New Search For Kyron Turns Up Nothing

Yesterday, about 50 searchers working with seven cadaver-detecting dogs scoured rural areas north and west of Portland on Sunday, crossing from Multnomah County into edges of Washington and Columbia counties.
No sign of Kyron turned up

Meanwhile, Desiree Young struggles today with feelings of despair following yet another failed search for her missing son. My heart aches for Desiree and I hope she gets the answers she deserves soon.

Julie Powers Schenecker (50) Shot Her Daughter Calyx (16) And Son Beau (13) For Being 'Mouthy'

Mother charged in teens' shooting deaths: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com

Beaux and Calyx didn't see it coming when their own mother shot and shot them both with with a .38-caliber pistol.

Julie Schenecker left a note detailing her plans to kill her disrespectful children and then herself, saying, "They talked back and were mouthy and that she was going to take care of it," McElroy said. She provided the same motive to police who interviewed her.

According to an arrest affidavit, Schenecker shot her son twice in the head in the family car "for talking back" as she drove him to soccer practice. The report said Schenecker then drove to their upscale home and shot her daughter in the face inside the home.

What would cause a mother to do this? Julie Powers Schenecker’s mother, who lives in Texas, called Tampa police Friday morning, January 28, 2011, requesting a welfare check after receiving a disturbing email from her daughter. Her concern rose when she was unable to reach Julie by phone. She told officers that Julie had been depressed.

Her Facebook page appears to show an outwardly normal Mom with family and plents of friends.

Julie Powers and Parker Schenecker met in Munich, Germany while both were stationed there.

She worked as a Russian linguist for the Army, collecting intelligence for European agencies by interviewing refugees coming from the Eastern Bloc, said Tim Fredrikson, who served with her.

He was a rising intelligence officer who had graduated cum laude with a French degree from Washington and Lee University in Virginia, where the school yearbook is named the “Calyx.”

Interestingly enough the Department of Children and Families said it investigated the family about two months ago after getting a complaint. The tip was determined to be unfounded and the case closed. Spokesman Terry Field said he couldn't elaborate. One wonders if that could have been an opportunity missed.

My heart goes out to her husband and everyone who is suffering.

What Valentine’s Day Means To Me - Giveaway

As a practicing Catholic I love to hear the stories of the lives of the saints. While I definitely love all the love of Valentine's day I don't lose sight of the fact that Valentine's Day celebrates more than hearts and flowers.

How familiar are you with the legend of St. Valentine?

In 270 A.D., marriage had been outlawed by the emperor of Rome, Claudius II. Claudius issued this decree because he thought that married men made bad soldiers since they were reluctant to be torn away from their families in the case of war. Claudius had also outlawed Christianity in this time period because he wished to be praised as the one supreme god, the Emperor of Rome. Valentine was the bishop of Interamna during this period of oppression. Valentine thought that the decrees of Rome were wrong. He believed that people should be free to love God and to marry. Valentine invited the young couples of the area to come to him. When they came, Valentine secretly performed services of matrimony and united the couples.

St. Valentine was imprisoned and while he awaited his execution to be carried out, Valentine fell in love with the jailer's daughter, the blind Asterius.

During the course of Valentine's prison stay, a miracle occurred and Asterius regained her sight. Valentine sent her a final farewell note. He signed his last note, "From Your Valentine." Even today, this message remains as the motto for our Valentine's Day celebrations.

Today about 192 million Valentine's Day cards exchanged annually. That's a lot of Valentines and my favorite Valentine's are the ones that are made special by the ones I love.

That's one of the reasons I LOVE Valentines card's from Shutterfly. You can customize them for the special person in your life.

Did you know that you can buy your Valentine’s gifts at Shutterfly too? They have so many things to chose from and each one can be personalized with a special photo like personalized mugs.

Thanks to Shutterfly, one of my readers will be receiving 25 FREE Valentine’s cards! It's easy to win!

You HAVE to be a follower of New Day New Page to Win then just tell me which Valentine's Day card you'd order if you won! That's it. Best of all you can use the same answer to enter each and every day. I told you it was easy now didn't I?

This giveaway will begin on January 29, 2011, and ends on February 2, 2010 at 11:59 PM ET. You MUST leave a separate comment for each entry you wish to make. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 years old or over, and the winner will be chosen by random.org. The winner will be contacted by email and will to respond by February 4th in order to receive your prize. Once I have received a response from the winner’s the name of the winner will be posted here.

