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Missing Riddle teenager has local ties Ed Condon helps effort to find his niece By JULIE SWENSEN You read about it in the newspaper and see it on TV, but it doesn't hit home until it happens to someone you know. That's what Ed Condon of Medford says about his missing niece, Stephanie Condon, a 14-year-old presidential honor roll student from Riddle who disappeared Oct. 30 while she was babysitting her cousin's twin daughters. Stephanie's father, Martin Condon, said she never would have left the babies willingly. She treated them as her own and wrote about them in her diary. "She's a great kid. She's my buddy," Martin's brother Ed said of Stephanie, whom he taught to ride horses this summer in Myrtle Creek. Since his niece vanished, Ed, who works at U.S. Forest Industries in White City, has gone to Riddle to pass out fliers with Stephanie's picture and to talk to her friends. "Anything I can do, and there isn't a whole lot," Ed said. "I just hope this ends with her OK." Back in Riddle, Stephanie's father Martin said it doesn't seem like there's enough that he can do. Meeting with the press and trying to get his daughter's picture on cars and inside newspapers occupies some of his time as he waits for news. While he's searched some, he's afraid of what he might find. Hundreds of people have offered to help scour the area, including Boy Scouts from Milwaukie and casino security personnel. Out-of-state callers from as far away as Miami, Fla. have offered to put up Stephanie's picture, which is posted on the Internet. Co-workers of Stephanie's mother Christine, who works at Office Max in Roseburg, are handing out fliers and building a reward fund. A Douglas County sheriff's detective burning the midnight oil on the case stops by the house every day. And at Riddle High School, where Stephanie played junior varsity volleyball and talked about going out for track, yellow ribbons adorn every locker. Football players and members of opposing teams have worn the ribbons, too. "It's incredible the support that we're getting from the community and across the states," he said. While some of the calls at first hit Martin hard -- people have said his daughter was dead, or was seen doing something out of character, like drinking tequila in a bar -- most of it now goes in one ear and out the other, Martin said. He thinks most people who call want to help; some of them call and leave a name of someone police should look into. But so far, no promising leads have panned out. Martin's hope is that he can get enough people talking that they may be able to come up with a tip. "This is a great day for her to come home," he said. Rewards offered for tips on girl's location Four reward funds have been set up to help in finding Stephanie Condon, her father, Martin Condon said. Office Max in Roseburg, where Stephanie's mother works, has a reward fund that's up to about $1,100. Tipsters can call the store at 541-677-9100. The store is also handing out fliers with Stephanie's picture. Seven Feathers Hotel & Gaming Resort in Canyonville has established a $1,000 reward. Tipsters can call the casino at 541-839-1111. Crimestoppers of Josephine County is offering a $1,000 reward for information about her whereabouts. Call 541-471-2020. Crimestoppers of Jackson County also is offering a $1,000 reward. That number is 1-800-333-8328. Tips also can be directed to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA