our services are free. As a nonprofit organization, we depend on the generosity of the public to support us, so that we can continue this very important work. We ask that this support come from other members of the community, rather than the families of the missing.

Our services to families include:

Case Assessment: We take a look at the case, what has been done, and is being done, and make suggestions to ensure that certain necessary steps that the family or Law Enforcement should take have not been missed. We may also then refer that family to other trustworthy organizations, based upon the results of the assessment.

Awareness Programs:

18 Wheel Angels: Bi-monthly poster dissemination campaigns aimed at truck drivers and business travelers. It includes a listing of the featured missing persons in a national trucking publication, Through the Gears.

Adopt a Missing Person: Personalized awareness campaign in which photo buttons of the missing person and a personal biography written by family members are used to create and increase awareness.

Come Home: Bi-monthly personalized poster dissemination campaigns targeting missing person cases wherein there is evidence that the person may be living a homeless lifestyle. Poster links are emailed to participating homeless shelters nationwide who then print and place the poster in their shelter.

Voices for the Missing: Audio interviews done with families of the missing wherein they tell their stories.

Voice for the Missing Blog: Stories about missing persons along with a variety of educational information are shared.

More Services for Families:

We will create and upload a poster for the missing person and can also help them with media contacts and press releases. We provide them with emotional support and help them become empowered to seek new avenues for awareness. We place the photo of the missing person on our main website and keep a ongoing thread for updates and information on our forum. With an average of 700 website hits per day and climbing, this is also a valuable tool for awareness.

Healing Harbor: Healing Harbor is the only free online counseling service for families of the missing. One of the nation's most respected and knowledgeable counselors in the area of the emotional needs of families of the missing, Duane Bowers, provides answers and assistance via our private forum.

Family Member Forums: These private family member-only forums, provide families of the missing a way to meet and network with other family members, sharing their stories and offering each other support and additional tools for dealing with having a missing person in their lives.

Other Services:

Campaign for the Missing: This is a grassroots effort to pass legislation in each and every state that can positively effect the outcome of missing persons cases. Project Jason serves as the facilitator for this campaign, and mentors each volunteer through the process in their state.

Law Enforcement Training: Free audio training on various topics designed to provide critical information to law enforcement, with the goal of dramatically improving the number of resolved cases. This information will also be helpful to coroners, medical examiners, and the families of the missing.

Personal ID Kit: A free downloadable Personal ID Kit is provided by Project Jason in both English and Spanish. The kit contains a list of the first steps to take in the event your loved one is missing, plus valuable information that law enforcement will need. We encourage every member of the family to have one completed. No one is immune from becoming a missing person, and when it happens, every minute counts.

Project Jason Forum: Our forum provides a wide variety of news and support information about missing persons and related issues. We also provide safety information for all ages.

Project Jason: http://www.projectjason.org/

Project Jason Forum: http://projectjason.org/dpforum/forum.php

Project Jason Voice for the Missing blog: http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Contact us at:

information@projectjason.org
OR
402-932-0095

We are the Voice for the Missing; speaking for those who are not among us but who are forever in our hearts.

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

Kelly

08-21-2007, 11:07 AM

Bumping for my son...............

http://projectjason.powweb.com/dpforum/thread.php?id=1234

Kelly

08-27-2007, 08:16 PM

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5missing.6007674aug27,0,4196621.story?page=1

Lack of system for lost adults
Allentown woman's death points to problems nationwide with procedures for tracking the missing.

By Arlene Martínez | Of The Morning Call
August 27, 2007

When Yvonne Fenner's 24-year-old daughter and 2-year-old grandson seemingly dropped off the planet a month ago, Allentown police saw nothing about their circumstances indicating either was in any danger. They sent Fenner home and told her an officer would be in touch.

On Aug. 7 -- 10 days after she first went to police -- Fenner's worst fears were confirmed when the decomposing bodies of Cecilia Caban, young Luis Martinez Jr. and Caban's boyfriend, Luis O. Martinez, 30, were found in a city garage.

While Allentown police say they conducted a proper investigation, Fenner maintains authorities failed to take her pleas for help seriously.

The case and its differing viewpoints illustrate the uphill battle families face in locating missing adult relatives, the frequent lack of public interest and, advocates say, a need for a uniform, national procedure for finding them.

