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The Search for Rachel, a father's journal

Thursday, December 1 through Sunday, December 4, 2005

The 2005 Rachel Alert Network bake sale went well. We had a smaller number of bake sale donations this year, but we were able to sell out everything without marking things down. Water sales were very high because it was so hot on Saturday. Our thanks go out to all of our donators and volunteer workers.

Even though the bake sale was a fund-raiser, it also helped get the word out that Rachel is still missing. Both long-time and new supporters came by our booth to visit with Janet and me. Georgetown is such a wondeful place, and the people here have really supported us through this horrible situation.

Monday, December 5 through Sunday, December 11

Texas EquuSearch asked me to attend a search in Georgia for missing 31-year-old teacher Tara Grinstead. I flew into Jacksonville, FL, late Friday night and then drove to Ocilla, GA, where Tara disappeared.

The search began Saturday morning. The almost 200 searchers were formed into teams, briefed, and sent to search for Tara. I worked in the command center briefing the teams before they left and debriefing them when they returned. Beth Twitty, the mother of missing Natalie Holloway, was also helping out. I previously met Ms.Twitty in Aruba when I was there searching for Natalee.

Sunday morning the attendance was much lower. Saturday a tip had come in concerning the possible whereabouts of Tara. Tim Miller, the director of Texas EquuSearch, took a large team to search the area identified in the tip. I had to leave at noon on Sunday to catch a return flight to Austin. I don't believe anything was found during any of Sunday's searches.

Monday, December 12 through Sunday, December 18

Texas EquuSearch found the body of missing Teketria Buggs on Thursday. Too many people are being murdered and thrown out like trash in the United States. Something needs to be done!

Many people have asked about our next M.U.S.T. self-defense and awareness seminar. We hope to have an early 2006 seminar scheduled soon. The first seminar will probably be in the Round Rock/Georgetown area. We also have requests for another seminar in Lakeway and one in Oak Hill/South Austin. I will post the seminar schedules on rachelalert.org/must.

I received a request for a bumper sticker last week, and I accidentally deleted the e-mail. Will the lady who requested a sticker please e-mail me back? I will get the bumper sticker in the mail ASAP.

Monday, December 19 through Sunday, December 25

This week I spoke with the task force that is working on Rachel's case. The FBI is working on a new source of information. I will update my journal with any new information that I can share publicly.

Rachel's sister JoAnn and I went through our fourth Christmas without Rachel. It's been so long, it's hard to maintain hope that she will ever come home. We do not ever want to give up.

Monday, Decmber 26 through Saturday, December 31

I usually take the week between Christmas and New Year's off to recover from the year and to spend some time wiht my daughter JoAnn. JoAnn just turned 21, so we took a 3-day vacation to Las Vegas to get away for a short time.