The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • A8

8A local news digital content. Since fall 2015, The Ten- nessean has dominated digital market share in Middle Tennessee. The USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee will be similar to virtual networks in other industries, taking advantage of manpower and specialized talent in our newsrooms regardless of geography. For example Middle Tennessee is home to numerous universities including Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee State, Austin Peay, Belmont, Tennessee State and Lipscomb. But we know a lot of you bleed Tennessee orange on football Saturdays.

So the network is fielding a new, statewide sports team headed by award-winning Tennessean sports editor Dave Ammenheuser. He will direct our statewide pro sports coverage of the Titans, the Predators and the Grizzlies. Ammenheuser also will oversee college sports editor Phil Kaplan in Knoxville and high school sports editor Tom Kreager in Nashville, both of whom will coordinate coverage statewide for the network. We have evolved our sports coverage this past year, and we will continue providing live in-game reporting and analy- sis, more video and more exclusive breaking news. In addition to giving digital subscribers more valuable, real-time content, our print readers will benefit from an emphasis on commentary, in- depth player and team features, and more complex explanatory stories on upcoming games.

The Tennessean has a long tradition of investigative and explanatory journalism, and the watchdog work of reporters Anita Wadhwani, Dave Boucher and Michael Reicher will continue. Our investigative work has spurred a state lawmaker to be ousted from office, triggered massive improvements in the Department of Services and sparked state investigations into food contractors who spent money on personal items instead of feeding the most needy in our state. reporting was a main component of premium section focused on the opioid epidemic. Meanwhile, Boucher and state political reporter Joel Ebert are investigating state misuse of campaign funds for an upcoming series in April. As part of the statewide evolution, thought-provoking David Plazas will continue to lead The opinion pages.

But he will become part of a larger statewide team led by veteran journalist Mark Russell of Memphis, who will direct the Commercial editorial and opinion work as well as the statewide engagement efforts. The editorial positions continue to be the domain of our local editorial board headed by me and Editor Michael Anastasi. This reorganization will give us an opportunity to realign some of our reporting beats based on changing reader interests. launching a new statewide beat based in Memphis that will be centered on diversity, demographics, poverty and race. Two other new beats include astatewide automotive beat based in Memphis and a veterans and military affairs statewide beat based in Nashville.

In Knoxville the newsroom there will aggressively cover the aftermath of last historic wildfires in the Smoky Mountains and the comeback of Gatlinburg, a popular tourist destination. In addition network reporters at The Tennessean, Commercial Appeal and Knoxville News Sentinel will provide comprehensive statewide coverage of health and medicine, a subject that touches every resident, especially with federal focus on the Affordable Care Act. The network will report more comprehensively throughout Tennessee on faith and values with regular contributions from Holly Meyer, The Tennesse- award-winning reporter. We also are teaming with music reporters in Memphis and Knoxville to broaden genres covered to include rock, jazz and blue- grass. In Nashville network reporters will continue to cover state government, politics and higher education, focusing on issues of statewide interest from education funding to gun rights while reporting on topics that matter locally such as mass transit.

team up, too, to provide comprehensive coverage of next race. In Clarksville and Murfreesboro, as at the larger sites, we will continue to provide high-value local journalism that you've come to enjoy and respect. Digitally, be bringing all of this to you faster than ever, and more comprehensively with in-depth video and other storytelling techniques. Our goal is to provide news and information when and how you want it throughout the day: print, your mobile device, our website and on social media. With all of these changes, there are some constants that I can assure you will always be the foundation of The Tennessean: Coverage decisions will be made locally, in our newsroom, and we will maintain our strong leadership voice and community engagement in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Maria De Varenne is the executive editor of The Tennessean. Email her at mde- call her at 615-259-8003 or tweet to her at devarenne. Tennessean Continued from Page 1A aggravated kidnapping charge in connection with her disappearance. never gets any better. I wish I knew what to do, but been five years.

I feel for her family. For their Of the missing children, 65 percent are girls and 26 are featured on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation web- site including some who disappeared nearly four decades ago. Their cases are the result of parental abductions, considered or are those whose cases could benefit from publicity. Of those cases, one endangered child alert has been issued for Eva Alejandra Lopez, who disappeared Sept. 22, 2015, at her home in Franklin County.

