Contacting Amber

Anyone wishing to help please contact Jody Simmons, Carol Simmons, Lori Simmons or Tracye Smith. Do not contact Amber directly. Thank You.

Missing Mother: Amber's Story

My name is Amber Simmons, I am 15 years old and I lived in Paris, TN my whole life- until recently. My mother, Rachel Conger, went missing when I was 13 years old. For over 10 years, I witnessed my step father, Paul Conger, abuse my mom. I have seen him hurt her in many ways like, choking, hitting, slapping, and holding guns to her head. He had threatened many times to kill both my mother and I.

We never thought anything like that would actually happen. My mom and I were best friends and I shared everything with her. She was taken from me by someone I loved and trusted. About a month before she went missing- my mother and my step father got into a huge fight- she had learned to just let him yell but he took it to far this time. I had two friends over and he was threatening to kill me and my mom’s two pregnant dogs. He kicked us out that day. My mother had been working in Clarksville TN, so she got all of our things and she took them to a friend’s house. I stayed with one of my friends in Henry County so I could still go to school. We found a house in Como, TN. I was so happy to finally get out of that house and away from him. We were doing so well on our own while he was barely able to buy food for himself.

That is when he decided he needed us back in his life. My best friend lived down the street so I was always at her house and she was always at mine. On March 12th, 2008 I had been hanging out with a few friends that lived close to me when my mom came home in her friends truck- apparently she was borrowing it because she had been given a couch. Her car was still in Clarksville. Paul was with her, I had gone out of my way to give him a dirty look and be rude to him. They got the couch in and she told me she had to go over to his house to get some of her things. I was going to church that night so I was said okay. I went to the church down the road and when my friend and I were walking home I tried calling my mom a few times- she didn’t answer so I went ahead and went to my friends house. Finally, at around 9:30 I got her on the phone but Paul answered. I asked to talk to my mom and he asked to "borrow" her for a night. Of course, I said no and asked to talk to my mother. That made him mad and when she got on the phone she sounded like she had been crying. I told her, "I want you to come home momma." She told me she would come get me.

When they pulled up to my friend’s house, I saw he was there and it made me so mad. I gave him dirty looks the whole time. When we got to my house he decided he needed to go take a shower. While he was gone my mom told me what was going on she said that he said if we didn’t let him in our lives then he would burn the house down with us in it, then she told me if I heard anything during the night to crawl out of my window, run to my friends house and call the police. Then she told me I will always love you no matter what happens. I had to walk to my friends house and get my cell phone charger. When I came back he was at the house so I quickly went to bed, not wanting to see him.

When I woke up on March 13th, 2008 my mother was not there. The bed was unmade, dishes were in the sink, and the back door was open. All of those things were very unlike her. I figured she had went to town to get something or maybe Paul was making her take the truck back and say he didn’t need his help anymore. She had told me to call her friend Doug and let him know the situation, they were NOT involved in any way other than friends he just wanted to help us out. So I started calling all of my mom’s friends after calling her for the 10th time with no answer. Doug hadn’t seen her and thanked me for the heads up, none of her other friend had seen her either, so I decided to call Paul no answer form his cell or house phone. I called everyone I knew and no one had seen either of them.

I decided to get dressed and call my friend to come over when she got there, I told her everything. We watched a movie, frequently calling my mom with no luck. Around four o’clock my friends mom took me to town, I went to my dad’s house to see if he had seen her and of course he hadn’t so I went to the police to file a missing persons report. I was so scared. They put out an APB (all points bulletin) to look for the license plate number of the truck that they were in, they couldn’t find it.

Around 11 that night I still hadn’t heard anything so I called my dad and grandma to come get me. We got my two dogs and I stayed with my grandma that night the next day they stared flying helicopters and searching for them both. They found the truck that Friday with my mom’ belongings in it like her phone and purse. On Sunday, they found my step father dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound. They continued to search for my mom with no luck.