''I'm always going to feel they didn't do enough,'' said Fenner. ''Does it make any difference she was a 24-year-old, especially if we're telling them she's never gone a day in her life without calling us?''

Caban's disappearance did not attract national headlines, which isn't unusual, advocates for missing adults say. Few missing adults get any attention at all.

The ones that do?

''It's the woman, the mother, the white woman, and typically they're very pretty,'' said Kelly Bennett, a case manager for the National Center for Missing Adults, based in Phoenix. ''Where if it's lower class, they don't get the attention. Someone doesn't want to see someone who's overweight or has a mental illness.''

Earlier this month, Fenner said police ignored the family's case because ''we're low-class.''

Allentown Police Chief Joseph Hanna said his department treats all cases equally.

''I can only speak for the Allentown Police Department and we investigate missing persons cases with equal zeal no matter what the person's socio-economic status is or their gender,'' he said.

The bigger problem, advocates say, is a lack of a national procedure to list missing adults. And Bennett said the $148,000 the federal government set aside in 2006 to help find missing adults doesn't begin to go far enough to assist agencies and families searching for the estimated 50,000 adults whose cases remain active in the FBI's National Crime Information Center.

About two-thirds of the approximately 144,000 cases opened last year were closed within the same year, according to NCIC data.

Kelly Jolkowski's son Jason remains among the active cases, a category he's been in since he vanished from his family's Nebraska driveway in 2001.

In the painful, frustrating years since he disappeared, Jolkowski has poured time into helping families find missing loved ones in states across the country. Prompted by what she sees as the uneven approach law enforcement takes in investigating missing persons cases, she began the Web site http://www.projectjason.org and then the ''Campaign for the Missing'' in 2005.

Specifically, Jolkowski and volunteers across the country want to see the following laws enacted:

Make it mandatory for law enforcement to register a missing child with the Missing and Exploited Children and, if they're over 18, with the Center for Missing Adults. Currently, some departments do it, others don't, Jolkowski said.

My Note: The statement above is a misquote. The actual section of the proposed legislation reads as follows:

"The law enforcement agency, upon acceptance of a missing persons report, shall inform the reporting citizen of one of two resources, based upon the age of the missing person. If the missing person is age 17 or under, contact information for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shall be given. If the missing person is age 18 or older, contact information for the National Center for Missing Adults shall be given."

The article makes it sound as if we wish to mandate LE to submit the missing person information to either NCMEC or NCMA. This amendment simply states that LE will give resources to the families so the family can register the missing person.

Continuing with article:

Catalogue all remains via DNA testing, and if they are identified, have agencies attempt to notify relatives.

''That's the most horrifying thing, is to think could my son have been a body in some morgue and they couldn't identify [it] and they either cremated or buried it,'' said Jolkowski. ''This will force them to take DNA samplings to get it into the national DNA database.''

Since the 1980s, legislation -- supported with money -- has made it easier to find children: removing the 24-hour waiting period before a child could be reporting missing and instituting the Amber Alert system to notify authorities when a child is thought to have been kidnapped by a stranger. In 2006, the Center for Missing and Exploited Children operated on a $33 million federal budget.

But if you're looking for someone over the age of 21 who is not physically or mentally impaired or didn't disappear, for example, during a boating trip, be prepared to go it alone.

Five years ago, things looked promising after Congress gave the Center for Missing Adults a budget of $1.7 million and its official status as the national clearinghouse for missing adults.

But funding dwindled and last year, it dried up. Since April the center's chief executive officer has worked without a salary, and the staff was cut from its high of 15 employees in 2005 to two. Each handles roughly 12,000 cases each year.

''Unfortunately, law enforcement does the best they can with the limited resources they have,'' Bennett said. ''If they took every call [as a missing adult] and there wasn't a sign of foul play I can understand why they hesitate.''

For a person to be classified as missing and entered into the FBI's missing person's database, he or she must be a juvenile, mentally or physically impaired, or considered a victim of foul play, kidnapping or catastrophe.

My Note: The above statement is not neccesarily true, AND, as more laws, such as the Campaign for the Missing get passed, it will not be true. We feel that progressive LE do not follow this thought process.

''A lot of times it's frustrating for the family or reporting party … but there has to be a reasonable concern for their safety,'' said Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Dave Devitt. ''We want to direct our resources into the areas where we'll have the most likelihood of success.''