Winchester police believe she is in the company of 25-year-old Avaro Gamez Martinez, wanted on six counts of aggravated statutory rape. In addition to Gage and his sister, the TBI features one other pair of siblings Carlos Edwardo Simon, 6, and his brother, Manilo Baldimir Pena Castro, 1 last seen at their Knoxville home a little less than a decade ago. Knoxville police say they were taken by their noncustodial mother, Leticia Castro, on May 28, 2008. Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk said although the case remains open and active, no leads have arisen in some time. Of the more than two dozen missing children featured by the TBI, half are now age 18 or older, including Tonetta Carlisle, who disappeared while returning home from school on March 15, 1989.

would be 43 this her mother, Nonie Sturdivant, said Monday. Chattanooga police believe the girl was abducted by a group of men at age 15. case, which has garnered national attention, evokes a flood of memories for the 65-year-old wounded woman. brings me right back to her. What I could and should have did back Sturdivant said.

wish I been at work that day. She was walking home from school and just never Police say witnesses saw a group of men jump out of a car and force the girl into the vehicle. The car came back to Jeffrey Jones, who served eight years for rape before her disappearance. Jones killed himself within a few days of the disappearance and her body has never been found. For now the case is frozen.

As time passes and she wonders if her daughter is still alive, Sturdivant has never given up hope. Jonnie Carter still know what to make of the story her ex-husband told about exactly how their daughter went missing on a cold, rainy day more than 16 years ago. It was March 4, 2001, and Larry and Bethany Markowski were driving back from Little Rock, where been visiting one of his friends. They decided to stop in Jackson, to visit the Old Hickory Mall, Markowski would later tell police. Markowski let Bethany out to go shopping, then curled up in the truck for a nap, he said.

As far as anyone knows, that was the last time Bethany, turned 11 just a month earlier, was ever seen. had stated that he took her to the mall and he was asleep in the van, and let her go inside. And yet she was not seen on any of the videos at the said Carter, a West Tennessee native who now lives in Mt. Juliet just outside Nashville. When asked if she believes that story, Carter hesitated for a moment.

a hundred percent. I think if anybody (knows anything), he does. How can you explain that she was not seen on any of the surveillance she said. know if he knows where she is today. You would think if he did, he would come Efforts to reach Markowski this week were unsuccessful.

Carter said she spoken to him in years. with all long-term missing children in Tennessee, we continue to investigate all tips that come in, in the hopes we can reunite these TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland said. the last five years, we have seen a number of people found who have been missing for decades. what gives us the inspiration to keep investigating these cases, even after extended periods of As Daniel waits for more leads to come in on his case, he tries to remain optimistic. TBI Special Agent Haidy Grigsby, handling the case, got a couple of tips as recently as a month ago, according to the TBI.

So far none were credible. say they have leads, they follow up and do what they can, but they had anything that proves Daniel said. my father always reminds me the TBI is the best at what supposed to do, so hopefully find Meanwhile, as the search for Thomas continues, Daniel encouraged the Thomas family to keep hope. your chin up and hope for the best. all you can the father said, his voice firm.

just keep hoping. all Ican The Commercial Appeal contributed to this report. Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at 615-259-8072 and on Twitter Missing Continued from Page 1A 26 missing children featured on site MISSING CHILDREN (YOUNGER THAN AGE 18). AN A INDICATES AN ACTIVE AMBER ALERT: Elizabeth Thomas A Date missing: March 14 Age at time: 15 Case summary: She is white with blond hair and hazel eyes. She is 5 feet and 120 pounds, and likely with 50-year-old Tad Cummins, accused of kidnapping her from Columbia.

He is white, 6 feet, 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes and driving a silver Nissan Rogue with Tennessee tag 976-ZPT. Ana Sebastian Lorenzo Date missing: Aug. 7 Age at time: 15 Case summary: She is a Hispanic female with black hair and black eyes. She was last seen at her Lewisburg home. Kaylee Marie Crean Date missing: March 31, 2016 Age at time: 16 Case summary: She is white with brown hair and green eyes.

She was last seen at her Mt. Carmel home. She is possibly headed to Memphis. Marta Isabel Gamez-Cruz Date missing: Aug. 10, 2015 Age at time: 15 Case summary: She is white with black hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen at her Nashville home. She is possibly headed to New Orleans. Her hair may be dyed auburn. Eva Alejandra Lopez Endangered child alert Date missing: Sept. 22, 2015 Age at time: 15 Case summary: She is Hispanic, 5-feet-4 and 150 pounds, and has green eyes and brown hair.