Over the summer of ’08 I held a car wash, bake sale, yard sale, and a benefit concert to raise money to bring in search teams. I rose about 6,000 dollars in the end. I was able to bring in two search teams, United Response Search and Rescue, and The Cue Center for Missing Persons. I am so grateful to them for their efforts but my mother is still missing. I have had two candle light vigils and one balloon release. It will be two years since I have seen my mother on March 13th. I know she could never leave me because we were best friends and she loved me more than anything else. I lost my Mother at 13 years of age and I haven’t been the same since. I need closure and answers. So far I haven’t got them but I hope one day I will have them.



Thank you for your time,

Amber Simmons

Prayer

There is nothing to update, we have not been in contact with any search organizations since the last time something fell through. It gets discouraging, to say the least. I would like to take the time to ask everyone to keep praying for Rachel to be found, keep praying for Amber and Louise to have strength in what is still a difficult time.

Amber has moved with her father to Georgia for a fresh start. A place where no one talks behind her back about her mother, a place where she is free of the mindless gossip about Rachel and Paul that people spread. A place where some people do not side with the man that abused her mother and then did what changed Amber's life forever. We love Amber, we miss her dearly, but we understand.

We will update as we can, but the updates are few and far between. It is now fall, if any search teams are interested in coming to search for Rachel, we would love to speak with you. We can always be reached at bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com, phone contact info can be provided via email. We are not giving up in our search for Rachel, we feel that she deserves to be found, but we do need help in accomplishing that goal.

Remember My Name

Rachel Conger

Oct. 11, 1977-

March 13, 2008

Remember My Name

When you remember my walk upon this earth

Look not into my steps with pity.

When you taste the tears of my journey

Notice how they fill my foot prints

Not my spirit

For that remains with me.

My story must be told

Must remain in conscious memory

So my daughter won’t cry my tears

Or follow my tortured legacy.

Lovin’ is a tricky thing

If it doesn’t come from a healthy place,

If Lovin’ Doesn’t FIRST practice on self

it will act like a stray bullet

not caring what it hits

You may say:

Maybe I should’ve loved him a little less

Maybe I should’ve loved me a little more,

Maybe I should’ve not believed he’d never hit me again.

All those maybes will not bring me back – not right his wrong.

My life was not his to take.

As your eyes glance at my name

Understand once I breathed

Walked

Loved

just like you.

I wish for all who glance at my name

To know love turned to fear –

kept me there

Loved twisted to fear,

Kept me in a chokehold

Cut off my air

Blurred my vision

I couldn’t see how to break free.

I shoulda, told my family

I shoulda told my friends

I shoulda got that CPO

Before the police let him go

But all those shoulda’s can’t bring me back

when I lied so well
To cover the shame

To hide the signs.

If my death had to show

what love isn’t

If my death had to show

that love shouldn’t hurt

If my death had to make sure

another woman told a friend

instead of holding it in

If my death reminds you

how beautiful

how worthy

you really are

If my death reminds you

to honor all you are daily

Then remember my name

Shout it from the center of your soul

Wake me in my grave

Let ME know

My LIVING

was not in vain.

Copyright 1995 Kimberly A. Collins, Washington, D.C., reprinted with permission.



http://peace4missing.ning.com/forum/topics/remember-my-namewriting-toward

On the Anniversary of Rachel's Disappearance

It has been twelve long months since Amber Simmons has looked upon her mother's face, and yet this 14-year-old child soldiers on and holds her head up high, despite those who want nothing more to tarnish her mother's name or insinuate that her mother left her willingly. Rachel Conger was thirty when she disappeared on March 13, 2008 from her Como, TN home that she shared with her daughter, Amber. Amber's stepfather had spent the night of March 12 at Rachel and Amber's home. When Amber woke up on the first day of her spring break vacation, neither Rachel or Paul was in the house. The backdoor was standing open, which is something that Rachel would never do. There was no note left, no voicemail on Amber's cell phone from Rachel saying when she would be back. Fast forward to Sunday, March 16. Paul's body was found in the woods off of Briarpatch Lake Rd., he had taken his own life but left no clues as to where Rachel could be found.

