IA IA - Elizabeth Collins, 8, & Lyric Cook, 10, Evansdale, 13 July 2012 - #30

[NWLady]

I really suspect it was a deer that froze when you passed. You probably didn't see it. If it was really spooked it would have leapt across the trail into the woods. Peeps in my neighborhood say there's no deer here. Wrong. I have seen foot prints in the snow right beside my deck. One morning went outside to see them right there, they ran away.

Can you spot it?

Yep sure can, right by the bush with the white flowers. Nice landscaping, very pretty!

 

[janie]

Ty for this link. Reading there under regulations it said something like the rules applied to all their lands "unless restrictions have been modified for a particular area."

I wondered if one of those areas might be seven bridges since it was changed from a park to a wildlife area. It's hard for me to find info which is specific to seven bridges.

It's not listed under camping though I recall a poster here saying that either she or a friend had camped there last summer. Perhaps just pitching a tent? IDK

At any rate, websites specific to seven bridges list activities as canoe access, hunting, and fishing with no mention of hours... and there's a pit latrine.

I did find one website to do w/finding a "cache" hidden there. One person mentioned going there 4/9/2011 and finding the gate closed.

That at least tells me that it wasn't LE who closed the gate to traffic which 3cks encountered this month.

I now strongly believe that the gate is kept closed during off season by Bremer county in order to keep trouble makers out.

That makes perfect sense to me that the gate would be closed to keep trouble makers out, especially since I have heard from several people that the park is used for drug activity and underage drinking.

 

[foxbluff]

Wishes? It was a recreation area until the 287 Street bridge was destroyed in a flood. I think it was in 1993, but I haven't been able to find any more information about the bridge. Maybe there was a gate at that time ... before the flood? Recreation parks are usually gated during night hours. The park was closed after the flood due to lack of use, and there was probably some destruction due to the floods. Since then, it has become a hunting area and a gate would be a bit of a problem? Was there a gate at the park? I thought that there wasn't a gate.

Sounds as though there's as little info on the bridge as there is on Seven Bridges Wildlife Area! grrh...

BBM - Until reading here today, I had assumed there would be no reason for the county to lock a gate in the area.

Now it would seem they do as 3cks mentioned coming upon "a gate closed to traffic" and having to go in on foot.

Sooo perhaps they keep the gate closed during "off season" but open it during fall/winter hunting season? I guess that could be.

 

[threecrazykids]

Okay, to answer some questions. The deer/lion creature thingy wasn't seen when I snapped the picture. I will say that as I was walking down there I spotted way up ahead of me a herd of it looked like deer running past. At least thats what I thought it was. The gate was locked at the front and down the road from that gate was another gate locked with signs all over it not to trespass and private property? That stumped me.

Yep, that is in my video too...which for the love of GOD I hope I can get uploaded tonight. :banghead:

The end of the road is a dead end to private property...it's Mould's (sp) tree farm.

 

[foxbluff]

View attachment 31766

Gravel road to 7 bridges. 4/7/2013. Make sure you look at the whole picture part of the memorial crosses for Elizabeth and Lyric are there. Pink and purple crosses decorated with easter eggs and a bunny in a basket.

Ty you so much cinder for all these pictures... great photography btw!

On this particular photo it's a bit of a shock to see a sign saying "DEAD END" towering above those sweet, sad little crosses, isn't it?

 

[threecrazykids]

Ty for this link. Reading there under regulations it said something like the rules applied to all their lands "unless restrictions have been modified for a particular area."

I wondered if one of those areas might be seven bridges since it was changed from a park to a wildlife area. It's hard for me to find info which is specific to seven bridges.

It's not listed under camping though I recall a poster here saying that either she or a friend had camped there last summer. Perhaps just pitching a tent? IDK

At any rate, websites specific to seven bridges list activities as canoe access, hunting, and fishing with no mention of hours... and there's a pit latrine.

I did find one website to do w/finding a "cache" hidden there. One person mentioned going there 4/9/2011 and finding the gate closed.

That at least tells me that it wasn't LE who closed the gate to traffic which 3cks encountered this month.

I now strongly believe that the gate is kept closed during off season by Bremer county in order to keep trouble makers out.