Devitt said his department receives calls from people all over the country looking for people who may be in the state. In many instances, state police might file the case under ''check the welfare'' status, which may consist of some interviews or checking where the person may have last lived or visited.

That's what Allentown police did in the case of Caban and Martinez, whose cause of death remains unknown. On July 28, the day Fenner went to police along with Caban's stepmother, Tammy Caban, police listed her as a check the welfare case.

When it comes to determining whether foul play is involved, Hanna said officers make a judgment call based on the information provided to them by the reporting party.

''You have to look at the facts on a case-by-case basis and determine whether the disappearance of the person is consistent with their lifestyle,'' he said.

Caban had no job or permanent residence, splitting time with her mother and father. She was issued a protection-from-abuse order against Martinez, who served prison time in 2006 for breaking the ribs of the couple's first child.

But when, or if, police knew those things is under debate. The family says they told police about the abuse during the initial report on July 28. Police, however, say they were never told about the child abuse and only learned of a report of alleged domestic violence several days later.

Fenner said she and other relatives did all they could on their own, walking the streets, posting flie rs, contacting the media and begging police to look harder.

Fenner says her daughter and grandson's deaths may have been prevented had police acted sooner.

''If they were in my shoes would they have wanted it handled the way they handled mine?''

MagicRose99

08-27-2007, 10:09 PM

Great article Kelly! I hope this law passes and you continue to do the great work you do...

inquiringmindz

09-06-2007, 12:45 PM

Thinking of Jason and all who love and miss him...

Gina_M

09-08-2007, 11:42 PM

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5missing.6007674aug27,0,4196621.story?page=1

Lack of system for lost adults
Allentown woman's death points to problems nationwide with procedures for tracking the missing.

That's a great article. Too often it seems missing adults are written off as having left voluntarily, when many times that is not the case. I'm longing for the day when every missing person and every unidentified person is listed and a DNA sample submitted. Imagine how many more cases can be solved!

Kelly

09-09-2007, 04:23 PM

That's a great article. Too often it seems missing adults are written off as having left voluntarily, when many times that is not the case. I'm longing for the day when every missing person and every unidentified person is listed and a DNA sample submitted. Imagine how many more cases can be solved!

We Agree!

Four Words: Campaign for the Missing (http://www.projectjason.org/legislation.html)

Jason was mentioned in this article about missing Jesse Ross, thanks to the kindness of Jesse's parents:

http://projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?postid=9905#9905

Gina_M

09-11-2007, 08:13 PM

We Agree!

Four Words: Campaign for the Missing (http://www.projectjason.org/legislation.html)

Jason was mentioned in this article about missing Jesse Ross, thanks to the kindness of Jesse's parents:

http://projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?postid=9905#9905

Wow, that's an interesting story about Jesse Ross. I wonder what could have happened to him. My parents live in Chicago so I'm going to ask them to put some flyers out.

I'm going to read up on the Campaign for the Missing. Does the proposed legislation exist in any of the 50 states so far?

My new video featuring Jason and other missing persons is now up at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APILwo546hQ

Kelly

09-13-2007, 01:19 AM

Wow, that's an interesting story about Jesse Ross. I wonder what could have happened to him. My parents live in Chicago so I'm going to ask them to put some flyers out.

I'm going to read up on the Campaign for the Missing. Does the proposed legislation exist in any of the 50 states so far?

My new video featuring Jason and other missing persons is now up at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APILwo546hQ

Great work on the video, Gina...thanks!

Jesse's case, in a sense, is like Jason's: nice kid, nice ordinary family, no clues.

The legislation is in place in several states in one form or another. The only state that contains all of it is OR. These states have most, but not all of it: WA, CO, DC, CA, TX, IN, and ID.

aj1020

09-13-2007, 11:41 AM

Hi Kelly - I live in Nebraska too. Is there any interest from our lawmakers to push the legislation through here?

Kelly

09-13-2007, 02:14 PM

Hi Kelly - I live in Nebraska too. Is there any interest from our lawmakers to push the legislation through here?

There will be! I would have had it started this year, but let's just say a certain senator did not keep his word, and then it was to late to present it.

If I may ask, what part of NE are you from?

Please feel free to email me for further discussion. We'd be happy to have your help.

kelly.jolkowski(at sign)projectjason.org

Kelly

10-06-2007, 05:10 PM

A Project Jason Announcement:

Good Day,

Project Jason is pleased to announce an increase in monthly campaigns on our awareness program, the 18 Wheel Angels. Currently, two campaigns per month are featured on our website at http://www.projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml Beginning on November 1, 2007, we will now increase that to 4 campaigns per month.

18 Wheel Angels is a poster dissemination campaign aimed at truck drivers, who are natural networkers. We also encourage business travelers and the general public to come to the website, download, print, and display these posters in local businesses. A special poster is made for each selected person on the campaign. An example of these posters can be found at the website and below my signature in this message. (This is not a poster displayed on trucks. It is a print and place campaign.)

All missing persons who have been featured on the campaign will have their poster available to download on the 18 Wheel Angels page on our website until they are found.

In addition to the campaign, the selected missing person's information and photo is also featured in a trucking publication called Through the Gears. This free magazine is distributed in truck stops nationwide and has a circulation of about 150,000. The selected missing persons' information will also be on the trucker.com website under Missing Persons. Depending upon available space, some families may have a short story about the missing person published in the magazine in addition to the photo(s) and basic data.

Through the Gears is one of Target Media Partner's many publications. In partnership with Project Jason, they will now feature four missing persons per month.Two will be presented in Through the Gears, and the other two will be in the magazine Independent Contractor. (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.)

What does this mean to you as a family member of a missing person?

The 18 Wheel Angels program is a great opportunity for awareness for your missing loved one. If he/she has never been featured on the campaign before, you can ask to be on the waiting list for the campaign. As with all of our programs, there is no cost to you. We develop the poster, upload it, submit it to our trucking industry partners and will also do a press release to the media in the area of the disappearance if you'd like. We have been told by several of the families whose loved ones were featured on the campaign that leads were generated from it.

What does this mean to you as an organization providing assistance to family members of missing persons?

The 18 Wheel Angels campaign can be another way you can help your families with awareness. We do need permission directly from the family to run their missing loved one on the campaign, so feel free to refer those qualified cases to us for assistance. Since we have more missing adult cases than child cases, we'd like to get some referrals from families of missing children as well. You can also forward this message to the families you serve.

Excluded case types: (This is due to the targeted nature of the campaign and in working with publishing deadlines for the magazines, which run a month or more in advance.)

Persons missing in a natural disaster, in a wilderness area, or in a body of water
Persons declared by a court of law or a law enforcement agency to be deceased
Repeat runaways, unless they have been missing for more than 6 months and their whereabouts are not known

Check here to see if your missing loved one has already been featured: http://www.projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml

If you have not registered your missing loved one with Project Jason before, please do so here: http://projectjason.org/report.html

To see all of Project Jason's benefits and services, please click here: http://projectjason.org/benefits.html

Statistics show that one in every 6 missing persons is located because of a visual aid, such as a poster. The 18 Wheel Angels campaign is one way to increase awareness, and hopefully, bring someone loved and missed back home.

With Hope for all of our missing loved ones,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Example of poster: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/KellyJolkowski/LeahPoster.jpg

Gina_M

10-17-2007, 06:02 PM

I'm so glad to read about the increase in the 18-wheel angel campaign. I pray it will help bring someone home!

Kelly

10-19-2007, 04:42 PM

Thanks for suggestions from Websleuthers, we have this in place:

What if Project Jason earned a penny every time you searched the Internet or shopped online? Well, now we can!

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.

GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates a percentage of each purchase to your favorite cause. More than 100 great stores including The Gap, Best Buy and Barnes and Nobel have teamed up with GoodSearch and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause.

Just go to http://www.goodsearch.com/default.aspx and be sure to enter Project Jason as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!

Thank you,

Kelly, Project Jason

Kelly

10-20-2007, 05:29 PM

Good Day,

Project Jason now has a new forum! The web address for our forum is http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php

The old forum had some technical issues with logging in associated with 3rd party software that could not be resolved, so we spent weeks testing a new one so that our guests and family members will have trouble-free browsing. It is of prime importance to us that our family members can access the private support areas of the forum without any problems. Now it's time to unveil the new forum, which has many new features including a calendar, and soon, a chat room.

The Project Jason Forum for the Missing is a great place to do case research for DOE researchers, family members, and law enforcement. There is one thread per listed missing person which includes all the news and information our volunteer researchers can find. Close to 1,000 missing persons cases are posted at this time.

In addition to the missing persons case sections, there are educational areas as well. Topics include the government's role in missing persons, Amber Alert news, safety and prevention, sexual predator control and management news, and much more. There is also a thread called "Good News--Missing Persons" which showcases stories in the news about missing persons who were found safe, some even after many years.

You can also find information about all of Project Jason's services and awareness programs, such as the 18 Wheel Angels. Introductions to the Campaign for the Missing and our Law Enforcement training are also included, as well as steps to take when a person is missing.

There are several private areas on the forum for family members of missing persons. In these areas, family members can meet and share tips and ideas for awareness. They can also support one another, forging new friendships with others who truly understand, all away from the eyes of the general public. There's also Healing Harbor, the only service of its kind in the US, which offers free online counseling for families of the missing.

Our forum is different than all other missing persons related forums you'll find. Our primary goal is to bring awareness for these missing persons, and secondarily, offer a safe harbor for the families. You won't find case discussion going on at the Project Jason Forum. What you'll find is a place full of information, lovingly built to help the families of the missing and support them.

Come and see who we are and, more importantly, look at the faces of our missing loved ones. They have no voice until found, so we, along with their families, will be the voice for the missing; speaking for those who are not among us but who are forever in our hearts.

With Hope, Always,

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

Kelly

11-03-2007, 06:35 PM

http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/case.cfm?id=49289

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.

opme

11-03-2007, 06:50 PM

Bumping for Jason and all those who love and miss him dearly. I pray he will be found and the truth be known .. soon. Its been far too long with too few clues.

Kelly, thank you for all that you do to help all those who are missing.

dark_shadows

11-04-2007, 04:05 AM

Bumping for Jason.

Dearest Kelly,:blowkiss:
Is there anything that I can do to help you here in Vermont?

So much love and Respect for you,
dark_shadows

2sisters

11-08-2007, 09:29 PM

Bumping this up. i think of kelly and jason often.

Kelly

11-09-2007, 04:11 PM

Thanks, everyone.

You can always print and place a poster of Jason.
http://projectjason.org/18wheel/Jason6YearPoster.pdf

We also have volunteer opportunities listed here:
http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?board=37.0

God bless,
Kelly

Kelly

11-11-2007, 02:37 PM

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/jeffersoncounty/story/16D882DFF30F9CDF8625738F001D3BFC?OpenDocument

(Article condensed)

Husband's disappearance leaves wife in legal, emotional quagmire

11/11/2007

Kyrstin Whitter has been in an emotional and legal quagmire since Aug. 30.

That was the last day she spoke to her husband of 17 years, George Whitter. Then he went missing.

She fears the worst, especially since Randy Greenman, the man with whom George Whitter was last seen alive, was found murdered, his body dumped in a Jefferson County subdivision under construction.

But to credit card companies, mortgage holders and insurance companies, George Whitter is not dead. The bills he once helped pay still pile up. His insurance and Social Security benefits aren't available because he has not been declared dead.

And even though she can't afford to keep their house, she isn't sure if she can sell it. That is, if she could even think about letting it go.

Facing these sorts of questions can be just as difficult as answering them, says Kelly Jolkowski. About four years ago, Jolkowski founded Project Jason, a nonprofit to provide support and resources to families of missing people. There were 50,930 active missing adult cases in the United States as of Jan. 31, the FBI's National Crime Information Center reported.

Jolkowski has yet to add a legal expert to the tools she offers to the hundreds of families nationwide who seek her help. She can only share anecdotes about legal issues with family members such as Kyrstin Whitter. For example, one woman recently had to divorce her missing husband to sell the house she couldn't afford without him, Jolkowski said.

Most families must wait seven years before a missing relative can be declared dead, she said.

But for many families, the act of divorcing someone, declaring them dead or selling their belongings when they are missing evokes a sense of defeat, Jolkowski said.

About six years ago, Jolkowski's 19-year-old son vanished from her Nebraska home shortly after finishing his chores. Jolkowski and her husband had co-signed his car loan, so they had to make the payments in his absence.

They learned if they published ads in the newspaper declaring the car was abandoned, they could legally sell it. However, they did not. "We couldn't do that, we didn't have the heart to do that," Jolkowski said. The car is paid off and still sits in their garage. "Selling it, to us, made a statement of, 'We don't think you're coming home.'"

