Second Jahi search center opens
More than 100 volunteers sign up <p>By Chet Barfield
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
(Sign-on San Diego.com
http://www.uniontrib.com/news/metro/20020509-9999_2m9jahi.html ) <p>May 9, 2002 <p>More than 100 new volunteers from throughout the county signed up yesterday to find 2-year-old Jahi Turner as a second search center opened at the Jackie Robinson YMCA. <p>The Friends of Jahi Recovery Centre, in a multipurpose room at the YMCA, was opened at the request of Jahi's family. <p>"For the first day, I'm impressed," said Susan Nixon, a Logan Heights grandmother who helped coordinate the startup. "We're getting tremendous support." <p>San Diego police reported no new developments in the search for the boy, who was reported missing April 25 by his stepfather, Tieray Jones. <p>The Mountain View center is intended as an alternative to one that had been operating since April 28 in a Moose Lodge in Golden Hill, not far from where Jahi was reported missing. After deploying more than 1,100 searchers over eight days, organizers at the Golden Hill center scaled back their efforts Monday, saying they would focus small teams on specific leads. <p>Yesterday, they said they hope to resume volunteer searches later this week. <p>At the Jackie Robinson YMCA, most of the initial effort yesterday was aimed at compiling names and numbers of people willing to help. A team is being assembled to assign volunteer duties according to skills, Nixon said. <p>The first search teams are expected to be sent out today to areas designated by an assistant with mapping experience, Nixon said. In the meantime, anyone who comes in asking for fliers is welcome to hand them out wherever they want, she said. <p>Businesses and individuals are donating money, food, equipment and services. Restaurateur Carl Davis offered to hold a fund-raiser at his Jamacha eatery. Sunshine Peralta-Horton of El Cajon offered to make T-shirts and organize search teams. <p>Mary Ann Doering of Clairemont came in with her 17-year-old son – and four dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts to share. <p>"I saw that grandma and my heart went out to her," she said, referring to maternal grandmother Penny Thompson's pleas in a Monday night news conference. "I just want to help. I'll go out and look for him myself if they want me to." <p>Mona Dada of La Mesa, who just completed her final exam to graduate from San Diego State University, decided on the spur of the moment to come and help. She wound up answering the phone, which was ringing every few minutes with everything from donations to psychic tips. <p>Volunteers range from teen-agers to great-grandparents. They are black, white, Hispanic and Laotian. "We've got a real rainbow," Nixon said, alluding to critics who contended the center was opened at the YMCA to focus on the black community. <p>The center is expected to be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. In addition to manpower and supplies it needs some basic stuff, such as cell phones and a laptop computer. Additional information is available at (619) 266-3677. <p>Jahi's stepfather reported Jahi missing about 2:30 p.m. on April 25, telling police he had left the child alone at a Balboa Park playground while he went to get a soda from a nearby vending machine. When he returned, Jahi was gone. <p>Police don't believe the story, according to several confidential sources, and doubt the boy was at the park that day. <p>Nixon said she and other supporters believe Jahi is alive. <p>"The people in this community feel very strongly that Jahi is out there," she said. "We're going to return him to his family. <p>"We're going to have one big celebration when he comes home, I tell you that." <p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chet Barfield: (619) 542-4572; chet.barfield@uniontrib.com