Over the last year, Amber has organized fundraisers and recruited some of the nation's best search and rescue organizations to come to Henry County and look for her mother. Amber has spent each of the last 365 days in her own mind wishing that she could just have her mother back. To the people who have graciously donated to help bring Rachel home, we thank you. To the people who have kept Amber and her family in their prayers, we thank you. It is people like you who make it possible for Rachel's family to keep searching for her. To the people who only have the time to gossip and insinuate negative things about Rachel, please consider that at the heart of this tragic situation is a 14-year-old girl who desperately misses her mother.

Amber and Louise are holding a candlelight vigil this evening at 5 p.m. at Birds Creek Baptist Church, on Whitlock Rd. to mark the one-year anniversary of Rachel's disappearance. The vigil is open to the public. They could really use everyone's thoughts and prayers on this day.

Press for Rachel Conger

Lately, several media outlets have ran stories about Amber and Rachel. We are grateful for the media coverage because it helps to keep Rachel's name out there, so that the public does not forget that this amazing mother is still missing. All articles can be found by clicking the following links:

Weather Limits Conger Search on the HenryCountian.com

Daughter Yearns for Closure in Case of Missing Mother on the Paris Post-Intelligencer website

Search for Missing Woman Resumes on WBBJ website

CUE Center Search

On Saturday and Sunday, CUE Center for Missing Persons performed an extensive search for Rachel under rather harsh conditions. All day on Saturday, rain and sleet fell, making the searchers job that much more difficult. On Sunday morning, searchers had to deal with the snow that fell the previous night. Although we were lucky that unlike most areas only a small amount of snow fell in the Henry County area, searchers still had to contend with slippery mud and freezing temperatures. Even in all of this, the CUE volunteers and HCSO deputies never gave up. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the search, whether it be volunteers that turned out for the search or the people who donated money and/or food to keep the searchers well fed during their time here.

We received a tremendous response to our call for help with donations, and we are very grateful to everyone that gave what they could! The search for Rachel was unsuccessful this time, but CUE is interested in searching again, and we would appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers to find Rachel!

Searches for Rachel

There's something special about the people that comprise the two search teams that have and will come in the future to search for Rachel. We cannot say thank you enough to these wonderful people that take time out of their lives to come and perform this job. So, with that being said, we still want to thank United Response for everything that they did and continue to do to help us try to find Rachel, and thank you to the CUE Center for featuring Rachel on the National "On the Road to Remember" Tour, and the upcoming search. These are two wonderful organizations ran by wonderful and caring people, and we want them to know how much we appreciate both groups. God Bless all of you in everything that you do!

CUE Center Search for Rachel

Bring Rachel Conger Home

Email: bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com

The Search to “Bring Rachel Home”

One Henry County Daughter’s Incredible Effort to Find Missing Mother

On Thursday, March 13, 2008, thirteen-year-old Amber Simmons awoke to a day that would change her life forever. Amber woke up on her first day of Spring Break to find her mother, 30-year-old Rachel Conger, gone without a trace. In the months following her mother’s disappearance, Amber turned her attention to raise funds to bring professional search organizations to Henry County to look for her missing mother.

Community United Effort (CUE) "Center for Missing Persons" toured 17 states in 12 days on their 2008 Road to Remember Tour to raise awareness of missing persons. Rachel was featured as Tennessee's missing person and a stop was made at Memorial Park on September 1, 2008. Additional information about CUE Center can be found at :

http://ncmissingpersons.org/aboutcue.htm

On February 28 and March 1, the CUE Center for Missing Persons, based out of Wilmington, NC, will conduct all day searches for the remains of Rachel Conger. The director of CUE Center, Monica Caison, stated that they are providing this service free of charge and will bring twelve K9 dogs and their handlers, and search teams from North Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Florida and Maine.