Jefferson County sheriff's detectives said they have several persons of interest in the case of Randy Greenman's murder and have served search warrants in St. Louis and St. Louis County.

2sisters

11-11-2007, 02:47 PM

Gosh, I never thought about stuff like that in regards to the missing. So sad, you are falling apart and are putting everything into your missng family memebrs search and your world has stopped, but the rest of the world doesn't. obviously the finance companies could care less either. I wish there werea law of some kid on assistance for people like this.thanks for posting that for us.

LionRun

11-11-2007, 02:49 PM

Kelly, thank you for once again enlightening us on what families of the missing have to endure. I hope and pray that one day soon a skilled attorney gets on board (pro bono would be a beautiful gift) to aid your wonderful organization.

Lion

Kelly

11-12-2007, 09:07 PM

concernedperson

11-12-2007, 09:17 PM

Thank you. Yes, hopefully we can get a pro-bono because we would never even come close to paying for one!

In most places, families of the missing are not considered victims, especially in adult cases.

There's no such thing as "missing insurance". If your spouse dies, and you have decent life insurance, you'll probably be ok, but if they are missing, that's another story.

I really don't see this changing. I fear if it did, we'd have some people fake their disappearances to get their homes paid off, etc.

However, there must be some way to help.I think of you all the time. I wish I knew the answers and I still search for them. Maybe one day there will be an ironclast rule in place from LE to get these answers for families that have missing children whether they are adult or not. They are missing children. There is no separation from that fact if you are a parent.

I know that you have met many who will scam as open as you have been but know that not all are on board with that. I fully believe that karma will get them in the end. I don't believe it is our best interest not to proceed with what we can do. Even if it is meek and anonymous.

Kelly

11-17-2007, 02:21 PM

I think of you all the time. I wish I knew the answers and I still search for them. Maybe one day there will be an ironclast rule in place from LE to get these answers for families that have missing children whether they are adult or not. They are missing children. There is no separation from that fact if you are a parent.

I know that you have met many who will scam as open as you have been but know that not all are on board with that. I fully believe that karma will get them in the end. I don't believe it is our best interest not to proceed with what we can do. Even if it is meek and anonymous.

Thank you.

Yes, I believe that justice is always served at the end, and all who perpetuate scams will have theirs. Knowing that, I don't let it eat me alive with bitterness. I have too much work to do for that.

annemc2

11-17-2007, 04:05 PM

dark_shadows

11-22-2007, 09:44 PM

To my dearest Kelly,:blowkiss:
You are in my thoughts and prayers.

So much Love and Respect for you,
dark_shadows

LionRun

11-22-2007, 11:21 PM

Sending prayers and warm thoughts for you today.

Lion

Kelly

12-13-2007, 10:23 PM

Today marks 6 1/2 years since Jason disappeared from our lives. He has not, however, left our hearts. He will always be with us in spirit.

sleuthin4fun

12-13-2007, 11:14 PM

Today marks 6 1/2 years since Jason disappeared from our lives. He has not, however, left our hearts. He will always be with us in spirit.

Hugs and Kisses to you and your family Kelly. I pray that one day he will be found.

Tranaice

12-14-2007, 09:31 AM

Kelly, I think of Jason and your whole family often. I pray that someday you get the answers you are seeking so you can have some closure and some type of peace. The work you do with Project Jason is awe inspiring. God bless you all.

dark_shadows

12-23-2007, 03:59 PM

To my dearest Kelly,:blowkiss: :blowkiss:
I just want you to know that I am thinking of you.

With all of my heart and soul to you,
Yours truly,
dark_shadows

Kelly

12-24-2007, 09:23 AM

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to you all!

2008 will bring more miracles and perhaps it will be our year for answers. In the meantime, please continue to pray for us and Jason.

christine2448

12-24-2007, 10:41 AM

Merry Christmas Kelly, to you and yours! Thinking of you all through the holidays.

2008-New Beginnings.

Kelly

01-04-2008, 03:32 PM

Bumping for Jason: Always loved, never forgotten.

KT Can

01-04-2008, 03:50 PM

Bumping for Jason: Always loved, never forgotten.

Kelly, I think of you and Jason often. My wish is for Jason to be reunited with his family in the New Year.