In keeping with the FTC rules I would like to inform you that I received no financial compensation for this post. The people at Shutterfly will be providing me with 25 Valentine's Day cards described above agreed to will also be supply 25 Valentine's Day cards to one of my readers. The opinions expressed in this post are my own

If you are a blogger, I have more news for you. You can promote your Shutterfly blog post on Facebook and Twitter “Tell Shutterfly what Valentine’s Day means to you, get 25 free cards

Forever Home Wanted For These Adorable Animals

I have a wonderful and caring young man in my classroom who works at our Vets office. He knows I am a sucker for an animal in need but with two elderly dogs with health problems and our new rescue dog we just don't have any room in our home for another pet.

Kyle knew I love animals and brought me photos of these beautiful animals that will soon wind up in our local animal shelter. The Vet where Kyle works has been taking care of these animals since they were brought in to him but living in a Vets office is no place for an animal to live. Each and every one of these animals just needs to find one person who could open their hearts to the possibility of an unconditional love like you've never known.



Theo is a 5-6 month old short haired tabby. He loves to be held and petted, a classic fat cat. Theo has been neutered and is up to date on vaccines and flea prevention. He is located at West Rome Animal Clinic, 2012 Shorter Ave. through 1/31/11 when she will be sent to Animal Control and have one week until being euthanized. West Rome Animal Clinic: 706-235-8861.



Pixel is a short haired calico and is about 5-6 months old. She is energetic and playful but also loves to be held, petted, and sit on your shoulder. She is a special needs cat because of occasional digestive issues. Pixel has been spayed and is up to date on vaccines and flea prevention. She is located at West Rome Animal Clinic, 2012 Shorter Ave. through 1/31/11 when she will be sent to Animal Control and have one week until being euthanized. West Rome Animal Clinic: 706-235-8861



Matilda is a Labrador Retriever Mix and has just finished her treatment for mange. She is about 6-8 months old and very energetic as most puppies are. She has been spayed and is up to date on vaccines and flea prevention. Matilda is located at West Rome Animal Clinic, 2012 Shorter Ave. through 1/31/11 when she will be sent to Animal Control and have one week until being euthanized.
West Rome Animal Clinic: 706-235-8861



June Bug is a black domestic short hair and is about 6-7 months old. She is very loveable and loves to be held and petted. She was found on Shorter Ave. and had apparently been thrown out of a car as a kitten. She had an eye injury that has now healed completely. June Bug has been spayed and is up to date on vaccines and flea prevention. She is located at West Rome Animal Clinic, 2012 Shorter Ave. through 1/31/11 when she will be sent to Animal Control and have one week until being euthanized. West Rome Animal Clinic: 706-235-8861

Please remember that there are hundreds of dogs and cats like these that have been abandoned and would love to fill your home with love and joy. Thank you so much.


***************UPDATE***************************

All of the cats has been taken by a local rescue organization. They still need a home so as soon as I get more info I will post it. The puppy Matilda still needs a home. I will be updating his information Monday when he is scheduled to be send to the pound.

New Photography Exhibition at Fernbank Museum Reveals the Natural Artistry of Seascapes

Fernbank Museum of Natural History presents the gallery exhibition Seascapes: Photography of Sandra Gottlieb from February 5-August 14, 2011. With a keen eye for the fleeting phenomena of clouds and light, Gottlieb captures the skies and waters of the Atlantic Ocean in this exhibition with beautiful large-scale images that range from the abstract, to the painterly, to the highly dramatic.

Seascapes is a series of 40 large-scale color photographs that concentrate on the sky and water. The images were taken primarily from a single vantage point overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY. Some of the later pictures in the series were shot on the southeast coast of Florida.

Most of the photographs were taken during sunrise and sunset, but the photographer also includes a few from the midday hours. Each day’s photography brought a different view of the sea – peaceful and calm, tumultuous and angry, and often a combination of both – depending on time of day, time of year, and the weather. Each day’s work produced just one image, whether it took a single shot or a number of rolls to capture. Gottlieb’s process included focused awareness of the delicate changes in the light and the clouds. A former dancer, the photographer regards her dancing experience as the source of her appreciation of movement in nature.

These photographs began with strongly abstract images, and transitioned later into more representational. However, all the images share a minimalist aesthetic, using natural objects such as the sun, rainbows, and clouds in a strongly geometric structure to explore the remarkable ever-changing beauty of the sea and sky at each fleeting moment. This work invites viewers to connect to their own memories of the edge of the sea.

