Search Update: May 24 - 27th, 2013

Fri, Sat, Mon: hot bright sun, 65-70°, no perceptible wind. 

Sun: overcast, cool, intermittent light rain.

Searchers: Valerie's family and US military volunteers.

Friday: Sgt. James Watts, Sgt. Robert Parks and Remmey Ogoy brought out jeeps with winch and in wetsuits cleared the log jam behind day use Site 11. 

(Last fall these generous men came out to help with others from their team: the 1st/501st, Sgt. Robert Parks, Sgt. James Watts, Ben Ballard, Andrew McFarland, Reno Magsayo, Andrew Vroom, Jacob Barlow, Jason Amiott, Derek Brown, Zac Lialek, Andrew Marrero, Paul Benjamin Grantham, Remmey Ogoy.) 

Saturday and Sunday: Cleared the bank upstream as much as able. Camera in the water and covered the south bank and bend, upstream to the next site with the log bench.

The three Sifsof brothers made multiple floats down to the bridge. Ground teams walked downstream, covering the lower log jam around the bend, creek bed and campground downstream, and the confluence of Granite Creek and East Fork 6 Mile. 

Monday: Walked the length of the bend, upstream proximal and adjacent to the bank,

 including in between trees. Underbrush and grass is down with no new growth; the ground is visible. 

Timing was perfect for working with the elements. Monday, the creek had risen more than a foot overnight. The area under the trees next to the log jam is covered with water. Glaciated snow fields over gravel shoreline directly across and downstream are now under water. 

No new finds, nothing of significance. But we are grateful for all the continued assistance, and can move on to search other areas. The search is continuing!

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Volunteer Sgt. James Watts

Renewed Search for Valerie Sifsof

Published on Alaska Dispatch (http://www.alaskadispatch.com)

Home > Search for Valerie Sifsof south of Anchorage ramps up again

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Alaska Dispatch

June 6, 2013

It’s been nearly a year since Valerie Sifsof disappeared, and now that the winter snows have largely vanished, her family has resuming its search – asking visitors to the Granite Creek Campground south of Alaska’s largest city to be on the lookout for clues.  Granite Creek is at Mile 64 of the Seward Highway.
Sifsof, 43, was reported missing [1] July 11 by her boyfriend. She reportedly walked away from their campsite at Granite Creek campground on July 7, leaving her keys, ID and cell phone behind. When she failed to contact family, her boyfriend reported her missing. Sisof is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has black hair brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt-style jacket, blue sweatpants and black boots.
According to a press release from Susan Sullivan of Victims for Justice, canine teams and volunteers in rafts on the creek have been searching before vegetation leafed out this spring – “ideal conditions,” according to Victor Sifsof, who is Valerie’s father.
Last year, searchers combed the road system from Homer to Fairbanks, including the Hope area.  A sweatshirt belonging to Valerie was found in October, and the family launched a website, www.valeriesifsof.com [2], to post details about the search.
There’s still a reward of more than $27,000 if Sifsof is recovered or someone responsible for her disappearance is arrested and convicted. The fund is administered by Victims for Justice. People with information should call Alaska State Troopers, who still consider Sifsof’s disappearance as an active case, at (907) 783-0972. The reference incident number is AK12219013.
An additional reward of $1,000 through Crime Stoppers is available for tips that lead to the arrest of a felony suspect.  Call 561-STOP.

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Source URL: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130606/search-valerie-sifsof-south-anchorage-ramps-again

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