Bikers raise $8,500 for family of missing Fruitland boy

In an effort to provide support to the family of a 5-year-old missing Fruitland boy, the Treasure Valley Long Riders, a valley-wide motorcycle group, held a fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 21 dubbed the “Bring Monkey Home Poker Ride.”
 The event attracted motorcycle enthusiasts from across the area who wanted to help the Vaughan family in any way they could.
 “We have two young kids, too,” said Jake Manchester, during a live band performance by “Chaz” at Legends on Main in Weiser, the end point for a ride that consisted of over 100 motorcycles escorted by police in Caldwell, Homedale, New Plymouth, Fruitland, and Weiser.
 “We are just trying to help and this is really the only thing we can do,” said Manchester who took part in the ride. “It’s hard to even imagine what they are going through.”
 The cost was $20 per person to register for the ride and there was a silent and live auction at Legends where items, such as floor seats for the Sept. 15 Foreigner concert in Boise and a hand-made fly-fishing rod, were up for bid.
 In the end, the group was able to raise approximately $8,500 for the Vaughans who have not seen their son, nicknamed “Monkey,” since he went missing in Fruitland July 27.
 “It was phenomenal,” said co-organizer and former Legends owner, Carlos Ribera. “I really, really feel good about it. I met the grandparents who showed up. The mom and dad are not up to seeing people, but the grandparents were there and were very appreciative. It made me feel good to be able to help them.”
 Fellow organizer, Cheryl Farley, who is known in the area for helping to raise funds for everything from cancer patients to baseball teams, said the outpouring of support from local communities always touches her heart.
 “It was amazing,” she said of Saturday’s event. “It was a good showing. We just had a ton of support. It shows how willing people are to band together when we have to, and we really do have to.”
 Biker, Ken Minchin, said he has children and grandchildren and knows what it is like to lose track of them for a short period, much less an extended amount of time.
 “When I had my kids disappear for just a few minutes, out of site, you get panicky and you get worried,” he said. “These people (the Vaughans) … it’s been three weeks and they haven’t seen their son. That has to be really hard, but then you still have to work and pay the bills, and that doesn’t stop. You have to buy food and you have to pay rent or a house payment, and pay the electricity; the power company doesn’t care, and so they need some help and that’s what we’re doing.”
 Former marketing professional and co-organizer Terrie Cathcart-Shurte stressed the need for the Vaughan family to know that people are behind them.
 “The community came and really supported this event. We had motorcycle riders from Caldwell, Nampa, Boise, and especially Weiser. They really came out enforce, but we had a lot of people from Fruitland and Payette, as well,” she said. “The community support has been amazing and that’s what this family needs right now. They need to know that we are behind them, that we know that their priority if finding their baby, that they miss their baby, and that they are torn up by this. They need to know that we are praying for them.”
The investigation:
 Michael Vaughan was last seen in the area of SW 9th St. and S. Arizona Ave. in Fruitland between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27, according to the Fruitland Police Department.
 He was last seen wearing a blue Minecraft t-shirt and black boxer briefs with lime green stripes or stitching, with size 11 flip-flop sandals. He is 3-foot-7-inches tall, 50 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.
 Several agencies have been involved in the ongoing investigation, including Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue, the Idaho State Police, the FBI, and the Fruitland and Payette Police Departments.
 “Tips have come across the Treasure Valley and across the country,” according Fruitland Police in an Aug. 19 statement on Facebook.
 “Investigators are asking more questions, scrutinizing more pieces of video, even re-interviewing some individuals in the effort to make sure no detail is missed,” the statement reads. “The ground search has been scaled back and we are directing the resources to specific areas as new information comes in.
“Recently, Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue and a specialized canine was deployed to a search area in Oregon on the Snake River and will remain available as needed. Marine Patrols will continue be scheduled to operate in directed areas of the Snake River.”
 Fruitland Police said the community has a high interest in the investigation and are even asking for details about the search, but that the information cannot be released to the public.
 “Our priority is to maintain the integrity of that search and to avoid releasing any information that could compromise or harm the search and any individual or set of individuals connected to it,” according to the statement. “If we have information that, if made public, could aid in the search, we will share it. At this point, what we ask of you is to remain vigilant, share the poster of Michael linked here, and to keep him in your prayers. https://www.fruitland.org/.../VAUGHAN_MICHAEL_JOSEPH...