Georgia State Defense Force looking for new members

The Georgia State Defense Force is looking for new members.

MySnellvilleBlog reader and GSDF member OC O'Dwyer writes, "The larger the GSDF becomes, the more soldiers we can deploy to missions like this particular search.[the Justin Gaines missing person search] The GSDF is one of the three branches of the GA Dept of Defense that report up to the Governor: Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and GA State Defense Force."

More info on joining is available at http://www.ga-statedefenseforce.info

The photo was sent to me by OC O'Dwyer and shows some of the area that they searched on Saturday when looking for signs of Justin Gaines or clues to his disappearance. You can see how small the humans look, compared to the terrain.

See their website for details on joining. I am SO glad there are folks like this in the world.

For updates in the Justin Gaines disappearance, please visit www.JustinGaines.com

PHOTO CREDIT: CPL Bridges

GA State Defense Force Joins Search for Justin Gaines

I have been trying to keep up with the latest news in the disappearance of a Gwinnett teenager named Justin Gaines, who has been missing since the beginning of November.
Justin graduated from Brookwood High School here in Snellville.

The latest I have heard is that the Georgia State Defense Force, a volunteer group, will be joining the searches. This is a good thing, because the numbers of searchers have been dwindling - maybe it's because of the holiday, I'm not sure - but it could be the creeping sense of dread that I have written about previously. People are all gung-ho to go on searches in the beginning, and then later I think people get so depressed about the lack of progress that they just find it hard to face it anymore. I know it makes me sad - I wish I could do more about it than just work here and there when I can on my blog to get some word out about the latest news and updates on Justin Gaines.

When I check my blog hit-counter, 90% of the hits to this blog lately have all been searching for news on Justin, so I work to continue to provide it. I do still feel though, that for the most accurate and up-to-date information, people should regularly check Justin Gaines' website at www.JustinGaines.com . Please check there for information on donating money to make sure you will be sending to the correct places. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people in the world, and you want to make sure your donation does go to the family as you intend it to.

The Georgia State Defense force will add 100 searchers. They are citizen-soldiers, they are not armed, but they are trained in search and rescue missions.

WSB Story
Channel 46 related news video

Justin Gaines Tribbit Page

I have tried out the Tribbit website that I mentioned yesterday. It is incredible and very easy to use.

I made a page for Justin Gaines today, so if you will contribute to the page, that would be great.
By 'contribute,' I mean add comments or messages, photos, etc.

The page URL is: http://www.tribbit.com/JustinGaines
or Click Here. The more traffic the page gets, the more people will see it, and maybe the 'right' person will see it and be moved to tell what they know about Justin's disappearance. It certainly can't hurt.

Justin is 18, and his acquaintances probably use the Internet quite a bit.
There are already MySpace users who have changed their MySpace Avatar (personal image) to Justin's picture, blogged about his disappearance, and are adding each other to their MySpace friend's list and adjusting their 'Top Friends' to show other MySpace users who have changed their picture to Justin's. This is a great free way of getting the word out.

Command Center for Justin Gaines search

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -- Family and friends of a missing Gwinnett County teen are now getting some help from a professional team of searchers.It has been two weeks since 18-year-old Justin Gaines disappeared from a Duluth bar. Thursday, dozens of volunteers scoured the area for any sign of Gaines.

Texas EquuSearch last helped find the missing grandson of an Alabama senator in Georgia. Now, they’ve set up a command center at Berkmar United Methodist Church to find Gaines.

Full story from AJC

Now from me:
Berkmar United Methodist church is on Pleasant Hill Road. The search is going on today. It started at 8:30 am. Volunteer searchers were advised to wear very warm clothes, closed-toe shoes, hats, etc. The search is being guided by the professional searchers from Texas EquuSearch, who have arrived from Texas. The founder of EquuSearch lost his own daughter in 1984, and that was the impetus for starting the search organization. It is non-profit, they do it out of the goodness of their hearts, because they have been there.

Folks on the ScanGwinnett forums are working on getting some donations of catered food, drinks, ice, etc from local businesses like Chick-Fil-A of Snellville, Frontera of Snellville, Papa John's and Pizza Hut. I think they said Frontera is donating the ice. As you can imagine, it's a big deal to feed and support a lot of hungry searchers. So if you know anyone who manages or owns a food establishment, maybe you can ask them if they can help. The location to take the things would be the Berkmar Methodist Church. I imagine they will continue to search tomorrow.