Helen Dymond of National Mine went missing on June 28, 1981, vanishing without a trace. This is the case Northern Michigan University and the Michigan State Police are working on together; both hope the public can help as well.

Holly Letson, granddaughter of Dymond, visited the NMU cold case class Thursday to provide information to the students and the context of the area as well as family history.

“You are giving us a little hope again,” Letson said.

Meeting a family member related to the subject of the cold case and being in the same county is eye-opening to the students working in the cold case program.

“It is a breath of fresh air and it provides the motivation behind it,” said cold case student Jalin Halcome. “The whole reason we do this cold case thing is to help the families and the victims. So meeting with someone is super rewarding.”

August saw the NMU cold case program solve its first case, a 39-year-old sexual assault in Delta County. The program has worked on 12 other cases and provided assistance to MSP in those cases.

“Any information you may have,” said Lt. Benjamin Eckola of MSP. “If you are a resident or anywhere in the National Mine area back then when she went missing, or you went there, please share information if you have it.”

Dymond was last seen walking along Marquette Country Road 496 from the then Tilden Township Hall, now the private Tilden Township Club. She was 48 years old, white, 5 feet 2 inches in height, weighed about 125 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She would be 92 years old today.

Any information on the disappearance of Helen Dymond should be given to the MSP at 906-475-9922.

Discover your family’s history at the “Family Ghosts” Genealogy Resources Workshop at the Oswego Public Library! Join us on Thursday, October 9th, from 4 to 5 PM in the library’s community room.

Put together the pieces of the past and explore vital information to uncover the roots of your family tree. This workshop will introduce you to valuable resources available at the library, including Ancestry.com, microfilm archives of the Palladium Times and other newspapers, as well as online resources like NYHeritage.org, NYSHistoricNewspapers.org, and FindAGrave.com.

These tools will equip you with the skills needed to navigate various resources and conduct your family research, helping you reconnect with and rediscover your family’s history.

The workshop will take place at 120 E 2nd Street in the library’s community room on the lower level. This program is free and open to the public. If you have any questions, please contact us at 315.341.5867 or email oswlib@ncls.org.

The Oswego Public Library is a vibrant community hub where people of all ages can learn, connect, and grow. With a wide array of books, digital resources, and engaging programs, the library is proud to serve as a cornerstone of lifelong learning in Oswego County. To learn more, visit https://oswegopubliclibrary.org/services/.

The skeletal remains of a white male discovered 36 years ago in Franklin County have been identified as Ernest Emerson Carter, born in 1923.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nate Overmire announced the breakthrough, crediting the success to a collaborative effort involving advanced forensic genealogy.

"Solving a cold case takes teamwork, technology and tenacity – all of which were on display in this case," Yost said. The remains were found on Nov. 3, 1989, on Walcutt Road, but little is known about Carter's life or death.

Dr. Overmire emphasized the importance of dignity and respect for the deceased, stating, "Our patients can no longer advocate for themselves so we must on their behalf." He praised the efforts of his office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and community partners in solving the mystery.

BCI became involved in 2000 through Project LINK, an initiative collecting DNA samples from unidentified remains and missing persons. Despite advanced DNA testing, no leads emerged until last year when the nonprofit Porchlight Project funded further testing by Othram, a Texas-based forensics company.

I am hopeful the identification of Mr. Carter brings long-awaited answers and a step toward closure for all involved," said Val Bogart, The Porchlight Project’s genetic genealogist.

Genealogists and BCI's Criminal Intelligence Unit built a family tree, leading to a match with a male relative whose DNA confirmed the remains as Carter's. Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer for Othram, highlighted the role of technology in providing answers to families, stating, "We’re proud to work with law enforcement who are working every day to solve cases and help families."

The Laurens District Genealogy Society will host Colleen Knights, who will speak about “The Future in Genealogy Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)” on Thursday, October 9, at 7:00 pm, at the Laurens County Museum, located at 116 South Public Square, Laurens, SC.  

Knights is vice chair of the SC Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Lineage Committee. She was recently featured in an article about a new memorial wall for American Revolution heroes in Greenville, SC, where she focused on soldiers who settled in the area. The lecture is free to the public.

For more information, contact the Laurens County Museum at (864) 681-3678, or go to LaurensCountyMuseum.org or Facebook.

Conference Title: 2-day Academic Conference - Beyond the Family Tree: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on AI, DNA, Education, and Community in Genealogy

Conference Dates: 25–26 June 2026

Location: University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland (Hybrid Format)

The Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies (SIGS) will hold an international academic genealogy conference in Scotland at the University of Strathclyde, June 25-26, 2026. The conference will be hybrid. While most sessions will be accessible online, some activities, including evening receptions, will be available in person only.

In addition, on June 24, a separate symposium on professional genealogy practice hosted by the Association for Professional Genealogists (APG) will be held on campus and via hybrid access. (Please note, speakers for the APG Professional Genealogy Symposium are by invitation only).

Call for Presentations

All proposals must be submitted via email by December 08, 2025. Acceptance decisions will be sent out by end of December 2025.

Speakers & poster presenters will receive free registration for the conference.

Full details, including themes and submission guidelines are available on the event website page > https://www.strath.ac.uk/studywithus/centreforlifelonglearning/genealogy/beyondfamilytreeconference2026/

We look forward to your participation and contributions to this exciting event!

In another victory for forensic genealogy, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Franklin County Coroner Dr. Nate Overmire announced today that the skeletal remains of a white male found 36 years ago have been identified.

“Solving a cold case takes teamwork, technology and tenacity – all of which were are on display in this case,” Yost said. “This type of public-private partnership has a direct impact on so many and brings real results to loved ones.”  

The remains – discovered on Nov. 3, 1989, on Walcutt Road in western Franklin County – are those of Ernest Emerson Carter, who was born in 1923. Very little is known about Carter’s life or death.

“We believe each person is worthy of dignity and respect,” Overmire said. “Our patients can no longer advocate for themselves so we must on their behalf. I am extremely proud of the compassionate, talented staff who worked on this case from my office, BCI and our community partners. Together, we were able to utilize science to solve a mystery.”

Investigators from Overmire’s office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, part of Yost’s office, had long worked to solve the mystery of the remains.

BCI became involved in 2000, when the Franklin County coroner at the time submitted the remains to BCI’s Project LINK (Linking Individuals Not Known), an initiative that collects DNA samples from unidentified human remains and from people with missing loved ones in hopes of turning up a match. No leads were generated.

In the ensuing years, BCI conducted additional, advanced DNA testing on the remains – but, again, no leads were generated.

Last year, the nonprofit Porchlight Project, which funds forensic genealogy for families of the missing and the murdered, became involved, paying for the testing conducted by Othram, a Texas-based forensics technology company.

“I am grateful to Ohio BCI, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, and Othram for their collaboration and dedication throughout the process of solving this decades-old mystery,” said Val Bogart, The Porchlight Project’s genetic genealogist. “I am hopeful the identification of Mr. Carter brings long-awaited answers and a step toward closure for all involved.”

Genealogists and BCI’s Criminal Intelligence Unit worked collaboratively to build a family tree to locate a close relative. This process turned up a match with a male relative, whose DNA was used to confirm the remains as those of Ernest Emerson Carter.

“There is technology here today that works, and it is able to give answers to a lot of families, like in this case,” said Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer for Othram. “We’re proud to work with law enforcement who are working every day to solve cases and help families.”

Memories, milestones, and traditions fill Reinhardt yearbooks throughout the decades. From 1948 to 2004, these nostalgic issues captured and preserved cherished classmates, favorite professors, and the evolution of campus life.

Through digital versions now available on the lower portion of the University’s alumni page, the yearbooks offer a celebratory window to explore and remember the people, traditions, and rich history that shaped Reinhardt. We also invite all alumni to share their favorite moments and celebrate their legacy.

Click here to view yearbooks on the Alumni Page

Amgueddfa Cymru has released over 2000 images into the public domain making them freely available on a new platform.

It puts Wales at the forefront of open access and on par with global museums such as the Natural History Museum, Smithsonian, Rijksmuseum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Images available to browse on the new platform, Amgueddfa Cymru Images, include galleries of artworks by Van Gogh, Monet and Renoir, historic photographs of people and places, and images of objects from the national collection, all of which have special relevance to Wales.

Images on the platform represent the natural world, as well as archaeological, social and industrial history. The wide range of images reflects the breadth of items which are part of Wales’ national collection.

The museum’s Open Access Policy means that anyone can now download medium resolution images from the site free, for both commercial and non-commercial use. This allows them to be freely used whether that be for scholarly research, a website for a local pub, or television and film, all without fees or additional approvals.

A selection of Amgueddfa Cymru Images

Coal strike colliers in Cwmbach – by permission of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Some of the images available through the digital library include the museum’s collection of Blaschka glass models of sea creatures, historic images of the north Wales landscape, and a collection of Monet’s Waterlilies which were bequeathed to the museum by the Davies Sisters.

There are also hundreds of images of items reflecting Welsh history and life including lovespoons, clothing and quilts, and many historic images of Wales taken by some of the earliest photographers.