The whole thing is confusing. If you go under "wildlife areas" that is where all of the talks about Seven Bridges is located. It states that it is open during any DNR hunting seasons...which there is pretty much ALWAYS some season open during the year.

The camping areas that are referenced on the website are for what I believe are TRUE camping parks, with facilities, hookups for electric, etc. Now, we certainly didn't cover the entire park by any stretch, but in the areas we were, the only possible area for a picnic I saw was close to the turnabout.

Cinder might be able to speak more to the area she went to first...which is going LEFT when you come into the park entrance...and not going straight...and then the turnabout off to the right.

I think the "closed" part is more for vehicle traffic. If it's a public hunting area there really isn't a "closed" season. At least that is how I understand it...because immediately to the left of the gate that shows "park closed" there are poles with a walkthrough area. It's not gated off across the whole entrance.

LE didn't close the gate's, I'm sure the county did at some point...maybe after deer hunting season?? LE had the park closed down during the recovery and investigation, but it was opened up a couple days later.

 

[BunnyHop]

Yep sure can, right by the bush with the white flowers. Nice landscaping, very pretty!

Thanks, Rose of Sharon tree/bush. If I had not been paying attention, I would have not seen it. That beautiful deer was lying down beneath the tree. I had my camera at the ready. I have also seen where they lie down in my garden. They make a "space" and hunker down. Beautiful property.

I no longer live there, but have seen the deer tracks here, and "caught" them outside early morning. :seeya:

 

[cindersoot]

Ty you so much cinder for all these pictures... great photography btw!

On this particular photo it's a bit of a shock to see a sign saying "DEAD END" towering above those sweet, sad little crosses, isn't it?

Yes it is sad. I had such a horrible depressed feeling when I got home. I still can't get the pictures of the crime scene off my phone. So...I'm going back to seven bridges next week with a regular camera.

 

[BunnyHop]

Sounds as though there's as little info on the bridge as there is on Seven Bridges Wildlife Area! grrh...

BBM - Until reading here today, I had assumed there would be no reason for the county to lock a gate in the area.

Now it would seem they do as 3cks mentioned coming upon "a gate closed to traffic" and having to go in on foot.

Sooo perhaps they keep the gate closed during "off season" but open it during fall/winter hunting season? I guess that could be.

I'm an avid hiker. Here in NY. I followed a trail book with the intention to cross them all off my list. (Catskills etc) Some are private lands, some are state parks.
My observation is that sometimes gates are closed. We just walk around them. We park in designated areas and walk.

I will tell you that I hesitate to hike during hunting season. I wear red just in case. There is bow hunting season, and gun season. Now is trout season, many guys are out in their hip waders. :seeya:

 

[Marilynilpa]

I really think what some are seeing in my picture is just whats called matrixing. It is just a rock and sprigs of trees and leaves.

Thanks for saying that, because I really couldn't see anything other than what one would expect to see at 7 Bridges - rocks, trees, etc.:moo:

 

[threecrazykids]

Yes it is sad. I had such a horrible depressed feeling when I got home. I still can't get the pictures of the crime scene off my phone. So...I'm going back to seven bridges next week with a regular camera.

Well, if I can't get these videos converted off MP4 and onto something that I can upload we may meet up again!

If so, I'm going to take my Nikon for stills and also my flip camera to record the video again.

AND I told my husband if I go back I'm bringing a measuring tape and my dad's golf distance measurerthingy. :floorlaugh:

Not sure I'll get the distance measurer...but I will def be bringing a better camera and recording device!:seeya:

 

[Marilynilpa]

I'd be interested in learning if any of our local posters plan to attend Lizzie's funeral.

By the way, I truly appreciate all of the maps and pictures that have helped me get a better understanding of Meyers Lake and 7 Bridges. Thanks, guys!

 

[foxbluff]

IMO, the fountain idea is really great. I find fountains very peaceful, and having a couple of memorial benches would create a nice place for remembrance and reflection.

All I know is that I'd hate to see Lyric and Lizzie's memorial go uncompleted because of someone's grandiose plans. JMO

bbm - Yes, I think most people find fountains soothing... the water is bright and light and sometimes sparkles in the sunlight... and then there's that "steady as a heartbeat" sound of water gently trickling down into water.