Donations for the searcher’s lunches are requested from individuals and businesses that are willing to help. Email bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com if you would like to help donate!


Items needed for lunches:

*Sandwich meats

*Bread

*Fruits (bananas & apples)

*Small bags of potato chips

*Bottled water

*Granola bars

*Napkins

*Lunch bags

*Ziplock sandwich bags

We need at a minimum, enough of each item for 200+ lunches!

The Broken Chain

For Amber, on her mother's day of birth
(Originally posted by her grandmother, Carol Simmons)



Rachel Lynn Younger Conger
Oct. 11, 1977-March 13, 2008


The Broken Chain

We little knew that morning,

that God was going to call your name.

In life we loved you dearly,

In death we do the same.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

you did not go alone;

for part of us went with you,

the day God called you home.


You left us peaceful memories,

your love is still our guide;

and though we cannot see you,

you are always at our side.

Our family chain is broken,

and nothing seems the same;

but as GOD calls us one by one,

The Chain will link again.

~author unknown~

Rachel's 31st Birthday

On the website created for Rachel Conger, there is a counter that lists the time since Rachel's disappearance, but for Rachel's daughter, Amber Simmons, it feels like an eternity has gone by. Amber said that she wants people to remember that her mother was a good person, and that she wants her found more than anything. Saturday, October 11, is Rachel Conger's 31st birthday. We would like everyone to take the time and say a prayer for Rachel to be found, and for Amber to get the peace that she needs so much.

Find Rachel Conger Benefit Concert

Country artist, Mary Elizabeth Murphy, is the proud organizer and featured entertainer of the "Find Rachel Conger" benefit concert, to be held September 6th at 5pm at the Casey Jones Amphitheatre in Jackson, TN.

Rachel Conger is a 30 year old mom and has been missing since March 2008. She has a 13 year old daughter, Amber, who is devastated that her Mom is missing. Mary Elizabeth stated in a MySpace bulletin that, "I am 16 and only three years older than Amber. I can not even begin to understand what Amber is going through." Mary Elizabeth went on to say that "I love my music, and am working hard to get my career going, but I have always wanted my music to make a difference, and have a positive effect on people's lives. What better way, than to raise money for those in need? Not only me, but some of my friends are joining me in this event." At the benefit concert, CDs, T-Shirts, Autographed photos, and more will be for sale. There will also be a concession stand available.

Please grab your lawn chair and/or blanket and join us for this event! We are asking for a $10 ticket fee (or more if you feel led).

We would like to say that words cannot express how grateful we are to Mary Elizabeth for organizing this event!




The following MySpace bulletin was written by Mary Elizabeth Murphy, featured musician & benefit organizer for the FIND RACHEL CONGER benefit concert.

I want to let you know about the benefit, FIND RACHEL CONGER ,I am doing this weekend. It will be this Saturday, Sept.6, at the

Casey Jones Village Amphitheatre
56 Casey Jones Lane
Jackson, TN 38305
beginning at 5pm EST

This benefit is not to bring attention to me or any of the other entertainers, but to raise money for the BRING RACHEL HOME SEARCH FUND. Rachel has been missing since March. She has a 13 year old daughter, Amber, who is devastated by her mom being out there, and not knowing what has happened to her. I am 16, and I can not imagine the pain she is going through. She and her mom are close like me and mom are, so I want so badly to help her, and this benefit is the only way I know that I can, except for praying, which I do also.

You can get all the updated information at
http://bringrachelhome.blogspot.com.

I want to invite you to come to the benefit on Saturday. Not only will we have having singers, we will have booths set up to sell CDs, autographed photos, T-Shirts, and other things, Also, there will be a concessions booth. Ticket prices- $10 requested, more if you feel led. Or, if you would like to help out at the event, that would be WONDERFUL!!!! ALL monies will be donated to the fund.