She was last seen at her Winchester residence. She is possibly in the company of Avaro Gamez Martinez, 25, who is wanted on six counts of aggravated statutory rape. Catarina Bartolo Juan Date missing: July 16, 2015 Age at time: 16 Case summary: She was last seen at her Shelbyville home. Brezhae Leighshawan Castleman Date missing: June 25, 2015 Age at time: 16 Case summary: She was last seen at her Shelbyville home getting into a red or maroon vehicle. She has a scar on her clavicle area and may wear gray contact lenses.

Chloie Leverette A Date missing: Sept. 23, 2012 Age at time: 9 Case summary: She and her brother were last seen the night their Unionville home burned down. The remains were discovered, but authorities were unable to locate Chloie and Gage. Gage Daniel A Date missing: Sept. 23, 2012 Age at time: 7 Case summary: He and his sister were last seen the night their Unionville home burned down.

The remains were discovered, but authorities were unable to locate Chloie and Gage. Zaylee Grace Fryar A Date missing: May 1, 2011 Age at time: 4 months Case summary: She has a brown birthmark on her right leg, black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen in Millersville with her mother, Shauna Marie Fryar. On May 10, 2011, her mother was found dead in Davidson County. Carlos Edwardo Simon Date missing: May 28, 2008 Age at time: 6 Case summary: Carlos and his brother, Manilo, were taken from Knoxville by their noncustodial mother, Leticia Castro.

Manilo Baldimir Pena Castro Date missing: May 28, 2008 Age at time: 1 Case summary: Manilo and his brother, Carlos, were taken from Knoxville by their noncustodial mother, Leticia Castro. Jocelyn Emilia Turcios Date missing: Oct. 10, 2004 Age at time: 3 Case summary: She is believed to have been abducted from Franklin by her mother, Sandra Gutierrez. She may be using the alias last name Gutierrez. Sandra Gutierrez is black and Hispanic.

MISSING CHILDREN NOW AGE 18 OR OLDER: Ilsi Magaly Vazquez Date missing: July 20, 2012 Age at time: 15 Case summary: She was last seen at her Shelby County home. Oscar Alexander Campos Date missing: April 19, 2008 Age at time: 16 Case summary: He was last seen at his Nashville home. Kristina Branum Date missing: July 27, 2006 Age at time: 17 Case summary: She disappeared from Savannah, and a vehicle linked to her was found abandoned in Lawrence County. Her navel is pierced. She may go by the nickname Kris.

Tabitha Tuders Date missing: April 29, 2003 Age at time: 13 Case summary: She was last seen at her Nashville home. She has a birthmark on her stomach and a scar on her finger, and her ears are pierced. Bethany Leanne Markowski Date missing: March 4, 2001 Age at time: 11 Case summary: She was last seen returning to Jackson after atrip to Little Rock, Ark. She was reported by her father to be missing at the Old Hickory Mall in Jackson. Lakisha Jones Date missing: Dec.

14, 1999 Age at Case summary: She is missing from Nashville and may be in the Nashville or Memphis areas. She has a scar under her left eye and a tattoo of on her right thigh. China Videon Date missing: Oct. 19, 1999 Age at time: 16 Case summary: She was last seen by her mother in Nashville. Her car was located abandoned in Nashville in June 2000.

She has a butterfly tattoo on her right hip and a scar on her right knee. Lucy Rebecca Meadows Date missing: July 25, 1996 Age at time: 3 Case summary: She was last seen in the parking lot of the Rivergate Mall in Goodlettsville. Cayce McDaniel Date missing: Aug. 16, 1996 Age at time: 14 Case summary: She was last known to be at her Milan home. Her family came home to find her missing and the back door left open.

She has a strawberry birthmark on the underside of her lower left arm. Tonetta Carlisle Date missing: March 15, 1989 Age at time: 15 Case summary: She went missing returning home in Chattanooga from school. Witnesses saw a group of men jump out of a car and force a girl into the car. Martha Leanne Greene Date missing: April 15, 1987 Age at time: 17 Case summary: She was last seen in her vehicle on Highway 46 in Dickson. Her brother went to get gas and when he returned, she was missing.

Marlena Childress Date missing: March 16, 1987 Age at time: 4 Case summary: She was last seen in her front yard in Union City. When last seen, she had stainless steel caps on her top and bottom teeth. Her eyes are Charlie Hall Date missing: Dec. 31, 1981 Age at time: 15 Case summary: He was last seen leaving a Nashville house on New Eve 1981 and has not been seen since. He has a birthmark on his right cheek.

He may go by the name Little Charlie..