TODAY'S NEWS REPORT FROM COASTAL TELEVISION

October 16th 2012 Update: Search Continues for Valerie Sifsof

With only a couple of weeks left until heavy snow is expected, there is a great urgency to take advantage of the fall season's better visibility and continue searching the area where Valerie went missing as thoroughly as possible. We hope to find her or some clues as to what happened. 

The search continued throughout last weekend, with four boats going out every day on Six Mile Creek, and about eight searchers walking the water's edge. We covered the waterways from Granite Creek Campground to the bridge, broke up several dams, and continued as far as the rapids. Nothing definitive turned out since her sweatshirt was discovered the weekend before. Several search dogs were brought out and a couple of times seemed interested in something, but nothing panned out. The police got called away on another mission, but stated plans to return in the near future with cadaver dogs: hopefully this coming weekend. 

We are concerned about safety: a couple of volunteers didn't return at dark as planned and we were afraid they were lost, but they did find their way back. Safety has to be a priority because we don't want any one else hurt or lost. Some military personnel have volunteered to come out and help; we look forward to their assistance. Professional rafters will also be joining us to travel though the rapids and go further down stream than we've able to go in the past.  

One new approach is that we have purchased an underwater camera. We'll return to the log jam areas where a couple pieces of Val's clothing was found to look below the surface this weekend.

Thanks to those who came out last week and supported us through searching and providing food. We will have more posted soon.

CURRENT SEARCH PLANS

Valerie's family wants to thank those brave and generous volunteers who came out to help search for Valerie last weekend. Also many thanks to the news reporters and their editors/producers for continuing to inform the public and bring people together in looking for her. Those supporting the search through prayers are equally appreciated. This has truly been a community effort and words cannot express our gratitude. More detailed thank you's will follow in days to come. 

A lot more is happening the rest of this week. The Alaska State Troopers will be out in the Granite Creek Campground area where Valerie's sweatshirt was found, possibly with dogs, boats and helicopters, weather permitting. Depending on the results of their efforts, the Sifsofs and volunteer searchers will return with boats and ATV's again this Thursday thru Sunday.

There is a great concern about safety. During last weekend's search, Val's siblings Trina and Victor Jr. were in an ATV accident. They are doing all right and will be helping in the search again soon.  We don't want anyone else to be harmed, so please be very careful in our effort to find Valerie. 

If you'd like to contribute in other ways, please visit any Wells Fargo Bank to make a donation to the Valerie Sifsof search fund, which will aid in buying gas, equipment rental, supplies, etc.

Valerie Sifsof's Sweatshirt Found in Creek: Search Will Continue

Please read today's story in the ADN for an update, and see other related news in the automatic newsfeed, to the right of this post.

More soon...

http://www.adn.com/2012/10/08/2654657/sweatshirt-of-missing-anchorage.html

Please pray for Valerie and her family.

TODAY'S SEARCH: KTUU NEWS REPORT

http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-3-months-since-disappearance-sifsof-family-searches-for-valerie-20121007,0,908783.story

ATTENTION -- IMPORTANT NOTICE

ATTENTION -- IMPORTANT NOTICE

Sunday, October 7, 2012, there will be a coordinated search in the area of the Granite Creek Campground, where Valerie was last seen on July 7th. Her family is making preparations to search by foot, RTV, boat and air and are requesting the help of as many volunteers as possible.

Timing of the search is critical: with most of the leaves down visibility is much better, but snowfall in the Granite Creek area is possible at any time so the window of the search is short. Please call Val's father Victor Sifsof (907-843-0991), brothers Bryan Sifsof (907-903-7414) or Jim Sifsof (907-441-7998) or Val's Aunt Dorothy (907-227 3276) if you can help at this critical time or for any questions. Please be prepared to bring rain gear if we have wet weather. 

There will be a Pre-Search Meeting at Bryan Sifsof's residence at 7520 Chad St. in Anchorage at 7pm Sat. Oct. 6, 2012. The Search will start 9 am Sunday Oct 7, 2012 at Granite Creek Campground. (Watch for sign at entrance.) 

In the meantime, please contact web administrator Amy at amykatz@yahoo.com if you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive email updates, or you can sign up as a member to this site by clicking on the link to the right of this post and start receiving new posts automatically. 

Police continue to investigate. Tips and Media inquiries into the ongoing investigation should be directed toward Srg. Zweifel in Girdwood: michael.zweifel@alaska.gov. or call 907-783-0972

Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Letitia Baxter, the 63 year old Anchorage woman who also went missing shortly after Valerie disappeared. News reports initially did not state the name of the person who was found. Ms. Baxter's body was discovered in a heavily wooded area last week near the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail/Earth Quake park, a few miles from downtown Anchorage. The cause of her death is unknown and is being investigated. Click on the "Other Missing Persons" tab at the top of this page to read more about other missing persons in the area.