The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 7

GALVESTON COUNTY, TpXAS MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1997 INI A7 HSIVlilg Blake Cook waves to his grandmother Joanie Cook as he rides the merry-go-round Sunday afternoon at Good Ole Days in Hitchcock. (Photo by Kevin Bartram) Food vendors offered a variety of products during the three-day Good Ote Days festival in Hitchcock. The annual event ended Sunday afternoon. Tumbteweed Tex performs his True Lies of the Old West' show at Good Ote Days in Hitchcock. (Photos by Kevin Bartram) Cain Continued from Page Al for the 1997 O'Connell High School graduate, who is 10 days shy of her 18th birthday.

Cain's grandmother, Vera Johnson of Vldor, received the news about 7 a.m. "I couldn't believe it," Johnson said. "Jessica is a real good girl. She never gave her family any problems. "Why would anybody want to hurt Jessica?" she asked.

However, Johnson said she is optimistic. "I believe they are going to find her," she said, as the tears welled up in her eyes. "I believe the Lord is watching over her. "I feel like we are going to find her tonight I just have faith." Tiki Island and La Marque police departments, the Galveston County Sheriff Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in the search for Cain. TiM Island Police Chief Sue Dietrich said there was no sign of a struggle.

"The vehicle was not ransacked," Dietrich said. "Her purse was left that's all that we-know." While helicopters circled above, friends, "neighbors and county residents, including the parents of Laura Smither, searched below for evidence about Cain's whereabouts. Bob Smither, who had the support of many in the search for his 12-year-old daughter months ago, helped with the search for Cain. (Rle photo) A The GaJveston County Sheriff's Office mounted patrol searches along interstate 45 south of FM519 Sunday afternoon after Jessica Lee Cain was reported missing. (Photo by Kevin Bartram) Bob Smither, who had the support of many in the search for his 12-year-old daughter months ago, said lending a helping hand Sunday in Cain's search was the "right thing to do." Laura Smither disappeared earlier this year after an morning jog near her Friendswood home.

Her body was found in Pasadena in April. "You just have to stay optimistic and do everything to try and find the girl," Smither said. "You just do what you can. "Sometimes these searches turn up evidence," he said. "We just hope that is what happens here." Cain is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds.

She was last seen wearing brown pants and a black sleeveless top with lace on the collar. Her best friend, Michelle Soler, fought tears as she aided in the Sunday search. "I want to believe that she is off with one of her Mends," Soler said. 1 just don't think that anything is going to be found out there. She wouldn't have run into a field." "She didn't have a single enemy." Joe Howeli, left, of the Galveston County Sheriff's Office instructs searchers before they head out on Sunday afternoon.

(Photo by Kevin Bartram) A Searchers on horseback look through thick brush. (Photo by Kevin Bartram) A Volunteers fan out across a fleW to search for clues after Jessica Lee Cain disappeared early Sunday. Kevin Bartram) Any information about the disappearance of Jessica Lee Cain on Sunday morning should be given to: La Marque Police: 938-9269 Galveston County Sheriff Dept: 766- 230O Island Police: 935-6579.