If you will be not able to attend, but would like to contribute to this benefit, we would appreciate donations, of drinks, snacks, CDs, T-Shirts, Autographed photos, and/or money. PLEASE help me, help Amber find HER MOMMA.


Here is a list of entertainers:
Mary Elizabeth Murphy
Devin Cates
Maggie Martinez
Natalie Grace Wilson
Greg Boals
Amy Blankenship
Joey Blankenship
Amanda Mitchell
Livy Hassenflug
Taylor Goodson
and others.

The Casey Jones Village Amphitheatre is a large outdoor venue, with a super stage.

Like most outdoor venues, there are no seats or benches, so please be sure to bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets!

Thank you so much for your time to read this message. Please keep us and the event in your thoughts and prayers, that we will be able to raise enough money to help Amber find her mom.

Mary Elizabeth

Amber's Speech for the CUE Center: On the Road to Remember National Tour

(This is a speech that Amber gave today at the CUE Center "On the Road to Remember" National Tour rally stop for Rachel. We, Amber's family, would like to say how proud we are of Amber and that we will not give up looking for Rachel! We are thankful to The Henry Countian for their continuing coverage of events pertaining to Rachel, the CUE Center for adding Rachel to their national tour and URSAR for coming up to search for Rachel at the beginning of August and their ongoing efforts to find Rachel!)

I would like to thank everyone for coming today and a special Thank You to the CUE Center for Missing Persons for adding my mother, Rachel Conger, to their Road to Remember Tour.I would like to tell you about my mom. She’s so much more than just a face on a poster. She loved riding horses and motorcycles, and listening to country music. She collected ceramic frogs. She liked reading-especially books written by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and James Patterson, but she sometimes read nonfiction as well. My mom loved animals. We had miniature dachshunds and she treated them like babies. She was always picking up stray cats and dogs and bringing them home to take care of because she felt so sorry for them.

Mama loved children too. I have seen her sit down on the floor at the doctor’s office to play with them. My mother was a really nice person and tried to teach me to be too. She did not believe in gossiping about other people. Once when we were in Wal Mart I made a nasty remark about someone and mama told me “if I couldn’t say something nice about someone then don’t say anything.” The she made me say something nice about everyone we walked by. I really miss my mom; we could talk to each other about anything. She was my best friend.

This summer my family, friends, and I have had several fundraisers to raise money for expenses for a professional search organization to come to Paris to search for my mother. A couple of weeks ago, United Response Search & Rescue, a search team from Texas came to Paris to search for my mother. Unfortunately, they did not find her, but I’m not giving up the search. While the search team was here they trained some volunteers in ways to search for missing people and we plan to continue the searching until my mother is found. We hope to be able to continue the fundraising efforts and buy equipment that will aid the search for my mother as well as others who may go missing.

Next Saturday, September 6, beginning at 5PM, a benefit concert is being held for my mother at the Casey Jones Amphitheater in Jackson Tennessee. The benefit organizer and featured musician is Mary Elizabeth Murphy from Humboldt. In addition to Mary Elizabeth, there will be several other country and Christian bands playing. All proceeds from the concert are being donated to the Bring Rachel Home Fund. Please make plans to be there!

CUE Center: On the Road to Remember National Tour

Bring Rachel Conger Home


For Immediate Release
Email: bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com

CUE Center for Missing Persons
On the Road to Remember National Tour
Rally Stop Featuring Missing Paris, TN mother, Rachel Conger

The CUE Center for Missing Persons will set out on August 21 for their 5th Annual "On The Road to Remember Tour 2008" in honor of those who remain missing, homicide victims and the unidentified. The CUE Center for Missing Persons will be at a rally stop for Rachel Conger at Memorial Park (Maurice Fields Dr.) in Paris, TN on Sunday, August 31, 2008 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Henry County Sheriff’s Department will provide fingerprinting for ID kits for children at the rally stop. There will also be a balloon release to honor all missing persons. Also being featured on the CUE Center tour from Tennessee are: Tabitha Tuders, missing from Nashville, TN (missing since 04/29/03) and Frances "Franny" Graham of Coker Creek, TN (missing since 09/18/05). For more information contact CUE Center and see tour route schedule/information below;