Seascapes: Photography of Sandra Gottlieb is included with Museum Admission, which is $15 for adults, $14 for students/seniors, $13 for children ages 3 to 12, free for children 2 and younger, and free for Museum Members. To purchase tickets in advance, visit fernbankmuseum.org or call 404.929.6400.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road, NE in Atlanta. Other happenings at Fernbank include: The special exhibition Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids, on view February 19-August 14, 2011; the grand opening of the all-new children’s exhibition Fernbank NatureQuest in late March 2011; and blockbuster IMAX® films, including Animalopolis (showing through March 17, 2011), Journey into Amazing Caves (showing through March 17, 2011) and Greece: Secrets of the Past (currently showing Friday nights but will show daily beginning March 18, 2011). For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org

New Martinis & IMAX(r) Season at Fernbank Museum

After the annual December break, Martinis & IMAX® is back on Friday nights at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. The 2011 season promises good times, lively music, fantastic films, delicious food, and refreshing cocktails—all beneath the world’s largest dinosaurs. Martinis & IMAX® is held every Friday through November from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and features a special Salsa Night on the third Friday of each month.

Atlanta’s original destination for cultural nightlife, Martinis & IMAX® will feature Journey into Amazing Caves at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Greece: Secrets of the Past at 8 p.m., and The Greatest Places at 10 p.m. on the five-story IMAX® screen through March 17, 2011. Fernbank will have a new film schedule in the spring.

One of the most popular nights for Martinis & IMAX® is offered in February when Fernbank features a special Valentine edition of Martinis & IMAX®. This year’s Valentine’s Celebration will take place on Friday, February 11 and will offer an all-inclusive package with two film tickets, a dessert, a bottle of wine, and more for only $45. Individual Martinis & IMAX® tickets are also available, which include one film ticket (no food or drink included), for $12 each.

Salsa Nights turn up the heat on the third Friday of each month with live Salsa dancing and great Latin tunes. Salsambo Dance Studio offers free dance lessons during the evening when they aren’t entertaining everyone with their electrifying moves on the dance floor.

Every Friday night of Martinis & IMAX® is different in its own way, but it’s always consistent with great films, atmosphere, music, cuisine, people, drinks (including our famous martinis), and fun. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the exhibition Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids during Martinis & IMAX with special extended exhibition hours on Friday nights through March. The exhibition, which opens February 19, reveals how living and prehistoric animals inspired dragons, unicorns, mermaids, and more while exploring how cultures throughout time have created mythic creatures to explain the natural world.

Martinis & IMAX tickets include admission to one IMAX® film and are $12 per person (only $8 for Members). There is a $7 cover charge for those not purchasing either and IMAX® ticket or Mythic Creatures ticket. (The cover charge does not apply to Museum Members.) Mythic Creatures admission is not included in standard Martinis & IMAX® admission but those ticket prices will be announced soon.

To reserve tickets, call 404.929.6400 or visit fernbankmuseum.org.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org.

Amanda Bennett Murder: Mother, Three Children Found Shot To Death In Burned House

The Bible says that Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart. (Proverbs 18:8) They certainly have the power to wound mortally.

No longer is gossip dished over coffee and donuts or over the fence as we hang our clothes.

Instead, we know hide behind a computer screen, nameless, faceless, people who use their anonymity to spout the most vile and hateful things with little concern about the possible consequences.

About four months ago I was checking out a story that was happening in another city and when I googled it I was directed to a forums area of the area's paper.

I was shocked at the various subjects being discussed in that paper. There was a thread asking about a particular gentleman and whether the poster should pursue this "hawt" young man. Another thread went on and on speaking ill about their local school board because their child was suspended for "no reason".

I was taken aback by the number of threads that had nothing to do with the news. I thought it was an anomaly. Something just unique to West Virginia. It appears that I was very wrong.

When I woke up Sunday morning I heard the new headline saying that a mother and her three children were found dead in their home in Austin, IN.

A family member called and asked police to check on the welfare of the residents of the home. When the officer entered the residence, he noticed parts of the home had been burned. The officer conducted a quick search of the residence and found up to four deceased victims inside.

They say 30 year old Amanda Bennett died from a gunshot wound to the head area and smoke inhalation. Her two daughters, 14 year old Jasmine Abbott and 9 year old Katelynn Bennett also died from gunshot wounds to the head area, as well as her son, 4 year old Ryan Bennett. Katelynn also suffered from smoke inhalation.

The question that is on the lips of many is why? Why would a woman take her life and the lives of her three children?

It appears for now that the only clues are what are perhaps, Amanda's final words.

While searching the net I learned that the police were very curious in a post that was written in the Crothersville Forum. By the time I got to the forum over 800 people had posted to that particular thread and so it took me a little bit of searching to find some of the relevant posts.

Just like that forum from West Virginia, this forum seems to have lots of threads that seem to have nothing to do with the news of the day. Rather they seem to be a place to air ones dirty laundry, pontificate, and just plain gossip.

