Olson Search Continues; Lafayette Friends Mobilize

Classmates from Brett Olson's Lafayette high school gathered on a hillside near Acalanes High Wednesday and painted his name with flour in a show of support for the Cal Poly Obispo student -- missing now for four days after leaving a party of river rafters near Chico on Sunday.

The search for the popular 2010 Acalanes High School graduate resumed along the banks of the Sacramento River again Thursday as friends and family members -- desperate for any shred of evidence to Olson's whereabouts -- mounted a massive informational effort to draw attention to his case.

Michael and Elizabeth Olson remained in Chico Wednesday, along with his brother, Luke, handing out fliers with pictures of Brett and his description on the front. Hundreds of Olson's friends from Acalanes and Cal Poly volunteered to join the search effort but have been turned away due to the rough terrain where he is believed lost and a desire to keep inexperienced searchers from becoming lost themselves.

Photos of Olson taken the day of the floating party known as the Chico Float have been sent to Lamorinda Patch, with friends asking that searchers be aware of Olson's distinctive shorts. He was not believed to have been wearing the shirt in the picture when he left friends at Beer Can Beach, a popular haul-out, party spot on the banks of the Sacramento.

Sheriff's deputies coordinating the air and ground search for the missing college student are using everything from search dogs to helicopter-borne infrared sensing equipment. Hopes are that Olson was in an area of dense scrub near where he is believed to have left the river with friends at about 1 p.m. Sunday.