National Tour - Quick Facts - Dates 8/21/08 thru 9/2/2008
Rally Stops – 30
States Traveling Through - 17
Cases Missing Featured – 110
Case Homicide Featured – 6
Tour Miles Traveled Total – 5,299

National Tour Purpose and Inspiration
The annual tour was created to generate new interest in cold cases of missing people across our nation. The inspiration came in 2004 from the case of North Carolina college student Leah Roberts, who had gone on a cross-country trip of self-exploration. Her wrecked and abandoned vehicle was found, but Leah is still missing. Leah's case went cold and interest faded until CUE volunteers set out on a grueling 14-day trip to retrace her route and inform the media of all those who were missing in the path of the tour. In the years to follow, it only seemed right to keep hope alive after families across the country voiced the need for more help and supported the tour.
National Tour Objective
The national road tour, called “On the Road to Remember,” is an awareness campaign that focuses on missing persons cases that have gone cold or have not received appropriate media coverage on the local level – much less the national level.. The tour, which travels through many states annually, provides that attention.
In all cases of missing people, it is vital to inform the public of the missing person’s circumstances quickly and to disseminate that information to the media and the public. In most cases where details are released immediately to the public through an organized campaign, the public brings forth information that aids in the investigation and or the location of the victim. The media plays a significant role in getting the word out on the behalf of the missing person and should be recognized as a vital resource to any investigation.
Interest in many of the cases we have featured in previous tours has been renewed. The media has learned about local cases they were unaware of; case investigations have been renewed, and searches conducted. Information has resulted in new leads in some cases, and has even helped identify an unknown decedent. Finally, some of the missing have been found, which is the main reason we conduct the tour every year, despite the toll it takes on our all-volunteer staff.
It is the belief of the CUE Center for Missing Persons that all investigations, the public, volunteers, and the media should work in collaboration on cases involving missing children and adults; until this happens, there will continue to be cases of the missing labeled “cold” or “inactive.”

# # #

United Response Search and Rescue

Many people have asked us over the last few days if we are disappointed that URSAR did not find Rachel. Of course we are disappointed. We desperately want Rachel to be found. But, are we disappointed in United Response Search and Rescue? Absolutely not. They put 110% effort in to locating Rachel. Every team member was caring toward Amber, and they really care about her situation. They traveled here to try and locate Rachel. They did their absolute best and that is all that we wanted. I wanted to state that under no circumstances are we disapppointed in URSAR.

They are very focused and very driven at what they do. They have a goal in mind, which is to find a missing person. But are they cold and callous, with disregard to the family as they go about attaining their goal? No. The URSAR team members that I met (and I am sure that this is true for every member that they have) were very warm and friendly. They care about Amber and what she is going through. The United Response Team equipped us with the knowledge that we need to keep searching for Rachel.

We wanted to let the team members of United Response Search and Rescue know how much we truly appreciate them taking time out of their lives to come up here and search for Rachel. You cannot ask for a better group of people than the URSAR Team. I don't feel bad about saying that they are the best group of people that I pray that I never have to recommend to anyone!

Interview with Amber on WPSD & WBBJ

We would like to thank both WBBJ & WPSD for their moving and emotional interviews yesterday with Amber. Everyone that has interviewed Amber in the last month has been so caring and compassionate with her, and for that we are very grateful!

If you would like to read and see the interview with WPSD: Click Here

If you would like to read the interview with WBBJ: Click Here

If you would like to see the interview with WBBJ: Click Here

I would like to add that WPSD & WBBJ have covered this story from the beginning, and they have shown so much interest and compassion (I hate to keep using that word, but it really does apply here) for what Amber is going through and we are very thankful to them for giving her a chance to tell her story!