In her angst and fury over a pending divorce with a cheating spouse, Amanda Bennett turned to a local message board to vent, and to respond to gossip being spread about the family's sordid drama.

At first Amanda used the name "his wife" but on her very last post which was located on page 23 she changed her name to: Gone forever.

This thread no longer exists but here is some text from the original post which was located in a thread dedicated to gossip from Versatech, her husband's employer.

It was getting late as I was working back through the posts but I did notice that some of the people who joined the thread made comments which only seemed to want to inflame the situation.

Here are some of the posts I chose to copy (FYI all posts are as originally posted and I did not edit or correct spelling):

Page 17 his wife posts: Someone tell me how after ten years a person is suppose to just let go of everything they worked for in life and why others think they have the right to take it away and it's not crazy to love your husband as much as i do a woman is suppose to love her husband that much and if I didn't get mad or act the way I have over it then that would mean I didn't love him much at all . So you all can say I'm obsessed or crazy if you want but if you ever go through what I just have believe me you don't know what to do or how to feel so am I obsessed no I'm not I'm just a mad black woman that has been done wrong by my husband and as for Jan you need to take a look at you kids and ask yourself is what your doing worth hurting them cause that's what you and John has done to my kids to me nothing in the world is worth my kids being hurt and no one is worth more to me then my kids so the next time you call or txt John think about your kids first and how they would feel

Page 19 his wife says: you only say that because John told you that's what happend so why don't you mind your own business
You have no idea what went on in my home John can say what he wants to make himself look better I don't care he knows the truth and so do I he just don't know how to tell the truth anymore he told her he filed for divorce and at the same time asked me not to and many other things they can have each other but he needs to step up and be a dad instead of pushin his kids to the side

pg 20 his wife says:

And to everyone that thinks I was such a bad wife for writing a letter to a FRIEND why do you think it's ok for him to cheat with a married woman I have every right to be pissed off at the two of them and he didn't think I was that bad otherwise he wouldn't have been spending time with me on the side he just wanted you All to think bad of me so you wouldn't think bad bout him the day you Hank was at hardies with him he was suppose to be shopping for his kids but hangin in the bar with you and the rest of his new buddies was more important I guess so that's why I'm so mad he needs to put his kids b4 you or anyone else and he hasnt

Another post on this page from his wife: Oh wait you better ask him considering he tells so much of the truth now it cracks me up he lied to her bout so many things like filing for a divorce I am the one that filed he asked me not too and I only did it because i found those messages so for all his friends that he told I was so bad tell me why if I was so bad he didn't want me to file and was spending time with me when my kids were at school

At the beginning of page 23 his wife changes her sign in to gone forever. This is the post that the police are most interested in:

He just won't stop hurting us with his words and actions so it's time to take the pain away so John Bennett this is for you you got what u wanted no wife an no kids u put her b4 them and u say it's because of the way I act well that has nothing to do with your kids so now you have your truck and your hoe and some family but even they don't think you bein a good dad and they know I didn't do anything to deserve this

Gone forever:

And to everyone that believed John you don't know me and I know I have been crazy but have you ever ha this happen to you after this i hope you people don't think it's right to cheat or hook up married people anymore and don't feel sorry for him he did it himself just b4 I wrote this we were on the phone he hung up cause Jan was cAlling so he needs a wake up so he don't do it to anyone ever again only he won't have his kids he'll have to make new ones.


Sadly, while I may which that tragedies like this should cause people to reflect about what they are posting before they hit the send button, I don't believe that it will. As you read through the thread you watched helplessly as participants seemed to make various comments about her, mentioning her weight, etc. and all the while enjoyed the drama as it played out to it tragic end. It will be easy for them to dismiss it as not their fault because she must have been crazy.

It is so much easier to say hurtful things when we do not have to look into the eyes of another person. We say things we would never say to others in person. It's so easy to forget this in this social media universe we live. It is a world in which we risk depersonalisation, alienation, and self-indulgence if we enclose ourselves in a sort of parallel existence, or excessive exposure to the virtual world.

Was this woman mentally ill? I have no idea? She was obviously in a great deal of pain. Certainly the acts that she committed were heinous and there are NO excuses for the murders of her beautiful children. These children were the innocent victims. Sadly, it is left to those who are left behind to sort out what can never fully be understood.

Family members have scheduled a visitation and funeral service for Bennett and her children.

The visitation will be on Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the First Christian Church on West McClain Avenue in Scottsburg.

The funeral will be on Wednesday at 11 p.m., also at the First Christian Church. The burial will be private.

Donations can be made to the Collins Funeral Home at 465 W. McClain Ave., Scottsburg, IN, 47170-1239.