And just think of all the places such a memorial could have been placed w/out destroying property and without having to burden a small community "to keep giving until it hurts." imo

ITA w/your second (unbolded) para above, too. On top of all that I believe to be wrong w/the island memorial, how sad is it that currently the memory of two innocent little girls is being associated with a memorial which is upsetting and somewhat dividing a community!?!? ):

 

[cindersoot]

I'd be interested in learning if any of our local posters plan to attend Lizzie's funeral.

By the way, I truly appreciate all of the maps and pictures that have helped me get a better understanding of Meyers Lake and 7 Bridges. Thanks, guys!

I was thinking about attending the funeral.

 

[foxbluff]

Okay, to answer some questions. The deer/lion creature thingy wasn't seen when I snapped the picture. I will say that as I was walking down there I spotted way up ahead of me a herd of it looked like deer running past. At least thats what I thought it was. The gate was locked at the front and down the road from that gate was another gate locked with signs all over it not to trespass and private property? That stumped me.

bbm - Not sure how to ask this... if you had gone through the gate marked private property, could that have led to the body sites too?

 

[BunnyHop]

I was thinking about attending the funeral.

Go for it. :rocker:

 

[Marilynilpa]

I was thinking about attending the funeral.

I think you would be a terrific representative for all of us.

 

[foxbluff]

This link is from yesterday... sorry if it's already been posted.

List of suggested tips for children's safety in the upcoming months by Kent Smock, E'dale chief of police. I find his comments which are in addition to the list of tips to be great and imo should be followed by all of us.

http://cedarfalls.patch.com/blog_po...safe-from-criminals?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001

 

[Bootsctr]

IIRC the figure $100k was being kicked around here and I said then in my opinion it would be more like 250k.

That was only for one gazebo though. This mausoleum is starting to look like some serious work - which means serious money. 250k is a drop in the ocean for something this involved.

I cannot understand why they cleared the entire island all at once. They claim some trees were "unhealthy" but surely their plan started small, with only one gazebo erected at a time for funding reasons?

The scorched earth policy undertaken by volunteers without a final plan, vision, or even funding, is extraordinary and I would be deeply annoyed if I lived on or near the Lake and hadn't been consulted.

I always thought a fountain sounded nice, maybe with a bench...who on earth is going to wish to visit this memorial site for family fun? :dunno:

I'm always glad to see you SS! I agree with completely with your post. It sounds like the island of doom and gloom to me. ""Oh look kids! Here's the granite bench in memory of the young woman whose lover killed her when she tried to move on with her life." "And look, here's Lyric and Elizabeth's granite bench. You know they were taken from this very park right over there where it is still looks like a jungle and their killer has never been found."

But, as many wiser than I have said, I don't have a dog in this fight. Might have been nice for the money to have been donated for night-vision binoculars like the special ops have so people don't have to stop searching for missing people at night. Maybe they could have donated money for bullet proof vests for our four-legged friends who do so much of the ground work on finding the drugs that are killing our young people. Or even bullet proof vests for our two-legged volunteers who fight crime daily. Maybe the fire department could have used some new equipment too, or the school might have needed new computers, etc. al. Alas, perhaps I am missing the bigger picture.

I do, however, smell something rotten in Denmark, and it's not dead fish. Keep fighting the good fight my friends! I hope they find the killer soon, and FWITW, I don't think it's Lyric's father. Could be eating those words soon, and I hope I do, but hope LE provides some really spot on evidence that leaves no doubt in any one's mind about who killed these precious girls. Sianaro, I bid you all a'dieu...

 

[foxbluff]

I really suspect it was a deer that froze when you passed. You probably didn't see it. If it was really spooked it would have leapt across the trail into the woods. Peeps in my neighborhood say there's no deer here. Wrong. I have seen foot prints in the snow right beside my deck. One morning went outside to see them right there, they ran away.

Can you spot it?

It took me a long time to find it, but once you see her there's NO doubt about what you're seeing !! Lovely yard, btw, and I love the "dry rock wall."