Dr Kath Davies, Director of Collections and Research at Amgueddfa Cymru said: “The national collection belongs to everyone, and we are thrilled to launch Amgueddfa Cymru Images which offers another way we can share the national collection and stories of Wales. We particularly hope that schools and educational institutions following the Curriculum for Wales will use this free tool to support their work, and we look forward to seeing how it will be used.

“This is only the beginning. We’re delighted to be launching with more than 2000 images, and will be continuing to add more images to the platform and to digitise new content. We’re also keen to collaborate with other institutions to reach as many people as we can and continue to share and encourage learning and enjoyment through the national collection.”

Amgueddfa Cymru Images can be accessed HERE.

In August 1978, a homicide victim was found burned in a fire at a boat ramp fire at the Poole Knobs Recreation Area in LaVergne, Tennessee. Rutherford County Sheriff’s deputies responded to find the remains of an unidentified male. The homicide victim was wrapped in a blanket and had been shot four times, twice in the face. Investigators suspect he was shot at another location before being dragged to the campsite and burned. Investigators determine the victim was a white male between 30 and 40 years old. He stood 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed approximately 160 pounds, and had medium length brown hair. The only clues to his identity were a partial set of dentures and scars on his chest from a possible heart surgery. He also had a quarter-sized mole on his torso, about two inches from his waistline.

Investigators undertook a decades-long search to determine who the man was and what happened. Fingerprints, from one hand that was not burned, were collected but generated no matches to an identity. A traditional DNA profile was created but did not produce a match in CODIS. In 2018, a facial reconstruction and a sketch of the victim were generated but, to date, have not produced any leads. More than forty years later, investigators are still looking for leads that might point to the identity of the victim and those that might be responsible for his death. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP1585.

In 2020, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the victim. At Othram, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence, which presented significant challenges given the burnt condition of the man's remains. After the successful extraction of DNA, Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the victim. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the victim. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the murder victim, who is now known to be 52-year-old Jessie Lee Williamson. An investigations into Williamson's death is ongoing. Anyone with information about the victim is encouraged to contact Detective Sgt. Richard Brinkley with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at (615) 904-3045.

A portion of Othram's casework costs associated with the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy completed in this case was contributed by donors through a DNASolves® crowdfund. We are grateful to everyone that helped crowdfund this case and other DNASolves cases. Remaining costs for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy used in this case was provided by NamUs, a national program that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International (RTI). Othram is grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by contributing their DNA to the DNASolves database. Expanding the number of available DNA profiles increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years.

The identification of Jessie Lee Williamson represents the 27th case in the State of Tennesse where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Tennessee cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

October 3 is Tag der Deutschen Einheit — German Unity Day — and October 6 is German-American Day. Let’s celebrate “Ahnenfest” – Geneanet’s German ancestor festival – with free access for American members to our Premium German collections from Oct. 3-10!

Do you have roots in Germany? October 3 is Tag der Deutschen Einheit (Germany Unity Day), a national holiday in Germany since 1990 which celebrates the reunification of the country at the end of the Cold War. And October 6 is German-American Day, when 40 million Americans celebrate their German heritage. At Geneanet, we have decided to celebrate these two holidays together as “Ahnenfest” – Ancestor Festival –, with a full week of free access to our Premium German records and collections from October 3-10 inclusive!

The upper Midwest has the highest percentage of German-Americans! Many German settlers bought through tickets from US railroad agents in German cities; passengers disembarked in Eastern seaboard ports and boarded trains West directly. Data source: US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, image: Abbasi786786 at Wikimedia Commons, license CC

Geneanet is available in German and we have over 54 million birth, marriage, and death register records in our collections — 155 million indexed individuals! –, usually reserved for Premium members, available free during Geneanet’s Ahnenfest. Search them through our German vital records search engine or our portal for all German documents or our main search screen with all options enabled or through our brand-new Collections Catalog page. You can even upload your family tree to Geneanet — perhaps you will connect with your German cousins!

Just getting started in German genealogy? It can be complicated: fluid borders, the impact of wars, records held mostly at local level, documents written in Kurrent or Sütterlin script or Fraktur typefaces, not to mention strict privacy laws! Read our comprehensive guide Resources for German Genealogy. Ancestors from Alsace-Lorraine? Read our in-depth guide Finding Your Ancestors From Alsace-Lorraine.

Take advantage of our rich collections with advanced Premium search options such as search by couple, by occupation, by parents, by events, as well as spelling variants, geographic area and wildcards. And search our Genealogy Library with millions of pages of books and newspapers. Tap into our archival records, books and newspapers and grow your tree!