United Response Search and Rescue- Aug. 9th Search for Rachel

The WONDERFUL people from United Response Search and Rescue headed up the volunteer search for Rachel Conger today. Despite tediously searching for Rachel in hot weather and rough terrain, unfortunately, Rachel was not located- which was a big disappointment to Amber, Rachel's family, the URSAR team and everyone searching. We had hoped for a much larger turnout than what we got, but we are extremely grateful to the great people that did show up and gave it their all to help find Rachel. Once again, we are grateful to everyone of you who stood side by side with us, helping to locate Rachel.

In conclusion, Thank You!

A BIG thanks also goes out to Holy Cross Catholic Church, Yoder Brothers Meat Processing, E.W. James & Sons, Henry County Sheriff's Department and the Salvation Army!

Radio Interview for "Thirty Minutes" on WCMT

Amber and I did a radio interview with Dave Chaffin on WCMT. I'll let everyone know when it's supposed to air!

Amber's Interview with WPSD

Amber did an interview with Jennifer Horbelt of WPSD, Newschannel 6 (http://www.wpsdtv.com/) and it will air tonight at 10 P.M., it will also air in the morning. Everyone, please check it out!

Link to Amber's Interview with WPSD

Details for Community Search for Rachel

Date: August 9th, 2008

Time: 8am

Place to meet: Holy Cross Catholic Church (Gymnasium)
1210 East Wood St.
Paris, TN 38242
(Amber spoke with a member of the URSAR team this afternoon, and found out that this location is subject to change- if it does, we will get the word out as fast as possible)

Minimum Age of Searchers: 18 and please bring ID

What to Wear: Long pants and no open toed shoes

Also, please wear sunscreen and bug spray (bug spray with DEET helps to repel ticks)

Volunteers Needed to Search for Rachel

I would like to ask everyone that is able to please come and help search for Rachel Conger on August 9, 2008. I know that it is Fair week in Henry County. I know that it is hot outside. I know that most people probably have other things that they would rather be doing. But, with that being said, I also know that my niece, Amber Simmons, desperately misses her mother and wants more than anything to know what happened to her mom. She spent her entire summer planning fundraisers to bring United Response Search and Rescue to Paris, to look for her mom, but we need volunteers to help us search for her. We need the community to come together, volunteer and help this thirteen-year-old child start to heal from all of the pain that has been thrown at her in the last five months.

If you are interested in helping to search for Rachel, please email me at bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com. We're afraid that we will not have much time to get the word out regarding the search, so please tell everyone you know, in hopes that we can get the 250-300 volunteers that we need on Saturday!

August 9th Search for Rachel Conger

More details to follow, but tonight we met with the United Response Search and Rescue Team and the search is planned for Saturday, August 9, 2008 at 8am. Amber and I will be calling tomorrow and getting a command center secured for that day. I will update the blog and contact media as soon as I know something more concrete. We need as many volunteers as we can get that day! Here is the basics for Saturday:

Date: August 9th, 2008
Time: 8am
Place to meet: Undetermined (as of right now)- but it will be in the East Wood St/Hwy 79 area of Paris and will serve as the Command Center on that day
What to Wear: Long pants and NO OPEN TOED SHOES
Minimum Age of Searchers: 18, and bring ID
Also, please wear sunscreen and bug spray (bug spray with DEET helps to repel ticks)

New Fundraising Totals as of 08/05/08

A BIG thank you goes out to Mr. Larry Hudgins and West Tennessee Auctions for raising $700 to go toward the Bring Rachel Home Search Fund. A complete story will be posted later on The Henry Countian.

Cell Phone Donation Drive

United Response Search and Rescue has sent donation bins to collect cell phones for recycling. All proceeds from the cell phone and ink cartridge drive (that are collected in Henry County) will go toward the Bring Rachel Home search fund. You can donate your used cell phone at: Lakeway IGA, Trolinger's or E.W. James & Sons. Please help us make this drive a success!

One Henry County Daughter’s Effort to Find Missing Mother

Press Release

On Thursday, March 13, 2008, thirteen-year-old Amber Simmons awoke to a day that would change her life forever. Her mother, Rachel Conger, was missing and Amber has since been doing everything that she can to help find her mother. On April 13, Amber organized a candlelight vigil at the Henry County Court House to honor and pray for her mother to be found. Since the first month of her mother’s disappearance, Amber has since turned her attention to raising money to bring in professional search organizations to help find her mother, Rachel Conger.

Her daughter, Amber, is the driving force behind each event to help find her mother whom she dearly misses. She had this to say to the community; ''I really want my mom found; she means the world to me. What 13 year old would not want their mom found? I am appreciative for what everyone has done to support us & help search for my mom. I ask for your continued support to help bring her home.''

On June 27, Amber organized a car wash at Advanced Auto Parts that raised $500. When faced with needing to reach an initial goal of $4000.00, Amber got to work organizing two more fundraisers. On July 12, the “Bring Rachel Home” bake sale was held at E.W. James & Sons, and raised $834.00 and on July 26; the “Bring Rachel Home” yard sale raised $550.00. In the planning stages is a benefit concert, which is set to be held on August 23rd, at Casey Jones Village/Old Country Store Amphitheater in Jackson, TN (more details about performers and the time that concert starts will be available in the next several days).

All proceeds from the fundraisers will help cover the immediately needed travel expenses for their upcoming Search & Rescue set for Aug 9th. United Response Search & Rescue Organization has offered the family their assistance with Law Enforcement in search efforts for missing Rachel Conger. They are a Texas based Non-Profit Search & Rescue Organization who aid in searches for missing children & adults nationwide. Their search is set for August 4-10th, with a volunteer community search on August 9th. It will take the community's continued support to help them reach their $4,000 urgently needed goal for ongoing search and rescue efforts.

They are asking for volunteer searchers from the public on Saturday, August 9th. Please spread the word, as we need about 250- 300 volunteers to help aid us in our efforts. More details will be available soon. We are also in need of food and water donations for that day. If willing to donate meals or drinks, please contact:
bringrachelcongerhome@hotmail.com

Newly added to their site, is a heart tugging beautiful music video tribute slide show, in honor of missing Rachel. To learn more about missing Rachel Conger or to make a contribution please visit: http://bringrachelhome.blogspot.com



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Fundraising total as of 07/26/08

Thank you to everyone who came out to the yard sale to support the effort to raise money to bring search organizations to look for Rachel. Today, we raised $550! We're very excited about the progress we have been making and will continue to raise funds in order to give Amber what she needs- she needs people to search for her mother and to not give up hope that we will find her and that we will raise enough money to be able to bring back search organizations, such as United Response Search and Rescue, if the first effort at searching is not successful. We ask that everyone please keep this in mind when you are making any comments around Amber. We also need prayers for Rachel and Amber and their family, that Rachel is found soon.

Reminder: Bring Rachel Home Benefit Yard Sale

I wanted to remind everyone about the Bring Rachel Home Benefit Yard Sale, Saturday, July 26 from 8am-3pm in the E.W. James & Sons parking lot. We will also be auctioning collectible items on eBay. More details on that to come!

Rachel Conger Memory Slide Show

Never Alone: A Tribute to Rachel Conger from her Daughter

Bring Rachel Home

Bring Rachel Home Benefit Yard Sale

On Saturday, July 26, we will be hosting a benefit yard sale in the parking lot at E.W. James & Sons (1301 W. Wood St., Paris, TN) to further our efforts to bring in professional search organizations to search for Rachel Conger. We will have a donation box there, and we request that everyone bring in their used cell phones. United Response Search and Rescue Team recycles used cell phones and donates some phones to women's shelters. All phones collected will go toward the funds needed for search and rescue.

Fundraising Total Update