Show 7' The Herald Journal Logari Utah Friday June 14 2002 — A9 notify several major television and radio stations who broadcast an emergency signal similar to a tornado or thunderstorm warning and provide as much information as possible It’s modeled on the AMBER Alert that was begun in Arlington Texas in 1999 and has since spread to 10 states and more than two dozen cities Nationwide officials credit these alert systems with die recovery of 17 children One for example was dropped off at the side of the road when her Iridnapper got tired of hearing the description of his caron the radio “It is a very good tool that has not been available says Bob Walcott ContinDed from A2 : Demi organization founded in 1997 tq coordinate abduction-rescuefforts Perhaps even mare significant use of the though waa the Rachael Alert Named after a Utah child who whs kidnapped and found dead in 1982 the statewide system operates under die idea dial the public can be an invaluable help In the hour after abductions After the police determine dial an abducted child is in danger they e fist-ev- er - executive director of the Laura Recovery Center Foundation “You ’ put out an AMBER alert and you either made a sound and Elizabeth’s sister was so frightened that she did- n’t tell her parents until two hours J later Another factor in Salt Lake’s mas- sive response is the area’s tight sense of community It is a city molded by "the influence of the Church of Jesus Saints with its Christ of Latter-dadeep emphasis on community In fact Winter Olympics organizers found they had too many volunteers because they had expected — based on years of experience — thit a huge number would drop out Almost have 100000 people looking at once” Although it’s unclear what role the Rachael Alert played Utahans responded to news of Elizabeth's abduction on an unprecedented scale Normally Walcutt says he expects a few hundred volunteers to show up One observer suggested that as many y as 3000 came last Friday Part of that is the nature of the crime In an abduction that rivals the Lindbergh story in its boldness the kidnapper took Elizabeth from her own bedroom while her sister watched He threatened to use his gun if ' none did Yet the swollen numbers also fit a national trend Stones like Polly Klaas’s — the Bay Area girl taken from a slumber party at her home in 1993 and killed —r have gathered attention as have public-educatidrives to fingerprint children This increased awareness has led to a five-yedecline in the number of people — both adults and children — abducted annually And while each case like Elizabeth’s shows the need for progress officials say the outlook is brighter now than it has been for some time ‘Today there is a system in place and it is working” wrote Ernie Allen president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in a report on the 2001 data “The public is paying greater atten-tio- n to missing-chil- d photos and the vast majority of America's missing children are coming home safely on ar f- ' SAVE -- 50 ' i Jtt i- ! ' -- f! nfo' SAVE ?vl ! 66 V MIWirOliiMS Misses’ ft Juniors' MEN’S SAVAKE SELECTED M SWIMWEAR & UNENCOTTON $ PLEATED PANT COVERUPS c i t SAVE - KIDS 4 s' ' NON-CONTINUI- SPRING & SUMMER SHOES & SANDALS : l V' 1 ’ i ) ' Selection varles by stor Limited to stock on hand tv Basip norvseasqnal merchandise to nbt Included Sorry we cannot accept phone or mafl orders on clearance mercrandtoe ' O w V : V 1 : ' - I v ‘t i I' " V In lifap Monday ialiiitlfiea and Mnday 1H 1aaDliiwrsoceow In OgdM at Nawgali MMl In Pma at Pmn Town Canto In IL Own Loan al CmIm Vasw Mai In SMI Wi CNy at haNon Mao and SouM Town Can and TtiaDlaoovarCart Cam TIfciiaiteanEaaa Cart Onto CM Ham WEtotoyoyDSanraCiada ‘ v ' f la ai A IML f " A a -- V ' : m A' ( : "m - CB 'V' V- -' VN ::: V7V'-yv- A i'1-'- - 'i V-t v x |