Claycat

01-10-2008, 07:42 PM

Kelly, I'm new to this forum. I want to say that I can't imagine anything worse than not knowing what has happened to someone you love. I feel deeply for you.

I have a growing psychic ability. When I read about your son, I went to meditate and concentrate on him. I believe I may have a message for you. I don't know how you feel about this, and I will respect your wishes. Do you want me to tell you, either here or by PM, what I have picked up?

Kelly

01-10-2008, 09:16 PM

Hello,

I'm going to try to say this as nicely as I can.

Your supposed "psychic powers" have failed you in a major way. If you were truly "psychic", you would have immediately known that I am the last family member of a missing person you'd want to approach in this respect. Even just a little bit of research into our work would have shown you this....no "psychic" ability needed for that.

If you wish to know more, read the following:

http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=1098.0

Reading through the entire thread above will explain all my reasons, including those of a religious nature.

I thank you for respecting my wishes, as you indicate you will, to not pursue this.

I ask other persons reading who might be tempted to turn this thread into a debate about the issue not to do so. That would be extremely disrespectful to me and to Jason.

I don't wish to see any additional posts of this nature.

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org
Help us for free when you shop online or do a websearch:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=857029

Claycat

01-10-2008, 10:45 PM

I'm sorry such a bad thing has happened to you and your family, but you have no right to judge me. I only wanted to help. A simple no thank you would have been sufficient.

Kelly

01-14-2008, 12:49 AM

Now on to the real work.

http://www.kmtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7618433

Sunday National Amber Alert Awareness Day

Omaha, NE - When a child goes missing and is in danger every second counts. Since 1996, the Amber Alert system has helped hundreds of families reunite with their missing loved ones. Nebraska issued two Amber Alerts last year. In both cases, the child was quickly found. Now one Omaha woman who continues to search for her missing son is doing her part to help others.

To Kelly Jolkowski, "Amber Alert Awareness Day "is more than a time to celebrate the success of the program ... "Today marks 6 years and 7 months since our son Jason vanished from the driveway of our home," she said.

Jason was 19. Too old under the qualifications to have an Amber Alert issued for him.

But just because the Amber Alert couldn't help find Jason, it has reunited hundreds of other families. That's why Kelly has an Amber Alert ticker running across the home page of www.projectjason.org, a non-profit organization she created in honor of her son. "If there were to be an Amber Alert the background would turn yellow and it would give you the information on that child," Kelly said.

She says helping others helps her work through the pain of not knowing what happened to her son. "In doing our work in Jason's name and helping all these families so that they know they are not alone. That helps us with the healing. I know he would want us to do something like that."

Kelly says in March, Project Jason will launch a local awareness program to help find and reunite missing people here in Omaha.

To sign up for wireless Amber Alerts on your cell phone, log on to: www.wirelessamberalerts.org

Kelly

01-14-2008, 12:51 AM

http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=7618737

Amber Alert Message, No Matter How You Get It, Could Save a Child's Life

Posted: Jan 13, 2008 09:26 PM CST

Omaha (KPTM) -- Amber alerts helped Nebraska families reunite twice in 2007 following potentially dangerous situations.

State leaders consider the alerts a critical tool, and they want to raise awareness about the program. Sunday marked national amber alert awareness day.

The program is 11 years old and is used in all 50 states. Authorities have recovered more than 350 children during that time.

"It really asks and depends on the public to be the eyes and ears for the family and law enforcement, because they can't be everywhere," Said Kelly Jolkowski of Project Jason.

Jolkowski's son, Jason, disappeared 6 years and seven months ago Sunday.

She runs a non-profit group aimed at helping families with missing children.

"Today's parents need to teach kids about awareness, situations, and actions," Said Jolkowski

The state uses many mediums when an alert is issued. That includes highway message boards, the media, and even lottery outlets.

"The reason we're involved is we have almost 12-hundred retailers," Said Brian Rockey, Marketing Director for the Nebraska Lottery.

The state lottery became involved with the program in 2002. Outlets are able to give customers information, and get more eyes looking for the missing child.

"They're able to post messages, print it out for their customers. This display would read amber alert. It's just one more way to get the word out," Said Rockey.

The latest way to get the word out is cell phones. Its called a wireless amber alert, and its just a simple text message. But that message could save a child's life.

You can sign up to receive wireless amber alerts for your phone, online. There is no charge, and you'll only receive information about alerts in your area.